Preface: Unfortunately, it appears that I am all out of ideas for Light Through Darkness, and the only way I'm going to break free of this writers block is by starting from scratch. So here we are, starting afresh.

The idea behind this story: what happens after Oblivion ends? There are a number of questions that end up unanswered when the game ends, and so I have decided to take a shot at answering them. This tale will follow the lives of three people at the start of the Fourth Era, each with their own part to play, and each one answering a question that Oblivion left dangling:

Sercala “Sera” Indoran: A landowner in the town of Weye
Veritas Marellius: The Hero of Kvatch, and Champion of Cyrodiil
Savlian Matius: Captain of the Kvatch City Guard

I hope you enjoy the read!

When Fire Dies

Prologue: End of an Era

Blackened clouds laced with red lightning obscured the white city. So the rumors were true, Sera thought to herself as she settled, entranced, onto the grassy cliffside. The glory of the Talos Aqueduct began nearby, fed by the Charcoal Spring and drawn forth by the nearby waterfalls. The glorious white-granite construct of tapered arches stretched as far as the eye could see across the clear blue waves of Lake Rumare. The waterfalls nearby filled the air with the glorious noise of summer rain upon rock and stone, the fine mists bringing forth the magnificent arc of all-colored joy. Such mesmerizing beauty it was, enough to bring a grand smile across Sera’s ashen face, setting the fire of her Dunmer eyes alight as its radiance dispelled all traces of Azura’s curse upon her people. People always said she had a beautiful smile, and she was inclined to believe them.

But today was different. The majesty of the Heartland summer was spoiled by the sooty black clouds masking the crown jewel of a once Adamantium-strong Empire in their choking grasp. Cyrodiil knew those clouds well now; they came alongside the many Gates to the Deadlands that threatened to tear the province asunder. Kvatch, City of the Wolf, lies in ruins, and most of the major outlying cities of Cyrodiil, at some point in time, were themselves threatened by the presence of their flaming lens. Each Gate, like a great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame, was a blight upon the countryside, and a terror to all who befell them. And now, they had found their way inside the white walls of the great Imperial City.

Suddenly, the entire sky darkened, and blood-red lightning spilled from the sky with earsplitting thunderclaps. Sera could see the city again, but what she saw nearly stopped her heart.

----

The four-armed giant let forth a guttural bellow, and with a single stroke of his axe, he tossed aside five Legion soldiers like rag dolls. Their screams of pain and shock reverberated though the deafening noise of battle and the gentle screaming of the nearby Gates to Oblivion. The giant then let forth an earsplitting roar as he turned to face a man with lank brown hair dressed in ornately decorated purple robes laced with full cuffs of fluffy white fur. A man adorned in the ornate, yet purposeful armor of the Blades stepped in front of the man in robes, his katana gleaming with blood and magic as the mists of the North Wind blossomed from its blade.

“Is that…?” the man in Blades armor murmured.

“No…” the man in robes replied, in barely more of a whisper, “no, no, no… we’re too late.”

“Is that Dagon?!” The armored man then shouted out.

“It is!” The robed man responded, his face whiter than Secunda’s. “Mehrunes Dagon walks upon Mundus! The barriers are gone. Oblivion and Nirn are now one with each other!”

“Does this mean we can’t light the Dragonfires to stop this anymore, Martin?!” Another armored figure cried out, slicing his katana through the stomach of a scamp trying to claw its way through his greaves.

“No, Baurus, the barriers are gone! The Dragonfires will solve nothing now!” Martin replied, fingering the massive red gem of the amulet around his neck.

“So what now?!” The other man shouted, his eyes shifting to a charging black-skinned giant wielding a vicious double-headed axe that looked to be forged from the very fires from whence he came.

“We still have but one option, Veritas,” Martin replied, tearing his amulet from around his neck. “But first, you must see me safely to the temple!”

A massive crunching noise bespoke of the black-skinned giant’s axe crashing to the paved street surrounding the great domed structure of the Temple of the One, grazing Veritas’ breastplate and causing him to flinch back. He responded by striking out with his katana in a vicious slice across the creature’s exposed weapon arm as it tried to dig its axe out of the stone. As he watched the blade cleave through the creature’s skin and flesh, the frigid magic of the North Wind coursed through the blade, freezing shut the wound as over half the creature’s arm became iced over at the same time. A split-second later, Veritas stomped down on the frozen limb, and witnessed it shatter completely. The creature’s axe remained suspended in the street, dug into the stone where the creature had brought it down. The black-skinned monstrosity then let out a low roar of pain and rage as Veritas removed a small scroll from within his armor. He unfurled it, glancing down upon the Daedric characters scribed upon the parchment, and willed its Magicka into his own. The glyphs then began to glow white, and at that signal, Veritas grasped the scroll into his hand tightly, and pointed his hand towards the hulking, blackened giant.

A surge of lightning coursed from his body and into the creature, throwing it to the ground, where Baurus was waiting to finish it off with a thrust through the mouth. Veritas then threw the charred scroll to the ground and grabbed Martin by the arm.

“We’d better move now! These streets are getting far too dangerous!” Veritas shouted out, nearly tearing Martin’s arm from its socket as he tugged him towards the Temple.

----

Sera’s eyes were transfixed upon the great, lumbering beast with four arms. She watched him stomp the ground, and cringed as the resulting tremors found their way to her. Not two seconds later, a massive swing from his axe completely demolished a smaller building nearby the domed Temple. She could just hear the screams of terror over the frequent crashing of thunder from the fiery lightning that arced constantly through the blackened skies.

A loud snorting brought her eyes away from the spectacle of battle and destruction across the lake. A majestic black horse was prancing and rolling its eyes. It looked ready to flee at first shift of the wind. Sera rose from her seat on the Cliffside and approached the spooking horse.

“Shhhhh,” she spoke softly, wrapping her arms around the horse’s neck and bringing her own face close. “It’s okay Vertullian, no one can hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The gelding continued to snort in displeasure, but at Sera’s touch, he calmed his feet and stood still. Sera then reached up to grab a small tuft of his long mane, and gently massaged his neck, drawing a circle with her hand. Every so often, she would move her hand up and repeat the same movement on a small tuft of mane closer to the horse’s head. The horse responded by slowly dipping his head as the frequency of his uneasy snorts slowed.

“You don’t like this weather, do you,” Sera spoke softly to Vertullian. “I don’t either. Let’s stay close; I need you just as much as you need me right now.”

As Vertullian’s breathing slowed, Sera fingered the steel-eared shortbow slung across her back, finding additional comfort in the gently curving staff and the taught flax string tied across the shined ears. If any Daedra come for us, she thought, I’ll be ready.

----

Veritas slammed the doors of the Temple shut as Martin dashed inside, the hems of his ornate robes flapping wildly. The small gash across his platemail where the Xivilai had struck him was beginning to smart, but he paid no heed to it. His mind was on Martin.

“So the barriers are dispelled completely,” Veritas gasped once he had bolted shut the mahogany portals. “Might I ask what good the Amulet will have for us now?”

“There is one other way,” Martin replied, a strange look in his eye as he fingered the Amulet. The flickering glow, the one that made it look as though flames inhabited the Amulet, had been restored when Martin first placed the chain around his neck. But the look in his eyes was unnerving. What exactly did he plan to do? Veritas wondered.

“You know of the history of the Amulet of Kings, yes?” Martin asked of Veritas.

“Handed down to Saint Alessia by Akatosh, it has become the symbol of the Empire and mark of the true blood,” Veritas replied. “But why is that important?”

“Because the Flame of Akatosh resides within this jewel,” Martin replied. “A true Aedric enchantment, like nothing the world has ever seen elsewhere. Within lies the power of Akatosh the Everlasting himself. Only this power is enough to banish Dagon back to whence he came.”

“But that would mean…” Veritas began, but then he paused, utterly stunned at what he was hearing. “There is truly no other way?” He inquired slowly once he had regained his composure.

“I do so wish there was,” Martin responded, a hollow smile crossing his face. “Greet the new age well, my friend. I thank you for everything you have done for me… in the short time I have known you.”

A resounding crash echoed through the temple at that precise moment. Veritas watched in horror as a colossal axe was removed from the gaping hole in the stone domed roof, the tusks and fangs of Dagon showing through on the other side. Veritas locked eyes with Martin, where he saw unmistakable determination and will burning like the flame within the great red jewel clutched in Martin’s hands. Martin then spoke to Veritas… one last time.

“Now I must go. The dragon waits.”

With that, he dashed to the pedestal where the Dragonfires once burned. As Dagon peeled away the remains of the temple roof, Martin looked right into the eyes of the Daedric Lord, raised the amulet in his fist, and smashed it upon the ground. One violent flash of golden light later, he was gone.

----

The sound of rushing wind broke the Dunmer’s stupor as she watched the blackness rush away back towards the Imperial Isle, blue sky replacing the ash-filled clouds around her. Everywhere she looked, conduits of dark energy could be seen lacing the countryside as they streamed inwards like black rivers flowing into the great Lake Rumare. Even now, Sera could see the black cloud surrounding the city was shrinking, and White Gold Tower was beginning to show through the top once again.

But the tower was unlike Sera had ever seen it before. As the top of the tower showed through, a great beam of bluish-white light rose from the top, rising into the heavens. As the blackness grew smaller, the light grew brighter, until at last the dome of the tower’s base once again became visible and Sera could see exactly what was happening. The blackness was being sucked inwards towards the tower, which was then turning the darkness to light before it was thrown back into the skies… Oblivion was being banished from this world. When the last river of blackness vanished, and the last of the light surrounding the tower faded, a new light came to replace it, this light in the form of a golden orb forming atop the spire in the center of the white city. Seconds later, the light coalesced into a definable shape… the shape of a dragon.

“Akatosh…” Sera whispered, following the flaming shape downward as he swooped in to strike at the figure of Mehrunes Dagon.

----

It was all Veritas could do to remain standing as he watched the great Titans clash. Aedra vs. Daedra, locked in battle for the very future of Mundus, one fighting to conquer, the other to save. Dagon brought his great axe smashing into the fiery dragon’s chest, provoking a screech of pain as Dagon followed with a massive fist to the dragon’s maw. Wasting no time, the dragon took to the wing, flames roaring from its mouth. Veritas could swear that he heard the dragon talking as the fire came forth, though it was in no language he could hope to understand. Dagon was shielding himself from the deadly blaze, and when the dragon dashed away with a flap of its massive wings, he was dumbfounded as to where it went. Not even Veritas could see what happened to the dragon; he turned his head every which way trying to find it once again.

Then, with a massive roar, the dragon came pelting out of nowhere, locking its jaws around Dagon’s neck. Dagon roared in pain and rage as the dragon’s vice-like maw closed, his clawed feet tearing away at Dagon’s chest at the same time. Then, with another massive gasp of flame from the fiery creature, Dagon vanished in a brilliant flash of golden light as the victorious dragon perched itself atop the pedestal where the Dragonfires once burned bright.

The dragon then shifted its gaze… it looked right into Veritas’ eyes. At that moment, he knew exactly who the dragon once was. But before he could speak, the dragon gave one last resounding roar, a roar of victory and finality as he spread his wings, and he turned to stone where he stood.

“The Amulet is shattered,” Martin’s voice then resounded through Veritas’ mind. “Dagon is defeated. With the dragon’s blood and the Amulet of Kings we have sealed the Gates of Oblivion… forever.”

Images of the pastoral vistas and serene lakes of Cyrodiil then replaced those of destruction and death in Veritas’ eyes. He saw everything that he had fought for… that so many had died for, in search of a future without fear. A future now realized… but at such a heavy price.

“The last of the Septims passes now into history. I go gladly, for I know my sacrifice is not in vain. I take my place with my father, and my father’s fathers. The Third Age has ended, and the new age dawns. When the next Elder Scroll is written, you shall be its scribe. The shape of the future; the fate of the Empire… these things, now, belong to you.”

Well! *puts fists on hips* Now what am I supposed to write?? You pretty much stole my thunder!

Looking forward to you wrestling with questions left by the Main Quest, as Sage Rosa is in her story.

An epic opening scene! That great battle in the Imperial City is well-told. You have a first-hand view from the Champ (Mr. Truth) and some nice descriptions of the defeat of a Xivilai. Meanwhile, Sera offers another alternative view, away from the destruction, but still close enough to see Akatosh and be impressed by His divine glory! I like the way you moved between them.

I notice that you have decided to take on a similar line to me: the events in the aftermath of Oblivion, as seen from different characters' eyes. I will eventually get there myself, but look forward to seeing your take on it, which may give me some ideas for fleshing out my post-Oblivion world.

My favourite bits:

It was all Veritas could do to remain standing as he watched the great Titans clash. Aedra vs. Daedra, locked in battle for the very future of Mundus, one fighting to conquer, the other to save.

Good description of the great clash. I similarly imagined my character cowering in the corner of the temple, and there is the contrast of good and evil summed up here.

But today was different. The majesty of the Heartland summer was spoiled by the sooty black clouds masking the crown jewel of a once Adamantium-strong Empire in their choking grasp. Cyrodiil knew those clouds well now; they came alongside the many Gates to the Deadlands that threatened to tear the province asunder. Kvatch, City of the Wolf, lies in ruins, and most of the major outlying cities of Cyrodiil, at some point in time, were themselves threatened by the presence of their flaming lens. Each Gate, like a great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame, was a blight upon the countryside, and a terror to all who befell them. And now, they had found their way inside the white walls of the great Imperial City.

Suddenly, the entire sky darkened, and blood-red lightning spilled from the sky with earsplitting thunderclaps. Sera could see the city again, but what she saw nearly stopped her heart.

Very nicely described here.

Nitpicking:

Martin look right into the eyes of the Daedric Lord

Look or looked?

Welcome back!

I enjoyed the evocative descriptions of both the frost enchanted blade and the scroll in use.

Anytime a dragon enters the scene, it is sure to steal the show! Very powerful stuff, and a beautiful ending that is truly befitting for the verge of a new era.

Nits:
'across the clear blue seas of Lake Rumare.'
Your call, but I would not mix sea and lake. I got briefly stuck thinking about salt vs fresh water here.

'Their screams of pain and shock reverberated though the earsplitting noise of battle and the gentle screaming of the nearby Gates to Oblivion. The giant then let forth an earsplitting roar as he…'
'Earsplitting' is quite a distinctive word to use twice in such close proximity. I would delete (rather than replace with synonym) one use or the other.

Ah, TK. Finally I get to comment on something that you have written! I am going to take my time with this, so please bear with me:

As a rule I try to leave matters of grammar, spelling, and syntax to those with an eye (and ear) for it like Acadian, hautee, or ‘Rosa. I usually confine my comments to matters of style. Having said that, I love what you did with the opening paragraph! The juxtaposition of the dark clouds obscuring the Adamantium Tower combined with the idyllic setting of the waterfall to evoke just the right amount of atmosphere to the scenes that follow. Placing the ‘ashen face’ of Sera in the middle of it was a really nice way of telling her race while also establishing her as an outsider to these events.

Be careful with this sentence. You have already established such vivid images as the ‘Charcoal Springs’ feeding the Talos Aqueduct and the ‘glorious white-granite construct of tapered arches’ traversing Lake Rumare. Too much unabashed imagery borders on the self-indulgent. Also I would have loved to know what rumors Sera found true, but that just might be me.

Something else I feel compelled to bring to your attention are a few repetitions that you have throughout this piece. From ‘glorious white-granite constructs’ in one sentence we go to ‘glorious noise of rain in summer dream’ in the next. We also have lightning spilling from the sky with ‘earsplitting thunderclaps,’ and a few sentences later we get the giant letting forth with an ‘earsplitting roar.’

The exchange between Martin, Veritas (great name BTW), and Baurus was handled extremely well. I especially enjoyed the description of Martin’s face as ‘whiter than Secunda.’

‘A massive crunching noise’ is a vague description that doesn’t hold up next to the quality of the rest of Veritas’ battle with the giant, but somehow I feel like you already know that. The battle itself really shows off your ability to write a good action sequence. The description of the magic scroll was simply fantastic!

As someone who was cured of the habit allow me to try to persuade you to avoid telling us what characters ‘would’ do. Would is not active. There is nothing wrong with telling us that ‘she moved her hand up and repeated the same movement.’

The final exchange between Veritas and Martin is the best thing about this chapter, and that’s saying something. I could feel genuine emotion in Veritas’ dawning realization of just what stopping Dagon is going to cost. To enable us to feel something both honest and heartfelt in a situation that is so familiar is quite a feat, and something that only a truly gifted writer can achieve.

I’m jealous.

More please?

Excellent description of the end of the Oblivion crisis. I enjoyed reading it very much. It kind of makes me want to play the main quest again.

I’m looking forward to this story. I think this is a great time to imagine the start of the Fourth Era.

This is the absolute first time I have found the end of the Oblivion crisis described in such detail in a fanfic! Awesome job you did of it too, it is not easy at all to describe the chaos of that moment when all those gates opened at once pouring Daedra out - and then Dagon emerged. Running through the city with Martin all those times - I'd be hard pressed to be able to sit and write with clarity any of the events!

Having it viewed by an outsider was a good idea! The switching back and forth between the woman watching from the distance and the actual battle as it unfolded was very effective, hugely moving !!! Awesome Write !!!

@rider: Oh noes! It appears I did!

Don't worry, though, I will still enjoy your rendition of the end of the Crisis immensely, as will everyone else here. Don't you dare let this rendition get in your way, in fact, I really do believe you can do it better than I did. The prologue was only to firmly set the time period of this story. The real meat is in what comes next.

@Ceidwad: Mr. Truth indeed! Many sincere apologies for not glancing at your writing for so long, and I will rectify that as soon as I can. I'm glad you are enjoying the tale so far, even if it's just one segment.
Nit picked.

@Acadian: Thank you for the elated welcome back! Yup, them dragons are show-stealers, and I'm sure that will give the coming Skyrimmers plenty to write about (so long as Bethesda doesn't overdo the dragons like they did the Oblivion Gates).
Latter nit picked. The former I decided to leave because, essentially, Lake Rumare IS a sea, just like the Great Lakes are technically seas, as well.

@Destri: Be as long-winded as you like, I always enjoy a good analysis of my writing. Thank you for your suggestions. I am so humbled that you enjoyed the segment as much as you did, too.

I will definitely be taking into account your suggestions. A writer has to write to get better, after all.

@King Coin: Really? Wow!
Glad to see you on board!

@Grits: Indeed it is, with Skyrim around the corner, I really wanted to get going with closing out Oblivion in preparation for the big day... not only for me, but for everyone else willing to join in on the fun, as well.

@mALX: Thank you for your very kind words!

Part 1: Kvatch Rebuilt

Chapter 1-1: Memories

“Lady Sera,” the Dunmer maiden called out across the marble-walled manor entrance hall. “Someone to see you!”

“Who is it?” Sera replied, striding into the elegantly decorated room. A number of display cases lined the walls, each filled with exquisite artifacts of Ayleid and Dwemer origin, as well as a handsome set of steel armor shined to a keen polish. The armor was embroidered with many patterns reminding of waves at sea, and upon the hilt of the matching blade was engraved the initials ‘B. A.’ Sera herself was wearing a simple outfit of blue and green linens with comfortable quilted shoes.

“Savlian Matius,” the maiden replied.

“Savlian?!” Sera exclaimed, her pace quickening as she flung open the mahogany front doors to greet the ruffled, grizzled Imperial. “When did you get here?”

“Just now, lady,” Savlian replied, bowing slightly.

“Please, It’s just Sera to you,” Sera responded. “What are you doing here? Please do come in. Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you,” Savlian said softly, stepping through the doorway into the warm, welcoming entrance hall. His eyes wandered for a few seconds before turning back to Sera.

“You’ve certainly been taking care of yourself,” he spoke. “How did you get the money to afford all this?”

“It’s a very long story,” Sera replied, her eyes wandering away from the simply dressed Imperial’s face.

“I see,” Savlian said after a moment’s awkward silence as he allowed the maiden to steer him into the dining hall.

“Are you sure about that tea?” The maiden asked. “Marshmerrow laced with Comberry juice.”

Savlain raised an eyebrow towards Sera upon hearing the recipe.

“You’ve never even tasted Morrowind before, have you?” She spoke, grinning at the bemused look upon Savlian’s face.

“And all the better for it, I reckon,” he replied.

“Come on, try it!” Sera responded, giggling slightly. “It’s almost like chamomile with lemon juice to you.”

“Well… fine,” Savlian replied, signaling the maiden to hurry away into the basement.

“Anyways, knowing you, you didn’t come all the way here from Kvatch for tea and biscuits,” Sera spoke after a moment of silence. “Why are you here, Savlian?”

“You’ve just put your finger on it,” Savlian replied, finding himself a seat at the stained teak table. “Kvatch.”

“Then why come to me?” Sera responded, her voice becoming grave slightly hoarse. “I’ve worked so hard to put that part of my life behind me. Why should I go back now?”

“Because the city needs your help,” Savlian spoke.

“To do what?” Sera snapped, “To dig through rubble for corpses to burn? You, of all people, should know what it is like, Savlian. To go to bed at night and hear the screaming, see the flames, watch as that… thing… tore through the gates and set fire to the chapel.”

“Please,” Savlian replied quickly, “Now is not the time to reminisce on the past. It’s over. Saint Martin sacrificed all for us to be free of the Daedra.”

“It was never over,” Sera spoke shakily. “Stop deluding yourself, Savlian. You, of all people, should know this.”

The next silence lasted for several minutes. When the maiden returned from the basement, she gave a small shudder as if the elegant dining hall had frozen over. She quickly gave over the two porcelain cups of marshmerrow tea before returning to the basement.

“You are an honest man, Savlian,” Sera spoke after the maiden left. “Brave, but never foolish, and loyal enough to rival a wolf to pups. Have you truly moved on?”

Savlian looked deep into Sera’s eyes, where he found his answer. “No,” he spoke slowly, “though I do so wish it were otherwise.

“But please, Sera, just consider what I came here to say,” Savlian continued. “The city must be rebuilt, and it shall be. Kvatch has risen from ashes before and she will do it again. But we need your help.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe,” Sera interrupted, a flicker of annoyance in her voice.

“Believe it,” Savlian replied intensely. “I know what you are capable of, the fact you remain alive after your solitary sojourn is proof enough. You may be unwilling to forget the past, despite your talk of ‘moving on,’ but understand that we still have to look to the future.”

“And what do you see in that future, Savlian,” Sera quipped rather harshly, “besides Kvatch rebuilt?”

It took some time for Savlian to find his words again.

“Listen,” he began, “I know how you felt when you managed to escape the burning city alive; I felt the same way. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that I couldn’t be there to help you, but you know what it was like.”

“It’s always duty with you,” Sera replied, her voice low and quiet, “duty and the greater good. Why couldn’t you have put your head aside for one night and listened to your heart?”

Savlian heaved a sigh. “Old habits die hard, Sera,” he responded.

A short silence followed his words.

“What is it you need done?” Sera then inquired.

“So you would be willing to help?” Savlian responded, eyebrows raised in mild surprise.

“Yes,” Sera replied, taking her teacup in her hand. “You are right, you know,” she continued after taking a sip, “This is one part of my life I need to close.”

“Well, at the very least I hope you will remember the times before the fall,” Savlian spoke, raising his own mug to his lips. At these words, Sera gently touched the grizzled man’s cheek.

“I’ll never forget,” she spoke softly. “You said it yourself.”

“This is… this is pretty good stuff, by the way,” Savlian suddenly quipped, raising his voice.

Sera chuckled while removing her hand. “I thought you’d like it,” she replied, giving Savlian a small smile.

Nice to see that Kvatch may get rebuilt. Poor Savlian. Still dedicated to his city above all else.

The emotion, memories and despair you captured was well done, as were your rich descriptions.

'Kvatch has risen from ashes before and she will do it again.'
A delight to see you fit this in game line so smoothly into your story!

“Old habits die hard, Sera,”

Nits:
“Who is it?” Sera replied, striding into the handsomely decorated room. A number of display cases lined the walls, each filled with exquisite artifacts of Ayleid and Dwemer origin, as well as a handsome set of steel armor shined to a keen polish.'
You may wish to seek a synonym for one or the other variants of handsome. It is a somewhat distinctive word to be repeated in such close proximity.

“It’s a very long story,” Sera replied, her eyes wandering away from the simply dressed Imperial’s face.
“I see,” Savlian said after a moment’s awkward silence as he allowed the maiden to steer him into the dining hall. '
These two short paragraphs were simply missing a line of spacing between them.

Aha! My favorite hero makes an appearance! Though he's a bit older here than he is in my fiction. Still, it's wonderful to see him again. The man just doesn't get enough credit, IMHO.

And of course, I'm going to leave the obvious comment for someone else. Alls I'm going to say is you couldn't resist, could ya!

Argh, ninja'ed by Acadian! Well, he did comment on the obvious.

Looks like you had HER on your mind in in this line TWICE, ROFL !!! Really great dialogue in this chapter! And Matias, WOO HOO !!! Great Write !!!

*

You just cannot write a story without a Dunmer nicknamed 'Sera' in it, can you?

The aqueduct was a nice piece of world-building.

a great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame,
Sauron! The Dark Lord of Mordor himself!

Veritas? One can only hope that someone so named will be truthful. Or perhaps be found in vino.

“Now I must go. The dragon waits.”
Now this was a truly excellent line.

And so it begins. Or so it ends. Both it seems. The idea to write an Oblivion story that begins with the end of the main quest is as wonderful as it is original. Everyone does it the other way around. I am looking forward to seeing how you shape the undiscovered country of Cyrodiil in the aftermath.


Edit: Caught up now.

“You’ve never even tasted Morrowind before, have you?”
Was she referring to the marshmellow tea, or the Dunmer maiden...

So Sera Mk. II was a Kvatch survivor. I wonder what Savlian meant by her solitary sojurn? My guess is that she escaped the city by herself the night of the attack. It seems that she is rather sweet on Savlian. But of course he is too busy for a girlfriend, or a life. Yet he went a long way (I think, we do not know where Sera Manor is, except not in Kvatch) just for her. That might imply a desire to let go of his duty, at least at some point.

Old habits die hard,
I think that is someone else's story...



nits:
across the clear blue seas of Lake Rumare
Seas sounds odd in the context of a lake. Perhaps waters or waves would work better?

The waterfalls nearby filled the air with the glorious noise of rain in summer dream upon rock and stone
Did you mean in a summer dream? Also, the last four words seem misplaced in the sentence, as if the summer dream is on the rock and stone. I am sure you meant for us to imagine the rain upon it.

Such mesmerizing beauty it was, enough to bring a grand smile across Sera’s ashen face, setting the fire of her Dunmer eyes alight as its radiance dispelled all traces of Azura’s curse upon her people.
This is a really long sentence. I would look for a way to break it up into two. In fact, you have a lot of extremely long sentences, packed with descriptions, that would read easier if broken into several, smaller sentences.

Putting Kvatch Rebuilt to a story. I like that. That reminds me, have you completed it yet? I’ve played an awful long time without a quest update and I think it’s stalled or something. I know it’s not done.

I too am curious what is meant by ‘solitary sojourn.’ At first I thought that Sera was the Champion of Cyrodiil, but reviewing the prologue shows this is not the case.

I get the feeling that Sera and Savlian were together before Kvatch was destroyed and despite her urging, he remained at the city instead of running with her. Just what I suspect. I could be off.

@Acadian: This is one of the loose ends Oblivion left up in the air at the end of the game, so of course it's going to be rebuilt! I'm very glad the emotions came off as poignant to you, and also that you enjoyed the usage of those two lines.
Nits picked.

@schrodinger's kitty: Nope, couldn't resist at all! The reason Savlian is older is that he has left the Battle of Kvatch a heavily scarred and grizzled man who has had leadership forced upon him. That'll give anyone a few gray hairs!

@mALX: I really need to speak to HER (ar ar ar) about that, then. Thanks for the kind words.

@SubRosa: No, I really can't. "Sera" is actually a term of respect and endearment to the Dunmer, so in a way, her name means "Respected," which she certainly is, considering her past that I have yet to reveal (but don't worry, it will all come out). That line was actually taken directly from the game, I felt it would be nice for Martin's last words in this tale to match his last words in the game, so I left them as they were. And I'm glad you are so looking forward to seeing what comes after Oblivion ends, or as the title says, when fire dies. As for what Savlian meant by Sera's Solitary Sojourn (alliteration FTW!), you'll find out eventually. And the location of Sera's manor will come very soon.
Nits picked.

@Tiber Septim: I'm on the fifth (and final) quest of the rebuilding stage at this point, so I'm almost there. And it appears I have achieved that certain mystique I was aiming for with that reference to Sera's lonely wanderings over the course of the Oblivion Crisis. You'll find out more about those in due time.

Next: We return to Kvatch and learn where the city stands at this point.

Chapter 1-2: Meeting of Minds

Walking the empty, charred streets of Kvatch, Sera was finally able to drink in just how much had been lost on that horrible night. The steeple of the Great Cathedral of Akatosh had been snapped from its perch like a twig and now lay in a crumbled heap across the high street, blocking the statue of Antus “The Wolf” Pinder from view. To her left, the halls of the Fighters and Mages Guilds were nothing more than burned-out shells of the prosperity that had all but faded to memory. The Arena had been lost from view, and the great stone walls of the castle had been charred so badly it now looked to be constructed of ash. The only thing missing was the stench of death… and Sera was not at all unhappy about it.

But even if the body of Kvatch had been so badly wounded as it was, her soul still lived on. Even now, Sera watched as what was left of the townfolk toiled through the day removing bricks and demolishing the old structures too badly damaged to be saved.

“We’ve cleared and buried most of the bodies,” Savlian told Sera as she strode up the steps to the cathedral doors. “We’ve also sent a runner to Skingrad, and Count Hassildor has sent over some masons and architect Procis Douarus to help us get back on our feet. Anvil has been providing food and supplies for us, with the occasional assistance from passing foresters. But most of the pressing matters of the immediate aftermath have already been seen to.”

“Have you found an heir to the throne yet?” Sera inquired.

“Well… no,” Savlian answered. “Count Goldwine had but one son, and he’s been missing for so long I think even the Count had given up hope of finding him again.

“But let us return to the task at hand,” Savlian continued, “What must begin now is getting construction supplies moving steadily through our gates. For the past couple of weeks, things were going rather smoothly, but now we’ve hit a snag. Three of the shipments we were expecting over the course of the last few days never arrived.”

“Did you send a watch contingent out to investigate?” Sera inquired.

“Yes, but they came up empty. And where it gets worse, the last squad we sent out has yet to report back. It’s been two days now, and I begin to fear the worst for them.”

“So where do I come in?” Sera pressed, still unsure. Kvatch’s troubles were hardly her own anymore, she’d given up on that life long ago, though she still had yet to let go of the memories... good and bad.

“No one knows what happened when you disappeared after the Siege was broken, but I do know this,” Savlian began. “When your name returned to the tongue of the people, you had suddenly acquired a prestigious manor house in the farming village of Weye. Prime real estate there, Sera, not exactly ten to the Drake, let alone a vested control of the entire community. I’m not going to inquire what happened behind the scenes, but I have to assume that you returned from the shadows a touch more world-wary.”

“You could say that…” Sera spoke slowly. This conversation was beginning to venture into rather uncomfortable territory, so she decided to steer it down another path. “So, you just want me to find out what happened to those supply shipments, is that all?”

“Yes, but you won’t be going alone,” Savlian replied, beckoning a bronze-haired, simply dressed Imperial male over to his side. “This is who will be accompanying you.”

“Veritas Marcellius?” Sera replied, eyeing the Imperial with dispassionate respect. “Hero of Kvatch, an honor to be sure.”

“Likewise, milady,” Veritas replied, kissing Sera’s hand with a mild flourish, but never releasing his eyes from her own. “You don’t like it very much when people do that, do you?” He then asked, his grin fading.

“Perceptive of you,” Sera replied, a hint of coolness in her voice.

“Anyways,” Savlian butted in, breaking the tension, “Procis specifically asked that Veritas assist us with this problem. I think he found some comfort in knowing that he would have the Hero of Kvatch on his side.”

“And now Champion of Cyrodiil, as well,” Sera added. “I do hope you are not expecting any form of reverence from me, Sir Marcellius. I have little trust for celebrities and noblemen.”

“And I expect none,” Veritas replied, his feet becoming slightly antsy. “You think of me what you will, but one does have to make an impression for the bystanders. I’m sure even you can understand that.”

“Perhaps,” Sera replied, turning back to Savlian. “So what does Procis want us to do?”

“Travel to Anvil and speak to the harbormaster, he should be able to tell you by which road the supplies were headed. Either The Gold Road or the Abecean Loop, both lead straight back here, though I suspect they might have taken the Gold Road. Once you have ascertained which direction the goods were traveling, find out what happened to them and let us know. Can you do that?”

“Of course,” Sera replied, along with Veritas.

“Good, now get moving. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner Procis will stop being such a bother about it.”

And with that, Savlian strode off, leaving the two unlikely partners to stew in their own thoughts. Sera’s own mind was a mess, one side of her wanted to flee, to run screaming from the city that had caused her so much pain in so little time, but the other remembered the times before… it would not let her forget her once fierce loyalty to the man who now Kvatch called their leader, a loyalty that was now naught more but ashes upon the wind. If only for it to be easier down the road to put this part of her life to rest, Sera was willing to help. To help the city she once loved… the man she once loved.

“Sera?” Veritas’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.

“Sorry,” She replied, looking everywhere but his face. “Let’s go. The day is wasting.”

Brick by brick. Off on the adventures and quests necessary to see Kvatch rebuilt it seems. This shall be fun! It looks like some unhappy sparks could surround Sera and the Champion.

Am I reading this wrong? Did Matias just cast aspersions on how Sera obtained a nice house? If so, she should have slapped him, lol.

This chapter opens up some intriguing hints at backstory that I can't wait to see you uncover !!! MORE !!!! Great Write !!!

Savlian knows how the world works. For Sera to obtain such a prime piece of real estate speaks of some unknown machinations - the sort of thing that might come in handy during the upcoming investigation. So Sera's the brains, and Veritas's the muscle? That works for me.

The rebuilding of Kvatch begins! It's so great to see that once great city recover bit by painful bit from the Oblivion fire that devastated it on a certain night.

I’m rather surprised at Sera’s attitude towards the Champion of Cyrodiil. I think he’s a little more than a mere ‘celebrity.’

The title of this story always reminds me of Roger Daltrey's song After the Fire. In fact, I am listening to it as I read.

So the Count's son vanished long ago, before the destruction of the city? I wonder if his name might be Veritas? Or if that might be the name the son assumed to avoid discovery? Hmm, after seeing him with Savlian though, I am guessing not.

Still, it does beg the question, why would Savlian want Sera involved in this fetch and carry mission? He has the Hero of Kvatch/Champion of Cyrodiil to hunt down the bandits (or whatever) stole their shipments. Next to that, anyone else seems like chump change. I had expected he wanted Sera to donate some of her wealth, since obviously she has money to buy that house. Perhaps her connections among the rich as well, assuming she has those. I am assuming there is more to Sera then we have already seen, and that perhaps she is a magician or assassin (or thief?) of some ability.



nits:
To her left, the halls of the Fighters and Mages Guilds were nothing more than burned-out shells of the prosperity that had all but faded to memory.
You still have those really long sentences. This might be broken down like so:
To her left were the halls of the Fighters and Mages Guilds. Once grand structures that flaunted the prosperity of their owners, now they were nothing more than ashes and memories.

“Count Goldwine had but one son, and he’s been missing for so long I think even the Count had given up hope of finding him again.
It seems that along with the heir, your closing quote has gone missing as well.

Um, did Savlian imply that Sera has criminal connections?

“And now Champion of Cyrodiil, as well,” Sera added. “I do hope you are not expecting any form of reverence from me, Sir Marcellius. I have little trust for celebrities and noblemen.”

Now I’m thinking that Sera is either a highly capable fighter of some variety, or that somehow she knows that the Campion of Cyrodiil didn’t actually save the world. Or maybe she means that she’s not going to engage in bowing and hand-kissing for the benefit of curious bystanders.

Trailing after missing supplies does seem a little below their pay grade, but you’ve told us that squads of soldiers have tried and failed, so it must be something serious.

I’m looking forward to more.