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Dear Vinion,
As you know, I have been planning the sabotage of Solitude for some time now. My plan was simple: simply dismantle society bit, by bit. However, it has come to my attention that the townsfolk have taken a disliking towards me, and I am hurriedly beginning to get paranoid. I have been checked by guards for no reason whatsoever on numerous occasions. I think they might be on to me.

In fact, just the other night I heard the click of boots and the murmuring of a restless soul just outside my door. Needless to say, I was petrified, and quickly made sure to lock all doors, and go to the upper floor of my residence. There, there was a window that overlooked all of the town, but for what was important right now was right in front of me as I gazed out into the night. A man, in a black hood and brown robe appeared at my door, but did not do anything. Instead, he slipped a paper note under my door. Distraught as I was, I decided to go to bed and reserve such worries for the morning, after a good night's sleep

The next morning I awoke to a nock at the door. It was the head of the guards, come to ask me if I knew anything about the man that had come to my door the night before. I lied, and told him I knew nothing of it, and to report to me if anything of the like every happened again. As soon as he left, I let out a sigh of relief, and picked up the letter off of the ground. I slowly opened it, and saw it to be a letter of fine Dwemer quality, and even handwriting. It read:

"We understand your quest for authority in this town, and it disturbs us. This town belongs to us, not you. Make any further acts and we will make sure that you will be taken care of. Do not alert the authorities, as they are on our side, and will most likely question you of your knowledge on this matter. I will be back tomorrow night at precisely one o'clock, and I expect you by that time to have left the city. This is our territory, and we need no help. This city will be thrown to the dogs, and you have nothing to say about it."

I stood there, stunned and quite frightened. I wondered who this person was, what he wanted, and how he knew what I was doing in town. Not wanting any trouble, I left town, but not before the head of the guard stopped me just as I was leaving. He pressed me on if I knew anything about the Jarl's private room key. I declined, this time without thought, and he gave me a glance. "Anymore news on the man dressed in black?" I asked him, inquisitively. He said he hadn't, but he disclosed to me what was going on with the Jarl's keys. He told me that a few nights ago a man appeared at the front of the palace, wondering where the entrance to the sewers were located. "I couldn't make sense of his question, so I simply told him where it was, and he moved along." That next morning, the guard said, the keys to the Jarl's private quarters were gone. "In absolute fear for the Jarl, I alerted the entire guard, but mentioned nothing of it to the Jarl himself, as it would have caused uncalled for worrying, no doubt."

I wondered if this man he was talking about had anything to do with the man that had slipped the note under my door just the other night. I said goodbye to him, and walked off hurriedly to the stables where my horse was being held. I rode into the cloudless night. Just before the city went out of my site behind the mountains that surround the city, I noticed a few lights going up, towards the top of the tower, where the Jarl's private quarters were. As the lights got higher, they began to fade, and eventually went out completely. Just at that moment, I heard a blood-curling scream, that seemed to come from the tower. I gazed solemnly back, knowing just what had happened, and knowing that I couldn't have done anything about it. I am writing from a small town west of Cheydinhal, in Cyrodiil. Might I be able to stay with you for a while? I am scared out of my wits, and I have the feeling that they are following me, whoever "they" may be. Please, I beg of you to give shelter to an old friend. Thank you.


Sincerely,
Marlathal