The modern structure of the guard can largely be attributed to reforms made by Emperor Uriel septim I in the year 3E 57. Where before many cities relied on civilian organizations supported by local burghers to keep the peace Uriel made a city's guard an extension of the nobility's power so that they may be better regulated and less susceptible to merchants coin, funding them based off a tariff on merchants goods traveling in and out of the city. There's been many changes to the structure over the years and every city has its own quirks, but its largely the same. Winterhold is no different, being subservient to the Jarl while also having ties into the college.
You had hoped that sheogorath would make good use of this information when you requested his aid in advancing your own followers within the city. Perhaps he could have arranged for the proper situations to happen for them to show their skill, perhaps he may have slipped in approvals for promotion. Instead, he caused a fire in the frozen city. Whale fat that burned to keep the city from freezing over had been misplaced by some merchants houses, merchants that the wardens for the college district and slums had been trying to deal with for some time for evidence of smuggling and forgery of imperial trade edicts.
Nobody had died from these fires, no one important at least, but the merchants themselves had suffered no small number of damages, personal and financial, and in their anger, they happened to accuse the current captains of their respective districts. Of course, sheo was pulling their strings to make them think this way, but with that seed of discontent between the two, he was able to work wonders on their minds. The commander of the watch just so happened to choose your guardsmen within the cult, Ahti Laakkonen and Ludiv Burres, in charge of investigating these claims, sheo leading them through an entire melodrama of his own concoction. He has the entire thing scripted out as he's more than happy to show you, making you watch the events unfold along with him acting as narrator.
In the end, after your guards have resolved an all too convoluted mystery thrown together haphazardly by Sheogorath, one that he has littered the script for on various shelves in a moment of jest and what he thinks is humorous. Still, in the end and with the early retirements of these captains the commander of the guard has placed them in the vacant roles as reward. Now they hold key positions within the city to help secure and keep safe your interests in the city.
---
King Felsimar stands in the forum outside the reclaimed imperial fortress within the city that had become his impromptu seat of government. He had left the running of the estate to one of his sons to allow himself to focus on his new work as king, as well as to provide at least a semblance of separation between his work as leader of the dunmer and the business of one of the high houses. Before him stand large crowds of Dunmer, from the citizens of his city, representatives of the houses, various members of the ashlanders, and even the cloaked preachers pf Jyggalag.
He had announced this address to the kingdom some time ago, but he had not anticipated such a large gathering. He had the guard doubled, even placing some members of the soon to be new house within the crowd, in the case of any of these members being displeased by his proclamations or if they had been sent by his rivals. Normally he would trust in his arms and armor, but one of his advisors convinced him to dress more formally, replacing his cuirass with silks and fur though he kept a mace at his hip.
"Good people of Morrowind, I thank you for granting me your time today when so many are still rebuilding. I can only hope that these hard times shall pass over us, but mere hope is not enough. We must act if we are to dig ourselves out from the grave we had been abandoned to by the empire, and I aim to reward those who have been paving the path towards so as well as issue proclamations that may further our progress.
First, I declare that house Sadras shall be granted the status of a new great house to take the place of Hlaalu, a reward for their great service in our war with the argonians." With those words, as well as the signing of a document on a podium in front of you, cheers erupt from the newly raised nobles of house Sadras. The service that had earned them this position had been their efforts as scouts and spies against the argonians, as well as their loyalty to house Redoran. The king extolls their Deeds for some time, of their efforts to sabotage the lizard armies and the lives they had saved through their scouting, avoiding their less scrupulous deeds.
"Secondly, I would issue an offer of citizenship to both those mercenaries who had fought alongside us as well as to the ashlanders who had been displaced by the devastation of Vvardenfell." it is unlikely many of either would accept, mercenaries being a wandering lot and the bad blood the ashlanders seem to have with everyone, but Morrowind needs new blood with so much already spilled by war and cataclysm. He has greater hopes for the ashlanders to join seeing as their former lands are covered in a thick layer of obsidian and ash, inhospitable to say the least. The ashlanders grumble among themselves in the crowd, possibly debating whether to take up the kings offer, and leave once they think the king has nothing more relating to them to say.
"Thirdly I would legalize the worship of those gods that helped us where others would not. I would have Prince Jyggalag added to the good Daedra for the aid he provided, as well as granting his followers the right to establish new temples in his name, to proselytize, and to freely worship him within Morrowind. For Sheogorath I would renounce his former wrongs, though he shall not leave the house of troubles. His worship shall be allowed, however his followers shall not be granted leave to establish new temples, instead being granted permission to make use of old temples that litter Morrowind."
The matter of faith had become complicated in Morrowind recently. The final disappearance of the tribunal as vivec left morrowind and the other gods found their deaths, the crash of Baar Dau, and their failure to aid their people from the invading lizardmen left the dunmer even more bitter than their abandonment by the empire. Some wanted to forget the tribunal, others even wished to punish those that still followed the "traitor gods". Many more even find themselves turning towards the old gods, the "house of reclamations" as they now call it as they take back their place of worship. When the cloaked priests of Jyggalag came to him asking for full rights of worship within Morrowind, Felsimar saw a means to hitch himself to the resurgent faith and empower it.
There was the unfortunate matter of Sheogorath however. None could deny he had worked alongside Jyggalag in aiding Morrowinds warriors, though he is still a member of the house of troubles. Few trust him, and many still believe he is the cause of Baar Daus fall, though his followers claim that a lie spread by the tribunal. The king would not acknowledge him at all if given the choice, but some among his kingdom might question the legitimacy of Jyggalags worship if he wasn't acknowledged as well, so he gave a more limited legality to the mad one.
"Fourth, for all those who lost their lands to the red year or those who become new citizens, I offer land. House Dres and Indoril both lost much of their plantations and factories, even full towns and villages, and so I purchased it from them, now to freely give it to any who promise to work these fields and sustain them. There shall be limited taxes upon these homesteads for the first......."
+10 power, +30 faith
You have enough faith to claim a new subdomain
[] Law.
[] Civilization.
[] Wishes
[] crystals
[] The Moon
[] write in
---
This is where you stop listening, lord jyggalag. Your priests have done their job wonderfully in making your worship legal among the dunmer, and you care little for this mortal kings current political maneuvers and administration. Instead you turn your eye towards your willful champion. You granted him a period of freedom. Freedom to pursue his own goals and desires however he saw fit.
These desires have led him halfway across Cyrodil, using your swords true power though not for its true purpose. He seeks to track down the elusive blades, using the sword to follow their past from their now abandoned sanctum of cloud ruler temple to wherever they have hid, which he believes is the slowly rebuilding city of Kvatch. Clever of them, you will admit, as it would be easy to be lost within the reconstruction and new life flowing into the ruins. Your champion has some spark of hope that they will be able to show him some prospective new emperor to take hold of the reins of the empire from Potentate Ocato, though you suspect he will be sorely disappointed.
---
You find yourself wandering through the half-built streets of Kvatch, passing between gaps in the scaffolding and cranes or around walls that have been built in the time since your quarry had passed through here, Kasur Aurenon. The pale blade rests at your hip, rather than over your shoulder, so that you may glance upon its edge as you so slightly remove it from its sheath, trusting in the visions it has granted you. The sun just now begins to break over the horizon, painting these dark construction yards in warmth and golden light that pierces the cold fog. You would enjoy it if you werent relying on the shade for some measure of secrecy.
No matter. Be it dark or light you must find the blade you have been tracking. Dark haired, on the short side, hair crawling halfway back on his head, he looks like any other bureaucrat, but you've seen in the past what he's capable of. Twice now you have followed these shades of the past, twice now you have failed to find your query, one sailed off to who knows where and the other assassinated by some elf. You can only hope this one still lives.
It is then that you notice this blade enter one of the temporary buildings made for the architects in charge of the reconstruction, a short and squat building made from brick and wood. An unusual place for your query, but you trust in the blades visions. You go to its door, carved with a symbol of the imperial architects, and knock. You were raised with some manners after all. The current owner, however, apparently has not.
You knock again, this time calling out "Good architect, may we speak? I believe you may be aquainted with a man I seek." this time you hear the shuffling of feet inside, the sound of something being picked up inside, perhaps a lantern or, if you were to be paranoid, a weapon. you wait patiently as he shuffles to the door, only to find something sharp poking into your back as the door opens, an arm grabbing you from behind. You can see the architect, at least who you think is the architect, holding a claw hammer in front of you as the door fully opens.
"We may speak inside, now move before there's an unfortunate accident." the man pressing presumably a dagger into your back says, prodding you forwards into the shack and closing the door behind you. He takes the pale blade from your side and tosses it to the architect who places it on a nearby counter. "Get the chair and some rope Cassio." the short one, likely the blade, says. "That really isn't necessary. I assure you I only wish to talk. You've already disarmed me so I hold no threat to you." you try to reason with them only to be shoved into the chair as the architect, Cassio, begins to bind your hands behind the back of the chair."
"What makes you think you were a threat with your oversized sword?" the blade says, finally entering your field of vision. It's definitely the same man you had been following, now dressed like a simple laborer, a loose white tunic and brown cloth breeches paired with a belt and sturdy boots. He places is dagger into one of these boots and moves to the other side of the architects shack, pulling out a long curved blade of foreign design from behind a curtain.
He steps towards you, keeping the sheathed sword at his hip, ready to be drawn. "Your name, if you'd be so kind." He says, voice dripping with venom and sarcasm. "Kasue Aurenon, former legionnaire of the empire in Elinhir, I came here to-" in a moment the sword is out of its sheath and at your neck. "I only asked for your name. If I want to know anything else, I will ask it. Now, what led you here? Were you sent by someone?" you are starting to dislike the man. "I came following your trail, and I came here of my own volition."
"Hmph. My trail or my past?" You try to hide the surprise on your face, but his own expression tells you it doesn't quite work out. "What? You think knowledge of a new Daedric champion running across nirn wouldn't reach us? The only question is why your god sent you here." You glare his way but that only gets the sword pressed further into your neck. "He is not my god. He Is a patron who has provided me support in exchange for service. That is as much as I care to deal with the Daedra. As I said I came here of my own volition, seeking you out as you are the only ones who I feel can help me."
He withdraws the sword, though not without leaving a trickle of blood dripping down your neck. "And what makes you think the blades would wish to help you, some failed legionnaire whose become pawn to a resurgent Daedra?" while you've been talking with the blade the architect has been nervously pacing, hammer still in hand, looking to you, the blade, the door, and the window. He isn't made for this sort of thing. "Because we want the same thing you and I. We both want an emperor seated on the ruby throne. If anyone were to know how to find a new emperor would it not be his guardians?" You say, trying to convince him, only to be answered by a scoff.
"You didn't pay near enough attention to history as a lad, did you? The blades are not the guardians and servants of the emperor. We are the guardians and servants of the dragon born. While we may have served it as an extension of the dragonborn, we hold no loyalty to the empire." you let his treasonous words slip past you as you begin to speak. "But if there were another dragonborn, would they be the next in line to be emperor, to lay claim to the blood of Alessia? Surely you would wish for them to take their place?" Your words remove the smug grin from his face, leaving only anger hidden under a face of calm.
"If that were their wish, we would do anything in our power to see it come to fruition. But there's one important piece of information you miss lad. There is no dragonborn. Not anymore." the words hit you hard. Too hard. You refuse to believe them without proof, without evidence. "How can there be no dragonborn? Aren't they blessed by Akatosh? What reason would he have to turn his back on us now and leave us without a worthy emperor?"
"Do you think we have anymore answers than you have? That we know why Akatosh acts this way? We have sought out the greybeards, the moth priests, cults great and small, and none can give us any answer. So if you truly seek an emperor, you shall find none who bear a dragons soul and blood." he glares at you, but you can tell he isn't lying, or that he at least believes in what he says. Damnit, Damn it all. You didn't come all this way to leave with nothing. "There must be something, someone then. To hell with dragons blood, someone must be seated on the throne and the blades should know of worthy candidates, if not from your members across the continent then at least from your time in the imperial palace!"
He glares at you once more, though it quickly leaves his face as he shakes his head. "Cassio, cut him free. He's too much of a fool to be anyone's agent." he says, tossing the nervous architect his dagger as he grabs the pale blade from where it rested. As soon as your cut free he shoves it into your arms than shoves you through the door. You try to protest, but he still has his sword ready to be drawn. Once you are out the door you turn to argue with him, to demand some kind of answer, but he speaks first.
"Last we heard the imperial council seeks to elevate a nibenese witchblade to the throne. He's influential among the nobles and wealthy and they seek to make him a puppet. A Colovian warlord and bandit by the name of Titus Mede makes connections now to see if he can take it by force. Eddar Olin, a general of the legion responsible for elsewyr, also makes claims that he could steer the empire right. The Voclain family of daggerfall have not thrown out any claims of yet, but they did marry a non inheriting daughter of the Septim bloodline in exchange for offering emperor pelagius the second vast stores of coin. Theres likely others who could throw their hat in the ring but I don't care for this squabbling over a throne. Do with this information what you will and forget I was ever here. And don't worry, the gods made all fools lucky so you may just have a shot."
It's with these words that he closes the door on you, leaving you standing outside as the sun begins to rise, slightly obscured by growing storm clouds spreading from, the east over the imperial city. While this isn't what you had hoped for, it's something to investigate. Hopefuly one of these leads will turn into a good emperor. You look towards the rising sun and draw your sword fully from its sheath and gaze upon its blade in the light. You see this city burning once more, in the midst of a siege while still in the midst of reconstruction. If you do not act this will be not only this citys fate, but that of the rest of cyrodil if not nirn. You sheath the blade and throw it over your shoulder and march off, mentally preparing yourself for what you must do.
---
With your return all but proclaimed, there's no need for restraint, no need for caution, and no need for subtlety. You won't have to slowly spread out, stealing away slivers of oblivion. No, instead you can finally, fully unleash your daedra onto the surrounding planes, barring those held by sheogorath of course. You split your forces three ways, one group held by yourself, another by the giant, and another under the command of one of your pawns, and all three march off, enforcing your will upon the land until it obeys.
If any Daedra objects, it is slain or beaten, left to rot, run off, or fall in line. Any who surrender are allowed to remain while swearing fealty to yourself and no others. There's a few small obstacles to your expansion, groups gathered against you, others even try to entreat the other princes, but no aid comes to them, either a sign that your fellow princes care little for them, for you, or still wish to observe. Regardless, quite some territory is taken, leaving yourself and your Daedra satisfied.
---
Once more you take up the quill, once again you put the worlds history to paper. You write of the many actions on nirn that your fellow daedra have taken, from molag and mehrunes faield attempts at conquest, to mephala and namiras corruptions, and too azuras and meridias attempts to impose their wills on the mortals. Its all the harder for them now with this firmament of akatoshs creation, borne of the septim bloodlines sacrifice. Harder, but not impossible.
You've heard how boethiah whispers in the ears of men, to throw off the chains of the empire, of their local rulers, of any and all authority in these strange times. Malacath urges the orcs to build up the defenses of Orsimar, feeling deep in his bones an impending war, yet another in the unending foul luck that seems to infect his chosen people. Whether they will succeed in defending themselves this time, who can say. That sniveling lizard Peryite crafts plague and infestation, feeling the approaching chaos and ready for his sickness to spread like wildfire in the battlefields of Nirn.
They itch for conflict, not just the princes but the mortals. It wasn't merely a solitary clash between the lizards and elves, that was merely a prelude for what is to come, and it shall come soon.
You have reached the first tier of your library and gained more power. What form that takes is up to you.
[] A new prediction on the future of nirn
[] Some of the tomes you have written hold power, send one to nirn as an artifact.
[] you may roll twice for an action each turn, taking the better result
---
With the pact with Sheo you can have him do an action for you, still rolling for it of course, or give +25 to a roll
What shall you do in Nirn? Choose one
[] A new champion: with the artifacts at your disposal it may be a good idea to seek another champion. Seek out those you had once found as well as new blood who may be worthy of your boons. Dc 45
-[] What artifact will you grant them?
[] the snow elves return: King Felsimar has made good use out of the Jyggylags faith in morrowind so far, especially with your priests. Perhaps he might officially recognize and support the return of the Falmer on Nirn? DC 80
[] Wherever the wind blows: a common practice among Daedric princes with their artifacts is to toss them upon nirn and see where they end up, letting a champion be naturally attracted to it. That or to cause chaos depending on the inclinations of the daedra in question. You might do the same. No dc but there will be a roll to see what happens with the artifact
[] The gifts of man: many artifacts already litter the lands of Skyrim, one needs only look. Of course, looking doesn't mean you would have the artifact for yourself, you would still need to send someone to collect it, but if you could find something you could imbue with your will, spreading your influence would be all the easier. DC65
-the higher the roll the better the item you find.
[] write in. up to qm discretion
---
What shall your champion do?
[] Hunt down the brotherhood, phase one: while the brotherhood exists all over Tamriel, you want them gone from at least Skyrim. Send your champion to snuff out their presence. Dc60
[/] Hunt for an artifact: There's many artifacts on Nirn unclaimed by any gods. Were you to discover one, you could send the champion to collect it. Dc55
-Needs an artifact to hunt
[] Let him pursue his own goals: Kasur has goals of his own. Let him pursue them and perhaps grow stronger from the effort. There is no dc, just a roll to see how things went for your champion.
[] Investigate the Thalmor: you know that the Thalmor have plans that would cause chaos on Nirn, but their end goals still elude you. send your champion to investigate Alinor and disrupt their plans. Dc65
[] write in
---
What shall you do in oblivion?
[] Conquest. While your power is diminished, it would not be impossible to find some corner of oblivion held by a weaker Daedra for you to take for yourself. So long as you don't make too much noise, none would assume you were there. DC60
[] seek out subjects. Daedra are inherently creatures of chaos, but many value strength over ideals. Convince them of your strength, and they will follow. DC70
[] Seek out the other planes. Many are the planes of oblivion, and many are their occupants. You know enough of your kin to know where to avoid, so you could find allies or a realm ripe for the taking. DC70
-the higher the roll, the better plane you find
[] Find allies. Without the might you once had, you need allies so that you might not be blindsided. seek others out so you might make an alliance.
-[]who will you seek an alliance with? different Daedra will have different DC's, and you need to seek specific Daedra
[] diplomatic efforts: friends and allies can be difficult to keep, so better to maintain contact so that relations don't break down.
-[] who will you try to improve your relationship with.
[] Reveal yourself to the princes. With the spread of your worship and your acts on nirn the other Daedra may well suspect you have come back. If you were to reveal yourself now, purposefully, it may be better than if you continued to attempt to hide. No DC, but I will roll for each princes reaction. You will not see these rolls.
[] Write in. up to qm discretion
---
What shall you do in your realm?
[] reforge: Umbra has been weakened after your absorption of its piece of divine spark. You may be able to remake it, but for what? Dc 65
-[] what will you have the new umbra do and be.
[] Creation. more artifacts are always useful. You could use some of your remaining power to make something of crystal that you could send unto the planet. Dc75
-[] what shall you make, and what shall it do? Up to qm if your idea would be allowed/ if it's too strong
[] Rebuild your library. Once your library rivaled that of Hermeus mora, you imagine it's the reason he played a part in your downfall. Now you would rebuild it. Gather what tomes you can find in oblivion, and begin the calculations of the future as you once had. Dc 60
[] The crystalline Host. With but 8 knights remaining in your service, you need more to serve you. While it takes a follower with a soul to create a true knight, you may be able to create something lesser that could still serve your purposes. DC70
[] Write in. up to qm discretion
