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Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, an Altmer mage, terrorized a hard-working father into letting his teenage daughter elope with a violent layabout.

During our nocturnal journey to Riften, I had the privilege of listening to my warriors Utgherd and Ria bonding with each other.

Uthgerd: “Ria, I’ve been meaning to ask you about your training with the Companions. How did you first get involved with them?”
Ria: “It’s been a dream of mine since I was little. I used to run around Whiterun with a wooden sword, pretending to fight alongside Ysgramor and the other heroes of old.”
Uthgerd: “That’s admirable. I’ve always respected the Companions, even if things didn’t work out between us. What about you, Ria? Do you ever regret joining them?”
Ria: “There are times when the life of a warrior weighs heavily on me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Companions are my family, and I’m proud to fight alongside them.”
Uthgerd: “I can understand that. The bonds forged in battle are unlike any other. Speaking of which, how are things going for you when it comes to us, the Frostpeak Stalkers?”
Ria: “It’s been an adventure, that’s for sure. We’ve faced all sorts of dangers together, and it’s only made us stronger. I’m glad to be a part of it, even if it’s not quite the same as the Companions.”
Uthgerd: “That’s good to hear. I may not have made it into the Companions, but I’ve found a new purpose with this band. And having you by my side makes it all the better.”
Ria: “I feel the same way, Uthgerd. We may have our differences, but when it comes down to it, we’re all in this together.”

It was always hard to get a read on Jenassa. The Dunmer were stand-offish and secretive in general. Still, I didn’t want any resentment between us to linger.

Jon: “Jenassa, can I have a little one-on-one with you?”
Jenassa: “Speak your mind.”
Jon: “You do not like this one bit, do you? The fact that we’ve picked up these two strays from Ivarstead. Not the kind of development you’re accustomed to in your career as a professional murderer.”
Jenassa: “But it seems to be the way of your group. I’ll adapt.”
Jon: “Jenassa, you can open up about your displeasure, you know? If something pisses you off, or if it feels truly wrong to you. I will appreciate your input and advice. You’re a consummate pro, after all.”
Jenassa: “That’s… unexpectedly kind of you. But don’t think I’ll go soft. I’m still your blade, ready for blood when needed.”
Jon: “Regarding Riften, by the way, you didn’t seem very pleased about the fact that we were heading there. Bad memories with the place?”
Jenassa: “Dark ones. My past is bloody and not all of it was by choice. But it’s in the past. I follow where the gold and the fight lead me. Just don’t expect me to be… comfortable there.”
Jon: “Do you know any people in particular that we should be wary of?”
Jenassa: “Watch out for a Dunmer named Indaryn. He’s… trouble. And keep an eye on the Black-Briar family. They’re rich and ruthless. But I’ll be watching your back. You focus on leading us.”

An Argonian highwayman waylaid us. By the time he realized his mistake, if he ever did, he was already a corpse.

Jon: “That idiot decided to rob a band of hardened adventurers.”
Jenassa: “He picked the wrong targets. Not the first, won’t be the last. Let’s keep moving before more come.”
Jon: “Excuse me, Jen. I’m afraid that I’ll have to force you to repeat yourself, because thanks to that thief, I haven’t retained what you told me. Who was the person I should be wary of?”
Jenassa: “Indaryn. He’s a dangerous one. I’ll point him out if I see him. But don’t worry about it now. We need to keep moving. The road is dangerous.”

When we reached Riften’s gate and greeted the guards, one of them attempted to shake us down for money. A ‘visitor tax,’ he called it. I persuaded him to take a good look at us and reconsider that extortion. Reluctantly, the guard apologized and let us in.

Jon: “Can you believe it? A guard extortioning us for wanting to enter the city.”
Uthgerd: “That’s ridiculous. We’re here to help keep the roads safe and this is how they treat us?”
Jenassa: “It’s not uncommon for guards to try and extort travelers. It’s good you managed to talk him out of it.”
Alva: “I’m not surprised, given Riften’s reputation. We should keep our guard up while we’re here.”
Jon: “Yes, let’s keep our pouches safe, close to the body at all times.”
Uthgerd: “Good thinking. I don’t want anyone getting their hands on my hard-earned loot.”
Alva: “I’m not too worried. Anyone who tries to rob me will regret it quickly.”
Jenassa: “We’re all capable warriors here. No one in this city stands a chance against us.”
Alva: “I couldn’t agree more. We’ll watch out for each other and make it through just fine.”
Jon: “That’s right, if anybody in this city annoys us in any way, we’ll just raze the whole place to the ground and laugh as it burns.”
Uthgerd: “Ha! I like the way you think, Jon. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, though.”
Jenassa: “We should try to keep a low profile while we’re here. No need to draw unnecessary attention.”
Alva: “I agree with Jenassa. We’re here for a reason, let’s not get sidetracked by petty squabbles.”

I was already in a combative mood when, as we walked down Riften’s main street, a man leaning against a post barked at us to get our attention. The way he looked, he may as well have had the word “thug” tattooed on his forehead. In a threatening manner, he told us that they knew of our arrival, and that we better be in our best behavior in their city. I was guessing we were dealing with a minion of the true power in Riften, above the official authority.

Jon: “What business is it of yours, good sir?”
Maul: “Listen, elf. I’m not your ‘good sir.’ I’ve warned you about the smart thing to do in Riften. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Black-Briars or the Thieves Guild.”
Uthgerd: “What’s the matter? Afraid of a little competition?”
Jon: “Sir, I’m afraid this must be some sort of misunderstanding. You see, we are a world-renowned group of adventurers called Frostpeak Stalkers, and we’re acting as personal couriers of one Miss Ingun Black-Briar, of the famous Black-Briar family. We came to Riften to deliver a very important letter that will make her day.”
Maul: “You’re working for Ingun Black-Briar? Hah! In that case, you’re definitely on the wrong side of Riften.”

That threw me off. Was this Ingun the black sheep of the family?

Alva: “Ignore him, Jon. We have important business here and we can’t let some thug intimidate us.”
Jenassa: “Keep your cool, everyone. We’re here to do a job, not start trouble. Let’s just deliver the letter and be on our way.”
Ria: “I agree with Jenassa. The sooner we finish our business here, the better.”
Jon: “I have one last concern regarding you, sir. Is your vision okay? Are you seeing blurry?”
Maul: “What are you getting at, elf? My vision is fine. I see a group of troublemakers who don’t know when to keep their noses out of other people’s business.”
Alva: “Jon, stop antagonizing him. We have more important things to do.”
Uthgerd: “Yeah, Jon. Let’s focus on delivering that letter. We don’t need to waste our time with this guy.”
Jon: “Your vision cannot possibly be okay. I’m a mage, so my powers are hidden, but still, a single glance at my fearsome companions should have dissuaded you from that course of action. See Uthgerd, for example: that greataxe on her back was looted from a draugr overlord that we defeated after mowing through a couple dozen of his brethren. You think you can intimidate us? You think you can make us lower our heads? We have murdered about fifty people this week alone.”
Maul: “Big words coming from someone who still hasn’t proved themselves in Riften. I don’t care how many draugr you’ve defeated. In this city, the Black-Briars are the ones to fear.”

I had to give it to this thug: he didn’t flinch.

Alva: “Jon, let it go. We’re not here to compare body counts.”
Jenassa: “We’re not here to cause trouble. But if you keep threatening us, you’ll see just how capable we are.”

We had barely walked further for a minute or so when we heard cries. A couple of guards were pursuing a thief into the back alleys. So far, I would hesitate to endorse this town.

We headed to the closest inn we could find, an establishment festively named The Bee and Barb. Some of the clientele suggested that I should shove bear traps in my pockets. Behind the bar counter, a curious sight greeted us: an Argonian woman with a fluffy mane of feathers.

Keerava’s the name. She seemed wary of us, and asked if we had come to Riften to stir up trouble.

Jon: “We do stir up trouble on a regular basis, but mostly for bandits, for the undead who were until that point resting peacefully in their ancient barrows… What else… Wolves, bears, and the likes as well.”
Uthgerd: “Don’t forget the dragons. We took down a few of those as well.”
Keerava: “Dragons? You’ve fought dragons? That’s either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish. I can’t decide which.”
Uthgerd: “When you’re a true Nord like us, facing a dragon is just another day’s work. Right, Jon?”
Jon: “I’m afraid I dislike lying like that, but I’ll note down that you want to defeat a dragon. Keerava, felling dragons has yet to show up in our CVs.”
Uthgerd: “It’s not a lie, Jon. We will face a dragon one day. And when we do, we’ll be ready for it.”
Jon: “I don’t think that’s how truth works.”
Keerava: “I admire your confidence. But be careful what you wish for. Dragons are not to be trifled with.”
Uthgerd: “We’ll keep that in mind. But for now, we’ll focus on the threats we can handle.”
Jon: “How would one defeat a dragon, Keerava? After all, they are sort of your cousins, aren’t they?”
Keerava: “Ha! Just because I’m an Argonian doesn’t mean I have any special insight into dragons. I’m a barkeeper, not a dragon slayer.”
Uthgerd: “From what I’ve heard, you need a lot of firepower and a lot of nerve. And a good shield to block their fire breath.”
Keerava: “I’ve also heard that some use the power of the Voice, like the Greybeards.”
Jon: “You mean that they just shout at dragons? Like, insults?”
Keerava: “No, not insults. The power of the Voice is said to be a kind of magic.”
Uthgerd: “But it takes great skill and training to master.”
Keerava: “There are stories of the Greybeards using their Thu’um to actually calm dragons, rather than destroy them.”
Jon: “Maybe you could calm a dragon to the extent of making it your pet. Wouldn’t you like to ride a dragon into battle, Uthgerd?”
Uthgerd: “That would be a sight to see, indeed. Imagine the look on our enemies’ faces when they see me riding in on a dragon!”
Keerava: “Riding a dragon… Now that’s a tall tale if I’ve ever heard one. But who knows, maybe you’ll be the first. Just remember, a dragon is not a beast to be tamed.”
Jon: “Well, thank you for the conversation, Keerava. I think that my companions and I are going to hit the beds for the night. Do you have any rooms available?”
Keerava: “Of course. It’s 10 septims a night per person.”
Uthgerd: “Sounds fair. We’ll take four rooms.”
Keerava: “Very well. Here are your keys. Your rooms are just up the stairs. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Jon: “Four rooms for seven people? Fastred and Bassianus will share a bed. Obviously Uthgerd and me another. What else? Maybe Ria and Jenassa will have a slumber party together. Alva alone, then?”
Uthgerd: “Wait, what? We’re sharing beds? I didn’t agree to that.”
Jenassa: “I prefer to sleep alone. It’s safer that way.”
Keerava: “Well, you’ve already paid for four rooms. How you decide to divide them up is up to you.”
Uthgerd: “Fine, Jon and I will share. But no funny business. I’m here to sleep, not to frolic.”
Jon: “Uthgerd, we’ve already had funny business in bed.”
Uthgerd: “Jon, I swear to Talos, if you don’t stop talking like that, I’ll make sure you won’t be able to sit for a week.”
Jenassa: “Do you two ever stop bickering?”
Uthgerd: “Not really. It’s our way of showing affection.”
Keerava: “As long as you keep it civil in my establishment, I don’t care how you show your affection.”
Jon: “Well, Keerava, I hope your walls are soundproof, that’s all I’m saying.”
Keerava: “They’re thick enough. Just don’t break anything.”
Uthgerd: “Break? I’ll make sure Jon is the one who’ll be broken if he doesn’t behave.”
Jenassa: “Maybe I should sleep in the same room as you two. Just to make sure no one gets killed.”
Uthgerd: “Ha! You’re welcome to try, but I think Jon would prefer if we had some privacy.”
Jon: “Where did you get that from, Uthgerd? I’d love for Jenassa to watch. Even join in.”
Uthgerd: “You never cease to amaze me with your audacity, Jon.”
Jenassa: “I’ll pass on the offer. I have no interest in participating in your… activities.”
Uthgerd: “See, Jon? You’re on your own. I’ll deal with you myself.”
Keerava: “I run an inn, not a brothel. Please keep that in mind.”
Jon: “Hey, don’t suggest that I have to pay for affection. That’s also an insult toward Uthgerd. As if she would ever accept money for dominating men in bed.”
Keerava: “I didn’t mean to suggest anything. I just want to make sure my inn’s reputation stays intact.”
Uthgerd: “And I don’t ‘dominate men’ in bed. You make it sound so crude, Jon.”
Jenassa: “How about we all retire for the night? It’s been a long day.”
Uthgerd: “Agreed. Let’s go, Jon. Before you say something else you’ll regret.”
Jon: “Oh, I keep saying things that I soon regret, but somehow I keep repeating the same mistakes.”
Uthgerd: “That’s because you never learn, Jon.”
Jenassa: “Some people just enjoy the thrill of pushing boundaries.”
Keerava: “Just remember, there are consequences to every action.”
Uthgerd: “He’ll learn his lesson soon enough. Now, let’s get some rest. I’m exhausted.”

I intended to share the good news with the couple of lovebirds we had enlisted into our ranks. They didn’t seem bothered about my interruption.

Jon: “Hey, you two have made it to Riften. You’re free to live together as a couple, away from oppression and tyranny.”
Bassianus: “Aye, we’ve made it. Can you believe it, Fastred? We’re finally free to live our lives as we see fit.”
Fastred: “It’s like a dream come true! I can’t wait to explore the city and see what adventures await us here.”
Bassianus: “And with the Frostpeak Stalkers at our backs, there’s no telling what we can achieve. Right, Jon?”
Jon: “That’s right. After a couple of Dwemer dungeons and a few more ancient barrows that we’ll clear out with your help, you will forget all about your humble origins.”
Bassianus: “I can hardly wait. Dwemer dungeons, ancient burial grounds… it’s like a dream come true for a lad from Ivarstead.”
Fastred: “Oh, I can’t wait to see all those amazing places! And to think, we’ll be fighting side by side, protecting each other.”
Bassianus: “Aye, we’ll watch each other’s backs. Together, there’s nothing we can’t handle.”
Jon: “Bassianus, turns out that you pulling a knife on a complete stranger was a good idea after all, huh?”
Bassianus: “Heh, I guess it was. Who knew that a moment of drunken stupidity would lead to this?”
Fastred: “I’m just glad Jon saw something in you, Bassianus. Otherwise, we might still be stuck in Ivarstead, living the same boring lives.”
Bassianus: “Aye, we owe a lot to Jon and the Frostpeak Stalkers. But we’ll prove our worth, won’t we, Fastred?”

Most of my companions had retired for the night, and I didn’t want to wait any more to sample the local goods. One woman had caught my eye: a raven-haired Nord wearing strong leathers that had seen plenty of use, and who scanned the room with the tough, detached demeanour of those who’ve long been absent from polite society.

Jon: “What’s with you looking so gloomy, gorgeous?”
Sapphire: “You’re not exactly a ray of sunshine yourself, you know. What’s your story?”
Jon: “My story? I’m an Altmer, a High Elf from overseas. I came to Skyrim to study magic, and I’ve ended up in a bit of an adventure. I’ve visited Solitude, Morthal, Whiterun, Falkreath, Ivarstead, and now I find myself in Riften. I command a band of adventurers called Frostpeak Stalkers, well-renowned. I’m protected by four fearsome women that will murder my enemies for me. I’m very happy.”
Sapphire: “Sounds like you’ve got quite the little harem going on. But let me guess, you’re still missing that special someone to share your adventures with. That’s where I come in, right?”

Jon: “You’re good at reading people’s minds. You have that peculiar allure, you know: beautiful features, and the eyes of a killer. That coldness that tells me that, under the right circumstances, you wouldn’t hesitate to murder someone unpleasant for a, let’s say, charming Altmer mage called Jon.”
Sapphire: “You’ve got no idea what I’m capable of, Jon. But I’ll take that as a compliment. So, what exactly are you proposing here? Because if you’re looking for someone to warm your bed at night, you might want to look elsewhere. I’m not that easy.”
Jon: “For a woman like yourself, I can wait. I will stick around for a while in your town, selling our loot, figuring out how the power dynamics work. And I’d love to add to my ranks of powerful women someone as adapted to the shadows as you seem to be.”
Sapphire: “So you want me to join your little gang of adventurers? I prefer to work alone. But… if the price is right, I might be persuaded. I’ll tell you what, Jon. Make it worth my while, and I’ll consider joining your little band of misfits. But don’t expect me to be your personal assassin. I’ve got my own interests to look out for. And if you ever double-cross me, I won’t hesitate to put a knife in your back. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?”
Jon: “Sexy and dangerous, just how I like them. Yeah, I think we can help each other.”

Next morning, most of the Frostpeak Stalkers hit the local stores to unload the mountains of crap we had accumulated from our recent adventures: spare weapons, armor, gems, potions, books, and stuff that I couldn’t remember how it ended up in our backpacks. We didn’t earn as much as I had hoped, but we did deplete the money that two merchants had at hand to pay for our stuff, so that was a good feeling.

At the local general trader, I started asking for the one person we had intended to meet in Riften.

Jon: “Now that we’ve gotten you to buy plenty of our loot, I have a question about one of the local residents. I hope you’ll be able to point us in the right direction.”
Bersi Honey-Hand: “Ah, one of the many colorful characters we have here in Riften, hey? What’s on your mind, friend?”
Jon: “We have an urgent letter to deliver to a certain member of the Black-Briar family. Given the trouble inherent to inquiring about Riften’s most fearsome family, I wanted to be discreet when asking about this particular member.”
Bersi Honey-Hand: “Ah, the Black-Briars. They’re a powerful family here in Riften, with their hands in many pockets. If you’ve got business with them, it’s best to tread carefully.”
Jenassa: “Discretion is key in these matters. We don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.”
Uthgerd: “Aye, we’ve dealt with our fair share of troublemakers.”
Jon: “We’re looking for Ingun Black-Briar in particular.”
Bersi Honey-Hand: “Ingun Black-Briar? She’s the daughter of Maven Black-Briar, the matriarch of the family. Ingun is known for her interest in alchemy and potions. You can usually find her at their manor or at the alchemy shop nearby.”
Ria: “Good to know. We’ll need to be cautious approaching her, given her family’s reputation.”
Jenassa: “Indeed. We should have a plan before we make our move.”
Jon: “Well, we’re certainly not going to enter the family manor any time soon. But the alchemy shop, you said? Let’s head there as clients, and see if we spot anyone there that could respond to that name.”
Bersi Honey-Hand: “That sounds like a wise approach. The alchemy shop is called Elgrim’s Elixirs, just a short walk from here. Ingun frequents the place to procure ingredients and share her knowledge with the owner, Elgrim.”
Uthgerd: “Aye, we can blend in as customers and keep an eye out for her. We’ll have to be subtle in our inquiries, though. We don’t want to raise suspicions.”

I tipped the shopkeeper for his help.

Jon: “Thank you, Bersi, even more so because we’re strangers in this town. We don’t intend to harm Ingun, but discreetness is best policy.”
Bersi Honey-Hand: “You’re welcome, friend. I appreciate your honesty and the septims. I hope your business with Ingun goes smoothly.”
Uthgerd: “Aye, we’ll be careful not to cause any trouble. But if the Black-Briars give us any grief, we’ll be ready to handle it.”

Jenassa: “Let’s head to Elgrim’s Elixirs and see if we can find Ingun.”

We couldn’t delay the unpleasantness any longer: we had to confront the one task that had brought us to Riften in the first place. We were going to ruin the day of this Ingun Black-Briar.

Elgrim’s Elixirs was located below the main street level, facing the river. The whole area smelled of fish. The dim interior of the store resembled an old person’s living room. We bothered the grumpy old man at the counter, who once asked about Ingun, gestured toward a woman seated beside the fireplace, reading a book. All Thrice-Bitten had said of this Ingun had suggested a scrawny, awkward-looking young woman who perhaps wore spectacles, but the real woman was wearing fine clothes, and her silky hair was styled in an elegant shoulder-length cut with a side part.

Jon: “Excuse me. You are Ingun Black-Briar, right? Elgrim told us so.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I’m Ingun Black-Briar. What can I do for you?”
Jenassa: “We have a letter for you.”
Ria: “We thought it might be important, so we wanted to deliver it to you personally.”
Jon: “Yes, Miss Ingun. First, I want to clarify something: do you know a certain Thrice-Bitten, an Argonian, well?”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I know Thrice-Bitten. He’s assisted me in gathering ingredients for my experiments in the past. Why do you ask?”
Jon: “Would you consider yourself a friend of this Argonian? Is he someone you’re fond of?”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I wouldn’t say we’re friends, exactly. Our relationship is more… transactional. He gathers ingredients for me, and I pay him for his trouble.”
Jenassa: “The letter may shed some light on his recent activities.”
Ria: “We thought you should see it, regardless of the nature of your relationship.”
Jon: “Yes, Miss Ingun. Let me shed some light on this situation. My friends here and I, we were staying in Falkreath when we entered the local alchemy shop. We met this Thrice-Bitten character. He was browsing for rare ingredients. When we spoke to him at length, he opened up about you, Ingun.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I see. So, you’ve met Thrice-Bitten, and he mentioned me.”
Ria: “Yes, he seemed quite intent on finding those ingredients for you. He even asked us to deliver a letter to you.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I appreciate you bringing this to me. Thrice-Bitten can be unreliable at times, so it’s good to know there are others willing to ensure his tasks are completed.”
Jon: “Well, Miss Ingun, let me tell you, Thrice-Bitten, that character, he paid us to deliver this letter, which he wrote to you, urgently. I shall proceed to read it out loud as per Thrice-Bitten’s instructions.”
Jenassa: “Perhaps it would be better to let Ingun read the letter herself.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I would prefer to read it privately.”
Jon: “I’m sorry, but Thrice-Bitten was extremely clear in his instructions, for which he paid us quite a bit of gold. He emphasized that I should read the letter out loud, theatrically, for maximum effect.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I understand, but I would still prefer to read it myself.”
Jenassa: “Perhaps we could compromise and read it aloud, but in a less theatrical manner.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Very well, if you must. Go ahead and read the letter, but please, keep it concise.”
Jon: “Very well, Ingun, I’m going to read the letter that Thrice-Bitten wrote for you, but let me preface and clarify that this letter is written by Thrice-Bitten, not me nor any other member of my group. Thrice-Bitten is the author. Is that understood?”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I understand. The letter is from Thrice-Bitten, not from any of you. Please, go ahead and read it.”
Jenassa: “We’ll remain silent while you read, unless you have any questions.”
Ria: “We’re just delivering the message, nothing more.”
Jon: “Very well, here we go… This is the entire content of the letter that Thrice-Bitten wrote for you, Ingun Black-Briar. The letter says, and I quote, ‘Dear Ingun, I hope you die, I hope someone rips open your belly and shoves a hive of bees in that horker you call a stomach. I hope someone sews your mouth shut and pours hot, fecal lava down your ears. I hope your face gets infected with boils and your children are born ugly. I hope you die, and in the chance you don’t, I’m going to kill you myself.’ Signed, Thrice-Bitten.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Well… that was certainly unpleasant.”

Throughout our conversation, Ingun seemed guarded and reluctant to interact with us, but now her face had dropped to one of cold disappointment.

Ria: “We apologize for the nature of the message, but we felt it was important you heard it.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I appreciate your honesty and dedication in delivering this letter, despite its contents.”
Jon: “Miss Ingun, to be honest, I thought you were going to be quite upset about this letter, but you’re taking it quite stoically.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I try not to let the words of others affect me too deeply. Thrice-Bitten’s opinion of me is his own, and I won’t let it bother me.”
Jenassa: “That’s a wise approach.”
Ria: “We just wanted to make sure you were aware of his sentiments.”
Jon: “The thing is, Ingun… This Thrice-Bitten added that he was gathering a group of hired killers to end your life. You must retaliate somehow.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Retaliate? I don’t think that will be necessary.”
Ria: “Are you sure? It seems like a serious threat.”
Jenassa: “Perhaps it would be wise to take some precautions, at least.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I’ll consider it, but I won’t let this control my life. I have my own ways of dealing with such matters.”

Jon: “And what are those ways you have of dealing with such matters? Does it involve bringing the problem up with your mother?”
Ingun Black-Briar: “My mother? No, I don’t involve her in such trivial matters.”
Ria: “So, you have other means of handling this?”
Jenassa: “It’s probably best not to discuss the details openly.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Indeed, I have my methods. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Jon: “Well, you sound like a quietly dangerous person, Miss Ingun. I hope that we haven’t upset you too much with this letter that, as I said, was written by that stupid lizard Thrice-Bitten.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Don’t worry, you haven’t ruined my day. I’m not easily upset by such things.”
Ria: “We’re glad to hear that. We were just concerned, given the nature of the letter.”
Jenassa: “It seems you have everything under control.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I appreciate your concern, but I can handle this. Thank you for delivering the letter.”
Jon: “Well… Are we getting some reward out of this? We traveled over here from Falkreath. Had to trek through a mountain pass, and we nearly died fighting a wispmother. Perhaps a few septims or some kind of other reward is in order, don’t you think?”
Jenassa: “We didn’t come here expecting a reward, but if you feel it’s appropriate, we wouldn’t refuse.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “I suppose a small token of appreciation is in order, considering the distance you’ve traveled and the dangers you’ve faced to deliver this letter.”
Ria: “We’re grateful for any compensation you deem fair.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Here, take these septims. I hope it’s enough to cover your troubles.”
Jon: “Oh, thank you very much for your generosity. I must say, when we heard this Thrice-Bitten yabbering about you, I thought we were going to meet some dork. But you’re a very pretty lady, and you’ve brightened my day by allowing me to appreciate your beautiful features and that silky hair of yours.”
Uthgerd: “Jon, that’s quite enough. Let’s not make this more awkward than it needs to be.”
Ingun Black-Briar: “Yes, I think it’s best if we end our conversation here. Thank you again for delivering the letter, but I must get back to my work now.”
Ria: “Of course, we understand. We’ll take our leave.”
Jenassa: “Thank you for your time, Ingun.”

We let Ingun return to her book and her thoughts.

Jon: “Uthgerd, how come most women don’t appreciate when I compliment their physical features? Shouldn’t they be happy about that?”
Uthgerd: “Jon, there’s a time and place for compliments, and this wasn’t it.”
Ria: “Yeah, we were here to deliver a letter, not to comment on Ingun’s appearance.”
Jenassa: “Some women may appreciate compliments, but others might find them inappropriate or insincere, especially in a professional context.”
Uthgerd: “Exactly. It’s best to keep things focused on the task at hand.”
Jon: “Well, if someone told me how attractive I was, I would be happy. Anyway, that letter made her feel bad, likely threatened, and I intended to make her feel a bit better by reminding her that at least she looks good. You know, as a woman.”
Ria: “I understand your intentions, Jon, but it’s best to avoid commenting on a woman’s appearance in a situation like this.”
Jenassa: “Ingun seemed to be handling the letter’s contents well enough on her own. She didn’t need us to make her feel better about it.”
Uthgerd: “Sometimes, it’s better to just stick to the matter at hand and not try to fix things that aren’t broken.”

After we exited Elgrim’s Elixirs, we loitered near its entrance. I was bummed out.

Jon: “Well, that whole thing about delivering the letter to Ingun was a bit anticlimactic, don’t you think? We came all this way from Falkreath, I nearly froze my dick off, and we almost died to a wispmother, but Ingun had the gall to not even blow up at that threatening letter.”
Uthgerd: “It’s not all about the excitement, Jon. We did what we set out to do, and that’s what matters. Ingun’s reaction isn’t something we can control.”
Fastred: “I’ve never been to Riften before… It’s so different from Ivarstead! Look at all the buildings!”
Ria: “Stay focused, Fastred. We’re not here to sightsee.”
Jon: “Are we really not in Riften to sightsee? I mean, we already did what we came for, delivering the letter to Ingun. What the hell are we doing here now?”
Uthgerd: “We’re here to make a name for ourselves, Jon. Riften is a city full of opportunities for a group like ours.”
Jenassa: “Besides, it’s not like we have anywhere else to be right now. Might as well see what Riften has to offer.”
Fastred: “I’m just excited to be in a new place with Bassianus…”
Jon: “Hey, do you think we should introduce ourselves to the rulers of this place? And should that be the jarl, or Maven Black-Briar?”
Uthgerd: “The jarl might be the official ruler, but everyone knows Maven holds the real power in Riften.”
Ria: “We should be careful not to get on her bad side. The Black-Briars are not a family to be trifled with.”
Jenassa: “If we play our cards right, having Maven as an ally could open a lot of doors for the Frostpeak Stalkers.”
Fastred: “I’ve heard stories about the Black-Briars… Are they really as bad as people say?”
Jon: “Maven Black-Briar is basically a mob boss. If she dislikes someone, she could manage to put them in jail, or just have them killed. That sort of person.”
Ria: “That’s a scary thought, Jon. I don’t want to end up on her bad side.”
Uthgerd: “As long as we don’t cause any trouble, we should be fine. We’re just a group of adventurers looking for work.”
Jenassa: “The key is to make ourselves useful to her. If she sees us as valuable, she’ll have no reason to harm us.”
Jon: “Very well then, let’s meet Maven Black-Briar.”
Uthgerd: “We need to be on our best behavior. Maven is not someone to be trifled with.”
Ria: “Remember, we’re here to make a good impression. Let’s show her what the Frostpeak Stalkers are made of.”
Fastred: “I’m a little nervous… I’ve never met someone so powerful before.”