The Elder Scrolls: Ascension [IC]

[Chedastan]

Warren Vernir
Some Road Leading Northwest
Skyrim, Falkreath Hold

Warren heard some howling coming from a treeline on the road, he recognized that sound, he sighed. Two gray wolves leaped out in front of him from the treeline, they were quite clearly hungry, considering they were attacking a armored spellsword for food, but of course one should admire an animal's desperation and relentlessness. Warren raised his axe at them, to which the wolves growled at him. "Fuckin wolves." He muttered to himself.

As he said that, and not to his surprise, one wolf lunged at him with no sense of preservation. He quickly struck it with an axe to the neck, it quickly fell over dead, with blood dripping from it's mouth. And second wolf was undeterred, by that, instead being actually less deterred now. It lunged at Warren like the last one, but this time Warren smacked it's head with the back side of his axe, after having just bringing it up to bear from the last one. The last wolf lay on the ground, twitching. It's skull was busted opened, revealing brain matter. Warren didn't know if he should be feeling disgust right now. He walked over to the dying wolf, and starred into it's erratically twitching eyes. It wasn't so much that he felt bad for it, more it was because only hardly started his journey north, and he was already stopped by some foolish animals! He raised his axe up high, and brought it down on the wolf's head, killing it this time around. But then he brought his axe up again, and continued the morbid process, while yelling profanities at the wolf. When he finally stopped, the wolf didn't have a skull left, or much of a head for that matter, spare a bit of jawline, and still hanging brain matter.

Then mostly out of spite, he reanimated the two wolf corpses to serve him as mere fodder. Maybe he'll try and skin them later before they turned to ash. Now where was he, ah yes, the journey. Warren and his two undead companions continue on the road, be eventually stopped briefly. He could swear he heard something happening off in the distance. They continued on, right up until the road started to branch off in two different directions. Warren had honestly forgotten which direction would lead him to where he wanted to go, but there was real rush of course, and the sounds of stuff happening somewhere were intriguing. Warren opted to take the left path, and continued on that way. After walking for a bit, him and his companions happened upon an interesting sight, a tower, along with some mangled up frost spiders!

"My, my, it's looks like someone was here recently." Warren said to himself, as he preceded towards the tower. He quickly noted the blood stains on the ground and walls, bandits no doubt, but where were they? He smelled something burning in the air, and looked up and saw a smoke trail coming from somewhere real close by. He walked up towards the source to investigate it further. He wasn't particular concerned of what it might be, he had nothing better to do of course. He finally stumbled upon the pit of burning and charred bandits that were just outside their encampment. Very peculiar. He thought to himself, as a reanimated spider tried to spat at him with poison. He turned around quickly to meet the spider with his axe, but one of his wolves already took care of it, by tackling and mauling at it until it died again. But more undead spiders were swarming out of the encampment. "Just fuckin perfect!" Warren shouted as he drove his axe into the first spider that came at him. He was angry at the fact that whoever was here was also a necromancer, who seemed to be rather lazy to not to think of including the bandits too!

He cast a spell on one of the burning corpses, and it lifted and jump out of the pit, still burning. It then charged and set fire to a few undead spiders. "Yeah! There we fuckin go!" While his undead wolf companions were already mauled by the larger spiders, Warren had a large supply of burning men at his despoil to add to the carnage. Reanimating a few more, the burning men began to drive back the spiders, forcing them to take the fight inside the encampment's walls. Warren just had to moseyed on with them. He took a seat by one of the chairs by a table, and drank some of the ale on it. All while he sat back and watched the carnage. He wondered how long the burning men will last before the fire stopped, or maybe how long they'll keep on burning. Maybe he'll have to call them charred men very soon.

He saw a wagon on the way in here, maybe he should steal from perhaps, as he didn't see anything of much value from out here. As he thought that some more, the burning men must of sense some more spiders inside the building and preceded to break their way in, oh my. "I'll just let them do what they need to do first." He said to himself about them, as he drank some more ale.

[The Olog-Hai]

"Me? I am just a merchant, trying to get back my goods. The main parts of them were some silk, with some 'spices' mixed in, if you know what I mean. You look like the sort that would be interested in that sorta cargo. And, if you make me trust you enough, I have a little secret I know that I could tell you."
He eyes the Khajiit, making a mental assessment of his reliability.
Suddenly, a courier runs up to him. He takes the note, the waves off the courier. Spying the mark of the Dark Brotherhood, he curses, and opens the envelope. Reading it, he gets angry. He also sees the slightly hidden bit.
"Dammit! Sons of bitches! If they get that witch, they'd probably take my stuff too. Fuck them!"

The Khajit laughs," well, from the look of the message it seems that we can do business. If you are looking for some witch. Perhaps you and your secret can be of some use to what I may be looking for."

"Well, the hunt on the witch is off. Apparently the Dark Brotherhood is after her too. Dammit. Well, I might be able to help you with what you're looking for, if you can pay me. My reputation's gonna be lost, because I failed a shipment, but I can't deal with the damn Dark Brotherhood, can I? So, what can I do for you?"

[Ralnis]

The Khajit laughs," well, from the look of the message it seems that we can do business. If you are looking for some witch. Perhaps you and your secret can be of some use to what I may be looking for."

"Well, the hunt on the witch is off. Apparently the Dark Brotherhood is after her too. Dammit. Well, I might be able to help you with what you're looking for, if you can pay me. My reputation's gonna be lost, because I failed a shipment, but I can't deal with the damn Dark Brotherhood, can I? So, what can I do for you?"

" Deal?" His ears perked up as he saw what the Argonian was saying. He continued to talk about his shipment, the Dark Brotherhood, and his reputation. " Hmm, you must be a pirate, but not just anyone. Yes, this Khajit has heard of lizard pirate but it wasn't on his mind till now. Now this Khajit can help you with your shipment. In exchange, you will help this Khajit in a contract of sorts but we will get to that once this is done. Now come sit, have some mead and come tell Ki'nanik your trouble." He says as he motions to the opposite chair when the other Khajit was once sitting.

[Glasgia]

Markarth, The Reach,
Skyrim, The Empire

Thalin stretched his neck, wincing as his bones crackled. The Altmer had won and she knew it all too well. He considered elbowing her and making a break for it, but the effects of his poison would have surely worn off and that left her to easily dispatch of him. He slumped forwards and let her slide an arm around his shoulder.

"My name is Thalin, I work at the stables with my father - I help him train the hounds. You killed two of my best dogs." Thalin sighed and looked up, his eyes flickering past hers and then back to the ground.

"My uncle was a rebel, he came here two years past. He'd helped as part of an uprising, but the Thalmor had rooted him out so he fled here. Told me stories about the fight against your lot. Talked of Bosmer who fell from the trees, ambushing Dominion agents in the darkness of the night, and their leader - A genius and the best fighter of them all, Aerin . He worked in the mines for a few months, then three of your kind walked in and dragged him straight out in broad daylight. I never saw him again." Some confidence returned to Thalin. She, so far, had decided not to kill him which appeared to be a positive.

"I thought that, if I used the poison on you, you'd be easy to capture. I could take you to Valenwood, track down the rebels and hand you over. I'd be a hero, capturing a high rank Thalmor single-handedly, and I could join the fight. I'm a good archer, one of the best in Markarth. I'm a fucking idiot too." Suddenly, anger flooded into Thalin again - This time, not directed at the Altmer but himself.

"I'm not a fighter, I'm a fucking stable boy. Why the fuck did I think I could capture you? Twat." Thalin slapped at the ground in fustration.

[Cadonica]

Lugburz gro-Narzulbur
Bthardamz, the Reach, Skyrim, the Empire

Lugburz had been searching for a mace after defeating the dwarven spehere. He had managed to slip by two other spheres during his search, he didn't want to risk breaking his sword. He had searched seven rooms already, all in vain. He was sitting on a dwarven bed thinking. I'm far too close to Spellbreaker to give up now. He stood up and left the room. He checked the corridor before jumping into another room. He tripped over as he entered the room. Malacathdamnit he muttered as he got up and turned to see what had tripped him. It was dwarven mace. The orc wasn't sure whether he should be angry or if he should throw up a party. He picked up the mace and gave it a few test swings to see if the head would stay on it. Then he decided to slam it against a wall. Small crack on the wall, minimal damage to the mace. Excellent.

[The Olog-Hai]

"Well, the hunt on the witch is off. Apparently the Dark Brotherhood is after her too. Dammit. Well, I might be able to help you with what you're looking for, if you can pay me. My reputation's gonna be lost, because I failed a shipment, but I can't deal with the damn Dark Brotherhood, can I? So, what can I do for you?"

" Deal?" His ears perked up as he saw what the Argonian was saying. He continued to talk about his shipment, the Dark Brotherhood, and his reputation. " Hmm, you must be a pirate, but not just anyone. Yes, this Khajit has heard of lizard pirate but it wasn't on his mind till now. Now this Khajit can help you with your shipment. In exchange, you will help this Khajit in a contract of sorts but we will get to that once this is done. Now come sit, have some mead and come tell Ki'nanik your trouble." He says as he motions to the opposite chair when the other Khajit was once sitting.

"Ah, so you got it, eh. Well, the ruse is up." He sits down at the motioned chair, and waves his friend over, who stands by him.
"I don't believe I've introduced my friend. Here, this is Olmkvild. A trustworthy sort, the only mercenary from that shipment who has stuck with me. Anyways, yes, you got me. I'm Redtail, but not many know that, not yet. The two other mercenaries who survived, they ran off to spread the word. So, if I want to stay alive, I'd probably have to change my disguise, and start over, or come out and find me a crew. But, the current issue is this woman, I believe, attacked my shipment, and stole everything. And then, the Dark Brotherhood just sent me a message that they have a contract on this woman, and to back off. I don't think I can do anything about that. Here, have a look." He hands over the message.

[Ralnis]

" Deal?" His ears perked up as he saw what the Argonian was saying. He continued to talk about his shipment, the Dark Brotherhood, and his reputation. " Hmm, you must be a pirate, but not just anyone. Yes, this Khajit has heard of lizard pirate but it wasn't on his mind till now. Now this Khajit can help you with your shipment. In exchange, you will help this Khajit in a contract of sorts but we will get to that once this is done. Now come sit, have some mead and come tell Ki'nanik your trouble." He says as he motions to the opposite chair when the other Khajit was once sitting.

"Ah, so you got it, eh. Well, the ruse is up." He sits down at the motioned chair, and waves his friend over, who stands by him.
"I don't believe I've introduced my friend. Here, this is Olmkvild. A trustworthy sort, the only mercenary from that shipment who has stuck with me. Anyways, yes, you got me. I'm Redtail, but not many know that, not yet. The two other mercenaries who survived, they ran off to spread the word. So, if I want to stay alive, I'd probably have to change my disguise, and start over, or come out and find me a crew. But, the current issue is this woman, I believe, attacked my shipment, and stole everything. And then, the Dark Brotherhood just sent me a message that they have a contract on this woman, and to back off. I don't think I can do anything about that. Here, have a look." He hands over the message.

Ki'nanik reads the message and the dark hand that was their signature. " Yes, this Khajit sees what is the problem. However, there is a solution to this. The woman is not the target as Ki'nanik had gathered, but the shipment. We fine shipment, maybe ship, and take ship from woman and Dark Brotherhood has woman. You get shipment and revenge and this Khajit gets profit from it as well. What do you say Redtail?"

[The Olog-Hai]

"Ah, so you got it, eh. Well, the ruse is up." He sits down at the motioned chair, and waves his friend over, who stands by him.
"I don't believe I've introduced my friend. Here, this is Olmkvild. A trustworthy sort, the only mercenary from that shipment who has stuck with me. Anyways, yes, you got me. I'm Redtail, but not many know that, not yet. The two other mercenaries who survived, they ran off to spread the word. So, if I want to stay alive, I'd probably have to change my disguise, and start over, or come out and find me a crew. But, the current issue is this woman, I believe, attacked my shipment, and stole everything. And then, the Dark Brotherhood just sent me a message that they have a contract on this woman, and to back off. I don't think I can do anything about that. Here, have a look." He hands over the message.

Ki'nanik reads the message and the dark hand that was their signature. " Yes, this Khajit sees what is the problem. However, there is a solution to this. The woman is not the target as Ki'nanik had gathered, but the shipment. We fine shipment, maybe ship, and take ship from woman and Dark Brotherhood has woman. You get shipment and revenge and this Khajit gets profit from it as well. What do you say Redtail?"

"It's a deal. We just have to find this woman. Hand me a map, and I can locate where she ambushed me. And I don't even need the ship. The shipment was to be delivered to Whiterun, actually, and paid on delivery. So, get it back, and we make the money. How much of a cut do you want?"

[Ralnis]

Ki'nanik reads the message and the dark hand that was their signature. " Yes, this Khajit sees what is the problem. However, there is a solution to this. The woman is not the target as Ki'nanik had gathered, but the shipment. We fine shipment, maybe ship, and take ship from woman and Dark Brotherhood has woman. You get shipment and revenge and this Khajit gets profit from it as well. What do you say Redtail?"

"It's a deal. We just have to find this woman. Hand me a map, and I can locate where she ambushed me. And I don't even need the ship. The shipment was to be delivered to Whiterun, actually, and paid on delivery. So, get it back, and we make the money. How much of a cut do you want?"

"Ki'nanik does not want gold. This Khajit wants you to work with him. He will explain after we get the goods and the job is done. However, we must get to the shipment. Shall we?" The Khajit got and start to go outside.

[The Olog-Hai]

"It's a deal. We just have to find this woman. Hand me a map, and I can locate where she ambushed me. And I don't even need the ship. The shipment was to be delivered to Whiterun, actually, and paid on delivery. So, get it back, and we make the money. How much of a cut do you want?"

"Ki'nanik does not want gold. This Khajit wants you to work with him. He will explain after we get the goods and the job is done. However, we must get to the shipment. Shall we?" The Khajit got and start to go outside.

"Let us go. Just give me a second to change."
Redtail heads up to his room, puts on his full battle garb, and then joins the Khajiit outside.
"Wearing this, I'd better watch my back for bounty hunters. They'd never get me, but they might get in a shot."

[Zanera]

Neven Alswin
Bleakwind Basin

The giant took a large bite and chewed some, in then looked at the cheese briefly. He finished off the handful and had another. And another. He was starting to show signs of the special drunkenness. Soon, he was drunk. The mission was a success. The giant was drunk. But the battle for Neven's soul was not over. The hooded man had plans for Neven, and if Neven passed, then he would be the mortal he could depend on to execute his designs.

But, thoughts as complex as these could not possibly have been going through Neven's drunk head. Instead, he was extremely amused, and on the verge of laughter, when he let out a raucous howl at the stumbling giant. The giant got angry quickly, and started towards them. But the hooded man tore Neven away from their position. The giant tripped on the small cliff side of the knoll, his club falling heavily where they just were. They ran away, Neven laughing madly.

[Hastiaka]

SPECIAL EDITION!

ALINOR UNDER ATTACK! THALMOR HUNTED AT HOME!

AND THE HOMEGUARD DO NOTHING!

by Frank Marsus and Suonicaire

Category: Opinion, Newsflash

Fire, Elves and Daedra. The city of Alinor is under attack by the Prince of Alinor himself! Prince Aicandar Aldmeri, crowned prince and son of the deposed monarchs of Summerset has marched with his army to Alinor. Early morning, yesterday, we have received reports of mass military action near the coasts of Valenwood, Elsweyr and Alinor itself. Our correspondents have reported that a large battle between the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Prince's forces have begun and have been raging for the past twenty four hours. At the second bell, observers have noted that the outer defensive line was breached by Daedric hordes, Daedra summoned by the cruel and wicked Thalmor council themselves! 1st Valenwood Eldencorps Commander, Eyrine Wilde, a bosmer commander in the Aldmeri Prince's camp has told us that about 1,213 are dead while 2,483 others are injured. All because of the evil Thalmor council.

Meanwhile, we have failed to contact the Emperor as we cannot reach his office. But, we have received reports that the Royalist movement has overthrown the Thalmor loyalists in Valenwood and are now sending about ''2,000 Peacekeepers'' to destroy the remaining Loyalists in Elsweyr. In a letter sent by the Prince, he said that; ''We will ensure that the notion of Aldmeri Nationalism lives on but, we will also ensure that Mankind is to be respected as they are also important for the foundation of our great nation. The Aldmeri Dominion will live on. Once all is clear, we will welcome Imperial representatives and the Emperor if he is available to the great city of Alinor. They will be the first humans to step foot there in three hundred years.'' We congratulate the Aldmeri Prince in their conquest. We wish to see the Aldmeri and Imperial relations to resume!

For full report, flip to page 22.

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Valiaya Gaethore
Markarth
Skyrim, The Empire

---

"Well, Thalin, I think you kind of forced my hand with your hounds." Valiaya sighed as the Bosmer continued his story, and shook her head. "This Aerin you speak of, I know his name. He is nothing but a glorified bandit, you can trust me on that. As much of a hero as those bandits that still lurk in the wilderness here in Skyrim that call themselves Stormcloaks, claiming to fight for Skyrim's independence." She paused for a short moment, considering what she'd say next. "You remind me of my younger self, Thalin. Young, reckless, completely taken by a certain ideology. It worked out good enough for me in the end, but if this is how it manifests in your case..." The Altmer chuckled. "Well, I'd say you better start changing some things about yourself. You didn't seriously think you could capture me, and somehow manage to take me single-handedly all the way to Valenwood, did you?" Valiaya sighed again. "Well, call me a sentimental old fool, but I don't think I'd like to see you dead by my hand. This only leaves one little problem, of course... Now, Thalin, I need you to assure me that you did not see a thing of what happened at the Treasure House - least of all who did all of that. You will not say a word on it to anyone, do you understand? I will soon travel back to Valenwood, but should I hear of you saying things you shouldn't... Well, let's just say you would have forced my hand. Do you understand?"

Bthardamz

---

As Lugburz continued his way through the ruins, he would soon stumble upon more of the disease-inflicted people, all of them as aggressive towards him as the others. As he came deeper, he would find a large cauldron, filled with green ooze...

Alinor

---

"...and what would you have done? The Homeguard would not have helped us, and while it is true that they have now turned against us, there was nothing else we could do. If it weren't for me, Lord Merrillian Faeuseus of the Thalmor High Council, we would all be dead already!" The Thalmor lord was furious as he looked upon one of his fellows that had voiced his... complaints on the current situation. "No," he continued, "I have done what I could do, and I shall continue doing so. More Daedra! I do not care for the cost! We shall not surrender, and we shall not fall!"

[Hastiaka]

Aicandaar Aldmeri
Operation Summerstorm
29th Hour in Battle

---

''The Homeguard are coming'' the sentry proudly declared. The Homeguard is salvation for the movement. They have twenty thousand men and are composed of the most powerful and strongest swordsmen and mages in Summerset. But the Thalmor High Council foolishly sent more daedra. It was an unpopular decision even for the present Canonreeves. Reformist troops are moving in another eight thousand peacekeepers have landed in the coast . These daedras are hated by the people of Summerset. Three centuries ago, the Daedra killed hundreds of thousands. A massacre still remembered and memorialized by the Aldmeri people.

''These ''lords'' and ''councilors'' are humiliating'' Aicandaar said in an insulting way. ''They like to play god. They want only elves to live, in fact, i believe that they want to kill every living thing so we can ascend to a delusion. Mara forbid but we have to kill them! They are a corruption, a perversion of ancient Aldmeri principles. We came to Tamriel seeking refuge and a new life. We didn't go here and wanted to enslave or kill everyone.'' he added.

The crowd grew. Mostly peacekeepers, then the nearby homeguard soldiers began listening too. The speech was inspiring the morale of the people. ''this is why we came here. We want to retake the throne, we have built our moral principles with Queen Ayrenn. They have a point that mankind is childish. But they are wrong that mankind is to be exterminated. Mankind needs to be disciplined, modernized, taught the right way. We can mold them the way Phynaster taught us to take slower strides in life. Down with the radical Thalmor!''

''To oblivion with them!'' the crowd responded. The speech continued on, mostly with anti-thalmor sentiment. But the most heartbreaking of all is when Aicandaar described the forgotten extermination camps.

''These camps were teeming with bosmer prisoners. Those chit chats and rumors about bosmer tribesmen and citizens going missing and never seen again? Well, they end up in the hidden extermination camps. They would be dissected, gassed with ungodly gases from saps, they would be tortured for information, others would be raped! I could not bare witness to the un-aldmeri attitude of the Thalmor High Council!'' the prince spoke with emotional distress.

''To oblivion with them!'' once again the crowd responded.

''Who shall we be loyal to?'' the Prince asked.

''To the Divines!'' the crowd gleefully responded.

''Who shall we serve?'' the Prince asked.

''Serve the people!'' the crowd once again responded.

The crowd marched on. Chanting ''All hail the Fourth Dominion! All hail the Aldmeri! All hail the Altmer! All hail the Bosmer! All hail the Khajiit! Down to the damned thalmor! Down to the damned daedra!''

''Justicars in Cyrodiil, Skyrim and Highrock. Who shall you side? With the radical daedric influenced and perverted retards? or with the Divines and their knight?'' the Prince threatened.

[Ameige]

Warren Vernir
Some Road Leading Northwest
Skyrim, Falkreath Hold

Warren heard some howling coming from a treeline on the road, he recognized that sound, he sighed. Two gray wolves leaped out in front of him from the treeline, they were quite clearly hungry, considering they were attacking a armored spellsword for food, but of course one should admire an animal's desperation and relentlessness. Warren raised his axe at them, to which the wolves growled at him. "Fuckin wolves." He muttered to himself.

As he said that, and not to his surprise, one wolf lunged at him with no sense of preservation. He quickly struck it with an axe to the neck, it quickly fell over dead, with blood dripping from it's mouth. And second wolf was undeterred, by that, instead being actually less deterred now. It lunged at Warren like the last one, but this time Warren smacked it's head with the back side of his axe, after having just bringing it up to bear from the last one. The last wolf lay on the ground, twitching. It's skull was busted opened, revealing brain matter. Warren didn't know if he should be feeling disgust right now. He walked over to the dying wolf, and starred into it's erratically twitching eyes. It wasn't so much that he felt bad for it, more it was because only hardly started his journey north, and he was already stopped by some foolish animals! He raised his axe up high, and brought it down on the wolf's head, killing it this time around. But then he brought his axe up again, and continued the morbid process, while yelling profanities at the wolf. When he finally stopped, the wolf didn't have a skull left, or much of a head for that matter, spare a bit of jawline, and still hanging brain matter.

Then mostly out of spite, he reanimated the two wolf corpses to serve him as mere fodder. Maybe he'll try and skin them later before they turned to ash. Now where was he, ah yes, the journey. Warren and his two undead companions continue on the road, be eventually stopped briefly. He could swear he heard something happening off in the distance. They continued on, right up until the road started to branch off in two different directions. Warren had honestly forgotten which direction would lead him to where he wanted to go, but there was real rush of course, and the sounds of stuff happening somewhere were intriguing. Warren opted to take the left path, and continued on that way. After walking for a bit, him and his companions happened upon an interesting sight, a tower, along with some mangled up frost spiders!

"My, my, it's looks like someone was here recently." Warren said to himself, as he preceded towards the tower. He quickly noted the blood stains on the ground and walls, bandits no doubt, but where were they? He smelled something burning in the air, and looked up and saw a smoke trail coming from somewhere real close by. He walked up towards the source to investigate it further. He wasn't particular concerned of what it might be, he had nothing better to do of course. He finally stumbled upon the pit of burning and charred bandits that were just outside their encampment. Very peculiar. He thought to himself, as a reanimated spider tried to spat at him with poison. He turned around quickly to meet the spider with his axe, but one of his wolves already took care of it, by tackling and mauling at it until it died again. But more undead spiders were swarming out of the encampment. "Just fuckin perfect!" Warren shouted as he drove his axe into the first spider that came at him. He was angry at the fact that whoever was here was also a necromancer, who seemed to be rather lazy to not to think of including the bandits too!

He cast a spell on one of the burning corpses, and it lifted and jump out of the pit, still burning. It then charged and set fire to a few undead spiders. "Yeah! There we fuckin go!" While his undead wolf companions were already mauled by the larger spiders, Warren had a large supply of burning men at his despoil to add to the carnage. Reanimating a few more, the burning men began to drive back the spiders, forcing them to take the fight inside the encampment's walls. Warren just had to moseyed on with them. He took a seat by one of the chairs by a table, and drank some of the ale on it. All while he sat back and watched the carnage. He wondered how long the burning men will last before the fire stopped, or maybe how long they'll keep on burning. Maybe he'll have to call them charred men very soon.

He saw a wagon on the way in here, maybe he should steal from perhaps, as he didn't see anything of much value from out here. As he thought that some more, the burning men must of sense some more spiders inside the building and preceded to break their way in, oh my. "I'll just let them do what they need to do first." He said to himself about them, as he drank some more ale.

Being hidden away deep inside the walls of the camp, far beyond where any sunlight could show, the vampire was resting the day away, unaware of how long the magically enduced fire had been burning still, at least a few hours after she had went to bed. Though given it was in a deep pit, with very little chance of being smothered or blown away by the elements, it wasnt too surprising that it was lasting so long. A calm bright day with hardly any wind, it wasnt any surprise that the men were still burning, though given that they insisted on coming inside, it wouldnt be for long. The air was stagnant to say the least, and the further in they went, the less the air seemed to exist. Most of the creatures didnt survive far past the initial few entrance rooms, the air thining out and snuffing out their flames and their unlife as they journied deep into the bowels of the place.

Infact, the concept that any of them made it far enough in for the vampire to sniff them out and feel the increasing heat in the room quick enough to rouse from her sleep and be ready for the burning men by the time they came for her was enough of a shock indeed for her to momentarily worry about her own unlife, clearly rattled and unprepared for such creatures to appear, cursing under her breath and mumbling her confusion at how such a thing was possible. Hadnt she killed these guys and thrown them into a firey pit not so long ago?

Something unnatural was going on and she didnt like it. She liked to consider herself the queen of unnatural things. Being able to be prepared when something like this would come along, having allready considered the options and end results of situations beforehand. When something odd and unusual happened and she didnt know about it, it unnerved her to no end.

She dealt with the zombified burning men in her own graphic and interesting ways. chopping off heads and hurling them through others torsos, snuffing out the flames by incasing the creatures in ice, chopping off limbs and causing a domino effect with the beings, often right onto a sharp broken piece of the building's debris sticking out of the ground, doing whatever she thought was necessary to eliminate these unholy beings and keep herself from being burned alive by them. When it was all said and done, more than enough sounds having been made given how far away she had to lead them or merely to put distance between herself and them for attacks, she did what she had learned soo long ago to make sure they could not come back. chopped off heads and destroyed hearts. She knew there was no way for them to come back from that.

Then it was just a matter of zombifying some of the other corpses lying around, both of man and beast, that she hadnt considered destroying before, and have them carry the charred, once again dead bodies out of the place and back to the pit. In the process of doing so, she decided it worth using one of the uncharred bandits as a vocal point for herself, allready feeling the sting of the sun as she entered the few rooms with windows but did her best to stay in the shadows even as the humans and creatures opened the main doors and came flooding out like a horde.

Most of them seemed uninterested in anything or any one that did not directly attack them and instead just ignored it all and walked to the pit, some of them with burning torches in their hands just in case. Only those that were attacked, stopped long enough to deal with any menace they encountered before either falling victim to it or dealing with it and continuing on their way.

Only a few buff and clearly strong zombies stayed, what was clearly the "muscle" of the group of bandits before they had all been slain, and a small assortment of creatures that had been inside. Mostly wolves and skeevers.

They just stood there, moaning softly and swaying as zombies do, untill most of the horde going to the pit were out of reach.
Then the most decorated one, most likely once the leader of the bandits, came forward and spoke, after having made a quick survey of the area and seeming sure this man drinking ale out on the porch, was the only one there aside from a few wolf corpses and a lot of charred spiders just strewn about everywhere, amongst various piles of ashes which were quickly assumed to be those of the zombies that decided to disintergrate when their job was done.

"I see no one else here that could have done such a thing as rise these creatures from their eternal slumber, so I shall blame you for such a devious act,
and curse you for such an act. How dare you summon the dead upon me!! You have no idea who you are messing with, mortal.
Never in recent years, have I had to deal with the audacity of someone being foolhearty enough to sick flaming zombified corpses of my slain enemies at me!! Do you have any idea what you have done?! You are so lucky this place is made of stone, or it would have erupted in an inferno of flame and smoke and no doubt taken you with it. Or even worse, me, given how soundly I was resting before I sensed these flaming, scorched bags of meat about to come at me.

This deed shall not go unpunished, short life. Come inside and meet your end mortal, least you suffer a curse to last a lifetime. No one disturbs me from my slumber and gets off scott free. You did a horrible thing to me and now you must pay the price. I insist." the voice was the bandit's but the tone was darker, more dangerous sounding, and clearly forced, as if something was attempting to push through. The muscle crossed their arms and stepped forward ever so slightly, the whole group staring menacingly at the living man, the leader briefly gesturing toward the door behind and to the side of them before crossing his arms as well and waiting for the man to respond or react in any way.

[The Krogan]

Ragnar Gordon
Skyrim, Markarth

After Valiaya had left for the Silverbloods residence, Ragnar had immediately made his way towards the market to see if there were any horses for sale there. It didn't take him long to spot a corral with a couple of horses inside and a what appeared to be a Bosmer selling them. As soon as the Nord had finished shaking the Bosmer's hand, and confirmed that he was in fact the one selling the horses, the pair immediately dove into a heated debate on prices for certain horses that were on sale. The bargaining process involved excessive amounts of arm waving, feigned indignation, and raised voices throughout; though this was merely how things were done at the market, and similar scenes constantly played out all across the area. It was only when Ragnar set his sights on a particularly fine looking mare did things really start to pick up. All the hand gestures, facial expressions, and the myriad of other actions the pair had done earlier went into overdrive as Ragnar fought for a lower price; and after about ten minutes of this, was able to bring it down to an amount that both he and the Bosmer could agree on. After shaking hands yet again to seal the deal and Ragnar had led the mare out of the corral, the Bosmer said,

"Well you can certainly drive a hard bargain ya big bastard," without any animosity, just stating a fact.

Smiling, Ragnar responded, "Yeah well, consider it a compliment, if yer horses were shight I wouldn't have even bothered bargaining, would've just told you a price and that would be that," he said as he climbed back up onto Buttercup, said a quick farewell to the Bosmer, and left to go seek out a place to stable the horses until Valiaya's business was done, seeing as he couldn't very well take them up to the temple on account of the narrow walkways. As he made his way back towards the gates in search of a stable though, he spotted something rather peculiar; Valiaya talking to a Bosmer in the middle of the street. Huh, must have been a pretty short meeting, didn't even get a chance to say hello to the girls.... he sighed as he began to make his way through the crowd on horseback towards the two.

[The Intergalactic Russian Empire]

Thorvald Frost-Shield
Fort Dunstad, The Pale
Skyrim, The Empire

Thorvald stopped his horse outside the fort, with Vorid in tow "Finally, we've arrived. Follow me and don't do anything stupid." He then rode up to the entrance where a sellsword guard stopped him "Do not worry, I am here with a job. Show us to where your leader is." Thorvald dismounted his hrse and handed the reins to someone. The two were then led into the fort "You see Vorid, this place used to be a place for bandits, but a few years ago this company of mercenaries took the fort as their base." there were quite a few soldiers around them, training, returning from patrols, or just hanging around.

[Glasgia]

Arenthia,
North Valenwood

The Thalmor stumbled back as Aerin's arrow pierced deep, ripping through its targets pectoral's and into the chest. He advanced deliberately, drawing another and sending it into the elf's throat. He felt no need to watching as the Altmer clutched at his wounds and gasped for air, blood soaking his desperate hands, and instead Aerin marched onwards. With him, twelve Bosmer surged past the corpses and dying warriors, storming into the Thalmor headquarters.

Turning another corner, Aerin raised his bow again and dispatched yet another two guardsmen before the firebolts could form properly in their grip. Arrows expended, he drew his short blades and began to cut a scythe through the remaining defenders. He danced through the hallway, the first Thalmor falling to a slice across the throat, the second to a blade ripping through the ribcage and up to the collar. Aerin stepped back, letting a wild mace swing fly past, and drove both swords into the attacker's stomach. Wrenching them out, he used his momentum to crash into a fourth's helmet and followed up with his knee as the Altmer's skull cracked.

Kicking down the doors, Aerin saw a robed Thalmor pathetically whimpering in the corner. They didn't deserve mercy, not these kinds. He clenched the mer's collar and dragged him back through the bloody mess, into the centre of the city. Though the Thalmor kicked and flailed, Aerin was far stronger and the Altmer's clothes were red with blood as he could not resist being pulled across his dead guardsmen's corpses.

Outside the crowd was silent. Aerin pulled back the Thalmor's head, put both blades to the elf's throat, and drew them away in one vicious motion. None clapped, none cheered. The Bosmer just nodded. They knew what this meant and they knew they needed to be ready for it. For many, it was a victory, but not a joyous one. Not yet.

In years to come, poems would sing of the brave Bosmeri who won a great battle in the city of Arenthia. Now, silence prevailed.

---

As soon of news of Alinor's besiegement came to Aerin's ears, he acted. In a frenzy, five hundred Bosmer fighters and every supply they required moved north with every urgency. Though a small irregular force remained in the south, harassing both sides of the Altmer's conflict, the best fighters swarmed around the northern forest-city of Arenthia. Even if the Thalmor knew they faced their own battle in Valenwood's forests, they could not prevent the city's fall - With so few troops to spare as royalist forces began the fight for the coast. By midday, a fighting unit of five hundred Bosmer rebels surrounded the city's Thalmor walls.

Aerin wasted no time in beginning the assault. At dusk, fifty fighters led a feint on the north gate followed by fifty more on the southern and eastern walls. As the Thalmor spread their forces thinly, fearing a fourth front across the banks of the Strid River and onto the west gate, the Bosmer rebels concentrated their forces in the eastern walls. They thinned out the defenders in a matter of minutes and succeeded in breaking through a portion, flooding into the city as night fell. From then on, the battle was brief but brutal. The rebels swarmed the streets, arrows peppering any Thalmor who dared to resist their onslaught. Aerin made care to leave the western gate unguarded, allowing the remaining Thalmor soldiers to flee the city as their morale wavered. The same could not be said for the Thalmor's bureaucrats and diplomats, Aerin himself leading the assault on their headquarters complex in the city's centre.

[South Sutalia]

Vorid Ursine
Fort Dunstad, The Pale
Skyrim, The Empire

Don't do anything stupid? Where's the fun in that? Vorid thought to herself as she and Thorvald entered the fort. She was concerned for Hestur, who waited outside, potentially at risk from these brutes. The Nord girl said nothing, until her superior touched on the history of Fort Dunstad. "Are you sure we can trust these guys?" Vorid whispered under her breath. Even if she used to be a mercenary herself, it was difficult to imagine working alongside some poor fools who chase after Septims. Turning her head to view the activity, Vorid felt an uncanny sensation from the soldiers' routine. She didn't dare question their fighting abilities. All things considered, the Nord girl was curious to see how Thorvald would negotiate with them.

[Cadonica]

Lugburz gro-Narzulbur
Bthardamz, the Reach, Skyrim, the Empire

Finally some easy swordfodder Lugburz grinned as he started to see more and more sickly maniacs. He hooked the mace and drew his orcish sword out. He used his shield to take cover from their vomit and then slash through their necks and torsos spilling blood and guts across the floors. Good old massacre, I love it! He enjoyed hearing his foes scream in agony, something that automatons never did. After butchering good deal of disease ridden folks, he met yet another dwarven sphere. Lugburz sheathed his sword and grabbed the mace:

"Come get some you damn automaton!" he shouted and started to walk towards the automaton. The machine turned around and started to charge towards the intruder. Lugburz deflected the charge with his shield, staggering the automaton. He swung the mace hitting the automaton's head. He heard a loud crack as the head snapped off and rolled on the floor. He drove another hit in the machine's torso and another on the joint between the torso and the sphere itself, the automaton snapped in two.

I like this new weapon. Lugburz thought to himself. As he entered the room at the end of the corridor, he saw the thing he was after. Spellbreaker was hanging on the wall. Before rushing to it, he stopped to listen. He sensed a presence of an unknown entity in the room. Well, he didn't sense anything at all but he expected something to be there. An unique artifact deep within ancient ruins with no one guarding it sure felt like a suspicious idea.

[Glasgia]

Valiaya Gaethore
Markarth
Skyrim, The Empire

---

"Well, Thalin, I think you kind of forced my hand with your hounds." Valiaya sighed as the Bosmer continued his story, and shook her head. "This Aerin you speak of, I know his name. He is nothing but a glorified bandit, you can trust me on that. As much of a hero as those bandits that still lurk in the wilderness here in Skyrim that call themselves Stormcloaks, claiming to fight for Skyrim's independence." She paused for a short moment, considering what she'd say next. "You remind me of my younger self, Thalin. Young, reckless, completely taken by a certain ideology. It worked out good enough for me in the end, but if this is how it manifests in your case..." The Altmer chuckled. "Well, I'd say you better start changing some things about yourself. You didn't seriously think you could capture me, and somehow manage to take me single-handedly all the way to Valenwood, did you?" Valiaya sighed again. "Well, call me a sentimental old fool, but I don't think I'd like to see you dead by my hand. This only leaves one little problem, of course... Now, Thalin, I need you to assure me that you did not see a thing of what happened at the Treasure House - least of all who did all of that. You will not say a word on it to anyone, do you understand? I will soon travel back to Valenwood, but should I hear of you saying things you shouldn't... Well, let's just say you would have forced my hand. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Thalin listened obediently as she tore into his hero, then likened him to her younger self. That, at least, was pleasing to him - She seemed to mostly forget his previous outburst of malice towards her and somehow to have taken some likening to him. Scum. She wasn't scum, both fortunately and unfortunately for Thalin. She was a person, like himself, and that was why he was currently alive. He owed that much to her and, given his current predicament, he seemed to have little choice left but to accept her - relatively generous - terms of silence.

"You said you're going to Valenwood? I... I can't stay here. Not now. Not after this. Could I maybe... come with you? I've always wanted to see Valenwood's forests. If you let me take a bow and one of the hounds, I could scout ahead for you and hunt." Thalin fidgeted nervously as he asked the question, knowing that it would be unlikely to be accepted. He had, after all, just tried to capture her and drag her there. However, he couldn't face the wrath of his father and he thought it unlikely that he would withstand the questioning of the guard - He did not dare betray her, not now.

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Valiaya Gaethore
Markarth
Skyrim, The Empire

---

Valiaya nodded in reply. "I will. My home is there, and that is where I will be going." The Altmer cocked her head and looked at Thalin as the Bosmer asked his question - a rather absurd one, considering the situation. For a moment, she thought about it, carefully studying her former assailant's face. "That's a rather... strange question, is it now." She turned her head away, looking to what was in front of her again. "Although that would, of course, mean you can't say anything here... Hmm. Yes, very well." The Altmer stood up, pressing Thalin's bow, which she had picked up earlier, into his hands. "Know, however, that any wrong move may lead to your death." Valiaya pulled her map of Skyrim out of one of her bags, unrolling it and showing it to the Bosmer. "If you wish to do so, you will leave tonight and meet me one of the following days here, at Northwatch Keep. If you see anyone inside there tell them Lady Gaethore has sent you. Now, be a good boy and go on your way. I see my companion approaching..." She gave him a small pat on his back, before walking towards Ragnar.

Valiaya looked at the Nord, sitting atop his horse, as she began to speak again. "Ragnar, how lovely to see you again... I trust that you managed to get a horse? And I see that you didn't last as long with the priestesses as one might've expected..? A shame, truly. Come, let us leave the city again. My business here is done, and it is absolutely essential I do not spend the rest of the day here. We shall have to rest outside once more, preferably as far away from this place as possible, so we'd best get moving again."

[Glasgia]

Markarth, The Reach,
Skyrim, The Empire

"Thank you, thank you so much." Thalin nodded quickly as he thanked her and set off without further word, taking his bow. He needed to be at Northwatch Keep as soon as possible, away from here. He couldn't trust her, not at all, but he couldn't trust himself in this city and she had kept him alive thus far - Albeit perhaps only to avoid a scene in the centre of the city. He walked away at pace - not for excitement, as had provided his brisk speed into the city, but for some need for haste.

Out the gates of the city, Thalin made his way towards the stables and unlocked the door, walking in with a small nod to the horse breeder as he entered. When inside, he quickly turned to what he would need. Grabbing a rucksack, Thalin began to pack. Coin, two weeks wages; two quivers of steel arrows; linen-wrapped slabs of salted meat; three bottles of mead and two waterskins; a linen cloak, for the cold and rain; a woodcutting axe. He found his fur hunting "armour" - if it could be described as such, rather than simply warmer hunting clothes - and changed into it rapidly, before grabbing his rucksack and bow. He walked out the door, took one final look at Markarth, and walked towards the collection of carriages that gathered around the stables.

"Anyone for Solitude? You? Yeah, heading off in a few minutes sounds great, I'm good to go. I'll just jump off at Dragon Bridge. No problem with the dog?" Thalin gulped and looked into the distant peaks of the Reach. He dared not look back at Markarth, instead crouching to ruffle his canine companion's fur. Just him, the hound, a Thalmor agent and a long journey to Valenwood.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Ylgim Skycrown
Bannered Mare, Whiterun, Whiterun Hold
Skyrim, The Empire

---

Ylgim took a drink, "Even if we are the defenders, we need to give doubters a reason to support us. We need to do something that the Empire doesn't have the balls to do.... something extremely risky and dangerous." He paused, "We need to burn the Thalmor Embassy to the ground. We will show the people of Skyrim that we are not afraid of the Dominion.... The Empire insists that they don't support the White-Gold Concordant, but then why is the Embassy still standing? Simple answer, the Emporer doesn't have the balls to do anything about it."

He took another drink, "We also need information.... I know for a fact that you keep information on the big names of Skyrim. We would like access your information." He looked at the High Elf, "So, will you allow us access to your information, and help us burn down that Embassy?"

---

Elanea
The Imperial City
Cyrodiil, The Empire

---

Elanea made her way, with her guard to the place where she was to be meeting with the Emporer and his men. The night before, she and her guards got some warmer clothes. They packed them and joined up with the Imperials. They got on the horses, ready to go.

[The Intergalactic Russian Empire]

Vorid Ursine
Fort Dunstad, The Pale
Skyrim, The Empire

Don't do anything stupid? Where's the fun in that? Vorid thought to herself as she and Thorvald entered the fort. She was concerned for Hestur, who waited outside, potentially at risk from these brutes. The Nord girl said nothing, until her superior touched on the history of Fort Dunstad. "Are you sure we can trust these guys?" Vorid whispered under her breath. Even if she used to be a mercenary herself, it was difficult to imagine working alongside some poor fools who chase after Septims. Turning her head to view the activity, Vorid felt an uncanny sensation from the soldiers' routine. She didn't dare question their fighting abilities. All things considered, the Nord girl was curious to see how Thorvald would negotiate with them.

Thorvald Frost-Shield
Fort Dunstad, The Pale
Skyrim, The Empire

Thorvald glanced at Vorid and said "Yes, we can trust these people, I've worked with them before and I can confirm that they're not your average mercenaries. They'll keep their word, besides, their leader has a debt to repay for me." they were led to the Commander's Quarters and let in, the soldier guiding them yelled "Sir, we have visitors here to see you!" after a little waiting a Breton man came. He was tall, in his mid to late 30s with short dirty-blonde hair and brown eyes "Thorvald, I'm guessing you here for that debt I need to repay you. And who's this with you?" Thorvald nodded and said "I need you and your men to help me, Caster, it's important."