Interregnum, 854 of the Second Era Options

[mALX]

WHEW !!!! And GAAAAH! Where was Renald? Was the plan of this night what drove his turmoil at the Arena? GAAAAH!

Vershu is the Chevalier Renald. He adopted the name 'Renald' after the death of Reman III at the hands of the Morag Tong. My own interpretation of events is that his failure to stop the assassination convinced him that he was no longer worthy of the name 'Vershu'. I am still playing around with the idea that Vershu is a title given to those Tsaesci who show great skill in battle. Sorry for the confusion.

Ok, now I have to go back through and re-read the chapter! Lol. Sorry about that.

[SubRosa]

Again they moved as one, and found silent entry into the palace through untended windows.
Hey, you cannot go through windows in ES games! You cannot even look through them! They are just graphics painted on the walls.

A very exciting battle. I believe that is the first time I have seen anyone fight a dragon in ES (Not counting the end of Oblivion's MQ of course, but that was a god). It was a neat peek back into the long past of the syffim.

[Acadian]

What a magnificent way to provide more depth to the syffim! I quite adore dragons and you certainly portrayed both the Tsaesci and Tosh Raka in their awe-inspiring full glory.

They say there are no more dragons in modern Cyrodiil. How would we know? It has been reported that perhaps they can change shapes and forms.

Absolutely gripping, Destri!

[Captain Hammer]

Recently got fully caught up with this.

Let me just add to the choir of praise for the depiction of Cuhlecain, Talos Stormcrown, Zurin Arctus, and the whole political intrigue kettle currently sitting in the emperor's box. You weave threads as nimbly as Mephala herself.

The depiction of the Syffim's failed attack against Tosh Raka is excellent. As always, you weave tangents of canon into an effective and intense story line that not only keeps the characters real and grounded, but makes me wonder if this story will show up as a game book in the next Elder Scrolls game.

[Olen]

Well I've caught up and wow! This is very, very good (like I can think of books I've paid good money for which weren't near as slick and exciting).

You've managed to have multiple plotlines without one coming to dominate the other's too which is great. The politicing around the Emperor is excellent, somehow I sense things are about to go badly for a certain altmer, unless he manages some sweep of genius. Having them all together in the Emperor's box certainly pays off some of the tension which is building.

Renald is an excellent character, I like how you've done the Tsaesci, they work well as characters but are different from humans which isn't easy (and is a big part of the reason I tend towards human characters). But they work and are quite compelling to read, I look forward to seeing where they end up.

Valdemar and Alain are also great, and again quite different. Their interactions are entertaining, certainly you matched them well. I wonder how their hangover is...

So yes I love this piece, intregue, plot, suspense and a mountain of supporting characters all well enough developed to hold their own spin off (I can only imagine...).

SGM

[Destri Melarg]

mALX – The syffim maintained silence up until they reached the throne room. Vershu/Renald broke that silence when he sensed the dragon. As you said, at that point the silence was moot.

ureniashtram – I’ve never been a huge fan of mangas or anime. Some of the stories are great, but I just can’t get past the way the characters are drawn. Coming up with the names for the Tsaesci was the single most time consuming part of the last chapter. I’m glad you liked them.

And there may be a few more ‘Tsaesci flashbacks’ in this story.

hautee – My original conception of the Tsaesci is a lot different than what this story presents. Part of the change came in the writing. Another part can be attributed to you for recommending movies like When the Last Sword Is Drawn, which in turn got me re-watching movies like Ten Tigers of Shaolin, The Seven Samurai, and Rashomon. Now the Tsaesci have become a kind of cross between samurai and shaolin monks . . . with forked tongues and slithering!

As I understand it, Tosh Raka was the only Po’Tun who successfully transformed himself into a dragon. Indications are that he continues to rule the Po’Tun to this day.

Linara – I would have to say that the syffim would be part of the yellow team. A blue serpent sounds like he’s either frozen, or under water. As you are soon to discover, betting against the syffim is not wise.

And thank you for pointing out that nit. I found my lost ‘r’.

trey – I have to be careful with the Tsaesci. Every time I write about them I find more to draw my interest. It would be very easy for me to just let them have the reins, but then it would no longer be Talos’ story (if it still is).

Hopefully, this tale doesn’t undulate as much as Chirasch’s tail. Thanks.

SubRosa – I would have thought that someone as well-versed in mods as you would have solved the problem of windows by now. Vanilla’s like me have to rely on imagination.

Unfortunately, I was not able to present much of a battle when the syffim engaged Tosh Raka. I was more interested in communicating the awesome power that a being such as Tosh Raka possesses. Even for a race like the Tsaesci, who had by then hunted most of the dragons of Akavir to extinction, the best option against such power is to run.

Fortunately, I do have one more dragon knocking around in this story, so I still might get another chance.

Acadian - Now you’ve got my wheels turning! The idea that dragons can change their form might go a long way toward explaining some of the events that occur later in this story. I thank you for raising the possibility.

Captain Hammer – Thank you for the compliments. As an in-game book this story would cover about a hundred volumes! I wonder if Bethesda would pay by the volume? If so, I better keep writing.

Olen – Once again welcome back, you have been missed. Things are about to ‘go badly’ for a certain character, but it’s not who you think.

I have given a lot of thought to writing new stories around Renald and the syffim, the four Blades, and even the voyages of the Pelladil. Maybe in five or six years when I finish Interregnum, I will revisit those ideas!

Everyone – Finally we come to the first half of the long-delayed finale to the interminable 7th First Seed!

* * *

7th First Seed, 2E 854
The Arena, Imperial City
Mid-Day


Light! Brilliant, blinding and all encompassing, it flooded their consciousness and slit their eyes as they emerged from the tunnel. The cacophony of sound that assailed their ears forced them to use their tongues to measure their surroundings. Captured in that first taste of the air were the familiar scents of sweat, blood, and excrement. Slowly their eyes began to pull familiar shapes from the shimmering blur around them. Thick iron bars caked with rust and dried blood barred their entrance into the Arena. The boisterous crowd around and above them seemed to shift into a single nameless, faceless mass of jeers and threats that loved them not. The heat of the burning sand in front of them beckoned. Above it all banners depicting the flight of vengeful dragons drew Eesham back to a cave in the Shadowgate Pass, and the others to the Imperial Palace at Po’Tun.

“Stand fast,” said Chirasch, he had to raise his voice to be heard. “No needless heroics, no unnecessary risks. We keep watch on each other’s backs at all times. Heed Vershu’s order, survive.”

“What do you suppose awaits us on the other side of those bars?” asked Eesham.

Chirasch shook his head and looked into the crowd. Xarsien raised his shield before his eyes, tightened his grip on his blade, and gazed upon the dragon banners.

“Death,” he hissed.

A voice echoed from above. It filled the Arena and doused the crowd like water thrown over a flame.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” it said, “by the grace of the Emperor, we dig back into the mists of fabled history for a sight unseen by an Arena audience for more than eight hundred years. In the year 2920 of the First Era, on the occasion of South Winds’ Prayer, the Emperor Reman III thrilled his subjects by allowing his only son, the noble Prince Juilek, to stand alone in single combat against the might of the immortal Tsaesci warlord, Savirien-Chorak. Today, in honor of First Planting, the Emperor Cuhlecain proudly presents not one, but three of the immortal Tsaesci. These great warriors will not be engaged in an exhibition against a single opponent, but will be tested in battle for their very lives against the most fearsome beasts in all of Cyrodiil! Can they survive? Lower . . . The . . . Gates!”

_____

7th First Seed, 2E 854
The Temple of the One, Imperial City
Dusk


A single candle served as a bulwark against the encroaching darkness inside the Temple of the One.

“Good evening, Lady Direnni,” the hooded monk said from the shadows. He motioned her into one of the two chairs set facing each other before the candle. “Please make yourself comfortable. I am Apelles Mero, Shrine Sergeant for the Temple. It has been given into my charge to conduct the interviews for this inquiry.”

“I have already given my sworn testimony to the Watch,” said Varla

“Yes, I am aware of that, and I apologize for the inconvenience. We ask that you repeat your testimony for the Temple. It is not our purpose to search for inconsistencies, milady. Rather, experience has shown us that the Watch is slow to share witness testimony with the Temple. In a matter such as this, when one of our own has been taken from us, we have found it expedient to conduct our own inquiries.”

“Very well,” said Varla. She sat in the offered chair. The dim candlelight accentuated the blood that splattered the left side of her dress.

Apelles Mero lowered himself into the chair across from her. “I understand that you were a guest in the Emperor’s box for the exhibition.”

“I was. Although I believe that calling what took place an ‘exhibition’ is overly generous.”

“What word would you use?”

“Massacre, perhaps. It didn’t turn out that way, at least not in the way that was intended.”

“You believe that the Emperor sought to destroy the captive Tsaesci?”

“They were not captive at the time, and it is not my place to question the Emperor’s intentions.”

“Of course not,” said Mero. “But in any event, tell me why you considered this exhibition to be an intended massacre.”

Varla shook her head. “I would rather not speculate, especially if it is to be for the record.”

“I understand. Let us stick to facts. Where were you sitting, exactly?”

“Directly behind His Majesty,” said Varla. “I do not know how much use I can be to you. The size of His Majesty’s throne blocked my view of most of the proceedings.”

“That is regrettable, milady. However, it is not the activities on the sand, but rather the activities inside the Emperor’s box that warrant my attention. I understand that you sat between General Talos Stormcrown and the Battlemage, Zurin Arctus.”

“That is correct.”

“Where was the accused positioned in relation to where you sat?”

“Just over my left shoulder, near the exit from the box,” said Varla.

“Behind General Talos Stormcrown?” asked Mero.

Varla’s head cocked to one side. She considered the question. “Yes.”

“Thank you, Lady Direnni.”

_____

“Trolls? Why waste warriors such as these in sport against trolls?” Varla kept her voice low, but she could not hide the disdain that flavored her words.

Zurin Arctus leaned forward and surveyed the Arena floor. “I count a dozen of the beasts. The pillars may provide some refuge, but I fear it is only a matter of time before they are overwhelmed.”

“You underestimate Tsaesci prowess,” said Talos. “They may be outnumbered, but they retain the advantage against mindless beasts known only to charge.”

Prior Sanne turned in his chair. “Would you be willing to place a wager on that, General?”

Talos froze him with a look. “Despite what you may think, my dear Prior, I do not wager on lives. I leave such pursuits to men like you.”

Prior Sanne spun in his seat as if he had been slapped. The soft laughter emanating from the Emperor’s chair only served to rub salt in the wound.

“How much are you willing to wager?” asked Synnius Carbo.

“A talent of gold,” said Prior Sanne, the previous insult all but forgotten.

Carbo laughed.

“Two talents!” said the increasingly red-faced Prior.

“Make it three and you have a wager,” said Carbo.

“Done!”

“Silence!” said the Emperor. He leaned forward in his chair. “Now we shall see the truth behind the rumors of Tsaesci skill.”

Varla could not help herself. She turned in her chair and glanced toward the back of the Emperor’s box. The Tsaesci captain remained impassive, but Varla could see past the blank look on his face to the growing torrent in his eyes. One golden hand was wrapped around the hilt of the sword at his side, and that hand shook with the emotion that the valiant creature was trying to quell.

The buzzing of the crowd grew to a roar that pulled Varla’s eyes away from the Tseasci captain to the back of the Emperor’s chair. Battle had been joined on the Arena floor, but it was occurring beyond her line of sight.

_____

Apelles Mero motioned toward the empty chair across from him. “I apologize for the lack of light and the informality of the arrangements, Councilman, but the Temple must hold to its traditions.”

Synnius Carbo sat. “I would have appreciated more time to compose myself. Your request for this audience barely left me time to remove my ruined clothing. I would also have it known that my appearance this evening is a courtesy extended out of respect for the deceased, and is in no way an admission of anything that would compromise the sovereignty of the Council, or the Council’s relationship with Skingrad.”

Mero nodded. “Duly noted, Councilman, I have been given to understand that you engaged in a number of small wagers with Prior Sanne during the matches that led up to the Tsaesci exhibition.”

“That bears no relevance!” Carbo rose from his seat. “I will not sit here and be accused!”

“I am not making accusations, nor is it my intention to cast aspersions on the good Prior’s reputation. I am merely trying to establish the facts. Please sit down.”

Carbo’s scowl remained, even as he once again took his seat.

Mero cleared his throat. “Now I understand that Prior Sanne lost the majority of these wagers, is that correct?”

“I will neither confirm nor deny anything having to do with information of a personal nature.”

“I am afraid that I must insist, Lord Carbo. Did these wagers continue into the Tsaesci exhibition?”

Carbo crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I am sure that you are already privy to that information.”

“I would like you to confirm or deny it, sir.”

Silence followed. Carbo sat with his arms crossed in front of him and with the scowl revealing hints of the latent sweat upon his furrowed brow.

Mero broke the silence. “Lord Carb . . .”

“Yes! The wagers continued into the Tsaesci match.”

“And I am given to understand that Prior Sanne wagered against the Tsaesci,” said Mero.

“Again I ask, what relevance does this have?” asked Carbo.

“Perhaps none,” said Mero, “or perhaps it goes to establish both of your mindsets leading into the incident in question.”

“Once again you come dangerously close to making accusations, Sergeant.”

“I apologize, Councilman. I shall abandon this line of questioning for now. Where were you sitting in the Emperor’s box?”

“On the left hand of the Emperor, between His Majesty and Prior Sanne,” said Carbo.

“Am I correct in surmising that your position in the box placed you directly in front of General Talos Stormcrown, who in turn sat between you and the accused?”

Carbo smiled. “That is correct. Now your questioning begins to bear fruit, Sergeant.”

“Thank you, Councilman.”

_____

The Tsaesci moved as one. From where he sat, Synnius Carbo saw the serpent with the shield move his back to the one wielding the dai-katana. That shield provided the protection, a defensive posture dropped only to dispatch any troll whose charge had been broken against it. With his rear and his flank so protected, the other Tsaesci employed his dai-katana mowing down those trolls who stood before him. The third Tsaesci was a golden blur in their midst as he repeatedly mounted the pillars, his supple body twirling up their length in less time than it took to draw a breath. From that vantage point he launched himself again and again into the dwindling ranks of their opponents, his twin katanas struck down in blinding flashes of Akaviri steel that severed limbs and blooded the sweltering sand.

All too soon it was over. The three Tsaesci clustered together, surrounded by the maimed and bleeding corpses of the trolls that had been sent against them. Their forked tongues captured all the smells wafting in the air, but Carbo knew that the scent of victory on that arid field still eluded them.

The crowd had been dazzled into silence by the display that they had witnessed. So it followed that the plaintive whine of the heavy gate was clearly heard throughout the Arena as it was lowered for the second time. The Tsaesci moved into a wedge-shaped phalanx, and lifted their blades to receive this new threat.

_____

“I trust this interview will be brief,” said Lord Farenenre. “The Emperor expects me back at the palace.”

“I shall be as brief as I can be,” said Mero, covering his nose. “Is it correct that you were present in the box when the Emperor arrived with his entourage?”

“I fail to see how that bears any relevance to the incident in question.”

“I am simply establishing your whereabouts when the Emperor arrived. Were you already present in the box, my lord?”

“I was.”

“Is it not customary for you to accompany the Emperor?”

“Not when I am engaged in official business,” said Farenenre.

“Is this the business that carried you to the Waterfront?” asked Mero.

“Your intelligence network would do the Emperor proud,” said Farenenre. “However, I would caution you to confine your questions to facts relevant to your inquiry. My whereabouts before the incident have no bearing.”

“Forgive me, my lord. I sought only to establish that you were not a member of the Emperor’s entourage when he arrived at the Arena, therefore you could not have been aware of any conversation between the Emperor and the accused while outside of your presence.”

“Be careful, Sergeant. One less forgiving than I could interpret the implication of Imperial malfeasance as a form of treason.”

“Again, I beg your forgiveness, my lord. You were seated to the Emperor’s right, am I correct?”

“Of course,” said Farenenre.

“From that position were you able to hear any conversation between Lord Carbo and Prior Sanne?” asked Mero.

“The entire box was subjected to their conversation. The Prior did not take his losses with the stoic grace taught by this institution.”

“Their conversation revolved around the gold he was losing on the matches?”

“The two men were not friends, to my knowledge. What else would they discuss?”

Mero’s mouth formed a grim line. “You were seated directly in front of Master Zurin Arctus, were you not?”

“Of what relevance is that information?” asked Farenenre.

“I am merely establishing where everyone was in the Emperor’s box, my lord.”

“No,” said Farenenre, “I believe you were leading into some implication involving Master Arctus.” Farenenre rose and began to pace around the room. He nodded once and returned to his seat. “He was not in the box when I arrived. His arrival coincided with the arrival of the Emperor.”

“And with the arrival of General Talos Stormcrown, my lord?” asked Mero.

“Precisely,” said Farenenre.

_____

“Ogres,” said Prior Sanne, he turned toward Synnius Carbo. “I renew our wager, double or square.”

Carbo shook his head. “It hardly seems a fair contest. There are six of the savage beasts. I would need some form of odds to consider it.”

“Odds? I have already given you double or square. You quibble with my own coin.”

Carbo laughed. “When put that way, I can see your point. Fine, done.”

“Your Majesty,” said General Talos, “is it your intention to test these Tsaesci, or destroy them?”

Farenenre turned in his chair. “I fail to see how that is any concern of yours, General.”

“Just as I fail to understand why you choose to answer for your Emperor,” said Talos. “Your Majesty, these Tsaesci would be of better use in the Legion if you will not have them.”

Cuhlecain did not turn, but his voice carried throughout the Emperor’s box. “It would be a tragic waste to place them amongst the rank and file of the Legion. You ask if my intention is to test or destroy them, General. I would have thought that a soldier of your standing would have found my intention obvious. Apparently my faith in Tsaesci prowess exceeds your own.”

Farenenre could not contain the smile that spread across his face. It was a smile that grew when he saw the surprise mirrored in the faces of both the General and the Battlemage. That surprise told more of their overconfidence than words, and made Farenenre’s seat on the Emperor’s right hand appreciate in value.

_____

“I sat to the right of Lady Direnni,” said Zurin Arctus, “directly behind Lord Farenenre. My view of the incident was obscured.”

“Be that as it may, Master Arctus,” said Mero. “You were still close enough to see the incident as it unfolded.”

“I suppose so,” said Arctus.

An escaping sigh caused Mero to deflate in his chair. He looked directly into Arctus’ eyes. “I have become an old man, Master Arctus. I lack the energy or the inclination to engage in the show of animosity that has long existed between the Temple and the Arcane. I seek only to know the truth of what occurred in the Emperor’s box today.”

“You already possess that knowledge,” said Arctus, “in the form of what is left of the departed Prior Sanne. You do not seek to know the truth of what occurred, you seek to know the truth of why it occurred.”

Mero nodded, “I hope that you can help me in this regard.”

“Then forgive me for being blunt,” said Arctus. “Prior Sanne died as the direct result of greed that should embarrass this Temple. He allowed his passions to govern him, and he repeatedly drove a lance into the flank of the wrong snake.”

“Could you elaborate, sir?” asked Mero.

“It began even before the Tsaesci were thrust upon the Arena sand. Sanne tried to recoup losses wagered on the preliminary matches by wagering a much greater sum on the fall of the Tsaesci.”

“The Tsaesci are renowned warriors,” said Mero.

“Which is why the Prior continued to lose,” said Arctus.

[haute ecole rider]

Ahhh, a mystery!

I love how you interweave what happened in that box (and kept us hanging concerning what did happen in that box) with the aftermath (the interrogations of the witnesses).

The Arena engagement from the POV of the Tsaesci was awesome - I was there on the sands with them.
The description of the battle with the trolls from the POV of those in the box was also well done - I found myself sitting in the stands watching the action on the sands.

I bet this was a challenge to write, and I think you have risen to it and performed admirably.

SGM!

[Linara]

Yes Interregnum!!! It's been too long... You continue to weave a magnificent story, as we glimpse who the true snakes are. As Rider said, the mixing of 'then' and 'now' provided a captivating piece.

Varla could not help herself. She turned in her chair and glanced toward the back of the Emperor’s box. The Tsaesci captain remained impassive, but Varla could see past the blank look on his face to the growing torrent in his eyes. One golden hand was wrapped around the hilt of the sword at his side, and that hand shook with the emotion that the valiant creature was trying to quell.

Well. My favorite paragraph in a while. It brings out the anger and sadness that runs through the chapter and turns it into us wanting Cuhlecain gone/killed/disappeared. Really makes Cuhlecain seem even more despicable...

On a side note, I finally found out where you got 'Destri' from. Kudos on getting that

[SubRosa]

The trouble with real windows in Oblivion is that the interior of every building is a separate zone. Its door actually teleports you to that zone when you use it. That is why you get that load time whenever you go into a shop. To have real windows, the interior of the building would have to be part of the same zone as the area outside. Cities actually work the same way. The interior is a separate zone from the outside world. That is why the levitate spell was removed from Oblivion. Because if you levitated up from within a city, you would just see an empty world around you.

The model of the house would also require a hole in it where the window is. That would work for an open window. But if you had a pane of glass then you would be in real trouble. To show the texture of the glass, you need a model. But if you have a model covering that space, it is no longer open. The reason we 'see' windows is simply because a picture of a window is laid on top of a solid model.

But, back to the longest day (will John Wayne or Henry Fonda be making an appearance?)

Trolls? I feel sorry for the people who had to capture them and bring them to the Imperial City! Hmm, perhaps you could do it with pits to first catch them, and then use Drain Fatigue spells to knock them out long enough to put them in a cage.

The trolls didn't have frickin laser beams in their heads? Sheesh! what does Cuhlecain pay those people for!

I liked the touch of using talents as a unit of measure for gold. It is not only an excellent bit of flavor, but also firmly establishes the parties involved as ultra-rich.

Two fights? With the second against ogres? (I imagine they trapped those using potato bread as bait...) Now that is just cheating!

This was a very interesting post, given the way it both jumps back and forth in time, and also between characters being interviewed. It must have been very difficult to write. When I came to the first change in pov/time I admit I was befuddled for a moment. But once I saw what you were doing, it all flowed back and forth very smoothly. All in all, an excellent piece of writing!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 19 2010, 09:49 PM

[Winter Wolf]

Oh no!! I have a lot of catching up to do. Again...Rest assured, my friend, I will eventually make it, your writing is always one of the most thrilling things I have ever read. Lady Direnni, Arctus, the Tsaesci, this is a tale (or is that tail ) like no other.

We, as readers, lose our sense of time and place when we consume Interregnum, such is the talent of your writing. Where is the point that the lore ends and your freelance interpretation begins?? Nobody knows!!
You should put a warning- Do not read while operating moving machinery....lol

[mALX]

GAAAAH!!! The dirty double-crosser! ...and poor Renald !!! ARGH !!!!!! He will never be able to live down his guilt if he loses what remains of his syffim in the Arena! ARGH !!!

[Olen]

Nicely done, that was admirably smooth, the jumping forwards and back was a good way to tell both without either dragging.

As ever the characters were very well done, you certainly have strong ones there and they're engaging in intregue which is hard to write but brilliant when it's pulled off well, and you've certanly done that. I sense that day was somewhat of a turning point in affairs and the soft politicing may be past with the death of the prior. I'll be interested to see how it develops (and I still think Farenenre has it coming sooner or later).

A single candle served as a bulwark against the encroaching darkness inside the Temple of the One.

I liked that line, it sets the scene and mood well as an opener but also serves as a reminder that the dragonfires are out and provides a link to another part of the plot. Loading lines like that makes for tight and exciting reading (and makes me wonder if we might be going to a certain island next).

[Acadian]

I enjoyed the switching between settings as well. Very clever. It was not a quick or light read, but it was very interesting, smooth, creative and enjoyable. As ever, your descriptions and ability to build up a scene with suspense is superb. Well done!

Now, Destri. . . you know that I am simple writer as well as a simple reader. So. . . if you can pass the test of my reading, then you know you have succeeded. I think you have earned a passing grade here, my friend, but I will let you tell me, based upon what I report:

Prior Sanne was killed up in the Emperor's box. I'm not sure who did it, but I think maybe The Tsaesci captain did.

How did we do? Please take copious credit if my observations are correct. Please be gentle with me if they are not.

[treydog]

The boisterous crowd around and above them seemed to shift into a single nameless, faceless mass of jeers and threats that loved them not. The heat of the burning sand in front of them beckoned. Above it all banners depicting the flight of vengeful dragons drew Eesham back to a cave in the Shadowgate Pass, and the others to the Imperial Palace at Po’Tun.

Another example of Destri's remarkable ability with words.

The interleaving of the battle in the Arena with the much more deadly battle afterwards in the Temple is masterful. You again manage to heighten the tension with spare descriptions and crisp dialogue. Much is revealed by the things the “witnesses” seek to conceal.

Talos froze him with a look. “Despite what you may think, my dear Prior, I do not wager on lives. I leave such pursuits to men like you.”

Again, the characters' actions and attitudes are clearly conveyed by the spare descriptions and excellent dialogue.

And we are left to wonder what colossal error the avaricious Prior committed that saw him dead…

[Captain Hammer]

Hoorah for the return of Interregnum!

Loving this new development. Glad to see our dear Prior is now our dearly departed Prior. The faith's militant arm is a nice touch, particularly with regards to the power struggles they're playing. You get a sense of who is stronger than the Temple, who's weaker, who knows it, who doesn't, and how each party deals with that knowledge.

In particular, though:

Lady Varla Direnni: She already plays a dangerous game, and must avoid making further enemies in the faith. The unstated animosity that holds over from the ancient dispute of the militant Alessian Order that was eventually defeated by the Direnni at Glenumbria Moors is left unstated, but particularly apparent in sub-text. Brilliant.

Councilor Synnius Carbo: A man careful with ensuring that the official record shows what he wants it to show, and in particular, that his answers, and even his very presence, is but a courtesy. Deep down, he knows that Skingrad will pay the appropriate fealty to the Empire, and that the Temple's records may prove an important piece of evidence should His Royal Highness find himself sitting in judgment over the case. A man weaker than he would like to be; a man that knows he's weak on some deep level; a man that wants to shore up every defense he has. More subtle than the others, but one that I can identify with more on a realistic level.

Lord Chancellor Farenenre: One who has the emperor's ear. The faith suspects something, but cannot commit, and Farenenre is careful not to hand out clues that might incriminate him of the less than perfect loyalty that he has towards His Imperial Majesty Cuhlecain. Still, an effective bureaucrat that knows how to bend the privileges of his position to his own ends, and a man just as caught up in the tidal wave of events as the unnamed suspect. Another well-chosen witness.

Lord Zurin Arctus, Battlemage of General Talos: An interesting off-shoot here. We see the first time that our Temple Sergeant is willing to openly admit that Arctus does have more clout, and that Arctus is probably the one witness with little to lose by being interviewed. While the others must all hide or obfuscate some weakness or de facto relationship of power, Arctus truly does have a level of power that the Temple can do nothing but acknowledge. Yet the Temple Sergeant approaches this from a philosophical perspective, preferring to handle the issue more directly, and yet Arctus is still somewhat sideways in his approach. While I have the greatest trouble with Arctus' manner, since it seems much more uncharacteristically flippant from your usual approach to the battlemage, it does provide the most entertaining exchange of the four.

All in all, great character write-ups.

In particular, though, I enjoyed the interspersed scenes of Tsaesci gladiatorial combat with the questioning of each witness. Made me all the more glad that the Prior was dead by the time I got to the end. Do you think they could 'forget' to invoke Arkay's Law for the Prior's body. I've got some characters that want to raise a zombie or skeleton of a particularly old specimen...

Captain Hammer – Thank you for the compliments. As an in-game book this story would cover about a hundred volumes! I wonder if Bethesda would pay by the volume? If so, I better keep writing.

Hey, you never know. Bethesda has hired particularly skilled modders for their game design team. Why not somebody making a great piece of in-game literature? Talk about extra-immersiveness...

This post has been edited by Captain Hammer: Dec 5 2010, 07:44 AM

[Destri Melarg]

Clicky.

I apologize to all of my long suffering readers. This short post is not the update that I have been planning, nor is it the one that you have been waiting for. It's just that I feel terrible for not answering your comments to the last chapter that I posted (last year!). Please indulge me while I remedy that.

hautee - Thank you so much! You have no idea how tough this one was to write. The next chapter has been even tougher!

Linara - And now it's been even longer! Sorry about that. The name 'Destri Melarg' seemed like a good fit, so I ran with it.

'Rosa - Sharks with Frickin Laser Beams!

I thought that you of all people would get a kick out of talents as the unit of measure for gold! I am glad that it stood out for you.

Wolf - I can barely read and chew gum at the same time, and here you are operating moving machinery! Brilliant!

mALX -To quote hautee:

'You took the words right out of my thoughts!'

Olen - I honestly haven't decided Farenenre's fate yet. I keep going back and forth betwen three very different ideas. Thank you for pointing out what is my favorite line of the chapter, for all of the reasons that you so ably put to words.

Acadian - I think you've been hanging off that cliff for long enough now, Acadian. It's not really a spoiler if I tell you that you are right.

trey - The late prior's error will be apparent in the next chapter (as soon as I get around to posting it). Thank you for your wonderfully flattering comments!

Cap'n - As I told you I am totally blown away by your character breakdowns. I completely agree with you on the subject of Arctus' flippancy. The intent was to use his manner to show the animosity that exists between the Arcane and the Temple.

_____

Okay, I can't leave it like that. Here for any new readers or those needing a recap (Acadian ) is the story summary that I promised. Enjoy!

The Story So Far:

- The year is 854 of the Second Era and Tamriel is a land divided. In Cyrodiil the fractious clans of Colovians and Nibenese have been brought into an uneasy alliance by the diminutive self-styled Emperor, Cuhlecain. Two years ago his greatest General, a half-breed Atmoran called Talos Stormcrown, defeated a Nord/Breton alliance at the legendary stronghold known as Sancre Tor. The battle itself is shrouded in mystery, but rumors abound that during the battle General Talos displayed the thu’um which caused the Nords allied against him to spontaneously switch sides and secured victory for the nascent Empire. There are also rumors that Talos and his trusted friend, the Imperial Battlemage Zurin Arctus, discovered the long lost Chim-el Adabal, also known as the Amulet of Kings, in the forgotten catacombs of Sancre Tor. There are those who believe that Talos was able to don the Amulet in those darkened halls, confirming his station as dragonborn and true heir to the Ruby Throne of the Empire. In any event, since that battle Talos and Zurin Arctus have actively worked to usurp the throne from Emperor Cuhlecain.

- To the Northwest, in the Illiac Bay, the Isle of Balfiera stands as the last bastion of the High Elves who once dominated all of High Rock, Clan Direnni. From Direnni Tower they are led by the young and energetic Castellan, Aran Direnni, whose dreams of revenge against the descendants of the Slave Queen Alessia are given fuel by news of this fledgling Empire rising in Cyrodiil. To attain his goal of conquest, Aran dispatches his sister Varla, a natural spy and diplomat, to forge alliances with the recently defeated Kings, Counts, and Dukes of High Rock. He then sends her to Hammerfell to propose an alliance with the High King, Thassad. But Hammerfell stands poised on the eve of civil war and will spare no troops to Aran’s cause. As a result Aran forces his youngest sister, a talented mage named Lattia, to open a portal to the daedric realm of Oblivion to secure aid from Clavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the granting of power through ritual invocations and pacts. To carry out her brother’s wishes, Lattia is forced into a pact with Clavicus Vile that she refuses to speak of. With alliances secured in High Rock and Oblivion, Aran sends Varla to the Imperial City to spy on the Emperor and to further alienate him from Talos and Zurin Arctus. He then accompanies Lattia to Glenumbria Moors on the western coast of High Rock and commands her to use her skill to open a portal through time so that he can witness the battle that cost Clan Direnni its station more than three thousand years before. As a result of his vision, Aran decides that magic will be the deciding factor in the battles to come. He decides to seek out the mysterious King of Worms somewhere along Skyrim’s Western Reach to either learn from him or secure his aid. He sends Lattia on to the Isle of Artaeum, so that she may gain knowledge from the legendary Psijic Order.

- In a cave somewhere along the Western Reach the King of Worms has secured the services of a High Rock nightblade named Arnand Desele. In exchange for aid in curing his Altmer wife of vampirism Arnand has agreed to journey to the Isle of Artaeum to steal the Necromancer’s Amulet from the halls of the Psijic Order. After weeks spent on the island of Stros M’Kai Arnand secures passage aboard the Kynreve, a ship captained by the Dunmer pirate Ansu Shin-Ilu. The price he pays for his passage is the rescue of Shin-Ilu’s navigator, an Argonian named Earns-His-Keep, from the Stros M’Kai jail. After a successful escape Shin-Ilu betrays Arnand and leaves him for dead on the Saintsport dock. Arnand is saved by the efforts of Earns-His-Keep, who is indebted to him for the rescue, and the healing skill of Lattia Direnni, whose ship the Pelladil was forced into port at Stros M’Kai by a storm. With Earns-His-Keep acting as the Pelladil’s new navigator, Lattia agrees to take Arnand to Artaeum.

- In Sentinel, the capital of Hammerfell, two knights who stood against General Talos’ army continue to maintain their alliance. Sir Alain of Wayrest and Sir Valdemar of Skyrim know that it wasn’t the thu’um that proved their undoing at Sancre Tor. They know that it was a Breton traitor who removed the magic wards protecting the citadel which allowed Talos and his forces to capture the alliance command and force surrender. Since that day they have tracked the traitor throughout High Rock, desperate to avenge their comrades whose lives were ended at the end of the headsman’s axe. They are in Hammerfell because Alain’s childhood friend, a Knight of the Moon named Sir Casnar, has information on the whereabouts of the one they seek. This information came to Casnar through the auspices of Zurin Arctus, who sees the traitor as the final expendable loose end from Sancre Tor. After a long journey, Alain and Valdemar corner their quarry in the village of Jehanna on the Western Reach. In exacting their revenge an innocent boy is slain by Alain’s hand. To atone for this the two knights resolve to carry out the boy’s wish of venturing south to join the army of their former enemy, General Talos.

- Back in Sentinel Sir Casnar stands as mute witness to his county’s demise. The age old conflict between two groups threatens to tip Hammerfell into civil war. On one side stand the High King’s loyalists, the Crowns. On the other side are the Forebears; descendants of the Ra’Gada or warrior wave that settled Hammerfell after the fall of their original homeland, Yokuda. As a Knight of the Moon it is Casnar’s charge to protect the royal family. But to safeguard a young boy named Cyrus he betrays his knighthood and forces himself into exile. He resolves to travel east, to Cyrodiil, and place his sword into the service of Zurin Arctus and General Talos.

- Far to the East, in the Amber Forest just outside Mournhold, a syffim of four weary Tsaesci are at long last bound for home. They are the immortal, blood-drinking golden serpents of Akavir. For centuries they have acted as guardians to an Empire that no longer exists, bound by oaths made to the Emperor Reman I who spared their lives when Akavir invaded Cyrodiil in the First Era. Vershu, their Captain, has called himself the Chevalier Renald ever since his failure to prevent the assassination of Reman III at the hands of the Morag Tong. In the Amber forest Renald comes across a blind sorceress named Erinwe, who is secretly a manifestation of the Goddess Kynareth. Erinwe tells Renald of Talos and his discovery of the Amulet of Kings. Seeing his oath renewed in the advent of a new dragonborn, Renald and his syffim forego their voyage home and turn west toward Cyrodiil. While journeying through the Valus Mountains, Renald and his syffim encounter Cyrodiil’s last known dragon, Nafaalilargus. Renald enters into a bargain whereby, in exchange for their lives, he and his syffim will introduce Nafaalilargus to the new dragon Emperor. After many weeks of travel Renald and his syffim reach Cyrodiil only to be pressed into service to Cuhlecain, who determines to use them as entertainment for his subjects on the sands of the Arena.

This post has been edited by Destri Melarg: Mar 17 2011, 10:06 AM

[mALX]

YEAH !!!! DESTRI IS BACK !!!!!! WOOO HOOO !!!!!!


WOOOOOOOOOOOT !!!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Mar 17 2011, 12:25 PM

[haute ecole rider]

Welcome back!

Let's hope the act of writing this wonderfully detailed summary of a wonderfully complex story gets the creative juices flowing again. May your well of inspiration fill with the waters of life.

[Grits]

Your story has caused me to return several stacks of library books unread. I’d simply rather spend time with this one. When Arnand slumped to the dock in Saintsport, there was a great deal of shouting, wailing, and slamming shut of laptops in Grits World. I was upset. After a period of sulking, and then mourning I returned to discover I should have just kept reading!! Your story summary makes me want to go back and enjoy it again from the first post. In fact, here I go.

[SubRosa]

I honestly haven't decided Farenenre's fate yet. I keep going back and forth betwen three very different ideas.
Let's see #1- Talos kills him. #2- Cuhlecain kills him. #3 - Farenenre drinks this, and his id goes on a rampage that lays waste to the Imperial City. In the end, only this guy can stop him.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Mar 17 2011, 05:54 PM