Looking at the Stones, Dar'Elaraya chooses her birthsign of Evening Star, the Thief Stone. Feeling the blessing that came from the stone, Dar'Elaraya felt as though she were more advanced in the art of stealth: lighter feet, more lock and lockpicking knowledge, better pickpocketing. Ralof said something about a town not far from here before departing. What was it? Checking her map, she found Helgen. Looking at the mountain location she was on and the ones on the map, she seemed to be near... Riverwood! That was it. Dar'Elaraya can stock up there and then head to the east Holds; the Rift, Eastmarch, and Winterhold. Strange names for the Holds here. Looking towards the sky, Secunda and Masser could be seen joining the stars in the sky.

"This one need something?" Said a male Khajiit, startling Dar'Elaraya halfway out of her wits. Turning to the speaker, she addresses him. "Are you Khajiit with a caravan?" The male Khajiit nods. He wore steel plate armor, no helm. "Where do your travels take you?"

"To the north, the capital in the Pale, to the east, the capital for Whiterun Hold, then to the south, the capital in the Rift. We take the Pale Pass from Whiterun to Riften, as it is out of the way. As this one sees, we were just returning to Riften." He said casually. "Does this one wish to follow?"

"Yes, Dar'Elaraya does. You said you were headed to Riften?" She says, her eyes bright with excitement and hope. This one can join them, show them she has what it takes to be a thief! This one does after all know the Shadowmarks. It would be good to keep an eye out for them in Riften. The male Khajiit then introduced himself as Khajro and the caravan he guarded with another Khajiit, Dro'marash. The two merchants they travel with are Ahkari and Zaynabi. Kharjo told Dar'Elaraya that he had recently lost his Moon Amulet to a group of bandits that raided the caravan a short time ago, his amulet being the only memory of Elsweyr while he travels in Skyrim.

"This one will retrieve it for you."

"You are kind to offer. We believe the bandits are part of a group headquartered here." Kharjo points to White Water Watch, east of Whiterun, on Dar'Elaraya's map. "Be careful. I miss my amulet, but a life cannot be replaced as easily."

They then keep going from the Stones. The way was uneventful as they passed Helgen, Dar'Elaraya warning them that bandits may be there. They saw a Stormcloak camp just off the path, and a hunter a bit beyond that. Still uneventful, though now much colder, they passed a cave that seemed...off. They then heard a fight going on up ahead, and as the caravan neared, Dar'Elaraya saw a Nord man, a Breton woman, and a Redguard woman. Vigilants of Stendarr. The group of three had just killed a vampire. Dar'Elaraya shivered at the thought of coming across one with such a disease.

One thing Dar'Elaraya did not expect to see on a path: goats. One, two, three of them. Then a wolf ran towards the Khajiit, going for the goats. Pulling out her sword, Dar'Elaraya joins Kharjo and Dro'Marash in the fight, though the wolf wasn't that big of a problem. A single wolf was too easy.

Then a second came through, right after the first. Both now seeing the Khajiit, they let the goat go and ran towards the caravan. Dro'Marash taking one, Kharjo taking the other, Dar'Elaraya felt unneeded as they killed the wolves with a single strong swing of their swords. The Khajiit then decided to skin their pelts, figuring she can use it for armor or to sell. After gathering both pelts, Dar'Elaraya walked back over to the others and they continued on their way. It started to warm up, and the trees started to have yellow-gold leaves on them. There were deer and elk in the trees, running away as the caravan got close.

"An abandoned hut." Comments Dar'Elaraya, seeing the small home off the side of the trail. Just as she was going to check out the house, a troll came charging at them.

"Move it!" Yells Kharjo, running at the troll pulling his sword out of its scabbard quick as a snake. Dar'Elaraya joins him, using fire to her advantage. Everyone knows trolls are weak to fire, so she dual casted flames from her palm, being sure to not hit Kharjo and to not miss the troll. Finally going down, the troll lies dead. Both Khajiit run to catch up with the others, now keeping three swords out as they continue their way to Riften.

"Which way does this one follow?" Dar'Elaraya askes Dro'Marash as they near a cross section. Dro'Marash, having traveled this way many times, too many to count and too many to have to think about the way, immediately says, "Our caravan goes straight, and eventually we follow the Treva River to Lake Honrich, next to Riften."

Seeing a sign post with directions, Dar'Elaraya shakes her head in shame. Only a little farther down Pale Pass she saw another sign with the same-ish directions. Passing the sign, all the Khajiit hear a bear roar up ahead. At the same time, Dro'Marash, Kharjo, and Dar'Elaraya say, "Stay here, this one will check the bear." Looking at each other, they each shrug and go carefully and silently up the path to the bear, hopefully to shoot it with a bow.

As they get closer, Kharjo hands Dar'Elaraya a hunting recurve bow. "Is this one good at archery?" He askes, handing over a couple of arrows.

Dar'Elaraya nods. "Yes, Dar'Elaraya is much more at home using a bow and arrow than a sword and shield." She takes the bow, carefully nocks an arrow aimed for the bear's head, and looses it. Time slowed as she watched her arrow fly, and knew before it hit the bear that it was a perfect shot. All three stand, and Dar'Elaraya gives Kharjo his bow and arrow back. "This one wants the pelt, so Dar'Elaraya will wait for the caravan up near the bear." Kharjo and Dro'Marash nod, walking back to the others while Dar'Elaraya hurries towards the bear. She starts skinning it, nice and clean, taking the nice pelt.

As Dar'Elaraya had finished rolling up the bear pelt and started to tie it, the others caught up. They pass her, and she sticks the pelt carefully into her knapsack and jogged to catch up again, neatly keeping pace with them as the quickened their step to get to the relative safety of Riften. Seeing a turn up ahead, Dar'Elaraya jogs up to it to find the way they would be going. Left, not straight. Looking down the path they will travel, she saw a Bosmer, dressed in ragged clothes and iron gauntlets. She walked up to him, all senses on alert, and greeted him.

"Hello, Bosmer."

"Greetings, sister. You look weary. I have something to help you relax, if you want."

Ears going back just a fraction, Dar'Elaraya asks warily, "What does this one mean?"

Lowering his voice, the Wood Elf replies, "The finest Skooma, the sweetest Moon Sugar, at a fair price of course."

Dar'Elaraya, now knowing this was a drug dealer, was tempted to buy some Moon Sugar. She however declined. "This one thanks you, but she must be on her way." She trots back to the others, who were just about to turn the corner. "Do not talk to the Bosmer up there. He is a drug dealer." She says quietly.

They pass the drug dealer without talking to him, then see Treva's Watch across the Treva River. "Wow, we got farther than this one had expected." Dar'Elaraya says, before scenting wolves. Drawing breath to warn the others, Dar'Elaraya opens her mouth only to be interrupted by Kharjo, his ears flat against his head. "Yes, we smell them too." He says, already pulling out his sword. "Wait, Dar'Elaraya sees them. Kharjo, let me have two arrows and your bow again, please." Handing over the weapon, Dar'Elaraya aims at one wolf and then the other. Only a second passed between the wolves' deaths. Handing the weapons back to Kharjo, Dar'Elaraya mutters to herself. "This one needs to get a bow from a smith when we reach Riften."

Continuing on the dull road they always traveled, the normal four in the caravan wondered at Dar'Elaraya's interest in the night life, the bugs that chirped and same with the birds, the glow of nirnroot not too far off. Even hearing a bear off the road, but they passed it by, only hearing its growls and roars as it warned them to stay away. They passed foxes and deer, with Dar'Elaraya resisting to gather their pelts. She is a fur saleswoman, when not thieving. Her cover story on how she gets her coin, on how she gets expensive furs. Though it turned into an...obsession.

Their path continued, turning and straightening. Animals crossed their path. Then, just a little after they started walking parallel to the Treva River, she spotted some humanoids up ahead. At this point, they wore dark robes and hoods, so she was unsure if they weren't the dreaded Thalmor. As she approached, she noticed they wore the cloth hoods of the Alik'r warriors from Hammerfell. Two were men, the warriors, and they were interrogating a Redguard woman who seems to be trying to get them to leave her alone.

She heard bits of their conversation, but it really was none of her concern what the Redguard woman's fate turned out to be. They kept moving into the dark of the night, their keen eyes bright and watchful with their night vision.

"Here we come up on one of the Dwarven Ruins." Kharjo comments as they near a dirt path. Once more, a creature of Skyrim came running out of the trees. Dar'Elaraya called, "Troll!" Before pulling out flame magic in her palms, firing at the troll as Kharjo and Dro'marash hack at it with their swords. It went down quick, but left some small dents in the male Khajiits' armor.

After a few more moments of silence and listening for more of Skyrim's wildlife, they came upon a bridge with another sign with directions. Pointing the way they were going, it said "Riften." To the way they came from, it said "Helgen" and "Iverstead." The bridge crossing a small stream coming from Lake Honrich.

"Lake Honrich? We're almost to Riften!" Dar'Elaraya said, excited and nervous. She needs to practice her art of stealth... But where better than a corrupted city? She could bribe the guards, bluff that she was in the Guild...

Kharjo nods, then warns Dar'Elaraya of an upcoming bridge. "There is a bridge up ahead, it leads to Goldenglow, in the middle of the lake. Do not ever go there. This one has heard terrible tales of that place, no one has ever returned when going in." Kharjo had brought her back to reality.

"This one shall keep it in mind." Dar'Elaraya said, nodding. They passed the Goldenglow bridge, and she saw no normal guards. She saw men in leather armor. Mercenaries. They kept moving, but at a faster pace until Goldenglow looked how the other Khajiit said was "normal."

Looking to Kharjo, Dar'Elaraya asked what the yellow-gold forest was called. "This is the Fall Forest, and these trees only grow in the Rift. If only they were gold..." He trails off, obviously voicing a wish he had for a while now. Then Dar'Elaraya noticed Riften, her destination. Now buzzing with excitement and nervousness, she keeps herself from running into the city from what looked like a back gate.

"Where will you all go? Surely this side of Riften brings nearly no bussiness. You don't have to walk around the city, do you?"

"Yes, we do. It would be best if you came along with us to the proper entrance to Riften. A lone Khajiit may be mistaken as a thief, and we are just considered drug dealers. Pick your poison, Dar'Elaraya." Kharjo says, slight disappointment in his voice.

Remembering her pelts and one of two of her covers, she brings up her pelts. "My pelts though. Surely these people would enjoy the wolf and bear pelts this one has?"

Kharjo shakes his head. "Khajiit are thieves or smuglers. Very few are even allowed in the cities in Skyrim. Small chance you will be in that small group. Besides, many hunters are all over this land. Just like the one we passed."

Dar'Elaraya still tries to find a way to get into Riften as they keep walking. She barely notices that they have gotten off the road and are walking towards the front entrance. "Bards." She blurted. "Surely bards help get the inns and bars enough septims?" Then she mutters, "I now need to find a flute. Then this one could get into Riften."

Ahkari overheard Dar'Elaraya mutter about getting an instrument. "Did this one hear that you need something?" She asked Dar'Elaraya. Dar'Elaraya nodded. "Yes, you wouldn't by any chance have a flute?" Ahkari nodded. "This caravan is the only one you can buy instruments from. It's twenty-five septims."

Dar'Elaraya looked into her small coin purse and saw little more than two hundred septims. She sighed, then brightened after a thought. She took out the required gold and handed it over to Ahkari, and took the flute. When this one gets into Riften, I shall carve my symbol onto the flute to signify it is of my posession. This flute was fairly new, so Dar'Elaraya would have to get used to it, without the luxury of her own flute back in Elsweyr, made of the jungle wood. She puts it carefully in her knapsack, and says her good byes.

"This one will find your amulet, Kharjo." Dar'Elaraya then hugs them all and goes to enter Riften.

"Hold there. Before you enter Riften, you need to pay the visiter's tax." A guard calls, one who is guarding the gates.

"What is the tax for? Entering the city if thieves?" Dar'Elaraya sneers, flattening her ears and twitching her tail slightly.

"The tax is for the privilege of entering the city. Does it matter?" The guard calls again, more bored this time.

"This one will not be fooled by your shakedown."

"Alright... keep your voice down. Do you want everyone to hear you? I'll let you in. I just let me unlock the gate." He whispers, going towards the gate and unlocking it. "Well? Teh gate's unlocked. In you go, Khajiit."

Dar'Elaraya hardly can contain her joy. Entering the city of thieves! She just has to make sure that she is the predator and not the prey. She pushes open the gate into the noisy streets of Riften. Big houses that look like this city's version of mansions are to her left, and a big building to her right that doesn't seem too fancy or rich like. On one of the balcony posts of the rich houses is a man leaning on it, arms crossed and weapon sheathed. He wore steel armor, without any helm. He was farther down than a man and a warrior woman, her scent suggested Nord, having a chat. She was armored in iron armor without the helm as well, and had an iron battle axe. Dar'Elaraya walked up to the pair to see if she could hear anything about the Thieves' Guild or about a wealthy owner nearby.

The Nord woman doesn't notice Dar'Elaraya right away. "I had another run-in with the Thieves' Guild.

The man nodded and relpies, worriedly. "Be careful, Mjoll. The Thieve's Guild has Maven Black-Briar at her back. One snap of her fingers, and you could end up in Riften jail... or worse."

"They represent the reason I'm here. I can't just ignore them, Aerin."

"I know. I just don't want you to leave; you're the only good thing that's happened to this city in a long time."

"Greetings." Dar'Elaraya says kindly, walking up.

Mjoll turns and greets the Khajiit. "You're A stranger here too, huh?"

"You're not from Riften?"

"I've been traveling across Tamriel since a fresh-faced young woman barely able to swing a blade. My travels have taken me to Highrock to Valenwood, Elsweyr to Morrowind and all points in between."

"Why are you here, then?"

"Many years ago I lost my blade, "Grimsever," in a Dwemer ruin. I took it as a sign that I was wasting my days in search of wealth. You and I are alike." that's what you think, "We seek challenge and great fortune. But for me, that's where the similarities end." I don't seek challenge, but do seek great fortune. "You see, Riften is my great beast to be slain and my fortune comes from gratitude and trust."

"If I'm ever in a ruin, I might find your blade and bring it back." The way these people talk is so strange, but this one might as well try to talk like them while I'm here... "So what was that I heard about the Thieves' Guild?"

At the mention of the Guild, Mjoll's eyes flash with anger. "To call it a guild is rediculus. How can people who would betray one another over a gold coin be considered part of an association? They're the worst kind. Even the Dark Brotherhood abides by a strict set of rules and tradition. These thieves are just rabble. What do you think?"

Dar'Elaraya just looks at Mjoll calmly and lies. "I agree completely. Thieves are worst than murderers, they make lives harder for those they steal from."

Mjoll hesitantly nods, obviously not agreeing that killers are better than thieves. "You know, I'm beginning to respect you. Other than Aerin, you seem to be the only other person I've met I might be able to trust." Trust? Wow these Nords are foolish to trust someone they just met. But this one will take it and not ask. Dar'Elaraya nodded and Mjoll continued. "Since we share the same opinion of them, let me warn you that they're recruiting others to join their "guild" and you should be cautious." Dar'Elaraya nodded again.

"One more thing... who are the Black-Briars?" The Khajiit asked.

"Who are the Black-Briars? Well, Maven Black-Briar, the matriarch of the family, represents everything that's wrong with this city. She's bribed countless officials, has friends back in the Imperial City, and freely associates with the Thieve's Guild. I've tried everything I can to protect Riften's citizens from her family, but to no avail."

"Who else shares her blood?"

"Well, there's Ingun Black-Briar, Maven's duaghter. Strange girl. She likes to spend time down in Elgrim's Elixers working on her alchemy. Then you have Hemming, Maven's son; spoiled brat and heir to her empire. He follows her word like a loyal dog follows its master. And finally, Sibbi; the worst of them. He's in Riften jail for murder."

"That's quite a family."

"Yes, you'd do well to stay away from them and the Thieves' Guild.

Dar'Elaraya thanked her for the chat and new information of the Thieve's Guild and the Black-Briars. "Now to get to know how Riften works." Dar'Elaraya murmured to herself as Mjoll left.

Dar'Elaraya keeps walking on, into the city.

"Hey, you. Get over here, I want to talk to you." Dar'Elaraya faces the Nord man, who is still leaning on the balcony post. "What do you want?

"Ha. A Khajiit talking like an Imperial." He then looks at her, noticing her normal clothing sticking out of her knapsack. "I don't know you. You in Riften lookin' for trouble?"

Dar'Elaraya says with eyes narrowed and ears flat, "No. I am just passing through. What's it to you?" Good thing these Nords don't understand our body language.

"Yeah? Well don't say something you'll regret. Last thing the Black-Briars need is some loudmouth Khajiit tryin' to meddle in their affairs."

"Who are the Black-Briars?" Might as well get as much information about them as possible.

"The Black-Briars have Riften in their pocket and the Thieves' Guild watchin' their back, so keep your nose out of their bussiness. Me? I'm Maul. I watch the streets for 'em. If you need dirt on anythin', I'm your guy... but it'll cost you."

Dar'Elaraya passes the man, now noting him on a list of people she hates.

She then crosses a bridge with two people arguing, then looks up at the inn's sign. 'The Bee and Barb.' "This will be a good place to spend the night, and learn some habits." She sits down at a table near the door and just watches the people inside. One Breton woman in gray armor, two Argonians, one male and one female who seem to work and own the inn, a man next to the door, customers at the bar and other tables, and... a mercenary? The Argonian male walks over to Dar'Elaraya. "Welcome to the Bee and Barb, milady. If I can interest you in one of our special drinks, you let me know."

"Can you tell me about the Thieve's Guild?" Dar'Elaraya asks casually.

The Argonian then starts to eye Dar'Elaraya warily. "They're vermin... garbage. They're exactly what makes this city such a horrible to place live. How appropriate they should live in the Ratway with the rest of the trash." Dar'Elaraya nods and thanks the Argonian for the information, and then walks over to the female one behind the counter. "May I get a room please?"

The Argonian looks up at Dar'Elaraya and nods. "Sure. It's yours for the day." Dar'Elaraya hands over ten septims and heads up stairs. This had been a long day. So she set her knapsack next to her bed, and then went to sleep.

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♖Chapter complete!♖

I made a character in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Dar'Elaraya, to do what I want to write a good story that is in line with the Thieve's Guild questline. After the Thieve's Guild quests are done, please do tell me if anyone wants Dar'Elaraya to do more quests or a new character for another quest (no matter what I'm going to be a Khajiit, unless I find a really good suggestion and I will give a shout out to the suggestor). All characters except Dar'Elaraya belong to Bethesda. Also some in-game dialogue was/will be used which is also property of Bethesda.

Hey people! So sorry I have been absent if anybody even cared or noticed ;) but I am everywhere but Skyrim. Real life is taking over, but I'm sure that's happened to many people before. This weekend I may or may not get back on track of this story, but I do so hope to. Please do comment and vote on this story! If you have any creative criticism for me I'd truly love to hear it. Also, as Dar'Elaraya works her way through Skyrim, she will start talking normal-ish, cuz I have nearly no knowledge on Khajiit speech patterns. So soon she will start changing little bits of her grammar. Sorry if you liked the way I had her speak, but it's harder to write than I had thought. Also, Dar'Elaraya's symbol will be her Shadowmark. I still have to come up with a good Shadowmark :). I'm having an idea, though I'm not sure how I could portray it to you people. Also, Chapter Two - ♪ Joining The Rats ♪ will be coming out soon hopefully; I still have a life! So look forward to that, it's quite long. So that's something.