It was late at night and the imperial city was quiet, only the noise of the imperial legions on patrol was present. High Chancellor Ocato, head of the elder council, imperial battle mage and current regent of the empire sat at his desk in his private quarters of the imperial palace. Before him were letters from each of the city rulers of Cyrodiil, demanding that he step down from the regency and crown a new emperor. But Ocato knew the truth, he knew that they all were trying to push the elder council into voting for one of them. He knew of five members of the council that had received messengers with bribes and promises, but what he did not understand was why the rulers were acting like this when they all the knew that the foundations of the empire were crumbling and instability now could lead to revolts and riots, and that he could not have. He asked his steward to bring him a messenger, as he did this he quickly wrote down a message enclosed it and sealed it with is personal seal. A young man entered with his steward.
"Take this to the second shack on the waterfront district and tell the receiver it is of the utmost urgency" he told the messenger. The young man bowed and hurriedly left on his task. The chancellor called for his new personal advisor, Ordeith.
Ordeith was a strange rat faced man with dark hair tied in a pony tail, he appeared at the palace gate of the imperial palace requesting an audience with the chancellor. Now usually it would take a few days for the request to be relayed to Ocato and then a few days more to send a reply with the time and date of the meeting, but as soon as Ordeith spoke his request the imperial palace guard felt 'compelled' to bring Ordeith himself before the chancellor and then leave without a word. Ordeith then told the chancellor a great many things, things he did not know, one thing that worried him, was that he was told that Count Regulus Terentius, the ruling count of Bravil, was pulling his soldiers from the field and massing them around his city. This news was verified a week later by scout. Upon hearing the news Ordeith requested to become the chancellors personal advisor and Ocato felt 'compelled' to accept.
The chancellors reminiscing was interrupted by Ordeiths arrival. "Leave us" he told his steward. He turned to Ordeith, "What news?"
"It is not looking good, Count Marius Caro of Leyawiin has massed his forces and has marched them towards Bravil. I believed it was going to be a siege but from the reports the two forces have joined together and are waiting just north of Bravil." Ordeith sat in the chair opposite the chancellors desk. "I sent messengers to Regulus and Marius but they were turned away at the gates. This may be the revolt you feared!"
Ocato was disturbed. "What are they up to?" he wondered. "Send messengers to the remaining cities. Warn the rulers of the situation, but do not tell them of our fears of a revolt, I do not want them provoking Marius or Regulus into doing something drastic."
"it shall be done." Ordeith stood and with a deep bow left the room. Ocato sat back in his chair, his mind returned to the young messenger he sent earlier. "By the nine please let him help."
The temple district was buzzing with activity, the amount of temple goers had increased significantly since Martin broke the amulet and the avatar of Akatosh appeared and banished Mehrunes Dagon back to the world of Oblivion. The stone dragon now stood in the centre of the temple of the one as a reminder to all of the great victory, and also a great sacrifice. Sitting at the feet of the dragon a man wearing tan linens and a silk shirt was righting in a book. This man at first glance was just another imperial citizen, but when looked at closer he was well built, and broad, he had long blond hair left to fall naturally and piercing blue eyes. To people that knew him, and that was very nearly the entire province of Cyrodiil, he was Urien Reyn, Hero of Kvatch and Champion of Cyrodiil.
Urien looked from his book and reread the last paragraph he had just written;
'I stepped up to the stone pedestal and took the silver dagger in my hand, I proceeded over to the sacrifice and looked down on the Argonian tied to the altar. I knew I now had a choice. I could kill this innocent and carry on with the ruse, or I could try my luck against the five mythic dawn acolytes, Harrow and Ruma Cameron. I would probably regret it, but I chose the latter. I span around and threw the dagger, impaling Harrow in the chest. I ran and grabbed my silver long sword and shield off of his body and raised my shield just in time to block a mace strike from one the acolytes, I parried his next swing and smashed my shield into his face and drove my sword into his gut. I looked over the dead mans shoulder to see Ruma levelling her staff at me, I moved the mans body into her line of fire just in time as a bolt of lightning struck his back propelling the corpse and myself off of the platform. I recovered and dispatched three more acolytes in quick succession. I charged at Ruma and ducked under a swing of her staff, I then sidestepped to her left and continued to cleave her head off of her shoulders. I walked back to Harrows body and claimed the rest of my possessions. Something occurred to me then, there was one acolyte missing, I looked up to the upper landing and saw him running towards a door near the second set of stairs. I quickly drew my dwarven bow and knocked an arrow, I followed the running man with the head of my arrow, drew it back, took a deep breath then released. I watched the arrow glide straight into the back of the mans head and he collapsed in heap. I quickly changed from the Mythic Dawn robe to my steel armour, it felt good to carry some weight. I took the Mysterium Xarxes and placed it in my pack, I then jogged up the stairs to find a way out of this place and back to Martin…'
At looking at the last word Urien stared up at the stone dragon and his mind wandered to that fateful moment when the battle was won. "So much death" he muttered to himself. "All my companions, my friends, dead and for what? A crumbling empire on the brink of a civil war?" he looked up and remembered all his friends that died before the end. "Baurus, died at the defence of Bruma, protecting Martin from two Dremora Kynreeves." "Jauffre, died at the hands of Mehrunes Dagon so Martin and myself could get to the temple of the one." "Martin, sacrificed himself and destroyed the amulet of kings so he could defeat Mehrunes Dagon."
Death seemed to cling to him ever since he came in possession of Umbra, the legendary soul reaver, he looked to his left and sure enough, right were he left it, a sword as black as night lay propped up against the wall, it looked exactly like it did the day he acquired it.