» Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:36 pm Prison.
I've been here before, I'm almost sure of it. Everything is very muddled. This same prison, but... very long ago. A name I can barely remember. Tharn? Something like that. A woman's voice...
It doesn't matter. I'm in prison again. I'm not entirely sure why. I vaguely recall being brought here, but everything is so strange... my head...
I awoke some time ago in this dank cell, littered with dust and bones. The light pours through my tiny window in regular intervals, the only way I have to keep track of how long I've been in here. Days now. Weeks soon. Months? Years? Until I am dead. Time is an old, distant enemy. One I've grappled with before.
Could this be Oblivion? Some other Hell?
It still doesn't matter. Reminiscing will get me out of here no more than writing in this journal will. But my mind is so confused, writing down what I can remember and feel seems to help in some small way. The guards that brought me here are gone. Others bring me bread and water once a day. I've lived on worse things. I think this is the Imperial City of Cyrodiil. The prison is more like a tomb.
There's a dark elf across the way talking to me. I'll write more later.
Second entry -
I'm no longer in my cell. This is very strange. The dark elf spouted some nonsense that matters little to me - though I'd happily murder him - and then the guards came, escorting someone. A man I'd swear I've seen before, many years ago. They came into my cell. I obeyed their orders, standing back and letting them do whatever it was they intended to do. The old man they were guarding stepped forward and spoke to me. He knew me...
Rather, he thought he knew me. Nothing of our past meeting did he speak. Something about dreams. It's all very unclear to me. We spoke briefly, and then they opened the wall of my cell and left. I followed shortly, letting them stay far ahead of me. They were attacked. I felt a compulsion to aid this man, who claimed to be the emperor of Tamriel, but I ignored it. Escape is my only goal - escape, and to find out what is wrong with me, why I can't remember things clearly. Something is very, very wrong.
The attackers wore Daedric armor which somehow vanished as they littered the floor, but the captain of the guard, Renault, was slain. I waited for the others to leave and took up her sword. It will serve, I suppose. It's dark in this foul dungeon. Thankfully, torches are plentiful. No sooner did the emperor and his two remaining guards leave that a crumbling section of wall was knocked through by two very large rats. My blood sang. Combat. This I remember. I am a Redguard, of Hammerfell, and war is my life. I slew the pitiful starving creatures. My blade thirsts for more. I am alive at last.
Third entry
The way is safe for the moment. Rats abound in this dark place, but they are but hungry animals. I've slain them all before in any case. The goblins come next. They are hungry animals as well, but they can think. They'll be a bit more challenging. I found some armor lying around. It makes me uncomfortable, but my body is no longer strong. The armor is necessary. The leather armor isn't as bad as the metal, so I will wear only the lightest I can find. Armor gets in the way. It offends me. I hear something moving. I'll write more later.
Fourth entry
It was only another rat. Is there no end to this cave?
Fifth entry
I was indeed correct about the goblins. Several of them attacked me while I was searching through some chests for better equipment. The battle was bloody, I left none alive. I was forced to expend magicka to heal my wounds, however. They were quick and I am far out of practice. I feel like I've been dead for thirty years.
I came across a goblin witch shortly thereafter. She was carrying a staff of terrible power, sending lightning arcing from it and burning me with fire. I hate magic. It's unnatural. I feel polluted. The same energy courses through my own veins, ruining me. I hate it. I hate it.
The she-devil is dead now. I cut off her head and mounted it on the staff. Let this be a warning to any others who would hinder my escape. Darken Wanderer will not be denied.
Sixth entry
I am standing on a ledge overlooking the two guards and the old man. The emperor spoke of me and is waiting. I cannot tell the reason. Something to do with his dreams, I suppose. I'll not help him again. I won't. I can't.
The guards wish to move on. They are right. Standing still with these strange assassins on the move can only get them killed. Damn the old man. Damn him to every Hell. I suppose I'll go down and see what he wants.
Seventh entry
The emperor is dead. Far too much has happened. I'll write the rest soon.
Eight entry
I've escaped from the prison at last. At a price.
The emperor of Tamriel is dead. I met up with he and his guards and agreed to help escort him from this place. Assassins attacked us at every turn. They were not very strong, but they were many. Numbers can make all the difference. If only I were not so weak! It matters little.
We came to an obvious trap - what choice but to trip it? There was nowhere else to go. Our exit was barred. We took a side passage which lead to a dead end. I was left to guard the emperor. I failed. An armored man leapt from a hidden place in the wall and kill the emperor with a poisoned knife. I slit his murdering throat. One of the guards, Glenroy, was killed defending the passage. The other, another Redguard named Baurus, survived.
Moments before his death, the old emperor gave me his amulet and instructed me to bring it to Jauffre, a man who will apparently be able to find another heir. I want no part of this quest. I could not even retrieve the pieces of the Staff of Chaos for Ria Silmane; how am I to undertake this task? The empire is doomed. I failed before, I will fail again. I have been dead these past thirty four years - killed by a monstrous golem of iron. I have been to Oblivion and now I am here - why? I do not know. Too much is at stake. I wish only to rest - a warrior's death - but such a fate can never be mine. I am damned for all eternity to serve a dead man.
