A/N Hello everyone, welcome to my first fanfic. I came up with the idea after playing many hours of Skyrim, Inquisition and Total War. I thought to myself how would both worlds fare against each other. Could my dragonborn beat my inquisitor in a game of war? So here is the beginning of the story. I would very much appreciate any criticisms that would help with the story going forward. Need to know if an A in English means anything.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls Series or the Dragon Age Series.
Elder Scrolls belongs to Bethesda and Dragon Age belongs to Bioware
Chapter 1: The Meeting
Deezara sat patiently as he looked around the chamber of the Elder Council. As commander of the forces of Black Marsh, he only had a mind for tactics and strategy, not for the schemes and tricks of politicians all hoping to curry as much favor with the Emperor. But when the Emperor calls for a meeting of all the heads of Imperial government, Deezara could not resist. To meet such a great and powerful man would be the greatest honor he could hope for. As a child, he heard stories of the great Emperor's ascent to unite all of Tamriel into an empire so great that some say Tiber Septim himself would be jealous of.
A disgraced son of Daggerfall nobles, he forged his own path by learning of his destiny in Skyrim. He was the Dragonborn, the prophesied savior with the soul of a dragon. He waged war against Alduin, crossing the veil himself to the Nord afterlife striking down Alduin and absorbing his power and cementing himself as leader of the dragons. But even then, as Deezara's mother told him, the Dragonborn continued to use his power to destroy the first Dragonborn, Miraak, and the Vampire Lord, Harkon. With no more challenges to his claim, the Dragonborn forged his own future and united Tamriel with his vampire, Serana, hundreds of companions and fifty dragons. Now he rules the new Dragon Empire as Emperor alongside the Empress Serana.
That was a hundred years ago and many say neither he nor the Empress has aged since that day.
Suddenly the chamber fell silent as all the councilors and officers watched the entrance open, the air became dense and Deezara found it hard to breathe a bit even through his gills. As he adjusted to the change in the chamber, his gaze turned towards the source of the change, two individuals who wore long black cloaks, Magicka pouring out and overflowing with power. There stood the Dragonborn, not looking a day over 30 framed with short hair dipped in midnight, his face covered with a nicely-trimmed beard of the same color. Next to the Emperor stood his wife, a woman with ebony hair that flowed over her shoulders, with pristine cheekbones that accentuated her green eyes that invigorated life in Deezara's very soul.
"My friends," the voice shook Deezara out of his gaze. It was a loud and commanding voice, a voice that instinctively had every council member and general to drop to one knee and bow perhaps more so out of fear than respect Deezara felt as he did so instinctively too.
"Rise friends," the Emperor said, again with such power that as if everyone's movements were controlled to move as if it were as natural to breathe. "High Chancellor Rutris, I trust you have the most recent status on my Empire?" the Emperor asked. Every councilor turned towards Rutris as she found her composure.
"Of course, Lord Dovahkiin. The empire has never been more prosperous under your reign than ever before. Our economy has grown by 9% since last year, many Dwemer technologies have been reversed engineered and both commoners and nobles alike are firmly united behind your rule. But forgive my asking, why ask for us all here for a simple report?" Councilors looked confused among each other and feared the Emperor's response but the Empress spoke instead.
"My husband," the Empress began slowly, "has called this meeting in order to evaluate the next steps we must take in order to secure the future of the Empire. More importantly, it is to determine whether we are truly ready to take on such an endeavor for our future."
"My Empress, what is this endeavor you speak of?" asked Rutris. The Emperor stepped forward and placed his hands on her shoulders.
" Why, it is a test of course! A test that will determine if our Empire still has teeth. As of this moment, I declare a new expeditionary force to take across the Eltheric Ocean. In one month, 900,000 soldiers will depart with me along with every high ranking general and member of my inner circle."
"But my Emperor, " exclaimed Rutris as other councilors tried processing this sudden information, " that's nearly ¾ of our entire army and Imperial government! Surely a smaller force would do especially if you intend to send an army to lands that might not even exist."
The Empress turned her gaze towards the council to address their concerns. "Which is why, while my husband is away commanding our forces, I shall stay here to rule in his stead. For the time being." As she paused, her attention turned to the High Chancellor.
"And as for what land lies ahead, your Emperor has found such a place for our armies to land. It is called Thedas, a land so divided among its people, we fear they have already sealed their doom. But by the grace of my husband, it will find lasting peace and prosperity as a part of the Empire."
"But my lady," Rutris stammered, "not to doubt the Emperor's words but why should we intervene in another continent's troubles? Surely the citizens of the Empire carry more importance than some injustice they carry."
The Emperor, ignoring Rutris suggestion, strolled over to Deezara, who could only stare in awe of the Dragonborn's presence.
"General Deezara, tell me if I never came to power, would you be friends with a Dunmer or a Khajiit for that matter? Would you even understand each other?"
Deezara was surprised at this turn of events. Not only has he met the Emperor in person, but here he was being asked a question about himself. He felt afraid to answer such a question but knew deep down that it would be an honor to help his Emperor with his decision. Deezara stood tall and proud to his Emperor.
"My lord, I would most certainly not be friends with either race. The Dunmer had enslaved my people for so long and the Khajiit saw us as inferior. Never in our history have our people had such high praise for each other were it not for you. You have not only changed our relations with each other but now Tamriel no longer views us as simple beasts but great warriors, loyal to their friends."
Deezara suddenly took a knee and bowed before the Emperor and spoke with renewed vigor and loudly exclaimed for all to hear.
"Lord Dovahkiin, you could have ignored the problems as previous empires have. You could have allowed the hatred between the Dunmer and Argonians to continue and the Empire would still exist. But I know you are a great man, one that could never allow injustices to continue no matter far away or little they were. My Emperor, it would be my honor to lead Black Marsh on this endeavor to rid Thedas of injustice."
A grin fell upon the Emperor's face, a grin of pride of the general's answer. Rutris could have sworn she heard a chuckle as he threw his arms to his sides.
"Well done, general. Truly you have the gift to discern a person's true nature." The Emperor then turned his gaze to his entire court. "Friends, as your Emperor it is has been my duty to stamp out injustice wherever it hides or far it is. My goal has always been to create a stronger, more united society but in order to do so, I must bring justice. The crimes Thedas has committed can no longer be tolerated and its people no longer capable of fixing it. You should all know by now that nothing is out of my reach."
"Now then High Chancellor," spoke the Empress, "does that answer your question? I trust your objection has been withdrawn."
"I…" Rutris began, the Empress's eyes bored into her very soul and she fell silent. "Good," the Empress said, "then prepare the navy. We have one month to prepare and your Emperor and I would be very disappointed if you failed your duties."
Rutris soon felt shivers through her body, her throat dry and body unable to move. Her vision filled by the Emperor's face as he spoke.
"This is a great day for us all, Rutris. Soon we will bring a war-torn land to heel and its people will know lasting peace. And they will know just as Tamriel knew, those that defy me will cling to their petty lives and false gods and find none, but me."
Without so much as in the blink of the eye, the Emperor and Empress disappeared, as if they never even entered the chamber. Deezara looked around and grinned. Thedas will submit or face the Dragon's Wrath.