Untaxing the Poor

Overview
Faction: Thieves Guild Prerequisites: 50 fenced Quest Giver: Armand Christophe Reward: Gold, advance to Footpad rank

Background
The Imperial Watch normally doesn't collect taxes from the poor at the waterfront, however, Guard Captain Hieronymus Lex has actually collected them this time. It probably cost them more to collect the taxes than the total amount of taxes received. Armand Christophe wants you to take them back, along with the tax records.

Walkthrough
It's suggested that you begin this quest right after you talk to Christophe, or between 12:40 and 1:10 on Tirdas, as this time offers the easiest entrance. Hieronymus Lex is located in the South Guard Tower accessible through the Temple District and Arboretum.

Lex's quarters are on the top floor. After the first floor you are trespassing, but if you move fast enough the guards won't notice you! The ladder to the next floor will always be a few feet to the left of where you come up. Lex's quarters on the top are locked, so bring picks. After you're up, he should be asleep but enter sneak mode just in case so he doesn't rouse. The desk where the money and tax records are stored is to your right, it is also locked. Be careful about waking him up, but you can also loot the Watch Captain's room! After you've grabbed the loot, run back downstairs, return to the Garden of Dareloth, and wait for Christophe.

Armand is pleased with your efforts, though he finds the amount you stole less than what he expected. In return, he lets you keep the tax money.

You can steal from Lex, too, if you're a decent thief. He has some additional gold, a valuable sword, and there's even a Nirnroot in his quarters.

Note: Lex cannot die, he only gets knocked unconscious, and you can't steal from an unconscious body.

Journal Entires
Upon receiving this quest:
 *  Armand of the Thieves Guild has asked me to recover the tax records and taxes collected by the Imperial Watch. They are being held by an over-zealous Captain called Hieronymus Lex in the South Watchtower.

After finding the tax records:
 *  I found the tax records. Now to get them back to Armand in the Waterfront district.