Skyrim By Democracy: A Rapid-Fire Riftonian Romp
Wrathberry was concerned she hadn't found enough plot hooks, so she spent the afternoon talking to people around Riften.
It was a lovely day for it, and the obvious place to start was the market.
The friendly food saleswoman Marise Aravel was happy to chat about the freshness of her produce. It turned out she used ice wraith teeth to keep things cold; unfortunately, her supplies were dwindling. She asked Wrathberry if she wouldn't mind tracking down, say, five lots of teeth.
"I'll keep you in mind," said Wrathberry.
Bolli was also there, with a small parcel of fish for Marise to freeze. He explained that he was in charge of the Riften Fishery - thirty years, man and boy - and he was just about to agree a ten-year fish deal with Markarth's Silver-Blood Inn. He asked Lydia if she wouldn't mind taking his letter to Kleppr.
"I can't promise anything, but Wrathberry'll keep you in mind," said Lydia.
On the market plaza, people were struggling to get used to life without Brand-Shei. Haelga just stood there, staring at his empty market stall. Wrathberry felt bad for her. She didn't do anything.
Instead, she sold several of the Thieves Guild's free beginners' poison to Grelka.
Our heroines met Balimund, Riften's home-grown blacksmithing legend. He explained that he used fire salts to keep his forge hot, but he'd been running a bit low recently. He asked Wrathberry if she wouldn't mind gathering, say, ten bowls of fire salts for him.
"Sure, if I'm flush with fire salts," said Wrathberry.
Before leaving the forge, Wrathberry turned some spare sabre cat pelts into leather and upgraded her Thieves Guild armour. Whatever special tanning technique they used had made it as strong as Elvish armour, a good choice to wear in battle until she found something better.
In the Bee and Barb, Wrathberry ran into Louis Letrush. Louis had been working out a deal to buy Sibbi Black-Briar's horse, Frost, but Sibbi was now in prison with half of Louis's money. Louis asked Wrathberry to negotiate with Sibbi, or failing that, steal Frost and her lineage papers.
Sibbi, of course, was the daughter of Maven Black-Briar, Riften's most influential and least moral businesswoman. Yes, even less moral than Nivenor! If Sibbi was in prison, it had to have been for something very bad.
Wrathberry loved knocking sense into entitled mafia princelings - theoretically, at least. She'd never done it before. "Leave it with me, Louis," she said, "and I may or may not reimbhorse you!"
Mjoll the Lioness and her good friend Aerin were also in for lunch. She got to talking about her days as a traveller, and how she'd lost her sword in a Dwemer ruin.
"I could," began Wrathberry.
"There's a bug, sorry. I can't actually offer you the quest until you've gone up a level," Mjoll cut in.
"...Oh." Wrathberry pouted. "No big deal, I'll come by later."
"Please do. I'd love to catch up with you and your friend," Mjoll smiled, giving Lydia a nod.
Next, Wrathberry and Lydia had a look in the Temple of Mara. The priestess, Dinya Balu, happened to have had a vision of a girl in Ivarstead who needed romantic advice. She asked if our heroines wouldn't mind awfully going and advising the poor thing, and for bonus points, killing her parents.
"Yes and yes!" agreed Wrathberry. "I mean, assuming I still feel like it in a few minutes."
"Yes and maybe," agreed Lydia. "Er, by the way, is Mjoll the Lioness--"
"Ohhh, yes. Definitely," said Dinya, nodding emphatically.
There was still more of Riften to wander, and after leaving the Temple of Mara, our heroines found themselves at the docks. The biggest building there was the Riften Fishery, where Wrathberry felt a sudden premonition.
"Viriya and Swims-In-Deep-Water..." she muttered. "Something about a note? Lots and lots of notes, 'cause it's cheaper than hiring voice actors in seven languages?"
"Wrathberry, you're babbling something!" cried Lydia.
"I won't go back to Avanchnzel! I won't!" wailed From-Deepest-Fathoms, pressing an inscribed lexicon into Wrathberry's hands.
"U-um..." said Wrathberry. "I guess we can bring it to Avanchnzel? Like if we're going that way?" she sighed, stuffing the cube under the mountain of potions in her handbag. "What a wild afternoon..."
Now that we've got dozens of plot hooks, what should Wrathberry do?
Help Louis Letrush get his horse.
Visit Angarvunde and look for Medresi Dran.
Help the people of Largashbur with their giant problem.
Give the young woman from Ivarstead romantic advice.
Take the Inscribed Lexicon to Avanchnzel.
Deliver Bolli's letter to Kleppr, in Markarth.
Join the Riften Fishery and help Viriya with whatever.
Go for a walk in the woods.
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