It was the first of Midsummer in the year 4E 211. A midnight sky stretched above the Summerset isles as the summer night advanced, the steed shedding its starlight on the small elven town of Dunne. It was a relatively small town, consisting of only about one hundred residents, that was bordered entirely by forests. Built a good distance from any major cities, Dunne was a haven for any travelers looking for a place to rest a night or two. And unlike many places in the Summerset isles, the races of man and mer lived side by side. Adventurers, thieves, and escaped prisoners were the sort that were welcome to stay in Dunne, but it was on this summer night that Dunne was visited by a most unexpected group.
There was three of them, green travelling cloaks and hoods covering much of their bodies and faces. Underneath their cloaks they armed themselves in fine elven glass mail that glistened in the moonlight. At their belts they each carried a glass longsword and two daggers,as well as a satchel around their waist opposite to the sword.
They rode on strong chestnut horses as they approached the gate of Dunne. It was a simple six foot tall wooden wall that would do more to keep out animals more so than people. A single guard stood (or rather was slumped over) at the entrance to the small forest town. He was a bosmer wearing simple leather armor and armed with a short sword and a bow. An empty skooma bottle rested in his limp hand. As the riders approached they roused him from a light slumber.
"Alright, state your business if you seek entry." He blurted out jumping from his seated position. He kept his hand the hilt of his small blade as he spoke to the horsemen.
One of the three riders dismounted his horse and pulled back his cloak's hood as he spoke to the wood elf. His sandy blonde hair and pointed ears lead to the easy identification that he was Altmeri.
"Hail gatekeeper. Captain Valon, seeking entry on official Dominion business." He responded.
The gate guard's eyes widened at 'official Dominion business' and he immediately threw his empty skooma bottle into a nearby bush.
"Oh, I see. Well you've come horribly unprepared if you plan on trying to sack Dunne. If you Dominion fools want to destroy all that we have built so badly, then prepare to encounter a resistance so formi-." he said before the altmeri soldier cut him off.
"Save the petty intimidation tactics for another day, filth. I haven't come to this insignificant filth-ridden bandit camp of a town to kill any of you lowlifes and cheap muggers." The elf said as he removed some gold from the satchel around his waist.
"Now take this gold and see to it that our horses have good lodging until we take our leave tomorrow."
The other two soldiers dismounted their horses and all three handed the reins to the bosmer gatekeeper along with forty gold pieces.
He kept a suspicious eye on the elves as he cautiously took the payment.
"I'll take your gold, but I'm curious. What business does the Dominion have in Dunne? You've spent so much time trying to destroy it, yet here you are requesting entry."
The elves seemingly ignored him as they were granted passage into Dunne, but as they passed the gate Captain Valon turned and faced him for a moment.
"Know your place, thug, and don't ask questions." He said before he and his companions entered the town.
It truly was the definition of a skeever hole. Litter and filth lined the dirt street that spanned the entirety of Dunne. The twenty or so houses were shoddy and outnumbered by the many tents used by travelers looking for a slightly safer place to stay the night than the wilderness. Entire sections of the town had been built for that very purpose. In the far back of the town was the only building that had some quality to it, the tavern. What more could be expected of a town founded entirely by criminals seeking asylum against the law. Why anyone would willingly stay in such a place, the elves couldn't say.
After the gate shut behind him Valon spotted someone further down the street, a man wearing only a ragged pair of trousers. Long shaggy grey hair and an even shaggier grey beard gave him a wild visage as he shuffled down the dirt road constantly glancing at his surroundings.
The group approached him, staying a good distance from him, and attempted to ask the man a question.
"You there, you wouldn't know where we could find someone would you? His name is Gaeil, a fellow altmer, and we have heard word that he is staying in Dunne."
The disoriented man said nothing initially, instead just pointing at the tavern with a shaky finger.
"I see. Well, you have my gratitude." Valon said as he and his companions walked to the tavern.
"Look, I don't know who you are or what you want with Gaeil." The man said attracting the elven group's attention. "But take my advice and don't pick a fight with him. Gaeil is tough and shouldn't be disturbed. He has done a lot of good for this place, doesn't warrant any trouble."
The elves snickered slightly at his statement.
"You needn't worry about our safety. Said Valon as he and the other two patted the swords on their belts and continued down the road.
The rest of their walk through Dunne was unhindered by anyone. Though In the three minutes they had been in the town word had spread of the three Altmeri Dominion soldiers who were granted entry into the thief-haven. Every denizen of Dunne seemed to sit in the shadows and observe the soldiers like predators stalking their prey. Valon remained unshaken, but his guards walked with their hands at their swords.
At the entrance to the tavern the Captain asked his fellow soldiers to remain outside, much to their dismay.
"I wouldn't want Gaeil to feel threatened, though I doubt he would. We all know the history he has had with the Dominion and I think it would be unsettling to him if we confront him together." He said to the reluctant soldiers.
"But Captain, we've all heard the tales. This mer is dangerous."
"But he is not unreasonable, and I'm sure he will respect my choice to speak with him without your accompaniment."
The soldiers looked ready to argue more, though they bit their tongues and followed orders. "Yes Captain."
"Good, I shall call for you if things get out of hand. Be ready." The Captain said before entering the tavern.
Even late into the night the tavern remained the most lively place in Dunne. About twenty people currently occupied the somewhat spacious mead hall, some relaxed in front of a fireplace at the far side of the building telling tales and sharing laughs. Others sat at a large round table taking bets on some kind of game Valon didn't recognize. Many groups of two or three sat away from the crowds and appeared to be having conversations more serious in nature. However, everyone halted their activities when they noticed Valon, and the entire tavern went silent.
"Can I help you, elf?" Came a gruff voice from one side of the tavern at the bar.
Behind the bar counter stood an odd sight. A nord, not very tall, was the one addressing Valon. Not only was he rather short, but he was also quite fat and needed to stand on a small stool to peer over the counter. His face looked to be in a permanent scowl and his hair had almost completely receded due to age. A thick horseshoe mustache was almost all the hair that remained on his head.
"I'm looking for an altmer named Gaeil. He's here is he not?" Valon said to the nord, which didn't seem to relieve any tension within the small man or the crowd.
"Gaeil? What could you possibly want with Gaeil? Do you want to harm him, because you'll have to go through all of us if you want to lay a finger on him. Or perhaps you want to arrest him, but to that I say he's been nothin' but help to any of us. I won't allow you to go near him." The nord said taking a dagger from under the counter and making his towards Gaeil. "I'll show you what happens to you Dominion scum when you try to trouble this community."
A majority of the people in the tavern followed suit, drawing their weapons and advancing on Valon. But before Valon could call for his two soldiers, the mob was stopped by someone within the group.
"That's enough." Came a voice from the crowd.
An elf from the crowd began advancing towards Valon. He was slightly shorter than the tall Valon,though they both shared the golden complexion most high elves have. This altmer's hair was black and his irises had a red tint to them, both features allowing for the clear assumption that he had dunmer blood in him. He wore a chainmail vest but no other armor, with a sash tucked into his trousers. At his belt was a short sword almost too ornate looking for use. It was crafted of elven glass and silver with an inscription along the base of the handle. Valon was not able to make out the words that had been inscribed onto it.
"I am the one you're looking for, I am Gaeil. So what ever it is you want with me, I'm listening." Gaeil said. Clearly he saw that Valon's intentions were not to harm him, or at least he had realized Valon wouldn't be enough of a fool to attempt it here.
"It's good to finally meet you in person Gaeil, I've heard much of you in my time spent trying to locate you. My name is Valon, I simply wish to speak with you on account of business." Valon said.
Gaeil turned to address the majority of the tavern. "You see friends, he only wants to discuss work with me, so lower your weapons and resume your activities."
"But Gaeil, this elf is a Dominion soldier, do you really trust him?" One of the people in the crowd said.
"If he wanted to kill me he wouldn't have walked into a tavern full of my allies, so I shall believe him." Gaeil answered.
For a few seconds nobody moved, but in time they all sat back down like nothing happened with only an occasional glance Valon's way.
"Good, that could have gotten violent. Most likely for them too by the looks of you." Gaeil quietly said to Valon. "But let's not dwell on that, you said you have matters to discuss." He said leading Valon to an empty table in a more secluded corner of the tavern. As they sat at the table Gaeil gestured toward the small barkeep.
"Bern, could you bring me a bowl of beef stew and- I don't suppose you'll be wanting anything Valon? It's on me."
"Oh no, no I'm fine." Valon replied.
"Just the stew Bern." Gaeil said to the Nordic bartender. In no time the little man brought a small bowl of beef stew with a half loaf of bread. He gave Valon one last dirty look before leaving to tend to the other patrons.
"What is it with him? He seems rather defensive of you." Valon said to Gaeil.
Taking a bite of bread, Gaeil responded. "That's just Bern, Bern the Stout. He's just been through a lot lately and I've had to help him out a bit. He's a really appreciative person." Gaeil said picking up the small bowl of stew and drinking directly from it. Perhaps spoons weren't a thing here. "Though, to be fair, most people in Dunne feel the same about me as he does."
"You must have done a lot for this place to gain such loyalty." Said Valon.
Gaeil stared blankly in apparent reflection after Valon made the statement.
"Yes, I guess I have. Many times I would have had to defend it against threats like trolls or other beasts. Once a pack of vampires descended on Dunne, I was there for that. Many times I had been called upon to keep order when a brawl broke out in the streets." Gaeil said recounting the memories."But the biggest threat Dunne has had to deal with was your Dominion itself, as I am sure you are aware."
"Well of course I'm aware, they sent one hundred soldiers to kill or capture the thieves living in the at the time unfortified Dunne. Under your command Dunne was not only able to stand against but repel the Dominion's soldiers. And you've managed to make a somewhat stable settle of the place in the last three years." Valon said sounding unexpectedly impressed at the defeat of his fellow soldiers. "The Dominion leadership was in awe, and deemed it too costly to dwell over a few petty bandits and their commander(you). They wouldn't let you get away like that though, so they placed a bounty on your head. Surely that made your life more difficult, I'd assume."
"Of course. I constantly had to keep moving, place to place, in search of work. It wasn't an easy life, but it has taken me to all corners of the Summerset isles. I've never had a permanent home, though Dunne has come closest to being one. No matter where I go I always find myself back in Dunne." Gaeil said.
"I'd wager you would like for it all to stop, wouldn't you? The constant assault from the Dominion and its
bounty hunters grows tiring doesn't it?" Valon asked.
"Tiring, to me? Gaeil said with a small laugh. "I've been most wanted by the Dominion for a little over three years now, and I've only been alive for twenty. The Dominion's pursuit of me hasn't been able wear down an inch of my youthful vigor." Gaeil said taking another drink from his soup. "Though I'll admit, it would be nice to not have to sleep with one eye open in constant fear of assassins or bounty hunters".
"Then what if I told you that the Dominion is offering to pardon you of your crimes. That they were offering redemption." Valon said leaning slightly closer to Gaeil.
"I'd say you were joking. I've had too many confrontations with Dominion soldiers to simply be pardoned." Gaeil said.
"And that's where you're wrong Gaeil. I've been sent not to kill you, but to offer you freedom from pursuit. For a price of course." Valon said watching Gaeil's next moves carefully.
"If you're looking for money, you ought to know that I don't have much of it. I've been taking more resource based payments lately." Gaeil said to Valon, who shook his head.
"No, no, not money. Services. The Dominion wants your help with a very grim situation."
"Well, you have my attention. Tell me." Gaeil said leaning closer across the table to Valon.
"Of course. You know the current progress of our war on the rest of Tamriel, don't you?
"Just update me." Gaeil replied.
"Skyrim, having just emerged from a civil war, was the first to brought under the Altmeri Dominion's banner. And after years of chipping away at Hammerfell's defenses they too joined Skyrim. High Rock practically surrendered after we conquered the surrounding provinces, and the weakened Cyrodiil proved to be no challenge for our might." Valon boasted. He was silent for a few seconds afterwards as if reminiscing.
"But anyway, only Morrowind and Black Marsh remain out of the Dominion's control, and an assault on Black Marsh has been ongoing for the last six months. Unlike Tiber Septim, the Dominion is going to take the entirety of Black Marsh, not just the borders, and truly control the province. Morrowind has historically been a nation that avoids fighting those who seek to conquer it, and will not likely put up much resistance."
"Okay, seems like you have everything under control." Gaeil said.
"Yes, well, the Dominion thought so as well. But then a group of soldiers uncovered something dire." Valon said drawing a journal from his satchel and handing it to Gaeil.
"What's this?" Gaeil said observing the small journal in his hands.
"Disturbing, that's what it is. I'll just summarize the contents for you, though reading it would not be a bad idea. The book was written by an Argonian shaman who was captured during a siege on a village that had been giving us trouble. Strangely enough it was written in the common tongue which was the reason why we took an interest in it."
Gaeil flipped through the pages of the journal and sure enough the pages were indeed written in the common tongue. There was also a multitude of drawings of foliage and Daedric shrines.
"To sum it up, the journal is about the creation of the Knahaten Flu. It speaks of a shrine located in the northern marshes that was used to make offerings to the daedric prince Peryite. It is stated in the journal that in 2E 560 it was through this very shrine that the argonians created what was to become one of the deadliest diseases in Tamriel's history. Referring, of course, to the Knahaten Flu. But it is believed that the location of this shrine was lost many centuries ago, and that it has been abandoned ever since."
"Have they found it? Have the argonians managed to rediscover this shrine, or possibly use it?" Gaeil asked, his intrigue rising.
Valon shrugged. "And that is our problem. In his last entry the shaman who created that journal wrote that while through deep research he was basically certain the shrine exists, the location was a less certain topic. As was mentioned earlier he believes all clues point towards the location of this shrine being somewhere in the northern middle region of Black Marsh, not far south east from the city of Stormhold. And after we interrogated him further, we are rather sure that he does not know any more on the subject than what's written in the journal. You see how this could possibly be very bad for the Dominion, don't you?" He questioned Gaeil.
"I would have to be an idiot not to. A resurgence of the Knahaten Flu would be catastrophic to your invasion, if not the entirety of Tamriel. But I've read a few works on the Flu myself, and there seemed to be some debate as to the origin of it. What makes you think this shaman has the correct answer?" Gaeil asked.
"You are not the first to ask me that. The reason the Dominion hasn't just sent a large group of soldiers to investigate this is because a few in command refuse to take it as a threat of true importance. All save for one anyway. As far as why we believe this shaman's work, we have interrogated him extensively and have come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth. But that wasn't good enough for them. The commanders of the Dominion refused to allow me to take a large group of soldiers to assist me in what they called 'A waste of resources', but one of them gave me the all clear. It is this commander who is supplying the journey, including thirty of his private guardsmen." Valon said removing another object from his satchel, this time drawing a piece of parchment.
Unfolding the parchment, Valon handed it to Gaeil. "Read." Valon said.
"5,000. But, what? It just says 5,000. I don't get it?" Gaeil said looking up from the paper with a puzzled look.
"That's a reply. I had asked my higher up what to offer you as an incentive to assist our mission, and he replied by sending me this. Not only will you be free from the Dominion's pursuit, but you will also receive 5000 gold for your services to the Dominion. All you have to do is be a part of my expedition going to Black Marsh and help us locate this lost shrine." Valon said looking expectantly at Gaeil.
Gaeil said nothing for a few seconds as he thought over the offer. "What if your other commanders are right? What if this all turns out to be a hoax?" He asked.
"If we find no sign of this flu shrine in Black Marsh rest assured you will still receive the full reward promised." Valon answered putting out his hand for Gaeil to shake.
"Well than I see no reason to pass on your offer Valon. Consider me hired" He said shaking Valon's hand.
"Good choice, I shall notify my guards and we'll meet up with all the others tomorrow. Use this time to gather whatever supplies you wish to carry and say your farewells." Valon said getting up from his seat and preparing to leave the tavern.
"Oh. Before you go, I do have two more questions. Or rather, a question and a request." Gaeil said.
"Well, go ahead."
"Why me. I mean, you said it was because of my abilities but it seems rather out of character for the Dominion to hire mercenaries, nonetheless wanted criminals who have challenged the Dominion for a long time."
Valon paused and said nothing as if the question caught him off guard.
"Valon?" Gaeil called out.
"The Dominion leadership really didn't have a say in this. Like I said, only one of the commanders agreed to this mission, and they are perfectly fine with any unconventional methods to investigate this possible pandemic. As for why you were chosen, it really was because we saw a skill in you that we just don't see in most soldiers."
"Well than, I feel honored to be assisting you. But after we find this shrine, or fail to do so, I will be going my own way. To Morrowind on personal business, and I would request that my pay be held until my return to Summerset." Gaeil said.
"Yes, that seems reasonable. Now rest Gaeil, because tomorrow begins a trek across Tamriel to one of the harshest environments on Nirn. The journey will be easy until we reach the borders of Black Marsh, but we will move swiftly to them. So goodnight Gaeil." Valon said turning and leaving the tavern.
"Yes, see you tomorrow Valon" Gaeil said going back to his friends around the fire.
Outside the tavern Valon was joined by his two escorts and they walked down the dirt road to Dunne's gate. The gatekeeper had fallen back asleep when Valon passed him and headed towards the stables to check on the horses. Seeing they were well kept, the group headed back to a small encampment they had made about half a mile from Dunne.
"So tell me Captain, did he believe it? Does he really believe the Dominion is willing to reward him after all he's done?" One of the guards asked.
"He seemed skeptical at first, but I managed to convince the poor fool. He caught me off guard for a moment , but I convinced him nonetheless. I don't think he knows how much the Dominion really wants him dead." Valon said.
"Then why don't we just get a few miles away from this place tomorrow and kill him then. I don't see why we have to take Gaeil with us all the way to Black Marsh just to kill him." A guard said.
"I've told you this before, we might as well use him as free labor before we kill him and collect the bounty. And if he dies fighting a horde of those ravenous lizard people, it's just less work for us. As far as I'm concerned Gaeil is just our expendable puppet, once were done with him we'll just cut the strings." Valon said slipping into his tent. "Wake me at the break of dawn, we've got a long road to Black Marsh." Valon said laying down on his bedroll and drifting off into a light sleep.