1.11 (Part 4)

[quote]The bandit had them spinning, windmill fashion, walking towards the Nord Knight with a murderous look on his tattooed face. Farn had his helmeted head tilted in what Galasafon imagined was probably amusement. Olfsson raised his hand and shot a large fireball into the bandit’s exposed chest. The bandit skidded down the corridor on his back and stayed there.[/quote]

Rather reminds me of Indie shooting the scimitar-wielding character in Raiders… And is equally gratifying.

[quote]He’d brought them all here on the strength of their trust in him. All of them risking the wrath of the Emperor on what was at best, capturing a wanted deserter and murderer turned bandit without direct orders, and at worse a personal vendetta against his brother-in-law...Former brother-in-law. [/quote]

Oh my- definitely a twist I did not see coming.

[quote]He walked up to and between the Imperial and Nord. “Foss?” asked McWylde, breathing heavily.

“Brellin’s with him.”

“No I’m not,” said a voice behind them. Which then quietly added, “There’s no need anymore.” [/quote]

Damn and blast. It is always hard losing comrades.

[quote]Glarthir descended into hysterical laughter “I’ll be dead before the next morning if you take me back to the Emperor.”

Galasafon narrowed his eyes at Glarthir, “I fail to see the downside.”[/quote]

Have to agree there.

[quote]With that, Galasafon pushed Glarthir backwards. The bleeding Bosmer stumbled to a stop. “Help me?” he asked of McWylde.

Olfsson answered him with a Nordic Thu’um, and the Bosmer flew backwards over the waterfall.

The four Elitarii walked to the edge and looked down.[/quote]

Incredibly vivid scene- so well described that I felt as if I was there.

[quote]At which point, Uriel Septim had put his hand on Galasafon’s shoulder, looked with more than a trace of sympathy into the Bosmer’s eyes and said, “I’m so sorry.”[/quote]

A real leader- a good one- will give you the reaming you deserve- AND understand why you had to do what you did.

1.11 (Part 5)

[quote]Galasafon sighed and dropped the Shroud spell prompting a squeal from a passing lady. “One of these days you’ll tell me how you can see into that. You’re the only one that can.”

“Well, there is another, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, why should I give up my advantage?” Robert smiled.[/quote]

As did I upon reading that.

[quote]“I just think the Universe likes to take the piss out of us sometimes.”[/quote]

Quoted for truth.

[quote]“Oh, don’t start on me again Commander.” Galasafon spat. “You know out of all of us, even Farn, I’m the least comfortable with all this Nine business. Denying them now would be like denying that the sun rises and sets. But worship? Why? What have they done for me to worship them? Glarthir died because he attacked a prostitute when she insisted on payment not for what he did to my sister...His wife?..His kriffing kids for...” Galasafon started breathing heavily. “I have too much hate Robert. For everyone and everything. I am not worthy of being a Knight. This with my sister broke me somehow. The betrayal, the loss, all of it. And then...Then, to top it all. The Emperor.”[/quote]

That goes a long way toward explaining things- and is also some powerful writing.

[quote]“Yes, it seemed he had some issues with being able to do it until I asked Farn to go and have a word with the Commander of the Watch in Bravil.”

“Hah!” Galasafon actually smiled, “Which word was that?”

“I think it was “Sit” First at least.”[/quote]

Perhaps- if he was feeling generous…

1.11 (Interlude)

[quote]That despite all Caroline’s efforts to save the Emperor, she’d been branded traitor along with the remaining Dragon Company still made the retired General angry. Run around like headless chickens, desperate to make scapegoats.

It was the testimonies of himself and several other notables that had saved Jayred Grice, Alix Lencolia and a couple more. Many others - lesser notable soldiers - had been executed as traitors. Kenth was well aware that had it not been for Robert McWylde and the ex-Investigato J’Drell, his daughter may have been included in the deaths.[/quote]

A lot of history expertly covered in a small space.

[quote]“Well, someone needs to help me fix that,” Kenth pointed at the broken door, “you’re not getting out of it because you’ve had a scratch.” he said with an eyebrow raised.

“Sorry Daddy.” Caroline mock pouted.[/quote]

That made me smile.

And really- I want to quote the WHOLE section. But I will settle for closing with this- as the wise writer did before me-

[quote]The two old friends sat - or stood - and watched the stars come out.[/quote]

Thank you so much Treydog...I imagine that a post likes that takes ages, and I'm so...Oh, I don't know the word...They all seem trite somehow... ...But whatever it is, I am...Thank you so much...It's always encouraging...

For the more recent parts, thank you all and I apologise for being so...Confusing... ...Which these next few sections will make even worse, as they have little to do with the last part... ...

To colour in from the start...The year is 3E 604, which is a good 160 years after Oblivion and New Kvatch's start...This is the year that the game Skyrim makes out as when the Aldmeri Dominion (The ruling Altmer and Bosmer collective) having conquered many lands previously held by Cyrodiil's Empire, decide to invade Cyrodiil itself...Obviously, I'm having none of that as it makes no sense within where I'm going with me story...

I've had this rebuttal planned since about a week after Skyrim came out...I hate the game's story, and am enjoying burying it...

Thank you...






1.12 – Empire (Pt.1)







3E 604 – Imperial Palaces, Newheart. 30 miles south-west of Cheydinhal.






Seven pairs of heavy booted, martial feet echoed as they made their way along the marble floor of the Imperial Palace’s throne room. The soldiers of the Second Aldmeri Dominion marched briskly towards the occupant of the throne, looking neither left at the opulent furnishings and ornate hanging tapestries, depicting the major cities and landmarks of Cyrodiil, or right, out of the giant windows, beyond which lay ornamental, manicured, terraced gardens. Seven pairs of eyes stared fixedly at the seated, emerald green attired small woman with copper coloured hair, who at this point seemed to have not noticed their approach.

The lead Altmer, General Sher Derlar, brought the party to a stop at the base of the steps up to the dais. He watched the Empress reading a book to the two children at her knee. The young girl’s eyes kept trying to turn to watch the soldiers, but the son’s seemed to be fixed on his mother. The General looked up behind the throne. Two soldiers – a pair of The Empire’s vaunted Knights’ Blades – stood either side, a female Khajiit on the left and a male Nord on the right. Both stood with legs apart and arms folded, at ease. Knowing who they were, the General was under no illusions about how battle ready the pair were.

Sher Derlar didn’t become the Aldmeri Dominion’s finest general by going into situations blindly, and recognised the shape of this trap before it could be sprung.

He cleared his throat.


-----------------------------------


“Empress Mia McWylde, The Second Aldmeri Dominion has conquered your most hallowed hall and now holds you prisoner. Call off your armies, submit to our will and rule and you will be treated fairly.”

“...And that is how Farn Olfsson saved the day again. If only all Olfssons were as heroic, eh?” The Empress smiled and turned to look at the Nord.

The children laughed at the joke.

“Madam!” the General said with an edge.

“Oh, yes, hello!” Said the Empress with surprise and closed the book. “Still, after a hundred and fifty years, some things have to change eh?” she smiled at the Aldmeri soldiers. “Have you ever read this General?...Um?”

“Derlar, madam.”

“Derlar,” the Empress nodded. “Well, General? Have you ever read ‘Legends of The Knights of The Nine?’”

“We are required to study all the texts regarding our greatest enemies.”

“Greatest enemies? You’ve only been causing trouble for thirty years for Aetherius’ sake, how can they be your ‘Greatest Enemies’” The Empress said in a mocking voice while she made quotation marks with her fingers.

“Madam, your Highness, please, I don’t think you appreciate the danger you’re in. We have you completely at a disadvantage. You have sent all your troops away, you have little to no defence here. We are the elite troops of the Aldmeri Dominion and there are only two here to defend you. There were none outside.

“You can end this without loss of life. All you have to do is surrender, right here, right now.”

“Otherwise?”

“Please, have one of these...Soldiers take the children away. I am not without respect. They do not need to hear...discussions.” The General narrowed his eyes.

The girl whimpered and looked up at her mother with trembling lip.

The Empress put her hand out and gestured with her eyebrows, then winked. The daughter smiled weakly and put her hand to her mother’s, who gripped it.

Mia McWylde was about to speak when her son said,

“Can I kick him in the nuts?”

The words died in the Empress’ open mouth as she looked at her son.

“Only Olfsson said I should kick people I don’t like in the nuts.”

“Did he indeed?” The Empress looked around at Cairn Olfsson who had the good grace to look embarrassed. “We are at court Robert, can you mind your manners?”

“Oh, sorry mother...Please can I kick-“

“No!

“We used to call then Jerbey’s in my day and then only-”

“MADAM! You are in a dire situation. Could you please give it some damned respect!!”

“You mind your language in front of my children man! Now, what do you know of me?”


---------------------------------


The General could feel the trap starting to bite, but he was – he had to admit – somehow unable to see where it was coming from.

The Empress asked him again.

“What do you know of me?”

The months of study ran away with his mouth.

“You are Empress Mia Seren Jarn, but you rule with the Dynastic name of McWylde. A former Knight of The Nine yourself, you married Andreius Jarn, another Knight of The Nine after you rose to the throne and eventually had these two...children, Prince Robert and Princess Eleni. Your father is the Nordic Knight, Karran Shernsson, one of these ‘Legends of the Knights’ you speak of, and your mother is Maire Shernsson, bearer of the Emerald Lamp, high-keeper of the flame in the Order of The Lamp. She is the only daughter of Emperor Robert McWylde and his wife prior to his rising to the Dragon Throne, Caroline. Your mother’s younger brother was taken by the same conflict that also took your father, your brother, and led to your grandfather’s death in the destruction of the old Imperial City.

“That act is still under discussion as to how it happened, the White-Gold Tower had stood for many an age, and yet it now lies ruined by a wave of destruction previously unheard of.” Having no opinions or facts levelled at him, the General continued, “I know that you are much older than you appear, and that’s down to the Altmer blood in your family, which seems to be still going strong given that it is now four generations back.

“You ascended to the throne twenty years ago on the day your Grandfather died. Your mother actually inherited it, but then abdicated in favour of you within seconds.

“You rule over a much diminished Empire – if it could be even truly called that anymore – but much of the blame for that lies with the Elder Council’s having ruled for too long without a true Emperor...Or Empress.

“And you rule from here, the palaces in the city of Newheart, as in New heart of the Empire. Very clever.”

The General tilted his head, “Anything else or can we get on with it now?”

The Empress leaned forward with a particularly venomous smile. “No, that’s my biography, I said what do you know of me?”

Damn, the General thought, I can feel the trap...Where is it?


---------------------------------


“Did you know that my favourite colour is emerald green, because it reminds me so much of my mother?...Or did you know that I when I’m here alone you’re more likely to find me in the servant’s kitchens of an evening, eating chicken and deep fried chipped potatoes with them, than the dross that I get at these almost unending damned banquets?..I love cats, dogs, the smell of summer rain on sun-baked ground, I want a pet unicorn and did you know that I would never, ever,” The Empress spat the word with all the venom she could, “keep my children in a situation where there was the slightest danger to them?”

The General frowned and looked left and right.

“I have three words for you General and your ‘we need a second Aldmeri Dominion because the first one failed spectacularly.’”

General Derlar sneered, “I’ll never surrender?”

“Isn’t that technically four words? I’ll...It’s a contraction isn’t it?...I will never surrender...That’s four?..But I suppose I’ll is used so much that it doesn’t matter really...” The Empress shook her head and frowned, “But anyway, ignoring the possibility of it being four words, it is definitely a cliché. No, I was thinking more,” The Empress sat forward with eyes shining with magic as she said,

“Fus-Ro-DAH!”

The air blast from the Thu’um knocked the seven soldiers backwards as if autumn leaves before a storm. They came to an abrupt halt at the wall and thick oaken doors that had been closed behind them.

The Empress stood, lifted the front hem of the skirts on her emerald silken gown and sped towards the piled soldiers. Skidding to a dignified halt next to the General. Mia knelt down and smiled a particularly humourless smile at the Altmer.

“You arrogant little $hit, you really believed you could just walk in here and demand we roll over for the great Altmer nation didn’t you?” she nodded, “You thought that you could just lure me into making a mistake like leaving here undefended? HAH!...What’s most insulting is that everyone always underestimates me. I mean how stupid can one man be fercryingoutloud? You said it all yourself, Knight of The Nine? Nordic Legend of a father? Most powerful woman in the world for a mother? And I’m the kriffing Empress you idiot! Any idea of the power that gives you? And I mean literally not figuratively. And you genuinely thought that you seven ever held a slightest threat to me? HAH!”

The general was gasping for breath but he forced out, “Language Empress. More soldiers coming, Shrouded. You’re dead but you don’t know it.”

“No there isn’t.” McWylde shook her head. “We knew you were coming, we knew when you crossed onto the estate and you were followed all the way in here.”

“Heh, impossible. We know that the Shrouded cannot be followed.”

Mia’s eyes flashed purple. A ghostly figure appeared, hanging in the air behind her. A full face covering dwarven helmet on its head, its chest covered in a ghostly representation of the Knights’ armour, ending in the traditional wispy skirts of the wraiths.

“Meet the Zephyr Wraith, for want of a better name...I call him Keith.” She smiled back at the wraith. “Developed by the finest minds in Cyrodiil, they came up with the ultimate defence for the Shroud. You see, you still make people shaped air pockets when you move.” The Empress shrugged. “They saw, they warned us, you were followed.”

“Impossible.”

“Besides, with a room full of soldiers you were never going to get very far.”

“What the hells do you mean now woman?” asked the General with a disgusted sneer.

“Meet my husband, General.”

A man appeared, standing right behind the Empress. He was blonde haired, blue eyed and had the look of a man who was generally unimpressed.

The General’s eyes widened in shock. The shock grew as the remainder of the soldiers revealed themselves.

“General,” Mia said, “Meet the Knights’ Blades and the Knights’ Shadow. Be impressed, be very impressed.”

“We still have an invasion fleet.” The General spat out.

“Yeah well, we have a J’Drell. Now,” men’s knees buckled, the young princess squealed briefly and fainted. She caught by the prince and placed, seated on the throne, the Universe was generally warped as Mia McWylde brought the full power of the Voice of The Empress to bear on the Altmer General, “what are your plans General? And I don’t mean the ‘Log cabin for the weekend with pretty lieutenant’s pretty wife.’” Mia looked left briefly, “Widow.”

Mia looked thoughtful for a moment, then she added, “And just for the record, I’m going to take it all back. Every bit of the lost Empire I will have back. I’m going to live for a long time General. Every country. One at a time.

“Now, about those plans.”


----------------------------------------


When the General had finished talking Mia stood up.

“Deal with that.” She ordered the soldiers while pointing.

Two fast talking children rushed at the Empress, and it was with a wince at the squeal from the Altmer General that she realised that the answer “Yes of course!” had gone to the wrong question. As the little princess had run to her with, “Mummy! Mummy!! Did I do good? Was I a brave girl?” the prince had simply asked at the same time, “Please can I kick him in the nuts now?”

“That reminds me,” she said to her husband, “did the Surilles ever deliver the wine?”

She kissed the heads of the two children and called Cairn Olfsson over to look after them. She dragged her husband behind one of the large stone columns inside the throne room. Then she planted her lips on his and kissed Andreius deeply.

They parted and he asked, “What now?”

“Well,” she looked up demurely from under her lashes, “I’m going back to my room and have a beautiful Khajiiti help me take off my clothes,” She bit the corner of her bottom lip, “and change into something more befitting,” she leaned in, lips close to his, “a good...Hard...Ride...” She paused. And then said loudly, “It’s your own fault Olfsson, you shouldn’t have been eaves-dropping.”

Mia looked up at her husband. Andreius said, “You’re going to Anvil aren’t you?”

She nodded. “I have to.”

Jarn frowned, “No you don’t, you want to.”

“Careful husband, I am still your Empress.” She mock chided him.

“Yes, that you are your Highness. I can still worry can’t I?”

“Of course. It won’t make the slightest difference though.” Mia smiled.

“Would it help if I was on my knees?”

“Undoubtedly,” the Empress raised an eyebrow, “but we haven’t got time for that sort of thing.” She smiled at her husband briefly but then it dropped as she shouted, “Olfsson!! Oh for Gods’ sake, go get a drink man!” Mia sighed and then said, “See the children safely to Cloud Ruler Temple, I’ll join you ere I’m able.”

Andreius looked pained.

“Why are you suddenly talking like that?” he asked.

“Dunno, seemed somehow appropriate. Look, if all goes well, it’s unlikely to take very long.”

“And if it goes badly?”

“Then I shall arrive at Cloud Ruler needing a long hot bath...As I shall be all...Sweaty and dishevelled...” She paused. “I said, sweaty and dishevelled!”

Mia leaned back behind the column to look at the soldiers. All of them were staring towards the throne, she looked back to her husband who was also doing likewise.

Empress McWylde turned and beheld a well dressed, bearded man, sat on the opulent throne. As one, the sound of many swords being drawn and the noise of destructive spells being called to free hands filled the room.

“Oh dear,” the bearded man said, “I fear this is becoming a familiar and tiresome habit.” And clicked his fingers.

The scene changed to all the soldiers spinning around the room as if dancing formally, hand in hand and hand on back, all in a large circle. Music was coming from all around them, with no visible means.

The dead Altmer were lying on the large sofas, as if asleep.

Mia noted that while she was dancing with the bearded man, her husband was with the Khajiit, Ka’Sari, Cairn Olfsson was looking less happy at dancing with the Altmer General, but the children were laughing while dancing together quite happily in a smaller circle inside the adults’.

“Aww.” She cooed.

“Yes, quite sweet.” The bearded man said. “Now, my dear, it’s been a while...Let’s talk of blessings shall we?”


--------------------------------------------

A very enjoyable part once more, and the Empress toying with the Thalmor general was a wonderfully fun read; not to mention the rather ingenious use of magic in this part once more (looking for displaced air was inspired).

Did notice this rather odd sentence here, though:


It seems like you started writing this sentence and then forgot to finish it, as far as I can tell.

ROFL !!!!



SPEW !!! Loved this !!!




Sounds like Sheogorath at the end, lol.

I have to say, this was my fave chapter so far. Loved it !! Awesome Write !!

*

A surrender gone awry! Nice build up, and lovely manner you gave to the empress. The general even suspected a trap, but it didn’t save him.

Oh, this is great! Prince Robert was hilarious. When he used his courtly manners, I laughed and laughed.

I just love the Empress! She was awesome throughout. I especially enjoyed her sense of humor.

This is such fun! I’m guessing that Empress Mia’s hard ride to Anvil is to meet the invading fleet? I can’t wait to see where you go with this story!

Yepper, I concur with all the previous posties, WONDERFUL!!!!

Even with the loss of understanding on my part to any Skyrim references, I know nothing of Skyrim really, this is still an incredible piece that stands quite well as it's own story. Little Robert reminds me of someone I know, hhmm, let me think....well, anyway, seems like I know him or at least one of his off springs off spring...nevermind.

McB I loved it, absolutely loved it. Fan, fan, tastic.

...

Colonel Mustard, thank you very much sir...I enjoy muchly the magic stuff...I hope you like what's coming up in a while...Cheers mate... ...

mALX...Glad you liked it...I really enjoyed writing that one...More me that chapter I think... ...

Acadian...Thank you so much, your words are always encouraging and I thank you for the compliments you paid in your message...*Salutes*...

Grits... ...Yes, Mia is on her way to Anvil...All hell will break loose methinks... ...Big stuff for her soonish...Cheers so much, glad you liked it also!... ...

Athynae...Sorry about the Skyrim stuff...I keep forgetting not everyone knows it all...Hopefully I've gone some way to correcting that with the intro to this one...

Thank y'all so much...

NEW PARTS!!!!...


There are some words in these sections upcoming that some people may not get...Here is a list of the most likely and links to explainations...

Dwemer

An Illustration of Dwemer architecture Not a great representation, maybe there’s better elsewhere...But the Dwemer seem to fuse magic and technology...At least in my story they do... ...It looks kinda Steampunk, with lots of brass coloured steam-driven pistons and cogs and stuff like that...Y’know...Oh Google it!... ...

Impeller. And this Which lead to these and this prettyness.


Where we are...



It is 171 years after the events of Oblivion. The Altmer/Bosmer joint ruling council, The Second Aldmeri Dominion has begun a bid for world domination. Having annexed the southern half of Valenwood, they now push north overland in one offensive, and head for Anvil on the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil with a second wave, a huge naval force. The initial attempt by the Altmer Elite General Derlar to force the surrender by threatening the Empress has failed...However, the navy is unaware of this turn of events...





1.12 – Empire (pt.2)





3E 604 – Approximately 1.5 Miles off the coast of Anvil, Cyrodiil.




Fleet Admiral Nol Areldur of the Great Altmer Navy, looked up from the map for the tenth time today, pinched the bridge of his nose, and walked to the handrail at the front of the bridge of his ship, The Pride of Alinor.

The ship was three hundred years old – half Areldur’s age – and Areldur had been its Captain first, and then, when he quickly rose in rank, to the very top of the command chain, Areldur chose it as his flagship.

It – and he – had sailed around the globe more times than any other vessel in existence, the Dwemer impellers below the waters having pushed it to or past so many wonders – the giant Mariarly Reef at Pyargnarngan; The boiling seas at Narm; The Fliedhe Wrong off Yokuda.

Areldur had taken the Pride of Alinor to the very edge of the current’s pull towards The Great Mistake, the mile high – at a guess – upward flowing step of water that legend has it, surrounds the lost continent of Aldmeris, where other legends have it, the Altmer nation was sundered from. Having sailed all the way around The Great Mistake and looked up in wonder, with his crew, at the eye-watering wrongness of the wall of water, it’s hard to see how the Great Altmer Nation managed to get down in the first place.

It was hard to imagine a port that the Admiral had not stopped at; a people not traded with; a pirate of the Eltheric Ocean, Azuran or Abeccan Seas not chased and battled.

And for all those miles full of wonders and peoples, Nol Areldur found it hard to imagine how he’d wind up having to take orders from someone so mind bogglingly stupid as Supreme Commander of The Thalmor Invasion Force, Merhal Tcheet.

Dear Gods, even the pirates had some sense of honour...and basic sea tactics. How in the name of Auri-El had he come to this?

Areldur sighed, took one more look along the length of his mighty ship and turned around, leaning back against the front guard-rail.

“For the thousandth time, we cannot and I will not order, the driving forward at full speed.”

“Admiral-” started Tcheet.

“Fleet Admiral.”

“I apologise, Fleet Admiral Areldur, who exactly is in command here? Hmmm? I am tired of sitting here for the...However many days it has been now, watching my men heave over the side over the boat.”

Areldur sharply drew breath. “Commander Tcheet-”

“Supreme Commander.” The other greasily added.

“Most Supreme Commander, I have been on this ship for twice the time your father has been alive. I have seen things that would make your immaculately preened hair turn white. And even you must realise that a wall of cloud that define the edges of a box, that when a ship goes near, it turns said around and pushes it back the way it came, cannot be less than a trap.”

Areldur had to grant that the cloud covering them was light enough to see well, but not thin enough to see through.

He continued, “We have lost the compasses’ ability to give a reading...Something is stopping them working, therefore we have lost all sense of direction. Our impellers are all at station keeping, but given my experience, I’m convinced the entire square that the fleet covers has been turned around more than once. Even if we could get through that,” he pointed at the cloud, “for all we know, we could dash on the rocks as soon as we were out.”

The Supreme Commander’s jaw was still slack and the shock still evident. “They’ve turned the water around?”

“I suspect so,” Areldur answered and then smirked, “and you want to invade them.”

“The Aldmeri Dominion will cover the world. Glory to the Thalmor.” The commander said without feeling.

The Admiral bowed his head, put his hands into the pockets of his greatcoat, turned his back on the Supreme Commander and said under his breath, “I do so hope not.”

Fleet Admiral Nol Areldur looked out at the clouds and thought, Whatever you’re going to do, do it now...Please?..

When the universe failed to comply, Areldur sighed. He was about to turn around when he caught sight of his oldest friend in the fleet, Commodore Siar Eremnor, pacing along the deck of his ship, the giant battleship, The Sword of Dusk. Eremnor turned his head towards Nol smiled briefly and continued his pacing, hands behind his back. Areldur was about to turn away when the Commodore hand flashed in signal, the words “Port in view.” Which made the Admiral smile. The old naval equivalent of “Are we there yet?”

“What was that?” asked the Supreme Commander behind him, obviously having witnessed the exchange.

Areldur counted to ten and then turned to face the man. “Nothing Supreme Commander, a status report, nothing more.”

Merhal Tcheet was looking decidedly green, the Admiral decided. He wondered how much was down to the sea. Ye Gods, he’s younger than some of my grandchildren, thought Areldur. “How much time have you actually spent at sea Merhal?”

The Supreme Commander frowned briefly at the familiar use of his name, but then softened and answered, “We went on manoeuvres to practice the voyage and landings, around the islands out in the Abeccan. A few weeks maybe.” He shrugged. “I spent a lot of time studying though, General Derlar-”

The Admiral snorted at the name.

Having heard the objections before, Tcheet continued, “General Derlar briefed me on much of what to expect and had me study naval tactics and the such-like.

“My father, the Overlord, personally chose me for this for my skills Admiral, so please don’t treat me like a child.”

“That’s unfair Merhal, I know very well who your father is, and exactly why he chose you. I’m not treating you like a child, you’re responsible for the lives of thousands of people here, and be honest, you may be an exceptional warrior on land, but this,” he gestured out, “is not the most familiar of territories for you.

“Well, it is for me.” He gestured for the young man to follow and walked to the side-rail and looked down. “If you think you have seen almost everything the sea can throw at you, she’ll find something new to surprise you with. All you can do is follow the currents that you’re on now and hope that she doesn’t choose to dash you on the rocks as soon as look at you.”

“Are we talking about women now?” Merhal had obviously got the point, but smiled as the question was asked.

Nol laughed, “You may as well say I have been married three times. Two of them were loving marriages, bore children, but ultimately failed because they couldn’t compete with my first love...Wife.”

Tcheet smiled perplexedly and shook his head.

Areldur continued, “A wise man called Hogarth once observed,

‘I’ve seen too much of life,
So the sea is my wife,
And the sweet ocean cloud is the mistress I’m allowed,
For now.’”

Merhal looked up at the clouds and simply said, “I’d rethink your taste in mistresses if I were you.”

Nol shook his head with a smile. He looked at the Supreme Commander, who was again, looking perplexed. “Leave the sea stuff to me lad. I know what I’m doing.” He sighed and looked down at the sea, “I know how much this means. As soon as we know what this is,” he gestured upwards, “we’ll find a way out, and you’ll get your glory from your father, don’t worry.” He smiled.

Merhal inhaled deeply and nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Glory to the Thalmor.”

“Indeed.”

They paused a while, the only sound was the gentle hum of the impellers, holding them in place. The young Altmer broke the quiet.

“What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen out there Fleet Admiral?”

Areldur didn’t pause before starting, “The Alinor was out on in the middle of the Padomaic Ocean when all four of the impellers failed, just stopped dead. Nothing could be done with them...There was a brief moment of worry, I will admit. The Padomaic is a big expanse of water to be marooned on. There was nothing from horizon to horizon, no land, no ships. It was as flat as a mirror...So still.” He paused for a time. “Rather than let the crew go to despair, I allowed the...rations to be broken out and a celebration of sorts began below decks. Knowing that these things often go better without the commander watching, I left and went for a walk on the deck. We’d left no watch as there seemed no need. So, I was alone with the still, moonlit ocean...Or so I thought.

I turned around and saw the most beautiful and terrifying sight I have ever had the fortunate misfortune of.”

“Wait, this is the ghost story isn’t it? This is the Mriizeleft. Hah! Pull the other one Admiral, you’re not telling me you saw it?”

“You look into my eyes and tell me I’m joking.”

The Commander’s jaw fell again.

“It was indeed, the lost dwemer Greatship, The Mriizeleft. I watched it approach, draw next to us, no further away than that next ship...So big...It dwarfed – for want of a better word – the Alinor...” Areldur shook his head, “Massive ship...Anyway, it passed so close I could see up into some of the windows. I think the most disquieting thing about it were the lights in some of them.

It passed by slowly, its impellers constant. Then it was away, and I watched it towards the horizon until I couldn’t pick its lights out amongst the stars.

The entire time from first seeing it to losing it in the night, I felt as though I was being watched.” Nol squeezed the handrail as he said, “It was the most beautiful ship I have ever seen.”

“Were you rescued quickly?”

Nol laughed shortly, “Oh, that was the best bit. I stood on deck looking at the horizon long after I’d lost sight of the Mriizeleft. I almost jumped out of my skin as a ship-man touched my elbow, I hadn’t heard him trying to talk to me. That was when the impellers all started up again. As if nothing had happened...Well, I ordered full speed on the heading I knew the ship had taken, but we never caught up with it.”

There was suddenly applause and an Argonian voice said, “Oooh!! That was excellent!! Do you know ‘The Mystery of Sar Tharen’? Maybe you could tell that one too?!”

Nol turned around and beheld a giant, silver-blue Argonian in Knights of The Nine armour. If he hadn’t been pressed against the rail already, the Altmer Admiral would have taken a step back.

For all the Supreme Commander’s faults, one of them was not his prowess in battle. Areldur suspected this was why it took the whole of ten seconds before Tcheet was lying unconscious, slumped against the cabin’s front wall.

“Call them off.” The Argonian gestured to the approaching soldiery. “I want to talk, that’s all.”

Areldur paused, ordered a halt and waved the guards to descend the stairs again.

“Knight-Commander J’Drell, I presume?”

J’Drell nodded, “And you’re Marn Areldur’s cousin, Nol.”

“You know my cousin?” Asked Nol with surprise.

“Yes, he’s also a Knight of The Nine, one of the original actually.”

“And yet he doesn’t lead you?”

“What?!” J’Drell frowned and smiled at the same time, shook his head and mumbled something about bloody Altmers, and then he said, “No, not quite. It’s a long story and we don’t have time.” J’Drell offered Tcheet’s sword, pommel first to Areldur, “Let’s talk about how we can save some lives, yes?”



---------------------------

That Empress is a handful, isn't she?




The name of the ship is pretty cool. I like how you explained some of the description of The Great Mistake and the lore behind the water.



It is remarkable how one that is young or an amateur can hold the lives of thousands. It's a great responsibility that would have dire consequences if not taken care of.

Overall, you give some of the Altmer some new light I have never seen. I always regarded them as stuck-up, prideful golden rods but here you show a competent military force. It is no wonder the Thalmor got so far in their conquests. They are, in most ways, more efficient than the Empire.

Very evocative sea stories, with just the right ring of detail and mystery. What stories the admiral’s six hundred years could surely tell! Loved the Dwemer ghost ship. As one with over a thousand days underway on naval vessels, I can attest that the sea can indeed be an unforgiving mistress.

Then an interruption by a Knight of the Nine who came aboard The Pride of Alinor by means of. . . Argonians are quite aquatic after all, aren’t they?

Darkness Eternal!!...Hello mate!!...Thank you so much for reading these last couple of chapters...Much appreciated...

Yes, the Empress is a handful, but that comes from her heratige... ...And she's a red-head...They're trouble they are...Watch them...Watch them carefully... ...

The Ship names are always fun...The books I read tend to have spaceship names so I get a load of them jumping at me...I had much fun with the names for the upcoming sections... ...Hope you like the others...

As for the Altmer...Thank you! *Bows in thanks*...I read somewhere that your heroes are only as good as your enemies...So the Altmer had to be credible at least in order for their flattening to be truly satisfying for me... ...

As for the Empire...We've had 170 years of the Knights of The Nine, in this universe at least...And there's some very clever people in there...This ain't yer Daddy's Empire no more... ...As you'll see...Or sea...


Acadian!!!...I thank you so much...Glad the ghost ship got yer attention... ...The name of it made me giggle a little when I...Well...Appropriated it... ...

Thank you...



Funny you should say that... ...



Some of those very clever people I mentioned...All will be...Revealed...Or should I say...Unshrouded...

...


Thank you both so much...Appreciated...

Oh, I love this part! As usual I was immediately captivated by your characters and the setting. Nol’s telling of his Mriizeleft sighting was exactly right. I would read a whole book of his stories. The ship’s Dwemer technology adds another fascinating layer to the story world.

And then J’Drell! I have high hopes that he and the Fleet Admiral can work something out. If they’re not hindered too much by young Supreme Commanders. You’ve given me things to think about and made me reconsider the Thalmor.

This whole section was pure enjoyment to read, every time.

I see what you did there. Most cunning, sir.

Anyway, enjoyed the part once more, especially the relating of the Admirals' various experiences, and J'Drell's entry was suitably impressive indeed.

All in all, good stuff.

1.11, Part 6

[quote]The base of the tree blew sideways, and the canopy made its inexorable way down to the ground. Several of the group failed to avoid the falling tree and ceased to be a problem.[/quote]

That turn of phrase just strikes my peculiar sense of humor.

[quote]Suddenly the Khajiit held a hand up and the pack stopped.[/quote]

Doggone clever Khajiit trackers! Where is some catnip (or moon sugar) when your need it?

[quote]Exhaustion finally taking him, he fell forward and off the horse. All three became visible and as Galasafon hit the floor, he heard a cry of triumph from the Khajiit.[/quote]

Urf.

[quote]The tops of these were decorated with various repeated motifs. Not all of these seemed very pleasant. Unless you really liked bearded creepy men that is.[/quote]

Not that there’s anything WRONG with that….

[quote]“Your faithfulness,” she kissed his chest.

“Will always be,” his stomach.

“Rewarded.”[/quote]

I just have a bad feeling about this…

And the entire part AFTER that- just… WOW!


Julianos

[quote]None of what you’ve been told is the truth. Not all of what you’ve been told is a lie.

Remember this.[/quote]

Cryptic much, Julianos?

[quote]You never knew this, and what you knew you have forgotten.

The Truth.[/quote]

And that is another “wow” part.

1.11, Part 7

[quote]As Julianos was distracted, he failed to notice a cow walk up to the pond. Swish its tail and then drink in the pool.[/quote]

And it is the little touches that I love so much.

[quote]During the Dawn War, the energies and violence unleashed on both sides was so great that cracks had been rent in the multiverse. The They/Them had closed most of them out there. But some of the small fissures had been missed, and Julianos' home being as vast as it was, contained a few of them. Some things would appear, he would be told where, and the small Divine would go and look with genuine excitement. Sometimes it was nothing more than a fruit, sometimes more. Julianos had once had to entice a cow to follow to him to the Paradise room. A thought which still amused him when it passed through his vast and ancient memory.[/quote]

A long quote- but one that highlights a passage I simply love.

And- and… Darnand’s journal! Woo Hoo!

[quote]A chime sounded and the glass panel on the wooden box lit up blue. A scrawl appeared on the glass…[/quote]

Aedric IM?

[quote]In an age before the Dawn War, Julianos had watched everyone's work be for naught as one or other's creations fell. So he decided that if he were to create something, they would be invincible and ageless. Adaptable and intelligent. Strong and determined. Unbeatable. He would only need one if he made it right.[/quote]

That could be a problem- especially if he does it right.

[quote]All of them brilliant.

All of them the same.

All of them as different to each other in actuality as the same in appearance.

All of them as mad as a box of cats.[/quote]

Yes- a slight problem.

[quote]"Firstly, can you tell me why you're on Masser?"

"It is quiet?" [/quote]

Smile.

And the whole part is most excellently done- love the visuals.

Not surprising that I really enjoyed this especially, when I was a kid I loved historical novels about the sea, mostly pirate stories but...anyway, good stuff. The pics were awesome too.That trimaran is truly something special.

This quote made me wonder if he was an ancestor of Thyna's somehow



It has to be hard to think of taking orders from someone younger than oneself but....

that is just stupid...lol. Taking orders from someone that much younger than you takes something special.

I absolutely loved the part about the ghost ship, wonderful descriptions so much that I could see it.

Woohoo, J'Drell, I like him

Great stuff my fuzzy friend, can't wait for more...

This whole chapter was outstanding, LOVED it !!! Great Write !!!!

16th Day

The shifting through time makes sense in a “slap my head- why didn’t I think of that” sort of way for beings which exist outside of Time. Plus, it makes for great storytelling possiblilties.

[quote]Two overturns of the calendyear and I’ll be fourteen, how grown up do I have to be? [/quote]

That is one of those things one should NEVER say- along with “what could go wrong?” and “How bad could it be?”

[quote]The Dragon continued its climb for a few seconds until a sword removed its head from its body.

The two parts continued upwards for a distance, stopped and then started to fall, separated.

Myrrl enjoyed the rushing air as he fell, and watched the ground come towards him for a time.[/quote]

I admit to a slight ambivalence here- but no more than that.

[quote]Even with the travel portals, Commander J’Drell and his oh so amazing Armeris - even if they were on their way - would be hours yet. Ours being stuck behind the shield. The dark haired girl thought.

Someone should have planned that better.[/quote]

Yes- a COUPLE of “someone’s” perhaps….

[quote]Danikka was stunned as Muir-El made a shouting noise and then started applauding himself![/quote]

Just loved that bit.

[quote]He moved the giant finger away, aware that that may not be the greatest way to wake up, for a human at least.[/quote]

Possibly not…

[quote]“Am I in trouble?” she asked.

“Ooooh!!...More than you can imagine,” the commander replied with a laugh, “Myrrl wants me to train you for the Armeris.”[/quote]

Trouble for sure.

[quote]The Argonian frowned, “You get to explore the ruins.” He said raising his eyebrows again.

Well, that sold it.[/quote]

Perfect. I loved the whole section.


1.11 (Interlude Part 2)

[quote]Myrrl tilted his head and answered. “All. Of. Them. The eleven Divines. The truth. Is there a problem with the truth Lord Akatosh? Aldmeris may be the only country in the world that knows the actual truth, no?”[/quote]

Cue organ music…

[quote]Myrrl then turned his head. “Lord Akatosh, the information I gave the Aldmerians was only the truth. It is only information. It has not caused any grief, panic, terror or otherwise. The people of Aldmeris have far more pressing concerns, such as ‘Please Gods let me have some crops to tend and also could I not be eaten today?’. The country is too busy to be worried by dogma and division over religion. As it should be. Please let us not be at odds over this?”[/quote]

Excellent.

21st Daytime

[quote]Dear Gods does she ever shut up?! Thought J’Drell.[/quote]

Quoted without comment.

[quote]The girl ran through the form drill and J’Drell had to admit that Danikka was a fast learner. And a surprisingly hard worker, given her tendency to pout.

And my Gods she could talk.[/quote]

See previous lack of comment.

[quote]“Well, there was a voice first. It said ‘Why is it only I get sent to silly girls out in the middle of nowhere, hmm?’ then a white haired old man in strange dress appeared. He was frowning. And then he said to me ‘Mark well girl, and remember.’ Then he put his hands together and opened them like it was a book. I felt a burning in my mind.” Danikka carefully put a hand to her head, “..And then...Then there were some pictures of mountains and stuff...And then the old man raised an eyebrow, grabbed the edges of his jacket by his chest, said ‘Hmmph!’ and disappeared.”[/quote]

And THAT is how any gods one would care to meet SHOULD manifest themselves.

[quote]“We have an old journal in the house, a very old journal.” She said, frowning at J’Drell. “The Knights of The Nine. You’re a Knight of The Nine. From Tamriel. You’re in the journal. It’s not just someone with the same name is it?, it is you isn’t it?”

J’Drell looked down at the floor and dug at the ground with the point of the sword. He slowly nodded, not looking up. “Cyrodiil.”

“How the hells is it you? How old are you anyway?! How did we get the journal?”

“Well...” J’Drell scratched the back of his neck, “Long story, ageless and I look at you now and remember something I should never have forgotten. Someone.”

“Who?”

“Nevermind.”

“Tell me!”

J’Drell frowned and said “Remember who you’re talking to girl.”

Danikka pouted.[/quote]

Simply LOVE that whole bit of interaction.

“[quote]Anyway, why does she keep calling him Myrrl?”

J’Drell winced and looked down briefly “Because that’s his name?”[/quote]

Hehe

1.12 (Empire Part 1)

First- the whole part is simply wonderful.

[quote]“You can end this without loss of life. All you have to do is surrender, right here, right now.”[/quote]

Riiiight…

[quote]Mia McWylde was about to speak when her son said,

“Can I kick him in the nuts?”

The words died in the Empress’ open mouth as she looked at her son.

“Only Olfsson said I should kick people I don’t like in the nuts.”

“Did he indeed?” The Empress looked around at Cairn Olfsson who had the good grace to look embarrassed. “We are at court Robert, can you mind your manners?”

“Oh, sorry mother...Please can I kick-“

“No!

“We used to call then Jerbey’s in my day and then only-”

“MADAM! You are in a dire situation. Could you please give it some damned respect!!”

“You mind your language in front of my children man! Now, what do you know of me?”[/quote]

Simply brilliant and hilarious.

[quote]The Empress leaned forward with a particularly venomous smile. “No, that’s my biography, I said what do you know of me?” [/quote]

Which allows me to trot out one of my favorite bits of wisdom- “The map is NOT the territory.”

[quote]You said it all yourself, Knight of The Nine? Nordic Legend of a father? Most powerful woman in the world for a mother? And I’m the kriffing Empress you idiot! Any idea of the power that gives you? And I mean literally not figuratively. And you genuinely thought that you seven ever held a slightest threat to me? HAH!”[/quote]

And that is what SHOULD have happened before Skyrim.

[quote]“Meet the Zephyr Wraith, for want of a better name...I call him Keith.” She smiled back at the wraith. “Developed by the finest minds in Cyrodiil, they came up with the ultimate defence for the Shroud. You see, you still make people shaped air pockets when you move.” The Empress shrugged. “They saw, they warned us, you were followed.”[/quote]

ROFL- and of course they do.

[quote]Two fast talking children rushed at the Empress, and it was with a wince at the squeal from the Altmer General that she realised that the answer “Yes of course!” had gone to the wrong question. As the little princess had run to her with, “Mummy! Mummy!! Did I do good? Was I a brave girl?” the prince had simply asked at the same time, “Please can I kick him in the nuts now?”[/quote]

And that one left ME gasping for breath- for different reasons fortunately.

[quote]The scene changed to all the soldiers spinning around the room as if dancing formally, hand in hand and hand on back, all in a large circle. Music was coming from all around them, with no visible means.[/quote]

Oopsie.

Treydog...Seriously, words cannot express the gratitude I have towards you...*Manly hugs and pats on back*...Seriously...

Athynae...So many thanks...Yes, it's always difficult taking orders from younger peoples, but as Areldur is 600 years old, most people can be younger... ...And Tcheet is the son of the Overlord...And Nol has no choice in the matter...

Thank you so much though...Always appreciated..

mALX...Many many thanks, glad you're still reading...

Mustard...Cheers... ...Like I said to Acadian, I was giggling when I managed to Elder Scrolls that name... ...Thanks also for still being around...*Manly hugs also...*...

BTW...I'd many hug you ladies too, but...Y'know...

Grits!!!...Wow...Cheers...A whole book?...Yes, I'll see about that if I ever finish this story... ...And the Dwemer tech in Skyrim is one of the pleasures of it, so I thought it appropriate for the naval stuff...

So many many thanks...


Oooh!!...*Manly air hugs for the laydeez...*... ...

Reet...NEW PARTS!!!...Which don't really follow on from anything before!!!...Stop groaning... ...It's some history stuff...Please enjoy!!...


EDIT...The Empire storyline takes place in the year 3E 604...So these X-years ago are dated from then...






1.12 Empire – (pt.3, Know Thine Enemy – i)




30 years ago. The city of Dusk, Summerset Isles.





Commodore Siar Eremnor walked carefully along a quayside of the city on the south-eastern corner of the Summerset Isles, Dusk. Cowled and caped against both the chill of the air and watching eyes; Lightly but strongly armoured against ill-intent of any kind, the Commodore stopped several times, or walked into deep shadow in order to make sure he wasn’t being followed.

Siar looked northward, towards the main city. Dusk was his favourite city on Nirn. The place of his birth, the name of his ship, everything he held dear was here, in this city.

The only thing that could genuinely be called cosmopolitan on the somewhat staid Summerset Isles, Dusk was truly an international port. The only place goods and peoples from around the world were allowed to officially land. This had had the effect of turning the whole place into a melting pot of cultures and languages. It was an explosion of peoples, speech, music, colours, clothes, food, drink and dance. But possibly the worst crime to the city’s name, it was a place of ideas, prevented from “Infecting” the rest of the isles by the simple matter of geography, for beyond the gentle, gradual slope of the Graylie Hills beyond the edge of the city, lay the sheer sided, snow-capped granite of the Tarsuschii Mountain range, that ran southwest to northeast across the lower corner of the main island. And the only ways past them were along the two highways around the coast, and thus through the walled towns of North and West Checkpoint. The pair straddling the highways, like bloated Giants demanding a toll.

The slim, black haired Altmer made his way carefully through the whole of Dusk’s harbour district. The shine of the Knimidium powered street-lighting sparse here, lending an air of the classic to the evening.

‘The Well-Carved Mermaid’ was the quintessential sea-dog inn, small enough to be pleasant, yet big enough to “have a decent swing at yer ship-swine of a cousin”, should a chap need one. Jaunty music was playing in the corner, quiet enough to be considered background, yet loud enough that a hundred hushed conversations could take place without fear of eavesdropping.

Eremnor let his eyes acclimatise to the dark. He turned towards the bar and went over and ordered an ale, while he surreptitiously scanned the booths around the outside. Spotting a likely one, he paid the inn-keeper and walked towards it. Seated in the booth were three men, all cowled, caped and armoured, similar to him.

Recognising the two Fleet Admirals - Nol Areldur and Jeck Harramaund, along with-

“About bloody time kid!” Growled the Oversaar of the entire Altmer navy, Miitr Farrada.

Not many people could get away with calling a four and a half century old Altmer Commodore, kid, and get away with it, but then again, Farrada wasn’t your usual Commander-In-Chief. It was also a measure of how long the men at the table had known each other.

“What? Did you stop to see my sister at the brothel?..Again.” continued the white haired, almost portly Farrada.

“No, your mother. She sends her love.” Eremnor answered with a raised eyebrow.

The other’s steel-grey eyes stared over for a short while before Farrada grinned and said, “Well, as long as she cooks me breakfast in the morning.”

There was handshakes all around and the briefest of catching up with Harramaund before the Oversaar reached under the table and brought out some folders with official seals on them.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



“Right gentlemen,” started the Oversaar, “we have a total clusterfus of a situation, and it stinks worse than an Argonian garbage scow in the height of summer. Oostermann and his Thalmer finally got into power.”

There was a deep sighing from around the table.

“Except this time it’s Thalmor.”

“From One-elf to One-world?” asked Areldur.

“Didn’t he try this a hundred years ago?” Eremnor added.

“Yeah, but the Cyrodiilian supertrio of Ocato, Ormandin and McWylde – which sound like a sinister firm of solicitors – put their oars in, and he was dismissed as irrelevant.” Answered Harramaund.

“But now the damned idiot managed to get the army behind him. Something about communing with ‘the Divine Arkay’ to convince them to get behind the idea.”

The three younger High-Elves looked at Farrada with disbelief for a short while before Eremnor picked up his ale, drank a bit then asked, “Who?”

The older man smirked, raised his eyebrow and announced, “General Ofwysyn Tcheet.”

More groaning.

“Well, that makes some sense I suppose, if not a pleasant idea. He’s been on about being blessed by Arkay himself for years hasn’t he? This is what he says gives him and his ‘Elite troops’ their power.” Said Areldur.

The Oversaar nodded. “Anyway, it won’t be long before them and their ‘Second Aldmeri Dominion’ start digging their claws into us, so, to keep you out of harms’ way, lest you three decide to do something stupid,” Farrada raised his eyebrows meaningfully, “here’s your orders. Areldur and Eremnor, you’ll be taking the Third Fleet along with some clever mage-ish people to do shipwreck mapping and also some land and stellar cartography for Ormandin’s University. And you, my dear Harramaund are taking the Fourth to Black Marsh. Inter-Naval, anti-piracy protection of Argonian garbage scows off Lilmoth.” He grinned at Harramaund’s falling face. “At least it’ll be quiet, nothing much ever happens off Lilmoth.

“Oh yes, long duration stays. The stores at Firsthold await both your storeships. You pick the map-makers up off Anvil, by the way. See you all in ten years. Auri-El willing.”

The men drank up. Picked up their respective orders, shook hands and left.



----------------------------------------------------------------



20 years ago. Dusk harbour district, Summerset Isles.



Siar Eremnor thought much had changed in the ten years since these four men had sat together around the same table.

For one, the inn-keeper had changed the name of the inn to ‘The Sailor’s Cape’. This had seemingly had the effect of drawing more customers to the place. Thus, more conversations to hide behind.

Dusk itself was more subdued, quieter, not so festive.

Damned Thalmor. Thought Eremnor. Tcheet’s security force, the Justicars were prowling around, seemingly around every corner, making everyone nervous about doing anything.

But maybe the worst change was to Miitr Farrada, the steel-grey eyes still had their fierce burning behind them, but he was physically half the Altmer he’d been. The Oversaar was almost skeletal. Pale and drawn, with thinning hair, it was a wonder that Farrada had managed the trip. Eremnor had also noticed that a nagging cough had been punctuating the whole of Farrada’s conversation.



-----------------------------------------------------------



“Anyways, good to see you boys-coughcough-aaachh!...Sadly, there’s never enough time these days.” The old man sighed, “Look, things are bad up there,” Farrada pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, towards the capitol, Alinor, “Tcheet wants to go out and conquer-coughcough-everyone, and Oostermann keeps telling him to wait and follow Arkay’s plan, whatever that is...But of course, Cyrodiil’s looking all weak and vulnerable with McWylde gone, so he’s like a slaughterfish to blood..coughcough...And all the time-coughcough-Tcheet’s trying to get control of all the militaries, and the Mage’s Bureau, the Libraricon, The Information-Coll-cough-Aaargh! Damn...Collatoria. He wants everything...Fortunately they’re all up in Lillandril, out of the way.”

There was a pause as the old man sipped his water, “They’ve banned Talos worship, just stripped him from the temples.”

“Bet that pleased The Knights of The Nine.” Said Jeck Harramaund.

“Coughcough...” Farrada nodded and sat there simply breathing for a while.

Eremnor looked over the table at Nol Areldur, but he was focused on the Oversaar, his sea-blue eyes filled with as much pain as Eremnor was feeling at seeing their friend so...Diminished.

Finally, Farrada said, “They had the Knights banished from the Isles on penalty of death if they return...The Mage’s Guild has been hobbled, because of Ormandin presumably. Cyrodiil’s embassy is still open here in Dusk at least, but they’ve had to remove anything that is...Talos related.”

“So how are they getting their Knimidium?” Asked Harramaund.

“Coughcough...Not...” The old man shook his head, “Taking the lights down and breaking them up. Mages having to go back to old ways...Not...Easy...”

Farrada reached down under the table and pulled up two files. “Nol, Siar, go map some archipelagos on the far side of the Padomaic. Jeck, pirate chasing.” The old man’s eyes misted over. “Lads, we’re in trouble...I don’t know how-coughcough-long...” He looked them all in the eye, then shook his head, “I don’t know how long I can keep Tcheet out of the navy...If he does...” The Oversaar sighed, “If he does, be good Altmer boys and wait. We’re High-Elves, we play the long game very well...Coughcough...Oostermann and Tcheet will be at each other’s throats soon enough. Find the people you can trust. Make some standing orders to take it all back again.” He smiled, “for me.”

“Ach, you’ll be at the front, leading.” Said Nol.

“HAH!-coughcoughcough.” Miitr Farrada smiled, patted the side of Areldur’s face with affection and shook his head.

“Go!!...I don’t want to spend any more time with you maudlin women...Go on, stop darkening my days-coughcough-Aach!!...”

“Ten years?” asked Harramaund.

Miitr Farrada smiled, raised his eyebrows and nodded.

Areldur did the un-Altmerish thing of hugging the old man, then he stood up, kept his head down and walked straight out of the inn.

Farrada watched him leave, “Look after him, boys. This will be hard on Nol.”

Siar’s eyes misted as he shook the Oversaar’s hand and covered them with his left hand. Farrada nodded.

Harramaund did the same.

The two old friends stood up, picked up their orders, saluted Farrada and left.

Miitr Farrada watched them leave then said quietly, “Love you too boys.”

He drank his water, then stood up and left.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



15 years ago. Padomaic Ocean.



What the maps declared as Batracci Island was obviously once an Imperial outpost. There was a man-made deep harbour, deep enough for the Pride of Alinor and The Sword of Dusk, and many of the other larger vessels. There was small village built around it, a testament to the Imperialist “We can own anywhere” attitude. A fort had been built into the accessible parts of an ancient Dwemer city. Throughout the settlement, there were books, furnishings and assorted trinkets aplenty. There were also, against all odds, wells in both the village and the fort, and a free-running stream of clean, fresh water just a ways out into the grove out into the islands interior.

The Triinachii Archipelago was a chain of small islands, the largest of which was Batracci. From the highest point on the island (Nol had taken to calling it Mount Farrada, a joke the old man would have appreciated.) it was possible to see from horizon to horizon over the top of the other small islands. At the opposite end of the Archipelago was a small colony of Redguards from Yokuda. Why they’d never found the fort and its shelter was beyond Nol.

Batracci made both a good staging point for the Fleet, and a chance for all the sailors to stretch their legs at some point. Areldur gave thanks to whichever expansionist Emperor created this oasis in the deep sea.

Nol breathed deeply of the sea air and looked up to the sky. The high cloud suggested that there may be a chance of storms coming soon. The Altmer sighed, turned and was about to descend from the fort tower he was currently on when he glanced up at Mount Farrada. He could see signalling from the top, Ships Incoming, repeated over and over. Nol put his hand up and signalled the acknowledgement, then started barking orders for crews to make ready.


------------------------------------------


Some time later, Nol Areldur, Siar Eremnor and Head of Fleet Security, Colonel Rae Treort, stood on the harbour watching a sleek, black ship enter the harbour and pull to a stop next to a set of stairs. The flag that it bore on its single mast, the only reason it hadn’t been blown out of the water by the watch-ships.

The Thalmor.

Areldur watched as a group emerged from the cabin at the back of the main deck. A man garbed in the dark trouser and shirt outfit, covered by the long black, hooded overcoat of one of Tcheet’s Justicars walked to the edge of the ship and stepped confidently onto the stone stairs, followed by two security soldiers, in full elvish armour no less.

Areldur found himself smirking. Bet that’s hot. He thought to himself.

Several other fully armoured Thalmor stood at points along the deck, watching the harbour.

“Something amuses you Fleet Admiral?” asked the Justicar as he approached the trio.

“Just pleased to see a...Friendly face, Justicar?”

“Ecclensivar.”

Areldur inclined his head to the Thalmor. “To what do I owe this...Pleasure, Justicar?”

“Six months ago, Oversaar Farrada died.” Began the Thalmor.

Areldur raised his eyebrow, Stubborn old man wouldn’t give up...Four years though?

Ecclensivar was still talking, “And so Overlord Tcheet now commands the Navy personally. It has taken to some time to find the orders concerning your fleet, Admiral. They were seemingly deliberately vague as to location. Similar to that of the Fourth Fleet.”

“Mapping archipelagos, what can I say? Sail up and down the ocean until you find one, stop, map it and move on. Can’t write home you know?..How did you know to look here by the way?”

The Justicar wrinkled his nose, and his face betrayed his rising anger. “Fleet Admiral Areldur, we are aware of the connections between yourself, Fleet Admiral Harramaund and the Oversaar. The Overlord is willing to put your...Absence, down to Farrada’s-”

“Oversaar Farrada.” Areldur narrowed his eyes.

The Thalmor nodded slowly, “Oversaar Farrada’s overzealous and completely unjustified protection of his navy. You are hearby ordered to end your...Mapping, and make at top speed for The Isles, where you will be given new assignment. Possibly.”

It was Areldur’s turn to get angry. “Is that a threat?”

“Nonesense, Fleet Admiral. I have no need for threats. The Overlord’s orders are clear. Follow them. Now.” The Justicar turned to leave.

“How exactly did Farrada die? Was it his illness?” asked Eremnor.

“Oh no! He drowned himself in the ornamental pond outside the Crystal Tower.” Ecclensivar answered casually, over his shoulder.

Areldur looked round at Eremnor, “The Oversaar of the Navy, drowned?”

The Justicar wheeled around, greatcoat billowing, and walked swiftly towards the Fleet Admiral.

Areldur noted Colonel Treort taking a step into the front and blocked the Justicar’s progress. The Thalmor bodyguards drew their swords.

The shorter Colonel looked up at the Justicar and growled. “The Fleet Admiral has asked two questions. I suggest you answer them both.”

“Is that a threat Colonel?” The shocked Justicar asked.

“Yes, it damned well is boy. You’re a hell of a long way from home to be trying to throw your weight around. Answer the questions.”

The Justicar sighed, dismissed his security, who took several steps back, beyond hearing range. Ecclensivar looked to one side, out to sea and then began, “I know nothing beyond what I’ve been told of The Oversaar’s death. I am genuinely sorry, I had admired him for many years, though I would not dare say to my superiors. As for how we found you. This is where I was told we would find you. In my briefing the Overlord himself said he had had Divine guidance on the matter. Again, that’s all I know.”

“Not big on asking questions are you boy?” asked the Colonel.

“I find it’s kept me alive so far.”

Areldur winced.

“I will make ready the Fleet. Please excuse me while I gather my men.” Said the Fleet Admiral, nodding a salute to the Thalmor Justicar.

“Very well, I shall be accompanying your ship on the voyage. I shall take my leave to make preparations.” With that, Ecclensivar left.

Areldur sighed, bowed his head, then looked up and out to sea. Nol turned and looked at Eremnor, who was looking straight back at him. The Commodore nodded his head, obviously thinking the same thing.

“Colonel,” Areldur said quietly, “I need you to gather your men, board that ship and kill them all. Can and will you do that?”

There was a pause. The Colonel sighed and nodded. “If we go back now, we’ll all be up Tcheet creek without a paddle?”

“Indeed.”

The Colonel saluted, turned precisely and walked quickly towards the fort.

Areldur watched him go and then turned to Eremnor. “Which do you think is the fastest ship?”

“The Maxarishii Hunt.” The newest armoured-courier class vessel.

Areldur nodded, “That’s what I thought. Take it and the Dusk, follow the channels between the islands, get behind that other Thalmor and sink it. Well tow this one out to deep water and do the same.”

“We’re going to need to trust an awful lot of people after this Nol. I hope this is right.”

“Me too. Go.”

Eremnor nodded and left.

Nol Areldur looked back to Mount Farrada, then he turned and looked along the white sands of the beach out to the most beautiful blue coloured sea, and saw, in the distance, the gathering storm clouds, “Oh, irony.” He said quietly.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*

Firstly - Miitr Farrada: You brought this character visually to life in that scene, Awesome Write !!!

Next scene, and the total difference in styles of command are seen - having them in the same chapter makes the contrast even more blatent between leader to almost dictatorship. I did expect Farrada to be dead, but was surprised by his end coming the way it did...irony at its finest, McB.

Awesome Write in both sections, this has to be one of your greatest chapters yet !!

*

Urf! Middle of commenting my computer shut down so I'll start over....

I really like this chapter, the interaction between the 4 was quite special.

ROFL!!!!!

Sniff, sad about Farrada but seems to me there might have been something overlooked on that one. Um, seems a bit fishy if you ask me.

I do have one question though, how long did you plan for that line? You know the one I'm talking about, Tcheet. Only one nit: creak as in Tcheet creak should be creek...LMAO!!!!!!!!!! that one caused me to spew a sip of tea thankfully not onto my computer screen, but on my youngest son as he walked past, glad he thought it was funny after the shock of being shot with tea wore off.

I did love this one, the way Nol took the mantle was very well done.

Keep it up, can't wait for more, you are a furry badger for another day, lol.

1.12 Empire (Part 2)



And yet, history has shown us that sort of thing happens frequently.

Oh I like this Fleet Admiral!



And his friend, as well.



Ha- caught you, Fleet Admiral- you punning seadog you.



Hooray for J’Drell! And then that whole exchange was a treat.

1.12 Empire (Part 3)

Lots of excellent atmosphere in the opening paragraphs.



Several snortles in quick succession there. Similar to our old friends- Shaftem, Gougem, and Graft.

Got to love a fellow like Farrada who sends his people out of harm’s way.



And with the laughter there are also some sniffles. And yes- "the long game" indeed- simply brilliant.



Best NOT to annoy the commander of what amounts to the Fleet Marine Force. He did not get his rank from a box of cereal.



ROFL- but beyond the spelling question Athynae posed- would that be “Tcheit Creek?” Just curious.



Wonderful additions- the posts AND the characters.

‘The Well-Carved Mermaid’ was the quintessential sea-dog inn, small enough to be pleasant, yet big enough to “have a decent swing at yer ship-swine of a cousin”, should a chap need one. Jaunty music was playing in the corner, quiet enough to be considered background, yet loud enough that a hundred hushed conversations could take place without fear of eavesdropping.’
Magnificently introduced and described!

‘We’re High-Elves, we play the long game very well.’
Indeed they do, I imagine.

‘Nol breathed deeply of the sea air and looked up to the sky. The high cloud suggested that there may be a chance of storms coming soon.’
How well put for an old mer of the sea. Watching the weather is an acquired nautical habit.

‘A man garbed in the dark trouser and shirt outfit, covered by the long black, hooded overcoat of one of Tcheet’s Justicars walked to the edge of the ship and stepped confidently onto the stone stairs,’
‘The Justicar wheeled around, greatcoat billowing, and walked swiftly towards the Fleet Admiral.’
Holy images of Darth Vader, Batman!

So the high elven sea dogs are not going to quietly sail into submission it seems. Well done!

Your writing is splendid, I would of never have guessed. Your description of "Dusk" was wonderfully written. Especially the cosmopolitan feel of it, "explosion of people and etc" nicely done! The brothel part made me chuckle. Reminds me of the stories I hear of the Navy and brothels, you did well here with the young commodore.

Oversaar seems eager to thwart the Thalmor and seems at odds with the second rising Dominion! Nice to see a man not set in their ways, especially High Elves.

The coughing old man at the second part of the chapter was just pure win. The smiles and the eyebrows raising gave us some clues about his character.

Honestly, I was a bit confused by the time skipping, but it became more clear as I focused. When I read

The entire story gives off an exotic vibe. We are, after all, reading about the High Elves and their own lands of Summerset Isles. The Archipelegos and etc. Promising so far, and a great cast of characters.

“Yo mama,” Altmer style.

I can’t even discuss my favorite parts of this section, because once again the whole thing is my favorite part. There is such depth and richness to your writing and the pace still keeps moving. I look up from reading feeling like I’ve been there and know these characters personally, and although it seemed like five minutes went by I actually read it twice, went back and read it with the last part again, and now I need to hurry up and make the lunch! Still in my pajamas at noon? I can explain. First, this is loungewear. And I was in a McB-induced time warp!! Sigh. I love this story!

I'm still not sure if the whole time-jumping thing works. It makes it hard to find the connecting thread between them. So far I think the thread consists of the whole death of the Divines (and the plan to stop it), and a few characters such as the McWyldes.

That said, I absolutely love the universe you're building. Its roots are based on Tes but you managed to give it an exotic flavor that makes it all its own. I also adore the many characters you keep bringing in. All of them seem unique and fun to read about. So hats off to ya.


Finally, something about the latest timeperiod. I like how you've given shape to the Thalmor Dominion. More specifically, I enjoy how you show the buildup to it instead of just pulling a sudden world-dominating army out of the void. I also like how not all the Altmer are happy about it and how the Thalmor seem to be a reign of terror thing with secret police and stuff.

Off-topic, I'm not much of a fan of the Thalmor really. Yeah, you've written them well but I just don't like their presence in Tes lore in general. Same thing with Morrowind's destruction. Wiping out the provinces of the last game by means of exploding mountains, assassinations and sudden rampaging, looting, raping, pillaging armies is a pretty good way to wipe the slate clean. But I don't like it. It just makes all the hard work the player-character put in seem useless. Besides, said pc is conveniently not present to stop said armies and natural disasters. At least this time around it looks like the Knights of the Nine and their friends will preserve Tamriel.

Right, here now, commenting. Sorry.

Must say, I liked this part a lot out of the latest batch that have come out. You've managed to flesh out the Thalmor extremely well, and added a great deal of detail to them and, more importantly, you're making them seem more competent; I was beginning to worry from earlier bits that you might end up making them buffoonish comedy villains, but provided you keep this up then my fears will prove unfounded.

Looking forward to more.

My friend, how do you do it? You know what, I'm jealous. How do you write like that? I can't write, even if someone waved a big bar of chocolate in front of me and said "Write a really good story off the top of your head!" I'll have a go though! I might post a story on this, I can't decide...

I love the characters, by the way. They're realy cool.

Amifae!!... ...Well, what can I say?...Except, you won't be eating it all in one go, stop picking on yer brother and get to bed earlier...Oh yes...MWAH!!...

Mustard - No MWAHs for you, but thank you very much m'friend. I hadn't originally meant to flesh them out as much as I have...But then you start, and then it's all there so...*Shrug*... ...Thank you...

Grits - As ever your comments make me smile and shake my head in amazement...I hope I can continue to give (apparently) good story for you...

DE - Thanks for reading!!...Glad you're enjoying our soujourn into other lands...

Athynae - The Tcheet Creek line is one of them, *think*...*snort*...*Type*...*Try to figure out where to put it*...ones ...Glad it made you laugh, you furnish us with so many it's time to give some back I think... ...

mALX - My habit of killing off characters you really like seems to be continuing...Sorry about that... ...But thank you so much for the compliments as ever... ...

Acadian - The Darth Vader thing is entirely Bethesda's fault... ...Thank you muchly...

Jack - Cheers matey!!...Glad you're still with us...The time thing...*Shrug*...Can't help it...I'd find it impossible to cover this much history without it...But thank you so much for the compliment on the characters...I appreciate it... ...

Treydog - Maaaaate... ...As ever...A massive thank you...So appreciated..




NEW PARTS ALERT!!!...




Currently it is 3E 604 and the Thalmor invasion of Cyrodiil, North Valenwood and Eastern Hammerfell is underway. This is basically some of the history of the Thalmor told by one of those caught up in it.

Note...The 10 years ago is from 3E 604...






1.12 – Empire (pt.4, Know Thine Enemy - ii)








10 Years Ago. 50 miles south of Sunhold, Summerset Isles.







The island wasn’t found on any map. If anyone had thought it worth a note, it would barely have been a speck on the page. The only part of a giant mountain not hidden by the water, the island was all rock and earth above the sand which had accumulated over time to form picturesque beaches. Palm trees and wicked, sharp grasses clung to the slopes up to the summit of the mountain. Miitr Farrada had had the sheerest side of the island worked – as a favour by Altmer naval engineers – into a walled, almost enclosed harbour.

The Maxarishii Hunt glided to a stop next to the wall. A second small ship – a fleet outrunner – was there, the name The Looking Elsweyr was visible on its side.

Two men left the Maxarishii Hunt and walked along the man-made path further up the slope into the mountain.

They passed a small but solidly built, one story building. Miitr Farrada had thought of everything when he’d planned his personal island’s facilities. The old man had known that there would be no way for any of his invitees or, like Nol Areldur, Siar Eremnor or Jeck Harramaund, those who’s permission to use the island was a given, would be able to get there without even a minimal crew. So, the old man had seen to it that those crews also had some comforts, without needing to invite them all into his home away from home.

The two men walked past the building and followed the path to its end, which came at a large white marble-esque door and frame. A line had been carved all the way down the stone of the door, broken in the middle by a ball shape. One of the two pushed this inwards, and with a grinding, the door opened.

They walked several steps into a wide, well lit corridor, one of the men pushed another ball on the wall, and the door ground shut behind them.

The corridor was wide enough that several men could walk next to each other and still not be troubled by the walls. They walked a short distance from the entrance and followed a curving set of stairs down to a foyer of sorts.

A large room, containing several soft chairs, sofas and low tables greeted the men upon opening a large metal gate. Dried flowers of many types and colours were in vases upon the table, meant to give some semblance of decor to the white-walled room.

The pair passed through the room and stood before another door like the one at the entrance. Instead of simply pushing the central ball shape in, one of the pair walked to the side of the door, pushed in a concealed panel and pressed several stone switches in a particular order. There was a clunk sound and then the other of the two pushed in the ball.

The door ground open.



----------------------------------------------------------------------



Nol never got tired of being in wonder at the place Miitr Farrada had found to be his “Island Getaway”. An old Ayelid ruin that – according to writings discovered inside – was called Morhavan. It contained the one large room outside the door he and Siar Eremnor had just passed through, this second huge room, and several others which all branched off from this one. Just to his left, a set of stairs ascended to an open-plan corridor that ran around three of the walls, off which were four bedrooms. At the back of the room from where Nol stood, he could see three passageways which were blocked off by the far later addition of new-style doors, so as to make this area warmer. All three passages led to exits. One led straight to a door on the opposite side of the island, which could only be opened from the inside; the second up – via a long and torturous ascending square of stairs – to another door, outside of which was an observation balcony, where many a drink had been consumed in much younger days. The third passage led down to yet another door, but no amount of trying could get it to open.

Nol stared about him, around the walls were mottled glass covered Knimidium lights, which gave the room a warmer glow than the usual whiteout that Ayelid buildings tend to have. In the centre of the room was a Knimidium heater, with boxed-in pipes leading up and off to the other rooms for heating. Several other devices around the room that Nol noted meant that, from his guesswork after what Farrada had said the...Last time Nol had spoken to him...This may be the last place in the Altmer nation that had any of the conveniences that the Knights of The Nine had brought to the world some years ago.

“In here.” Came the sound of a female voice from a room on the right.

Nol and Siar walked into what had obviously been Farrada’s study. A truly huge set of bookcases filled three walls, and a gap in one of them for a door to another room – Nol knew – led to a second roomful of books like this one.

A black-haired woman sat in a chair at a large oak desk, reading. Without looking up she passed an envelope to Nol.

“He left this for you.” She said, still absorbed by the book. “There’s one for you too uncle Siar.”

Nol took the package and asked. “Where did you find this then?”

“In here,” She pointed to the drawers in the desk, “along with this note.” She passed it to Nol.



Koyree,

That snooping is going to get you in trouble
one of these days.

Give these packages to your dad and the boys
when you see them.

Love you.

M.

PS. Give your mother a kiss for me? She
deserved better than that good for nothing
wastrel.

HAH! Got you again Nol!




Koyree Areldur finally looked up at Nol and her big brown eyes melted his heart, as it ever did.

She stood, walked over to her father and hugged him.

He kissed the top of her head. “You well?” he asked.

Koyree looked up, paused and then nodded.

“How did you get into the desk?” asked Siar, who’d been passed the note and picked his envelope up.

The youngest ever female Commodore broke away from the Fleet Admiral and walked to the other Commodore and said with a mock admonishing voice, “Uncle Siar, what a stupid question.” She hugged Siar then looked up at him with a smile and a raised eyebrow, “I picked the lock of course.”

Siar grinned.

“Good reading?” Nol asked of the book Koyree had been reading.

“Yes actually,” she replied, then walked back to the desk, “it does explain why the Thalmor have gone mad for destroying the Knimidium.”

“Oh?”

“It says, ‘The Knimidium seam was, of course, found in the Colovian Mountains by the Knights of The Nine when they were excavating more stone for one of their building projects.

Recognizing it as being magical, they quickly learned of its properties and practical use – a replacement for soul gems.

The name Knimidium comes from the obvious combination of Knights and a tribute to Tiber Septim’s giant Dwemer Numidium golem.

Although King Maloryn of Morrowind has – so it is believed – refused to allow testing of the giant jewel called ‘The Heart of Lorkhan’, it is believed to be the same type of magical rock that powered the ancient Dwemer giant construction.

It was, of course, the Numidium golem that tore much out of the Aldmeri Dominion at the end of the Second Era and paved the way for Tiber Septim’s eventual complete conquering of Tamriel.’”

“So the Thalmor are breaking up the Knimidium because it kind of represents their earlier defeat?” asked Siar, while reading the note he’d found in his envelope.

“Maybe. It could also be that they’re terrified of something as huge as the Numidium coming along again, so they feel that if there’s less Knimidium then there won’t be enough to power it.” said Koyree.

“Idiots.” Said Nol.

“Really? You want to put money on the Knights not building something like that? Just to see whether they could?..I wouldn’t.” Said Koyree.

“And the banning of Talos worship is punishing Septim the God-”

“Because Septim the man kicked their ar$es all those years ago.”

Nol sighed and opened his envelope. It contained a short note and a journal. He flicked through the book and noted the list of Thalmor crimes, constructions, plans. In short as near to a complete picture that Farrada had put together of the Thalmor, up until the point where he decided to put this all away. As if he knew his death would be soon.

How did he feel when Farrada knew he’d not be back here?

“Well, l’k what th’cat dragg’d ‘n’” said a voice. “If it in’t good old Nol!..Come t’ pull one last save out ‘f yer ar$e? For old t’mes’ sake?”

“Uncle Jeck! Go and sit down before you fall over. Come on.”

“Tha’s Fleet Admir’l Uncle Jeck to you missy.”

“Yeah well, Miitr put that ‘Keep all ranks outside the door’ sign for a reason.”

“You,” Jeck Harramaund poked Koyree in the chest, “are not Miitr Farrada.” He raised himself higher, turned and pointed at Nol, “and neither, are you.” He stared Nol in the eye.

Which is probably why he didn’t think about Siar Eremnor, who walked up to Jeck, put his hands to the other’s shoulders, smiled, and then said, good naturedly, “Jeck.” and head-butted him.



-------------------------------------------------------------



“How long has he been like this?” asked Nol.

“A few days.” Koyree gestured to the pile of bottles lying on the floor of the kitchen. “Poison resistance can be a b*tch.”

Nol agreed with a nod.

Jeck Harramaund was lying on a sofa with an ice block wrapped in linen on his forehead.

Koyree continued “We’d been waiting a few days, and figured you may have been delayed-”

“We dropped a few friends off near Anvil.”

“Ah. Anyway, we decided to go to the mainland.” Koyree sighed, looked down to the floor and shook her head.”

“I couldn’t find them.” Said Jeck, from the sofa.

“Who?” asked Nol after a pause, having waited for Jeck to continue.

“Any of them. My sister, his sister, your sons. Friends. Noone. People I’ve known for a couple of hundred years walked past me as if I was a stranger, or slammed doors as soon as they saw who it was.”

“You didn’t think to mention this?” Nol looked angrily at Koyree.

Her eyes misted over and she said quietly, “I haven’t seen you for twenty years daddy, I wanted a few minutes where we weren’t rushing off on a save, is that so wrong?”

A lump formed in Nol’s throat. “No.” He said. Nol then grabbed Koyree, then held her to him for some time.

“What now then?” asked Siar after a while.

“Now,” said Nol, “we go and see if we can pull one last save out of our ar$es.”



------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dusk was unrecognisable as the same city of twenty years earlier. It was quiet, dark. People walked with their heads down, shops were closed, boarded up. The few lamps that dotted the streets occasionally were oil fuelled, casting flickering shadows about the place. Making some places appear sinister. The Thalmor seemed as omnipresent as before.

And this was only the harbour district.

The four hooded figures walked stealthily along, keeping watch behind and about them. They’d decided to head for ‘The Sailor’s Cape’ as a starting point, to see if they could find any of their old allies there.

When they reached the Inn they were horrified. The once beautiful sanctuary had been burned out. The roof gone, the front wall collapsed inwards, the side walls almost complete but the top of one leaned dangerously.

The four looked at each other.

“Now what?” asked Siar.

“Now,” said a voice, “you come with us.”

As several figures appeared out of thin air, one, in the Justicar uniform declared, “Fleet Admiral Areldur and his famous cohorts! Well, I am Justicar Ondolemar, and we have been expecting you. Please resist.” He smiled a particularly vicious smile.

Nol looked at Koyree, her eyes wide. Nol shook his head. Koyree looked pained and vanished.

“NO!” shouted the Justicar.

One of the guards squealed as his innards started spilling on the ground, but then, as nothing more happened, the Thalmor shouted “We’ll find you! You can’t go far!...Damn.”

With what Nol had decided must be a trained and practiced, signature move for the Thalmor, Ondolemar wheeled around and stalked up to the Fleet Admiral. From just an inch from Nol's face, the Justicar said with bared teeth, “The Overlord has been waiting such a long time to meet you Admiral.”

“Fleet Admiral.” Nol replied companionably.

Ondolemar wrinkled his nose with rage and disgust. Then he said. “Bring them.” And stalked off.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

Boy what I wouldn't do for a getaway like that, peace and quiet-aahh.

Just to let you know I was paying attention...

Where'd yer ess slither off ta?

I liked the note to Koyree, haha, I've got a youngster that I have left a note like that for....looking for where I hid his xbox controller...

Well D***, da** and dam* again....leave me hanging like that off the cliff, not nice mean ole badger...not nice at all.

More please, hurry please....fingers get tired hanging like this....

As the men progressed into the island structure, your descriptions reminded me of Ayleid ruinage. How neat to see that confirmed – Morhaven it is!

Interesting history and lessons about Knimidium. It fell nicely into place as the group returned to Dusk and noted the streets lit by oil lamps.

“Fleet Admiral Areldur and his famous cohorts! Well, I am Justicar Ondolemar, and we have been expecting you. Please resist.” He smiled a particularly vicious smile.’
This Justicar has truly mastered the art of villainy!

And captured they be, it seems.

That does it, now I want an island fortress! I love the way Farrada made an Ayleid ruin into an inviting home.

Koyree Areldur finally looked up at Nol and her big brown eyes melted his heart, as it ever did.

That was so sweet. The note was great. I love that Miitr knew it would be Koyree who found the packages.

Ondolemar wrinkled his nose with rage and disgust. Then he said. “Bring them.” And stalked off.

Yikes! As Acadian said, Justiciar Ondolemar oozes villainy. At least Koyree is free, and she seems extremely capable. To the Overlord!! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!

Ondolemar=Darth Vader. Nuff said.

Awesome description of Farrada's “Island Getaway” - easily visualized by your detail in it !!!

Really enjoyed the note, lol.

Loved the interplay between Nol and Koyree, so well done !!!

What an ending to this chapter !! You never cease to surprise in your chapters !! Awesome Write !!!

No new stuff yet...I have been busy...Sorry...Just a quick note here...


Athynae - Thank you...I appreciate it every time...And sorry about the cliff-hanging...Sadly you may be there...A little while longer... ...

Acadian - The Welsh word (and therefore Elven...Cause a lot of my "elvish" words are Welsh.) for sea is Mor, and the idea of a haven was cool...But, being me I changed it to Havan, like Havanna...Thanks for the thumbsup about it though... ...Cheers for your continued support... ...

Grits - Cheers so much... ...I think we'd all like an island getaway now...I hate my brain... ...Thank you, as ever... ...

DE - Ta!...'Nuff Said!!... ...

mALX - Many many thanks...I'm really enjoying writing these chapters with Areldur...And I'm sure it'll surprise you to know that it's got away from me again... ...So much for planning!...Cheers!!...



Aaamywho, the whole point of posting is to tell you that the Dramatis Personae and Timeline have been updated...

If there's anything I've missed by accident, as opposed to design...Which you won't know...Hmmm...Um...Aaamywho, if I've missed anyone off, please let me know...Ta...

I'm so sorry...I really hadn't realised what I've been putting you all through... ...

Hooray, an update!

Once again, good stuff, with some excellent dialogue, but this part ehre kind of stuck out for me here as being somewhat strange:


Would they really just let her go like that? Seeing as they're determined and she's an enemy of the Thalmor, that's rather strange, surely?

Aside from that, though, it's good, and I'm looking forward to more.

Well, I don't think they plan on letting her leave. The point is that she vanished. And I'm betting she used some knightly trick instead of the detectable sort of invisibility. With the Knidium and the big library, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the good guys have ties with the KOTN or a KOTN associate.

And no! Not Nol and friends! You meanie Thalmor.

Mustard and Jack...Many thanks m'friends...Mustard, hope this next bit clears that a bit...Jack, cheers, that's pretty much right... ...Sorry, I appear to have become predictable... ...Either that or you've got a camera looking over me shoulder...*Looks back*... ...Many thanks both of you...

Reet...NEW PARTS ALERT!!...

In typical Robert fashion, this part interrupts the flow of the plot...But Story Fairy insisted...*Shrug*...sorry...So, for this weekend...One part per day, 'cause it's a longie...And hopefully back to Nol next weekend...

Where we were...

Nol Areldur et al had been captured on their return to the Summerset Isles, now controlled by the Thalmor...His daugher Koyree had escaped by Shrouding herself...Which is nice...

This...Is what happened next...

Oh yes it is...Oh, the Empire storyline is set in the year 3E 604...So the 10 years thing is back from that...Just so you know... ...






1.12 - Empire. (Interlude, Koyree – i)







Dusk, Summerset Isles. 10 years earlier.






Despair threatened Koyree Areldur as she ran through the dark streets of the harbour district towards the sea, and possible freedom. She wept quietly at the thought of leaving her father and friends behind. But even Shrouded, she doubted her chances of taking all of the Thalmor party on. Ondolemar would have cast the life detect as soon as Koyree’s spell had been cast, but being unable to find her that way, the swine would have no choice but to send his guards off to search for her in the city. Maybe that would leave less guards for Dad, she thought, he’d think of some way out.

They’ll be alright, she thought, they’re always alright.

With the Shroud spell cast, there was no chance of detection, so down the middle of the road she ran, until she reached the entrance to the docks. There were Thalmor in abundance here, and as she watched the scene unfold before her, she recognised some of the crew of both ships that been brought to Dusk being taken away, either in chains, or on stretchers. A fight had taken place at least. Maybe some of the $hits had been lost too. She sighed.

She had no choice but to wait for the mass of Thalmor to dissipate, so she looked about herself, exploring options. She chose the most appealing, smiled to herself, and then headed for the eatery nearby.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



To the Altmer behind the counter of ‘The Harbour Bites’, it must have seemed like the door had blown open and then shut itself.

“I don’t care who you are, I don’t want trouble, but no Shrouds in here. Not, you understand, that I can do much about it, it’s just more polite yes?” said an elderly gentleman from a seat to one side of the room.

The Altmer behind the counter frowned at him.

“Go on Falrast, take a break.” Said the old man. The younger Altmer took of his apron and the grey-haired man watched him walk out of the back. “Now then. It’s just you and me.”

Koyree appeared.

“See, that wasn’t so hard was it? Now, what would you like?” the softly Skyrim accented, elderly owner stood and walked behind the counter.

Koyree frowned and walked forward.

“Oh, don’t worry missy, whatever it is, you pay me money, I give you food. I don’t care. Whatever it is, I don’t care. Now what do you want?”

The young Areldur pointed to something simple and gave the man some money.

“Excellent!” he gave the food and said, “Go sit in the booth over there, no one can see when they come in, and, should things go awry, the back door is straight opposite. Just so you know.”

“Why are you doing this? You have no idea what I, or from what you just said anyone, could have done.” Koyree asked.

“Ah! She speaks at last!” then the old man shrugged, “Because I can; Because it’s more coin; And more importantly, even if you wished to do me harm, I may be old, but you’d stand no chance against me, Shroud or not. Time was when these b@stard Thalmor would have trembled before me.”

“How do you know I’m not one of them, here to fool you into heresy?”

“Because you look like both of your parents, that’s why, and if I thought for a moment that any child of theirs was mixed up with that rabble then I’d think the world coming to an end. Go. Sit. Eat. No one will disturb you here. Well, except me and my inane chatter.” He smiled with a glint in his bright green eyes, and pushed the money back.

Koyree found the booth, then she sat and ate.



------------------------------------------------



“This is the first place they’d look for you, you know?”

Koyree nodded and shrugged. “I figured they’d already been in here, left again.”

The Imperial smiled, “Hah!..Trained you well didn’t they? Your mum and dad.”

“You know them both? It’s been a while since anyone could say that.”

“Well, I am very old.”

Koyree raised her eyebrow at the idea of what the Imperial thought of old. “I’m one hundred and fifty years old. It’s been at least half that since they’ve been together.”

The Imperial smiled and nodded. “About fifty years ago, you were away for a goodly while with the Navy, Nol came back unexpectedly; Attempted to patch it up with your mother again. She was as shocked as anyone. But she was happy for a time. Her being the head of the Mage’s Guild in the Isles, I was working with her a lot, so I met yer Dad many times and we became friends. So when the inevitable happened, although after ten years or so, I stayed friends with them both.”

Koyree sat open mouthed. “They never said, any of it...I’m so sorry, I’ve never heard of you before. Wait, you were Mage’s Guild?”

“Yeah, amongst other things.”

“And now you make pies?”

“What’s wrong with that?!” the Imperial said mock-affronted while smiling. “Everyone needs food!”

“Ach.” Said the old man. He laced his fingers, pushed outwards with his arms, clicking his knuckles. He then stood and went to the door of the eatery. He briefly opened the door and looked out. He nodded, satisfied and the closed the door again.

Then turned the key in the lock.

Koyree, stopped eating and put down her fork. She put one hand under the table and called a shock spell to it.

The old man walked past her table, caught her eye, frowned and shook his head a tiny amount. He walked to the corner of the eatery and turned quickly.

Koyree saw that his fingers were splayed out wide with his thumbs meeting, a bright green wave shot out of his fingers, moving through the room. Koyree saw her hand and her front glowing green, then she looked startled as in one swift movement, the Imperial reached out, as if grabbing something. With his left arm straight out, hand raised upwards, fingers wide, the old man cast a shield, a diamond shield. Koyree had time for her jaw to drop when the first of the firebolts hit the shield.

“Watch my shop you idiot!” The old man shook his head, flattened out the previously raised hand. The shield shot forward and Koyree poked her head around the edge of the seating and saw a glowing green shape lying on the floor.

“Damn you!” came a shout from that direction, and another firebolt launched outward.

The old man with the brightly glowing eyes, sighed as the firebolt simply dissipated on the shield that was once more at his hand. “Piss.” He simply said, and then twisted his still clasped right hand. There was a snap, and the old man dropped his hands.

Koyree stood up and followed him to the body that had appeared.

“Ye just cannae get the staff.” He shook his head as they looked down at the Altmer Falrast. “Spying on little old me?” he tutted and smiled.

“Spying on you?” Koyree asked, shocked. “Who are you?”

The old Imperial pushed his long grey hair out of his face and turned to Koyree, “Michael Feere, Knight of The Lamp, pleased tae meet ya.”

“Knight of The Lamp?”

“Aye lass, Mages Guild and all that, remember? Why the surprise?”

“I...Um...Just thought you were a Knight of The Nine for a moment.”

“Hah! Oh, I am that too...Of a sort...And a member of several other associations with names that may contain the words Knight, Mage or Order...And one that also contains the words ‘Tea Rooms’, but we won’t mention that one...” Feere winked.

Koyree laughed.

“Anyhow, I’ve spent more time on these islands in the past sixty years than you have. And I volunteered to stay and watch when the Thalmor idiocy started. How do you think the outside world is getting their information? An eatery on the docks? Best place in the world! Happily, I get to indulge my cooking thing too, which is a bonus.” He smiled. “They’ve been watching me for years, never been able to catch me though.”

Feere looked down at the corpse, then frowned. A sad look came to his face. “Damn...” The Imperial pointed down at Falrast, “He appeared right after...They must have followed Farrada down all those years ago. It’s the only time he came here. Drowned? Drowned my wrinkly ar$e. That $hit Ondolemar probably. Here...” the old man stood and walked behind the eatery counter. He knelt down and pulled out a loose brick from the wall. Feere pulled out an envelope and passed it to Koyree.

Inside were two things, an amulet of Talos and a note, it read –




I’m in trouble. I’m not getting out of this one.
Take care of each other.

Get the bastards for me.

M.




A tear fell onto the note.

“How did you see him?” Koyree turned and indicated the dead Altmer with her head.

“The Wave? Just something your mother and I worked on years ago. Nice to see it worked though.”

“Can you teach me?”

“Probably, but I need to take care of that,” said Feere pointing at the body, “and it’s going to take more effort than it used to. Getting old be damned!”

“I’ll help you. Just teach it me quickly...Please?”

Feere looked at her, sighed and nodded quickly. “Come on.”



---------------------------------------------



A couple of hours later they stood near to the door. “Watch yourself Areldur.” Feere said and he held out his hand for her to shake.

“You need to do that more than me, now you’ve...” she looked out towards the back of the eatery and smiled weakly.

He laughed once and smiled, “Ach, don’t worry about me missy. I’ve completely failed to die so far, I’ve no intention of starting now.”

“That’s what my dad says.”

Feere shrugged, his hand still held out.

Koyree shook the hand, nodded, disappeared into the Shroud and left The Harbour Bites.



----------------



It was still dark, but the horizon was lightening, so Koyree decided it was now or never. The next move was risky anyway, probably impossible during daylight. Skirting around the edges of the docks until she came to The Looking Elsweyr, she stood Shrouded for some minutes watching the boat for signs of life.

The Elsweyr had two keels, held together by the body of the boat. The ship was small enough to be fast, but large enough to hold a crew of ten. This also made it amazingly stable at speed. The Elsweyr could even stay afloat even in the worst roiling seas.

Koyree looked at the deck at the back of the bridge. She walked around the dock, quietly removing the ropes that held the ship to the quay, until she had a better angle to catch all of the length of the ship.

The Shroud consumed much magic to cast initially, but not so much to maintain. So she had no fear of not being able to do what was next.

She held her hands out as the old Knight had shown her, and cast the wave. It travelled the length of the ship and lit up two figures on the deck. They obviously were surprised by being lit up, she could see them looking at themselves. Then she cast two paralyse spells, one in each hand. The two figures toppled over, one fell quietly into the sea, the other onto the deck. Unfortunately these spells took the whole of the remainder of her magic reserves, and she appeared on the dockside. She jumped onto the small ship, ran crouched to where she’d seen the fallen man, found him and pushed him off into the water. There was a splash. Koyree looked about herself. A guard was walking towards the Looking Elsweyr. She dived for the hatch to the bridge and prayed to Mara that there wasn’t anyone waiting in there.

The problem with Impeller engines is that they disliked being turned off, some had been known to never start again. So it was with great joy that when she throttled up the ship, it simply took off. Koyree aimed it south, knowing she would be able to chart a course from any point in the ocean, assuming she could figure out where she was going in the first place.

The door to the rear cabin burst open and an Altmer in armour charged her. She jumped up and met his advance.



---------------------------------------

HEEEEY!

I will try my very best to catch up as quick as possible, but just wanted you to know I am reading (still on the frist page of the thread :/) and I will comment more profoundly when I'm up to date

but what I've read so far? GREEEEAT STUFF!

So did I, Loved the whole interplay here between the two !!! Awesome Write !!

Wonderful detail and character you build into Feere, even as you add more depth to Koyree. So Feere's a Knight of the Lamp! Woot!

Similarly, you made the Elsweyr jump off the page with its two keels and curious impeller engines. A very special little ship indeed!

And. . . uh oh. . . a cliffhangar at sea!

Cheers, mALX, Acadian...Glad Feere made an impression...I really like him... ...

NEW PARTS ALERT!!... ...

A reminder - once more - that the Empire storyline is set in 3E 604...So this is 10 years back from then...

Where we were...

In part 1...Koyree Areldur had escaped the clutches of the Thalmor and, with the aid of a spell learned from an old friend of her parents', had retaken the ship called The Looking Elsweyr...And then a guard had burst through from the rear cabin area...


And now...Part 2...(only one more to go...Till tomorrow then... ...)...







1.12 – Empire. (Interlude, Koyree – ii)







The Looking Elsweyr. Adrift in the ocean. 10 years earlier.






Koyree grew up in the Guildmaster’s house in the grounds of the Mages Guild’s University of The Isles. Her mother being said Guildmaster.

She was always a curious child. Rather predictably, the first spell Koyree learnt was Open lock. From that point on, she’d sneak out of her room at night, and eventually, she read every book in the house’s library. Whether it be story, reference, history or spell. Every book, she read them. Her favourites though, without a doubt, were the spell-books. Over and over she’d read the spells, memorising every word, sneaking down to the basement of the house to practice what she’d learned. Some spells would always be beyond her abilities, but that didn’t mean she didn’t know what the words were. And that was the most important part of it to the young Koyree.

Being the daughter of the head of the University, her presence in the ancient, massive stone building was always accepted, thusly was she able to sneak in plain sight to the practice rooms, and watch as mages went through their drills. Watching, listening to the cadence of the casting words, reviewing stances.

Slowly, nearly every spell in the Guildmaster’s house was learnt. Koyree was a natural at Alteration, the Ease Burden spell-tree was climbed to the very top, and locks would fall before her as she looked at them. Her frustration with Shield spells though, was that they could never be a replacement for the real thing. She imagined being able to turn blades using her bare hands, with no consequences.

Sadly, it was the deep cut on her arm that finally gave Koyree away.

Her mother was furious at herself for not paying enough attention, and furious at Koyree for showing her up. So then, at great expense, Cestra Areldur had all the locks changed. The magic impervious Nul-Iron, used for prison manacles, locks and other magic prevention areas was employed throughout the house and university. All to stop one curious 12 year old from getting around.

So that was when Koyree learned to pick locks.

But now, she had to use the invisibility she’d learned, to watch everywhere, and get caught by the Mysticism department. It wasn’t until she’d eventually managed to fashion herself an unbreakable lockpick that she finally got into the Forbidden Section of the university library. And so, it was actually Koyree Areldur that was the first person in the Summerset Isles to master the Shroud spell.

Where the spell-book had come from, Koyree couldn’t tell, but if felt strange, not entirely solid somehow, as if it belonged somewhere else; to some other realm. It had the picture of a sinister, bearded man - seemingly with three faces - on the front of it, but other than that, she had no way of knowing.

So when, eventually it was time for her to enrol in the University of The Isles, Koyree grew bored. She did her time, she learned everything there was to learn and – unsurprisingly – graduated practically the highest ever scoring pupil there.

But she was restless.

Her father had been a constant in her life, although his job meant that he could go away at any time, he’d managed to swing his assignments so that he was nearly always at home to see her.

The times Koyree would go to sea on a trip were the happiest she could imagine being. Her mother nearly always complained, but Koyree didn’t care. The sea, Koyree had decided was where her true future lay.

So, after a few good years of toil in the Mages Guild, and as a great disappointment to her mother, Koyree joined the Altmer Navy.

In much the same pattern as her childhood, Koyree learned everything she could, as fast as she could, and so became the youngest Altmer to hold the rank of Commodore. That all the Fleet Admirals within the Fleets were still alive was the only thing that prevented her advancing more.

So, for something new to learn, she had had the Fourth Fleet’s Chief of Fleet Security teach her every fighting style that was known to him.



----------------------------------------------------------------



Three weeks after the fight on the boat, Koyree was a mess.

Some of the instruments on the bridge had been broken by the Thalmor while the battle was joined, one of which was the impeller control. Koyree had killed the man and thrown his body overboard, but had been left with the problem of a boat, headed south and full speed and no way of stopping it. She didn’t want to stop the boat too close to land – even if she figured out how to do it - but neither did she want to head out into the deep ocean.

In the end, Koyree had headed down into the lowest deck and simply turned the engines off. This had caused several unforeseen problems for Koyree. She now had no power to speak of for lights, water purification, cooking.

Koyree had sighed and just thought about all those survival books she’d read.

She realised quickly that the prevailing currents were taking her south-west into the ocean anyway, so Koyree had hoped that a passing ship might see her. Sadly, no ships were ever seen.

Having exhausted the supplies aboard the vessel, she’d started employing the survival techniques. Jury-rigging the right components, she made a condenser, heating it up using magic to separate the water from the salt; Koyree very quickly learned the art of diving for fish, her having learnt Breathe Underwater many years earlier. The young Areldur would then cook the fish with magic, boiling it in some of the fresh water she’d condensed.

She’d searched the boat - again - for anything to take her mind of things. The ship held enough cabins for a crew of ten, but all that she found were a few trinkets, a few books, but nothing of any real help.

Koyree had found an amulet of Julianos amongst one of the crew’s things. She’d decided to wear it, along with her own amulet of Mara and the Talos one that Feere had given her, what felt like a lifetime ago.

So it was that three mournful and agonizing weeks later, Koyree sat in her shirt and knickers on the bridge of the Elsweyr, hallucinating, delirious and sick from having eaten the wrong type of fish.



---------------------------------



“Cure Poison is a thought and deed spell Koyree, you know that. Thought requires focus, deed requires strength. You have neither Koyree? Wake up!” Said a grotesquely caricatured version of her mother from the seat opposite.

Koyree gripped the three amulets tightly, closed her eyes and said between weepings. “Lady Mara...Please spare me, my life...I must...Lord Talos...Grant me the strength to succeed...Gnnnah!!...Great Julianos, please grant me the knowledge of the word...What is the kriffing word dammit?!!...AAAAAHHH!!!...

The apothecary’s supply of Cure Poison potion had been used and had not yet been replaced, as Koyree had found when she’d realised what she’d done - her dire problem - and rushed back through the cabin to find it. By the time she’d tried to call the spell, the poison was already scrambling her focus and Koyree had failed to cast it. She’d only just managed to drag herself back to the bridge, to where she sat now, minutes later.

She opened her eyes and her “mother” had gone.

To be replaced by a small mole-ish man in mages robes, holding a book in fingerless-gloved hands.

“Oh no...”

“Hand waving, Koyree, is for nobles, children and pathetic street conjurers. All spells are either thought, word or deed. Cure poison is a thought and deed spell. But before it becomes thought it must be word. What is that word Koyree? WHAT IS THAT WORD KOYREE?”

Koyree wept and shouted, “I DON’T KNOW!! I DON’T KNOW!! AAAAARGH!!!”

She cried as she felt her body dying. Slowly her eyes closed, she stopped weeping.

Then.

She stopped.



------------------------------------------------------------



The Looking Elsweyr shook to the sound of a giant blaring horn.

“BYARIICH!!!” shouted Koyree as she sat up; Then she screamed as the poison was ripped from her body by the blue magicks that swirled around her.

Still weak from the ravages the fish’s poison had inflicted on her body, Koyree leaned on the bridge console and looked out of the window.

Her jaw dropped.

She squinted at what was outside, then she wailed as the horn sounded again and almost burst her heart with the sheer volume.

Koyree tried to stand, but fell out of her seat. Hand over hand she dragged herself to the ladder that led up to the deck. With strength she hadn’t remembered calling, she pulled herself upwards.

She fell out of the hatchway, her arm stretched out to arrest her fall. She caught sight of the three pendants, their leather laces wrapped around her hand. Frowning, she stood again and walked out to the middle of the deck.

The gentle rocking of the Elsweyr from the swell of the giant monster’s passing was proof that this was no hallucination, but how else to explain what she was seeing?

From where Koyree was she had no clue as to how wide the...Ship was, but it was long. It appeared as though someone had just decided to pick up a city and sail into the sea.

Spaced out along the side, far above the waterline, there were four giant towers of gleaming white, topped with a dome of a green colour. From the side of three of these, she could see what looked to be covered bridges, from one side to the other, rising to a point in the middle, which seemed to make them seem like carved roof apexes.

From the water, the body flared out at a dizzying angle. From the top of this flaring, far above, most of the length of the ship was several stories tall, Koyree could tell from the windows she could see. Variations in the height made it feel like she was looking at a cathedral to Neptirnos, Steward of the sea and her husband Persardion. An idea reinforced by the massive tower that dominated the back third of the massive ship. Whatever the structure was made of, the whole ship sat perfectly on the sea.

Koyree could see intricate decorative carvings over parts of the ship, oddly beautiful and unnerving at the same time. Well, it added to the general air of disquiet.

A gentle hum was, the only sound the engines made as it passed. Almost quieter than the hiss its passage through the water was making.

The colour of the ship was beautiful though, all brasses, coppers, greens, whites and...Koyree’s eyes widened - Dwemer.

The bellowing horn shouted again and Koyree dropped to her knees and wailed with her hands over her ears.

Koyree opened her eyes and looked up at the side of the Dwemer ship. A plaque with letters at least as tall as a Skyrim Giant, proclaimed the ship’s name.

Mriizeleft.

Dwemer Great-ship or City-ship whichever it was, the lost Dwemer ship, doomed to wander the waters for eternity.

Legend or ghost story made real in front of her. Just as it was for her father years earlier.

Oh daddy. The agonized thought came. Koyree dragged herself to the side of the Elsweyr. She reached her hand out as if to try and touch the Dwemer ship.

The horn sounded again. Koyree squealed, fainted and fell forward towards the waiting sea.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great stuff; the hallucinations were fun and it was good to see one of your characters in a tight, near-death spot there (from a purely academic viewpoint, mind. I didn't actively want her to die, just to clarify). Also, the description of the Mriezeleft was excellent, and a wonderfully evocative read.

Excellent stuff.

Yikes! From one cliffie in the last episode as she turned to meet a hostile Altmer, to another in this one as the sea rises to meet her!

I really enjoyed the glimpses into Koryee’s past. The Nul-Iron was very clever.

Yes, must exercise care picking fish and mushrooms.

Woot! A Dwemer aircraft carrier!

These time jumping things is hard to handle, maybe because I'm horrible with math. Koyree strikes me as a sneaky type. Obviously, she is. The way she sneaks from her room and opens locks just screams thief. Add a bit of invisibility here and there and you might have get a kickass assassin-like fighter. Some new development to her, I see.

Dwemer technology is amazing. True geniuses of their time. "Ghost" Dwarven ships ftw! And the hallucinations were cool, and very intriguing. It's not easy being lost at sea when you can only eat bad fish. Good read, overall. As always, my friend. I will be around, stalking and skulking.

Mustard...Cheers matey!!...Glad you enjoyed the near death of a character... ...I'm glad the Mriizeleft came across well...I was worried it wouldn't seem all that grand... ...

Acadian...Yep, another cliffhanger...There was going to be the one earlier, just before the ship turned up...But the next part became a damned sight longer so...Still, cheers very much...Glad you're enjoying it...Ta very much...

DE!!...Yes, it's amazing how many of my characters could have been so very good at being very evil... ...Fair enough, stalk and skulk to your heart's content!!...And do so with my grateful thanks... ...I'm not sure how much earlier you were reading, but I had another character called Galasafon, who was pretty much exactly as you described...There's a major thing coming for him btw (for the rest of you that may or may not be interested )...Just as soon as I flatten the Thalmor at Anvil...



Reet...NEW PARTS ALERT!!...

Koyree part three!!...

Well...I say Koyree... ...

Firstly though...A giant introduction by me...I thangyore....


----------------


A few notes here before I get to the story...

First, thank you for not telling me off about posting so much, so fast...Is appreciated, and it’s unlikely to happen again...Probably... ...

Second, There are things, in the last section of the story that I’m likely to get...Frowned at for...At the very least...Well, in my defence...They are absolutely in keeping with my version of the world...And no, when people can shoot fire out of their hands there will be no need of such things on land...It’s just the idea of taking on a ship without something like...Ship-taking-on-things...Plus, it’s kinda come from something Grits said ages ago...Yes, it’s all Grits’ fault...*Grins mischeviously*...

Third...I introduce a new location in this story, it’s called Ynys Llan-Y-Naw...Which is welsh for Island of the Church of The Nine...If you would look at this map please? ...There is an island west of Anvil, see it? Well other maps say it's called Stirk...There is no Lore associated with said place... Well, there is now...The Knights have bought it and populated it with many things...All may eventually become clear...But this is - as well as New Kvatch and wherever else I decide - their place now...

Pronounciation lesson!!!...Heh... ...

Ynys...Sounds like Um and hiss without the H, so it’s un-hiss = Ynys...

Llan...You know Sid the Sloth from Ice Age? Well he has a lateral lisp, that is why he does that LL thing, “Hello, I’m Llid de Llofth.” Sort of thing...Well, that’s the LL bit in llan...the an is and without the d...So it’s Llid and = Llan...

Y (and this is a note to all you English out there...) Y...Is like Uh...Not Why...Uh = Y

Naw...Is the same as the English word now...Not Norrr...As in Quick Draw McGraw...Now = Naw...

To recap....Un-hiss Llidand uh now...Ynys Llan-y-Naw...
Un iss Ll an uh now


Thank you for your time... ...



To recap, part one had Koyree escape from the Thalmor onto The Looking Elsweyr, Part 2 found us discovering that she was adrift and in desperate straits, having eaten a fish she shouldn’t have and had an encounter with the lost Dwemer ship, the Mriizeleft...

As ever, this Empire storyline is set in 3E 604 and this happens 10 years before that...



And now...Part 3...Good luck...







1.12 – Empire. (Interlude, Koyree – III)






The Looking Elsweyr. Adrift in the Ocean. 10 Years Earlier.







Two hands belonging to separate people grabbed the back of the Altmer girl’s shirt.

“Whoa there missy.” Said a bearded man, as the pair dragged her away from the edge and lay the girl down on the deck.

“Good catch Septim.” Said the copper-haired lady with him.

“Lady Mara!” Tiber inclined his head, “always a pleasure to see you, my dear.” He beamed.

Mara smiled back and touched Septim’s upper arm in friendly greeting, then she frowned and looked back down. “Now who are you my dear girly?”

Septim stood and took in the marvel of the ship. “Dear...Us. That is a big ship. I once tried to catch it, you know?” he turned and looked down at Mara, she shook her head, “Yes, I had her in my sights and then the most bizarre crosswind came along and she simply vanished.” He shook his head. “Beautiful.”

Tiber Septim was the embodiment of the truism that the Legend is always bigger than the Man. Despite the massively proportioned statues that are dotted around the Empire, Septim was actually of average height and build, with close cropped, grey hair and beard. The deeds of strength coming due to the Alteration magicks he’d employed, much like Knights down the years. He was currently sporting, dark trousers tied with what appeared to be a scarf, the ends dangling from one hip, a loose fitting white shirt and leather waistcoat. Leather bracers and boots completed the dashing appearance.

“Going for the pirate look Septim?” asked Mara, while he was looking at the Mriizeleft.

Septim grinned and turned back with raised eyebrow. “And you the rugged adventurer, it seems.” He said of Mara’s loose fitting light brown trousers, loose green shirt covered by an armoured light leather waistcoat. Her copper bracers and Orcish boots seeming a little ostentatious.

“Well, you move with the times don’t you, my dear Tiber.” She answered with a smile of her own. Mara looked back down at the girl. “I know she’s got these amulets, but how did she call us both here? That takes some power, this girl’s practically dead.”

“It wasn’t her.” Said a new voice coming up from below decks. A small man in a brown suit came walking up the ladder carrying a plate with the remains of some fish on it.

“Julianos! Excellent! Nice to see you old boy.”

“Septim.” he replied and nodded in greeting. He then walked to the side of the ship and threw the plate in the sea.

“Three of us?..So who did then?” asked Mara.

Julianos just gestured by tilting his head towards the retreating Mriizeleft.

“It did?” Septim’s head whipped around to look at the ship. “How?”

“Well...It’s complicated.” Said Mara.

“Still, there may be hope for...It...After all.” Julianos looked down at the Altmer. “Wonder what makes you so important?..I’m going to go find out. Can you keep her alive until I return?” He asked Mara.

“That all depends on how long you are doesn’t it?” the female divine said and gripped the girl’s arm.

Julianos stared levelly at Mara, then he turned on his heel and walked to the ladder and disappeared below decks.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------




“Well, we seem to have some time before he comes back...And I do so love a good story.” Said Tiber.

Mara sighed. “Yes, it looks like I’m not going anywhere for shortie’s while.” She looked at the departing Mriizeleft. “That is the greatest example of why you should never piss Zenithar off.”

“Hah! Really? Good grief. How so?”

“Well, what’s in there, caused all the Dwemer to disappear.”

“Good Aetherius! What happened?”

“Many bad things. That man, well, thing, in there,” Mara pointed, “tried to make himself into a God and instead caused the destruction of his people. From what I’ve gathered – I wasn’t really involved...Boys and their toys and all that. It built a new power source, an orb of some sort.

“Julianos told Zenithar that his ‘House’ had warned of this new power’s unstable nature, but he was – as usual – ignored. Something about pulling it through rents, tears in universes or something. Anyways, the cities had them in; People had stuff linked to the orbs’ power grid. You can guess the rest. Something went wrong with the orbs. People vanished all at once, whole cities disappeared. They just vanished entirely, only holes in the ground to say something was ever there.” Mara sighed again and shook her head.

“Zenithar – whose people they were, hence the technology – decided to, according to Kynareth, teach it,” Mara pointed at the ship, “a lesson in humility, if it was the last thing Zenithar did. So the Great Designer of the Dwemer that called hisself Mrii, was granted immortality-”

“Nooo.” Said a stunned Septim.

“And then,” continued Mara, “bonded to the controls of the Great-ship that he loved the most. His most fervent followers doomed to wander the halls of the thing as slaves to keep the thing going. They, you’ll notice, managed to avoid everything of course.” Mara sighed and shook her head, “So now...Cursed to pass over every corner of the seas once, for every year that any one Dwemer would have lived for, had they not...disappeared. And if Mrii ever finishes his penance for the first one, then the years the next person would have had, start, until the entire race is atoned for.

“And of course, the one wrinkle in the plan is that the ship keeps...Ah...Doing that.” Mara smirked with one side of her mouth.

Tiber turned his head to see that the ship had vanished.

“Well I never!” he turned back to look at Mara, “It’s always the quiet ones.” He raised his eyebrow and grinned. “I’d best lay off the ribbing!”

Mara laughed once and looked down at the girl. “She’s fading beyond even me. Better be quick Julianos. I may only have one choice for this.”

“There’s always two choices Mara.” Septim said.

Mara nodded. “If you say so.”



----------------------------------------------------------------------



Julianos walked through the doors to the Nirn-Sphere room. The ‘star’ orrery that displayed the soul energy of any person, animal or otherwise on Nirn.

The vivid blue of the giant super-welkynd projection reflecting in his eyes as he walked towards his towering Androform daughter, Arrai. Ten feet of Rose-white marble-esque element and blue armour. One of the most powerful beings on the planet, along with her brother Myrrl and sister Neerlah.

“Father!” she called out.

“Arrai.” He replied with a smile.

“Did all go well? You were called away with quite the pull weren’t you?”

“Yes, bit of a surprise. You were watching?”

“Of course.”

“It was the Mriizeleft.”

“Ah, this explains much. I couldn’t tell. I just saw where you were.”

Julianos nodded. “I need to know who I was with.”

“Which?”

“What?”

“Which who you were with.”

Julianos pinched the bridge of his nose. “Arrai,” he started.

“Septim, Mara-”

“The girl!..The Altmer. Who is she?”

Arrai tilted her head and then manipulated the Nirn-Sphere until it showed just three stars. One, a giant copper coloured one was identified by the scrawl beside it as being the Divine Mara; the second, a giant red star was Tiber Septim; the third, much smaller star was the welkynd’s blue colour. Arrai focused in on the writing.

Julianos sighed. What in...Our name are you doing all the way out there? He thought to himself and then frowned as more scrawl appeared. Ah, the Knights again. More scrawl.

“What in blazes are you doing Arkay?”

“Father?”

“Sorry Arrai, just thinking out loud. It seems that this thing of Arkay’s is throwing too many loose pieces onto the board.” Julianos sighed and frowned again. “Thank you Arrai.”

“What now?” the Androform asked.

“Now, we do the obvious. Save the girl, send her to help. It would be rude to ignore Mrii’s summons or – presumably – plea.

“Could you ask Myrrl to join us on the boat?” Julianos asked and turned to leave.

“Of course. Farewell Father,” Arrai said to her retreating creator. “Love you.”

Julianos turned back, smiled and said, “Love you too.”

Then he left.



----------------------------------------------------------------------



There was a hum, a shimmer, and Myrrl appeared on the deck of the Looking Elsweyr, with his pure white marble-esque body, gleaming in the sunshine. The blue-black of his skull-like head, his chest-piece, gloved hand and boot armour standing out more vividly in the bright glare.

“Tiber Septim! As I live...Good to see you!” Myrrl declared and came over to clasp Septim’s shoulders.

“Myrrl old boy! A fine day when you’re around. Always. How‘ve you been?”

“Well, my old friend. I’ve been well.”

Myrrl looked down at the girl and Mara. “Lady Mara.” He nodded his greeting.

“Myrrl.” She replied and then turned back to the Altmer. “I can’t hold this much longer Septim, she’s going.”

“What do you mean?” asked the Julianos as he returned to the deck.

“Father! Good to see you.” Said Myrrl.

Julianos smiled at his son, patted his arm and turned to Mara.

She sighed and answered, “There’s only one way to save her now. I knew you’d be too long.”

Julianos frowned. “Her name is Koyree Areldur. Her father’s cousin is Marn Areldur of the Knights. For some reason Mrii,” Julianos gestured outward, “thought her important enough to risk dragging us here.” He paused, sighed and then said – “Do it.”

“Without telling her?” said Myrrl.

“She’s Altmer, she’s young, so by the time she realises something’s different...” Julianos shrugged.

Mara sighed, closed her eyes and pushed life back into Koyree. Altering the Altmer’s constituents until they no longer aged; Repairing damage; Altering signals, stopping others entirely.

“We’ve really got to stop this making everyone immortal thing.” Said Tiber, “We’ll be overrun with them soon.” He smiled.

“What now?” asked Myrrl.

Julianos looked at Mara. “So which one of us Calls her? I saw her history, she could be any of ours. All of ours.”

“All?”

Julianos nodded.

Tiber sighed, “Time was when we made people walk the Pilgrim’s Way. Now we stand in the middle of the ocean with some random girl...” he shook his head.

“There’s been stranger places.” Julianos looked up at Myrrl.

“Anyway, can that be done? Us all Calling at once?” asked Septim.

“It has before.”

Mara nodded. “She’ll have a hell of a headache when she wakes up.” She said.

Julianos crouched down near the prone girl.

“Shall we?”



-------------------------------------------------------



“May I ask why I’m here?” asked Myrrl, a short time later, “as much as I appreciate the visit, I’m assuming I’m not here for my charm and good looks.”

Julianos rubbed his temples and blinked his eyes. Walking up to his son, he looked up, squinting. “How far do you think you can transport these? The ship and the girl?” he asked.

“Where were you sending her?”

“That Ynys place of the Knights’, I think J’Drell’s there at the moment isn’t he?”

Myrrl nodded once.

“Then it was a good choice.” Julianos smiled. There was a pause, “So?”

Myrrl made the noise of a sigh. “The girl, you could specify which bed in the Hospitalier temple you wanted; The ship, certainly within sight of the island...Both together?..There is a limit, but I will quite happily take it there for you, father. That is the best I can do. I apologise father, I wish I could do more.”

Julianos shook his head, “I am grateful for anything you can do Myrrl. Akatosh is the only one of us that can move things this small about.” The small Divine shrugged.

“I understand father. I will do what I can.”

Julianos patted his son’s arm again.



---------------------------------------------------------



“If we’re done here?” said Mara.

Julianos nodded.

Mara turned to Tiber, hugged him and said, “Always a pleasure Septim, hopefully see you soon.”

“I will wish for naught else my dear Mara!” replied Tiber and hugged her back.

Mara laughed, broke the embrace and turned back to face the others.

“Myrrl, you need to be sure to ask the Knights to have Marn Areldur there when she wakes up.” She pointed down to the girl. “It’ll be enough of a shock to be there in the first place, having a friendly face might help.”

Mara looked at the small Divine.

“Julianos.” She nodded and vanished.

Julianos sighed and shook his head. “Women!” Julianos walked to Septim and shook his hand, “Thank you Tiber. Always a pleasure. I hope it’s soon that we meet again.”

“As do I, my friend.”

“Myrrl, I will see you soon.”

“A joy to be sure, father!”

“Farewell.” Julianos said with a wave, and disappeared below decks.



------------------------------------------------------------------



“Myrrl.” Tiber said with a questioning tone.

“Yeeesss?” If Myrrl had eyebrows, one would be raised.

“Could you get me into the Mriizeleft? I can’t find it, find how to get in.”

Myrrl paused a short while, then, “The answer to that is both yes and no. No I can’t simply put you on the ship. Zenithar’s curse makes it not of this plane, so that makes it impossible to get to, even for us.” Meaning the Androforms and their teleport ability, “But...Yes I can get you in, but only from the inside.”

“The inside?”

“And I don’t think I could do it alone, I would need to connect with my sisters to do it...But if we could predict where the Mriizeleft will appear next, and if we could appear at the same place at the same time...” Myrrl shrugged.

“That sounds dangerous.”

“Yes, yes it does.” Said Myrrl, joyfully.

“You want to go on a...Ghost hunt?” asked Septim.

“Sadly, I have duties at present. However, when they are concluded, I shall be all yours Lord Septim.”

“A joy my friend! Find me when you’re done then?”

“I shall ask my sister Arrai for your whereabouts and shall be there too.” Myrrl bowed. “Oh, one more moment of your time Lord Septim?”

“Of course, what can I do?”

“In my experience, I have seen that women waking up surrounded by Knights so dressed,” Myrrl pointed to Koyree’s being in a shirt that was buttoned only in the middle and her knickers, “tend to be unimpressed by their situation.”

“You want me to dress her?” Septim asked with surprise.

Myrrl shrugged.

“Well, it’s been a while.” Tiber said, and walked off towards the below decks ladder repeatedly saying, “I was a Gentleman, I was a Gentleman.”

Myrrl looked out at the sea as he waited.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



KNV-H. Sir James Thedret. 20 miles off Ynys Llan-y-Naw.



Captain Sir Arion Thedret stared out through the windows of his bridge with a feeling of pride. The honour and joy at being Captain of the ship that bore the name of his ancestor was without measure. The fact that the ship was also one of the most deadly on the sea, Arion believed would have pleased said ancestor no end.

Nearly nine hundred feet long and over a hundred wide, the Hound-class Sir James Thedret was as much a statement of power as to true purpose, but with its three giant Tri-Alt’casters, two forward of the bridge tower and one behind. Coupled with the four much smaller Alt’casters, two on each side of the bridge, the Thedret was more than able to back said statements up. Their long barrels full of eldritch and complex magicks capable of delivering their terror of ice or fire, miles distant.

The newer, type-5 giant impellers that the AQuired-Tech Division of the Knights’ had developed, made it almost as fast in a straight line as some of the runabouts. Their Knimidium powerplants making light work of all the strain.

Arion mused that over the past century or so, the Knights of The Nine had been quietly developing theirs and the Cyrodiilian navies to the point where there was nothing on Nirn to equal them. They had also done this in as much secrecy as was possible. The only time any of the neighbouring countries saw a new ship, was when it was ready. And then they grew concerned. The Cyrodillian Navy yard at Narford, an island off the southern coast of Cyrodiil, was bristling with ships that the wrights on Ynys had built for them.

As much as the Knights had transformed the Imperial Legion, so to they had also changed the Imperial Navy beyond all recognition. However, even they paled in comparison with the Knights’ Navy – or SeaKnights as they had taken to calling themselves.

So here we are, thought Arion, a hand on his greying, bearded chin and a smile playing on his handsome Redguard features, one of the largest Knights of The Nine Vessels sailing out on patrol, from the Naval yard of Knightport, and the Island of The Church of The Nine. What could go wrong?

The two front Tri-Alt’casters suddenly twisted portside. Arion walked quickly to the windows.

A small ship – Altmer by the looks of it – had simply appeared out of nowhere. A giant figure stood up on the deck and waved its hand.

Arion sighed, he knew all about the Androform.

“Stand down.” He said to the bridge crew, and then turned to look out at the ship, “It’s Myrrl.”

There was a squeal from one of the female crew. Arion spun around and almost let out a cry of alarm himself, as he came face to stomach with Myrrl.

Myrrl put a hand on Thedret’s shoulder and the Redguard looked up.

“Forgive me, Captain, if I did not put my hand to you, you wouldn’t understand me.”

“Oh,” The Captain answered with a degree of trepidation and the tiniest crack in his voice, “No, that’s fine.”

“In a tale far too complicated to explain, the ship and the young lady aboard need taking to Ynys immediately. Her name is Koyree Areldur.”

“Areldur?!”

“Indeed. She is to be attended to by your Admiral. The Divine Mara has asked that it be done.”

Arion bowed his head.

“She is also to meet the Commander, she has been Called.”

“Very well. I shall have the ship taken aboard immediately, Lord Myrrl.”

“Lord? Hah! No, you do me too much honour, just Myrrl will do, Captain?”

“Thedret, Arion Thedret.”

“Thedret?! A fine and venerable name to be sure! Good to meet you Captain Thedret! Sadly, I must away. Farewell for now venerable Captain.”

Arion bowed again.

Myrrl vanished.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------



The party that boarded The Looking Elsweyr included a General from New Kvatch, that had been added to the crew for the James Thedret’s current patrol.

He jumped over to the vessel and crouched down to look closer at the girl.

“Oooh, hello prettiness.” Said Caerellin. “Looking forward to training with you.” He grinned. The Bosmer’s eyes flashed as he brought forth his Blessing of Julianos. The grin disappeared as he saw the three Divine imprints swirling around each other inside the Altmer.

“Something wrong General?” asked one of the Knights that had come over with him.

“Hmmm...Not sure...Maybe.” Caerellin stood up. “Think I’ll leave this one for J’Drell.”

Caerellin picked Koyree up and carried her over to the second craft.

The remainder of the crew worked on recovering The Looking Elsweyr.



----------------------------------------------------



Caerellin put Koyree down in one of the Hospitalier rooms of the Thedret and sat at her side, staring at her until they returned to Ynys Llan-y-Naw.

Then he carried her all the way to Knightshill,

And the Knights of The Nine.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------




*NOTE...Just for the record, I do believe that there is no need for guns or cannons on land in the games...As everyone keeps saying, when you can shoot a fireball miles away, why do you need them?..They’re boring as far as the ES goes...

I thought long and hard about how they work before I ever put them down on...“Paper”...So I didn’t do this just for the sake of it...I even “know” how they work...I think the Alt’Casters work well in this particular universe...Mine aren’t technically cannons...They’re more in keeping with suped-up Frost Cannons you get in the Ayelid ruins...

I really hope they haven’t put some of you off...

Cheers...

Rob...

Personally, I have no issue with the cannon idea; it makes sense in a lot of ways, and the manner in which you've made them fits quite neatly within the Elder Scrolls'...

*Dons sunglasses*

Canon.






I WILL NOT APOLOGISE!!!

A Divine boat party with half nekked Altmeri lass!

For a moment I thought we were going to get a tour of the Mizzlefritz. But the Thedret was almost as cool. Heh, I can see some nautically inclined mages bringing elemental damage staves aboard and mounting them to a turret. . . “Bigger! Think bigger,” yells the chief engineer. “This damn ship yer fittin’ them things to? Well, she be over 900 feet long!” I think you gave a fine feel to your ‘cannons’ that fits the world of your story.

Just want to say for now
I LOVE KOYREE......She reminds me of someone,childhood curiosity and all that.

More later my friend.

Ok, now it's later (morning edit)

The wonderful imagery of this part about Koyree is great. I had to smile through the way you described her youth and couldn't help but think of Thyna, both of them striving to be all that they could possibly be in their particular areas to the point of obsession-and causing a bit of trouble in the process. Makes me smile.

Her meeting of and with Feere was an eyebrow lifter, finding friends in the oddest of places and the way he discovered her was tremendously insightful of you.

Courageous the way she took the Looking Elysweyr from the Thalmor, gotta love a woman with guts. Oopsie on the fish though, like a bad dose of ...well never mind, that's another story.

And then the Miz', what a ship!!!! Amazing! And then to find out it was the ship that called Septim, Mara and Julianos, not only an amazing piece of Dwemer tech but 'good' too, nice.

There were many parts that made me laugh, and some that made me almost wipe tears. I really liked this story about the Areldur child.

Oh, stop blaming poor Grits for everything...it was a good idea all on its own, I agree with the Col. I mean I'm no authority on this stuff except for what I have read and asea they need something that reaches far beyond hand to hand or even a bow so....my two cents, pence, whatever it is wherever you are.

Yes, it’s all Grits’ fault...*Grins mischeviously*...

Ha! This is what I get for falling behind!

I was enjoying another wonderful adventure with Koyree, and then the Mriizeleft sailed along and stunned my brain into silence. That. Was. Awesome!!

I like that Koyree who has fed her mind with everything she encounters is brought down by a poorly chosen dinner.

“We’ve really got to stop this making everyone immortal thing.” Said Tiber, “We’ll be overrun with them soon.” He smiled.

I was thinking the same thing. You Divines are making this into a habit!

Tiber sighed, “Time was when we made people walk the Pilgrim’s Way. Now we stand in the middle of the ocean with some random girl...” he shook his head.

I didn’t even have time to recover from the last one! Tiber was priceless throughout. It was great fun to read the whole Koyree Interlude together. She is an intriguing character, and I always love it when some Divines show up.


Oh, and thanks for the pronunciation lesson! I was saying it all wrong, except for spitting out the sides on the Ll. Sprained tongue avoided. Now, can you describe how to say “Llechwen”?

NEW PARTS ALERT...Even when we thought there was going to be none for a while... ...


Thank yous...

Mustard - Cheers matey...And I thank you for the nod towards the "cannons"...

Acadian - Again, thank you for being...Ahem...On board with the cannon idea... ...No, no tour for the Marie Celeste...Hang on...Mriizeleft, just yet... ...

Athynae - Thank you for all that...Means a lot...*Bows head*...Thankee... ...

Grits - So glad the Mriizeleft worked for you...I keep trying to think what the hells I'm gonna do when it comes time to actually write the Ghost Hunt chapters... ...Many thanks as ever...So glad the Divines get the smiles still... ...



So, where we were...Nol Areldur, Siar Eremnor and Jeck Harramaund returned to the Summerset Isle's southern city, Dusk in order to see about retaking the Altmer nation from the Thalmor...As you do...They, along with Nol's daughter Koyree were captured by the Thalmor Justicar Ondolemar. Koyree cast her Shroud spell and escaped. This is what happened next...


The Empire story is set in 3E 604, this is 10 years earlier...Got it?... ...


*EDIT: The Elder Scrolls Wiki has the description of Alinor as a city of Insect Wings and...Dandelion Seeds or something...Well...Surprisingly enough...Not having that...Bit, too odd for me...So anyways...Enjoy!!...Thank you...Please?... ...







1.12 – Empire (pt. 5 – Know Thine Enemy – iii)









10 years ago. The road to Alinor, Summerset Isles.







At some point during the early stages of the carriage-ride, Nol had fallen asleep. Now, as he woke and glanced about him, the day had become sunny and the heat oppressive. Bottles of water had been provided – as a surprise – by the Thalmor. The Overlord, it seemed, had ordered that Areldur and company be treated well.

Areldur looked at the other two in the nicely liveried, comfortably upholstered and equipped, but most definitely locked carriage. Harramaund was lying across the seating opposite. Several empty water bottles, a testament to his continuing recovery from the days of drinking; And Eremnor was looking out, through the large paned windows at the countryside, presumably wondering as much as Areldur, whether they would ever see the sea again.

Nol put his head to the pane next to him, in an effort to see behind, as they were at that point making a sweeping, gradual turn. Unfortunately the pace was such that the buildings in the distance could only have been West Checkpoint. Areldur sighed.

“The view’s nicer this side, want to swap?” asked Eremnor.

Nol smiled at his friend but then shook his head.

Siar looked at Areldur, and said, “She’ll be fine. She’s too much like you to need worrying about.”

Nol raised his eyebrows and looked exaggeratedly about the carriage with his eyes.

Eremnor laughed once and replied, “Point taken. She’ll be fine, Nol.” and he gripped Areldur’s forearm.

Areldur nodded and turned his eyes out to the slowly passing scenery.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The Tarsuschii Mountain range behind Dusk is just one part of the chain that went snake-like through the main Isle, from the eastern edge, down to a southern point, halfway between Dusk and Sunhold, they then made – more or less straight northwest – towards Alinor. At a point nearer to the city, the range circles north around Alinor and, much like the other two coasts, it leaves the smallest gap which the North Highway utilises to go out of the Capitol in that direction. Finally, the range hugs the coast northeast again, finally crossing the country, until reaching the massive Eton-Nir with its glorious ancient city of Cloudrest atop it. The mountains then drop off as if whichever of the Divines had created this particular island had gotten bored, having finally made the largest mountain.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The road to Sunhold stayed close to the coast, the smell of the salt air reminding them how tantalisingly close to freedom they were. They reached Sunhold after nightfall, and spent a few hours of sleep in an old fort that dated back to the days of Tiber Septim’s conquest of the Isles.

Next morning, before the sun looked over the horizon they were back on the main road, headed northwest. The Tarulsishuk Mountains seeming to creep back towards them as the road headed straight towards Alinor.

The three men looked out of the seaward windows to try and catch a last glimpse of the sea before Alinor and the Overlord.

Jeck said “What do you think he’s gonna do with us?”

Nol shrugged and sat back down.

Siar looked at Nol and frowned. He sighed and answered. “Well, it’s possible he wants to kill us himself, or maybe he just wants to try and convert us. Tcheet’s unlikely to know why Miitr really sent us away. As far as we know, he could just think we were just out there following the Oversaar’s official orders.”

“Yeah,” answered Harramaund, obviously unconvinced, “but from what you said, he’s got at least four search teams unaccounted for. Even the least paranoid person would pause to start wondering about that.”

There was a pause, and then Siar said, “We all knew we should have stayed away, shouldn’t we?”

Jeck nodded his agreement,

“And yet we all came back on time. We don’t know how much that will count towards anything. People with stuff to hide don’t generally put their faces in front of the homicidal maniac rulers.”

“Well, we’ve got a few hours before we find out eh? Anyone bring a pack of cards?” asked Jeck.

Nol looked at him with no emotion, turned his head away and looked up at the Tarulsishuk Mountains.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The mountain ranges were virtually impossible to get up for two reasons.

One was that on only a few had anything resembling a road been able to be built. And even then, there seemed to be no way to the summits. Switchback trails lead up and over some of the lesser troughs between the peaks.

How the cities atop some of the highest mountains had been built had quietly baffled the greatest academics on the Isles for a great many years. But even from the plains it was obvious who could claim at least two of the types of city.

Both the Dwemer and the Ayelids had been able to build cities on the top of several peaks along the range. A third distinctive and separate type of architecture could be seen in a few, suggesting that another race had reached the summits through whatever means. Great, massive pyramids at one end of each of these other cities summiting the massifs, suggested possible attempts at reaching further into the heavens. No one knew.

One idea of how these cities of towers, massive statues and ziggurats came to be created, was by using great, vast underground tunnels in each of the mountains, winding their way up inside to the tops. These had the cities built from the inside outwards. But despite attempts at finding any cave entrances, it seemed that either they were buried with absolute successful purpose, or they never existed at all.

The other reason the peaks were inaccessible was that countless years ago, the mountains had been declared sacred, so that to climb the summits was declared a blasphemy, as only the Divines should stand so high on the world; and to even discuss them was deemed heretical.

Those that pointed out to the priests that this edict was passed in Cloudrest, which was in all ways, higher than the mountains they were declaring sacred, soon wished they hadn’t.

So down through the ages, the peaks’ cities had stood silent vigil over the lands of the Summerset Isles.

Quiet.

Alone.

Empty.

Almost.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nol gazed detachedly as they passed yet another burnt out farm. The crops were spoiling in the fields and yet, behind a high wooden fence, starving cattle could be seen, watching them with sad, almost lifeless eyes; their tails hanging limp; Dying for want of an open gate. Their heads turned to follow the coach as it passed along the road.

Suddenly, Nol felt a great burning inside him too. The Thalmor had ruined his country. Tcheet had taken the land from the people, or at least, the people from the land. There was no logic to this - surely even the Thalmor needed feeding? To burn out farms and drive people off the land seemed counter-productive. What was the point?

A great rage took him and he banged on the underside of the coach’s roof.

Both Jeck and Siar looked surprised at him, but he never noticed, he was staring, with a look of simmering anger on his face, back at the cattle, penned up, dying.

The carriage stopped and the Justicar tasked with their delivering, appeared at the door.

“I need a comfort break, very quickly.” Nol announced through the closed window with great gusto and with grand gesture.

The Justicar winced and announced, “We’ve not long-”

“I’m old, deal with it. Your boss wanted us to be treated with every courtesy. Now, please?”

The young Justicar caught between conflicting ideas, shrugged and opened the door.

Nol climbed down, winked at the Justicar and vanished, dragging a breeze past the shocked look on the youngster’s face.

Nol hadn’t actually vanished, not in the sense that Koyree could, he’d simply pushed his speed fortify to the highest he was able - these days - and run to cows’ pen. He stopped at the gate with a wince and an “Aack!” With a hand to his back, he then opened the gate, went inside and walked up to the first of the cows. The sadness in the black and white faces evident, even to Nol.

“Fleet Admiral Nol Areldur, hero to the Navy, saving the Isles, one cow at a time...Go on girl!” He smacked the rump of the cow. She turned a sad, almost reproachful look on Nol and walked slowly towards the gate. Putting her nose outside the line of the gate and looking around to see if anyone was watching, she jumped over the invisible line where the gate would have been, and turned around. She swished her tail, shook her head and offered up a soft, two tone moo. Immediately, the others walked slowly towards the first cow, who mooed again. They reached the gateway and stopped. The first cow bellowed loudly and ran off. The others’ heads shot up, they pointed their ears forward and having come to some sort of decision, jumped the invisible line and ran off up the fields.

Nol smiled and nodded, feeling some sort of small victory.

He breathed in deeply, although he then wished that he had – perhaps – chosen a somewhat better place to breathe his last air of freedom. He saw in the distance, the lighthouse on the coast, near to his home town.

He smiled.

And still smiling, he turned to receive the punch that was coming from the newly arrived Justicar.



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When Tiber Septim conquered The Summerset Isles, he did so – out of necessity – in three phases. First, he took the outer-lying islands; second he took the two corners – Dusk side of the Tarsuschii mountains and Sunhold side of the Tarulsishuk range. Dusk welcomed him and his troops with open arms, the western corner objected, at least for a short time. And a seemingly overzealous amount of forts were built on the peninsula.

The third phase came down from the north, it was here that Septim used his Numidium Golem - The giant Dwemer technological, marvellous horror that was the gigantic walking machine-man. It swept away all resistance in front, from north-west to south-east, across the main island, followed in by a seemingly unending supply of soldiery to simply sit on the population until they came to accept Septim as their Emperor, thinking – as most Altmer do – that whatever happened, they were likely to outlive the Imperials, and then everyone could get back to normal.

However, soon enough, the way of the Empire became normal, and almost everyone was happy with that. Almost everyone. Slowly, over the centuries, old resentments resurfaced. The young grew restless and talked of revolution. Old ideas dressed up as new came to the lips of those on the edges of society. And so, before a man, young in the days of Septim could become truly old, along came the Thalmor and conquered the Summerset Isles from within.

Sadly, this time the population questioned whether they would live to see the next day, let alone outlive the Thalmor.

All they could do was pray to the Nine Divines.

Well, the eight.

And as for Septim, they quietly prayed that out there, in the rest of the world where – at the moment at least – he was still in the Pantheon, Talos would hear their silent, un-be-totem’d prayers and send some help.

Soon.

Please?



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Nol sat and wondered when exactly he’d gotten so old. He’d never been a huge magic user, not in the grandiose conjuring illusions or fireballs-from-the-hands type of way. His was more Restoration than any other type. Quietly healing or stamina boosts and the like.

So it was a great surprise, that when the six hundred year old (give or take a few years) Fleet Admiral was clapped in Nul-Iron manacles, he felt all the ravages that he’d put himself through in his long and mostly fun life. The Nul-Iron’s magic suppression cut out all the small ways that he hadn’t been conscious of keeping himself going. One eye went blurred, the other saw ghosting of the image. His breathing grew slightly painful. The majority of his joints seemed to ache.

Dear Gods! he thought, This is ridiculous. How in kriffing hells am I going to get us out of it, this time?

Six hundred years was barely middle age to an Altmer. Had Nol’s life really been so full so far, that had he been without magic, Fleet Admiral would have been just a memory or worse, a dream unfulfilled?

He sighed, completely failed to catch the eyes of Siar and Jeck, and went back to looking out of the window.

Well, as best as he could.



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So it was that Nol Areldur, Siar Eremnor and Jeck Harramaund came to Alinor, capitol city of The Summerset Isles.

Alinor – a dark city of black rock. Crennellated walls surrounded a gothic city of imposing civic buildings and towers, mansions on one side of the city and tenement-like hovels on the other, and in between, all the services, vendors and countless other trappings that every city needs to thrive. The sea broke on an imposing pile of rocks at the foot of one giant wall. Said wall also made it possible to forget that it was a sea-side city, especially when the wind was in the right direction. A manmade harbour had been created nearby to the south of the city, to receive supplies directly, so as to not disturb the ebb and flow of commerce within the walls. Even when – it has to be said – said city was in the grip of mad tyrannical rule

In the middle of the great and dark heart of the Thalmor Empire – and what the city’s great main roads led towards – was The Crystal Tower, an impossibly old structure, whose true purpose was unclear. Simply that for now, it was the building in which was the seat of Government. Built unknowable years before the city, and yet of the same rock as the city. However the Tower had then been encased in some form of crystal, with openings left for the doors and windows. It was an impossible piece of workmanship. No joins could be discerned in the crystal, no flaws, no mistake. Simply one, giant crystal layer over the rock.

It was towards this structure that the carriage now headed. A giant, looming over them as they rolled ever closer, just as The White-Gold Tower had dominated Imperial City before their destruction, ten years earlier.

The carriage drove down a boulevard – one of several around the tower – that began just as the buildings stopped. An avenue of tall trees with canopies full of light green leaves, that rustled and turned even in the slight breeze there was. This close to the Tower there were nothing else, the land given over to grass and flowers between the roads.

As it was possibly planned, the carriage passed by one of the two large ornamental ponds that lay on opposite sides of the Tower. Given the Thalmor’s viciousness, it was likely that this was the actual one that had “claimed” Miitr Farrada.

If it could be viewed from above, the Crystal Tower sat at the centre of a wheel, with the boulevards as spokes, leading out to the ring of buildings which sat like some giant rim denoting the circle. Halfway out from the Tower sat another ring, this one of paving stones. Standing on this ring, on either side of the road they were headed down, stood two immense statues. No immediate obviousness to their construction material, but rendered on a terrifying scale were the two architects of the Thalmor resurgence; the dominators of the Aldmeri Dominion.

On the left as they passed, was the Altmer priest known only as Oostermann, his left hand clutching The Book of Arkay to his be-robed self, while his right arm was stretched out in front, hand up, palm outwards, with two fingers up in benediction; And on the right was Overlord Ofwysyn Tcheet, former General, stood armoured in the finest way, his sword arm straight out, sword pointing along the road towards all that headed this way.

One statue saying, “Receive this, for we bless all our allies”; and the other saying, “Beware! our enemies, for we are always watching, and you are doomed to fail.”

As they drew up to the building, more of the Justicars could be seen with their guard escorts, and on the roads that ran away from the Tower, carriages like the one the trio were in could be seen either leaving or arriving.

Haunted, terrified eyes could be seen staring out through the windows of those arriving.



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The carriage pulled up at one of the entrances and a guard, having opened the door, motioned for the three to get out. Siar made to get up first, so as to help Nol out, but the Justicar put his hand up and said with a sneer, “No, I’m sure the hero would like to do it all himself.” and then stepped back.

Nol sighed, gripped the door, and then slowly and painfully lowered himself down, his knees protesting.

The guards laughed.

Nol sighed.

They were led through the massive entrance doors, the outside of which was carved with intricate whirls and flowers and as many patterns as the carver had in his repertoire. On passing through the doorway, their eyes were immediately drawn to an ornately patterned carpet covered, broad stairway that wound leisurely upwards, part-circling around the inside of the outer wall, towards the next level of the Tower. Then they noticed that there were also dozens of official looking people milling about the lobby, or walking up and down the stairway, talking to aides, or half reading official looking documents.

Justicars passed here and there, some in pairs, some alone. Some holding a prisoner between them, bound for large dark doors in a couple of the corners of the room.

Eremnor whistled, “This really is quite the place you’ve stolen,” he mock-coughed, “I mean, legitimately acquired as the rightfully elected government.”

The Justicar frowned.

Harramaund added, “So is there a torture chamber on every floor?”

The Thalmor agent took a step towards the Naval officers.

Nol was looking with one eye closed towards the stairs, “You’re really going to make me walk up this damned thing, aren’t you?”

“Don’t worry,” said the Justicar, smiling at Nol, “We’re not going right to the top.”

And so it was, with considerable agony to Nol that he, Siar and Jeck found themselves before a pair of giant, ornate, gilded doors. A pair of guards in full masked, elven armour stood in front of the doors holding long battle-spears. At the approach of the party, they stepped to each side, and banged on the doors.

The giant doors, decorated with gilded patterns swung open soundlessly, revealing the interior of the room.

The effect was lost on Nol, really, who couldn’t see anything without squinting anymore.

The trio and their attendant guardary walked into the room.



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