» Sat May 14, 2011 12:59 am
Marcus Proditus, Imperial City Forum, Day 1
I've left the snowy tundras of Skyrim to travel to the land of the Imperials. As I write this, I am sitting in the capital. Specifically, I found myself wandering in the Imperial Forum when I overheard a group of citizens discussing Skyrim's degrading allegiance to the Empire. At least I think that's what they were talking about. It started with that topic initially, but soon changed to which race is better than which, and then why Bravil looks like it was constructed by a legion of drunk mudcrabs. Really, is this the subject of life in the heart of the new empire? I am fortunate that my ancestors left to Skyrim while they could...
Marcus Proditus, Imperial City Forum, Day 2
I returned to the forum today to go shopping. While there, I purchased a loaf of bread, an apple, and a new blanket to replace the one I lost near Bruma. I was soon approached by an Altmer (What is an Altmer still doing here? Summerset is an empire of its own now...) who told me that "I'm doing it wrong." He claimed that I should have purchased the apples with a better texture and a blanket with fewer seams. Fewer seams on a blanket? A redder apple that is smoother to the touch? Really, is all this necessary? He said I was fortunate to have come from wealth - that I have more opportunity than the common masses who lack the opportunity to have better. I didn't wish to seem rude, so I assured the elf that I would consider his advice in the future, but for right now, an apple is an apple.
Marcus Proditus, Imperial City Forum, Day 3
Heard another session of dialog while passing through the forum today. This time it was a band of adventurers discussing sword technique. The biggest among them expressed his opinion that swordsmanship is as simple as, well, swinging a sword. He had it in his mind that it didn't matter how you slice, rather, it was entirely up to your opponent to decide whether or not they are struck. In my years, rarely have I heard of a victim giving consent to find himself at the wrong end of a blade. Another in the group, who seemed more experienced than the others, shared the same disbelief as I in regards to the other man's statements. Your own skill determines your ability to rend your foes in twain. You can't just swing a sword back and forth, you need precision, accuracy, and timing. His friend (so he seemed by his manner) further added that proper swordsmanship requires a certain level of flair, so it can appear realistic. I for one would not doubt the reality of a blade headed my way under any circumstance. Last I heard (before the group walked out of hearing) one of the elderly warriors, who seemed to be an old war veteran, scoffed at today's interpretation of swordsmanship. It was in his opinion that no two blades are alike, and their technique differs on shape and size. People should train differently, with different weapons, and not just lump them together and call it a single skill. I've never been one for fighting myself, a point which the Nords back in Skyrim would always pester me on, but I found the discussion musing nonetheless.
Marcus Proditus, Imperial City Forum, Day 4
Earlier today I visited my cousin in the Old Temple District. We shared a nice meal and caught up on family affairs. But it was not before long that she had to travel to work, and I found myself in the forum again with nothing better to occupy my day. On this day, I may have heard the most nonsensical statement yet. One of the local noblemen sold his manor in the city because its furnishings weren't up to his standards. As a replacement, he purchased a small cottage outside the city walls because it had better furniture placement. Where is the logic in this? Aside from that, there was a politician asking citizens what kind of people they were, and whether they considered themselves good, neutral or evil. Another politician attempting to change the law about public indecency. A merchant giving free breaded sticks of cooked slaughterfish meat to every new face he saw (which, I may say, taste very delicious). And a shady figure asking people how much blood should spill depending on where puncture wounds would land on a body. I'm not sure I can take any more nonsense in this forum...
Marcus Proditus, Imperial City Forum, Day 5
Well, it's settled. I can't take life in Cyrodiil any further. There is just too much nonsense. A beggar came up to me asking for coins, and her hoarse, worn voice changed to that of a noblewoman when I inquired about her background. Then another woman came up, slapped her in the face, and claimed that she was full of insects. I can't stand parasites myself. I quickly ran from that foul thing. I got lost and ventured into one of the further corners of the forum. I found a group of elder philosophers discussing utopia. Which was all well and good, were it not for the fact that they had been engaged in this conversation for 16 years. I asked them what results this discussion yielded, and they could only shake their heads and sigh before returning to their debate. And then I saw a madman claiming that life had become too easy to facilitate more involvement with the common masses, when life should be as difficult as possible to ensure that only the dedicated persevere atop society. The people in this province lack sense. I am ashamed to call myself an Imperial now. Tomorrow morning, I return to Skyrim. But with the ever growing situation with the Empire, and rumors of great disaster on the horizon, I can only wonder how long it will be before my homeland degenerates into a similar state...