Today in Cyrodiil, spoilers version, TES: 4 Oblivion character accounts & stories Options

[Lopov]

@Acadian - Oberon's free of his wrists but he's going to keep them as a souvenir to remind him of his early days in Cyrodiil.

@mirocu - see, Oberon knew that it's better to explain things in advance.

@Grits - thank you! It's interesting to write about events which already transpired but I have to be careful sometimes, I don't want to influence his "game" too much.

--

III

If I were to mention everything that befell me, I could write one hundred entries that’d take place only in the Imperial City. I’ll leave that honor to a line of writers that write my biographies without my knowing. Don’t bother reading them since they’re full of lies. For instance, I never held the Emperor’s hand while he was dying. How could I if I had the amulet in one hand and the sword in another? And I never left the Imperial city riding a pearl white horse. How could I if the stablewoman ate all of them!

But it’s worth mentioning that after getting my irons removed I went to sleep at the “finest inn on the water in all of Cyrodiil”, the Bloated Float, and it actually took me to the open sea. Long story short and one bottle of ale less, a band of self-proclaimed good for nothing Blackwater brigands took over the ship, searching for some treasure that never existed; I killed all of them except their leader who surrendered. These events matter because as a reward I got petty 75 gold which didn’t matter, and the Blackwater Blade which belonged to the brigand leader and it matters since this blade was my primary weapon of choice for quite some time. Capable of absorbing fatigue from my enemies, they would pant during battles while I would feel fit as a runner. Certainly a most useful blade for an ale lover.

Another thing worth mentioning is the Foaming Flask and you’ll never see it mentioned in official biographies. As I was about to leave the town, I noticed a sign of this eponymous inn and felt invited. I ordered a foaming flask and got one. I drank it too, of course. This significant event unfortunately never made it to some book.

--

Urag turned the page but noticed that the next entry, labeled as IV, begins on the next page. "Oh, this one was short. A shame." Skimming through the next two entries the old Orc realized that they were much longer. "Ah, it'll be about Kvatch. Daedroth...interesting. And Martin's finally mentioned. I can't wait." Urag put the book down, it was enough for one day, and he didn't want to read it all too quickly. He remembered a rather famous painting of Oberon at the sea and assumed it must be about his adventures that took place on the Bloated Float. Having locked the book in a lectern, the old Orc casted a candlelight spell and descended the stairs leading to the basement, in search of the painting.

[Renee]

Thanks you all, and have some egg nog.

Grits: yes, RG3 was an orphan up in Skyrim, and was given some other name as a child. Her mother was RG2, one of my PS3 characters who died fighting Umaril. I had no idea what her real name is until the other day, when I thought of Xena, whose real name is Lucy Lawless. So yeah, Lucitia.

Lopov: See that's clever. The tales in other biographies tell of Oberon being this gallant knight who rides off on a white stallion, and holds the Emperor's hand, all this other BS. Meanwhile, none of it is true!

Well at least the tales don't say anything about him getting his friend to stab the emperor, or eating breakfast with him, or getting depressed and slumping on his chair & table, or any such nonsense. Right?

[Acadian]

Ah yes, Snack Grabber, the horse-eating Orsimeri stable maid. Urag is such a neat NPC and a great choice to use as our 'facilitator'.

[Lopov]

@Renee - regarding differences between official and unofficial, I'll tell you of one real event - there was a knight in Serbia and one day he fell from his horse during some battle and was gravely injured, he died in a matter of minutes. He was known to be a very vulgar person but nonetheless his official biography states that his final words were "Protect my Serbia, my brothers." but unofficial sources claim that he said sth like"Fokke that stupid horse!".

@Acadian - it's funny because by using Better Cities, stables of the IC are no longer empty, so I had to roleplay that the Orc ate all buyable horses but left the already owned ones alone.

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IV

Jauffre said once that he didn’t think much of me when he saw me for the first time. I can’t blame him – my hair was bedraggled, I stank of Cyrodiilic brandy, naturally I had a hangover and on the top of it, I was an escaped prisoner claiming that the Emperor gave me the Amulet of Kings. Nonetheless, he believed my crazy story and trusted me enough to send me for Martin. I was afraid that he’ll give me some Blade as a companion to watch over me and shoot more than a mere glance each time I’d drink ale, but none of this happened. And better so, because I’m used to operating alone.

Sometimes I wonder how things would turn out if I didn’t leave the amulet at the Weynon Priory. This reckless action on my part was responsible for a chain of events which later followed, yet back then it was impossible to predict them. So after leaving the amulet in Jauffre’s hands, I helped myself to some arrows and a pair of leather boots from Jauffre’s supplies but the best reward was Brandy the horse which Prior Maborel gave me.

Brandy wasn’t his name but since he lacked one, I called him like that and he seemed to like it. And why not, it’s a good name; I bet he was the only horse named Brandy in entire Cyrodiil. As Brandy and I left the Priory, heading to Kvatch through the Colovian Highlands, I felt useful after a long time. As I wrote above, I was once a good agent before I gave in to drinking and got involved in some shady business, yet now a chance presented to restore my good name. To once again become someone - more than just a mere courier, as I was for the past few years.

Today I dare to say that I achieved at what aimed for.

Back to the 3rd Era – we went through the Colovian Highlands because Mythic Dawn definitely had its eyes on all main roads, so going through forest and plains was a better alternative. We arrived to Kvatch in only two days – the first night we stopped outside the Infested Mine which lived up to its name, since it was heavily infested with marauders. I rarely admit that some battle is tough but warlords of the Infested Mine made me sweat and bleed but in the end it was worth it because they packed some heavily enchanted sets of armor, which I later sold for a hefty sum of septims in Bruma. Poor Brandy could barely move, encumbered with heavy armor of all kinds.

The following night I was about to rent a room at the Gottshaw Inn. But as I went to the stables to take a bottle of brandy from Brandy’s saddlebag, I looked in the direction of Kvatch. At first everything seemed normal but then I noticed a burned tree. And another. And another. As I stepped on a rock to get a better view, I noticed that every single tree outside Kvatch’s walls is burned. Something was wrong. Such occurrence could be completely natural but I knew it wasn’t. Mehrunes Dagon, Jaws of Oblivion, Bastard son, Hurry to Kvatch – these and many other thoughts came to my mind as I announced a change of plan to Brandy and hastily rode east towards Kvatch.

[Acadian]

I'm enjoying the reflections of Oberon as he (and Brandy) make their way to Kvatch. Excellent name for the horse!

[Renee]

He was a courier then? A courier who went wayward. I see now.

Yes, I'm really glad he didn't get stuck with some blades who'd shoot mere glances with their eyes, very true. Nice touch. It would suck for him to be around a bunch of teetotalers.

[SubRosa]

Oberon was Courier Six!

[Lopov]

@Acadian - Brandy stands short for Cyrodiilic Brandy. I essentialized him to make sure it doesn't perish too soon.

@Renee - he was a successful agent at first but his career suffered a downfall and he became some sort of courier.

@SubRosa -

--

V

I wouldn’t need to write that Kvatch was a massacre, every book that mentions the battle, states it like one hundred times. But I need to write down that for years rumors have been circulating about people that apparently participated in the battle for Kvatch and survived it. It’s all lies.

I write it here and now, and Martin in the sky is my witness, that only Savlian Matius and I were the only survivors of the battle. Every other Kvatch guard died, as died all soldiers of an Imperial patrol that came to help. If I meet anyone claiming that he fought in Kvatch and survived, I’ll personally break his nose and cut his lying tongue in half in Savlian’s and my name. Then I’ll go to jail to serve my time.

I don’t brag when I say that I did most of the “work” in the battle. Savlian was a decent fighter but a clannfear knocked him unconscious and I was the only one still standing. I wasn’t sure whether I will make it out of Kvatch alive. Even before, in the plane of Oblivion I had a battle with a hungry Daedroth that wanted to eat me and for a second I already saw my corpse eternally rotting in Dagon's realm.

For years I’ve been asked stupid questions about what was I thinking, when I stepped in the plane of Oblivion for the first time. I don’t mean to disappoint but I didn’t admire its dark towers, pools of lava or reddish flora, I was busy saving my own life from the afore-mentioned Daedroth and I could rely only on myself and my Blackwater Blade. My only thoughts afterwards were that there was a lot of red color in the realm.

At that point the battle against Daedra became personal for me. Determining an enemy helps me focus on my goal and I declared Mehrunes Dagon as my enemy - I felt that with every fallen Daedra I hurt his essence. I knew it wasn’t true but it helped me fighting on. Later, when I found out that it was Mankar Camoran who helped Dagon in opening the gates, he became my marked-for-death enemy.

The battle inside the Daedric realm and consequently in Kvatch is one of my longer periods of life without tasting a drop of alcohol. I’m not sure exactly but the overall battle lasted about two days and I didn’t sleep for a minute in between. Even when it was all over, it didn’t feel safe staying around Kvatch. Fortunately Martin was a clever one, of course I had to convince him to follow me but my friend soon realized that he’s still endangered.

Both of us on Brandy’s back, we left the smoldering town behind and headed back to Jauffre.

[Acadian]

Wonderful account of Oberon's critical role at Kvatch as he helps both the courageous Savlian Matius and Brother Martin.

Savlian Matius. When it comes to a noble and selfless hero, he is the gritty real deal.

[Renee]

Fantastic recollections there. Indeed, all the rumors are false. Let Oberon shed the light!

[Lopov]

Thank you!

@Acadian - I expected your comment regarding Savlian, since we know that he holds a special place in Buffy's heart.

@Renee - as much as Oberon likes to brag, he actually was the only person that saved Kvatch. In my previous playthroughs more soldiers usually survived but Francesco's mod introduced some high-leveled creatures like grown-up clannfears and scamps (not stunted but bigger ones), and soldiers weren't leveled enough to match them.

--

VI

Hail Martin Septim!

I remember these words as if I heard them yesterday. Unquestioning loyalty and respect with which the Blades greeted Martin was truly something to admire. Jauffre didn’t need to ask me twice to join the Blades – though I pretended to be apathetic about it, I immediately accepted the invitation. It’s a dream of every agent to join a prominent order as the Blades.

I hope you’re at least partially informed about events during the Oblivion Crisis because I won’t write in details about well-known facts like that the Amulet of Kings was stolen from the Weynon Priory, and that Jauffre and me escorted Martin to the Cloud Ruler Temple, the fortress of the Blades in Cyrodiil. Jauffre sent a few messengers to various towns to gain information about mysterious assassins, back then we still didn’t know that they’re called the Mythic Dawn, and during that time I had a chance to get back in shape. I only admitted it to Martin back then but my grand ego was deeply hurt during the battle of Kvatch when I realized that years of merrily drinking had its consequences and I was no longer as skilled in combat as I thought.

An Akaviri katana, engraved with my own name, was given to me; a gift to every new Blade. I spent a lot of hours practicing with it, making a slow but steady progress. But then, as so many times before, I screwed it up.

It was supposed to be a pleasant trip to Bruma, just Brandy and me. I had a lot of expensive equipment to sell and I intended to have ale or two before heading back to the Temple. But in Olav’s Tap and Tack I met Alval Uvani and he hurled some insult at me – I don’t recall it in details anymore but I can go mad in a second if someone’s rude to me without any apparent reasons. I asked him whether his words were directed at me, and he warned me to back off before he gets nasty. However, I got nasty before him and punched him straight into his ashen nose, sending him flying backwards over a table. He got up surprisingly fast and returned a favor by striking me with flashing sparks. And then our fight was over because a guard came running to the inn.

Guess who was ordered to stop in the name of the Imperial Law? Correct, it was Oberon! Trying to explain to the guard, what it was all about was pointless, just like arguing with women – they always win. Uvani was deviously smiling as the guard was putting wrist irons on my hands but promised me that we will see each other again and there won’t be guards to help me. I returned the promise and as it happened, we had indeed met again. The Black Horse Courier made sure that entire Cyrodiil knew about my imprisonment – “The Hero of Kvatch arrested in Bruma!” A jailor even brought the special edition to my cell.

Upon release, Jauffre said that it never happened in the history of the Blades that some member, especially new one, was arrested because of a tavern fight. Still, there were more important things to be taken care of and meeting Baurus in the Imperial City was my new assignment. Supposedly he gained some new information regarding the Emperor’s assassins and I was sent down to assist him.

[Acadian]

I don't know how anyone could possibly blame someone for punching Alval Ulvani! Oberon should have gotten a medal from the Blades for that instead of wrist irons!

[Lopov]

And since I use a mod that increases bounties, Oberon had to spent ten days in prison for the assault. Another reason to hate Uvani more.

--

VII

If I (until now) underestimated the threat which Oblivion gates possibly presented to Cyrodiil, I was forced to change my mind when I stumbled upon not one, but two gates located east and west of Aleswell. Since I considered myself as the most capable man in Cyrodiil when it comes to closing the gates, I didn’t hesitate entering the Daedric realm. This was another chance to make a name for myself, to show the Blades that their newest member is more than a mere tavern brawler.

Closing these two was much easier than the one in Kvatch, not only was the realm “on the other side” smaller in size but there were less dangerous Daedra lurking around. I was richer for two sigil stones and some rather valuable Daedric equipment, but thanks to it I arrived to the Imperial City much later than planned. Once Baurus explained what my next assignment was, I understood why Jauffre sent Me to the Imperial City. While most Blades were primarily warriors, I was first an agent and then a warrior and finding out more about the Mythic Dawn required someone able to wield more than just a blade.

Jauffre’s trust was well placed and I successfully acquired all four books of the Mythic Dawn Commentaries and met their “Sponsor”, who turned out to be Mankar’s son Raven. Raven was in a possession of the fourth book and the only way to get it was to kill him. What is worth mentioning is that Raven in fact didn’t die at this point, since I later met him once again in Camoran’s Paradise, more alive than ever. Nonetheless, I took the final book from his corpse (or whatever it was) and now I had all clues to find out the location of Dagon’s shrine in Cyrodiil.

It was good seeing Baurus again, though we went on each other’s nerves in the prison, at least until the Emperor didn’t die, we now didn’t need to force ourselves to work together, it was a pleasure for both of us.

Another significant event worth writing down is that after Baurus and I parted ways and he headed back to Martin at the Cloud Ruler Temple, I made my way out of sewers through basement which turned out to belong to Dynari Amnis. While most residents would accuse me of trespassing, I was a welcome guest of Dynari since she belonged to the Thieves Guild as well and was obviously familiar with all members. So instead of yelling for guards she invited me to a dinner.

The dinner gave me new energy for my mission ahead and the very same day I left the Imperial City, heading for Lake Arrius, the location of Mythic Dawn cultists but the back of my mind was reserved for Dynari Amnis.

[Acadian]

Oberon's moving right along! Two gates, four books and one case of Dynari infatuation (easy to understand).

[Renee]

I am finally reading your Oberon tales, so I write my analysis here. "analysis". Nice, so he joins the Blades. Cool. It's nice to see somebody sticking up for the Empire, and attempting to save Tamriel from Oblivion.

I like how he says "you probably know all this so I won't repeat it", as though he knows about the other references (other books and stories) that are out there. His world is firmly set in the reality which is .

Ha he keeps talking about his ego. He's sort of insecure, right? I bet Oberon has some Leo in his horoscope. :sorcerer: He's got a lot of pride and valiance.

Trying to explain to the guard, what it was all about was pointless, just like arguing with women – they always win.

Good one.

Whoa, is that the same Raven as your character from 3 years ago?

This post has been edited by Renee: Jan 8 2016, 01:32 AM

[Lopov]

@Acadian - Oberon can't complain, not only was the woman whose house he trespassed in, beautiful but she belonged to the same guild as he.

@Renee - nope, that's not the same Raven, my Raven (Raimond Venderaux) left Cyrodiil after he saved Cyrodiil from Mannimarco but was expelled from the Mages Guild.

--

VIII

I met Mankar Camoran for the first time in caverns of Lake Arrius, at the shrine of Mehrunes Dagon. I was posing as a Mythic Dawn Initiate, standing only a few feet away from his altar. I saw him only for a few minutes, since his speech was about to end by the time I arrived but I noticed the Amulet of Kings on his neck. A stupid thought struck me at that moment: was Mankar the Emperor’s son as well? Of course he wasn’t but even today nobody can explain how he was able to wear the amulet.

I couldn’t even think about getting the amulet from him because he immediately left the shrine through some sort of teleportation magic (mark and recall perhaps?) and returned to his home, the Paradise. Then chaos ensued, thanks to me. I was supposed to kill Jeelius, the Argonian priest tied at Dagon’s altar, to officially become a member of the Mythic Dawn. Since I cut his ropes and freed him instead, we were immediately attacked by cultists led by Mankar’s daughter Ruma, another undying child of Mankar’s. She died on that day but in fact she didn’t, and just as her brother Raven, I later met her once again in the Paradise. Neither she nor Raven made it alive out of THAT battle.

Since retrieving the amulet was out of question, my best lead to follow was the Mysterium Xarxes, the book supposedly written by Dagon himself. I snatched it and together with Jeelius fought my way out of the caverns. There was a horde of cultists lurking down there but some of them were at least smart enough to avoid us while others fought to their death, hoping to live a better life in the afterlife without having the faintest idea that Mankar Camoran couldn’t care less about them. Once outside, we parted ways with Jeelius and though I immediately wanted to return to the Cloud Ruler Temple, I noticed another Oblivion Gate close to Cheydinhal. And I just couldn’t resist closing it.

This post has been edited by Lopov: Jan 9 2016, 10:20 AM

[Acadian]

Heh, I figure many a lorista has pondered how Mankar could wear the Amulet of Kings. Freeing Jeelius generates an exciting battle indeed. Glad they made it out okay.

[Grits]

Glad to hear that Oberon was able to save Jeelius from sacrifice and get them both out alive. Good observation about Mankar Camoran wearing the Amulet of Kings. I like that Oberon’s explanation is simply that some things are not known even to this day.

[Lopov]

Thank you both!

I had to make Jeelius essential, else he wouldn't make it out alive. Francesco's mod levels up some enemies way above our levels and a lot of NPCs can't match them so it's possible that some Mythic Dawn Assassin would be low-leveled but another would be the highest possible. So if the game cheats by reviving Ruma and Raven Camoran, I cheated by essentializing Jeelius.

--

IX

By the time I arrived back to Bruma, I was becoming quite famous. Not only because I was the “man who was closing the gates to Oblivion” but because of a little trick which I often performed in shops.

Sigil stones from Oblivion were more than just core of the gates, each of them had magical effects confined within and enchanting any kind of equipment with them, whether a common ring or a valuable cuirass, was extremely easy, even for an enchanting idiot like myself. That’s what I did in front of various merchants – I’d buy some cheap item like a pair of doeskin shoes at Borba’s store in Cheydinhal and enchant it with magic from a sigil stone, making it possible to see better at night while wearing these shoes. Of course I sold these shoes for a good price back to Borba and she definitely sold them for an even better price to anyone willing to buy them.

Thus my fame made it to ears of countess Narina of Bruma, and she invited me to her castle. I’ve already been there before, as a prisoner yet now I was a guest of welcome. I left her waiting for a few days before answering the invitation, just to let her know that agent Oberon doesn’t indulge every whim of nobility. But it’s thanks to this particular visit that I acquired a home in Cyrodiil. Narina was a ruthless negotiator but so was I (or so I thought). She wanted me to acquire the Draconian Madstone, the fabled artifact of Akaviri origins, hidden in Fort Pale Pass, and in return she offered me another powerful Akaviri artifact. I gladly accepted her proposition but I wanted another reward. I wanted Her.

Not Narina of course. It was when I was escorting Martin to the Cloud Ruler Temple, that I saw Her for the first time. Standing proudly on the small slope roughly northeast of Bruma, covered in mist. I’m not writing about a woman, I’m writing about a spacious three-floored manor. It was in a perfect location – close to the city but not inside its walls. And it had a balcony with a view to kill for. When I saw Her for the first time, I knew that She’ll be mine someday. As residents of Bruma told me, this beauty was called Snowdrift Manor and it belonged to some wealthy alchemist who died years ago after mages from the Arcane University struck him down since he was levitating which of course wasn’t allowed.

Since then his manor remained vacant, firstly because it was very expensive and secondly, because it was believed that the ghost of the flying alchemist still lived inside. Narina seemed surprised at first but weighing her options, she realized that Bruma can benefit from my presence. Not only will she get her precious Draconian Madstone, but having a neighbor capable of closing Oblivion gates, was “healthy” for Bruma. We sealed the deal and in two days I returned with the madstone. Obviously all scouts and adventurers sent before me to find Pale Pass, were stupid, because finding it wasn’t difficult at all. As I handed the madstone to Narina, she gladly handed me back the Ring of the Vipereye and a key to my home in Cyrodiil – Snowdrift Manor.

Signing a few papers in the Castle Great Hall, on the 3rd of Frostfall 3€433 I officially became a resident of Cyrodiil, a citizen of Bruma, a lord of Snowdrift Manor.

[Acadian]

Hee! When Oberon said he learned a trick with sigil stones, I had visions of him juggling three of them at a time in a tavern!

Woot! A new home. And not just any home but a Manor. And it never hurts to be in good with the local Count(ess).