JoS/Kanna/9th Journal - Twin Lamps

Frostfall, 16th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

I received summons from Caius Cosades for a special job he had for me. It surprised me because this was the first time he had directly contacted me on this island. He first said that he's been very happy with everything I've done here so far and praised me for that. He also interviewed me for a while about any strange occurrences I've come across, but considering that I had no valuable information to give to him, we left it at that.

The actual job is regarding our fellow Blades member who's gone missing on a job, a woman who hasn't reported back to him. I first thought he was referring to Aliya since she's been out for a while, but while Caius is concerned about her whereabouts, this isn't about her.

Elone is the missing woman's name. She's a Redguard like me, a scout and an agent who, alongside a Nord male named Sjorvar, has been tasked with monitoring the smuggling rings and operations around the West Gash and Bitter Coast Regions. Elone's last report to Caius came a month ago regarding how one shipment of illegal goods she had been tracking had led her to a large slave-run plantation on the shores of lake Hairan, directly to the east of Pelagiad. This place in question is the Dren Plantation, one of the biggest centers of operation for Camonna Tong.

Caius tried to warn her to not get close to that place, but it might've fallen on deaf ears. It's not like her to not report back to Caius regularly, or so he says, so she's either in some kind of trouble or she's dead. There aren't too many Caius can trust with this mission, but he says that I'm perhaps the best warrior he has at his disposal, based on what he's heard from me. That's why he wants me to infiltrate this plantation, find out what happened to her, and save her if I can.

To get help on this mission, I should first contact someone called Sterdecan, a good friend of Caius; not a member of the Blades, but rather a faction called the Twin Lamps. They're a highly secretive guild of abolitionists who dedicate their lives to helping slaves escape their masters on this island. A noble mission, if you ask me. This dude can help me and provide me with information.

This will without a doubt be a difficult mission, and probably a long one too. I can't risk endangering Kanna by bringing her along with me, so she'll stay home. She also wants to do some work and travel independently, which is fine, I guess. It's okay as long as she doesn't do anything stupid or dangerous. I know she's grown to be strong-willed and capable of defending herself if need be, but she still has to be careful.

Frostfall, 17th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

Sterdecan is a Redguard man in his thirties who works under a guise of a poor farmer. He keeps a good façade with his wooden hut, a small plot of arable land, and a pier with an old fishing boat at the easternmost point of lake Amaya, but make no mistake about it, he's a warrior. He's dedicated his life to helping and freeing slaves from their masters with a particular interest in this region. His reasons are rather personal due to him spending his childhood in slavery. He's been forced to perform certain kinds of sexual acts he doesn't particularly enjoy. Those were his words, which I feel were heavily sugar-coated.

He explained a lot about his work, mostly explaining what kind of beast we're up against. You hear about Camonna Tong a lot in these parts of Morrowind, but until you've come face to face with them, you don't really know what kind of organization they really are. Sterdecan's description of them was as follows: "Take every unfair stereotype about a xenophobic Dunmer you can think, and then make it a reality. Sprinkle in violent crime, slave trade, and drugs, and finally, multiply it ten-fold. That's Camonna Tong in a nutshell."

That sadly doesn't even begin to describe how much of a problem they are. Nobody would worry about a band of ten or so bandits running this kind of business, but these guys are different. They have thousands of members, influence even beyond the borders of Morrowind, and they have money. Lots of it. Their kingpin, Orvas Dren, is a shrewd businessman, hailing from one of the wealthiest families of this land, and he's got a lot of people on his payroll, from independent businesses all the way to government-employed guards and corrupt officials. Sterdecan doesn't know quite how far his influence goes, but he knows for the fact that Dren has members of the House Hlaalu's council in his pocket ready to do his whim against the will of the people. That is a big deal, and they're far too big of a deal for Twin Lamps to overcome alone.

Speaking of Twin Lamps, I also got to learn more about them too. As a faction, they are very small, with less than a hundred members, most of which are former slaves in their own right. Naturally, here in the land of the Dunmer, where slavery is still legal, they have a lot of enemies, which forces them to employ tactics similar to those of other shadowy organizations, most of which operate illegally. Despite being small, they have rich benefactors and backers to their cause. Their unofficial guildhall is actually located in Castle Ebonheart, and the Empire is known to bankroll some of its missions against slave traders.

Anyway, we've been going over our plan for a while now. Sterdecan has an insider within the plantation, who we can get information from, an Argonian named Tim-Shei, more commonly known as Hums-In-Silence. If I tell him his real name, he will ask me a question about the Twin Lamps. I should reply with a code phrase to prove to him that I'm an ally. He should tell me information about any and all recently captured slaves.

As for getting in, Sterdecan has a plan, and it should work. "Always has worked in the past", according to him. He handed me some forged papers claiming I'm a Hlaalu Oathman sent by Nevena Ules to do some routine check for … something, unspecified. . . Sterdecan told me to make something up. The guards aren't too bright there. Miss Ules is a member of the Hlaalu Council deep in Dren's pocket, so just dropping her name should be enough for them to let me in. He just warned me not to try to contact Orvas Dren himself - and avoid him at all costs - because that guy will know something's up if he sees me.

Hopefully, everything will go as planned.

Frostfall, 19th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

Like Sterdecan said, getting in was easy as pie. I was initially told by an angry Orc to fuck off because they weren't a daycare or something, but when I showed him the papers, he understood and welcomed me without asking questions.

In addition to all the crops they raise around the plantation outside the walls, they herd Netch. They're giant, floating jellyfish. Yes, floating. They don't swim. They're raised as cattle for leather, which - along with some harvested ingredients and venoms - is pretty much the only thing they're good for. If encountered in the wild, they're docile if left alone but deadly and dangerous if provoked. Oh, and when I said giant, I meant it. Even the smallest, betty females have bodies larger than adult men do, and that's not even counting tentacles.

Workforce on farms is made exclusively from Argonian and Khajiiti slave-labor with the exception of a trained Netch herder as well as guardsmen to keep the slaves in check. Most of them are Hlaalu sub-contractors employed by Orvas Dren. Being on the shore of Lake Hairan, they have a decently-sized dock with access to the inner sea with lots of hot goods going through its port. The rivers and canals here are pretty expansive, so it's easy for even large cargo ships to pass through.

I found my guy, Tim-Shei, resting in his hut. I guess even slaves get time off because you don't want to work them to death. After confirming my allegiance to him and proving that I'm a friend, I got to ask my question, which I only had one of: does she have any clues about a woman by the name of Elone. Luckily, he could point me in her direction, telling me that there is indeed a woman who matches her description here. The problem? She's underground and would be next to impossible to save from there, according to him.

"I saw her arrest", Tim said. "She was foolish enough to infiltrate this place alone, not sure why. When she tried to escape, the guards got her. There's a big underground basement that connects Dren's Villa with the other buildings. Camonna Tong offers premium services for their members and the VIP there, which include drugs and hookers."

Tim couldn't tell me anything beyond that, as he's obviously never been to that place. I didn't know if I could get there either, but I had to try.

Unsurprisingly, the Dunmeri bouncer was not too impressed by the papers I presented to him. "So, you're with the Hlaalu", he said. "So what?"

"I've been employed by Nevena Ules herself", I explained, preparing myself to tell him the lie I'd come up with just in case. "Basically, I've been sent to check everything's okay here."

"Everything IS okay here, n'wah", the bouncer said, still blocking the door like a wall. "Miss Ules answers to Ser Dren, and he does not approve these kinds of checks in his establishments. What would you be checking for anyway?"

"The Legion is concerned about the possibility of smuggling that takes place here, which is why Miss Ules sent me. She expects me to write a persuasive report to shift the Empire's attention. Letting me in will cost you literally nothing."

"Ooooh, I see", the bouncer said, offering his open palm forward. "But it'll cost you. I'll let you in for a fifty drakes."

We got ourselves a deal, and I got in. I'm sure Caius will compensate me for these unforeseen expenses.

My next hurdle was finding my target. Luckily for me, Elone was working, and she just happened to be the only Redguard there. Made her easy to spot. She was topless, wearing a scantly-ass thong as a bottom with chains on her wrists and her ankles, and a collar with a long piece of chain being attached to it. She was a real beauty of mixed blood, a woman with a skin little lighter in tone than Kanna or I have. You tend to come across people like that in the northern parts of Hammerfell, where our genes mix a lot with Nords and Bretons. She was of average height, in peak physical condition with lovely hips, a juicy butt, and a pair of tear-shaped tits, large but still perky. She was dancing on a pole, and although it didn't look like she was having a good time, she did move that body well.

I sat down behind the bar counter, where a sharp-dressed Dark Elf greeted me with respect, asking what the young Serjo would like to drink. After telling him that I'm here for the ladies, hoping to have some private time, he offered me a drink on the house; a glass of Balmora Blue, chilled with a Frostbite spell to serve as an ice-cold beverage. It was some real nice, real strong, real sweet shit that hit my head like a fucking hammer. I didn't know it beforehand, but I was drinking a Skooma cocktail. I hope I won't get hooked… I've heard you usually don't when it comes to pure stuff like this.

This bartender was setting me up to part with as much money as possible, but honestly, I didn't even care. I asked how much would a private room be with that busty Redguard lady, and he just smirked as he said two-and-a-half hundred drakes. I knew I was getting ripped off, but I didn't care. I paid up.

A guard decked head to toe in bonemold fetched Elone and told her to come along, as she now had a paying customer. I could see it in her eyes, something about me captured her curiosity, but she did not utter a word. Nevertheless, the guard escorted us to a room where we would have privacy. The guard was left stationed outside, and he said we'd been given one hour.

Elone sat down on the bed, crossed her legs, and looked away, embarrassed and blushing. "I'm Elone… Happy to make your acquaintance, master…"

I had a greeting of my own waiting for her. "Caius sent me to save you."

Her eyes lit up, and she stared at me. Her mouth was gaping, but she could not formulate a simple word. "You shouldn't have come here", she finally said strictly. "One man can't save me from here alone."

"Yeah, it would seem like an impossible task, sadly", I said as I sat down next to her.

"Oh, I see how this is…" she said with a wide smile and closed eyes. "You're here just for what I've found out, not for me per se… That's so cruel of you…"

"W-well, I would love to save you too, but like you said, it's impossible for me alone."

She laughed heartily, saying that she was just kidding. "I'm happy to tell you what I've learned", she said as she sat up and then on top of me, face to face with me. She was urging me to get naked and shag her quick, challenging me to make love to a real woman and show her if a young, horny teenager such as myself would even be capable of pleasing her. It was bizarre, especially since I know she's a slave, doing all of this unwillingly, but she insisted on doing this anyway. "The guards are gonna be suspicious if we don't do anything", she whispered to my ear. "It's okay if we communicate by whispers, but if they don't start hearing some clapping and moaning, they'll figure out something could be up."

Almost all of my conquests are either around my age or a little younger, so getting to fuck an adult like her, a woman getting close to her thirties, was a rare pleasure. She, too, said something akin to that, as she admittedly has hots for men younger than her, and me, being fourteen at the time, was something she lusted over.

As she was stealing kisses from my lips and undressing me, my hands ran across her body, mostly her waist and her hips. Her skin was just like that of a younger lady, but she had much more to grab on, and those tits pressing against my chest were just the best. Those perky nipples poking me in the middle of those big-ass, marshmallow-like titties made me just want to grab her and play with her. I grabbed onto them and sucked them a little as I pressed her down on the bed. She let me do all of it.

Before long, I was naked and ready to go down on her once more. She baited me in with spread legs, fingering herself in anticipation. I could see she was drenched already, with her eyes focused on my dick. She wanted no foreplay, and I had no problems with that either. I pushed deep into that tight hole, allowing my brain to shut off for a moment and forget about my mission for a while.

I could adequately immerse myself in everything her body had to offer. Watching those tits jump and bounce and listening to her moan made my day. She didn't just lay down idle and clueless either, as she had plenty of fun for me throughout this as well, pulling me with those soft thighs of hers while pushing her pelvis against me and her feet pressing against my lower back, pulling me in and towards her. I made sure to grab onto her tits and squeeze them too, which she teased me about. "Are you really that much into big tits?" she asked. And yeah, I fucking am. Sure, I like small tits and even moderately-sized tits too. I like all tits. All tit-sizes deserve love and adoration. Oh, but I didn't want to just play with them, as inviting as they were. I also leaned forward to hug and kiss her several times. She was such a good fuck, and I wanted to show her I wasn't just some horny teenager, and I think I succeeded in doing that.

In the middle of this all, I still kind of understood that I only had one hour and that time was of the essence, but I almost didn't want it to end. After all, we had just started, so was there really harm? I didn't think so. I think she understood this too, and she even whispered the words "take your time" to my ear. Unfortunately, I could barely bear her suction and folds, and as I slammed into her as hard as I could and forced her to cum from my dick, I burst inside her at the same time. I came so hard, she absolutely sucked me in. It wasn't like weeks worth of pent-up semen, as Kanna has made sure to tend to my desires, but I came enough to fill a damn bucket. I feel like the fact that Skooma and alcohol were getting to me made it all just better as well.

Elone again teased, asking if I really couldn't last longer in bed, but this bitch didn't know who she was fucking with. My dick wasn't gonna go down after just that! I made this clear to her by presenting it to her chest and face, asking, "does this look like I'm done?" She kinda read my mind because she took hold of her both milkers and pushed them against my shaft, giving me a tit-job. She threatened to milk me so dry my dick wouldn't get up in days.

Her boobs felt simply heavenly wrapped against my cock, and she revitalized me almost instantly. The pressure she put my dick under made her chest feel just as tight as her folds had been. I urged her to reach towards the tip with her mouth, a request she was more than happy to oblige with. She made me cum again in record-time, teasing me all the way through as my sperm soiled her face and her tits, all while she took my breath away for the second time during the day. Yet, that seductress was still hungry for more. She saddled my waist and sat her ass on my shaft.

Before I could even adjust my position properly, before the post-nut clarity had even worn off, she gobbled it up headfirst into her pussy. She wasn't gonna let me go limp for a second, and even though I kinda felt done, she wasn't gonna let me gather my strength. She just jerked her body up and down, slapping her ass against me as her entire body bounced. Her mischievous, horny smile was slowly twisting as pleasure overtook her senses, and with every new moan of approval, she turned a little louder. I couldn't resist her mature charms either and grabbed onto her hips as hard as I could. I managed to thrust my hip more than enough to make it rougher for her and make her ass clap harder and her tits jump faster. Yet, all I managed to do was make her beg for me to do her even harder.

I hadn't paid much attention to time at that point, but time had flown by real fucking fast. Still, we weren't gonna stop, not until she had made me cum for one final time. I smacked into her so damn fast that she was practically screaming my name midst her incredible orgasm. I really had to go all out because I wanted to come once more too. I needed to cum again. I didn't even know if I was capable of it, but I reached one final climax together with her. I was so tired, so sweaty, and out of breath, and she pushed her body down on me with all her weight as she milked my dick up until the very end. Never mind getting hooked on Moon Sugar; I think the only dangerous substance I ended up getting addicted to down there was Elone's curvy, mature body.

We had about ten minutes left before the guard would knock on the door to instruct me to take my leave. I wasn't really sure what good that would even do, but I saw her rummaging through my belongings, asking if I had a travel map on me. I said yes, and helped her find it. She also loaned some ink and a pen, after which she told me to turn around, for she would draw a map on my back, citing that it would be the only piece of information I would get from her. I asked her, "why the fuck", and she replied by saying that the guards would want to search my belongings before I leave to make sure I'm not bringing anything out from here. "They won't strip you though", she said with a smile on her face.

So, she drew a rough map with coastlines and some crosses on it as well. Crosses mark the locations of centers for smuggling, which she found on a map she saw on Dren's Villa. She did not get to steal the map, not that it would've even mattered as she didn't make it out, and instead tried to rob a rare Daedric weapon from Orvas Dren to distract him from the real reason she broke into his home. "My memory is good enough", she said. "One look at the map, and I'll remember the locations forever."

Clever lass, I must say.

After that, it really was time for me to pack up and leave. I promised Elone that I would be getting back to her to save her later, or at least find a way for her to escape. The Blades will not abandon her, especially now that we know she's alive. She thanked me and gave me a good, juicy kiss on my lips.

As Elone predicted, the Dunmeri bouncers searched my belongings and let me go after clearing me, after which I notified the Orc guarding the gate about me leaving and telling him that all was well and good. I had succeeded in my mission. It cost me some three hundred drakes which was like four-fifths of my travel allowance, but hey, at least I got laid!

Sterdecan was happy for me, but this is where him helping me ends. He's not exactly equipped with saving Elone either, quoting that it would be a suicide mission for us to try. I'm going to either have to turn to Caius or the leaders of the Twin Lamps for help. Or, better yet, both. Then, I showed him what Elone had found out.

"It seems like your ally had recovered some invaluable information", he said as he inspected the map drawn on my back. It marks seven locations where Camonna Tong operates a business, six if you don't count Dren Plantation. These locations, according to Sterdecan's and my own travel map, point towards Balmora, Sadrith Mora, and Vivec City, in which their bases may be difficult to locate, but also mark the small settlements of Hla Oad and Gnaar Mok, as well as a small plantation of Gro-Bagrat, located somewhere between Vivec City and Dren Plantation. In the latter examples, finding out where their members gather shouldn't be too challenging.

"You should take this information to my boss", he suggested. "Her name is Ilmeni Dren, and she lives in St. Delyn canton of Vivec."

That name, by the way, is no coincidence. Ilmeni is Vedam Dren's daughter, who in turn is Orvas Dren's brother. Ilmeni is a leader of an abolitionist movement, her father is the Grandmaster of House Hlaalu AND the "Duke of Vvardenfell" as appointed by the Empire, and Orvas Dren is a kingpin of a xenophobic mafia. What the fuck is with this family? Man, they must have some weird-ass family dinners.

Jokes aside, I will first take this information to Ilmeni. Sterdecan gave me precise instructions on how to find her and told me to make sure to tell one of her bodyguards that Sterdecan sent me. They would ask me the same old question, to which I would answer with the passcode. Got it, simple stuff.

All of that was yesterday, and today I traveled to Vivec City. Ilmeni is out currently, but I should be able to meet with her tomorrow.

Frostfall, 19th, 3E 427

(By Kanna)

With Karim gone on an important mission, I'll be alone for the time being. I'll be working alone away from my new home for the first time. I hope it'll go well.

There hasn't been a reason for me to write recently, not with me staying put here in Balmora for like two weeks now. I've mostly spent it reading and studying magic inside on the rainy days and working in my garden on sunny days. Physical exercise and weapons training are also part of my daily routine. Karim has been showing me some further moves regarding daggers, but his style is entirely different from what I learned in Cheydinhal. You know, there are multiple ways you can fight with the same weapon, so the differences go all the way from your basic stance to how and where you strike… I regret to say that Karim's style of balanced combat doesn't suit me as much as the Brotherhood's ultra-offensive style of all-out offense and murder.

I've also been training how to throw weapons and how to make my conjured weapons last longer. Conjured daggers make for some okay thrown weapons, you see. They're not as good as darts and blades crafted explicitly for that purpose, but the fact that I can generate weapons out from thin air with my magicka makes them a better option in almost all situations anyway. My accuracy is off most of the time though, so I need a lot of practice before I can make this an effective means of damaging my opponents. Lastly, I'm also starting to get the hang of how to mix potent potions and poisons. Slowly but surely, I'm getting better in all fields.

Doing my job for Mephala was a slow progress, and it already started like a week ago. I figured out where my target lived, spied him for a while, and tried to figure out how to get in without being seen. You could slip inside through the door on the roof, which made it all very easy. Then, all I had to do was wait for him to be adequately distracted while also cooking something, which by the way, was really boring. Took me three days to find a good time to strike. Nevertheless, I slipped in and placed the poisonous herb in his cauldron. Three hours later, his house had turned into a crime scene with Hlaalu shaking their heads, wondering how he could've died. They suspected poisoning, but there were no witnesses, and just as Mephala had promised, they couldn't even find any signs of poisoning in his body. All that waiting and prep work paid off.

I returned to Mephala's altar yesterday, which was the first time I've ever traveled alone like this. These roads aren't very dangerous, so I never worried about getting in trouble.

Mephala rewarded me with a special kind of ring, "the Ring of Khajiiti", one that could not only turn me invisible but also grant me quiet steps to allow me to even run quietly. This is neat since I suck at Illusion magic. The ring gets its name from a Khajiiti thief by the name of Rajhin, who stole the ring from Mephala and used its powers to become the greatest thief of all time. Legend says he even stole a tattoo from an Empress's arm, but I'm calling bullshit. Mephala warned me not to use it too much though, as the ring is known to have a mind of its own and known to rebel against its masters should they rely on it too much. "She can be a fickle little thing sometimes", or so Mephala said. Still, even when I'm not using it, having a jewel as pretty as this around my middle finger is pretty cool!

I was also given my first two writs of execution, given to me by Ethasi Rilvayn, the Master living and working in Balmora's guildhall. My targets are some secluded, rogue Ashlander who lives in seclusion somewhere in the Azura's Coast region, and a Redoran noble who lives somewhere in Vivec City. Both jobs could prove to be difficult, both in different ways. I'll have to study my targets.

I also managed to give my first report to Severa Magia. She congratulated me on a good job, but had nothing new for me. She just gave me her blessing and wished me luck on these two writs.

And lastly… I really need to be alone now, don't I? I got too accustomed to sleeping in my brother's arms and having sex so often… That bed's gonna feel cold and lonely for the next couple of days. All I got is Snoopy, but he can't talk, and he can't stay in Nirn while I'm asleep anyway. Hope Aliya comes back soon to give me some company.

Frostfall, 20th, 3E 427

(By Kanna)

I decided to check out what the local Thieves Guild is all about. Aliya had already mentioned me by name to the local ringleader Habasi, who recognized me as soon as I walked in. However, since some newbie's recommendation doesn't mean much here, she wasn't willing to just invite me to the guild right off the bat.

She said she has a good eye for talent, and she guessed that I've never probably stolen anything in my life, not even a cookie. "It moves well, but it's not too careful of its surroundings", she also said. I was hesitant, but I admitted that she was right: never have I ever stolen a god-damn thing in my life. Thus, it didn't really make sense to her; why would I want to join their guild?

My reason is simple: protection. I told her my story, emphasizing the fact that I'm a criminal on the run from the Imperial City prison. I saw no reason to rant about me being innocent, as I find it hard to argue that would be the case anymore considering that I'm with the Dark Brotherhood, so I simply said I want to join the guild for protection. She asked why I wouldn't just be their client instead, but the problem is, I don't really have that kind of money either. She finally nodded said that she's willing to give me a chance, quoting that maybe I can prove myself to be a worthwhile asset in the future.

It was a simple but difficult job: retrieve a sword that belongs to the captain of the guard. We're talking about a big and heavy broadsword, not something that's easy to hide in your pocket. It's also about the most valuable weapon you can find in this city, and easy to recognize to the boot, so getting caught with it means being thrown behind bars. However, the captain is also known to be a little bit careless with his belongings. Habasi suggested that it could easily be stolen during the night, and as the captain's quarters are not too far away from the corner club, planning a safe route for delivery shouldn't be too hard either.

I did as was asked and figured out a way to infiltrate the guard tower. It took some ropes, lockpicks, effort, and time to get through the window quietly, but once I was inside, the job was straightforward. The man was snoring on his bed like a baby, and the sword was sitting comfortably near his bed. Yeah, it was heavy alright, but not impossibly so. Could I fight with it? No, but I could carry it around without a problem. I could easily tie the sheath to my back and get down quietly the same way I came in. And sure enough, since we are in the poorer, eastern side of the town, walking through the small residential blocks, I didn't come across a single hired guard.

Habasi's eyes and ears perked up as soon as she saw the sword. She doubted if I had it in me, but since I did, she couldn't deny me anymore. "Thieves Guild will have your back", she said and paid me a thousand Septims for the job well done. The sword is a lot more valuable than that, but at the same time, so is the guild's protection, so it's a good trade.

She also said that she's heard rumors about a young Redguard girl who's walking in and out of the Morag Tong office and asked if that was me. She noticed that the Ebony dagger I carry looks rather valuable and suggested I might also be suited for assassination work. Morag Tong has little to no drama with the Thieves Guild, so this is not a problem, but she suggested that I could be up for another small job as well, one that might require me to get a little violent too.

There's a lad named Ra'zhid who back-stabbed the guild, stole some Dwemer artifacts from Habasi, and joined up with rivals. He needs to be taught a lesson, with the stuff he stole being brought back. Ra'zhid plans to sell them forward to the mainland, while Habasi has a local client for them. It would be preferable to not hurt him, but it may prove necessary. I should find him somewhere in Hla Oad, which is not too far away from here. Lastly, she told me to "please be careful" and not do anything stupid. "Habasi doesn't know how many allies he has, but he's not working alone", she promised. Information I can gather there should be valuable too, so I can benefit the guild with intel even if I don't make it back with the artifacts.

I'll get to that tomorrow.

Frostfall, 22nd, 3E 427

(By Kanna)

I arrived at Hla Oad as was planned, and what a sorry little town it is. People live in small wooden huts with their walls already rotting in and rely almost exclusively on fishing. These salty marshlands are poor for cultivating vegetation, and crime controls its shores. It falls under Hlaalu territory, and it's being overseen by some young noble by the name of Rayasa Rethdan. She's so rich they say that she practically owns this entire village, which doesn't serve its citizens well.

I had no idea that my mission here would be as difficult as it was, and I'm not even sure to blame. Perhaps myself, as I should've never gone on this kind of mission alone. I'm sad to say that I've been caught.

There's this place called Fatleg's Drop Off, owned by a Redguard called Travaste, and it's the only general store in this stinky little village. It also just so happens to be famous for dealing with trade that may or may not be entirely legal. I began my visit by simply browzing through what they had available, all while trying to figure out how I could get any information out of Ra'zhid, who seemed to work as Travaste's store assistant.

I eventually approached Ra'zhid directly… I should've known better. For some reason, him calling me "a cute little munchkin" and warning me to not stick my nose into other people's business should've been an immediate red flag and a sign to get out from there, but I just laughed it off. I tried to convince him I wasn't looking for trouble, and that's when someone attacked me from behind and pinned me to the ground. A big adult Dark Elf wearing netch-leather told me to keep quiet and covered my mouth with his hand. I saw Ra'zhid stare the Elf down, although he didn't look too pleased.

"Khajiit thinks she was sent by the Thieves Guild", he said, to which the Dunmer responded by thanking this "furry fuck". His words, not mine. The Elf went on to talk about how he should probably thank Habasi for sending such a cute little girl his way, and I immediately knew what he meant. As he was dragging me downstairs through some stairway, I struggled and told him to let me go, but he just told me to be still, or I would be seriously hurt.

I learned quickly I was dealing with Camonna Tong. I'd only heard of them in passing up until now, so I had no idea what or who they really are. I was gonna learn through first-hand experience when they took me as their prisoner.

He and two of his friends pinned me on a bedroll in that dank cave, surrounded by crates and barrels of smuggled, illegal goods. They threatened to end my life with their swords drawn, and they tore through all of my clothes. One of them was in possession of bondage equipment, the similar kind I was forced to wear in the Imperial City prison. There was nothing I could do to stop them from locking them in, around my wrists and ankles.

One of them inspected my naked body, placing his hand on my bare pussy, all while one held me down forcefully. "This little cunt's fucked before", he said with a sickening smile on his face. "I think this little thief's a whore or something."

"N-no, I'm not!" I tried to deny his words in defiance, but all it did was just further encourage him. He unbuttoned his pants and revealed his erect cock to me. I warned him to stop, saying that my allies and my brother were gonna make them pay, for they know I was sent here, but he just laughed, not taking me seriously at all.

"Nobody's gonna save you", he said, while he pushed his tip between my legs, which he was forcefully holding open despite all my squirming and kicking. He didn't try to insert it immediately, as he just rubbed his cock against my pussy, slapping its shaft against me while laughing and going on about how it's been such a long time since they've been able to capture a member of the Thieves Guild. "You n'wah make perfect slaves", he joked about and said that the fact I was so young made me just all the more valuable. I wasn't gonna beg for him to not rape me, as I had a feeling he would've just liked that, so instead, I reacted with more anger and insults, calling him a lowlife and a scum that would never amount to anything in his life. He wasn't intimidated.

He turned towards his ally, one that was just watching the thing unfold, and I saw a tiny flask in his hands. As soon as it opened, I could sense its intoxicating fumes with a scent sweeter than anything I had ever smelled. I could smell cinnamon too, along with some other unknown reagent. My heart was pounding, and I actually screamed because I realized they were gonna drug me with Skooma. That bastard just laughed at me though, saying that I have no idea what kind of drug that is. He was happy to tell me that leaves from certain carnivorous flytrap imported from Valenwood give it an extra kick. Then, I was forced to drink it.

I have near-perfect memory of the events that happened, which is not at all what I expected. My mind relaxed, I couldn't concentrate on anything except my own bodily sensations, and my muscles tensed up. I felt more awake than I'd ever felt before, and my heart was pounding as if I was running a marathon. My cheeks were burning up, and my breath grew heavier. More than anything though, I could feel my pussy feeling more sensitive. It's almost like every single stroke of his shaft against my slit felt more maddening than the previous one as my body yearned for penetration. I realized that the extra kick these criminals referred to was some kind of aphrodisiac. It was making me so horny it was almost painful. There was this deep, pulsating throb going down from my abdomen all the way to my groin, a throb that could only be satisfied by being filled up. I had never felt horniness so extreme, and worst of all, my mind had basically forgotten I was in any kind of danger.

My body ultimately gave away and allowed a painless insertion for this rapist. His cock filled me up, and I reacted with a loud wail. He grabbed onto my hip and thrust in and out, complimenting me on my tightness. I tried to lay still, but my urge to shake my hip around was strong. I wasn't gonna be able to move, but I did try, and I made my pleasure known through moans. My body was powerless to resist, and my mind yielded when I was forced to climax. It happened so quickly too. It was so surreal. He didn't slow down through it all and joked about me being a genuine slut. Not long after that, he came himself, filling me up with his cum.

It was just a beginning though, as they were all raring to go. The next pair of men raised me to my knees, with the one behind me holding my body and my head and pushing me down towards an erect cock waiting for me. Headfirst, I took it into my mouth. They warned me not to bite, and honestly, I don't know if I could've done that even if I wanted to. The man I was sucking off led me off and stroked my hair, instructing the other one to have his fun with me as well. His fingers, wet with some kind of cold, slimy substance, were stuck into my butt, and the sensation made me react even more wildly. Still, the Dunmer I was sucking off just told me to relax and concentrate on his cock.

The man behind me on his knees had warmed me up and stuck his cock into my ass. It slid in so effortlessly, and I don't think he could've believed it either. He guessed correctly that I must've been a trained slave sometime in my past, as no ordinary preteen's ass could take a dick in that easily, not even with all that lubricant. He started slapping his dick into me as hard as he could, going balls deep with every stroke, calling me a fine whore in the process. I think the exact words he used to describe my backdoor were "an exquisite preteen asshole".

Dunmer in front of me finished first. He grabbed into my head with both hands and held it deep in my mouth, filling my cheeks with his cum. His friends warned him not to choke me, and he pulled his cock out rather quickly, only to spray more cum on my face and my hair. I couldn't swallow any of it, not that I wanted to anyway, but its taste permeated throughout my mouth, all while my ass was still being pounded relentlessly. Like seriously, I couldn't believe how deep into my ass his cock managed to reach. Yet another man took his turn and presented his cock to my face, telling me to rub and stroke it, lick it too. I followed every order.

It was hard to concentrate though, especially with the guy doing my ass now rubbing my vulva and pulling on my clitoris between his fingertips. He talked about how he wanted me to pucker up real nice and try to resist his cock to make his experience tighter. According to him, there's nothing hotter than a child failing to fight the pleasure while being raped in the ass, and as infuriating and shameful as it was, he was gonna get exactly what he wanted. He pounded me through my squirting orgasm as he forced me to cum by attacking my clitoris. Like, he had only just started rubbing me, but I came almost immediately after he began. Those drugs had seriously messed my body up. He was not too far from cumming himself and filled me up by sticking it balls-deep into me, all while holding my body in his grasp tight. Mind you, all of this was happening while I was forced to throat another dick simultaneously.

More men came after that with more cocks. After getting it in the butt, the next one used my pussy. After that, they all used me in various positions. It took hours, and they were coming at me mostly two at once: mouth and pussy or ass and pussy at the same time. Even three at once came at me, forcing me to ride one man while sucking off another, all while the third guy was raping my butt. It was honestly even more brutal than anything I had been put through during my time in the Imperial City Prison, and all that time, I was wondering if they were ever going to stop.

I kind of lost track of time after being made cum so many times, but even though my body was getting tired and done, they just made me drink more drugs to keep me awake. After a certain point, I must've been so badly drugged that I couldn't even react to anything they did anymore. I had been thoroughly numbed by pleasure. Soon after that, they got bored with me, having satisfied themselves for long enough, and threw me into an empty prison cell. I passed out almost immediately after that.

When I woke up, they had locked me in a collar, locked to a wall by an iron chain, and even locked a door to my cell. They had left me naked, but at least my hands were freed. Still, with all these shackles, all my magicka has been locked away, so there's nothing I can do here. A man in charge of watching over their prisoners had noticed I was awake and immediately went on about how they were gonna sell all my valuables, and then, even sell me. "A brown little cunt like yourself should fetch a generous price", he said and smiled. "I'm sure you'll have masters lining up to buy you…"

And that's what happened. I feel like a colossal failure right now. Defeated, robbed of all my belongings, and enslaved, incapable of doing anything to defend myself. I'm so fucked, and with Karim and Aliya both gone on a business trip, who'll even come to my rescue? Fucking nobody, I'm afraid.

I think that the drug's effects have partially worn out, as I don't really feel intoxicated anymore, but I woke up still feeling aroused. Besides, the withdrawal effects have started to kick in. It's not as bad as I feared it would be, but I already feel terrible. Still, I fear that even this is just the calm before the storm. Things are gonna only get worse from here.

All I can do now is pray.

Frostfall, 24th, 3E 427

(By Kanna)

I've learned that Camonna Tong is the primary competitor of Thieves Guild on these lands, making the two factions enemies. Despite operating in similar fields, the two share highly different values and guiding principles. The most notable ones are Camonna Tong's willingness to cause violence and heavy involvement in the slave trade, which Thieves Guild does not partake in. They also hate all outlanders and believe the local Dunmer to be the master race superior to any other mortal race in Tamriel. Due to this, outlanders looking to do business in the black markets of this province are their favorite kinds of targets. Camonna Tong especially wants to have the Thieves Guild eradicated with each and every single one of its members captured, tortured, murdered, or enslaved. Preferably enslaved.

Actually, I'm not sure if it matters to them at this point. Without an ability to cast magic, without any weapons to wield, I'm just another slave in their eyes. Sex slave, to be specific. My background doesn't matter because all outlanders are the same to them at the end of the day. All that matters is my physical appearance. Preteens are among the most valuable trade goods slavers can get their hands on, be it girls or boys.

I began to feel groggy and depraved with my brains just begging for more drugs almost immediately after I finished writing my last entry. My body needs drugs. It's like I'm going crazy without Skooma now. They seem to know this, and making me dependant on these drugs seems to have been their goal from the start. Forst of all, those drugs make me incredibly horny as a side-effect, suggesting to me they're trying to condition me into wanting to feel horny all the time.

They drugged me again and raped me on that day but didn't be nearly as brutal as they were the day they captured me. They just kept me in chains, with one or two men doing me at once. It made the experience a lot longer though, and they must've raped me for at least ten hours throughout the whole day, well into the night as well.

Then, on the second morning, they drugged me but didn't rape me. Some rich-looking man walked around the cave, looking for a slave to buy, chatting with the local leader. I think he considered buying me, considering how long he looked at me and checked me out, but something held him back in the end. He talked about maybe having to come back in a few days after he had made his final decision, all while staring me down and grinning. That disgusting man isn't actually gonna buy me?

By the time two hours of being intoxicated had passed, I was literally begging to be raped again. I couldn't believe I did, but I just couldn't stand it! I needed cock! I needed to get filled up and fucked deep!

I was crying for a while because this is just so cruel. They're really gonna sell me off to that rich douchebag, and by the time that happens, nobody will even know where I'll be going. Nobody will find me after that. Will I just serve as a sex slave or be used as some sort of sick human experiment for a magister? I might even be tortured or killed, based on what I've heard from the other prisoners.

There's another girl here called Cecilia, a Breton child who was brought here from across the canal, from the mainland. She told me that right before I was brought here, there was also a Khajiiti woman here called Rabinna. They forced her to eat bags full of Moon Sugar, the kind of bags that couldn't be digested so the drugs inside could be safely preserved, and when the slaver returned, they talked about how they eventually had to retrieve the drugs from her stomach. They killed her, ripped her stomach open. She had been bought by someone for this sole purpose: to transfer Moon Sugar past the city guards safely and then, in that destination, killed so the merchants could retrieve the Sugar. Is that how invaluable slaves are to these people? Our lives may be less valuable in gram than drugs, which is simultaneously a horrifying and disgusting thought.

I'm seriously starting to fear for myself now. I'm not gonna be bought just to be killed, right? I mean, I'm more valuable than that, right!? Nobody would actually buy me for the sole purpose of killing me, right!? At least I hope so… I'm not even sure if I'm gonna get sleep today after what Cecilia told me… And even if I do, I'll probably sleep terribly anyway because my thirst for that drug will kick in again, stronger than yesterday, stronger than today perhaps…

Frostfall, 20th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

In Vivec City, on the waterfront of the southern St. Delyn, right by the Temple with Castle Ebonheart barely visible in the distance, I knocked on one of the doors, one that looked like any other, and waited patiently. One of Ilmeni's men opened the door, and despite not saying a word, his stare and displeased expression told me more than any single sentence could've. He wanted to know who I was and what I wanted, so I explained that Sterdecan sent me, after which he had a question ready for me: "Have you seen the Twin Lamps?"

"They light the way to freedom", I replied. The guard opened the door fully for me and made way, finally welcoming me warmly as an ally and a comrade.

I was led to Ilmeni, who was busy combing her hair in her own bedroom, still wearing light, nightly garments. I've never had hots for ashen chicks, but she is gorgeous. Smoking hot, in fact. Is "smoking" an inappropriate way to describe a Dunmer? No matter, it's what she was, a damn hot young woman: a Dark Elf, maybe in her late teens, with mysterious red eyes, juicy red lips, and long, pointy ears paired with a well-maintained, long curly brown hair. She was petite too, just over one and a half meters (or five feet) tall with a body of an adult woman with all of its subtle curves paired with smaller-than-average breasts. She wasn't as quick to welcome me, as she seemed thoroughly spooked to see a stranger. She turned towards me and simply, without greeting me, said: "I don't know you."

"I work for the Blades", I explained. "Sterdecan sent me."

"If you're not one of our members, what do you want from me?"

"My colleague recently infiltrated the Dren Plantation, but she was caught. I went to the place myself, seeing if it would be possible for me to save her, but it wasn't. Luckily, even though I failed, I learned something from her. She drew a map on my back, one which marks locations of Camonna Tong's hideouts. Sterdecan suggested you could be interested in seeing it."

Ilmeni nodded and told her bodyguard to close the door. I was left alone with her in her bedroom. Her eyes frantically searched the small room for a place for me to sit down. She eventually instructed me to sit down on her still messy bed, which I was surprised by but gladly obliged either way. She got on her knees - behind me, on the bed - and told me to undress my shirt so she could see it for herself. I had marked the locations on the map, but she said she wanted proof of my every word, which is why she needed me shirtless. I saw no reason to hide Elone's little drawing from her. Those soft, warm hands ran across my back, and she praised Elone's wit. She quickly deemed me honest, as she recognized some of these locations. Me dropping Sterdecan's name also probably worked.

"I think there's one more person who would like to see this", she said. "His name is Crassius Curio."

"And who might that be?"

"He's one-fifth of the Hlaalu council on this island", she said and sat down back beside her table, in front of her mirror, and proceeded to continue combing her hair, along with applying some make-up. I was wondering if it was even okay for me to be in her room? She didn't seem to mind, despite obviously being fresh out of bed and still in her underwear and pajamas to top that off. She went on to explain more about this Curio guy, as well as the Camonna Tong and the Twin Lamps.

Basically, Ilmeni founded the Twin Lamps at a very young age due to being so disgusted at how Camonna Tong operates on this island, which she, in turn, learned about thanks to being so close to the inner echelons of the Hlaalu council. She's not a member of the council herself, but she's a noble and born to a filthy wealthy family, with a father who's the most powerful man in all of House Hlaalu, so she holds a lot of influence in the organization.

I already learned about this too, but Camonna Tong has basically bought three out of five members of their council. Her father hasn't been corrupted either, but that doesn't matter since he's no longer part of the council due to being the Duke of Vvardenfell. This has led to a civil war of sorts within the House Hlaalu. As her allies, she has Mr. Curio, who was transferred here from the mainland city of Narsis for the sole reason of fighting Camonna Tong's corruption, and also a lad by the name of Dram Bero. He's a secretive guy, and not even Ilmeni knows where he lives. All in all, according to her, they're both men of principle and incorruptible by money.

Why she was telling me all this was for a reason. "I feel like you came to me because you need ME to help you save this… Elone, was it?"

"I came here on Sterdecan's suggestion alone", I admitted. "I was meaning to ask my superior for help on rescuing Elone, but if you have the means… I don't see a reason to refuse help."

"I do have the means", she said, turning towards me, with a sly smile on her face. "We haven't had the opportunity to work with the Blades in the past, but it seems like our interests align… So, what do you say? Would you be interested in joining the House Hlaalu in our little war against Camonna Tong? You're a very capable man… And Elone seems capable too, as does your entire organization… I like that…"

In the end, even though I showed interest to her, she still had to make sure that Crassius Curio would be on board as well, as only he could admit me into their organization, which is why we approached him. She wanted to show him my - or Elone's - findings as well.

So, Crassius is part of the Hlaalu council, but that doesn't really explain "who" he is. He's an Imperial male and a self-proclaimed artist. In fact, writing literature seems to be one of his favorite past-times, and his favorite genre is smut. He loves erotic literature and erotic paintings. He's behind such masterpieces as "Lusty Argonian Maid" and "Three-Legged Guar", neither of which I've actually read. I've only heard of them, but then again, hasn't everyone? They're scandalous, or so I hear: equally offensive to some as they are intriguing to others.

Crassius took a liking to me as soon as he saw me, going as far as to call me "Dumpling", and got especially interested when Ilmeni told him about how I could work together with Hlaalu. Crassius himself extended me an invitation to join the House as a retainer. This very generous offer, according to him, would benefit me greatly and monetarily in the long run. I remember being suggested joining up with them before, so I took the opportunity to join them on the spot. I see no downsides to working with them… Or at least working with some of them. Not all of them are good people, based on what I've heard so far.

Then, Ilmeni and Crassius gave me a plan, along with their conditions. They would indeed help me free Elone along with maybe other slaves as well, but it requires me to put in some further work. "You're gonna attack one of these smaller outposts and kill everyone inside", Ilmeni said. "I can use this as a threat to my uncle and persuade him to let Elone go. We're gonna reveal to him that he has a Blade in his custody and tell him that he does not want to make an enemy out of the Emperor. If he's not gonna release some of his slaves - which MUST include Elone - we're just gonna wipe out another one of the hideouts, hurting his business even more. Since we know where some of them are located… I believe he's gonna do what's good for him. Oh, and you're gonna need help, unless you're feeling super brave and daring."

That sounds like a risky plan, and I'm not even sure if it'll work, but if I do succeed in wiping one of these camps out, even if Elone doesn't end up getting saved, I'm promised an instant promotion by Crassius and a handsome payday either way. This is gonna be, without a doubt, my highest-paying gig to date, a way for me to make some mad dough in one fell swoop, all while satisfying Caius and the Blades in the process. As Ilmeni said, though… I'm gonna need help. Some of the profits got to go to those who help me, but that's fine. We'll all end up with plenty of Septims in our pockets.

I'm ready to travel back to Balmora to report my findings to Caius and relay this plan to him as well. I'm sure he can lend me a helping hand on this mission.

Frostfall, 24th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

The plan is beginning to take shape, and I'm gonna have four powerful allies on my side to take on an enemy hideout, but all of it is being overshadowed by the immense anger and regret I'm feeling right now.

When I returned to Balmora, I couldn't find my sister anywhere. Since she wasn't home, I thought she could be just out, but she didn't return before bedtime. I couldn't get any sleep while I waited, and she didn't get home at all. The following day, she didn't return either. I was shitting my pants because of being so worried. I punched a damn hole in the wall for being so foolish as to leave her alone to her own devices. She's nine, for fucks sake! Why did I think she would be fine alone!?

I didn't know for sure at the time, but I just had this ugly feeling in my stomach that she was in trouble. I didn't know for sure, but she had promised me that she wouldn't go far from home. The problem for me was that I didn't even know where to start looking.

I visited Morag Tong to ask about her, but they couldn't tell me anything. Caius doesn't know about her, so no point in asking them. As for Legion, her being arrested? Well, I wasn't being arrested for going against the Legion's orders and housing a criminal myself, so that couldn't have been the case either.

My fears and suspicions were confirmed to me when Aliya returned home. I asked her where in Oblivion had she been, and she seemed rather apologetic about being away for longer than she intended, saying that she had a rather unpleasant work experience in Sadrith Mora… Didn't specify what it exactly was, not like it matters right now anyway… Still, she could see that something was bugging me, and she could see that Kanna was nowhere to be found either. She could piece everything together in an instant and even had an idea of where to start looking. We got our answer and a solid clue in the South Wall Cornerclub.

There's this Khajiit by the name of Sugar-Lips Habasi, who's with the Thieves Guild. She and Aliya seem to be on really good terms. Habasi was happy to announce to Aliya that Kanna had blown her expectations away by stealing some kind of valuable sword, which she intended to use as means of joining the guild and paying for their protection. Although I firmly believe Kanna should try to stay out of trouble as much as possible and not make too many unnecessary friends, I can't blame her for wanting to work for herself, so I had no problem… At least until I heard Kanna had taken another job as well, one that required her to travel alone. My heart sank when I heard that this job took place in Hla Oad. It's one of the very places that Camonna Tong has a hideout in.

Considering that she hasn't returned, she must be a captive there.

I was fuming. It took all my willpower and Aliya trying to calm me down to not punch that walking talking cat in the face right there and then. How could she have sent my sister on such a dangerous fucking mission!? Habasi said she didn't know just how much danger she was putting her in, saying that she had no idea Camonna Tong was involved. She just wanted to teach a lesson to someone who had stolen from the guild. "Khajiit would've never sent her alone if she knew", she insisted.

To prove her goodwill, she said she'd assist me in saving her by sending two of her own agents along with us. They're Wadarkhu, a Khajiiti thief who's just about the best sneak you will ever meet anywhere in all of Tamriel, as well as Arathor, a Bosmeri scout who works in South Wall Cornerclub as a bouncer. Not sure about their combat experience, but they're both grown-ass men, so they should prove helpful. Aliya is with me too to provide us with some well-needed spell power, and so is Sjorvar, the Nord who's been working alongside Elone for quite some time. He'll be a decent muscle, as suggested to me by Caius.

I guess this means I know exactly which base I'll be attacking. We're gonna kill everyone inside and free all the slaves. The five of us will have no trouble against a gang of bandit scum. I don't even care about Elone, the Twin Lamps, or the reward any more: I just want to save my sister.

Frostfall, 27th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

Two days ago me, Caius, and an Argonian named Im-Kilaya - a member of the Twin Lamps - made some preparations on handling the aftermath, and formulated a plan to get the slaves we were about to save to safety. Then on the following day, we marched to Hla Oad. The day proved to be equally stressful as it was relieving and rewarding.

In Hla Oad, we knew immediately where to start looking because the local guards seemed awfully concerned about five armed mercenaries appearing out of thin air to loiter around the city. We made our intentions known from the get-go. I think they were on the enemy's payroll, told to keep quiet about the crimes that go on in that village, but they were intimidated enough to not get in our way. I guess a multi-talented assortment of men and one tiny lass, all hailing from different guilds, all working in unison for this one mission, was enough for these two Oathmen to shit their pants, throw their hands in the air, and nope the fuck outta there.

The same could be said about the two blokes running the general store. Wadarkhu snuck up on the Khajiit who had apparently some drama with the Thieves Guild, and with a dagger digging against that fool's neck, Wadarkhu asked some questions about an assortment of Dwemer artifacts while Sjorvar and I kept the clueless-looking Redguard at bay, telling him to stay put if he knew what was best for him. In the end, we got nothing out of them, but as they weren't part of Camonna Tong and simply being paid by them, we didn't feel it would be appropriate to kill them. Instead, we just tied them up to make sure they wouldn't escape.

Underneath this store in a cave with its entrance hidden inside the basement, we also found the enemy's hideout, with twelve of its residents. As I suspected, they proved no match for us, although I must say I may have underestimated their abilities somewhat. Two-thirds of them were nothing more than simple, cowardly bandits, while the rest actually had respectable abilities and proved themselves capable of putting up a fight. Still, it obviously wasn't enough for them. Sjorvar and Arathor suffered some significant injuries in the battle, while I survived with just scratches and one nasty cut. Wadarkhu and Aliya survived unscratched, but the good thing is we're all alive.

Then, we found the slaves: one adult man, two adult women, and two preteen girls, one of which thankfully was Kanna. Words can't describe how happy I was when I found my sister. No doubt they were trying to sell her forward just like the other four, but thankfully we got here before that. It won't help us save all the other slaves who have already been sold forward, maybe even killed in some cases, but at least we've been able to put an end to this business here.

Kanna didn't respond to me calling her name at first, and instead, she just sat still, awake but motionless, almost as if dead. It took a while for her to even realize I was there, and when she did, her eyes lit up almost as if she was about to cry. I already had the key in my hands, so getting her out from her chains was easy. I just couldn't help but hold her and apologize profusely for not being there for her. I was angry at her initially for doing this, but honestly, this was all my fault. I can't deny it no longer, and the only person I should be angry at is myself for not being stricter with her.

She just whispered to me that she was sorry for making me worry and hugged me back… Or tried to. There was no strength left in her muscles.

These motherfuckers have used drugs on her, and it just makes me madder. Never mind all the sexual violence they forced on her, that shit they made her drink could easily kill a child in high doses. It may take days, even weeks for her to get over the withdrawal symptoms, and no doubt that poison has messed her up for life. She couldn't even walk, for fucks sake…

We only waited for about three hours for Im-Kilaya to arrive with a few of his colleagues. They could take these slaves to safety. It was a Legion-owned ship, so you bet they had some soldiers up on the deck too. There was also a particularly thankful old Breton nobleman aboard, looking for her daughter, who had been kidnapped by pirates just north of Blacklight. I'm happy to say her daughter was one of the young girls here. She can finally get home with her father. Im-Kilaya took the other slaves to safety, after which their ship departed for Castle Ebonheart along with several men who had been taken as prisoners. This included the two shopkeepers, by the way, who were charged with conspiring with a criminal organization.

With that, my work is done. Hopefully anyway. I still have a few places to visit, but at least I don't need to leave Kanna alone, not when I have Aliya tending to her needs. Kanna's job to Habasi was a failure, but she's safe now. Habasi said she'll still compensate Kanna for her work and her bravery, which is noble of her. I guess not all thieves are bad and evil people… Although I already knew that. I know Aliya, after all. There's honor amongst them.

Finally, three of our accomplices will get their share of the pay soon enough, and if Ilmeni succeeds in her negotiations with Orvas Dren, Elone will also be freed. Couldn't have hoped for a better outcome.

The next couple of days, maybe even weeks, will be a time for rest and healing, not only for me but all of us three.

Sun's Dusk, 4th, 3E 427

(By Karim)

As I suspected, Elone is now free once again. The negotiations were quite tense, at least if what I heard from Ilmeni is anything to go by, but in the end, Orvas Dren did what's good for him.

I got an instant promotion as well as a generous paycheck from House Hlaalu for my efforts. Crassius Curio was over the moon with me. He literally hugged me as he laughed and told me he'd have to adopt me as a son at this rate because he loves me so much. I understood that he was just joking, but in all seriousness, he said that if I keep up the quality of work I did for him and the Twin Lamps, I'll have a bright future for myself. Elone herself thanked me dearly for everything I did for her.

I also had one final private talk with Ilmeni. She was smiling from ear to ear, giggling and blushing, acting all shy with me, praising me for the work I did. She even asked me if I'm single, joking about maybe having to introduce me to her father and ask if he'd approve of an interracial marriage… Yeah, seriously. I found it difficult to shoot her down because I've got no intention of marrying her, but then again, I don't even know if she was being entirely serious either. She did hug me and suggested that if I ever wanted to meet her in an unofficial capacity, she would be honored to spend time with me.

Yeah, I mean, sure. Never had a chance to bed a Dark Elf or a noble for that manner. That pleasure was not mine that day, not over the past week either, but maybe in the near future.

After that, I've been home in Balmora with my sweet little girls. Kanna is recovering nicely, thanks to her own efforts, and also thanks to Aliya helping her by mostly fetching ingredients for her alchemical experiments and potions. Aliya had a friend in Mages Guild who could help with a recipe that can be used to offset and recover from nasty withdrawal symptoms that Skooma causes, a recipe that Kanna herself is now capable of making for herself. Kanna may be a little inexperienced as an adventurer and ill-fit to care for herself alone, but at least she's a genius when it comes to food, ingredients, and remedies. Must've gotten that from her momma, for she was the best damn chef I've ever known.

It actually boggles me how quickly Kanna is recovering, by the way. She's all smiles here at home, singing and humming during her household work. I keep asking her if she's okay, telling her to be as honest as possible with me, but she just keeps saying the same things over and over again. Of course, she's fine. She loves me and Aliya and everyone else for saving her. She also says that she's so fired up about getting better and stronger. I've even seen her talk to herself about not wanting to lose again. I've never noticed her talking to herself before, so it's a little weird…

Kanna also promised me that she wouldn't ever try to work or travel alone until I gave her explicit permission. From now on, she can only travel with me, or Aliya.

Why Aliya when she's such a newbie herself? Well, she's actually shown extraordinary growth in the magical arts, more so than I could anticipate. Apparently, she joined up with the Telvanni or something, I don't actually know much about them, but they're another Great House. The shit she learned while she was studying there on the east coast boggles my mind. I mean, that chick can float. She can fucking levitate. I can't even begin to understand what it would take for someone to be able to cast such spells when all I can do is cast some petty healing spells that are barely any good. My point is, I can trust her with traveling with Kanna even when I'm not around. I also saw how she fought there in Hla Oad, and I like what I see.

Regardless of everything, I'm just happy to be together with Kanna again. She keeps bugging me about doing something in bed with her, but I feel bad for some reason, especially since I know she was raped and abused… Maybe we'll have our opportunity for private fun soon enough, when Aliya returns to her work with the Blades. She has some assignments from Caius she needs to get on with, so maybe my private time with Kanna isn't too far off.

• 10th Journal - Ashlands (By Aliya)