[The journal is badly battered and the binding is loose, looking fragile enough that one rough shake might send the pages flying loose. Water marks stain the crumpled pages and there places where some have been torn out altogether. It has the look and smell of something that was most likely fished out of a bin at some point. The writing in the earliest entries is uneven and childlike, and there are some places where letters have been traced repeatedly in practice.]
Grocer is being difficult. Need to teach him a lesson. Need some nirnroot and nightshade and grease. Alchemist won’t be kept away by these apples.
Nirnroot - found by river side
Nightshade - stole from the florist, fell for El’s puppy eyes way too easy
Grease - alchemist wasn’t so easy, had to buy, 10 gold
[There’s a series of calculations scribbled below. Tagged at the end is ‘may need to press grocer harder for gold upfront.’ Another hand has written ‘we could just kill him’ which is replied to with ‘NO.’]
Apples worked too well. Grocer ended up in prison overnight. No gold = unhappy Maevis. An empty shop should be easy pickings though. Guards are easy.
[Someone has added a note to the end of the passage that reads ‘stop getting in guards’ trousers you arse’ which has been replied to with ‘just try and stop me.’]
Grocer’s back, learned his lesson too. Paid everything he owed.
More traders in town. Caravan leader has a daughter. Definitely cute, very pretty eyes. Might be able to have some fun when I swindle her.
[There are more scribbled notes with an indecipherable meaning. However the first letter of every sentence forms a dirty sentence, which is probably the intention. There is an added note at the bottom in the other person’s hand that says ‘ugh.’ Scribbled next to it is a rather crude drawing of an obscene gesture.]
[Later entries become neater, with less noticeable stains and the handwriting seems to have improved. There are still accompanying notes written in the other person’s hand, which also shows signs of improvement.]
Arrived in Anvil a little behind schedule, but no big deal. Caravan got us here well enough and no sign of Maevis’ cronies past the border. Wouldn’t put it past her to chase us to the ends of Tamriel though, so no sense in dropping my guard yet.
Still need work, not much gold left between me and El. Got approached by a weird woman in a hood who says her Benefactor sent her. Apparently has a job for me. Could be a trap set by Maevis, but I’ve given her the slip how many times. Can’t afford to be picky, might as well see what it’s about. Won’t tell El though. If it’s blood money she won’t say no.
Headed for Betnikh on the Spearhead. Beat the others to bedding Jakarn first - was a lot of fun. Lots of stamina. Should keep me entertained until I get off this tub. Kaleen way too serious for me. Larissa is fun, played hide and seek with her below deck. Howler is a dead giveaway, winning was easy. Neramo needs to learn to shut up, but Clanker brings drinks so I won’t complain much. Might need to nick that dwemer shock thing from him. Nicolene is cute but way too into Kaleen, never going to get anywhere with that one. Lambur is Lambur, as always. Fun when she’s drunk though.
[Below in a new hand someone has written ‘thanks for the assessment good looking, you always leave this out for people to read?’ which has been replied to with ‘it’s fun this way because you always know who the snoops are.’]
Betnikh ruined fun times. Kaleen and Nicolene are both steamed. Remind me of Maevis the way they’re looking at me. Lambur is happy, keeps bringing me drinks. Need to be drunk to deal with that shit show. Larissa doesn’t seem bothered. Doesn’t agree but respects my choice. Always knew I liked her.
Back to Daggerfall. Feels dangerous even now, but just need to bring this petition to some Covenant Officer and I can slip away before anyone tells Maevis. Had enough of this saving people business.
[Someone else has written ‘you’re not drunk enough if you can write straight.’]
