From skar to Ebonheart

Finally having visited every place and talked to everyone actually in the town of Ald'ruhn I made for this large structure known as "skar". A lot of places are referred to has "under skar" so I can see why. I wasn't paying attention to the details but it's a large shell-like structure with many, many doorways inside.

Many of these places have really similar names and look extremely a like. I didn't really have a lot of reason to go in there except for one minor quest but skar is like an entire city in and of itself. So I went in. Several hours later I had accomplished maybe one thing and was thoroughly dizzy from all the similarly named NPCs I had encountered most of which had told me the same thing. I did find some kind of wise woman who had a lot of information and some books that leveled me up. Finally, I left skar for greener pastures.

At this point I could have gone back to Fort Buckmoth to look for the NPC that'd give me a new legion quest but instead I decided I would make for Ebonheart and the promise of "shrine sergeant" quests via the Imperial Cult. I no longer felt like walking however so I took a couple silt strider rides down Vivec and hiked over to Ebonheart. Ebonheart is a giant castle-like structure divided into three main sections connected by walkways on top of castle walls. Within the castle is the main office of the East Empire Company.

Didn't the British have a similarly named company several hundred years ago? No? Fine whatever.

Eventually I did find the Imperial Cult cathedral and "Kaye" who promptly gave me the position of shrine sergeant and gave me a mission: finding a high elf named Caryarel who had been treated for swamp fever in the chapel some time back after a which a rare limeware bowl disappeared turned up mission. I am to find this elf and try to retrieve the bowl. The high elves are a close-knit community and I am to ask other high elves where I may find Caryarel in particular. I don't even know where the high elves hang out actually. So I'm clueless on this mission.

I also found the local in charge of the Imperial Legion, Frald the White, who also gave me a mission: to challenge Buoyant Armiger Salyn Sarethi at the Ghost Gate to a contest of contest of wit, poetry, and honor. Salyn Sarethi it seems has been doubting our courtesy. Although why we care I don't know. And I just came from there. And there's a fire-demon in the way. Damn.

Also what makes him Buoyant? Does he float real well? Is there a water-logged Armiger too? Why am I the only one asking this questions??

After more wandering I found Llaalam Dredil, advisor to duke dren. He asked me to deliver a letter to J'Zhirr at the East Empire Company. I looked at the letter and it had a list of price markups for various items including "D. Artifacts". Aren't those the things that are protected by Imperial law and treason to sell? Damn hypocritical Empire.

I deliver the letter and receive a letter to return: this one accepting the prices in the form of a promissory note. Although how such a contract could be enforced since it specifies illicit activities and items I don't know. Llaalam Dredil thanks me for the errand and gave me 75 whole gold for doing so.

Although it apparently was never officially assigned as quest via the journal I have also heard of some "Lord's Mail" that has gone missing. After some bribing I was told to talk to someone at the Imperial Commission. He gave me a name and told me to talk to the soldiers at the Imperial Guard HQ. They weren't useful as all they said was "he stayed in the sout west room here". I went in to what I though was that room but couldn't find anything of interest. Just a bed and some candles on a nightstand. So I tried casting the old "detect enchantment" spell. I succeeded with the spell but apparently nothing showed up. Must be something I'm missing there.

Reasonably certain I've completed everything to be completed in Ebonheart I now get to decide what I get to do next.

I could go back to Balmora and join the Mages guild or Thieves guild. Or there is this "House Redoran" that is held in high regard by the Legion. Or I could simply skim over my journal and see if there's any other quests I may have forgotten about. Anything to avoid the long arduous trial that will be Vivec in other words.

I just remembered I had received a new mission from the fighters guild: Percius Mercius, who I did find at Fort Buckmoth told me to aid Buoyant Armiger Ulyne Henim in an expedition to Vas, a remote island west of Dagon Fel. That's all it says in the Journal however the longer version is that this NPC acknowledges it's a rather long walk irregardless and my best bet is a boat out of another city; Tel Mora I think.

That sounds like it could take longer than Vivec and I'm fairly certain I'm not to the level that would allow this quite yet.

The decision of what to do will have to wait for next time.