» Mon May 07, 2012 6:45 pm [The following is an extract from the Confessions of Janus Itullius, temporary Squire to the Champion of Cyrodiil during the Battle of Bruma, later Knight of Skingrad, later of the Asylum of Solitude.]
“… The Great Gate loomed over us like a terrible, gaping mouth spewing bile and Daedra into the world. The Champion gestured for me to follow; a terrible glint was in his eye. I could tell that he enjoyed plunging into them. I saw it when he cut Dremora down, I saw it when he took me by the wrist and forced me through. The portal was hot and it caused me to sweat just being near it, but when he pushed me through, the Deadlands were cold.
I didn’t think about it at the time, for I was more concerned with that great siege crawler and legions of Daedra moving towards the portal I had come across, but looking back at it, I did see the hatred in the Champion’s eye as that accursed machine inched towards us. A churl charged us and the Champion screamed and plunged his blade (or was it an axe?) into his neck. I saw that glint again, though. He hated the Daedra and Oblivion. He hated going here again and again and closing the portals, but he also loved it. Loved killing them, loved that black sky, and the isolation from the Gods. Mara preserve me, but he was like a Daedra in his own right. Unstoppable, single-minded in his purpose, and ruthless towards those who stood in his way. Fortunately for us, his purpose was to protect Tamriel from the Daedra.
I don’t want to talk about what happened in there. Maybe someday I’ll recover enough to be able to talk about it without breaking into tears or going into a coma, but not now. I can tell you, though, what happened after. After the Battle, and we were camped outside the fields of Bruma, the Champion approached me. We talked for a while about what he saw. I told him that it terrified me and he comforted me.
He told me “Now you know why I vowed no Daedra would ever harm this world on my watch. No Dremora, or scamp, or Xivilai should be allowed access. Otherwise, they would destroy this world and turn it into that hollow mockery they have over there. Not even one of the Princes.” And that was when he said something strange. He said “I haven’t met a Prince yet. I talked to a few, but never met. They don’t seem that tough. I bet I could kill one. If I wanted to, I bet I could become one.”
But, you can’t kill a Prince! And you certainly can’t become one! I don’t know what prompted such blasphemies. I don’t think anyone so focused on destroying Daedra should ever think about becoming one. That conversation was what stopped me from asking him to be his permanent squire. I didn’t see him fight in the Imperial City when Mehrunes Dagon appeared, but I’m glad that he didn’t set foot in Oblivion again. It had changed him. By the Nine, it changed me and I only went there the one time. I shudder to think what we would’ve lost had he gone there just one more time. …”
