A Traveler's Story

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Chapter 1

Nirano awoke once more to find himself shuddering against the cold, dark walls of his confined cell. He slowly began to stand, and went to sit down on the small, rotted, wooden chair that was his only furniture. As he made his way there, he would jump occasionally, feeling a sharp burst of shivers as he stepped in the dark puddles.

He sat down and began to think about his miserable life once more when he heard a new voice in the Dungeon. He went to the edge of his cell and stared obliviously at the dark hallway. Then the voice spoke once more, and Nirano jerked his head in the direction it came from, to find another prisoner there. He was a Dark Elf, or a "Dunmer". He was taunting Nirano.

"Hey! Yeah, you there. How did you get down here? Ah, it doesn't matter, because you're going to die down here. Oh? Didn't you know that? Nobody escapes this Dungeon once they've been put here. Except for me. I am getting out soon, and when I do…Hey…do you have some family? A wife perhaps? Maybe that's what I'll do when I get out. Pay her a little visit..." The Dunmer cackled to himself. "Oh! I hear them! It's the guards…and they're coming for you!" said the Dunmer, once again cackling to himself.

That was when Nirano started to hear someone coming down the stairs. Or, many people for that matter. As the darkness around him began to lift, and a faint light started to draw nearer, Nirano saw three Guards surrounding another person. It was then that Nirano forgot all his misery and pain, and began to worry. Those were not Imperial Guards. They were members of a Faction called "The Blades". A special, elite force designated to guard one person and one person only: The Emperor of Cyrodil, Uriel Septim. Why were The Blades escorting the Emperor down here? Had he committed a crime so heinous as to be executed by the Emperor himself? As Nirano thought these things, he was suddenly ripped out of his imagination and slammed back into reality.

"What? What is this prisoner doing here? This cell is supposed to be off-limits!" shouted one of the guards. A female.

"Um, uh a mix up with the watch, madam. Placed him in the wrong cell." Answered another guard peevishly.

"Well…we don't have time to move him now…" replied the female. Then suddenly she turned to look at Nirano, "You! Prisoner, stand back."

"Over there, back by that wall. Do it now Prisoner. We won't hesitate to kill you."

Nirano complied immediately after being threatened in such a manner. It was not a small thing to deny members of The Blades. They were elite-trained soldiers that were born being trained. As soon as Nirano stepped against the back wall, the cell was opened and the three guards and the Emperor himself stepped inside the cell. The woman, who was obviously the one in charge, walked towards Nirano and then turned to face the brick wall. Nirano, who was too occupied staring at the Emperor to think about how ridiculous it was that the Captain was staring at a wall, did not notice. Soon, however the Emperor solemnly looked up at Nirano and walked towards him.

"You…I've seen you. Let me see your face. You're the one from my dreams…" the Emperor stated. But Nirano only heard some of what he said. It was too much like a dream that the Emperor of Cyrodil was standing here, talking to him. Before he knew it, a door suddenly began to appear in the wall. It seemed the Captain was not simply staring at a wall, but was looking for a switch.

"It appears as though The Nine have brought us together this day, for my time is running short and these are the final hours of my life. You are destined for something greater than this mere cell." Said the Emperor. Nirano was absolutely stunned that the Emperor stood before him coolly saying that he was to die. Aside from that, he was being offered freedom!

"Prisoner, you may follow us, but DO NOT get in our way."

Nirano stared at the Guard who spoke dumbfounded at him being released so quickly, but simply nodded his head, afraid the Blades would retract the offer if he did not answer quickly. He had no intention of getting the way of The Blades, no matter what they were doing all the way down here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While they began to walk down the ruined steps of what used to be a nice underground part of the Emperor's Castle, Nirano thought about what the Emperor had said to him. He had told him that he had envisioned a special destiny for him. That he had dreamt of him. It seemed a little creepy, but Emperor's were known to have occasional visions. It was what kept them, and their Empire alive. Yet, it seemed a little too farfetched that he, Nirano, was destined for something important. If he was, then why did he always wake up in a dark, dungy cell, below the ground with almost virtually no light? If it was the work of The Nine, then was there something even greater that he had imagined? While Nirano continued to follow the group in front of him he shrugged off these thoughts. As he observed his murky surroundings, he noticed something. All seemed a little quieter then before. Whatever lived down here had stopped to breathe… Just before Nirano was shaking off these feelings, they were confirmed by the sudden tenseness of The Blades. They noticed something too…

Suddenly the entire room was echoing with shouts, screams and curses. Before long, the clash of steel on steel sounded louder than the shouts, vibrating through the room causing tidal waves of sound. Nirano ducked out into one of the corners, remembering to stay away from The Blades, to not get in their way. More shouts and more clashes occurred, but subsided shortly afterwards. Nirano opened his trembling eyes and observed the chaos before him. There were four people lying dead on the cracked ground, drowning in their own pools of blood which surrounded them. He looked around and saw with a shock of surprise that only three others were standing. One Blade was killed among the three assassins. It was the woman, the Captain. The dungeon filled with a solemn, sad vibe. The remaining Blades and the Emperor silently acknowledged the death of their comrade, but immediately began to continue, noting the danger they were obviously in. They paid no attention to the shivering Nirano who stood staring at the bodies. He knew what he had to do.

He silently rushed over to the corpse of one of the Assassins and took off his blood soaked clothes. He put them on, knowing they were made of fine material which would keep him warm. Then he continued to the body of the Blade. He slowly pried her prized Akaviri Blade from her cold hand and unbuckled her sheath. He attached it to himself and sheathed her sword on his belt. He then started to trot behind the Blades and the Emperor, catching up as fast as he could.