Sethyas, Before a Reborn General returned, there was a life... Options

[Black Hand]

Prologue

18th of Rain's Hand, Year 413 of the Third Era
Outskirts of the City of Daggerfall

A bluff overlooked the grey and white of the foaming waves far below. The sky matched its hue with a raging storm. The wind howled and blew as though it were trying to knock the two figures staring each other down over into the sea. One, dressed in dark brown leather armor with cloak and hood held a hand to his gut. Behind it, a patch of dark crimson stained the chestpiece barely visible. His cowl fell back amidst the blowing rage to reveal the face of a Dunmer. Taciturn in expression, his visage did not reveal the pain of the wound.

Swirling alongside the left of his face was a tattoo that marked his clan from Morrowind. Though, that was a lifetime ago, and then some. He was now in the employ of the Imperial Government through many strange twists of fate.

His red eyes gazed at the foe. A betrayer. Not just of him, but of his vows and purpose.

The Paladin's face could not be seen behind the helmet of polished steel and gold trim, but the Dunmer knew those hollow eyes all too well. Bereft of life and passion, he lived only by meaningless vows that died the moment the lips uttered them stopped flapping.

The Paladin held the sword that was stained with the blood of the Agent at it's tip, at a slight downward angle. His white tunic flapped in unison with the brown cloak of his adversary, like two birds of prey that encircled the other in battle.

"It's over, Lysander! Give me the Totem!" The voice cried from behind the metal.

"I thought I was the only one who was supposed to backstab." Lysander replied, coughing out some blood, he wiped his chin with his free hand.

"A necessary treachery, I am afraid. You would misuse this power. Give it to the highest bidder, or even worse: the Emperor's Blades." He said taking a step closer, speaking over the pelting rain, creating a dinging sound as it hit his armor.

"I am an Agent of the Emperor, yes. It is what I was sent to do, by he himself. You act now in defiance of those orders, Arkaydian Knight." He replied, trying to find some way out of this trap. "Besides, what makes you think your motives are any better?"

"Motives? I act upon the will of the Nine! This is needed to preserve Order! Surely you must see that much! The Numidium is a world-breaker! If that power was harnessed once again,...the end result would be..." The Paladin trailed off.

"Chaos? Change? The expression of lust for power that Man and Mer have waged upon themselves since time immemorial? What makes you think that you can stand in the way of that? Surely you do not see yourself in such grandiose terms that you can stop any of that." Lysander replied.

"Enough." The Knight of Arkay replied and closed the distance quickly, and came in for a blow raising his blade high.

The sword came down, and fell cleanly into the Dunmers neck, sending dark blood rushing forth into spurts rivuleting down his side.

The Knight could smell the blood from there, even over the rain now showering down. He could even feel the heat as it rolled down his neck.

The Paladin reached up and felt the ebony dagger that was jutting out of his neck, just between the bottom of his helmet and the top of his chestpiece. The damn Agent was still a sneaky one.

The fell to their knees in unison, and in that moment, the storm raged even harder, and the heavens seemed to crack open. The two looked at it in disbelief, unknowing of what had just happened. It seemed as though the world began to turn in on itself, and simultaneously devour and expel itself.

"What?!" The Knight labored to whisper over the weapon lodged in his throat.

The Dunmer was beginning to lose consciousness over the rapid loss of blood, but as he saw his own distant lands and history being drawn forth from the storm of sight, he began to understand.

"You broke the world, you damn fool." He returned. "The only law greater then people is the Earth Bones. Gravity, light, darkness. When you put your foolish code over people, you forgot what it was you were trying to protect. Now, your idea of 'perfect order' is a graveyard. Enjoy it." He said as he collapsed into his final moment.

That was the day the Dragon Broke.


Present Day

10th of Sun's Dusk, Year 398 of the Third Era
Imperial Palace, Province of Cyrodiil

She awoke with a start.

It was early morning, the dawn barely breaking through the pale curtains giving the room a soft glow. She rubbed her eyes, and stared at her image in the mirror. Her red hair was a long and lovely as when she had brushed it the night before. A source of uniqueness and pride for her, it was rare among the Dunmeri to have red hair as was, much more so to have hers.

Her crimson eyes nearly matched it's color, and smiled slightly as she brought her hand to her swollen belly. She was nearly ready to give birth. Unknowing of her state until three months after her dear husband, Lysander, had left on the Emperor's orders. She thought with both great anxiety and humor that he would return and find himself a Father.

"M'lady?" Came the voice from across her room. "Are you well?"

"I am. Just a bad dream,...perhaps." She replied, trying to recall what went through her mind just before she rose. She drew a blank, but...more then just a lack of memory. It was like a void, as though something were pulled from her mind.

She shook her head at the thought, and resolved to give the forbidden blessing to Vaermina the next time she was at temple.

The midwife came out of her cornered section of the room and rubbed her eyes as she took in the Dunmeri Maiden seated at her grooming table staring at her belly with a slight smile.

Madame Velas was one of the unique fixtures of the Court. Neither noble nor ambassador, she and Lysander were here at the pleasure and command of the Emperor himself. He afforded them luxuries and servants for an unknown reason, but the rumors that Lysander Velas; who was a Morrowind native as well as she, acted as a spy for the Emperor were also rampant.

Vivyne Velas herself was no noblewoman, and often took on the menial tasks into her own hands. Cooking, cleaning, and the like. She took all the luxuries granted her in stride, like she enjoyed a good book that she knew would someday end. Every time the midwife had attempted to broach that veil to the reason they were here, she just gave a sad smile and said that she could not say.

"Have you given any thought as to their names, yet?" The Midwife asked.

"It's bad luck in Morrowind to name a child not yet born." She replied with her now receding accent.

"In Cyrodiil, it's traditional. When in Elsweyr...." The Midwife replied.

Vivyne gave her a curious look as she considered it. "Well, I know how you Cyrod's will sometimes name them after a father or grandfather or such..." her eyes trailed off to the side.

"My Nans was named 'Setsuna' which means 'she who follows' in Dunmeri, meaning a follower of Saint Veloth." She mused.

"I see...it is a lovely name. What if it is a boy?" she asked, grabbing a pitcher of water and preparing them both a glass.

Vivyne traced her unseen parchment with her eyes again. "Dunmer and Cyrod's do share the tradition of males being the head of households and the women being married into their families, so I suppose it would be more appropriate to use my Husband's." She thought.

"What was his Father's name?" The midwife asked as she brought the pair of glasses to the table.

"He never knew his father, I am afraid. However, his...mentor, if you wish to call it that, was the closest thing he ever had to one." She spoke in a guarded tone.

"What was his name?" the Midwife asked, slightly mystified being this close to piercing their veil for the first time.

"Sethyas." she replied.


This post has been edited by Black Hand: Nov 4 2013, 04:01 AM

[Black Hand]

#mALX Yes, a bit.

#Luna1945 Our resident lurker-reader, I am flattered by your interest and take. I personally would not say that it's that good...but I tend to be my own harshest critic. As far as the deletion of the prior incarnation goes, I'm afraid it taps into a very sensitive area that is best left unmentioned, at least in public.

What I can and will say, is that it is gone, plain and simple. I did not make any back-ups. I will not attempt to re-write it. If I had my way, the one on the main page would be deleted as well.

#Colonel Mustard I say! Your loquacious appreciation has added an uplifting note to my day! I will be the one to have a Good Day, sir! I say, Good Day!


8th of Sun's Dawn, Year 400 of the Third Era
Imperial Palace, Province of Cyrodiil


The Blades Agent walked through the Elder Council chambers, his heavy traveling boots echoing off the polished marble floors and raining down from the cavernous ceiling. There were only a handful of Councilors to be seen at today's meeting and the Emperor was nowhere to be seen. Most of his duties for the other provinces were delegated to the council in his stead as it was, and rarely showed.

The Agent made eye contact with an Imperial seated close to where the Emperor's chair was and proceeded to hand him a folded and sealed parchment.

The Councilor nodded and thanked the Blade and proceeded to break it open and read.

His eyes scanned the script, as his brow furled in concentration. He finally looked up at the man with a questioning expression which was answered with a slow nod as the Agent blinked. The two of them took their immediate leave silently.

They approached the Throne Room and were checked over by the Guard prior to their being permitted to enter.

The Imperial Battlemage, Ocato and the Emperor himself, Uriel Septim walked alone together through the vast chamber's space conferring quietly among themselves past rows of magnificent bookshelves and tables neatly organized with various scrolls and maps. Each one dedicated to a province and the projects that the Emperor personally oversaw.

Councillor and Agent approached the Rulers carefully, and waited to be addressed by the Royalty.

"Good Morning, Councillor! What matters bring you to me?" Uriel Septim greeted the man warmly.

"Your Majesty, I have news in the 'Star-Wounded East' project you delegated to me some time ago." He started.

The Emperor looked at him slightly quizzically, clearly implying that he needed to be reminded.

Ocato seemed to recall for the both of them in his stead.

"This was the one concerning the Legend of Dagoth Ur, and the visions that had been reported concerning the local legends about one of their Resdayn Generals, prior to the disappearance of the Dwemer." He explained, which Uriel nodded slightly about.

"This is about Morrowind then. Ah yes, now I recall as least so far as the 'Star-wounded East'. Forgive me Councillor, I have many things on my mind as of late. Proceed with your findings." He instructed.

"The Legend of Dagoth Ur is no legend, your Majesty." The Councillor began. "Another one of those Dark Elven God-Kings is now in play within the province. We've received news that a minor ruin within the Island of Vvardenfell called 'Kogoruhn' was recently occupied by an unknown force. We have only a few agents within that province, and none on the Island." he explained.

Uriel Septim then looked over at the young man that had accompanied the Councillor and gave him a slight glint of recognition.

The Councillor picked up on the cue and introduced his escort.

"I beg you pardon, your Majesty. This is Caius Cosades a member of his Majesties Blades." He said leaning slightly back and presenting him with an upturned palm.

"Caius Cosades, yes I know that name. We've met a few times if I recall correctly. I take it you were the Agent assigned to the province then?" The Emperor replied.

Caius took a step forward and maintained his disciplined, confident stance. "That I am, your Majesty." He replied succinctly.

"Well then in that case, you tell me what you make of this. Don't hold back for fear of offending your Emperor. You are my eyes and ears out there after all. I want to know what you know, even if it is just a feeling." Uriel pressed the man.

"Your Majesty, I've seen things I can never forget in my short time in that province. It is as alien to our people as would a Plane of Oblivion be....but there are some things that are Universal. That includes strategy. I think this is a strategic move to develop bases outside the Ghostgate." Caius reported.

"Your Majesties forces are thin as is, and thinner still within the East. What you have out there cannot attack, lest they lose the few footholds they possess. The situation needs to be watched, and needs to be watched closely." He continued.

Uriel smiled and nodded his head. "How would you feel about being assigned to Vvardenfell, Sera Cosades?" He asked him.

Caius broke his stern visage with just a crack of enthusiasm. "It would be my honor, your Majesty." He replied, also letting his tone change with his pleasure ever so slightly.

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Nov 4 2013, 04:03 AM