27th Last Seed, 4E39, Skingrad.
Today is the 42nd anniversary of Uriel VII's death. I can still remember watching, helplessly, as he was effortlessly felled by the single stroke of an assassin's blade, my body almost paralysed by the moment. Whilst not as great an anniversary as the 40th, I joined many in commemorating the memory of the penultimate Septim in the Great Chapel of Julianos. Marie gives a good service.

29th Last Seed, 4E39, Skingrad.
Alfacar is leaving for Artaeum. He says that he has 'outgrown' the Mage's Guild of Cyrodiil. I am surprised that his loyalty to family and friends keep him in Cyrodiil for so long, the Altmer call to the Isles being among the strongest compulsions, equal to any lust or desire. I am concerned that the native-born Altmer will be openly hostile to an outsider, but Alfacar is strong-willed enough to deal with them. The Psijic Order will have a new member before long. Nerussa was almost too tearful on his departure, but he goes with his father's blessing and love.

30th Last Seed, 4E39, Skingrad.
Thank the Divines for the Wine Festival. Nerussa has been more morose than I have ever known. Fortunately the unveiling of our new strawberry wine uplifted her spirits. Eduard Surille had the nerve to call me an 'old man' whilst I was demonstrating new filtration technique. Although I do have a few flecks of grey in my hair these days, the foolish Breton should know that 'old' has no meaning for an Altmer, let alone a master of Restoration.

2nd Hearthfire, 4E39, Skingrad.
I hear by magical communication that Alfacar has been inducted into the Order. Our hearts swell with pride, for they accept only the best. Worryingly he also encloses a rumour that Sload activity has been increasing recently. Apparently many cargo ships have gone missing near The Chain. The Sload curiously target only ships carrying building materials and magical artefacts. Are they building something? I'd caution him against heeding rumours, but that would make me quite the hypocrite. I decided to keep this information from Nerussa, she'd only worry.

4th Hearthfire, 4E39, Skingrad.
A letter. I enclose the copy here:
"To Knight Brother Lorcka,

Old friend. It has been too long. I know that you have retired from all official duties and hate to drag you from your family, however the Blades are in need of your unique skills. Please, travel to Cloud Ruler Temple at your earliest possible convenience to hear our request. Rest assured that I would not contact you unless it was a matter of great importance to the safety of Cyrodiil.

- Grandmaster Baurus."
Indeed it has been some time. The Blades have been silent for forty years, although some former members have attached themselves to Titus. I will settle my affairs here, then make the journey to the ancient fortress.

I am already hooked! You are at your absolute best with these Journal entries!!! No one can do them like you do!

Thanks, Malx, it works well as a framing device.

This story is a direct sequel to my previous 'proper' fanfic (the Books don't tell an overall narrative, with a notable exception); The Noble, The Nemesis, The Mage and His Lover, and is set 24/25 years after those events.

Oh yes, I noticed Nerussa right away! This is the second fanfic in which she was a femme fatal - I have decided to go pay her a visit in my game to see what the draw is, lol. (third if you count your last story)

Ha, well, don't read too much into it. I figured that a mage would appreciate an interest in alchemy, and no true Altmer would ever "marry out".

I also just realised that I spelt "fanfic" as "fanfin", if any mods are browsing would you mind awfully just correcting the typo? Not a big thing, just irritating (pressed Enter too soon in the topic window...).

I didn't have the fortune of following the rp prior to this one. I should've though. This is interesting! I like how you've involved the Sload. No one seems to acknowledge their existence in rps/fanfics anymore. In fact, I included them in my rp, "Tamriel Today", simply because I think they need some lime-light. It's sad to say I do believe it's failed to take-off though.

Just a bit of critique.(Nothing I'm sure is too important.)

Bit I think spacing the dates of each journal entry and the text below them keep it looking more organized. Then again, this is just me...

5th Hearthfire, 4E39, Cloud Ruler Temple.

I have reached the great citadel. It appears as it always has, although the great wooden gates have been replaced with ornate steel. The journey took longer than I expected. I still miss Heart of Darkness, no adventurer could ask for a finer companion. Must remember to visit Black Waterside soon, I can't keep relying on teleportation and legwork.

5th Hearthfire, 4E39, Cloud Ruler Temple.

I arrived in the Great Hall, to be met by Baurus and an elderly Imperial. I record the conversation here;
"Knight Brother. Welcome back," spoke Baurus, greeting me in a traditional Redguard embrace. He turned to the seated Imperial. "Caius. Allow me to introduce Lorcka, a warrior I count among the greatest heroes of the Blades. Lorcka, thank you for joining us. I believe Caius will want to inform you of the situation."
"Welcome back to the service, Knight Brother," he spoke, casting a wry eye at me. "As you know, the Blades are not just warriors, or bodyguards. We are the eyes and ears for the Dragonborn. I've been out of the service for a number of years, enjoying my retirement. The Grandmaster called me back, as one of my operatives is involved."
"Your operatives?"
"My fill-in as head of Blades operations in Vvardenfell. Commonly known as the Nerevarine."
"I thought the Nerevarine lost in Akavir?"
"In a manner of speaking the rumours are true. The Nerevarine is in Akavir. But lost? No. Let me start at the beginning. Before the Oblivion crisis the Nerevarine had been in Vvardenfell for some years, slaying horrors and climbing the ranks of organisations. Eventually boredom, for want of a better word, set in, as is the tendency of adventurers. I offered him a new assignment, back in the Third Era, four thirty-three. The Blades always need spies, everywhere. In the recent past we have sent Blades covertly to Akavir, the greatest natural enemy of all Tamriel. We've been...less than successful. If they arrive, they fall silent shortly afterwards. This is why the Nerevarine went to Akavir - to assess the threat. The Nerevarine was perfectly suited for this assignment. Due to the immortality granted by Coprus, we can receive reports indefinitely, as well as knowing our operative has an immunity to any strange Akaviri diseases. We could also be sure that the Nerevarine was strong enough to handle any threats."
"The perfect spy."
"Exactly. We've received scattered reports, sent through the dreamsleeve, informing us of events across the Padomeic. Recently we received a most disturbing report. The Akaviri are massing."
"Which Akaviri race? And how does this involve me?"
"The Nerevarine has been silently watching, infiltrating, defending. The politics of Akavir are as serpentine as ever. The Tsaesci have allied with the Kamal, against the other alliance in the continent, the Tang Mo and Ka Po' Tun. The secret dreemsleeve messages tell us that these two alliances are at unceasing war, neither gaining the upper hand. The snake and snow-demon attacks are always thwarted, although the monkey-folk and tigers mount no offensives at all. So the Tsaesci-Kamal alliance formulated a new plot, one to turn the tides and grant them the resources to conquer their continent once and for all."
"They intend to invade Tamriel?"
"Yes. Their troops mass, ready for invasion. The Tsaesci have no navy, but the Kamal certainly do. They intend to strip Tamriel of resources and manpower, pressing slaves into their armies, as well as wreaking vengeance for the invasion of Uriel V. This is where you come in."
"If they make landfall, Tamriel falls."
"I'm afraid so. In the past Morrowind relied on its demi-gods to drown invaders, or banish them in open battle. But the Tribunal are all dead. Neither can the Legions defend us, for the Empire is gone, the provinces are divided. If they invade, we are doomed. Neither can we invade Akavir."
"Even at the Empire's height we were annihilated."
"We face a dilemma indeed. We can't defend, nor can we attack. We are at the mercy of Akavir. So, here's the plan, and where you come in. We send our strongest operatives to thwart the invasion by subterfuge, sabotage and judicious assassinations. The Nerevarine is certainly powerful, but only one person. Champion and Nerevarine combined, though, would be a force to be reckoned with. We'd send the Eternal Champion, if we could."
"What if I refuse?"
"You won't. You're the hero type. I've already arranged transportation to Firewatch. There you'll find a Telvanni Clipper ship, which will drop you off about a mile off-shore. You'll water-walk the rest of the way. Meet the Nerevarine in the ruins of Septimia, and thwart the invasion. Once we received word that Tamriel is safe, we'll pick you up. Take these letters - instructions for you and a letter for the Nerevarine. You two will be completely on your own out there. Good luck."

7th Hearthfire, 4E39, Morrowind.

I had little choice but to agree to the request made by Caius Cosades. My old life is seemingly too valuable to abandon. I've retrieved my old equipment, and travel to Akavir. I cannot tell my beloved wife, or son, for if word spreads of a coming invasion panic will follow. Caius and Baurus guaranteed that the safety of Nerussa would be a matter of personal priority, and have prepared a watertight alibi. I am travelling by carriage along the coast of the Inner Sea, towards Old Ebonheart and eventually the port of Firewatch. The Telvanni Clipper there is apparently the fastest ship known to the Blades, able to cross the Padomaic in a fraction of the time it would otherwise take. I don't know if I will return. But I know I must do this, for the sake of my family and all Tamriel. The Nerevarine awaits.

Argh! Have you opened the borders then? Do you have a mod for that (very cool if you do, and I want to see pics!). (lol)

All this is out of my head, not from experiences in game. Not sure any pics will be possible this time, so you'll just have to trust in my descriptive ability!


Thanks! As an Altmer my protagonist has quite strong opinions on the Sload (see his message to Ocato in the Books topic).
I've followed your suggestion of spacing after dates, do you think it makes the writing clearer?

7th Hearthfire, 4E39, Firewatch, Morrowind.
A difficult journey. The countryside of Morrowind is more hostile than ever. The now dormant crater of Red Mountain looms to the west. The town is smaller than I thought, encased in ice and xenophobia. I make haste to meet the Telvanni.

8th Hearthfire, 4E39, Firewatch, Morrowind.
The ship is one of the finest I've seen. Its skipper, one Tidril Drelas, is a Telvanni Lawman. He shares the Telvanni apathy and self-centredness, but was courteous enough to give me a tour of his ship. Veloth's Pride is a small, sleek ship, curved in the manner of the typical Telvanni architecture. The hull is plated with thin ebony, allowing it to slide unseen through the turbulent waters. It also prevents the curious sea-life of the Inner Sea from attaching themselves to the hull, ensuring that the ship is at full performance without needing a dry-dock. The ship possesses a rare Dwemer mechanism for propulsion, twin rotors which sit below the water, propelling the ship without the need for playing the winds or oarsmanship. After the Orkay I am quite glad of this. Drelas hastened me aboard, and is preparing to set sail.

9th Hearthfire, 4E39, Port Telvannis.
My tight-lipped ferryman has docked in Port Telvannis, the last stop before the islands in the Padomaic. He has taken aboard supplies, including a large amount the disgusting Kwarma ovulate that the Dunmer gorge themselves upon. I think I shall stick with Saltrice. The seas are becoming choppier.

10th Hearthfire, 4E39, Port Telvannis.
The Telvanni don't waste time. We set sail as soon as the choppy seas and winds die down.