Taylor
"That is if I can even contact her regarding such a thing." Salen quickly spat out, an air of concern tinging his voice. "I, don't have the pleasure of being of high rank.
And as much as I despise the fact that I must admit this, my correspondences to this... Contact, are often intercepted. I am considered a liability, I do not have the privilege of privacy. 
And my contact does not leave Dominion waters, no matter how much she want's to." Salen admits. His face almost contorted in shame. He looks away from the Dunmer, using his hood to hide his expression. 

"I would have to deal with smugglers, which means finding new contacts amongst them. The last time I was sent to deal with these, illegal sailors was a year ago. And that debacle ended with the slaughter of an entire crew. 
I am loathe to ask you for assistance because it would seem that I am immediately accepting your offer to parlay with my contact. I am not. But you also know people at the docks, people who can keep their mouths shut. I can
Provide them direct access to my contact, I have her official seal. Something that will get them a meeting with her, or her secretaries." Salen rubbed his hands together, and pulled his cloak closer around him. 
"You said you are an enchanter? Right, is it possible for you to make something that will allow for more, direct, communication."
Mitchell
An eyebrow rose. "Hm. I see." 

Varis rubbed his chin, and said, "Very well. You and I will head down to the docks, and I will put together my crew. As for direct communication, this can certainly be achieved. I could enchant three rings. One for you, her, and I. Yours will be connected to both of ours, and it will allow us to communicate across vast distances through words whispered into the rings, and these messages will travel directly into our minds."

Varis held up his hand, showing off several rings. "A very popular form with me and mine. Discreet enough, mundane enough, to hardly be noticed."

Varis placed his hands together and said, "Now, for the matter of my crew entering Summerset waters, I trust you are updated on the latest protective measures? I can cause all manner of illusions and deceptive magicks to allow them to enter unseen and undetected, but if you have any information that will help, given that, deceased crew you mentioned, then it will aid me immensely."
Taylor
Salen shook his head. "No, I don't know all the details about the current measures. My, lack of power within the embassy doesn't permit me to know all the details of
National security. Ambassador Elenwen or one of her second hands would have information on it. If not that, then correspondences from officials at the border." 
Salen leaned back against the building, staring up at the sky for a moment. He turned his head back to Varis, now looking at him with his one working eye. 

 "I would have to break into Justiciar Calmoran's office." He took a breath, rubbing his brow with his forefinger and thumb. A tired look in his eyes. "That, is a feat."
He thought for a second. This specific Justiciar was a mastermind at conflict. A skilled torturer , and a ruthless detective. Calmoran however, was a fool when it came to dealing with mer. Humans were predictable, and Calmoran had become comfortable dealing with them, enough that he lacked the same skepticism when it came to dealing with other elves. 

"It would not be impossible to get them. And nothing that I would require magical intervention from. I serve tea to the man half the time, I know the layout of his office like the back of my hand. 
But he is often, in, the office. With the civil war long over, Justiciar Calmoran spends more time sniffing out Talos worship from his couch, rather than in the streets. He is a blood hound that one
, practically salivates when he gets the order to go on the hunt. I need a distraction... Time to recruit some poor sod out of this mess." Salen motions towards the crowd on the street. 

"Once Calmoran is hot on the road, it'll give me more than enough time to sort through all his notes and papers. And with him out, there would be no one to pry into his office for work of favors."
Mitchell
The Sorcerer looked at Salen, grinned a tad, and sighed with approval. "I am glad I selected you."

Varis abruptly stood up from the bench, placed his hands behind his back, and looked around. He whisked his hand, the illusory field around them disappearing, and allowing voice back through. 

Varis turned his head toward Salen, and his eyes became awash with some sort of glassy expression, before that glass started to cave inward, into the pupil and iris, allowing them to swarm with glossy, arcane power. From there, Salen would feel something along the exterior of his consciousness. 

Then, Varis' voice. 

*"We shall speak like this. It should be far more efficient. Simply think what you wish to say, in my direction, and this channel will convey the message."*

Just then, Salen was provided a recreation of the scene they had just witnessed in the market square. Of the man who had been caught with a picked coin-purse, and had a seizure. Then, he received the information, the perspective, of Varis looking at him, freezing the man in place, forcing him to the ground and assailing him with untold nightmares. In this arcane vision, Salen could see the aura around Varis and the pickpockets' heads, as plumes and wisps of red arcana surged around them and ruptured the lesser mind's functions.

*"That man is broken. Able to be reused, restructured, and turned into a hardened Talos Worshipper. He can be forced to do anything, to get your Torturer out of his office. Tell me what I should do, what will entice him, and the Thrall shall do as he is told."*

Varis held his hands behind his back as he walked past Salen, urging the man to follow with a brush of the arm against the Altmer's, and continued through the streets of Solitude. It was aimless meandering, sticking to the shadows, simply milling about. This Dunmer was capable of casually strolling all while whispering directly to another person's consciousness. He was able to stay very, very busy all while hiding in plain sight.
Taylor
Salen hesitated to move and follow Varis, but he did. The realization of the extent of the Telvanni's power was, impactful. Salen felt fear and admiration mix. 
This was not a mer to be trifled with, and Salen knew that no one, at least in the embassy, could likely match this wizard. Salen followed him, pulling his hood over his head more. 
Making sure his scarred side was not visible in case they passed any guards. He felt a question bubble up. "You are a powerful illusionist. How long have you been practicing?" 
The question came out casually, probably the least caustic Salen had asked. His tone bereft of the haughty condescension of earlier. 

Salen shook his head. He looked around the city as they moved, trying to remember all the little trigger that the Justiciar had. Eventually he let these, rather secret details, reach Varis' consciousness. "Justiciar Calmoran is lazy, he enjoys the hunt if he knows for sure that he will be able to get whoever his target is. It's not so much that he believes that these heretics are innocent. But rather filling out the paperwork and covering up a murder takes far more paperwork. It would be easiest to just plant the human with idols, talismans, scripture, and make him preach to his fellows. It may need to happen out in the rest of Skyrim, Haafingar isn't a big enough region to keep Calmoran out of the embassy for long. Calmoran is a sloppy mage, but he knows how to teleport over short distances. He is lazy in that regard. Very, very lazy." Salens words were bitter, it was obvious he thought that the justiciar didn't deserve his rank. The embassy had powerful people, but the Thalmor officers that were stationed there, weren't the cream of the crop.

"Eastern Skyrim would be the best bet. The seat of power for the Thalmor is in the west, the offices in areas like the Pale, or Eastmarch, are comedically understaffed. And, there are still Talos cultists within those areas. Underground yes, but occasionally there will be a rise in heretical activity. Make a big enough stink, and Calmoran will sure to be first in line to kill..." Every word that left Salen's mouth made him feel dirty. Every little secret he spilled, another stain upon his already ruined character. But perhaps, it would be worth it. Better him than then, After all, he had been loyal enough.
Mitchell
To Salen's answer, a stream of thought flowed unto his mind. *"I started as a boy, along with my other arcane studies. However, I always found Illusion to be an inferior craft, only useful for subtlety. In that, I lacked an imagination. I utilized Illusion primarily to twist the minds of my trade partners, to have them think they were far more friendly with me than I actually was, and thus offer me discounted deals, and better opportunities. Only upon coming to Skyrim, and pondering one day, how to get test subjects, did I realize that with the powers of Illusion, I could cause a man to begin attacking and slaughtering in the streets, in a mad frenzy, and get tossed into the dungeons. I place I had unlimited access to, thanks to my association with the Court Wizard. From there, my imagination grew, until I realized the true power one could have over another's mind, with a simple spell."*

Then came Salen's mention of how to control the Justiciar Calmoran. His eyes narrowed as he pondered what he transmitted, and tapped his finger against the back of his hand as he held both hands behind him. He was calculating, taking things into consideration, and said, *"You say the other outposts are painfully understaffed. I could send our decoy into the streets of Kynesgrove. I trust that will take longer to settle than if they appeared in Windhelm. He begins to preach the words of Talos, and resists arrest. The moment he comes into contact with Thalmor, his mind will become encompassed in a frenzied rage, as every system in his mind corrodes and deteriorates, until there is no evidence of arcane manipulation, and he becomes a blimp for the Justiciar to settle. I doubt we require a conspiracy, if all you need is time to get into his offices."*
Taylor
Salen let out a sigh, the only noise in the silence between him. "That would work. I deliver the news that comes in from the other offices. Anything that isn't highly classified is relayed through my desk. I can guarantee that the call for aid gets to Calmoran, those missions don't require high levels of classifications once they reach the Embassy. Despite that, the mess this man causes can't be too big. I suggest he sets up a shrine, preaching often causes more people to get involved, it's too out in the open. Not that Calmoran won't be called for that, it'll take him longer to track him down if it's more, quiet. A task that I assume, will be no issue for you."

Salen squeezed his eyes with his fingers, absentmindedly rubbing his scar afterwards. "Now, where is this amulet. The one that summons your little helper." Salen, was just desperate to finish dealing with Varis. 
There was an air of discomfort, and if he was honest, Varis scared him. Salen felt a bit more confident in dealing with the mer, after witnessing his power. However, that didn't
Mean that he wanted to keep going further. Salen stopped in his tracks, staring at the back of the shorter elf. "Where are we going, Dunmer? I do not wish to be dragged around this city like a dog."
Mitchell
The Sorcerer nodded toward Salen as the man spoke of how to keep Calmoran out of his office for as long as possible. It would be done. Somewhere in the mines of Kynesgrove, perhaps? There could be a portion of the mines that was dark and shadowy, and the man could have his tongue rendered useless, and a fear spell implanted into his brain, allowing him to run around in those mines for days before the Thalmor found him. Varis pondered the emaciated, sleep deprived, horrible state such a specimen could be in by the time the Justiciar found him. 

Though, perhaps he was misjudging how large the mines would be, and shrugged off the thought as Salen paused, and demanded an answer. 

Varis paused his stride, turned his head toward Salen's direction, and said simply, *"I was heading back home. I figured we would conclude by the time I got there,"* He reached into the robes of his pocket, and produced a locket. It was a thing of iron chains and black stone. Not at all ebony, but instead obsidian. Varis held it out for the Altmer to take. 

Outloud, he said, "It will do the work for you. Just get inside, and wait until it comes back."
Taylor
Salen stepped up towards Varis and picked up the locket. He turned it over in his hands, looking at the craftsmanship. It was a far cry from the refined and delicate look that Almter jewelry had. 
He closed his fist around it and pushed it into his pocket. "And once it is done, will it make it's way back to you, or do I have to return it myself?" Salen narrowed his eye. He realized how close he was to the Dunmer. He took a step back, worried that Varis would perceive that Salen was far shorter than his Thalmor kin. "My office during the week is within the Castle Dour. But I
Don't have the privilege of privacy. Nor do I wish to visit, whatever tavern you are squatting in."

Salen shook his head softly, pondering something. "There is a grove in the woods near the Embassy, a ruined statue of some, barbaric nord effigy sits there. I will hide it there, unless you have some way of picking up the necklace."
Mitchell
The Sorcerer raised his eyebrows a tad as Salen asked how it would return to Varis. "Hm. Whenever you next enter the city, you will see one of my birds. He will be a small man, the height of a boy, skin of a Bosmer. He will have no ears, and a shaved head. He will walked near you, and as he does, he will take the locket from your person. Be sure to have it in a place you are comfortable having fingers in."

Varis raised his eyebrows. "However, if that cannot be managed without one of your fellow Justiciars seeing, have it somewhat out in the open. He will teleport the locket into his hand as he walks past you. By the time you are finished with your business in the Castle Dour, or whenever I find it most appropriate, he will give the locket back to you, as discretely as he took it. Do you have further questions?"
Taylor
"Just one. What power do you think you have that can advance my career? My predicament is, unique, to say the least... My superiors, the Thalmor, are not likely to listen to your words. 
Sure, you may be able to convince an officer or two, perhaps even drag them into the scheme. But rank is changed through the main branch of the organization, the top brass back in Alinor."
Salen shifted his pose, and stepped away. From where the two were standing in the city, Salen was facing the wall that paralleled the docks. He glanced up at the sky, at the clouds forming in the north. 

"Travel to the Dominion from these, wretched outposts on the Mainland is slow. Even our greatest mages need approval correspondences in order to even teleport back to Alinor. You would have to convince the ambassador. 
And get her to convince her superiors, a chain of command that is dictated by leaders seated within the depths of the Isle. But you, you are clever, Dunmer. So I wonder what you have planned. I assume it is something less, obvious. Power through land, money, information. Something that will give me the advantage over my peers?" 

Salen looked back over at Varis. His expression rather unreadable. His one good eye, peeking from underneath the dark hood of his cloak.
Mitchell
The Wizard watched Salen as the man asked his question. The Sorcerer raised his eyebrows as he placed his hands behind his back. More followed. More troubling information. He mauled over it for a moment, and raised his eyebrows a tad. 

He whisked his hand, and that silencing field came over them again, muffling outside noises, and silencing their voices to those outside. "I have an interest in illegally claiming Specimens from Northwatch Keep. Contrarily, I am willing to have an open relationship with Alinor. What I trade will be wholly accepted and likely tracked by those in Alinor. Even if I could get shipments onboard the ships that bring resources and items to the Embassy, I would be content. It is a door that has been creaked open, and so long as my foot is there, I can open it. I have required discretion to get access to your merchant, so that she can play the role of the authority for overseeing this endeavor."

"Now, you ask me how you might Advance? You become useful. This entire endeavor, will have your face on it. I will write up all of the documents, establish the trade routes, and be in contact with your contact across the seas. However, I will be an investor in all but truth. Whether your overseers approve of a Dunmer investing in an Altmer business endeavor is inconsequential, because what I provide is a stream of economic opportunity to your homeland. If your overseers cannot see the merit of this agreement, where you are the figurehead of this operation, and your contact provides legitimacy, then you work for mongrel fools that do not see beyond their pot bellies and punitive ideology."

Varis grinned a little, knowing that he was insulting those that Salen worked directly under. "And in that event, where your superiors prove their indeptitude, then I suggest you do whatever you can to defect. Step down, or escape. Your superiors, seemingly, do not approve of you. Thus, you either have information too valuable to let you live, *Or*, you have never been given enough to make you important enough to not simply let you go when you ask of it."

The Wizard placed his hands together in front of him, raising an eyebrow. "This operation comes in three steps. You get the information related to the defense of the Isles, I deploy a strategy to have my men smuggle our two-way mirror into Alinor, so that it reaches your contact. Prior to it reaching your contact, I will likely send a Familiar of mine, to fly across the distance that will reach your contact, and inform her of *Your* Idea to establish a trade enterprise. From there, if she agrees, I begin communication with her, and everything stays above legal waters."

Varis raised his chin a tad and studied Salen and at the eye peeking up from underneath the shadow of his hood. "So, to gain advantage over your peers, you must kill them."

Varis' ultimatum was so quick, so simple, utterly *Telvanni* In its philosophy. "Kill your comrades. Slaughter and gut them, poison them and ruin them. Assassinate your superiors, so that you are the one that must *Rise* To fill their shoes. All the while, buy land. Gain assets. Provide these assets to the Embassy, to the Dominion. Become so irreplaceable, so valuable, that if they removed you, you would cause a *Whole number percentage* Of their net worth to fall. Make your superiors dependent on you. Force them to bow, weep, and kill themselves at your command. Lest, they lose you."

The Telvanni Wizard moved his hands to behind his back and smiled with a fiendish glee, all while showing no teeth. "But, if you need a loan to get started buying property, then that is where I can assist. If you need a weapon to kill your superiors, I can enchant blades that will heal the wound, but cause all motor functions to fail, rendering them crippled, paralyzed, and or neigh-brain-dead. I will be the owner of your assets, as I am the one who will be able to gain property from the Jarls, having proven myself already as a trustworthy landlord and economic force, and what you profit, I suggest you reinvest into properties of your own, back on Alinor, if you can. Squeeze every opportunity, and kill everything in your way. And, if you can't kill them, ruin their reputation. Humiliate them. If you need help with this, I can provide ideas, but anything tangible may be more difficult."