Bandits, Marauders and Raiders. Oh, my!

In these troubled times, the roads are filled with all manner of thugs looking to shuffle you off the mortal coil and take your gold. But they aren't all created equal.

(What? You don't have any gold? Me either.)

Bandits
Harrying travelers on the roads, bandits are hardly more than ruffians with a blade or club. They make their living by picking gold from the corpses of merchants and ill-equipped adventurers. The infest Cyrodiil like fleas on a dog. For a well-heeled adventurer they will pose little risk, unless you get mobbed.

As for gear, they carry worn-out armor and weapons. Occasionally some have gotten their hands on some finer outfitting, but that's more of an exception than the rule.

Marauders
Ex-mercenaries or soldiers for hire that realized they could make more coin taking it from people than hiring on with the army or in the fighter's guild. Their heavy armor makes them a challenge for novice adventurers. Though it looks formidable, their armor and weapons of old and in poor repair.

Raiders
Well-trained, well-equipped warriors are a force to be reckoned with. Anyone who comes across one would do well to run unless they have the grit to go toe-to-toe with these grim warriors.

There are rumors that they are actually an organized fighting force under the command of a powerful leader.

The Arctic Bear

In bowels of Dasek Moor a raider of rare skill resides and has information on the struggles of the Sylvan and Corrupted Rangers.

Wearing a unique set of steel armor, if you fell this warrior your journal lets you know that you aren't fighting a common thug - though it would be hard to miss. Hlorfor the Arctic Bear is not a man to take lightly. In fact, he appears to the leader of the Raiders, and his style of writing indicates a military background.

"After an intense fight, the might warrior falls dead to the ground. I am surprised of his power and stamina. He was old but moved like a man in his prime. Undoubtedly, there is something special about him."

Not just a common bandit, this Raider has eyes on a darker prize - the Dread Artifacts.

"I have found Hlorfor's Battle plans in Dasek Moor. A very cunning man, this Arctic Bear. He anticipated Eregor's, and other key players', finding of the Dread Artifacts. He sought to step in and gain a bargaining position, no doubt wanting to protect his legacy as commander of the Raiders. His plans include a very interesting map. Portresses in the Nibenay Basin are marked on the map -- most specially and Fort Facian and Fort Flecia."

(He might be in a dank cave, but the Arctic Bear wasn't sleeping)

His notes and plans can be found on the desk along with the map:

Our spies confirm that the legacy of Graithlan has been finally discovered outside of the inner circles of the mages guild and necromancer cults. I suspect that Traven's banning of necromancy will only speed the search for the Dread Artifacts.

Lien Valeth and his newly formed army of necromancers are no doubt searching for the vessels of Graithlan's soul. If my previous information is correct, they will take some time to find the location of the largest collection of these dark artifacts. Guardians of Valenwood's forests are keepers to most of them. Still, it is possible that much has changed since I last learned of this.

(Action: Check with Lucia's contact. It has been some time since her last report -- we need someone inside the Putrid Hand, immediately).

The recent sightings of sylvan rangers in the Gold Coast could be related to the search for Graithlan's dark power. If it is, then we must make haste in recovering what we can before the Dread Armor can be made whole.

(Action: send a contingent of spies to Anvil and its surroundings -- need of more information is imperative. Assume risk and divert forces engaged against bandit gang. From eastern and northern Cyrodiil--must control the plains and road accesses to hamper movement of our opponents).

Something is amiss in what we know about the King of Worms. It is highly suspicious that we have not learnt of any movement, what to say of acknowledgement, regarding Graithlan's legacy. Mannimarco knows of it, but appears to sit back while the rest of the powerful players in this go through their motions--irritating. What is that old bastard planning to do?

(Action: check the contacts in the Mages Guild that know about the double-agents of Mannimarco within the guild. Penetrating his own ranks is far too risky, but something should trickle down if he is indeed planning something large).

We are spreading ourselves too thing. It is imperative that we regroup our forces and move in clusters. There are who now pose a threat to our continued dominance of the provinces untamed lands. Everything is shifting so quickly that we must flow with the ease of water and strike with the compact force of an avalanche if we are to prevail. And we thought that our days of excitement were far behind! Sheil and Faran will benefit from this struggle, if we come out of it at all. Once they return from the forts of Facian and Flecia we will be in a bargaining position once more. (note: despite their great power, all help will be useful--send four exquadrare of raiders to support their forces).

(Click to enlarge and see roughly where the forts are located)