The Telvanni Affair, A Short Tale from the Mainland Options

[canis216]

Forward by Enric Pelitius, University of Gwylim Press
17 Last Seed, 3E 432

Now in its 2nd edition, The Telvanni Affair, as it has come to be called, is a collection of journal entries and draft reports purportedly discovered 3E 429 by the cleaning lady at a tavern in the Imperial settlement of Ebonheart, in Vvardenfell District, Morrowind. The chronicle, as it were, purports to describe some events occurring in Morrowind, the Telvanni Isles in particular, during 3E 419.

Perhaps a brief history of this work is in order. While most scholars, including this writer, believe this work to be a poor fiction, the 1st edition published 3E 430 set off a minor firestorm in Morrowind. Suggestions that Archmagister Rilvin Dral’s assassination may have been the work of a Blades operative caused quite a scandal, particularly when the Imperial Council would not confirm or deny involvement. This, in spite of the fact that no authenticated record exists of any individual by the name of Always-He-Lingers-in-the-Sun living in either mainland Morrowind or Vvardenfell at the time of the assassination, or when the manuscript was discovered.

It is interesting to note that one patron of the Ebonheart tavern, Six Fishes, did claim to have seen the writer/anti-hero of The Telvanni Affair. Unfortunately, this witness was found dead in the streets of Ebonheart, perforated by poisoned bolts, before Imperial scholars had opportunity for a decent interview. Perhaps, then, some mysteries are best left unexplored.

This post has been edited by canis216: Aug 12 2007, 08:40 AM

[canis216]

It was a slaughter.

C. asked me to describe what happened at Shishara, and that’s what I said. Then I elaborated.

“There was a breton woman in the entryway, maybe standing watch. She had red hair. Anyway, she wasn’t looking when I entered the door, so I stalked up behind her and slashed off her head with Kills-You-Dead”—my daedric dagger. “I searched the body; she wasn’t even armed. I don’t know why they’d post an unarmed woman on watch… in any case, I continued inside. Down a ramp to the right I found a bosmer—I got him by surprise too, with Kills-You-Dead. He carried a steel dagger, but he was unarmored so killing him was easy. Inside a room down there was an archer, another bosmer. I shot a bolt into her, then she tried to draw her long bow when she should have dove for cover. Another shot killed her. I searched the room some; there was nothing particularly valuable. Back the other way I eventually ran into the main living space, I guess. I took out another breton woman with a couple bolts, then did the same to another bosmer girl. Neither of them were armed. Up a set a stairs I found the leader, the wizard. I had put a couple bolts in him before he even started trying to cast this big fireball at me. The third bolt put a stop to any of that. He had a staff, and a bunch of books up in that room of his.”

“I’d have been taking more of a risk against scribs, sir.”

C. just sat there for a moment, considering my words. I downed half a bottle of brandy before he spoke.

“I didn’t expect it would be much of a test for you. That will change.”

“You mean some Telvanni can actually fight?”

“From what I’ve heard, Al, rogue Telvanni are rogues because they’re not strong enough to seize territory away from the others. We’ll get into Telvanni culture more. First, you said something about a bandit cave. Tell me about it.”

“Shushishi. Just over the mountains directly east of Caldera. I killed six bandits and freed four slaves. I confiscated two bottles of brandy, one of flin, a journeyman’s lockpick, a master’s probe, a potion of frost shield, a couple of slave keys, a ring, an amulet, and two vials of skooma.”

“I recommend selling the skooma to Ra’Virr post-haste. I know it’s illegal”—he held up his skooma pipe—“but you’ll need more funds than the Empire can supply you. Just sell it quickly; I’d hate to see my newest agent get busted for possession.”

I nodded my understanding.

“Good. Now we can talk about the Telvanni.”