The Sea of Ghosts

by The Blackjack

For the Spymaster's eyes only: This is an illegal account of highly classified events known only to a select circle of Blades operatives and arcane scholars. It also appeared, publicly, in a cheap adventure magazine. This dossier attempts to assemble the story and makes sense of this paradox. Keep this account safe and secure. Under no circumstances allow access to the Thalmor.

By Decree of the High Chancellor

BE FORWARNED

Unauthorized possession of this dossier is HIGH TREASON AGAINST THE EMPIRE AND THE NINE and will lead to penalties INCLUDING and EXCEEDING DEATH

Unauthorized breaching of this dossier's warding or runic decryption is HIGH TREASON AGAINST THE EMPIRE AND THE NINE and will lead to penalties INCLUDING and EXCEEDING DEATH

Unauthorized access to this dossier's manuscripts, either from this package or subsequent fabrications is HIGH TREASON AGAINST THE EMPIRE AND THE NINE and will lead to penalties INCLUDING and EXCEEDING DEATH

GOOD CITIZEN OF THE EMPIRE!

If found, return this document IMMEDIATELY to:

CLOUD RULER TEMPLE, DISTRICT OF BRUMA, CYRODIIL

FOR MY GODS AND EMPEROR

---

Spymaster -

I've assembled a case file on the incident I mentioned in our meeting last winter. It's implications are far broader than I had initially feared. Once again we have to table the hopes that we could put this whole Townway debacle behind us.

There's precious little background information even after scrubbing every lead clean. G. Townway 's personal notes first mention The Sea of Ghosts in a diary entry from 2 Midyear, 4e 63 as a potential adaptation of a "scary story" as recollected in an interview conducted for an unrelated project of historical fiction. He seemed to lose interest soon after, and the story isn't mentioned again until an entry in a separate journal from 4e 71. There, he claims that the work is already halfway done and is quite pleased with its progress. All other documents, whatever they could be, were destroyed in the manor fire. I've attached a transcript of the order's interrogation with him in Appendix C, though much of the information obtained couldn't be verified.

As for the publication history, the New Camlorn Herald's flagship edition carried the first several chapters, although a lukewarm reception and various delays on the author's part led to its cancellation in all High Rock periodicals. Unfortunately, the Skyrim edition carried the story from Frost Fall 4e 73 to its completion in Hearthfire 4e 75. Unlike some of Townway's other works, there was never any interest for an omnibus edition, which has greatly benefited our efforts to suppress it in the public's eye, and the Nords' disinclination towards reading limited its potential audience.

We have verified that a confirmed Thalmor agent suddenly purchased a subscription to the Herald's Skyrim edition in 4e 74, and that a copy was delivered to an address in Alinor until at least Second Seed, 4e 77.

This dossier can be forwarded to the loyalist elements of the Elder Council, as well as Blades leadership. A copy of the manuscript, but not the appendices, needs to be offered to Divayth Fyr per the agreement reached for his cooperation in this investigation (see Appendix D, line 78). Under no circumstances should any portions be shared with anyone with even suspected ties to the Summerset Iles or Artaeum.

In short, it's a work of pedestrian pulp fiction, but derived from real events and documenting heavily classified episodes that the author should have had no possible way to know about. If we are very lucky, its metaphysical implications are merely an existential threat to national security. And if we are not—well, you know what that means.

I remain your servant,

L. Cosades, 13 Last Seed, 4e 83.