Raiders at the Crossing [Quest]

Text of the Quest:

Raiders at the Crossing Imperials have been raiding Martyrs Crossing, and the Knights of Saint Pelin have wound up having to depend on the help of Baandari merchants for assistance. I should talk to Knight Commander Cheryline and see how I can help.

Tasks

Talk to Knight Commander Cheryline

Crazy Eye: What does Crazy Eye see here? Another shaveskin? Good! These Knights of Saint Pelin need all the help they can get! Crazy Eye and the other Baandari have done all they can. Maybe it's your turn to help now?
Hero: Why do the knights need help?
Crazy Eye: Are you living in a dog's den? Imperial skirmishers have been raiding this camp, stealing the knights' supplies! This one and friends were just passing through, but the Baandari help when they can. Like Crazy Eye doesn't have anything better to do!
Hero: I'm sure the knights appreciate your help.
Crazy Eye: Pah! If the knights appreciated the Baandari, they'd fatten this one's purse! Crazy Eye doesn't like to work for free! Do you? Or maybe since you're not Baandari, they'll pay you! If you want to help, see the Knight Commander Cheryline.
Hero: I'll talk to the Knight Commander then.
Crazy Eye: Tell the Knight Commander you want to help stop the Imperial raids. Tell her Crazy Eye sent you too! Tell her this one deserves a little present, or several presents ... several shiny presents.
Hero: The Imperials have raided more than once?
Crazy Eye: Yes. Three times in recent days. Crazy Eye was only here for the last raid, but she saw them coming, even put an arrow between a few pairs of eyes. They still managed to steal more supplies though, yes? Very tricky are these unclawed skeevers!
Hero: Where did the Imperials come from?
Crazy Eye: Probably from Bangkorai Garrison. That place has fallen, yes? Many knights were killed. Crazy Eye is careful not to talk about it in the camp.
Hero: So the Baandari are helping defend the camp?
Crazy Eye: For the present. If things get too dirty though, Crazy Eye will save her own hide! This one and other Baandari are not mercenaries; we're traders!
Hero: And the knights aren't giving you any compensation?
Crazy Eye: No! So unfair too! Crazy Eye's been guarding this gate for hours and hours when she could be back in her tent taking a cozy little nap. You should tell the knight captain. Tell her to give us something!
Hero: Why do the knights even have a camp here?
Crazy Eye: Here at Martyr's Crossing? Important trade routes run through here between north and south Bangkorai, yes? And supply lines from Evermore to Bangkorai Garrison! This one was told that the Knights of Saint Pelin have always guarded this place.

Knight Commander Cheryline: There's a sight for a sore eye! Someone who looks like they can spill blood for a righteous cause! The Imperials have just about licked us. I've only got a few knights left who are fit to fight. I've had to recruit Baandari to defend the camp!
Hero: How did the situation get so desperate?
Knight Commander Cheryline: Frankly, this place isn't easy to defend! It was originally just a little two-man outpost, here to guard the road. With enemies to the north and south, we decided to increase our presence here. Turns out that was a mistake.
Hero: Why was that a mistake?
Knight Commander Cheryline: For starters, it drew knights away from the garrison. That's part of why it fell so easily. The other problem was that we stockpiled supplies here we couldn't protect. They're gone now though. One more raid and we might as well retreat to Evermore.
Hero: Is there some way I can help?
Knight Commander Cheryline: By Saint Pelin's beard! Course there is! Biggest problem right now is the Baandari. I've got wounded knights, but my healers can't heal them without supplies. I know the Baandari are sitting on a bunch of poultices. They need to share.
Hero: You want me to talk to the Baandari?
Knight Commander Cheryline: That's what I was hoping. Old Silver-Paws over there is the one calling the shots for them. See if you can convince him to cough up some of those poultices. We've got lives on the line here.
Hero: I'll talk to him and see what I can do.
Knight Commander Cheryline: Try not to let that Baandari skeeve out of doing his part. Those damn cats have an excuse for everything.
Hero: Are you paying the Baandari for their assistance?
Knight Commander Cheryline: Of course not. The Knights of Saint Pelin set up an outpost here to protect the trade routes. The Baandari's livelihood depends on us keeping Martyr's Crossing safe. We shouldn't have to pay them to help protect it.
Hero: What about taking the fight to the Imperials?
Knight Commander Cheryline: We have to figure out where they're coming from first. So far, the Imperials have been raiding at night. I sent scouts to try to track them, but they never came back.
Hero: What makes you think they'll raid again?
Knight Commander Cheryline: You think the supplies are all they wanted? Not a chance. Those fobbing bastards want to drive us out. They're trying to break the supply lines between Evermore and Bangkorai Garrison. They'll keep raiding until they do.

Silver-Paws: Greetings. Normally I would take pride in telling you that I am the most worldly Baandari merchant in all Tamriel. I would present you with a lavish display of the amazing variety of goods I have to offer, but I cannot do that today.
Hero: Have the Imperials taken your supplies as well?
Silver-Paws: Not everything, but they did seize some of our goods in the last raid. Me and the other Baandari were busy helping the knights defend the barricades. We didn't see the Imperials slip into our tents and steal our most valuable possessions.
Hero: What about poultices? The knights need poultices to heal their wounded. Goodbye.
Silver-Paws: Do they? Did Knight Commander Cheryline send you over to ask this of me? Can she not even show Silver-Paws the respect of asking herself? Of course not! Either way, we can spare no further supplies. We've given the knights everything we can.
Hero: [Persuade] I understand your frustration, but lives are at stake.
Silver-Paws: I wonder what the Knights of Saint Pelin would do if the scales were tipped the other way? Would they give up their supplies for a group of Baandari merchants? I won't have these knights' blood on my hands though. I will take the high road.
Hero: I appreciate that. So you'll give me the poultices?
Silver-Paws: Hmm. Well, there is a thing about the poultices. We do not have them just yet. The good news is that I had foreseen the need for them, so I sent our herbalists out to gather what they needed. But... they haven't returned yet.
Hero: Why didn't you tell me this before?
Silver-Paws: I didn't want to concern you! I thought the herbalists would be back any minute now. But now that I think about it, they have been gone a long time. I hope nothing unfortunate has befallen them.
Hero: Do you know where they went?
Silver-Paws: They went up to the water. They needed a special algae from the lake. Don't tell anyone, but that's one of the key ingredients in the Baandari poultices. If something happened to them at the lake, though ... I don't know.
Hero: I'll look for the Baandari herbalists by the lake.

Deepswimmer: This one thought we were troll food!
Hero: Yes. Silver-Paws sent me to find you.
Deepswimmer: Ah. Silver-Paws takes care of us. He would have been so proud of Deepswimmer—we made all the poultices he asked for...! But now so many of us died ... Silver-Paws will be sad.
Hero: So you have the poultices?
Deepswimmer: Yes! They are needed, aren't they? Silver-Paws knew they would be. The trolls weren't the only threat Deepswimmer found here though. He saw Imperials coming in on boats! This one thinks they will soon raid the crossing again!
Hero: We need to warn the Knight Commander.
Deepswimmer: This one agrees. If the way is clear, we will run then. We will get these poultices back and put the guards on alert! This time, we will be ready for those dungy shaveskins!
Hero: All right. Get going then. I'll be right behind you.

Knight Commander Cheryline: Fobbing Imperials! I figured we had at least another day or two before they'd be back! The poultices helped, but there's not a knight here who's ready for battle.
Hero: What about the Baandari?
Knight Commander Cheryline: They're here, and right now, I'm damn glad of it. The cats are all carrying Alessian bows too. I just hope those bows still shoot straight. Either way, their arrows will only do so much. If you're willing, I'd put you on the line too.
Hero: Just tell me where you want me.
Knight Commander Cheryline: The Imperials are coming from the lake, so the worst of it will be at the northeast gate. If you'll plant yourself there and keep them from getting by, we might just make it another day.
Hero: All right. I'll go to the northeast gate.

Crazy Eye: Ah! If it isn't the five-clawed walker who saved our herbalists! Crazy Eye is very impressed! Are you here to help me fight these dungy Imperial dogs?
Hero: Yes. Knight Commander Cheryline said this would be the worst of it.
Crazy Eye: The worst... or the best... depending on your perspective, walker. It's your turn to be impressed now. Crazy Eye has her new bow! Together, this one and you will make Imperial pie! Are you ready?
Hero: I'm ready whenever you are.
Crazy Eye: Crazy Eye is always ready. Here they come. Ha!

Knight Commander Cheryline: Well, that went better than expected! Not one breach of our perimeter! Guess those Baandari are good at something more than just swindling ... ah, I shouldn't have said that. The Knights of Saint Pelin are indebted to those cats. To you, too.
Hero: I'm just glad it worked out so well.
Knight Commander Cheryline: Now's our chance to end this though, to make sure those raiders never show their faces here again. How would you feel about pressing our advantage?
Hero: What do you suggest?
Knight Commander Cheryline: They're in retreat now, but they couldn't have pushed off from the shore yet. I say we burn their boats, or rather you burn their boats, if you're up for it.
Hero: That makes sense. I'll do it.
Knight Commander Cheryline: That's what I like to hear. You like to fight, don't you? I get that. When I was younger, I felt much the same. Go burn the bastards' boats then. I'll say a prayer to Saint Pelinforyou ... for all of us.
Hero: I'll burn the boats and come back.

Knight Commander Cheryline: Ha! The Baandari scouts said they could see the flames from here! Let's celebrate! Actually, I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and started celebrating. After everything that's happened here, I deserved a drink. Silver-Paws did, too.
Hero: So you two are getting along now?
Knight Commander Cheryline: Yes. I think I judged the Baandari too soon. Silver-Paws is actually quite a gentleman ... or is it a gentle-cat? I just hope he doesn't expect me to pay for this mead. No way. This one's on the house, and by "the house," I mean "the Baandari."
Hero: Complete Quest.