Leonidas, a Nord who was until very recently a prisoner in Cyrodill prison, looked out over the foothills that surrounded the isolated and abandoned priory. This place was a holy ground that once housed the relics of Pelinal Whitestrake, the Crusader who defeated the Ayleid sorcerer Umaril long ago. The ghosts in the Priory's under croft spoke of the ancient relics, all of which Leonidas was wearing or wielding now. The other knights, all of whom Leonidas had sworn into the order after he took up its role, were busying themselves with repairing the grounds. Thedret and Areldur were repairing the waist high stone wall that encircled the priory while Avita Vesnia was cleaning up the chapel. Geimund and Gukimir were out hunting for the night's dinner. Lathon, Sir Roderic's former squire, was over in Anvil purchasing armor for the priory horses. The other two knights were in Anvil with Lathon, but they were helping to repair the chapel there that had been attacked. Leonidas took in the view, breathing deep as the sun set.
"Is something wrong, Leonidas?" Leonidas turned and saw Avita standing there, holding a bundle of firewood.
"No, Avita. Just admiring the sun set. Kynareth blesses us all with sights like this." Leonidas said, turning to face the half-repaired priory.
"That she does. Repairs on the Chapel are finished." Avita said, heading between the main building and the chapel towards the stables where the cooking fire was being set up.
"We are almost done, Sir Leonidas." Areldur said, looking at the knight.
"Take your time, and please, call me Leonidas." The Nord said, smiling behind the helmet. Thedret glances up and smiles. Leonidas nodded at the knight before entering the Priory main building. Thedret and the others had found his body next to the foul sorcerer Umaril, which the Knights of Nine had to defeat after they recovered the relics which Leonidas wore, and brought his body here and kept his death a secret from everyone except the order. When Leonidas emerged from the spirit realm, a place high above Cyrodill, he found himself in the under croft on an altar, his body positioned as if he were dead (which he later found out that he was for a short while) like the previous Knights of Nine. He spoke with the previous knights once more before the knights finally went to their eternal rest, which they deserved. Leonidas emerged from the under croft and Thedret was the first to see him, for he shrieked in surprise, thinking Leonidas an undead. Leonidas told them of his confrontation with Umaril's spirit form, and Thedret told him what happened while Leonidas was doing battle with Umaril the second time. The Knights of Nine rejoiced when they had heard their leader had returned from beyond the grave (so to speak). It has been two weeks since Umaril's ultimate defeat, and the Knights busied themselves with repairing the Priory. Leonidas' thoughts fell back to when he had escorted the priest, Martin, to the Blade's Fortress of Cloud Ruler Temple where he was recognized as the Emperor's only heir, and was to be the new Emperor. Leonidas sighed, recalling that he should lend whatever aid he could to the new Emperor, even if no one knew there was a new Emperor.
"Dinner's on the fire, my lord!" Geimund called up the stairs.
"I'll be right down." Leonidas replied, taking off the Crusader's helmet. He went down the stairs and out into the yard. Before he went out back, Leonidas saw a rider coming down the small path that led from Kvatch to the Priory. Leonidas recognized the rider as a guardsman from Kvatch.
"Sir Leonidas? I have a message for you from Count Savlian." The guardsman said, awed by the fact that the Hero of Kavatch was the new Crusader.
"A message? What for?" Leonidas asked.
"He asks that you and he go see Brother Martin north of Bruma. He also told me to say that you are free to bring your Knights with you. He is bringing a small contingent of guardsmen with him on the trip." The messenger said.
"Hmm...very well, tell him that I will meet him west of Kvatch and that I will bring two Knights with me." Leonidas said. The rider nodded, then rode off towards Kvatch.
"Areldur, Thedret! Come here!" Leonidas called out. The Knights jogged around the main house, expecting trouble.
"Is something amiss?" Thedret asked.
"No, but we must go to a place north of Bruma, to a place very few know about, such as this place. Avita! I'm leaving you in charge. You, Geimund, and Gukimir are to stay and protect the Priory in our absence. We will be back soon. Should something happen at Kvatch while we and the new Count are away, you must aid them and bring them here, understood?" Leonidas asked, fetching the Crusader's helmet.
"Understood, Leonidas. Travel swiftly and may the grace of the Nine be with you." Avita said. With a parting nod, Leonidas and the two knights mounted up and rode off to meet the Count.
"Ah, Leonidas! I have heard of your recent exploits as the Crusader! And to think, you were just the Hero of Kvatch! Turns out you were meant for much, much more. Are we ready to go?" Count Savlian asked. Four Kvatch guardsmen accompanied him
"We are. Did Jauffre send you a message?" Leonidas asked.
"He's the one who requested our presence on behalf of the new Emperor. He sent Baurus here to Kvatch to deliver the message." Savlian said.
"Crusader." Baurus said with a nod.
"Baurus. How goes the investigation?" Leonidas asked solemnly.
"Not as well as we would hope. Not much is known about the Mythic Dawn." Baurus frowned.
"Hmm...oh well. How is Martin? I haven't seen him since we parted ways nearly two months ago." Leonidas said as the group of eight men headed off towards Bruma.
"He is handling things as best as he can, I suppose. The shock is wearing off and he seems to be handling his new role well, though he thinks he should do more. Such is the ways of new Emperors, I suppose." Baurus said.
"Hmm..." Leonidas settled into deep thought and rode in silence until they reached Bruma.
"Cold as ever up here." Areldur frowned. Thedret and Baurus laughed and Savlian smiled.
"Not much you can do until we reach the temple." Leonidas chuckled slightly.
"That's easy for you to say, you're a Nord!" Areldur grumbled. Leonidas just laughed.
Once they reached the path to the temple, Baurus took the lead. The temple gates loomed over the eight riders and a voice shouted down from above.
"Who goes there?" The voice demanded.
"It is I! Baurus of the Blades! I bring with me Count Savlian of Kvatch and the Crusader of the Nine, Leonidas!" Baurus shouted.
"The Crusader, here? Open the gates! The Emperor and the Grandmaster are waiting in the main hall." The voice said and the gates opened.
"Seems your title holds power even here! It is good that the Blades have not forgotten the heroes of old." Areldur said, shivering. The riders entered the fortress and the gates swung shut behind them. The four guardsmen dismounted and waited by the gate with two other Blades. Savlian and Leonidas ascended with Baurus and the two knights.
"Areldur, go warm up in the dining hall. Thedret, you stand guard here, then switch with Areldur every hour." Leonidas said.
"Understood, my lord." The two knights said before assuming their posts. Baurus held the doors open for Savlian and Leonidas. Martin and Jaffre stood at the opposite side of the hall. Savlian and Leonidas approached, then fell to one knee in front of the Emperor.
"Rise, friends. We need not worry about ceremony here, do we?" Martin Septim asked.
"I suppose not, my liege." Leonidas said, then rose to his feet, as did Savlian.
"Count Savlian, I hope Kavatch's reconstruction goes well?" Martin asked.
"It does, my lord. It is thanks to you and Leonidas that so many people survived. After he brought you here, I take it, he returned to Kvatch and helped us drive back the Daedra and take back Castle Kvatch." Savlian said.
"You have my thanks for that, Leonidas. What is this I hear about the Crusader? Are you wearing Whitestrake's relics?" Martin asked.
"I am. I am the new Crusader, leader of the Knights of Nine. Two weeks ago, we destroyed that which Pelinal Whitestrake only banished momentarily: Umaril. First we destroyed his body in Garlas Malatar, then I destroyed his spirit form high above Cyrodill, on the spirit plane in which I received a vision from Pelinal Whitestrake himself." Leonidas said.
"Really? That is incredible! What are you and your knights doing now?" Martin asked curiously.
"West-south-west of Kvatch. The only path leading to the Priory of Nine is east of Kvatch. I have two knights with me, and I left three to watch over the Priory, and Kvatch, should anything happen. Three knights are currently in Anvil, one purchasing equipment while the others are repairing the chapel there." Leonidas said.
"Interesting. I'll have to come visit when this is all over." Martin said with a gesture.
"That would be good. So, what would you have us do?" Leonidas asked.
"We need to go retrieve the Amulet of Kings, the Blades have not had any luck in searching for it." Martin said.
"Too few eyes and ears in our command. If we let the Imperial Legion know that their is an heir right now, all chaos would break loose. We need the assistance that you, as the Knights of Nine commander, and Count Savlian can provide." Jauffre said.
"And would you enlist the assistance of daedra, if you could determine if they were friendly or not?" Leonidas asked thoughtfully.
"What are you getting at?" Jauffre asked.
"That door that appeared at Nibien Bay? That led to the former Sheogorath's domain." Leonidas answered.
" 'The former Sheogorath?' What are you saying?" Martin asked.
"Sheogorath is no more." Leonidas answered, amusement creeping into his voice.
"So who is in charge now? Who is the current Mad God?" Jauffre asked, baffled.
"I am." Leonidas chuckled.
"What? You are not a god!" Martin said, confused.
"No, I am not a god. I am the ruler over that land, but I am not mad. I am completely sane, so fear not. The lands themselves have not changed much, but the towns and the citizens have changed drastically when I took the mantle of leadership in that land. When I arrived in that land, everyone was as insane as the Mad God, except for the daedra guards, the Golden Saints and the Dark Seducers. Now, however, the citizens' state of mind is as if they were never insane in the first place. The towns themselves were in disrepair when I arrived, but now they are in their hale forms, quite similar to Anvil or Bruma, depending on where you are. I'm more of a King there than a God anyways. They call me King Leonidas, the Kind One, but we won't go into that now. Let's just get this business done and over with. My question to you, Emperor Martin Septim, is this: will you accept help from the daedra if someone can vouch for them?" Leonidas asked.
"Are the daedra of the Shivering Isles different than the daedra that attacked Kavatch?" Martin asked warily.
"Absolutely. They are extremely loyal to their leader, which is me right now, and will follow my orders even if it leads to their death. Preferably, though, I do not want to waste their lives. They are not so different than us mortals besides the fact that they are daedra and we are not. The daedra that attacked Kvatch were the Dremora and the Scamps, lesser daedra in my opinion. The daedra under my command are the Golden Saints and the Dark Seducers, both types are far more deadly than Scamps or Dremora." Leonidas said.
"With such powerful forces under your command, has it ever crossed your mind that you could take over the weakened Cyrodill?" Jauffre asked cautiously.
"I was wondering when we would get to that. No, I have not thought of attacking this land. I have spent far too much time here as the Holy Crusader, stopping another rising evil that would have destroyed Martin's Empire while your attention was focused on the Mythic Dawn and the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. Will I ever attack the Empire? No, I will not and you have my word as the Holy Crusader that I will not attack you or any person in your Empire. In fact, I will defend you and all of your allies, as does the Blades, if you'll have me, my Knights, and my daedra warriors." Leonidas said, falling to one knee in front of Martin.
"Rise, Leonidas. I accept your vow and all the help you can muster." Martin said.
"Very well. Mirel! Issmi! Come forth!" Leonidas bellowed. A Dark Seducer and a Golden Saint appeared in a spell circle that appeared on the floor.
"Yes, my lord?" The two daedra asked.
"We will be assisting the Emperor of Cyrodill in his quest to drive out Mehrunes Dagon. Gather your strongest Aureal and Mazken, then return here and await further orders. Make sure to leave enough soldiers to defend the Shivering Isles while we are away." Leonidas said.
"Yes, Kind One." The two daedra said, bowing. They disappeared in a flash of light.
"They were beautiful!" Baurus whispered after several moments passed in silence.
Leonidas chuckled, "They are like a poisonous flower: beautiful, yet deadly."
"I see. We should wait until tomorrow before we do anything. Get some rest, everyone." Martin said, retiring to the bed chambers.
"He's right. If we are to be of any use to the Empire, we must be at our best, and we won't be without rest. See you in the morning." Savlian said, following Jauffre to the barracks. Leonidas was soon left alone in the darkening main hall. Leonidas sighed and went outside to where Areldur was now assuming his post.
"I'll take over, Areldur. Get some rest and tell Thedret to do the same." Leonidas said.
"Are you sure?" Areldur asked hesitantly. When Leonidas nodded, Areldur went inside. A group of seven Mazken and seven Aureal appeared not long after Areldur went inside.
"We are ready, my lord." Issmi and Mirel said simultaneously.
"Good. Two Mazken and two Aureal need to take up positions along the battlements, evenly spaced. Issmi, Mirel, you two defend this entrance here. The rest of you need to take up position along the stairs, evenly spaced. The other mortals are inside resting and getting prepared for the battle ahead. All fourteen of you will be fighting alongside of my Knights of Nine as well. Watch over the Knights when you can, and they will watch over you when they can. Above all, protect the Emperor. Understood?" Leonidas asked softly.
"Understood, my lord." The daedra all said in unison. They took up their assigned positions along the stairs and battlements. Leonidas made slow patrols along the battlements and stairs, speaking with each of the daedra, familiarizing himself with them and learning how long they have been in service to Sheogorath before Leonidas took over. Dawn arrived shortly, shining upon two riders coming up the mountain flying the banner of the Knights of Nine.
"Do we let them in, my lord?" An Aureal, Elythra, asked.
"Yes." Leonidas said, standing at the base of the stairs.
"Lathon, Geimund, what are you doing here?" Leonidas asked when the riders arrived.
"Avita sent us up here after she received a vision from Kyraneth herself, said that you would need more help. Besides, Areldur is an archer, he'll need more help during battle." Lathon said, wheezing from the cold mountain air. Geimund merely nodded as he studied the surrounding daedra.
"Who are the ladies?" Geimund asked. Lathon looked at Geimund for a moment, then realized that there were daedra there.
"We are the Mazken and the Aureals from the Shivering Isles. We follow the Kind One's orders, so fear not mortals." Elythra said.
"Aureals? Mazken? Who is the Kind One?" Lathon asked.
"You would know my race as the Golden Saints. I am an Aureal. You would know the other race here as the Dark Seducers. They are the Mazken. The Kind One is King Leonidas himself." Elythra said reverently.
" 'King Leonidas?' When did that happen?" Geimund asked.
"Shortly before I took up the pilgrimage of the Nine in search of the Crusader's relics. I took over the Shivering Isles after Sheogorath left after the Greymarch." Leonidas answered simply.
"So you were far more important than you let on! This is interesting..." Lathon muttered. He sat on the stone steps for a breather, obviously not used to the cold, thin atmosphere.
"While Lathon takes a break, Geimund, could you go to the barracks and wake Areldur and Thedret?" Leonidas asked.
"Sure thing." Geimund said, then began jogginig up the stone steps. Leonidas looked down the path and saw a red-black mist gathering at the base of the winding path.
"Elythra! Sound the alarms! We have incoming! Prepare for battle!" Leonidas bellowed, making his voice heard even inside the fort. He drew his sword and sprinted out the main gate before it closed, unhindered by his armor. He ran towards the edge and leaped off, landing on a Dremora and driving his sword through its heart as it emerged from a newly formed Oblivion Gate. More Dremora poured out from the Gate, threatening to drive back Leonidas, but arrows rained down around his from the battlements above. Good job, girls, Leonidas thought, sending his daedra a silent thanks. Seeing that the Mazken and the Aureals had this place under control, Leonidas dove into the Oblivion Gate, but it seems the Dremora expected him for there was about twenty of them waiting on the other side, fully armored.
"Welcome, Crusader, or should I say Kind One? No matter. My lord Mehrunes Dagon wishes you dead. Farewell, Crusader."The lead Dremora said. The Dremora moved as one, all moving in for the kill. Leonidas met them head on, expecting death, but when he heard the clash of steel behind him as his shield intercepted many of the Dremoras' swords, he looked over his shoulder. What he saw was a Dunmer wearing full Blades armor (minus the helmet) and wielding a flaming scimitar.
"Let us fight together, Crusader! The Nerevarine and the Crusader fighting side-by-side, what a sight, eh?" The Dunmer grinned. Leonidas grinned as well and nodded. With a roar, the two warriors leaped in opposite directions, laying waste to the Dremora. Once the fight was over, Leonidas sheathed his sword and held out his hand.
"Thanks for the assistance, Nerevarine. My name is Leonidas." The Crusader said.
The Nerevarine accepted the handshake, "I'm Griev. So you're the Kind One, hmm? Lady Azura told me all about you. You took on the mantle of the Mad One after Sheogorath left, completely reshaping the Shivering Isles from the foundation and up. That is no easy feat. Neither was defeating Jyggalag. Let me tell you what, though I defeated Hircine, I doubt I could have handled Jyggalag and his Knights of Order on my own." The Nerevarine said.
"I didn't. I had the assistance of the Aureal and the Mazken." Leonidas said, making his way towards the center daedric tower.
"No? Well, What about Umaril? That must have been a pain in the neck." Griev grimaced.
"It was. Technically I died. I came back to life in the undercroft of the Priory of Nine, my home." Leonidas said, pushing the door open and dispatching a few scamps.
"Really? Lucky break, eh? How are the daedric ladies treating you?" Griev asked, casting a hard core frost spell, instantly freezing two dremora that were rushing them.
"They are loyal, extremely loyal. I'll bet my little stunt back there put them on edge. I'll bet they want to follow me through the gate, but that is why I left them with specific orders to protect the Emperor." Leonidas said, ascending the spiral staircase.
"The Emperor? My commander was in the Blades, you know. We were on our way back to the capital when we were attacked by the daedra. I followed them through the gate after they slew Caius Casades. Looks like your gate closed behind you though." Griev said, looking out a large circular window. Leonidas looked out, then cursed.
"Where did you get in?" Leonidas asked.
"Over there, across the lava vein. It's still open if you want to leave this place." Griev said.
"Are you coming?" Leonidas asked.
Griev hesitated, "...Sure. Time to give Spymaster Caius a proper funeral." They both cast a levitation spell and walked across the lava vein. While the levitation spell was in effect. the two ascended the tower without setting foot inside until they reached the top. The Nerevarine cast a Gods' Fire spell which devastated the roof of the tower, allowing them entry to where the sigil stone was nestled. Leonidas removed the stone and the two were teleported out of Oblivion and to Battlehorn Castle where the men-at-arms mopped up the few remaining scamps. Leonidas noticed an older man wearing Blades armor lay still on the ground in the larger concentration of daedra corpses.
"Captain, ready three horses." Griev said.
"Yes, m'lord." The lead man-at-arms said. Three horses were brought over from the stables. Leonidas helped hoist the dead Blades onto one of the horses, then mounted another horse. After Griev mounted and left orders with the captain, they set off for Chorrol. The journey to Bruma was about a two days solid ride. When they arrived at the Cloud Ruler Temple, the Oblivion gate was indeed destroyed and the gate to the temple remained closed and intact.
"Open the gates! Crusader coming in with two Blades!" Leonidas shouted. The gates immediately swung open and the three horses galloped up the stone steps.
"What happened? Who is this man?" Jauffre asked, glancing at Griev.
"His is Caius's apprentice. He said this was Spymaster Caius Casades." Leonidas said.
"We were stationed in Vardenfell. He left early to return to the capital and I had some business to take care of before I could follow. My job was completed, so I followed." Griev said simply.
"What rank did you hold?" Jauffre asked.
"I was an Operative in the Blades. I was sent to Vardenfell from the Imperial City's Prison on the Emperor's order and made a Blades field member." Griev said.
"You are the Nerevarine then. Welcome to the Blades Fortress, friend. It is good that you bring Caius's body here for it's funeral." Jauffre said, taking one last look at his old friend before the other Blades took Caius's body to the training yard where two Blades were setting up a funeral pyre.