Welcome to Gaia! ::

Niall cleared her entry to his quarters and took the seat he gestured to after snatching the letter from his desk. Althea read the note as fast as her eyes could could move, while still listening to Niall as he tried to make sense of the information he had gathered.
The letter read:


Drelfa~
I'm not sure if you know by now, and I hope I'm not too late in telling you this, but there is a bounty on your head for a crime you didn't commit. I can give you the full story once we can meet in person. Now, as old stories between us go, I owe you my life. Now that yours is in jeopardy, I plan on doing everything I can to keep you safe. Follow these instructions carefully, and you should be able to make it to me safely.
First, pack lightly, wear clothes that might make you harder to recognize, and leave whatever city you're currently in. The last I heard, you were in Riverwood, so it should be a relatively easy journey to Whiterun. There, I have a room rented to you. It's a private room, through the kitchen and up the stairs, to the right. In the nightstand there is a map of Skyrim with all the fastest routes marked for you and a coin purse that should have enough for you to buy new clothes, a bed roll, as many supplies as a horse can carry, and a horse itself. (A weapon will come in handy too.) There should also be a various array of precious gemstones, with which you can sell if you need more money along the way. Once you are ready to get on the road again, keep your map by your side and your weapon closer.
The road to Riften is a long one, and the paths marked on the map are the fastest, but you'll still encounter dangers like bandits and wolves, both of which can be outrun on a horse.
I have included at the bottom of this page, directions to my second house I use for emergencies such as this. Make it to Riften safely, get into that house, and I'll meet up with you there as soon as I can. Good luck, my friend.
~Maven Black-Briar


She finished the note just as Niall inquired about the man that treated them to drinks.
Althea looked up at the man, straight in the eye, and began her explanation. She described how she had just abruptly decided to leave, and make good of her travels. She had read about all the dangers and organizations in Skyrim that made it difficult for people to live normal lives without being ambushed or robbed or attacked by a vicious creature. She wanted to help, she wanted adventure. And she wanted a quest that had that potential. She told him the she had already found one she was willing to take on, in helping to clear Drelfa's name. It would mean traveling to Riften, and dealing with this Black-Briar woman, but she was determined to help. "Look, the woman who wrote Drelfa this letter isn't a warrior. She can't defend Drelfa with her life. All she can do is provide a temporary hideout. I want to speak with this Maven, and find out who is wrongly accusing her, and take care of them. They tried to kill me twice in the process of hunting her down, and I want them dead. I became a traveler to do good, and this seems like a good place to start."
Althea took a breath and continued: "And as for the man at the inn, I cannot tell you whether or not he is trustworthy. He offered gold and a powerful ally if we help him get to Winterhold to track down and I'm assuming kill an agent that wronged him. I told him I'd need more details on it, that I'd talk to you about it, and to meet us back at The Bannered Mare at the same time tomorrow so we could talk more about it. At first I suspected he might being trying to trap us somehow, but he can't possibly know me, for I am still new to this country. He wouldn't want you dead, not with your companions at your side. And if he wants both of us on this journey of his, he couldn't possibly overpower the two of us together. So, I think you and I should both speak with him tomorrow. And I'd like you to think over going to Riften with me after that Altmer girl, as well. I'd like your company."
Althea took a deep breath as Niall seemed to begin thinking her words over. She decided it was time for her to depart and get some rest. Sleep always cleared her mind and helped her make the best choices. She politely dismissed herself and promised to be at the Bannered mare the next day, to meet up with her and Arcan.
Althea had an uneventful walk back to the inn, and searched the benches and bar for Arcano, but he must have departed. She made her way to her room. She locked her door, unadorned her weapons but no her armor, and lied back and her brain began racing frantically, trying decide which issue to cover first.
After hours of this, sleep finally found Althea. Yet she was still aware of her surroundings, somehow, as she slept.

OOC: Arcan is a normal vampire, (vanilla Skyrim). I don't have Dawnguard so I won't be able to play out the exact stats of a vampire lord.

The knife idea is great and it might be something I may use in the latter.

Yes, I suspect the quest my character is posing will give both Niall and Althea some protection, since they know where they'll be heading and won't have to scramble all over Tamriel from the bounty-hunters looking for a particular Thalmor, and gladly they aren't looking for Arcan, even though he is slowly not carrying for the lot given his change and becoming more independent.

Oh as far as "day" is concerned, I believe your post will determine the "next day."

Arcan Lor


spacer Arcan woke that morning feeling better from his night. After getting dressed and reading a few tomes he found, Arcan went to the smith to purchase a Iron Dagger for 10 septims. Arcan needed a small weapon just in case he needed to think quick when he runs out of Magicka. Plus, using a dagger to get some blood on it and then lick the blood off should not be an unusual sight, given the fact that macabre kind of folk are seen day to day.

Then after going to the smith, Arcan went to Dragonsreach for the Court Wizard, Farengar, to see if he had any soul gems to buy. Granted the Court Wizard did, but figured he had only 5 septims and thought it would be best to go to the General Store and buy a Pickaxe for ore and gold mining.

After Arcan made all of his purchases and running his spending money dry ,(Arcan was still carrying 1500 septims, but that was for the quest reward), Arcan went back to the Bannered Mare and sat next to Althea. Arcan sighed, "Long day, no horse, walking around a lot. Finally got myself a pickaxe and a dagger just in case I run out of Magicka. How was your day?"

Niall listened to Althea talk about meeting Maven Black-briar and then explained about the man in the tavern. her words danced around the answers that he wanted. the discussion turned to things of less importance and the two friends parted ways. turning and making his way back to a chair, Niall collapsed down and began to rub the bridge of his nose feeling a headache coming on. muttering under his breath he shed his armor and slipped underneath the furs that covered his bed falling asleep quickly, dreaming of howls and hunts.

the next morning, Niall awoke with a snap and rolled to his feet, grumbling at the last words he remembered his friend speaking sighing he decided to clear his head. he slipped on a loose shirt breeches and sinched it shut with a wide leather belt. pulling on a heavy apron and heavy boots Niall let Jorrvaskr and made his way to the skyforge, it was early yet and the forge master had yet to arrive. so Niall began to work, pounding iron and steel in to sword blanks and quenching them in a special mix of oil and water. as he worked he listed out what he knew

One: Althea has very little knowlege of who is who in Skyrim and that can get you killed. but her heart was in the right place. so help her.

Two: THE Maven Black-Briar was going out of her way to warn a friend of hers about an impending attack and bounty. a woman like her would normally distance herself from those kinds of relationships so this was an especially odd case. it bore investigating if for that reason alone. but the more pressing matter was that an innocent woman was out there being hunted. not good.

Three: the mystery man at the inn. he wants someone dead in Winterhold, that probably means a mage. since the colledge is the only thing left up that way. and she said Agent that implies several things.

sighing he finished his work on the heavy steel blade he was currently working on and set the hammer down.

"well I guess this means i need to pack for an extended trip and i need to find that woman before she makes any promises she shouldn't"

stepping away from the forge, Niall turned and quietly made his way down to the Bannered Mare once more to see if Althea and there mystery friend was around. just in time to hear her talk about her day in clipped sentences.

" Beat metal in to weapons all morning, cleared my head, hello." he fell in with the pattern looking to the... high elf that was sitting next to Althea " I take it this is he?" Niall asked giving a polite nod to the High elf.

"The White Wolf of Jorrvaskr"

Niall blinked at the High elves admission, for once in a long time he was rendered speechless, a Former agent of the Thalmor? was there such a thing? if there was this was the first time he had ever met one. at least without trying to kill such a person. and to top it all off, the man admitted to being a vampire? he was either very brave, very stupid or very trusting. probably a combination of all of the above, and to be honest he could put more in to the bravery category. even the Companions did not advertise the fact that the majority of the brotherhood were Werewolves.

Niall stared at Arcan for several more moments before a deep rumbling chuckle burst forth from the man. " well its good to see that your taste has improved Serah." his tone turned serious. " You place a great amount of trust in us. and so let us hear what you have to say. its the least I can do... for a fellow undesirable" he finished with a whisper. Leaning forwards, Niall's eyes were shadowed for a second and glinted yellow for just a moment before he rested his elbows on the table to show his attention, cocking his head to the side much like a dog would when listening.

"The White Wolf of Jorrvaskr"