Commentary:

This story began because I decided to try out a Pure Mage build in Skyrim. With both Morrowind and Oblivion I had a hard time making a pure mage work but the magic system in Skyrim is (IMHO) much better and I created a High Elf who wore no armor, rarely used a sword, and used magic for -everything-. So one day I was in Riverwood chopping wood and it occurred to me that Kviru was rather muscular for a mage. "How did a mage get so muscular?" I mused (note Neyarie asks this same question). The Burning of Alinor is (the beginning) of the answer to that question.

So I've never written a fanfiction before and after writing "What J'ziir Did in Skyrim Today" (originally an in-character way of talking about things I did or din't like in the game) I decided to try my hand at something more serious. But here's the thing - my writing tends to be a bit...verbose...and I know I have trouble reading long posts online even if I like the stories. So I decided to do something very short with a specified limit. I worked out the basic length and plot of the story and settled on seven episodes. I also wanted to write them in such a way that they would read like the Skill Books in TES games.

This is where it gets fun. I decided to make the story focus on the skill of Illusion; and because I'm a big fan of Lore I thought what better than to play off the Thalmor/Talos/Lorkhan conflict in Skyrim. As I read it what the Thalmor are trying to do is either undo the "Illusion of mortal mythopoeia" or create a new illusion of Altmer supremacy/immortality (which, in a mythopoeic universe will ultimately make it a reality). Either way the Thalmor agenda went nicely with the theme of Illusion. I also liked the idea that Kviru was not a Thalmor and did not support their agenda. As I wrote the rough drafts I started noticing subtle references to Nazism coming from Lisiir (indeed, the racism of Nazism viz. creating the superman seems an integeral element of Thalmor ideology), and decided the story should echo the experience of German citizens who did not support the Nazis, but did not seek to resist them until too late (reading about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (among others) can give us insight on this subject). Adding a further layer in the alchemical love-triangle was just the icing for an already rich cake.

The title is, of course, symbolic of Kviru's life being destroyed; but is also symbolic of the destruction of the Altmer by the Thalmor. In my view the Altmer are not all Thalmor supporters (e.g. Germans and Nazis) and the Thalmor are slowly destroying what it means to be Altmer, indeed, Aldmer. Thus, the "burning" of Alinor is it's loss through ideological terrorism, racism, and power-mongering. If Alinor is a symbol of all that is good and beautiful in Altmeri culture (and for me it is), then by the time Kviru leaves the Isle all that remains is ashes - for him and his people.

Of course there are some years between Kviru’s revenge on Lisiir and his crossing the border into Skyrim. I hope to continue Kviru’s story (under a new title) and fill in some of the gaps. I plan on the next story also focusing on a certain skill (not sure which one) and corresponding to some aspect of Lore (not sure what). I have some pretty neat ideas but haven’t written anything yet.

As far as plot…plots are always best when they’re character-driven. So as I ponder the next chapter of Kviru’s tale I ask myself: “What happens to a man when the people who have taken everything from him, for all intents and purposes, rule the world?”

Thank you all for your support and suggestions. I hope to have something for you soon.