Skyrim:Gallus's Encoded Journal

In Falmer

Journal of Gallus Desidenius

MERCER FREY CONTINUES TO ELUDE MY EVERY STEP I THINK HES AWARE IM FOLLOWING HIM AND APPEARS TO BE TAKING NO UNNECESSARY CHANCES IM BRINGING ALL OF MY SKILLS TO THE FOREFRONT IN ORDER TO DECEIVE HIM IT STILL PAINS ME THAT THE DECEPTION IS NECESSARY WHEN I BECAME A NIGHTINGALE USING MY NEW FOUND TALENTS AGAINST MY OWN WAS THE FURTHEST THOUGHT FROM MY MIND

THERE WAS A CLOSE CALL TODAY I WAS SETTLING DOWN FOR A NIGHTS REST IN THE CISTERN WHEN MERCER FREY ENTERED UNEXPECTEDLY HE WAS CREEPING ALONG THE WALL BUT I SPOTTED HIM IMMEDIATELY HE EDGED CLOSER TO THE VAULT DOOR MAKING HIS WAY CAREFULLY AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE ROOM BUT SUDDENLY STOPPED AND TURNED TOWARDS MY HIDING PLACE I FROZE INSTANTLY EVEN HOLDING MY BREATH FOR A MOMENT BUT MY POSITION WAS ALREADY COMPROMISED HE ABRUPTLY TURNED AND WALKED BACK TOWARDS THE FLAGON WHAT WAS HE DOING

AT LAST I HAVE EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN MERCER FREYS ACTIONS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FOLLOW HIM OR BREAK INTO HIS MANOR I USED EVERY LOOSE TONGUED SOURCE AT MY DISPOSAL TO SCOUR THE RATWAY LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS BUT MAUL WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE AN INTERESTING BIT OF INFORMATION MERCER HAD BEEN SPENDING INORDINATELY LARGE SUMS OF COIN ON ALL MANNER OF THINGS UNRELATED TO THE GUILD HOW HE WAS ABLE TO AFFORD THIS WAS A MYSTERY TO ME THE VAULT WAS IMPREGNABLE SO WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF HIS COIN

ITS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MY SOURCES MERCERS BEEN LIVING AN UNDULY LAVISH LIFESTYLE REPLETE WITH SPENDING VAST AMOUNTS OF GOLD ON PERSONAL PLEASURES I HAVE MORE THAN MY SHARE OF EVIDENCE TO CONFRONT HIM NOW HE MUST BE STEALING FROM THE GUILD BUT WITHOUT PROOF ALL I HAVE IS BASELESS ACCUSATION MERCER CAME FROM WEALTHY STOCK BUT THE AMOUNT OF COIN HES BEEN SPENDING IS IMMENSE

IVE BEEN GIVING IT SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT THERES ONLY A SINGLE WAY THAT MERCER COULD HAVE ACCESS TO VAST AMOUNTS OF COIN I HESITATE TO EVEN BELIEVE ITS POSSIBLE HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY DESECRATE THE TWILIGHT SEPULCHER THIS GOES FAR BEYOND MERE GREED AND TRANSCENDS COMMON THEFT HIS ACTIONS COULD REPRESENT THE FAILURE OF THE NIGHTINGALES SOMETHING THAT HASNT OCCURRED IN HUNDREDS OF YEARS WHY WHY WOULD HE READILY THROW AWAY EVERYTHING HE BELIEVES IN ALL I NEED IS PROOF

MERCER FREY HAS REQUESTED I MEET HIM AT SNOW VEIL SANCTUM TODAY HE SENT A NOTE BY COURIER SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME HES ALREADY THERE ALL OF MY SENSE TELL ME THAT ITS A TRAP BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE HIS MESSAGE INDICATED THE MEET WAS OF THE UTMOST URGENCY AND INVOLVED GUILD BUSINESS SO IM OBLIGATED TO GO I CANT RISK BRINGING ANYONE ELSE WITH ME BUT IM ALMOST CERTAIN KARLIAH WILL DISOBEY AND FOLLOW

Transliterated

Journal of Gallus Desidenius

Mercer Frey continues to elude my every step. I think he's aware I'm following him, and appears to be taking no unnecessary chances. I'm bringing all of my skills to the forefront in order to deceive him. It still pains me that the deception is necessary. When I became a Nightingale, using my new found talents against my own was the furthest thought from my mind.

There was a close call today. I was settling down for a night's rest in the cistern when Mercer Frey entered unexpectedly. He was creeping along the wall, but I spotted him immediately. He edged closer to the vault door, making his way carefully around the perimeter of the room, but suddenly stopped and turned towards my hiding place. I froze instantly, even holding my breath for a moment, but my position was already compromised. He abruptly turned and walked back towards the Flagon. What was he doing?

At last I have evidence that might explain Mercer Frey's actions. Instead of trying to follow him or break into his manor, I used every loose-tongued source at my disposal to scour the Ratway looking for answers. It took several weeks, but Maul was able to provide an interesting bit of information. Mercer had been spending inordinately large sums of coin on all manner of things unrelated to the guild. How he was able to afford this was a mystery to me. The vault was impregnable, so what was the source of his coin?

It's been confirmed by my sources - Mercer's been living an unduly lavish lifestyle replete with spending vast amounts of gold on personal pleasures. I have more than my share of evidence to confront him now. He must be stealing from the guild, but without proof all I have is baseless accusation. Mercer came from wealthy stock, but the amount of coin he's been spending is immense.

I've been giving it some serious thought. There's only a single way that Mercer could have access to vast amounts of coin. I hesitate to even believe it's possible. How could he possibly desecrate the Twilight Sepulcher? This goes far beyond mere greed and transcends common theft. His actions could represent the failure of the Nightingales, something that hasn't occurred in hundreds of years. Why? Why would he readily throw away everything he believes in? All I need is proof.

Mercer Frey has requested I meet him at Snow Veil Sanctum today. He sent a note by courier, so I can only assume he's already there. All of my sense tell me that it's a trap, but I have no choice. His message indicated the meet was of the utmost urgency and involved guild business, so I'm obligated to go. I can't risk bringing anyone else with me, but I'm almost certain Karliah will disobey and follow.