The night was peaceful, not a cloud in sight. The moon, full, big, shone brightly upon the town of Kvatch. White banners bearing the Kvatch crest - The head of a black dog - hung from the walls of the castle, and the city gates. Aside from the city guard, there was very little movement. It was far too late in the day for shops to be open, church goers to be praying, or heralds to be announcing the daily events. Even the arena was quiet, a rarity in daylight.

Though the city slept, there were a few awake, mostly the guardsmen. Two such guards were a simple guardsman, who was posted at the castle gates, and the captain of the city guard. Their names were Berich Inian and Savlian Matius.

"It's a quiet night, isn't it Inian?"
"That it is. Not even the usual dogs barking"

There was a quiet pause, as they both listened for a moment. Sure enough, they were greeted by pure silence. No barking, no mewing of cats, not even a rustle of wind. All was calm, peaceful, and quiet. Captain Matius shivered, and drew his cloak tighter round himself.

"Catch a cold, Captain?" Berich asked, seeing the cloaked Imperial shaking.
"No, just a chill." A pause. "It's too quiet."

There was another moment's silence, as they both listened quietly again. Still surrounded by silence, Berich spoke, in reassurance to the captain. "The town's probably just getting it's rest before the Harvest's End festival"
"That's right, the festival.." Savlian frowned "I've been taking too much time on guard duty, I forgot the festival was this Freedas."
Berich chuckled and patted Savlias on the back. "Why don't you head home and rest for the night? I can keep the post, it's quiet enough."
"I think I'll do that. Farewell, Berich."

They gave their goodbyes, then Savlian started down the city streets, away from the castle gates, to his home. He shut the door behind him, removing his cloak and hanging it on a peg by the window. He looked around quietly. Empty, and lonely, was the one-room house he lived in.

He readied himself for bed, then lay back on the straw mattress in silence. In a matter of moments he was asleep, exhausted from his constant vigil as the guard captain.

Berich held his post for some time in the quiet dark, wide awake and watching the empty streets. A roll of thunder, distant, provided the only sound and he paid it no mind. Another roll of thunder sounded, closer, and the wind picked up. He glanced upwards, suddenly wondering why there was thunder when the night was cloudless. The sky was red, as if dawn was breaking, but he could see no sun, and dark clouds were forming above.

He barely had time to consider the strangeness of this before he heard a noise behind him. A rasping, hissing kind of sound – Like an intake of breath. It filled him with a sense of dread, as he gripped the hilt of his sword, slowly turning around.

What he saw was a nightmarish creature. It stood on two legs, with long, black, three-clawed hands, a skinny, almost starved look, and an impossible long tongue that was snaking through the air toward him. Unseeing black eyes stared blankly passed him, and it’s tongue quivered hungrily as it made that rasping hissing sound – It was sniffing the air, and Berich was silently grateful he was downwind.

The mere sight of the creature had been enough to freeze him in fear and dread. But then, the wind shifted, the creature gave a sharp hiss, and then it seemed to be looking directly at him. It then advanced, that long tongue inching closer, tasting his scent on the air.

He shifted, his chainmail clinking lightly. His grip on the sword tightened, and he drew the blade. It glistened in the red light of sky, a fine, simple blade of steel.

The creature froze, hissing, then raised those nightmarish long black claws. Suddenly, it was rushing at him with in-human speed, the tongue moving like a whip, glistening with a greenish tinge.

A flash of light forced Berich to shut his eyes, blindly swinging his blade, then the light faded. The creature lay dead before him, but he had not felt his blade connect. He became aware, then, of a dark robed figure approaching him. Turning, he repositioned his sword.
“Halt!” He commanded, the creature’s spell of fear gone with its death. “Whos’ there?”

The figure, pausing, gave his reply. “Brother Martin, a Priest of Akatosh.”

Berich breathed a sigh of relief. Then he noticed the sound of shouting, and fighting. He watched, bewildered, as a man was chased down and gored by a dinosaur like creature.
“Wait!” Martin called, for Berich had just started after the creature responsible. “Help me take them to the chapel. We’ll be safe there.”

It made sense to the guardsman, as he heaved his blade into the creatures hide. These… Things had to be demons, and therefore could not enter holy ground.
“Alright, let’s get the guard and the citizens.”

A loud, rumbling roar drowned out half of his words. A section of wall collapsed into a cloud of dust, a surge of demons coming through, unchecked by the already overwhelmed guardsmen. They had little hope.

The dust cleared, revealing a large, glowing red portal, and a gigantic many-legged creature with a mouth of fire, that was moving straight for the castle.

Men fled at the sight of the horde and the beast, guardsmen and citizens alike. Berich saw the priest running to a group of people, and gave chase.

They had to save as many as they could.

“Get in there, criminal scum.”

Unceremoniously, a young Dunmer was thrown into an empty, dark stone cell by two Imperial watchmen. Their armor matched the dreary, dark, cold grayness of the prison, and made a chilling clanking sound that echoed down the halls as they moved. The gate, squealing on it’s hinges, was swung shut, then locked by one of the watchmen.

“This will teach you not to steal from Audens Avidius”

A cold laugh from the Imperial, as the two clanked their way back up the steps, to the light outside. The light this Dunmer would likely not see again. He appeared young, barely old enough to be considered of age, with dark blue skin. His hair, black like the shadows, was short, barely able to cover his ears, and his eyes a normally bright red – Though now they were dulled with despair. How had he come to be here? He didn’t even know this ‘Audens Avidius’ that had suddenly come out of nowhere, arresting him with claims of theft. He hadn’t even been in Cyrodiil for two days.

And then there was his sister, left alone topside, with nobody there to protect her anymore. His eyes went to the sad little barred window that looked out onto a bush, and didn’t let an ounce of light into his cell. A quiet, mournful sigh was given.

“Hey. Hey you”
A voice whispered from behind him, outside his cell. He turned around, peering into the dark, barely making out another shape in a cell across from him. He caught a glimpse of dirty white hair and sunken red eyes, and a smirk from the figure.

“I haven’t seen another Dunmer in here in I don’t know how long. Where you from, huh? Vvardenfell?”
He nodded “Ald’ruhn”
“Really? You got a wife back home?” The voice came in a sneer, and the young Dunmer questioned if the other could see how young he was.
“No I’m barely of age.. Just my sister, in the Imperial City.”
“Ah…” The figure, whom the young one now assumed was another Dunmer, chuckled. The sound was frightening. “Tell you what. I’m getting out of here in a few days.. When I get out, I’ll look her up. She must be getting very.. Lonely, hm?”

He stared at the figure, those words piercing into the fears he had of being trapped down here, his sister having no brother to protect her. He didn’t have time to speak any words, as he heard a door up the stairs open, and the sound of armored boots.

“Hey? You hear that? The guards are coming. For you!” The figure chuckled maniacally, then faded into the far end of his cell. He backed away from the gate of his cell, as he heard voices drifting down. An old man’s.

“My sons..” There was defeat in the voice, as if the man knew what was coming and was simply waiting. “Their dead, aren’t they?”

A woman’s voice answered, drawing closer. “We don’t know that Sire. The messenger only said they were attacked”
“No. Their dead. I know it”

A strange group of people came to the gate of his cell. Strange for the prison, anyway. One was finely robed, an old man, and had a rather ornate amulet with a bright red jewel. Another was wearing ebony armor laced with gold. The female he’d heard, her hair red, her eyes green, and a look of fierce determination on her face. The third was a male, a Redguard, with darker skin, wearing similar armor and carrying a lit torch. The Dunmer gave a gasp at the sight.

The three turned to look at him, each one with a look of surprise, then the females eyes narrowed on him, well trained and able to make him out despite the torches light not reaching him.

“What’s this prisoner doing here?” She snapped to the male with the torch. “This cell was supposed to be off limits.”
“The usual mixup with the watch!” The man was rather flustered, obviously caught off guard by the dunmers appearance. “I-“
“Never mind. Get that gate open.” She then glared at the dunmer. “Stand back, prisoner. We won’t hesitate to kill you if you get in our way.”

The male unlocked the gate, then the three started inside when a fourth came down the steps. “I’ve locked the door. It doesn’t look like we were followed.”
“Good.” Replied the red-haired woman. She seemed to be in command of whatever was going on. “But we’re not out of this yet. Let’s move”

She stepped to his bed cot, the man with the torch following. Then the flame lit the Dunmers face, and the old man stopped, staring at him.

“Sire?”
He ignored the female. “You..” And stepped toward the Dunmer. “I’ve seen you.”
“Let me see your face” A hand that seemed ancient as paper, yet strong as an ox, lifted the Dunmer’s chin, and the old man scrutinized him before giving a defeated sigh.

“You are the one from my dreams. Then the stars were right, and this is the day”

The Dunmer stared at the old man, confused and rather frightened.

“Who are you?”
“Ah..” The man stepped back and drew himself to his full height. A fatherly expression took on his features now. “I am Emporer Uriel Septim, ruler of Tamriel, and your king.”

The Emporer! In a jail cell? And of all jail cells, his own?

“Whats going on?” His voice came out in a frightened whisper, eyes darting to the armored men and woman, who were all watching him and the Emporer with equally confused, and annoyed, looks.

“Assassins have attacked my sons, and I’m next.” The Emporer ignored the pointed look from the woman. “My Blades, Captain Renault,” A gesture to the woman, “Glenroy,” Then to the man wielding the torch, “And Baurus,” Lastly to the other Redguard, whos look of confusion was turning to curiousity, “are leading me to a secret escape route.”
“In my cell..?”
“Yes. By chance, it does lead through your cell.”
“That’s enough, Sire.” Renault interrupted before the Dunmer could say anymore. “We must keep moving” She turned and place her hand against the wall, and pushed. A brick gave way to her effort, and the sound of gears and grinding echoed throughout the prison as his bed opened into a doorway.

“Very well. Come, walk with us. And tell me your name” The Emporer’s gaze never left the young Dunmer, though his own red eyes looked on in amazement at the moving wall, the question floating right past his attention. Suddenly he felt a jab in his back, and winced.

“The Emporer asked for your name, Prisoner.” It was Glenroy, with a distrustful eye.
“Oh.. Daruke. Daruke Isimu” He bowed the Emporer then.
“Please, do not bow. I am your equal this day, for like all mortals, today I shall die.” He said it with such certainty, and yet such bravery, that it caused young Daruke to shiver. Captain Renault took the torch from Glenroy and led the path way through the now revealed tunnel.

“Step quickly. There’s no telling how long it will be before the assassins follow us.”

“You! Thief!”

The sudden shout from behind startled them both – A young man and woman, both Dunmer, the male with short black hair, and the younger woman long white hair. They both turned around to the source of the voice, to see an elegantly armored Imperial Watchman bearing down on them with two other guards.
“We do not tolerate thievery in this city, Dark Elf.” It was almost spat out like a curse. “Pay the price of that necklace or you’re going to jail.”

The Watch Captain pointed to the necklace the male had just given the woman, whom was now almost hiding behind her brother.
“I didn’t steal anything! I bought this for her with my own gold”
“Prove it.”
“There, that shop. We bought it from there” He pointed to the sign that read ‘Divine Elegance’, and the guards glanced that way. The Captain merely smirked.
“Fine. If the shopkeep tells us you bought it, we’ll leave you be. But if not, you’re under arrest for theft and resisting.”

Daruke scowled. That was hardly fair, but this was an important person of some kind. The armor told him that much. The group moved to the shop, the gray-armored watchmen behind Daruke and Sidea, preventing them from running. Not that they would. Daruke was confident this would be straightened out, and they would go free in a matter of minutes.


They’d been walking for hours, it seemed to him. He was unused to going long distances on foot, especially in dark tunnels that were lit only by the torch Glenroy carried. Every now and then, he would get a sharp jab in the back, followed by a hissed voice from the Redguard.
“Move faster.”
“You’re slowing us down”
“Be quiet!”

It was making his back very sore, and he would constantly speed up to stick near the only one of the bunch that seemed to trust him. The Emporer. Few words had been spoken since they’d entered that secret passageway in his cell, those words of the Emporer’s coming death hanging over them like a dark cloud.
Some time back, the cave-like tunnel had given way to what looked like a dug out underground tunnel, with some sort of white brick and stone laid along the ground, walls, and ceiling. There were steps here and there, and columns, some broken, others still supporting the crumbling stonework above their heads.
The design of it, the stone itself, was nothing like what he had seen in the Imperial City. He was curious, and wanted to ask, but was afraid of what Glenroy would do if he made any kind of sound. So, he held his tongue, hoping to have a chance to ask soon.
Then, the Emporer’s voice broke the silence, quiet but audible, drifting down the cold, dark stone. Daruke looked to the old man, and saw the Emporer was speaking to him.

“Brace yourself.”

That got a curious look from Baurus, an annoyed look from Glenroy, and a confused one from Daruke. Did he know something that the others didn’t? The there was a sudden cold draft, almost freezing, that extinguished Glenroy’s torch. The sound of several blades drawing was heard. More blades than there were guards with the Emporer. Renault’s voice broke through.

“Close up left.” Another sword drew, Daruke assumed it was hers, follow by two others of the other Blades. “Protect the Emporer.”

From then it was all confusion, as the first sound of steel hitting steel reverberated down the pitch black hall. Could nobody think to light another torch? Daruke stumbled around, trying to find a wall, a column, something to hold on to so he knew he wasn’t falling into a bottomless abyss. A man gave a shout of pain, alongside the sickening sound of sharpened steel slicing through flesh.
Then, he felt something grab his arm and froze. Was he about to die next? A voice spoke in his ear. Fatherly, almost.

“Stay with me.” It was the Emporer. “You’ll be safe. It is not yet time”

Again, it seemed as if the man knew something. The sounds of fighting, and shouting, continued, and there were more sounds on men falling to the Blade’s weapons. Then a woman’s final cry, then sound of armor thunking to the ground, and a sword clanging down a set of steps he had not noticed before. One of the other Blades gave a shout.

“The Captain’s down!”
“Damnit, we need light. Where’s that torch?”

Another man fell, and he felt the rush of air as the body landed disturbingly close to him and the Emporer. Baurus spoke out again, the voice surprisingly distant for having killed this man. Or had Glenroy been the one to do it?

“Found it.”

After a moment, a newly lit torch flared up in the tunnel, revealing several dead bodies, one of which was Renault. There was blood everywhere, and the rest of the bodies wore red cloaks. Only one was left alive, fighting with Glenroy, but he eventually succumbed to the Blade’s prowess.
The two Blades looked at the carnage in disbelief.

“How could they be waiting for us here?”
“I don’t know, but it’s too late to turn back now.” Baurus turned to the Emporer and the prisoner. “It’s alright, we’re clear. For now.” But he didn’t look too reassuring.
“Captain Renault?” The Emporer’s voice spoke, sounding as if he knew the answer.
“She’s dead, sire. I’m sorry, but we have to keep moving.”

They wiped their blades on the dead assassins’ robes, then sheathed their weapons. Glenroy started down the steps, warily, toward what looked to be an iron gate.

“I’ll take point. Let’s move.”
“Come, Sire.”

The rest of the group followed behind Glenroy. Then, as they reached the gate, Baurus moved forward to unlock it. Glenroy turned to Daruke, a very distrustful look in his eye.

“Stay put, prisoner.” The Redguard’s face read death if Daruke didn’t obey. “Don’t try to follow us.”

The others then moved on, the Emporer giving the Dunmer one last, reassuring look. Baurus locked the gate from the other side, and they left him. Alone, in the cold darkness of the tunnel.

Palonirya was quite surprised to see Audens Avidius storming into her shop. She had already paid him, hadn’t she? She then noticed the Dunmer he was dragging with, recognizing young Daruke.

“What’s going on?” The Altmer scowled “You’re scaring off my customers”
“This Dunmer boy has been caught stealing from you.” The watch captain gave her a pointed, almost threatening look as he spoke. “He insists you will state otherwise. This is what he took”

The necklace was held up for all to see, a white gold chain with a simple pearl, that had a dragon engraved into the face. The boy looked at her, obviously certain she will let him off the hook. She hated herself for what she said next, out of fear.
“Yes..” The boy was given an apologetic look “Yes he stole it. I never sold that item”

The look of shock on the Dunmer’s face was heart breaking to the Altmer, but she feared for her own well-being if she didn’t give the watch captain his way. A triumphant smile formed on the watch captain’s face as he turned to Daruke. The Altmer heard a clinking sound, and noticed a mock look of surprise from Avidius.

“So!” He held up a leather pouch, filled with coins. “It seems even under arrest, our little thief can’t keep his hands to himself.”
“What? What’s mine!” The Dunmer protested, only to end up on the ground.
“Silence, criminal. Thieves don’t have money, they steal everything. Take them both to the prison” A twisted smirk played on his lips, his eyes on the girl “They can pay their fines from there”

“Wait!” The Altmer couldn’t stand to let that happen. “She didn’t have anything to do with it, she never came in my shop…”
She trailed off, at a look from Audens, then looked to the poor girl. She spoke up again.
“She can work for me. Raise the money to pay your fines, and extra for your trouble.”

The corrupt watch captain considered this, seeming to weigh the options of money, and whatever twisted plot he originally had in mind for the girl.
“Fine. But she does not leave this shop until the fines are paid. Am I understood?”
“Yes. Of course. Thank you.”
“I expect payment in one month. Five thousand septims” An amount that was impossible in that time frame.
“Of course”

The watch men left, taking Daruke with, leaving the Dunmer girl alone with the Altmer. She seemed quite frightened, as Palonirya moved to comfort her.
“He’ll be alright, we’ll have those fines paid before the months end.”

---

The darkness surrounded him, cold, forbidding. He wasn’t supposed to be here, and every inch of air in this dank place was constantly reminding him. It was quiet, save the slow, constant dripping sound from somewhere nearby. He could see little, and smelled only the rocks, and the blood.

He had not moved since the Blades had left him there, staring in the direction of the gate Baurus had locked. He now inched forward, hand out in front of him, until he felt the sharply cold steel bars of the gate. With the absence of his sight, he ran his hands along the bar, searching for some way to open the gate. But to no avail. He couldn’t even find a key hole.

Sighing, he slunk down to the ground. Then, he felt his foot hit something, and heard a long, drawn out sound of steel sliding against rock, followed by a loud clang as a blade landed next to him. He jumped, startled by the sudden noise in the dark. Then, he reached toward the sound, somehow managing not to slice his hand on the blade.

His fingers found something that felt like leather, and wrapped themselves around the swords handle. He pulled it toward him, hearing the blade drag along the stone, then lifted it, standing. He looked around, though was still unable to see anything aside a small pinpoint of light in the distance. Then he did a double take. That light wasn’t there before.

He started toward it slowly, afraid it may be more of those assassins. But as he approached, he saw the light wasn’t a torch light, but a shaft of sunlight coming through a break in the ceiling. He moved quicker, excited, hoping the light might be a way out. The sword was still in his hand, but forgotten.

He approached the shaft of light, slowing down as he did so, the light letting him see what was around him. The white stonework was gone, and he was surrounded by the dark brown stone of a cavern. Here and there he saw wooden braces, almost as if he had ventured into some sort of mine somehow. Looking back, he saw only darkness. The light wasn’t strong enough to show him where the stonework had ended.

Turning back around, he started back for the light, slowly. He saw nothing more than walls, and… A wooden door set into the stonework. He moved toward it, quietly, a sense of foreboding growing as he moved forward. Then he froze. He’d just heard something behind him, making a cracking, hissing noise.

Slowly, he turned around, hand gripping tighter on the sword. In the dim light from the shaft, he saw the silhouette of a skeleton, swaying like a gentle weed in the wind. That cracking hiss sound came again, from the skeleton itself, then it raised a worn looking axe. Survival instinct took over within Daruke as the skeleton swung at him, and he swung the sword. It didn’t cut anything, but it knocked the skeletons spine out of place, separating the top of bottom half of it’s body. The axe narrowly missed, knocked off it’s course by the sudden collapse of bones.

Remembering something he had heard long ago about the undead, he stomped on the skeleton’s skull, crushing it. The hissing sound immediately stopped and he was left in silence once more, staring at the bones at his feet.