New Endenia wrote:Wolfmanne wrote:Antonius suddenly fell to the ground, collapsing like a ragged doll. The energy surrounding him entered his body. The Marshall turned purple, with a black core at the centre. His eyes did the same; a black core, surrounded by purple. He stood up again and hovered about 10 cm off the ground. A tremor could be felt on the ground - not just in the forest but all across the County of Leyawiin. It weren't particularly strong, but everyone within Leyawiin would had felt it.
"Some call me a Demon" Antonius bellowed, in a deep voice which shook the forest. "Some fear me, ever vigilant after the events of 200 years ago. Your spells are useless against me mortal; try as you might, you won't be able to defeat me. I am Hermaeis Mora; I am Daedra. It wasn't Antonius who summoned you - it was I. I made him aware of you, for I am the Keeper of Knowledge and Antonius is my Champion - perhaps the greatest since the Hero of Cyrodiil himself. But his time is coming up; I seek a replacement. I see you Enelya, your ambition; you are loyal to no one but yourself. You have no Gods, just yourself. I like that; Antonius is a worshipper, one who hides his worship of I in fear of reprisal from all of Tamriel. I gave him is gifts, for he has helped me. All I ask for is your help. No loyalty, no worship. In turn, I shall help you - once you've proven yourself by helping me and then slaying Antonius to take his place. I have protected and aided him long enough now. Now it is your turn. I will return to you when the time is right; but tell me, what is it that you out of me?"
Enelya smiled, she did not expect this to happen at all. She paced around as she addressed the Daedra, "Indeed, even the most powerful mages in the history of this world cannot hope to match the might of the Daedra, not even me to say the least. Very well Hermaeis, you ask what I seek out of you? I seek power and knowledge. Power and knowledge to unmake the barriers of the world and leave it ripe for destruction and chaos. I seek to bring back the Dragons, to tear open the barriers between our world and Oblivion. That is what I seek. What does a Daedra seek?"
"What does a Daedra seek?" the Daedra possessed body of Antonius spoke. "That is not for a Mortal to know. Destiny has brought Lord Naarifin to Bravil and he shall lay siege to it. Once you storm the city in time, the statue of the Lucky Old Lady must be destroyed, for it houses the remains of the Night Mother. The biggest threat to you and I is not the Empire, the Blades or Talos, it is the Dark Brotherhood. It is you who shall bring their end in Cyrodiil. I will return to you again, after the Lucky Old Lady has been destroyed. Some would had felt my presence and perhaps they will be an aid or a threat to you. Beware, for not everyone will like our... conversations".
Antonius disappeared, promptly ending the meeting.
Imperial City
Imperial Place
Cyrodiil
4E 171, Second of Sun's Dusk"Your Imperial Majesty" a Breton Commander of the Penitus Oculatus screamed running into the throne room. "The Imperial Battlemage has been murdered by Altmer Battlemages. Yes, the great Ocato himself is dead".
Two Agents dragged a man, who appeared weak. He was a tall Altmer, who wore black robes and a black hood, like any old mage. He had a face-mask on him, concealing his identity but also blinding him. Perhaps a member of the Dark Brotherhood, but more likely to be a Thalmor agent. He gave groan, before the Commander gave him a kick in the and administered a Magicka Poison, in case he tried anything. She spat on him, roughing him up before his interrogation.
"Should you defy Imperial authority" she begun. "That will happen again. Now, tell Your Emperor why your saw it necessary to kill a mer of your blood".
The Altmer breathed heavily, not answering until he got another kick in the face. The Commander, frustrated, broke one of his legs by snapping at it, which resulted it in a large groan. The Emperor was yet to speak, but from his face, he seemed horrified. The Commander wasn't sure if it was because of the death of Ocato, the torture in front of him or a combination of both.
"Very well" the Altmer begun. "But bare in mind, I profess no loyalty to your bastard of a Emp -". Before he could finish, the Commander broke his other leg, then used some Sparks to quieten him once more. The Emperor raised his hand, calling for an end to the torture. The Commander bowed and shoved him to the floor.
"I am a sleeper agent of the Thalmor and proud of it" he continued. "I have lived here for most of my life, blending into society. I did quite well, for no one caught me. I joined the Dark Brotherhood at a young age but I do not worship Sithis any more. For years, everyone knew me as the local alchemist in the Imperial City, but I was a killer, striking whenever the Brotherhood needed me. As soon as the war begun, I got my orders; kill Ocato. I did so successfully and he died peacefully. Poison is silent, as am I. Now, I have told you all that you need to know, Your Imperial Majesty". He burst into ashes, leaving behind his clothes and a flashing amulet. The Commander picked up and took a look at it.
"I guess the Amulet dissolved him" she said. "The Arcane University will be interested in this one, talking of which, shall I arrange a replacement Imperial Battlemage".
The Emperor stood up and picked up the ashes in one hand, putting it in a goblet. He gave it to one of his Oculatus bodyguards, telling him to 'dump in the waters of Imperial City'.
"Yes, I have a scroll with a short list of potential Imperial Battlemages" the Emperor replied. "I prayed to the Divines every night that I would never have to use it. No one can replace Ocato. He shall receive the finest funeral, one that shall be mourned across the country".
BravilOutside the walls of BravilCyrodiil4E 171, Fourteenth of Sun's DuskThe city had been surrounded, although it no longer looked like a city. Archers were posted on the walls and the city looked well defended. It would be a tough city to take and who knows what lay inside? The citizens, after Leyawiin, would have heard about the events of Leyawiin, how citizens were massacred. They would be desperate, desperate for their lives. Once they took Bravil, they could continue their advance through Cyrodiil, allowing Lady Anelya unhindered access into Hammerfell. He still doubted that he would be able to take the Imperial City, however these was talk amongst the Army that the Imperial City would fall next year. As strong as the Dominion Army had proven, he saw that as unlikely. The Imperials weren't ready; soon, Legions would be mobilised and as soon as the Empire transitioned into a war economy, they would be ready. The water would be a hassle, limiting them to a frontal attack in Northwest Bravil. However they would be prepared; fire arrows would rain down upon their sieges tower, oil will be poured onto mer climbing siege tower, the walls would had been reinforced against magic and artillery and his mines would be intercepted by counter-mining. Since they would only enter through the Northwest, all the Bravilians had to do was fire volley after volley of arrows. High casualties were likely.
"Lord Naarifin, we believe that we would be ready the assault the city by the end of year" a Lieutenant informed him. "The garrison seems to be a high numbers, we estimate a full Legion and the City Guard to be defending the city, for a total of 6,000 men, along with the city population, who would likely put up a resistance. However with 30,000 men, we outnumber them 15:3 - at least the military numbers, sir".
Lord Naarifin didn't like those numbers; the entrance into the city would be a killing field. Besieging them into either sallying or into a surrender was the only option they had. Even with control of the Green Road, they would still have to send more men then usual to patrol the supply lines, further limiting the ratio, perhaps as low as 15:3. If the Imperials sent an Army, which, considering the full strength of Cyrodiil, could number up to 40,000 - although that depended on how efficient they were. At total of 66,000 mer had been committed to the initial assault; 30,000 in his and the Lady Anelya's army, 6,000 in the Hammerfell Expeditionary Force. He'd expect the numbers to increase. On paper, they were doomed; however, a Dominion army was not an Imperial army. The regular soldier had some basic skill in magic and usually had his hands free, for he could conjure up a sword and a shield. The armour was light but it was just about the strength of regular Imperial armour. Their weapons were slightly stronger then the Imperials, as proven in training. However, they had more room for flexibility and battle winning manoeuvres in comparison to the Dominion, and most of his men was lost to a Skirmishers' arrow rather than a Legionnaire's sword.
Fort OrcatoNibenay ValleyCyrodiil4E 171, Fourteenth of Sun's DuskEmperor Titus Medes summoned the troops outside the fort, as he stood upon a podium; beside him, the Marshall of the Blades, the Marshall of Imperial City, General Crazy Al, the General Dux of the Army stationed in the Valley, the new Imperial Battlemage, an Altmer named Telindar, who was most certainly loyal to the Emperor, some Blades and Penitus Oculatus bodyguards and a variety of politicians. The number of men covered the entire valley; although most legionnaires, there were also several Blades, Oculatus agents, volunteering Guards and citizen Militias to make up an army, which had a final size of 21,000 legionnaires from all 7 Legions in Cyrodiil, 7,500 Guards from across Tamriel, who have volunteered to form two new Legions, the 23rd and 24th Legions, along with 1,500 assigned to replace the losses in the Fifth and several thousand unaccounted militiamen and guerillas, who likely numbered from a conservative estimate of 2,000, right the way up to 6,000.
"Men of the Grand Army of Cyrodiil" the Emperor began. "We are gathered here in Nibenay Valley to defend the institute that is the Empire. It is here 9 Legions of the Empire is summoned. Collectively, the Thalmor outnumber us 6:3, but we have Imperial steel and bravery to defeat them. Their supply lines are cut-off and Bravil is all set to be a massacre - a massacre for the Thalmor!" A cheer echoed through the valley, with the undisciplined guerillas giving out whistles of approvements, while the Legionnaires gave a cheer and a round of applause. "These are grim times for the Empire; the Imperial Battlemage Ocato was murdered in cold blood. He was one of the greatest Imperial Battlemages the Empire ever had, one who refused to surrender to the Thalmor Coup and remained loyal to the Empire way after the Oblivion Crisis. He served the Septims themselves - the Dragonbloods - and us Medes, who restored order to the Emperor. This fort is named in his honour. To replace him, we have searched long and hard but I am happy to present former Arcane University professor Telindar as the new Imperial Battlemage".
The men clapped, but for some it was a forced one; the Altmer were now the scapegoats of Tamriel and many would had preferred a Breton as the Imperial Battlemage. There were sounds of booing from the militiamen.
"The death of General Mathus of the Imperial Legion and half of Fifth Legion in the Battle of Leyawiin shocked us all" the Emperor continued. "It is sad that we have to replace him and several other Officers. I am proud to award the following men of Fifth Legion with a commission or promotion". A list of names was spoken, most notable being Captain Antioch becoming a Legate and Jo'Rak becoming a Praefect". Then came the all important position; General of Fifth Legion.
"As Emperor of Tamriel, I hereby commission Legate Mist-Walker in the rank of Generalship" he announced. Most people clapped and cheered like they meant it, but there were some doing the infamous false applause; an Argonian General? First an Altmer Imperial Battlemage, an Orc General Dux and now an Argonian General. Mist-Walker stood up to the podium and kneeled in front of the Emperor, who handed him the General's Armour and Sword. A customary salute and the new General Mist-Walker stood on the podium.
"However, we are also gathered here for a sad reason; the first deaths in the war, from Ocatos' to the brave citizen of Leyawiin, must be remembered" the Emperor said, his grim tone lowering the theme of joy. "Let us stand for a minute of silence". Everyone stood, a word not said, apart from the occasional coughing. When it ended, the unofficial tradition of a round of applause echoed the valley.
"Remember Legionnaires, you are not just doing this for the Emperor... you'[re doing this for Tamriel" he shouted, the cheers of an Army ending it as he left the podium. The Generals began shouting orders, sending them to their posts. The Fifth Legion would have a tough job; to train the new recruits into Legionnaires, although at least they were ex-Guards, so they would be ready before any major battle. The Battle of Bravil was beginning.