Robert
The Spellwright nodded along to Ra'zirr's mention of the tavern owner, and frowned a tad. He nodded and continued forward, but paused as the Khajiit elected to stay outside. Varis raised an eyebrow as he grinned, "You're free to follow. This might be stimulating for you. You might make an employer out of this woman I'm to meet with."

Varis continued forward, up the steps of the manor, and toward the guards. A hand raised to halt Varis's approach.
Rodney
The Guard stopped the strange Dunmer wizard from stepping any closer with one hand and a harsh, "Hold! State your name and purpose."
Robert
"Varis Xai'Shen, Spellwright of House Telvanni. I have a meeting with Madame Ingun Black-Briar."
Rodney
The guard turned her head toward the larger man next to her, looked back toward Varis, and said, "We have not been informed of any," Her words stalled in her mouth as they began to left, until an airy breath was released. The other guard seemed to have a similar effect, as he breathed out a slow sigh of relief.
Robert
The Wizard said nothing. Uttered nothing. His hands did not move at all. He only stared at them, a smile formed along his lips beneath his facial hair. "Check again, please."
Rodney
The woman stared at Varis, her eyes shadowed and hidden by her helmet. And yet, as she spoke, it was as though she had been drugged, and said, "Varis Xai'Shen. Please, enter." She and the other guard parted out of the way, the door now exposed.

"Yes, Lord Varis." The Guard turned and opened the door for the mage, before stepping to the side again.
Robert
"Thank you. As you were." Varis made his way inside, the door remaining open for the Khajiit to follow. If Ra'zirr did follow, the guards would not even mention his passing, as they stared forward, aligning their bodies back into position and holding their swords against their hips.

The interior of a Black-Briar's home, open without even having to lift a finger. If Ra'zirr wished to scope out and mark this place, now was an excellent opportunity.
Anne
As he expected he made his way into the building. He wasn't expecting to be welcomed. He walked behind Varis and wanted to make sure to get a good glance at everything possible.

The interior was what he expected by his superior in the guide. He crossed his hands to just follow behind Varis.
Robert
Once inside the manor, Ra'zirr was able to note the entrance hall, and how it split the house in two. At the end of the hall, the staircase to the upper level coiled from their direction around and up, allowing their to be a balcony that overlooked the entrance hall with doors leading to the upper rooms. 

On the first floor, doorways led to a dining room, a study, a living room, and at the furthest back was a kitchen, where the sound of cooking and pots sounded, as the servants were likely preparing the luncheon.

Varis moved forward, looking about at the art, the sculptures, and the priceless artifacts of antique alchemical alembics and other such instruments. Varis paused as he looked at a framed collection of preserved butterfly wings. "Hm. I like that one." He nodded as he looked away and continued forward. 

Past the steps, a door led to an outdoor area, revealing an expansive garden. A woman with black hair sat at a table in the shade out there, reading over some documents with a glass of water next to her.
Percy
Ingun Black-Briar, once an aspiring alchemist's assistant, now had a garden worthy of an alchemist of her stature. All around her was a sprawling oasis of alchemical reagents, ranging from the exotic to the downright dangerous, as poison blooms lined the walls of her garden like a means of protection, while nightshade, death bell, and all manner of other poisonous growths created a secondary perimeter. From there was a much more lush and less dangerous collection, sprawling and scattered throughout, with those most used in the largest supplies and blooms.

Ingun heard Varis and Ra'zirr's approach, and turned her head from her document toward them. 

"Ah, Lord Varis? A pleasure to finally meet. I take it the guards outside forgot about you?"
Robert
"Completely. When I leave, no one will have entered this house at this time today."
Percy
She nodded, appeased, and then looked toward Ra'zirr. "And you?" Even though she was a noble in Riften, and had lived in this city her whole life, she was not particularly concerned with the dark undercity as much as her mother and other siblings were. She was a product of nepotism, and as such, her scholarly mind was given much to work with. "Why have you come?"
Robert
The Telvanni glanced in Ra'zirr's direction. He was intrigued what the Khajiit would answer with. If nothing, Ra'zirr's introduction would be up to Varis to explain. A dangerous gamble.
Anne
He looked and saw that the woman asked why did he come. "I was showing this find sir to your building. He was aware of the surroundings but didn't want to go by himself. I don't blame him as the city has to deal with thieves."
Percy
"Ah, a polite guide to the streets of Riften? How noble." She took a sip from her glass of water before gesturing to the two seats across from her. There were three chairs for this table, likely for when her mother and brother visited. "Please, take a seat."
Robert
The Telvanni nodded. Ra'zirr stuck to the truth. Though, made no mention of the accidental encounter. Varis noticed this, but did not dwell on the issue as he went to sit down.
Percy
Once seated, Ingun set down her documents, looked at Varis, and said, "I've been in need of fungi for some time now, but all of the mycologists in the city are practically extorting me! When I had heard a Telvanni noble had come to Solitude, and made a name for himself, I knew I had to seek this man out. You said you would gladly supply my needs, but not for septims?"
Robert
"Correct, Lady Black-Briar. We both have an assorted collection of alchemical reagents. If you would be willing to barter for what we need, then I would also offer my services in helping with your research."
Percy
"Ah, and you know much about my research? Enough to suppose your fungi and mind is worth my blooms?"
Robert
The man produced a notebook from thin air, and set it on the table for Ingun to take.
Percy
The woman took it cautiously, eyeing Varis, before opening it and taking a look. As she did, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes widened a bit. Her inquisitive expression became one of deep, focused fascination. She stopped herself before she got too far, and looked up. "These calculations and theorems... You said you were a hobbyist?"
Robert
"I'm not the best at brewing potions, but I've read a few tomes on the craft. And observed the science enough to make some educated guesses about the possibilities."
Percy
The woman nodded, looking at the book, before she looked back up to Varis. "Hm. Very well. I can accept this deal, but," She looked toward Ra'zirr. "You say you were hired to protect Lord Varis from thieves. I wonder, are you any good at securing houses from being broken into?"
Anne
"No Madam. I rather stick to working from outside. I'm rather known for sticking to the protection detail out the house but I actually have some tips and things I learnt from my many people I stayed who I stayed with."
Percy
"Ah, well, some tips are always appreciated. I know of some security experts in town, but I tend to find them particularly seedy. An honest locksmith is not hard to find in Riften, but one who won't say no to some cash from a thief marking the home he just locked up?" Ingun frowned and shrugged. "It is a hard market. So, bodyguards have to do." 

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Ra'zirr. "Now, what about these tips?"
Anne
"First you'll need to try and limit displaying your luxury. I would like for you to put your belongs more or less in your personal area. I believe you should be able to make it look as you been looted to thieves."
Percy
Her eyebrow rose. "Hm. Akin to a museum. Instead of posing a bunch of guards outside my home, have fewer guards outside and inside one room." Ingun placed a hand to her lip as she pondered it. "Hm. Makes sense. But, at the same time, it allows there to be one target for a thief, instead of many."

She mauled over it, and sighed, "One target allows multiple thieves to enter at once, enough to overwhelm the guards inside. Thus, issue of cost becomes, have multiple guards inside the room, or one very expensive, elite guard?"

Ingun tapped her chin, displeased by the idea. Though, she looked toward Ra'zirr as she said, "An effective assessment. If there is an intrusion, best they don't all make it out alive, rather than have the opportunity to slink about."

She nodded as she said, "Very well, duly noted. Better to have security than a whole house to entertain in. Anything else?"
Anne
"I was going to say the second is to lock down the entry points. Roughly people would be intimated by the guards out front by you should make sure the men on the inside can't be seen until they come inside. This would be another trick to keep thieves on their towns and try to prepare them legs mentally to handle the threat as they won't know how many are guarding your valuables."
Percy
"Hm. I have always appreciated the aesthetic of the homes in the Imperial City down south. Only one entry point, limited windows. Effective against thiefs, but, not particularly helpful during a siege." She tapped her chin thoughtfully as she inspected the house, as they sat outside in the garden. "Hm. Anything else?" She looked back to Ra'zirr, eyebrows raised.
Anne
"Not at this moment. I'll let you know if I'm able to come back with further ideas." He said looking at her. He will understand where she coming from about the siege idea."
Percy
"Hm. Well, much to think on. Though, thank you. If you need any alchemical ingredients, feel free to stop by. I'll have my guards recognize you, and I'll sell you ingredients and potions at a discounted price. Which, would normally be market value, but," She whispered a little, "*I'll lower it a bit.*" 

She nodded to Ra'zirr, then looked toward Varis. "Shall I send my ingredients by carriage or through Windhelm, then by boat?"
Robert
The Wizard smirked at Ingun and said, "Have you ever used a propylon?"
Percy
Her eyebrows knitted together. She did not even recognize the word.
Robert
He smiled and nodded, conjuring a strange object. It was a cone-shaped stone, covered completely in etchings of runic symbols and ancient Dunmeri scripture. Varis held up his finger, set the propylon on the table, stood up, and walked some distance away. 

From there, he conjured another propylon. A twin. He set the propylon down on the ground, and cast a spell. It with a glimmer of purplish light and red smoke, going up from his fingertips across his arm, and spreading across his body in a matter of less than a second. 

He reappeared in the same plume of arcana next to the table, holding out his hand and looking toward Ingun. "Immediate transport. No costly Court Wizard services."
Percy
Lady Ingun's eyebrows rose as she watched, and chuckled a little. "Well, that is most useful! Is that something from Morrowind?"
Robert
Varis nodded. Though, in the back of his mind, as he remembered the slimy race traitor, Folms Mirrel, who pioneered the enchantment of such compact and useful propylons, he had to focus on how *Useful* They were before becoming too enraged by the man's Mage's Guild association. Though, satisfaction came to Varis's face as he pondered where Folms ended up after the dissolution of the Mage's Guild. Once a Synod, now a professor of the College of Whispers. A perfect fall from grace. 

"This way, I can come and go whenever necessary. I'll update you each time I would like to visit. So that it is never a surprise."
Percy
She nodded, seemingly impressed as she watched Varis go collect the propylon he had set down in the grass, and then looked toward Ra'zirr. "And what about you? Do you practice any magic, or alchemy?"
Anne
"No I don't. I haven't had any proper time to learn and try and attempt to practice those skills."
Percy
"Ah! Understandable." She mused as she looked over the Khajiit. She examined his attire and his overall disposition. She glanced through the table's grating down his shoes, whether they were covered in filth or not, and, overall, whether or not he seemed as though he belonged to a lower class. "Though, for those who have a hard time learning magic, alchemy is the next best thing. And, once you get good at it, it becomes incredibly lucrative! I can go out in this garden, pick a few ingredients, brew a few potions, and make ten times the amount the collection of ingredients would have been worth."

She held up her finger, "I never really had a mind for business, but alchemists who do? They live comfortably. Very comfortably."
Robert
"So long as they do not spend too much time practicing Wortcraft."
Percy
Ingun glanced toward Varis as he made his way back to the table with his propylon, and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes..." She looked back to Ra'zirr. "Eating one's own supply allows them to learn what properties an alchemical ingredient might have. Dangerous, but effective business." She gestured out to the garden, "Proficient *Wortcrafters* Can even eat entire Poison Blooms, Nightshade flowers, and all manner of poisonous varieties. I always found it too dangerous for my liking, and preferred experimenting with my supply, or getting recipes."
Anne
"Anyone will say that's dangerous. Not going say anyone can pick them but quite anyone with intellectual ability to speak can learn to differentiate between the good to tatse and bad ones. I learnt as I was taught how to make certain things in books but never attempted too."
Percy
Ingun let out a chuckle, "Anyone with intellectual ability." She held up her finger and shook it with a grin. "Correct! As for your own teachings," She nodded. "That was how I learned, then I managed to get an apprenticeship with an elderly alchemist in the canals. If you ever wished to take up a role of apprenticeship, my last one recently," She waved her hand, "Graduated. He's off in Falkreath now. Says he preferred the forest to the red canopy of the Rift."

Ingun watched Ra'zirr, examining whether or not he would be interested.