From the Journals of Captain Sextus Silanus: A Tale of the High Seas

by yungpapi

In 2E 806, a Nibenese captain sets out from Leyawiin on a ship crewed entirely by Khajiiti sailors armed with a scroll of Icarian Flight and a clandestine mission. Little does he know, however, that he, and his ship, have been caught up in a mystery that they cannot begin to fathom. Their adventure will take them across the sea, and into the very bowels of Oblivion itself.

1. Author's Notes

Author's Notes

This story is generally intended for those who are already well versed in The Elder Scrolls lore. While for the most part I will not delve too deep into the more esoteric parts of TES lore, many of the references and terms brought up in the story are either not elaborated upon in any great detail, or are left unexplained entirely. This has been done in order to lend an air of authenticity to the text, as it is framed as a first-person, primary source written in a Tamrielic context. If you are ever confused about anything that is mentioned in the story, The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, The Imperial Library, and The Elder Scrolls Lore subreddit are all great sources of information.

I will do my very best to stay faithful to the lore. However, in some cases I will likely be bending it, not too dramatically, but certainly a little bit. Thus I would say that this story is not 100% lore accurate, but rather lore authentic—meaning that I will portray what would be considered by an inhabitant of Tamriel an authentic vision of their world and way of life, if some things are not exactly as they might be. I should note that I will cohere to the entire sweep of the lore, including pieces of lore that are not found within the games themselves. Cyrodiil is still a jungle, the ja-Kha'jay is on full display (meaning that there will be many breeds of Khajiit represented in this story, as opposed to the one that usually appears in Bethesda's TES games), races which have never been shown in the games such as the Imga come out, and etc. I think that, considering how much Bethesda has radically changed their own lore to fit the games, a little bit of bending on my part to tell a better story is not such a terrible thing.

This story is rated T, but I would say that it errs on the side of M. There is crude language in abundance (the protagonist is a sailor, after all), and there will be some strong violence later on.

I am by no means a sailor or an expert on sailing and navigation. If you notice any inconsistencies or problems in regard to nautical terminology, nautical distances, sailing, whatever, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Finally, as I have noted, the story is narrated in the first-person from a Tamrielic context. If you are familiar with The Elder Scrolls, you should know that, just like our own world, Tamriel is a place that is marked by a great deal of inter-racial tension. The protagonist is, to an extent, a racist, and so is his crew. This story draws upon that tension, and, through trial and tribulation, tries to resolve it. Note that ultimately this story is a denunciation of racism, and expresses the hope that through mutual understanding and respect it can be overcome. Therefore, any racist (or misogynistic) opinions expressed by the protagonist are not a reflection of my own beliefs, and while I do wish to make some real world parallels, the relationships and sentiments that are found in the story should not be read purely as allegory.

All characters and story events are my own OC.

With that said, I hope you enjoy!

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

For when you can't remember those pesky Khajiiti names

---

CREW OF THE BREATH-OF-KYNE

SEXTUS SEVERUS SILANUS

The author and protagonist of this tale. A Nibenese seaman, drunkard, scoundrel, and amateur bard, he has been entrusted with the captaincy of the Breath-of-Kyne and its all Khajiiti crew by his likewise feline employer, Ab'soud.

YA'ZIN-DAR

Nicknamed "The Clever Cutter", Ya'zin-dar is the first mate of the Breath-of-Kyne. Rumored to be a skooma fiend or simply mad, Ya'zin seems shifty and sneaky, but is in fact quite competent, commanding the respect and loyalty of the crew. Suthay.

ZA'NIR

The Breath-of-Kyne's pilot, Za'nir is an aloof Khajiit with a gleaming white coat and a somewhat haughty bearing. Suthay-raht.

RA'JHERA

Nicknamed "The Swift", Ra'jhera is The Breath-of-Kyne's bosun. Suthay-raht.

J'RASHA

The Breath-of-Kyne's Stewardess, J'Rasha is sullen, lackadaisical, and disobedient. Cathay.

DRAZIR

The Breath-of-Kyne's cook, Drazir is demure and soft of voice. Her food, according to the crew, is quite good. Suthay.

QAZIR

The Breath-of-Kyne's purser. Suthay-raht.

JAGA

A deckhand on the Breath-of-Kyne. Has the look of an experienced sailor. Cathay-raht.

DRO'BARRI

Another deckhand. Older and quiet. Cathay-raht.

SHOLANI

The Breath-of-Kyne's carpenter. Stout and muscular, he is known for his kind nature. Tojay-raht.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

AB'SOUD

The owner of the Breath-of-Kyne and Sextus' employer. An older Suthay-raht, Ab'soud walks with a limp. Cunning, roguish, and daring, he and Sextus were fast friends.

ALBINIA

Sextus' former lover, born in Cyrodiil to a Breton mother and Nibenese father.

MA'ZAKA

An associate of Ab'soud's who resides in Senchal. An enigmatic sort, he is rumored to be a "spider". Alfiq.

KILBEN VASS

A Colovian warlord who presently rules Anvil and has taken radical measures to halt the influx of narcotics into the city.

KARJAZZ

A friendly Khajiit who owns an inn catering to travelers of all races in Leyawiin. Speaks in the first person due to having been raised in the Heartlands. Suthay-raht.