In this story I am very detailed on Elder Scrolls lore, culture, etc. So if you don't understand anything just go to the Elder Scrolls wiki. Also, if you wish to look at the actual General Tullius, who my character is based off of, go here... .com/wiki/General_Tullius

Ash. Fire. Blood. Steel. And tears. Those were the things that occupied the battlefield just outside Arenthia in the province Valenwood. That was the first battle, of the Great War, against the Thalmor.

My name is Nero Stratus Tullius and at that time I was Emperor Titus Mede ||'s High General. I was at the height of my youth and was also praised for my skill in the art of war, that I possessed at such a young age. The Gods had both blessed me and cursed me, for I had gained many friends and enemies on my path to glory.

Many a bard's song has depicted me as a magnificent war hero who fought for the Empire justly and courageously against the Thalmor. Many of those tales are true but now, I shall reveal the truth of my actions in the Great War.

The war against the Second Aldmeri Dominion had just begun and Cyrodiil had decided to make the first move. Emperor Titus Mede || ordered me to dispatch my legion of one thousand and advance on the city of Arenthia in Valenwood.

My army marched along the path towards Arenthia. It was a beautiful Frostfall day, filled with red and orange leaves blowing to and fro. I half wished I was just going out for an outside stroll rather than marching to war.

It was the 30th of Frostfall, Year 171 of the Fourth Era... and Cyrodiil was going to war.

Once we had been spotted by Arenthia's watchmen, an army, mostly composed of town guards and militia, rushed outside the city to meet us on the field of battle. Their decision was a wise one for we both knew who would win in a street fight. Five hundred of my men were armed with longswords, which are deadly if used in cramped street warfare, while all of the Thalmor army was composed of halberds and spearmen. But, since the Thalmor had decided to fight outside the city, we still had the advantage. I had positioned my spearmen, swordsmen, and archers on a high steep hill that overlooked the field that lay before Arenthia.

I, myself, took position at the highest point of that hill, with my elite general's bodyguard. Each man, in that cavalry unit, had proven themselves in battle and therefore had earned to be in the highest position of my army. As cavalry, each of those men was armed with a long spear, expensive plate armor, and a kite shield, painted with my symbol of two dragons in conflict. Those brave men were led and instructed by my right hand man, Darius. Darius was born a farmer but had the heart of a warrior. Over the many years, I had formed an unbreakable bond with him and that bond can only be forged in battle.

As a high general I possessed, perhaps, the most valuable and highest quality armaments in Cyrodiil at that time. An Akaviri katana hung at my side, which I had named Blade-Singer for the sound it made when it sliced through flesh. Katanas at that time could only be used by The Blades, elite warriors who served the Emperor, but Emperor Titus || had given it to me as a gift for delivering an rebel general's head. Blade-Singer always proved to be a worthy weapon in battle for I still have it to this day. I also wore a bronze curaiss with the Imperial symbol emblazoned, in gold, upon the chest.

But my helm was the most magnificent of all my war gear. It was a steel helm with a plume made of a horse's tail dyed red. The cheek plates, of the helm, were the two sides of a young dragon's lower jaw. Those jaws were bone, of course, hard as rock and still had the dragon's ominous teeth on it. Many of my previous foes, when they had seen my helm, had claimed I was a Daedric demon sent from Oblivion! The fact that I painted my face with previous enemies blood, before every battle, fed that myth even more.

The Dominion army quickly spread into shield wall formation at the foot of the hill. Darius then estimated that they had about seven hundred men.

"We caught them unprepared, Lord Nero," said Darius beside me, "The Dominion didn't strengthen their border cities in time. We shall cut them down like wheat during the harvest!"

"We cannot assume victory that easily, Darius," I replied, "Remember, the Thalmor are not to be underestimated."

Darius nodded his head, considering my attentive point. The Dominion was now in full formation and hurling insults at us.

I then cried out my first order, "Infantry! Thorn Bush Formation!"

My spears and swords heeded my order and marched into formation. The Thorn Bush involved two rows of infantry, the first row is spearmen and the second is swordsmen. The spearmen crouch down, hold their shields before them and stick out their spears. The enemy army would charge against the spears and will find it hard to pass them. If anyone attempts to or actually gets past the spearmen, the swordsmen, who stand behind the crouched spears, are ready to hack the enemy to pieces.

Then, once my soldiers were in formation, there was complete silence. Our two armies stared at each other, waiting for one of us to make the first move. Golden leaves blew ominously across the slope that divided us. But then, the Dominion made the first move. Growing impatient, the whole Thalmor army charged toward us up the hill.

"Archers, make ready!" I cried out.

Then, once the Thalmor were in a suitable area on the slope, I made the order to fire. The arrows whistled as they flew into the air and punctured Elven flesh. I relished each scream as numerous Thalmor collapsed. After our devastating volley of arrows, only the bravest of the Dominion dared continue to charge.

I waited in anticipation of the Thalmor charge's impact. For good luck, I caressed my amulet of Talos, the God of War, and prayed for a magnificent victory.

Then, suddenly, the sound of shrieks of pain and of thin metal sliding through bone broke me out of my daze. My spearmen had suppressed the charge well and were now thrusting their spears to pick off any warrior who exposed his torso. I then patiently observed the bloodied battlefield. A couple minutes later, the right flank of my battle line had been broken and the swordsmen had started to hack and slash at the opposers.

Seeing this, I ordered my cavalry, "Cavalry, hear me! Charge!"

My cavalry then rode in for a hammer and anvil strike on the enemy line. The Dominion gaped in fear as we charged towards them. Our spears glinted like stars in the twilight sun and the sound of our horse's hooves was like splintering thunder. We were elite warriors of the Emperor and we had come to kill.

Our cavalry charge devastated the Thalmor army. I had already discarded my spear into a warrior's gut and started to slice Blade-Singer at the fear stricken warriors that surrounded me. Many Thalmor attempted to flee the battlefield but one of my horsemen would always catch and cut him down. We had surrounded the whole Dominion army and killed them all down to the last man. When I tell my grandchildren and acquaintances of this battle they always comment saying it was a "bloody massacre". Say what you will but I like to call it a decisive massacre.

My warriors then all cheered in unison for the magnificent was the first conflict against the Dominion and would later prove to be one of the Empire's few victories.