Bidsi Vidryon was a thorn in my side, but the last thing I wanted was her death.

That matter has been concluded, and justice was served.

That matter has been concluded. A disappoining outcome for the Order, but one we can recover from.

Follow the directions in the note I gave you.

You have information about the Brazen Maiden? Have you forgotten the directions in the note I gave you? Follow those, and I'm sure someone will be able to speak to you very shortly.

Very well. If you decide you do wish to help with the investigation, make sure you come and speak to me.

Excellent! Then I advise you to, uh, to see the magistrate. His office is nearby. Here, let me write down the directions for you.

I really shouldn't comment on the matter. It's before the magistrate, and since the Order of Firewatch is under investigation it would be inappropriate for me to involve myself. But the Empire always values its citizens' contributions to its just governance. Do you want to help with the Brazen Maiden investigation?

The matter is resolved, now. There is nothing more for us to discuss.

No matter, smuggling is a serious crime which Willam Rilard will not be able to ignore. I'll take it from here, %PCName. You've done good work. Please, take this cuirass. It was Helrus Jeral's; may you bring to it more honor than he did.

That's her entire case, obliterated! I doubt Rilard will even hear it, let alone rule in her favor! Excellent work, %PCName. You have saved the reputation of my Order. Please, take this cuirass. It was Helrus Jeral's; may you bring to it more honor than he did.

Dwemer artifacts? I'll make sure they're seized right away! But how can we use it?

Nothing? Damn it! Damn it! [He is silent for a few moments, then sighs.] If there is nothing to be found, then there is nothing to be done. It's already too late. I must accept the Order's failure -- my failure -- and, somehow, move on. Thank you for your efforts, %PCName. You've earned this coin.

About time, I've received word that Willam Rilard is preparing to hear the petition! What did you learn?

Then go and find something worth reporting!

Do you have anything to report?

Good! See what you can find on the Brazen Maiden, some leverage to make Vidryon drop the case, and then report back to me.

Very well. Here is your pay. Forgive me for being abrupt, but I have much work to do.

You've learned a little, but nothing we can use. I am left with no other choice. %PCName, I have one more task for you. You've already done a service for the Order, and if you want to walk away now, you will be paid. But I can offer you four times the coin if you do one more thing to me: I want you to look around the Brazen Maiden, and see what dirt you can find.

It's not looking good for the Order, is it? William Rilard is ready to throw us to the wolves. The lawyers seem well-prepared. And this Captain Vidryon appears to be the perfect captain. I am left with no other choice. %PCName, I have one more task for you. You've already done a service for the Order, and if you want to walk away now, you will be paid. But I can offer you four times the coin if you do one more thing to me: I want you to look around the Brazen Maiden, and see what dirt you can find.

What are you here for, then? Hurry and speak to Helrus Jeral, Willam Rilard, Bidsi Vidryon, and the lawyer at Daranith & Daranith.

Are you ready to make your report?

I see. That is most disappointing.

I see. Do not tarry, %PCName. I can only keep Willam Rilard busy with other matters for so long.

Thank you, %PCName. I need you to speak to the involved parties and see if there is some detail we can leverage to have the case dismissed. Talk to Bidsi Vidryon, see if she is the straight arrow she claims to be. Helrus Jeral may be willing to tell you more than he told me. Vidryon has retained the lawyers Daranith & Daranith; find out from them what their argument is. And see what Willam Rilard's current thoughts are on the case. I will await you here for a few more hours, then I must return to the keep.

Will you help the Order with its problem?

The case cannot be allowed to proceed. And yet for me to become involved would be highly irregular. Which is why I need someone, someone unaffiliated, like you, to... to do some digging. To make sure that whatever Willam Rilard has missed or buried is brought to light. To make sure that Rilard cannot even entertain the thought of hearing Captain Vidryon's petition. Will you help me?

We've tried to smooth things over with her, but she is inflexible. Perhaps she thinks Rilard will give her a better deal. She may be right, the magistrate is not discreet with his opinion of the Order. And yet, as representative of the Empire, he is responsible for the Order's defense. He has told me that his investigation is complete. To him, the case is decided. The Order's failure in its duty will be put down in ink to be read by legal scholars for generations to come. I cannot allow this to happen.

The Maiden is a ship; its captain, Bidsi Vidryon, claims that it was damaged on the passage south from Althoa because she couldn't see this fire here. She claims it wasn't lit. I have spoken to the knight on duty at the time, Helrus Jeral, and he... well, he corroborates the story. He has, of course, been expelled from the Order of Firewatch. That was not enough for Captain Vidryon, and now she is petitioning the magistrate, Willam Rilard, to force the Order to pay for repairs and other damages.

Alright, I'll tell you. The truth is, I wasn't on the Beacon at all that night. I was in town with... with my, uh... my friend. Anice Derielle. We've been friends for years, but we never get to see each other. I'd been talking about it with Knight Miremos. And Miremos said he'd cover my shift. I don't know how he let the fire go out. But, please, don't tell Commander Tulnus. I shouldn't have skipped my shift. What happened to that ship, it's my fault. Really.

Just what I told Commander Tulnus already. There isn't much to say. It was a cool, clear night. I was tired, so I sat down and I... I fell asleep. When I woke up the fire was out. That's it.

That's the name of the ship that was damaged the night I let the Beacon go out.

Repairs are underway. And it turns out my first mate, curse his soul, was smuggling contraband right under my nose! I'm lucky these outlanders didn't catch wind of that.

Repairs are underway. She'll be glad to leave this port, and gladder to never return.

Repairs are underway and they're stacking coins for me over in Ember Keep as we speak.

She's been my girl for a long time. Not a board or peg on her is the same as when she first touched water with that name, but her soul hasn't changed a whit. Taken me from Blacklight to Vivec and up to Althoa more times than I can count. She's sailed the Sea of Ghosts, even, around to Winterhold, though I wouldn't take her again. Reckon she could sail the Padomaic had I a mind to steer her to the Isles, but I don't. Inner Sea's where we belong.

That's my ship. By rights she'd be riding the wind south by now, but with the damage done to her I fear we'll be spending some more nights in dock. I'm furious about it. Only thing keeping me from taking on the Duchess herself is the knowledge that I've got the Empire, and its stooge Senillos Tulnus, by the kwama eggs. Drakes will be coming my way, soon enough, and I'll be clear of this port and glad to have it at my back.

Wh-what happened? When? Oh, I can't keep this up. That big idiot is insisting we don't tell anyone the real story. That I was up here. That I fell asleep. Stupid of me to think I could do a night shift after chopping logs all day. I wish he'd let me tell but he thinks there's no point in both of us getting discharged. Doesn't think Tulnus will let him off easy. He's probably right. I just hate to see him fall on a sword that by rights should be finishing me...

Uh, no, it doesn't -- oh! That's the ship that was damaged coming to port, right? Can't tell you any more than that. Sorry!

Yes sir, %PCRank %PCName. I'll draw up a warrant for you immediately.

Do you? If you did it'd save me a lick of work. I'll draw up a warrant for you; show it to the captain and she'll give you the run of the place.

On your way then.

You don't have a warrant. Now, I could get you one... but I don't give them out to just anybody.

The Brazen Maiden's got nothing to do with us. It's not unloading any cargo, so Census and Excise doesn't need to get involved.