The Famous Five, Heroes and Villains of the Age of Martin Septim Options

[Ceidwad]

Welcome to my fanfic. I've been planning on posting this up for some time now. Now that I have the first 10,000 words or so down seperately, I feel ready to post some stuff up here. I hope you will all enjoy reading it as it develops. I haven't a clue how much I will write eventually, if I manage to finish it. But it will likely be very, very long. Indeed, there's an excellent chance that I'll finish writing a Skyrim fan fiction before (if) I finish this!

The Famous Five is an unusual fan fiction. It takes the form of a historical commentary/synthesised text written some 90 years after the events of Oblivion, and relies rather heavily on my own creative license to fill in some historical gaps in between 4E2, when the stories end, and 4E85 when the book is written (I should add, I have not read any Elder-Scrolls related lore works, such as the Infernal City).

This work weaves together the stories of five different characters that I roleplayed in Oblivion, and I hope to include some of my minor characters in it too. Subject to approval, it may also be nice to include some other chorrol.com members' fanfic characters in it too. It would be entertaining to see the outcome of a meeting between Luther Martinus (who you will get to know) and, say, Buffy or Teresa, for certain!

At present, I regrettably do not have screenshots; however, I hope to add some in future if and when I can get Oblivion for PC.

This is my first attempt at writing a fan fiction. I have thought about it for a while, though. I welcome critique of my writing as well as positive comments. I have not planned most of the fanfic, but have a general plan of how it will pan out. It will include actual in-game events, relationships and quests which inspired my roleplaying, and be supplemented with whatever ideas take my fancy at the time of writing.

Below is the prologue and the first entry. I plan to update every few days to a week, depending on how much I can write. This will vary. At times, I may not update for a while. I do, however, hope to persevere with this and update pretty regularly.

Happy reading!

This post has been edited by Ceidwad: Mar 26 2011, 05:00 AM

[Ceidwad]

Another irregular update. 'Harald Steel-Quill' has been idle lately.

SubRosa - Acknowleged on the 'legionnaire/legionary' thing. I agree with your point of view and have changed it. One imagines that Reynald has gained quite a few flasks of ale from charitable Chapel types over the years; Piner, however, is maybe not so charitable. Good for Reynald that Maborel was there to sort the quarrel out!

Acadian - Indeed, very sneaky from Gwen, though the tides of fate may bring her back to Chorrol rather sooner than she would like. Let's hope it doesn't end badly!

Next up: Gwen prepares for her next recommendation in Cheydinhal, and meets an old acquaintance and a new one.

First Seed 25, 3E430 – Wawnet Inn

12 P.M.

It has been nice to have a couple of days to recuperate here at the Wawnet Inn. This has been the first time in a while I have not been worried about my health in some way. Nerussa, the publican, is around my age. Her family is also from Alinor originally, but moved here to Cyrodiil around the time of her birth. Now she runs this homely inn. We exchanged opinions on wine, politics and history yesterday, whilst the legionnaries who normally frequent the tavern were out on patrol and the inn was mercifully peaceful. Her family is not particularly wealthy, but all Altmer learn about Tamrielic history and politics from a young age, even the humblest peasants in Alinor.

It seems she is a fan of Barenziah, and enjoys reading about Ayleid history when she can. However, as she told me, “by the end of the month…..it’s usually a struggle to get enough food for myself and our patrons, and keep our beds clean. I wish I had enough gold to buy the latest books, but I don’t. I have to make do with borrowing from scholars in the City when I can.” I think I will leave a tip here for her. I counted my septims this morning. Including the 50 that Reynald gave me to fulfil our little ‘agreement’, I have 623 remaining. I imagine I can spare 10 or so.

In some 20 days, I will get the next instalment of 1,000 septims from mother and father. They would be appalled if they knew that, at present, I am not studying the art of Restoration with the brightest minds in Cyrodiil, but am instead running errands for beastfolk, albeit enlightened ones. I have drafted a letter to my parents; full of lies, of course. I couldn’t possibly tell them the truth.

Editor’s note: this letter, despite the full co-operation of the author’s family, could not be tracked down. However, we can guess at the sentiments expressed in it: it is likely that its author wrote enthusiastically about Cyrodiil and invented some tales about university life based on what she already knew about it from various sources. Her frank honesty in her journals is one of their great strengths as a historical resource: one can always be sure that what she writes is exactly how she felt. It is rather naïve, in all honesty. Very few are the leaders who allow their flaws to be seen in this way; indeed, initially the present-day Mages’ Guild hierarchy was reluctant to allow an unedited version of her journals to be published, although the author signalled her willingness to proceed.

8 P.M.

I have just returned from the Imperial City, where I gave my letter to the captain of a reputable vessel, and shopped for provisions. Whilst in the Market District, I visited Rindir’s Staffs again. I regret that I have never owned a staff before; I recall that my parents would not allow me to use theirs until I reached the age of 50 when, according to tradition, Altmer become adults. Even then, I was not allowed to use one in earnest; my parents trained me in their use with a staff enchanted with Charm magic. This was, in fact, weaker than charm spells I could cast.

I look forward to the day when I will have a powerful, real, staff, like the one my father wields at the court of Alinor. Alas, that day will not be today. Rindir sells staves starting at 850 septims, and these are themselves rather weak Telekinesis staves. Rindir was kind enough to show me his most powerful staff; a beauty named Apotheosis. It is on sale for 5,500 septims; Rindir claims it is a snip at that price.
Truly, it would be a great aid. The only weapon I possess at this moment is the silver dagger I took from the guild hall in Chorrol, and it is little more than symbolic in its protection. Yet, staff or no staff, I am leaving for Cheydinhal tomorrow. I will rely on Mellt-taran’s gainly gallop to keep me from harm.

First Seed 26, 3E430 – Roxey Inn, north of Imperial City

3 P.M.

I am writing this in the upstairs room of the Roxey Inn. The journey has been uneventful, but it rained for much of the morning and early afternoon, and has started again now. My robe is presently warming by the fire, and I have managed to get a decent meal (by Cyrodilic standards, at any rate) of leek, potato, cheese and wine, from the Surilie vineyards in Skingrad. The roads here near the Imperial City are well-patrolled by Legion soldiers – I have encountered several on my journey today. Security, at least in this part of the province, rivals that in Alinor, even if the food, wine, and general level of civilisation lag behind.

The proprietor here is a Nord. She was clearly not blessed much by the gods with beauty nor intelligence. She is, however, friendly and polite.

Cheydinhal awaits, either tonight or tomorrow, depending on when the rain ceases. Meantime, I have re-read the book The Black Arts on Trial. One cannot read that book without having great respect for the wisdom of Arch-Mage Traven and the rigour of Magister Karlyss, and trepidation at the cunning and sly ways of the Necromancer, Magister gra-Kogg. It is clear that Necromancy is a great danger. In Summurset Isle, it is widely hated but not officially banned unlike in Morrowind, and my parents would often tell me of dark rituals reputedly carried out in the laboratories of several eminent mages, often including those held in good standing by the royal court. It is a shadowy art in more than one sense.

This post has been edited by Ceidwad: Jun 3 2011, 01:43 AM