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Private The Missing Crown

The trip west across Skyrim was much more easy and simplistic than it had usually been, thanks to the amazing ride Jacoby managed to grab a hold of, a perk of being aligned with people as high up in society as the Black-Briars.

After a few hours, the carriage stopped at Dragon's Bridge. Jacoby and the rest could not be seen together, it would obviously spark up suspicions. With the Guild already knowing there's a traitor within their ranks, the last thing he needed was for them to have evidence, so he entered Solitude a couple hours before the rest of the group. Dressed in his finer clothing, he approached the gates knowing the guards would give him trouble like they always do. Except this time, instead of hassling him for information, they let him in as soon as he told them his name, one even saying, "We've been expecting you." At that moment, the dunmer knew this was more than just a heist, it was a conspiracy, Maven had turned many of the guards and nobles in her favor.

Jacoby casually walked to the obvious base of operations the Guild must have acquired by now. He didn't take a second glance at anyone, just walking straight up the steps and to the front door, before knocking.

"Knock, knock! Heheh!" He didn't know who was already inside, but he remembered the members from before, and if he could fool them just until it was time to steal the crown, Maven's plan could play out smoothly.
 
Hides heard a knock at the door, and he motioned for one of his knives to get it. Verlock moved to do so, and Hides saw a finely dressed man. "You come in here. I don't think we have met my name is Hides-Many-Knives." Hides stood there in his Dark Brotherhood armor, fine ebony dagger at his side exspertly poisoned, and hood as black as night. His greenish brown scales lightly polished so he had a certain gleam, like a poisoned knife he mused. "Now I hope you'll stay. You will find me most... hospitable." Verlock laughed, for he had worked with Hides enough to know about his hospitality.
Hides looked this man over, and he searched his brain through all of the Thieves Guild members. Graverobber and Selia's old associate, Hides cursed. He just couldn't quite remember.
 
As soon as the argonian who answered the door had addressed himself, Jacoby remembered Selia mentioning Hides before. He never met with the two earlier, but Jacoby knew they had played a major part in their previous mission, and getting to know his "partners" in crime would be the best route to take now.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Hides. The name is Jacoby Pneulon, but just Jacoby should suffice. You're correct, we haven't met, but Selia has told me of your prowess in... assassination." With that, he dropped the satchel he had been carrying with him containing his stealth clothing, some stolen wares, and a few personal notes. He left it at the corner of the room while he himself went to take a seat at the table. "If you and your party are as good as I've heard, this mole hunt should be child's play. Have you come across any other Guild members along your travels? Remember, everyone is a suspect."
 
Hides stared into the man's eyes, that inhuman smile creeping onto his face. "Depends on what you hear. But I digress. I haven't come across what likely was the work of two younger members. I just want one job where there is not an dying guard at the gates." Hides took out a goblet and poured himself some wine. He began to sip at the drink. "Nice to know Selia has some respect for my professionalism. So Master Jacoby how does the new blood look?" Remember everyone is suspect, Hides pondered that odd statement. Well, I should gather some evidence, for hunting the mole is like hunting anything you need at least some information. "So rude of me would you like some wine?" Hides widened his smile revealing all of his thin razor teeth.
 
( Damn forgot I was playing sickle :p) I walk out of the building and head over to to the palace. I smile, remembering Salxhi-Dexstra. I scurry up the wall of the palace, and notice a small chink that I squeeze through, and how the window is broken. I head back down and get an idea. I run back to the house to tell Hides.
 
Jinsley realized that he really had no time to case the castle now, and that Foronir was more than capable of doing so by his self. If Morwor and Foronir were here, the others must have arrived by now. "Actually, I'll head over to Proudspire," Jinsley whispered. "The others will have arrived by now, and I would hate to keep them waiting." He looked at the crate again, noticing that Foronir was still having trouble supporting it. "Unless of course you absolutely require my company."

Foronir shook his head, and Jinsley walked off toward Proudspire, this time making sure he approached the right door.
 
Hides and Jacoby where having a wonderous time, and it didn't involve torture. Jacoby proved to be quite unstable, but not as much as Selia. I can actually hold a conversation, Hides mused as an odd feeling at the base of his tail started. "Someone is coming, so you wanted to meet the newest members." Hides held a thin finger up to his lips and soon melded into the shadows. Aw I missed this part of the job, Hides thought, sometimes being the boss has a certain lack of fun. "Go let our young friends in play the part of the boss of this operation. Mostly because you are." His laughter seeming to come from the very darkness.
 
Jacoby couldn't help but chuckle at the comment made regarding the guards, even though they weren't an issue this time around, he still held a natural distaste for any and every guard he came across. He eagerly accepted the wine offering, realizing he might as well enjoy himself while he was here.

"I have yet to come across any "new blood" yet. But my guess is as good as yours, we'll have to wait and see now won't we?" The two enjoyed the light conversation for the time being until steps could be heard from the outside. The argonian noticed them first, taking Jacoby by surprise with the sudden reaction. As soon as Hides slid into the shadows and let Jacoby handle who was at the door, the reluctant graverobber responded to the whole 'leadership' statement.

"No! I was gonna be the one to take cover!" Jacoby hated having to meet new people if he wasn't expecting them first. It's easy to say he probably disliked anything he wasn't planned for overall. "And if being the boss means simply means being a doorman, I'm perfectly alright with that. When everything else in this mission is playing out, I'm calling you boss whether you like it or not." Jacoby relished the fact that his comrade didn't enjoy the leadership role either. For one, it would make him easier to work with. And two, no definitive leader in this mission could spell bad news for the Guild, which is just what Maven would have wanted. With that in mind, he proceeded to the door, awaiting to respond to whomever was behind.
 
Vincent decided to wait in Proudspire manor. The word has spread towards his fellow guild members about there temperary base of operations here in solitude. It spread fast. Vincent was walking about the main living room thinking about a plan on stealing the crown. Now how would I do this...should I pretend to be a noble or should I use invisibiltiy, maybe I could pretend too be a guard. So many options...thought Vincent. He then realized that this was a team effort, so he can't go back too his old "lone-wolf" ways. I should wait for the others. Last time I went solo I ended up in Cidha mines. That was hell, thought Vincent. He then saw someone walk into the building. It was a bosmer man wearing leather armor. He had an elven dagger at his holster. Vincent knew he was part of the guild. He saw him at honeyside, during the heist breifing. Hello fellow guild member. Welcome to proudspire manor.
 
I watch Hides bland into the shadows and Jacoby walk to the door huh Hides doesen't like being the leader... That's to bad, I don't trust Jacoby. I don't think he would be the mole, too close to selia. I go up next to the door, waiting to greet whoever came through the other side.
 
Hides watched, his wide smile still on his face. For only the most exspirienced could spot such a smile glossy shine. He watched Jacoby confront the new blood, and Hides was thinking. He obviously does hate leading, Hides observed, but he didn't deny it adamantly as one usually would. Hides rolled silently across the floor by Jacoby's bag. He decided to start his investigation at the closest source, and as he went through the clothes and assorted junk he found letters. He rarely had to use his photographic memory these days but Hides was happy as he placed the letters perfectly in place. Interesting information for later, Hides thought. Verlok was in the area,Hides mused, I might need my Knives for the time for us to show our strength was impending. To the Thieves Guild, to the competition, and to the empire.
 
Vincent saw Morwor had taken off his invisibility cloak. He comes in a friendly greeting. Glad to see me? He asked. Vincent smiled, the young altmer kid had completed his infiltration. Looks like he can use his magika and thievery well. Props to the young one, he thought. He walked up too Morwor and gave him an answer. I'm glad too see that your not captured if that's what your saying, said Vincent. Giving a chuckle at the end of his sentence. Nice job with the illusion magic and the lockpicking. You have a skill for it, I'll give you that. Vincent felt a bit like a brother. He has an altmer sister in Cyrodiil but he never had a brother, let alone an altmer brother. He felt this was good for him. Now then. I think we should we wait for Selia and the others. Any questions or suggestions? Said Vincent to the rest of the people that walked in to proudspire manor.
 
Hides watched the new blood, taking everyones measure. What an odd number of elves, Hides mused, and some high elves as well. Magic was never one of Hides favorite hobbies, and he definately didn't like the idea of finger wagglers trying to do a true theif or assassin's job. Need Scalpel, he always had an eye for the talents of others, Hides never said no to new recruits. After all you can study your poisons on them if they prove... inefficient. Hides moved back behind his desk and put his feet up hood over his eyes. Hides knew he needed to see how Jacoby responded. Now all he needed was to find out who was the best so he could gain another ranked Knife.
 
Jinsley entered with the others, slightly surprised to hear that they were still waiting on a few members. He took a seat and looked around the room; there were quite a few elves, a few argonians, and a couple of humes. He was unsure of how he felt in his current situation; the guards knew his face now, and would surely pounce on him given the chance. He would have to be careful from this point on. He took another look at his fellow thieves. A group of seasoned thieves. Yes, Jinsley had experience, but the bosmer had never set out to fulfill a task as large as this. He could pick locks and pockets with ease. He could skip, hop and flip out of many tight situations. But could he cut it here, where the consequences were not arrest, but death?

What am I thinking? I'm the best thief to have ever come out of Valenwood, am I not?

The room remained silent for several minutes, the thieves having nothing else to say to one another. Jinsley yawned and leaned back in his seat. He was eager to prove himself to the others. He stood up and paced around the room, hoping to portray to the others how anxious he was to begin. He whistled, hoping to perhaps break the silence, but to no avail. "Oh, how boring!"
 
Hides shifted his view to see the young man who spoke. He was anxious and impatient, Hides thought, Never the best quality for a thief. Hides watched Jacoby freeze in the group of young associates, and so Hides stood up and spoke. "Welcome young blood. My name is Hides-Many-Knives. And I will be your... Boss yess that will suffice." Hides looked over the group, and saw he had their unbroken attention. "I would prefer a sense of proffessionalism. That means only one casualty. The fool who seeks to betray us. Lets have some fun. 5,000 septims. From my own coffers for the person with proof and the head of the mole." Every head snapped to Hides, he spoke their language. "Now then I am obviously more of an assassin type." Hides motioned towards his Dark Brotherhood garb. "But I can still help with the planning."
 
As Dar'arjo came too, it took him a few seconds to realize what was happening. He could tell that where ever he was, it was an extremely hot and humid place. As his vision started to come back to him, he then saw the source, a wall of fire that was closing in on him. Once his senses had completely returned to him, he saw that he was lying on the floor of a small wooden room that was being engulfed in flames. As Dar'arjo tried to find a way through the fire, he saw that wherever door there had been to this room was now just a wall of fire. Just as Dar'arjo decided that he had no choice but to charge through the flames, the floor caved in underneath him, causing Dar'arjo to fall into what appeared to be the underbelly of a ship. Dar'arjo jumped out of the way to avoid falling debris, while looking for a way to escape this deathtrap. "Wait of second, the floor is starting to flood, there must be a hole in the ship!" cried Dar'arjo, and ran to the source of the water, as the fire started to climb down the walls of the ship around him. He saw a hole just big enough for him to fit his fist in, and started to hack at it with his claws.

As the hole slowly got bigger, Dar'arjo felt the fire start engulfing the entire under deck of the ship. As he felt the heat intensify, he manged to break away a large piece of wood, making a big enough hole that he could barely squeeze through. As Dar'arjo emerged into the ocean, he swam as fast as he could, not going up for breath until he was certain that he was far away from the burning ship. When Dar'arjo came up for air, he could see the last of the ship start to turn into ash. As he he looked closer, he saw famillier looking flag on the side of the ship, that was soon swallowed up by the flames. "Well...that was close." Thought Dar'arjo as he looked around, to find that he was wasn't to far from the coast of Solitude. "Seems like the Red Wave and its crew have sailed for the last time". And with that, Dar'arjo set off back to the city, hopeing to get back to the other thieves before things got too out of hand.
 
5,000 septims. From my own coffers for the person with proof and the head of the mole. Vincent heard this and saw the other guild members turn there heads at there "boss". Vincent decided to take no part in this. He was a thief, not a killer. He didn't mind that Hides made himself "boss". He was more experienced than the young ones, plus he has been with the guild longer than them. They can have their manhunt but if they force me too take part, then I'll tell them where too stick it. I'm a thief, not assassin, thought Vincent. He then moved to a chair nearer the group. Vincent waited for a couple of orders. He was more older than the young novices and much more seasoned than them, so he would more of help.
 
"Now if you have moral issues with the killing of the mole. I still exspect you to help in the search. Never know maybe it is 5,000 bonus for every guild member involved. Now then let us talk about the actual job." Hides smiled most thieves where one prod away from assassins, and he knew even if they hid it everyone was interested. Funny thing about betrayal, Hides pondered, everyone betrays the betrayer. "High Queen Elisef has the crown under lock and key, obviously. The Blue Palace is just that a lavish home, nothing like Castle Dour. So you have to figure out which location it is being kept. Elisef is no fool so she could see the wisdom of hiding the crown." Hides looked at the back of the room seeing Stilletto enter, and motioned for her to meet him later. "Now then get to work Sithis or Nocturne provides." Why play games, Hides thought, time to establish the spy network. Hides smiled his inhuman smile, and laughed as they stared at him Hides grew serious. "Are you going to gawk or you going to get to work. Because I do need new subjects for my exspirements."
 
(Grrr... curse my alerts for telling me nothing)

Though he thought the noise had come from the outside, it turned out to be from within. Vincent had already been in the home and greeted him. Jacoby was startled at first, not knowing there was already someone here. He remembered him from earlier, paying him a slight nod. Before he could formally address him, an Altmer who called himself Morwor suddenly appeared before the slowly growing group, a face Jacoby had not seen prior. While he let the two go about their business, he couldn't help but take notice of the newly re-named Sickle looking at him, hopefully not having any suspicions. He also noticed Hides taking an interest in the satchel he left sitting in the corner. He wanted to say something, but remained cool and collected to not seem guilty of anything. After the Bosmer, Jinsley, had made his way to Proudspire and took his seat, Hides noticed Jacoby going silent (not being used to the whole group environment), and began to speak to the whole group, explaining a rundown of what had to be done, naming himself leader of the mission, and even putting down an ultimatum, willing to offer 5,000 septims for apprehending the traitor.

"No, I'm not gonna go silent now. They always suspect the odd one out. I refuse to attract too much attention, but I'm sure as hell not gonna keep my mouth shut the whole time. I'll let him lead the mole hunt. I have a crown to steal." He stopped thinking to himself and began to speak aloud. "Well whom ever it may be shouldn't be our main priority at the moment, considering there may be a traitor. What we do know is that we're rivaled in this chase for the crown, and that's what I intend to focus on."


Outside Jacoby could hear the clatter and tapping sounds of the two fine horses guiding Maven's carriage. The townspeople gathered to see the Riften diplomat on the streets on her way to meet with Elisif. Jacoby couldn't help but form a devilish grin. "Soon enough..."
 
"Well whom ever it may be shouldn't be our main priority at the moment, considering there may be a traitor. What we do know is that we're rivaled in this chase for the crown, and that's what I intend to focus on." Hides listened to Jacoby's first words, and he watched everyone funnel out of the room. Who would like us to not focus on the mole, Hides mused, Either he is to insane to properly betray a group or he is just to insane. "Either way you will likely form teams, and know you are being watched. My men whom you may have heard of, will be keeping tabs after all I may want to keep my own gold." This garnered a few chukles from the thieves, and they soon left Hides office. Hides heard horses and all he thought was wonder who that it could be. After all Thieves Guild was a secondary employer, and mercenary work was a favorite pastime. Time to go check with Stilletto and Scalpel, after all infiltrating Castle Dour wasn't easy. Business is killing people, Hides thought, and business is good in these dark times.
 
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