The Return of Sithis, Act I: An Era of Silence

Elena slept through all five hundred of her alarms. Although, that was perfectly normal for her. She was quite infamous for her little oversleeping habit. Still, she did eventually crawl out of bed. After showering and slipping into her guildmaster armor, she strolled out into the ever busy Cistern and had a quick breakfast in the Flagon. Then she bugged Maya a bit just because she felt like it, and afterwards, when she was finally awake, she went to find Lorelei.

Which didn't take long. She found the friend in question dozing in a chair in the corner of the Cistern, in a spot where she was out of everyone's way, but could still watch the comings and goings. In a way, Elena felt relieved. It was something the old Odette would have done as well.

"Didn't get enough sleep last night?" Elena asked gently, smiling, as she sat down next to her.

Must be nightmares... Poor thing.

"You feel up for taking the test today?" Elena asks gently. "I don't want you taking it if you're sleep deprived, Lorelei. Maya knows how to make a herbal concoction from Morrowind that works wonders, if you need help sleeping. It will knock you out, safely and quickly, and put you in a dreamless sleep, in case you're having nightmares. I wouldn't recommend using it too often, but two or three times a week should be fine."

Elena shook her head and smiled. "Of course I don't mind."

She winks. "Now that I'm back, I'll be taking over her duties anyway. So she'll have a lot more free time on her hands. You just wait right here. I'll be back in a jiffy."

She leaps to her feet and saunters over to Maya's desk- or, well, the Guildmaster's desk- and walks around to the back. She leans over Maya's shoulder and peers down at the papers spread neatly across the desk.

"Watcha doing Mai?"

Maya sighs. "Paperwork, obviously. What do you need, Lena?"

"I need you to whip up one of your special sleep tonics for Lorelei."

She pauses at that, and looks up from her stack of papers. Her eyes wander briefly to where Lorelei was sitting, then back to Elena. "She looks like hell. Why didn't you come get me sooner? Oh right. You were out cold."

Elena turns genuinely contrite. "You're right. Sorry. But I'm here now, and I'll take over the paperwork. So could you?"

Maya softens considerably. "... I'm sorry, Lena. I know you have more on your mind than anyone, and I know you've been through a lot recently. You needed the rest. I didn't mean to be so cold."

Elena smiles. "It's alright. You're overworked as well. We both are. Hmm... Maybe I should have the cat do something productive for once and let him handle the paperwork."

Maya laughs. "The Guild would be bankrupt in a week. I'd rather be overworked than broke, thank you."

She smiles. "We all have our talents, Lena. You know that. The cat is the best in the business at acquiring information and pulling off impossible heists. My strong suit is my mind, and my ability to multitask without spreading myself too thin. It's only natural I handle the more mundane tasks. You, Lena, you're our leader. You inspire hope. Your smile brings everyone here together. You're charismatic, and everyone adores you."

She stands up. "The paperwork can wait. I'll go make that tonic. You go out there and keep doing what you do best."

"Thanks, Mai. That means a lot."

She grins slightly. "Don't thank me just yet. We'll probably be annoyed at each other again before long. Go tell Lorelei I'll have the tonic ready in a few minutes."

Elena nods and returns to Lorelei, taking the seat next to her again. "Maya's going to prepare her famous concoction now. She'll have it ready in a few. Aside from the whole not sleeping thing, how are you feeling Lei? Headache, anything like that?"

"Why don't you go back to bed then?" Elena asks gently, smiling. "Take today to rest and recover. Alright? If it will make you feel better, I'll stay with you for a bit just to make sure the tonic works, and you don't have any nightmares."

Elena grins. "Yup. So you better get used to it."

A couple minutes later, Maya walks over and hands Lorelei a small vial of green liquid. "Here you are. The effects will start to kick in as soon as you drink it, so make sure you're actually in bed first. I don't want you falling into the water, or hitting your head on the floor. The taste isn't that bad, so don't worry about that. It just tastes like strong tea, really."

Maya smiles. "Don't mention it. You're one of us now, and we take care of our own."

She turns and motions for Elena, and the two walk away, a bit out of earshot. "The cat's back," Maya says quietly. "He's waiting in your room. Must be pretty serious too, because he didn't try to seduce me as soon as he saw me."

Elena bit her lip. "Alright. I'll go speak with him."

While Maya returned to her desk, Elena walked back over to Lorelei. "Apparently Raj is back. I'll let you know what he's found out later, after you get some rest, alright?"

"What did you find?" Elena asks promptly, skipping the pleasantries, as she walks into her room and shuts the door behind her.

Leaning back against the wall, Raj tossed what appeared to be a paper flyer on the bed. Elena picked it up.




Elena blinked in disbelief. Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "Raj, you better have a damn good-"

"The Order of the Vigilants is no more," he answers seriously, his face unreadable. "They were wiped out, their hall reduced to cinders. All that remains is a group of terrified children with sticks who can no more help us than a herd of blind Horkers. But the children at Stendarr's Beacon did know some... Interesting rumors. Supposedly, there's a man living somewhere in Falkreath who has knowledge on all things, or so the rumors say. They call him "the Ranger"."

"Have you checked it out yet?" Elena asked, though she already knew the answer.

He smirked slightly; a sign of the usual Raj, which relieved her more than a little. Maybe things weren't quite so dire after all.

"Of course. Returning so empty handed would soil my reputation. I tracked down an old Nord woman who met the Ranger in person. And as you are well aware, my lady... gold talks. Should one desire to meet the Ranger-"

He points to the flyer. "Happy hour, Loredas, four o'clock on the dot. Tell the Innkeep you'd like a mug of wine, a cold place to stay, and a tale of the wilds to pass the time. That will earn you a slip of paper with directions. Follow those for the meet."

Elena pondered the cat's words for a moment. She didn't doubt him in the slightest, nor did she need to ask how he managed to travel so far in such a short time; he wasn't the best thief in the business for nothing, and being a Nightingale came with certain... Perks. No, what gave her pause was the secrecy of it all. It felt... Strangely familiar. She couldn't put her finger on it.

"Alright," she said finally. "I'll let Lorelei- Odette's chosen new name- know and give it some thought. Get some rest, Raj. You've earned it."

He grins. "Ah, but have I earned my lady's company?"

Elena wrinkles her nose at him. "Maybe. I'll think about it."

She left her room and walked across the hall to Lorelei's room, and knocked gently on the door.

"Lorelei?" She called out softly. "Are you still awake?"

Elena opened the door to Lorelei's room, then quietly closed it behind her and sat on the edge of Lorelei's bed. Her face was mostly unreadable, though there was a clearly visible glimmer of sorrow and remorse in her eyes.

"... The Vigilants of Stendarr in Skyrim have been wiped out. Their entire order was... Decimated, save for a few fresh faced, harmless apprentices that survived... Or rather, were allowed to live. Someone, or something, didn't want the order snooping around. Since Vigilant Apprentices aren't even allowed to go into the field until they become an Acolyte, they don't have any information. However... They did know of an interesting rumor. Apparently, there's rumors of someone that's... Omniscient, hiding out somewhere in Falkreath. People call him the "Ranger". I don't know if it's true or not... But Raj checked it out. Omniscient or not, this person really does exist. If you want to head out there and check it out for yourself... I know how you can contact him. It's probably just a wild goose chase, but then again... This world is a lot crazier than it used to be. At the very least, it will give you something productive to do, to take your mind off things. Of course, if you do decide to go, I'll sanction it a mission for the Guild, and supply you with traveling money, equipment, and anything else you might need. An omniscient benefactor... Trust me, Maya will leap at the opportunity."

Elena inclines her head in understanding. A knowing glint sparks in the corner of her eye, but it is a quick, fleeting thing, and the expert spy hides it well. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll leave you to your rest then."

She moves to leave the room, but stops in the doorway and looks back. "If you need anything else, I'll be in my room. I still have to finish briefing Maya on my other mission, and Raz too, now that that sly cat is back. Try to get some rest, my dear."