New Beginnings

Figgin rose before the sun had risen today. He ate breakfast at the Bee and Barb and then headed out to Windhelm.He took his usual carriage ride and found his way quickly to the Aretino residence. The boy was all too elated to hear the news of poor old Grelod's passing. The boy agreed to return to the orphanage in a little while. He held true to his word and gave Figgin the family Heirloom. It was a big silver plate that seemed valuable but Figgin decided to keep it. He left the house and decided to return to Riverwood.

Figgin knew that he needed to find a permanent residence in Skyrim. It seemed his exploits had lead him to what h was looking for, well almost. He was saddened by the fact that now since Grelod was dead and the boy no longer sought the dark brotherhood, he had no connection anymore to the elusive guild. He wandered Riverwood and pondered his next move. He knew he could not live here, but thought of Riften. His kind of town, the thieves guild was there and he remembered something about a house for sale there too. Whitrun was too human infested for him so his title of Thane there held no appeal to him. Riften it was. Tomorrow he would awake and travel to Riften to inquire about a house. He found a bed at The Sleeping Giant and laid down for the night.

Grogginess awoke as Figgin opened his eyes. He was no longer in The Sleeping Giant, no he was somewhere else. An aroma of swamp land engulfed him and the muffled sounds of voices behind him. He sat up on the bed to catch his bearings. Where was he. He could barely make out a shadowy form of a person sitting atop a bookcase looking down at him. He knew he was not in control here.

Her name was Astrid as she introduced herself. She spoke of the old women Grelod and how Figgin stole that contract. She further explained that she was the leader of The Dark Brotherhood and Figgin needed to repay the stolen contract by fulfilling one of the contracts behind him. Figgin turned to see three captives bound and kneeling with their heads covered with the hood of an executioner. It was simple, explained Astrid. talk to the three and find out which one was the contract, kill that one and you would be set free. Figgin knew that it was not that simple. He also did not let Astrid know how happy he really was to meet her and find the brotherhood. He was well aware that nobody but he and Astrid were walking out of this shack and the only way he was is if he killed one of these captives.

Figgin spoke to all three and in his mind, all three deserved to die. Figgin stepped back and ignited flames from both of his hands. He turned and smiled at Astrid before torching all three of the captives and leaving their charred bodies on the floor of the shack. He removed the hoods and gathered his gear. In a bluffing move headed for the door, as if to leave. Astrid stopped him and offered him a chance to continue his fine work and join the brotherhood. Figgin kept his cool and nonchalantly agreed to join, even though he was bursting at the seems to reignite his father's passion. Astrid told Figgin that the sanctuary was located in the southeastern part of Skyrim in the dense woods near Falkreath. She said if he could make it there, the family would welcome him.Figgin left the shack to find himself in the middle of a swamp in the middle of nowhere. It was late and Figgin headed toward the mountains to the north.

He reached the sea early in the morning and dispatched a few bandits who thought they may have been tougher than they really were. He came to the shore and found an abandoned Nordic ship and after carefully searching the ship, and finding nothing living there, he slept in the hull for the night. he was exhausted and cold but very happy to have found what he was looking for. Riften and his house hunting expedition would have to wait a little longer.