Knows what exactly? Look, outlander, you are not going to lay this corpse at my door. I sold a weapon more than capable of killing mudcrabs. A legendary weapon, too, and the legend came for free with it! Did I ever say it was magical?

Did you honestly come back here just to try and expose me? Do you really want to pick a fight with me, n'wah? I want you to leave, %PCName, and don't ever come back if you value your safety.

If I must. Here you go, 100 gold, just like you paid me. We'll start by taking a look at your swing.

Fine, take your money and listen up. If I hear one word of me out of your mouth I'll be mounting your tongue on my wall over there. Now, show me your stance...

Very well, I hope it serves you better than Vanith.

Thank you! I'm glad you understand. As promised, here's everything I know about tanto-based combat. It isn't much, but it might be useful to you.

Look around you. Do you really think my purse is full? Anyone asking to buy an artifact must have some gold to spare. Now please, if you keep your silence and give me back my tanto, I'll teach you what I know.

You let someone do what? Look, the tanto being some kind of powerful god-slayer was just a story, a fable, an exaggeration. It is certainly a higher-quality tanto than the normal steel variety, but it isn't enchanted or anything. This can't get out to the rest of the village. Please, allow me to take the tanto back, and do not speak a word of this to anyone. I'll then pass on to you some of the knowledge I have about tantos.

Fine, you've had your fun. Getting a poor commoner's hopes up only to dance on their impending grave. I hope it was worth it.

Oh, thank you! I can already feel its power surging within me! I'll have to gather my things first, but after that I think I'll head over to the banks just north of here, across from one of the Hlaalu outposts. There's usually one or two of the monstrosities around there. Meet me there, %PCName; I'd love for you to see the difference this immaculate artifact can make!

That's it! That's the Legendary Mudcrab Carver! Oh, thank you for bringing this to me!

Very well. I suppose the awesome might is too much for your coin purse to afford.

Oh, I suppose I can't fault you too much for being hasty. Tell you what, return to me when your coin purse is flowing with gold and the tanto is yours.

Come back to me when you have the gold, %PCClass, or don't come back at all.

Very good. May it serve you well, serjo.

Very good. May it serve you well, serjo.

You outlanders really should get to know our country better before saying such things. I guess even the mudcrabs are softer over in Cyrodiil, or you are just a braggart. Look, you can have the legendary tanto for just 100 gold because I like you. It's a bargain!

Forged by a god I doubt you've heard of, this tanto is destined to make short work of the mudcrab menace of Morrowind. Mudcrabs of all shapes and sizes die within seconds when it pierces their carapaces. One stab, and all of your problems go away.

Well, I wouldn't do this for just anyone, but for you, I might be able to part with this legendary artifact for 100 gold.

You want this legendary artifact? Ha! Of course you do, and you're not the only one. Tell you what, I'll sell it to you for... let's say 300 gold.

Ah yes, this tanto is my pride and joy. Forged by a god I doubt you've heard of. Very powerful. Makes mudcrabs of all shapes and sizes die within seconds. One stab, and all of your problems go away.

Oh, fine, then. Well, if you ever wish to help a poor commoner like myself defend himself from the cruel hostilities of this world, you know where I'll be.

Oh, thank you, %PCName. Thank you so much! Now please, I don't care how you get it -- I need you to bring me that tanto.

Who? I don't know if you are the one pranking me, but I see mudcrabs and they are horrifyingly real. But for you outlanders, nothing exists until you have seen it with your eyes. This land is treacherous to the likes of you. One night, you will wake up with a pair of pincers in your neck, but then it will be too late!

Alnas Driln has it. He uses the weapon to defend Indal-ruhn from the mudcrab menace. One day, I will be as good as him and better!

Please bring it to me as soon as you've retrieved it.

I was never strong enough to slay such wicked and powerful beasts. They dance around me as if I were a whimpering stone; every time I try to touch them, they end up ripping into a piece of my flesh. So when I heard of this great weapon, I knew I had to have it. Not just to protect myself but to protect my loved ones too. So please, I need you to get that tanto from Alnas Driln so that I might be able to fight back against these mudcrabs. Will you help me?

It is the only weapon powerful enough to slay those horrid creatures of Oblivion known as "mudcrabs". Gah, even speaking the name has undoubtedly brought misfortune to our community. The wielder of this mighty tanto is a Dunmer named Alnas Driln, the guardian of our village.

This is too bad. He must have bitten off more than he could chew.

That's Vanith's great life quest. When this runaround began, I think the villagers were just poking fun at him. But he seems to have taken it seriously, and you know what, there's nothing wrong with him working a bit for such a noble cause. Perhaps he can wield a proper weapon one day? Everyone needs to start somewhere. And for all I know, no one has died to a mudcrab yet.

He's gone. Though I wished it would have happened in a less asinine way.

Did Vanith pester you about it? Garvs must have his reasons for keeping him around, but it is getting embarrassing. The townsfolk are finding amusement in making him believe he is a great warrior in training, but his wit is as lacking as his fighting skill.

That... wasn't so great an idea after all. Townsfolk wanted some fun, but with some people you can never be sure how they'll take it.

Now the whole town is playing along, including the guards over at the manor. It's a bit awkward if you ask me, but it's amusing too, and this can be a boring town on a regular day. And who knows -- maybe some day Vanith will heed his calling and a true hero will be made in Indal-ruhn at last?

Anyway, one day someone came up with the ingenious plan to send him to that loudmouth and prankster Alnas Driln to ask for the "Legendary Mudcrab Carver", a mythical weapon that in the hands of a proper hero could end the greatest menace of the Thirr River: the Common Mudcrab. A legend was born. And of course, it worked... It worked so well that no one has been able to talk Vanith out of his quest, and not for the lack of trying.

Nah, they haven't all gone crazy, they're just pretending. Some time ago, this Vanith guy arrived here, some beggar or petty commoner from Almas Thirr, looking for work. He's been pestering villagers for a while, but neither his muscle nor his mind are good for anything. At least he isn't willing to live off alms, which speaks well of him.

Let's not talk about it, shall we?

Ah, you're in the know. Just don't tell Vanith.

Gah, keep your mistrust to yourself, outlander. It makes a good tale, and the best part is, Vanith Garos over in Raran Manor actually believed it! For all I know he is still pestering people to bring him that mythical tanto that will turn him into a great mudcrab fighter. Maybe one day we'll get to watch him wield it; that would surely be worth it!

You must be really new to this place if you don't know Alnas Driln, our hero who is saving this town from the claws of the horrid creatures every day. You should pay him your respects, outlander. He lives in one of the shacks.

I've heard that the Mudcrab Carver was forged from the mightiest Aetherial minerals, and that no man, mer, nor beast can wield its power for too long. It's said that if they did, the tanto might disappear -- or perhaps it would make the wielder disappear instead. Either way, we sure are lucky Alnas Driln is powerful enough to subdue its holy magicks.