Prologue
The moonlight shined over the White Gold Tower and the Imperial City. The wind was still, and silence filled the alleys and streets of the different districts. Guards silently followed their routines and guarded their posts, keeping watch for anything suspicious. A drunk stumbled out of the Merchants Inn, in the market District, singing loudly with a bottle of ale in his grasp. Yet, amidst the apparent silence and twilight, a shadow slithered through the alleys of the Market District. It slipped past a guard, unnoticed, and seemed to disappear into the Merchants Inn.
Velus Hosidious was just about to settle himself to sleep when a bell rung from the counter. He got up, mumbling something to himself, and made his way to the counter. He reached his counter and gasped as he looked at his new guest. In all his years of owning the Inn, he had never seen such a sinister and unnerving figure. They were tall, covered in black leather, of some sort, with a hood shrouding their face. Velus noticed some red stains on the figures armour.. blood? He quickly regained his composure and asked, his voice cracking slightly,
"How may I help you?" he tried to sound confident but he knew he had failed.
" Is Dreis Sallager, residing here tonight?" the visitors voice was deep and raspy. Velus nodded slowly. Dreis was a regular at the inn, stopping by whenever he passed through the city on his travels. This didn't, however, mean he was popular. He was a merchant who sold over priced goods, claiming they came from far away, exotic locations. Nobody bought his stories, but times were tough and people needed to buy. The figure nodded, and pointed upstairs. Velus assumed he was asking whether Dreis was up there. Once again, he nodded. Velus thought he saw a faint glimmer of teeth beneath the hood of this mysterious traveller, but then they were gone. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air. Velus stood there for a few moments, taking in what had just happened. The torches on the walls, flickered slightly and shadows danced upon the walls. After a few moments he let out a deep sigh and started back to his bed, when suddenly a cold seemed to descend upon the room. Velus was struck still, and the hairs were raised upon the back of his neck. He thought he could hear a faint whispering on the wind.. "Sithis..." he shivered. It was then he realised. He ran out of the inn to the nearest guard. He tried to explain what had happened, but he was too terrified to talk.
Meanwhile, the shadow once again appeared from the inn and slowly slipped away. Sithis had been appeased and the deed was done. As commotion began to erupt within the Market District, the air seemed colder, and the moon had been covered up by the dark clouds. Blood had been spilled in the Capital of Cyrodiil. The Capital of the Empire.