Interregnum, 854 of the Second Era Options

[Destri Melarg]

To the Reader

This story takes place over the course of one year, 854 of the Second Era. It details the end of interregnum and the founding of the Septim line of Emperors. Inspiration for this story is drawn from two sources. The first is a one line entry in the timeline for the Second Era:

2E 854 - The Emperor was assassinated by a High Rock nightblade who also burned the Imperial Palace to the ground and attempted to kill General Talos.

I have come to believe that history is merely the propaganda of the winning side. This entry tells you what happened, but it doesn’t tell you how or why it happened. I have attempted to address those questions in this story.

For the second source of inspiration I express no embarrassment in saying that the form is blatantly lifted from my favorite of the in-game books, Carlovac Townway’s remarkable 2920: The Last Year of the First Era

Some of the characters you will encounter in this story have been lifted from the in-game books. Others are the product of the author’s imagination. I do not claim to have mastered the lore so if I stray too far from it, please don’t hesitate to call me on it. That said, there are a few ‘liberties’ that I have taken in this story which I feel I must draw to your attention:

- Tamriel is a much larger place than the game world. A day’s journey in game takes a week (weather and terrain permitting) in the story.
- Cities are larger and far more populated than they are in the game.

My deepest gratitude goes out to RemkoNL, mALX, Acadian, hauteecole rider, Winter Wolf, SubRosa, and treydog for their steadfast support of this story. Without you I doubt that it would exist.

As always any comments, criticisms, or suggestions are most welcome.

* * *

Table of Contents

Book One: Morning Star
Book Two: Sun's Dawn
Book Three: First Seed

This post has been edited by Destri Melarg: Aug 14 2010, 12:15 AM

[Destri Melarg]

What is reach magic? I do not see it in a search of the wiki or Imperial Library. Is that the result of the forum's swear filter?

My source on everything Tamrielic is the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition, which was published a mere ten years after the events of this story. In speaking of the inhabitants of the Western Reach:

In later years, they traded and exchanged customs with the Orcish villages that shared their mountains, and eventually learned much of the beastfolk’s magic. Reach-magic is still widely studied, although it is banned by the Mages Guild (who fear it as dangerous and wild hedge-wizardry), the Reachmen are referred to as the “Witchmen of High Rock.”

I must confess that the effect of reach-magic described (a far more powerful and potent command creature spell) is my own invention, but it seems to fit.

_____

Thank you all for your comments. Renald is my favorite character in this whole story to write. All of you seem to be wondering about his motivations and the boar. To answer that, let me re-print chapter two of Remanada:

Chapter 2: The Chevalier Renald, Blade of the Pig

And in the days of interregnum, the Chim-El Adabal was lost again amid the petty wars of gone heathen kings. West and east knew no union then and all the lands outside of them saw Cyrodiil as a nest of snakemen and snakes. And for four more hundreds of years did the seat of Reman stay sundered, with only the machinations of a group of loyal knights keeping all its borders from throwing wide.

These loyal knights did go by no name then, but were known by their eastern swords and painted eyes, and it was whispered that they were descended from the bodyguard of old Reman. One of their number, called the Chevalier Renald, discovered the prowess of Cuhlecain and supported him towards the throne. Only later would it be revealed that Renald did this thing to come closer to Talos, anon Stormcrown, the glorious yet-emperor Tiber Septim; only later still, that he was under instruction by a pig.

Long glory was wife to all the knights of the dragon-banner, who knew no other and were brothers before beyond many seas and now were brothers under the law named the blade-surrender of Pale Pass. And having vampire blood these brother-knights lived for ages through and past Reman and then kept guard over his ward, the coiled-king, Versidue-Shaie. The snake-captain Vershu became Renald became the protector of the northern west when the black dart was hooked into Savirien-Chorak.

haute and Winter Wolf – Writing Renald is so much fun because Remanada gives you insight into his motivation and the depth of his loyalty, but the rest can be filled in as I see fit. Because SubRosa is right and I do tend toward the realistic in my writing, I knew that I didn’t want a talking pig in the scene. My solution turned out to be the wild boar that leads Renald to a mysterious oracle that puts him on the road towards his destiny.

Fiach – Imagine Tamriel from Renald’s point of view; he and his syffim have spent centuries protecting Reman’s former kingdom, keeping their vows and maintaining their honor. Yet interregnum continues with no end in sight. By the time we meet him in this story he has lost two thirds of those he left Akavir with and his resolve has begun to fade. He sees getting the survivors home as his only remaining duty.

And I like the way that you have developed Haeil to this point. It is always nice to read someone who shares my fascination with the Tsaesci.

How’s that for foreshadowing, mALX?

This post has been edited by Destri Melarg: Mar 28 2010, 07:25 PM