Ray
Varis placed his hands together. She had been told to never visit Port Telvannis prior to their conversation? Exceptional. She was well counseled. His eyebrow rose as she mentioned mercenaries from Blacklight, and a slight smirk formed on his face. He nodded along to all she said, agreeing with what she knew of the place. Then, her attention turned to their current bar, and his eyebrows rose. "Ah, yes."

He turned his head toward the barkeep, who was on the other end, serving another man, and gave a side-eye to Varis the moment the mage moved his head. Varis looked at the man expectantly, as if he was supposed to know exactly what Varis wanted. 

Then, he did. It was a simple spell. A telepathic thing, intended to slither one's way directly into the thoughtstream of one's victim. 

Varis looked back to Luhn. "Well, then you're in luck. We have a bit of Flin from Blacklight. Shipped in this morning, hence why I was down at the docks. As for Voskygge," He nodded toward her distaste for Nordic pronunciation. "Yes, it should be an exceptional venture. It is possible that we may make it to the very end. To what end?" He shrugged. "I imagine we will find the Dragon Priest, Volsung, himself. As for yourself, you say you settled in Hammerfell? To what end, there?"
Virgil
"According to my father, job opportunities." Luhn glanced out of the side of her eye as one of the barkeeps went to fetch the alcohol, and rested her hand on the bar expectantly. It had been a good couple months since she had relaxed with a good bottle of Flin. 

"I barely remember the move, I was around... I want to say five or six, before Belkarth we were in Cheydinhal. And before that, well, my father claims it to be Ald Velothi. He's never been interested in returning to Morrowind, sure he's is eager to hear news from the homeland, or get goods delivered from there. But never desired to return, not even for a short visit. I know why, and I understand, but I think it's been long enough, he deserves to at least return once before he dies. Not that he's dying anytime soon." Luhn shrugs, but her eyes brighten as the barkeep returns with earthenware jug and two glasses in hand. 

"Hammerfell has been good to us though, and Belkarth is a good city. It's location along major trade routes means work is easy to find. Guarding caravans and what not. Also means getting imports is also less of a headache, and quite cheap." Luhn poured herself a generous shot of the alcohol. She sipped at it, savoring the mild whiskey as it gently numbed her throat. "And how has house Telvanni treated you? Not often one gets to share a drink with such a notable mage. I'm sure you have some stories."
Ray
The bottle of Flin was placed on the counter behind Luhn, and the barkeep shifted back to the man across the counter, as if the man had no interest in interacting beyond that with the two Dunmer. The Nord kept his eyes down and spoke softly to those that made requests of him. 

Varis gestured toward the bottle for Luhn to have as she continued her tale, and leaned back to savor the details. He sipped from his cup of gingergreen tea, having very little interest in how alcohol dulls the senses. Plus, when it came to his teas, he always knew when something was off. He had many rivals among the Telvanni, and many attempts made via his beverages. 

He nodded as she mentioned Belkarth, as he had read good things about that place. 

Then, she asked how House Telvanni had treated Varis. Varis raised an eyebrow, and nodded. 

"I do. I was raised among the Telvanni of Port Telvannis, but I had very little real magical skill. Sure, I could cast a flame or a candlelight by age three, but when they gave me some ink and paper, they realized I was much better at mathematics, some coming to jokingly call me a mathemagician." He whisked his hand dismissively. "Whatever the case, I was seen as... Lesser, but not worthless. That did not stop other children from teasing me. After all, through suffering, strength. Well,"

He grinned. "As an adolescent, a few children got too close, had beat me one time too many, and I cast a spell I had been working on. A spell that would summon a Scamp. To adults, a Scamp is frightening, but easy to fight. To children?" A dark glee overcame his eyes. "They died quickly. Mercilessly. The Scamp spared none that could not get away in time."

He gestured to his throat, and face, where some light scars were. "It even turned on me, since I had not completed the fundamentals of conjured control. But, I conjured a bound dagger as it assaulted me, and cut out its brain matter," He gestured to the right side of his head. "It vanished, and there I was, in a park, with witnesses who looked out their windows and gasped in horror, and then, *Elation*."

Varis smirked. "Through slaughtering my enemies, as per my power over magic, I accomplished the fundamental principle of House Telvanni. *The forceful expression of will gives true honor to the Ancestors,* As said by Saint Vorys the Immolant. From there, I acquired respect, as I killed more challengers throughout my youth. Until, I became what I am now."

"I imagine Hammerfell is, less...*Fair*?" His eyebrow rose.
Virgil
Luhn knew about the violence of the Telvanni, but the extent of which it ran shocked her. She kept her face about as neutral as it could be, but her brows knitted ever so slightly in concern as Varis told his tale and she clenched her jaw. She couldn't help but suck in air through her teeth as he went into detail. Her life as a mercenary allowed her to keep herself from gasping in horror. But children killing children, wasn't exactly what she expected. Her next sip from her glass was much more of a swig than anything else. Appearing nervous wasn't something she would let herself do, a bit more of the liquid courage would ease her. Following her downing she poured herself more. 

"Tch, God's no." She muttered under her breath before answering him. "Hammerfell doesn't share the same sentiments. Belkarth, due to it's placement and it's importance for trade between Hammerfell, Cyrodiil and Skyrim is well guarded. There is a strong sense of security, and also honor, there is no place for the type of interhouse violence the Telvanni have. Not that it's peaceful and loving. It was hard being an outsider, as a child I had to fight my way to a place of respect. Nothing like returning home with a bloody nose and covered in sand, and filled with a sense of pride that the other guy looked way worse." She felt a bit at ease reminiscing about her own childhood. Compared to what Varis had described about his own, her history of violence seemed childish.
Ray
The Telvanni smiled as she recanted her experience in Belkarth, and his eyebrows furrowed a tad as she declared it had no place for interhouse violence. A grin formed as she said that. There was a meritocracy to House Telvanni that Varis always placed above all else, the idea that one's sheer will and effort could get them to the highest echelons of society. What good was being apart of a noble family, if they can't protect themselves from someone better at magic?

Varis placed a finger to his temple as he leaned against the counter, elbow up, and he listened with intrigue. "Hm. I am sure that having few magical abilities earned you favor among the Redguards? I've always read that their hatred toward magic is only superceded by their hate for undeath and necromancy, going so far as to shun those that hunt the undead and their conjurers?"
Virgil
"I'd say it was less the magic issue, and moreso the fact that my Father kept a well known, and well behaved mercenary group. The men of Lerowen Hleri have a strong reputation along the boarders of Hammerfell. My father proved himself with his marshal prowess, same with his men. Not a caster amongst them. But you are correct, there is a strong dislike of magic and magic users in the country. It's a lot more intense the further West you go. Craglorn is a lot more... Welcoming, but just barely. I mentioned in our earlier conversation that I worked for a mage in my youth, He had been in Belkarth for almost three centuries. But according to him the harassment he received when he first moved in was, tremendous. Eventually they began to respect him, but when I was a child the schoolkids had a little song about how scary he was. He was a great mer, shame it took so long for them to allow him to exist without daily harrassment." Luhn took another sip from her glass. 

"Hammerfell and the undead... Yeah, that will get you killed for sure. It's a dangerous place to be a summoner, even if you don't dabble in necromancy" Luhn glanced over at Varis. "If you ever were to travel that far west, be careful, very very careful."