A Pinch of Sugar

Quest objectives

**S'rendarr's mercy, we need more time before the inspection!**

*Inspection? What inspection?*
**Dominion inspectors. Headwoman Harrani requested their aid to stop smugglers.**
**We're honest farmers with good customers. Our moon sugar is used to spice food, not to brew skooma! When the inspectors learn we can't protect our fields, we're finished!**
*Protect them from what?*
**Hairy, squirmy, squeaky little rats! They've infested the plantation since the storm.**
**The inspectors will ask, if we can't protect our fields from those dung-dropping sugar-eaters, how can we protect them from skooma- brewing thieves?**
*What can I do to help?*
(A} **Find out why Cinder-Tail's senche-tigers roll on their backs instead of filling their bellies with rat.**
**Does that one expect to keep his jon if the inspectors find vermin in our fields?**
*What will the Thalmor do if they find rats?*
(B} **At best? The inspectors will recommend our moon-sugar be confiscated.**
*What about "at worst?"*
**To the east, a plantation burns. Was it due to the inspectors' recommendations? Who can say?**
**Either way, Mistral will weep for our passing. With Laughing Moons gone, skooma will flow through the streets!**
*Why is that?*
**When moon-sugar runs dry, people turn to smugglers. With smugglers comes skooma.**
**But the inspectors aren't from here. If we tell them, they will not listen!**
*If I help you, where should I start?*  Go to (A}
*What is moon-sugar?*  Go to (C}
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*What is moon-sugar?*
(C} **Ha! You pull this one's tail, yes? A white powder, very sweet, used as a spice for food.**
**Some of us believe it gives true insight into ja-Kha'jay, where all fates are bound. Others use it to brew skooma.**
*Skooma? What is skooma?*
**Poison.**
**Skooma-peddlers claim a single drop lets you escape from the world. It's because drinking the stuff makes you want to drink more of it, until you want nothing else.**
*What will the Thalmor do if you fail the inspection?*  Go to (B}
*Goodbye.*
*Tell me about ja-Kha'jay.*
**It is not this one's place. The monks at Two Moon's Dance might instruct you, if you seek them out.**
*What will the Thalmor do if you fail the inspection?*  Go to (B}
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*

> “
> Awash in a sea of rats, Laughing Moons Plantation is in dire need of assistance. Juranda-ra asked me to help with the infestation.
>
>
>
> Cinder-Tail may know how mere rats have defeated hi senche watch tigers.
>
>
>
>
>
> * **Talk to Cinder-Tail**
>
>
> — game journal
>
>
>

#### Dialogue with Cinder-Tail

**Want to buy a carpet? How about three? They aren't good for much else.**

**Yes, Afeh, even you?**

*What's wrong with your senche-tigers?*
**"Do not eat the rats," this one says. Do they listen? No!**
**Stupid senche. Lazy senche!**
*Why can't they eat the rats?*
**They already did. That's the problem! Moon sugar makes you sleepy if you eat too much.**
**Rats eat moon suger[*sic*], senche eat rats, and then? Lazy senche! Especially you, Gobani.**
*Can you get them moving again?*
(A} **Not with sugarbellies. These useless senche could only kill a rat if they fell on it. From a great height.**
*If the senche won't move, what about the Thalmor inspectors?*
**Go inside, lock the doors, wait until they leave? No, let this one think. Without senche hunters, what could….**
**Thunderbugs… heh. No, it would never work.**
*What about thunderbugs?*
**Thunderbugs nest nearby. They defend their delicious eggs from anyone who'd make a meal of them, yes? If you grabbed an armload of eggs….**
*Won't they try to protect their eggs?*
**Undoubtedly! But they'd hesitate to harm the eggs, once you possess them. Smash an egg into each rat nest, and the thunderbug's electric frenzy kills the rats before the inspectors arrive.**
**You're sturdy, yes? A little shock won't stop you!**
*All right. I'll see if it works.*
**Wonderful! Save some eggs for Cinder-Tail, yes? They are so very tasty!**
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*
*It doesn't matter why. Juranda-ra said you need to get them moving.*  Go to (A}
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*

> “
> ...
>
>
>
> According to Cinder-Tail, Thunderbugs are fiercely territorial, following their eggs wherever they are taken. Perhaps they can be used against the rats.
>
>
>
>
>
> * **Steal Thunderbug Eggs**
>
>
> — game journal
>
>
>

> “
> ...
>
>
>
> By throwing Thunderbug Eggs into the rat nests, I should be able to take the fight to the rats.
>
>
>
>
>
> * '*Destroy Rat Nests: x/5*
>
>
> — game journal
>
>
>

> “
> ...
>
>
>
> Juranda-ra will want to know the Rat Nests have been dealt with.'
>
>
>
>
>
> * **Talk to Juranda-ra**
>
>
> — game journal
>
>
>

{====Dialogue with Juranda-ra====
**Clever, luring thunderbugs out of their mounds like that. A scheme worthy of Baan Dar, himself!**

**They're all gone, then?**

*I cleared away all the rats.*
**Excellent, our gracious Inspector has been most patient with us. Perhaps witnessing your ingenuity will affect his findings.**
*Is there anything more I can do?*
**Jone and Jode dance kindly with you, walker. Whatever the findings of our esteemed Inspector, we're in your debt!**
*Complete Quest.*
*Never mind.*
*Goodbye.*
*Goodbye.*