The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Story of Octavian

Prologue

I was born over fifty years ago. I am Octavian Bacchus son of Julius Bacchus, owner of the ruined Bacchus Estate on the border of Black Marsh. I was raised to be a knight, like all of my family. When I was five years old, a local Argonian wizard named "Swims-With-The-Current" found out I was a potentially powerful wizard. So I became a Mage-Knight and Swims got hired by my father as the household wizard.

Before you start flappin' about that being a Spellsword, no it's not. A Spellsword is a magical warrior, but I'm a fighter with magic. so don't screw that up, okay? It's not important, but I just hate it when people ask me that.

Well, when I was a kid, maybe 15 or 16, the War of Bend'r Mak happened on the Skyrim-Hammerfell border. So of course me and a bunch of friends went and fought there. get glory for ourselves, maybe do some good in the world. Well, we decided to try to be a middle ground, mediating kind of thing. It didn't work, so it was us and the Redguards fighting the Nords. A good batch of us died, but we helped keep things from falling apart completely until Jagar Tharn got dead and the Emperor was freed.

So I went back home. I was the big hero, the triumphant general returning from defending the bullshit honor of the crumbling Empire. Well, of course they wanted me back after the Emperor fixed up the Empire as best he could. That whole Warp in the West mess? I was there for a while, but I got hit pretty bad by one of those ghosts around Daggerfall and got sent back here in a healer's cart.

The story really picks up about a year before the Oblivion Crisis. Remember that? well, I was traveling somewhere near Chorrol, can't remember exactly where, when I stopped in an inn on a stormy, dark, cold night. I rented a room and heard fighting from another. so I went to check it out. When I opened the door with my sword drawn blood sprayed all over me. I saw this guy jump out the window and everyone ran up and saw blood-soaked little me standing with a sword drawn over a dead guy.

I jumped after the guy, but lost him. The guards lost me pretty quick to. I went back to check the place out after a few hours. I found this weird-looking Soulgem and a note. It said this. "Lucien, I want you to kill Iulius and take the Soulgem he is working on. It has strange properties and it seems to be relevant to the Dread Father. Take it. Hasaphat."

I was pretty stuck. The gem was important, and the best assassins in the world were looking for it. I needed an enchanter, but who would help a fugitive like me?

Swims would.

I had to go on foot, since my horse had been taken by the guards. After two days of endless travel I collapsed in a grove.

Luck was on my side. it was Haracane Grove, home of the Cyrodiilic Unicorn. when I woke up I managed to mount it and get it going. I got to Swim's shack after another day of travel. When I dismounted, the beast sped away.

"Octavian, I've heard you're in some trouble with the law. What the hell did you do this time, boy?" He asked.

"Missed you too, Swims." I said.

I explained everything. "You're in a bad way, boy. Lachance is rumored to be in the Brotherhood, but there is no proof aside from your letter, which the bent Magistrates will call a forgery. Hasaphat... Must be a Speaker, and Lucien must be his Silencer."

We spent the next few days plotting. After that time Swims thought he had a lead on the gem.

"Fill it with a Soul and attach it to yourself." he said. "Go hunting, okay? You need the time outside anyway."

I trapped a Spriggan and went back to the hut.

Swims had been murdered. I put the gem on his chest and read the note that had been stabbed into his chest.

""You fool, you should have left well enough alone, the gem will still be ours, no matter what you do. Lucien."

"Bastard." I snarled. I saw the gem. Swim's soul was just leaving the body, and it was being sucked in.

"Take it over my dead body."

I slammed it onto the back of my right hand as hard as I could. It felt like being cut with a blade enchanted with fire magic. The guards came for me then.

For the next year I would rot in prison. But I would get out. I'd get even.