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]

The rest of the trip to the Imperial city went without incident, but then no man or Argonian in his right mind would consider attacking the party Ocato was in now. The mounted Redoran elite warriors, alongside a large contingent of soldiers wearing Cheydinhal livery and accompanied by the remaining mages of the Mages Guild made for an impressive sight.

Before long they were riding up to the stables outside the Imperial city. Handing the reigns of his horse over to the stable master, Ocato turned to Balen, “Lord Balen, I have no idea what to expect inside the city, no idea how far Valga’s reach extends, so it might be wise to be ready for trouble, though at the same time, I am hesitant to ask you to bare weapons first.”

“I understand Chancellor; there’s a fine line between being ready for a threat, or being seen as one.”

As they walked trough the city, Ocato could feel the stares of the population; they had to be wondering why so many Dunmer were moving through their streets fully armed. Apparently so did the guards because as they moved into the Green Emperor Way, Ocato saw squads of soldiers and guards alike moving towards them with weapons ready. At the front of one of the groups Ocato saw his bodyguard Evangeline, and he could have sworn a different group was led by Janus Hassildor. What was the Count of Skingrad doing here?

It was Janus, and he was also the first one to spot Ocato in the group of warriors and call a halt to the Imperial Guards.
“Greetings Ocato.”

“Count Hassildor, good to see you; we need to have a talk about Countess Valga.”

“Yes Chancellor, we need to have a talk, but not just about Countess Valga. But let’s do it somewhere a little more quiet, shall we?”


The Elder Council chamber doors closed with a boom. Inside were Grandmaster Jauffre, Captain Steffan, Ocato and his bodyguard, Count Hassildor and Raminus Polus and, of course, the emperor to be.

“Now then,” Ocato began, “there was something you wanted to discuss, Janus?”

“Yes, Chancellor Ocato; several things have happened that you need to be aware of. First , I’m sorry to say the young Bosmer healer, Filben, has died.”

“Filben has died? Sad news indeed. I’ve only had the pleasure of meeting her once but she was a remarkably talented and kind-hearted young lady.”

“That she was, and I intend to kill the person responsible. Just before she died though, she provided us with vital and very important information. We can’t say how it happened, but Mannimarco is alive, and back in Cyrodiil stirring up trouble with a horde of Necromancer followers. And I’m sorry to say my former Seneschal, Mercator Hosidus is one of them.”

“Mercator? But that means….”

“Yes, from what Filben has been able to tell us, he and his Necromancer friends have turned Kvatch into a place of nightmare. Dark magic is being practiced there and reports of travesties are increasing.”

“Is Mannimarco there as well, Janus?”

“No, and that is what complicates the matter more. Filben learned he has holed up at a place called the Echo cave. It’s located far west of Bruma.”

“This is a troubling matter indeed; it makes Valga look like little more then a fly.” Turning to Raminus, Ocato continued “Raminus, please let Archmage Traven know I wish to speak to him.” Ocato was surprised at the sad look on Raminus face.

“Alas chancellor, Archmage Traven gave the ultimate sacrifice. He forced his own soul to be trapped inside a giant black soulgem. Only those people close to the soulgem are immune to Mannimarco’s most deadly spell; the enthrall spell.”

“How many people do you think the soulgem can protect, Raminus?”

“Not many; I estimate ten at most.”

Ocato thought about where to go next. He couldn’t take the entire force to the Echo cave; Mannimarco would have them as thralls in short order and would likely use his people against each other. On the other hand, he knew both the Echo cave and Kvatch needed to be attended to. His only option would be to split his forces.

“Very well, here’s what I propose we do. Raminus, get me the nine most powerful wizards in the Imperial city. Get them here within the hour. I don’t care if they’re renegades or guild members; promise them anything they want; just get them to agree to come with me. I will lead them personally to the Echo cave to face Mannimarco.”

“Janus, I want you to take whatever forces you can scrape together from this city, and go along with Andel to march on Kvatch within the hour. Get a Mages Guild member to send a message to Count Umbranox in Anvil to gather his forces and assist you. Lord Balen, I would like to ask you to go along with them; I fear they may need any help they can get.”

“Of course, Chancellor Ocato, we will aid them to the best of our abilities.”

“Thank you, Lord Balen. Now, that leaves but one issue unattended.” Ocato pointedly turned to look at the emperor to be. “I cannot take you with us, Your Highness; it would be far too dangerous, but leaving you here is also dangerous. Who knows how many agents either Mannimarco or Countess Valga has within the city?”

Someone cleared her throat behind him and Ocato turned to look at Evangeline, his bodyguard, “Ah, my apologies Chancellor, but since you’re likely traveling by way of Bruma to get to the Echo cave, wouldn’t it be a good idea to leave the new emperor at Cloud Ruler Temple? If any place can be protected it’s that place, and the Blades should be more then sufficient to safeguard him from anything.”

“That’s a wonderful idea; thank you Evangeline.”

“Right then gentlemen; you all know what to do; let’s end this.”