Cyrodiil Options

[Alexander]

Ok, so for the unavoidable introduction babble, as most of you know I was rather pleased with Morrowind. I thought it was far better then the dribble I wrote prior to that, and most people seemed to agree with me. After I finished Morrowind I already had an idea for a sequel, I actually wrote the very first chapter of said sequel while I was posting up parts of Morrowind. Unfortunately though, after that first chapter I kind of lost interest. I didn’t think the ideas I had back then were enough to weave an entire story together, and I was probably right.

But as these things have a habit of developing themselves, over the past months I kept thinking back to the sequel, and kept adding ideas to the pile I already had. Now it’s done. I once again enjoyed writing this, and I hope you’ll have similar fun reading it.

As I’ve explained in the past, I’m not very good at making up things like titles, Akatosh knows it took me about as long to come up with the various titles of the chapters as it did to write the entire thing, so I’ve named the story “Cyrodiil” (catchy wot? )

Before I end my babbling and get on with posting the story, I once again would like to thank Treydog for agreeing to help with my story as editor, and for fixing the many, many, many grammatical and spelling errors, and placing every comma, semicolon and whatchamacallit in the correct place. And thanks to everyone who ever read Morrowind, and commented. I really enjoy the comments.


Now, while you don’t have to have read Morrowind, I believe in order to get the most out of Cyrodiil, it would be recommended.


So, enough babbling and on to Cyrodiil.

[Alexander]

Back in her chambers at the All-Saints Inn Countess Arriana angrily threw her outer robe on her seat and walked into the room of Verata-Ves. Dressed as always in his plain robe befitting his status of messenger of the gods he looked up as she entered.
“Verata-Ves, you told me the others would see the obvious logic of my words, but they voted against me. How do you explain this when you claim to be a messenger to the gods?”

“My dear Countesss, I do more than claim; I am. Don’t you remember?”

Arriana hesitated, for she did remember. During her last silent prayer in the Chapel of Stendarr, she had heard the voice clearly, coming from the stained-glass picture of Stendarr himself. It had bathed her in light and confirmed what she had always known- , that she was destined to be a tool for the gods. Then it had told her it would send a representative of the Divines to counsel her, and behold, behind her Verata-Ves had appeared, come down from the Divines’ plane to assist her. At first she had wondered at the odd choice of a messenger; a Tsaesci from Akavir, but she quickly forgot her wonderment because as everyone knows, the Divines work in mysterious ways.

“Of course, forgive me Verata-Ves; it’s just that I don’t understand why they voted against me. I believe it could be the work of someone trying to bring ruin to the Empire.”

“A mossst well thought out theory, Countesss. I had thought the sssame.”

“What will we do, Verata-Ves? The well-being of the Empire stands or falls with this. We must think of some way to remove this influence from the Elder Council.”

“I agree Countesss; pleassse, tell me all that wasss sssaid.”

After listening to Valga’s recounting of the meeting, her advisor remained quiet for a while. Arriana likewise considered her next course. It was Verata-Ves who spoke first, though.

“It ssseemsss to me Countesss, that your daughter’sss wordsss were inssspired by the Divinesss to aid you. Through her, they tried to sssteer the counsssil into doing the right thing. Unfortunately, Corvusss, who isss obviousssly an agent for thisss diabolical influenssse, interfered.”

“Yes, you know I was just telling myself that, Verata-Ves.”

“Yesss, I think the Divinesss were giving you a message; they wisssh for your daughter to ssspeak for Leyawiin.”

“I agree Verata-Ves. We need to come up with a way to make her ruling Countess of Leyawiin. If the Divines wish for Marius Caro to die to make place for my daughter, then who are we to protest? We are but tools for their will. But how can we go about it?”

“Perhapsss we can go further Countesss. I’ve been thinking, and there might be a way to sssolve two problemsss at the sssame time. Consssider thisss- if you hire a band of mersssenariesss to do the deed, no one will sssussspect you were behind it, and whatever force is influensssing the Elder Counsssil and turning them againssst you will be none the wissser. And if you hire Argoniansss to do it, your cassse for recalling the Legionsss becomesss ssstronger. But I feel assshamed; sssurely in time you would have thought of the sssame thing, Countesss.”

“Ah, of course I would have, Verata-Ves, but it’s good of you to get things moving along. Now, how can we come up with a way to get Marius Caro away from Leyawiin? Obviously we can’t have it done there.”

Arriana thought about this for a moment, and then smiled. Of course, the solution was simple, and Verata-Ves was wrong- she would solve three problems at once, not two.







Two days later, Count Regulus Terentius opened the wooden gate leading into Reedstand cave. He felt soaked to the bone. Traveling in this nightly rain should be forbidden, it would likely ruin his clothes. But considering his thoughts, he decided he was being silly. A message of this importance from a close friend would be reason enough to traverse any weather. Trying to wipe the rain from his face he followed the only servant he had brought as they headed a small distance into the cave. There was very little light, so Regulus was glad he had thought to bring a servant skilled in the arts of fire magic.

Not far from the gate he found Marius sitting down; he too had brought a single servant with him. “Marius!” As his name was called Marius got up and warmly shook the hand of Regulus.

“Marius, what awful weather you choose for such a meeting.” Regulus didn’t understand the look of confusion on Marius’ face, so he added: “I’m sorry; do you enjoy this weather, Marius?”

“No, no, it’s not that, but the other. I choose for the meeting? But you asked me to come here.”

“What are you babbling about, Marius? I received your messenger only this afternoon; he carried the message with your own seal.”

“Could I see it, Regulus?”

Regulus showed him the message, which was short and to the point;

Regulus,

I’ve stumbled across information regarding a plot against your life. Meet me tonight at Reedstand cave. Trust no one.

Your friend,
Marius.

“Regulus, I did not write this. Nor did I ask anyone to write this for me. My wife gave me a letter she got from one of your messengers asking me to come here to discuss ‘a matter of life and death’”

“I sent you no letter, Marius. Nor any messenger.”

Marius’s look said it all, as he came to the same conclusion as Regulus. They had been betrayed. Drawing his sword he saw Marius do the same. Looking around to make sure everything was clear, the four of them quickly headed back to the entrance. Even before they got there they saw lights shine outside. Opening the gate, Regulus and the others came to a halt just outside the cave.

In front of them they saw a large band of Argonians, all on horseback. Looking at the horses with an admiring eye, Regulus noted they were of prime stock, though he thought it unlikely he would be able to steal one during the struggle that would be unavoidable. Nor would such a feat do much good, if only for the specialized Argonian saddles. Considering their numbers, there were clearly far too many for Regulus and Marius to beat, even with the servants to bolster their numbers. But no one had ever had reason to call Regulus a coward. He boldly strode forward and spoke to what appeared to be the lead Argonian.

“I am Regulus Terentius, Count of Bravil and this is my land. Identify yourself and state your business here.”

A laugh came from the ranks of the Argonians and the leader spoke, “This one has courage- admirable. Greetings. What I am called is of no importance. We come to end your lives. Lay down your weapons and we promise to make it swift and painless.”

Regulus looked over at Marius who nodded in confidence. The servant Regulus had brought with him was still young, and was shaking both from the cold rain and from fear. Regulus whispered to him, “Be brave now, Melkior. It will soon be over.”

Turning back towards the Argonians, Regulus cried out his defiance; “Prepare to die, scum!”

Count Regulus Terentius, Count Marius Caro and their two servants bravely charged the band of Argonian mercenaries.