Chapter 1: A Land Across the Padomaic Ocean
Year 6 of the 5th Era of Tamriel
The glory of the Empire of Tamriel stretches far and wide, its unity provided everyone with industrialism like no mortal in Tamriel has ever seen before. Ships of the line cross the seas and bring glory to the Empire with trade and commerce, and new airships are constructed for military use. Its resources abundant and rich for everyone to have a job on their own, roads, bridges and lighting connecting everyone in the Empire, and lands so vast that each farmer can have a proper living. Dragons soaring the skies as it guards the Empire in the name of the Emperor, and their fangs and thu'um ready to strike those who dare wake the dragon.
It was all due to a strange fellow who came six years ago in Helgen. He claimed that he hailed from a land beyond Oblivion. Having blonde hair and blue eyes, making him almost a Nord. It was discovered that he was the Dragonborn of legend and this cast a sign to them that he was sent from the Nine. Soon he fulfilled his destiny and defeated the dragon Alduin, and he let the dragons surrender and serve him.
His armies and dragons defeated the Thalmor and brought a wave of lasting peace to Tamriel that now it so enjoys. Its glory was stemmed from years of turmoil and never again shall they be conquered by an extremist group or a foreign power. If there was a threat to their newfound nation, then they shall have a taste to what it means to be trampled.
The institution that brings peace and unity to the Empire was re-established, a romantic view of the Third Era made the Arcane University whole again. Martin Septim was posthumously recognized as the guiding path to which the Empire would be built and reconstructed. It's almost as if the Fourth Era was a bastard time for Tamriel, two hundred years of shame to her.
The slogan, "Enrich the country, strengthen the nation," defined the new era of Tamriel. Mercantilism and capitalism are in full swing and various companies such as the infamous East Empire Trading Company. Ships of various sizes and now the famed Ships of the Line are used to carry riches to the Empire and back, spreading wealth all across the land. Land redistribution was also given to the veterans of the Second Great War as promised by the Emperor.
Magic has also evolved, communications such as telepathy and crystal balls were rediscovered and used widely by not only mages but people alike. Teleportation and levitation were also the ones obscure wells now widely used, elevators that need not use mechanical means but only by the use of Telvanni wizardry, grabbed and shared to all.
The military is also reformed, having a standing army and a reserve for those who are able. The population is also rising and urbanization is seen in various provinces of the Empire. Massive construction projects were undertaken to reconstruct infrastructures that were destroyed in the war, and new roads, bridges, lights to reduce crime, and police were introduced to combat poverty and banditry in replacement of local militia.
Now there is a central army of Tamriel, adopted from the Mede's and those before, the Imperial Army consisting of the Imperial Legions, Imperial Navy, and the new Imperial Air Force. The Air Force then consisted of Airships that were constructed from captured Thalmor and Dwemer texts and those dragons who surrendered to the might of the Emperor's Thu'um. Prideful they may be but they do not dare even challenge the one who defeated the World Eater atop Sovngarde.
Sure there is still bad blood for those of Argonia and Dunmer alike, however, things are being done to prevent such things to happen. Slavery is outlawed and House Redoran has signed a document recognizing the crimes of their races and in exchange for reconstruction funds and slight autonomy to the centralized Empire.
And so Tamriel stands united, for the world to admire and envy. A federated empire of Argonians, Dunmer, Nord, Redguard, Bosmer, Altmer, Orsimer, and Imperial standing side by side in the face of Nirn.
"The sailors of the expedition to Akavir didn't know what they are going to discover. A land where a lost glory of a dead dynasty lies buried within the ashes of Septimia? Where the Septims before had stood and died? No. Instead, they discovered a land that changes the maps of history forever. Scholars still debate on what happened to Akavir. Yokuda still lies sunk west, Aetherius still is above us, the dragons still have a connection to Akatosh. Oblivion still can be traveled to and we can still pray to the Nine.
However, what is known is that Akavir disappeared from the maps and changed by new continents, Westeros and Essos."
- Imperial Guide to the Continent of Westeros and Essos
It was quite a windy day for the crew of Conqueror and the rest of the Imperial Expeditionary Fleet. The fleet consisted of seven ships, including two frigates and two cargo ships, each armed with soul gem cannons on its rear and side in case of pirates. These ships have large masts that can be moved by the wind, if not then they can only travel in means of rowing.
The Conqueror is the flagship of the expedition fleet, it's almost thrice the size of the then flagship of the Empire, the Katariah. Build to project power and progress, it is one of the finest ships in the Imperial Navy. It boasts a hundred and eighty-six feet in length and almost four stories high with three soul gem decks. On the rear of the ship carries with it the flag of Tamriel. On the bow was a head of a dragon with its mouth open and hallow.
The rest of the ships, Vengeance, Vallor, and, Hope were smaller ships, but twice that of Katariah, with them only having two soul gem decks. Frigates were the ones heavily armed and had imperial marines on board, including battlemages. Each ship can communicate to each other and to Tamriel, Morrowind in particular.
The fleet was commissioned as a part of projecting the Empire's power to Nirn. On having a small expedition, mapping the coasts of Akavir. The second expedition to Akavir after hundreds of years of being isolated just to Tamriel. The Emperor wanted to show dominance over the Akavir, as it is rumored that the Ka Po Tun had the leader ascended to godhood and seeks to conquer Tamriel.
Even if this expedition force was small in comparison to the Imperial Navy, they only wanted to chart and gain contact with the locals of Akavir. And if time and opportunity arises, have them as allies if a war broke out or to expand Tamrielan influence. They have heard on how the Tsaesci had strange magic that can basically cut off communications to Tamriel, that's why they are only going to be in a respectable distance once they can see land.
The dragon wants to expand his wings and this is a small step for it. An empire across the oceans.
Aboard the cabin was the Admiral William Bellamont, a Breton hailing from High Rock. He was an honorable admiral of the navy, having won many medals from the Emperor during the Second Great War, by saving Stros M'kai from a naval engagement against the Thalmor. A middle-aged man but able built, having black hair with signs of graying and brown eyes, a typical breton. Now, he just wants to explore the world and see what lies beyond Tamriel.
Behind him was a large window that gives natural light to his table, filled with maps, a globe, pencils, and pieces of paper. He also has a sextant to calculate the latitude and longitude, or where they are in the world. On his left was a clock that was purposely built for sailors. In front of him is a wooden chair and leads directly to his bed and room.
The cabin is quite spacious for the captain, but enough room for him to let his thoughts through the piece of paper. Pristine in white, crisp in every shape or form, and smell decadent for the paper to invite him to have his pencil write with his hands.
22nd of Last Seed, 5E 6. He wrote.
It's been a few months since we got off Esroniet and resupplied from the trip. As we grew closer to Akavir, the morale of my men is getting tenser by the day. Stories they've heard from rumors from the island, I actually had to ban my men from speaking such nonsense. I know that none of the people on Esroniet know what's real, only the rumor that Akavir's races are on each other's throats.
I remember last night, one of my officers reported to me that the grew began teasing this argonian named "Huleesus". From what I remember this argonian was a wisecracking buffoon but when he gets angry a man loses his teeth. Tough fellow. However, last night, with wine and ale, Huleesus just enjoyed the insults and laughed with them. Only if a dunmer would do that, I'm sure someone will go off the plank.
Apparently, it was the Harvest's End, mostly celebrated by us Imperial worshippers, it's now celebrated a national holiday for the Emperor. Most beast-folk give thanks to the Emperor, while the Pallatine Khajiit still has a love-hate relationship with the Emperor. Us? We just wanted to drink ale and mead like a drunk nord and have fights like a drunk redguard.
But I forgot about that yesterday. I was not having a good sleep so I slept all the way through the celebration of my crew, even as my officers knocked on my door to invite me. I just wanted to sleep and get done with it. Headaches are a bitch.
From my midshipman, we are only days towards Akavir, few thousand knots and our ships will see land from months and months of water. My battlemages sees no interference from the crystal balls and they can still contact Morrowind. In fact, the Tamriel Times would like to have an interview with me regarding our almost a year-long expedition to Akavir.
I kindly refused as I told them I'm busy managing the crew. However, the truth is that I just don't like having interviews. It's bothersome in my opinion and I like just having to write my thoughts here rather than speak to a journalist about it in a crystal ball. Just in here with my pencil, paper, the sound of my ship, my crew and the seas.
However, I can still feel the tense atmosphere as I lock myself one hour a day in my cabin. The anticipation of whether or not our wooden ships would withstand the storms of Akavir. I've read about the Disaster in Ionith, where Uriel V's expedition went into a failure. And how Tsaesci magic was almost on par with the Psijics.
I'm calm and just writing here. But on the inside, I'm quite tense myself. It's why I only slept a few hours every night, is that our voyage maybe would turn sour quickly. Sure we have battlemages and soul gem cannons, but Akaviri magic is unknown to us all. But I still have to show order, if not, ranks would fall and mutinies would arise.
The Nine guide me. - William.
He finished writing on the paper, folded it, and keep it on a drawer filled with the same papers, mostly reports to the Emperor and journals to keep. As he finished he gave a big sigh and stood up from his seat. He wore a standard admiral's frock, however, he left his medals and ribbon on his bedside. He wanted to be casual and have an air of simplicity towards his fellow officers and the crew of this ship. He would only wear it if he is on land. On his hip was also an Admiral's ebony saber, enchanted with paralysis and drain stamina.
As soon as he got off his quarters he was greeted by the breeze of the sea, the sound of the wood creaking, and the waves crashing down the hull of the ship. He can even hear the blurred chatter of his crew, doing their everyday duties as the sun falls down again to the ocean. The cold breeze was windy but tender and cleanses the air. Aboard the upper deck, the breeze here was quite nice and just enough view for the admiral to see the main and fore-deck.
He then went to his helmsman, it was an imperial, one of his officers. The man wore a bicorne hat and had long black hair, black eyes, and a small nose. His chin is pronounced and he licks his lips wet as the breeze dries it quickly. He also wore a frock suit but he proudly wears his ribbon and medals, almost boasting it to a degree. Beside him were also maps, a sextant, and the globe of Nirn.
"Captain Decimus." Admiral William Bellamont called to him with his gruff voice as he walked to his side as the mentioned captain steered the ship to the right course.
The captain's face scowled as he turned his head to the William, "Admiral William, what brings you here? Are you done with your daily writings? I bet you wrote a book this time."
"Probably," The Admiral walked ahead to observe the main deck, "I could've written the Oghma Infinium by now." As he turned back to the captain, William chuckled and patted his shoulder, "I can already see the tenseness in you. Relax, Decimus."
"And yourself are tense, Admiral." Decimus agitated and leaned his face forward, "You know that our expedition is suicidal. You know what happened to Ionith! I can feel it within you, that even with the best ships in the Empire, their magic is beyond our mages' comprehension."
"We already heard your concerns," Bellamont said sternly, "But our ships are far better than those in the past."
"These ships are still wooden!" Decimus gritted his teeth and his voice hoarse, but his pressed his right finger down the table and he is visibly shaking, "These ships can still be destroyed by Akaviri magic that is far better than our own! So please, turn back our fleet! The Empire doesn't need to project its power, it needs to just secure its peace."
"Which is why we are doing this." The Admiral answered for him, "We don't know what's going on with Akavir, and if we don't watch it the Ka Po Tun might invade Tamriel the next day."
"Then how do you know that they are going to invade?" The Captain pressed.
"We don't know, Decimus. That's we are going there to confirm whether or not they are a threat to the Empire. Whether you like it or not, we are going to sail to Akavir." He towered the lad but his expression softened and walked ahead to the beams as he observed the main deck, "To be honest with you, I'm also afraid. This ship is the pride of the Imperial Navy, and if she sinks we will be an embarrassment once we return home. Not only does the pride of the Empire sink but so do our lives." He faced Decimus with his face stern, "Do you think I have no regards for the lives of our men?"
Decimus saw William's face, but his expression didn't soften, "No."
"Good. But we are just following orders from the Elder Council. And they know what great risk they are sending, once they commissioned that even the flagship would sail to Akavir, it's like gambling with your entire livings on the line. But that risk is just to keep the Empire safe, do you understand?" Decimus nodded and continued to steer the ship in silence, "Let's just hope that your rank was well earned."
"It is well earned! I fought the Thalmor in Senchal when they were trying to escape!"
"Well show it! Actions speak louder than rank! Act like a captain because now you bloody aren't doing well! Don't let your doubt cloud you and inspire the crew! Because if you, yourself are uncertain, then how would they?" William looked him in the eye before turning back and walking down the main deck. Decimus just stared at the ocean.
The main deck was also wide an spacious, where masts can be seen. The ship in total has three large masts, not including the bowsprit. They all carry the sigil of the Empire, the Imperial Dragon. But the Imperial Navy has a different flag as the sides of the flag has two blue stripes. The main mast has four yards that are currently gathering the ship forward. Along with them were finely trained and everyday drilled men, some of them serve sentences rather than face a rotting prison.
They heard that prison under the new Emperor wasn't that nice. Sure, he gave them a choice to change their lives for the better, but those who were found guilty of murder, rape or any other grave crime immediately had their names erased and sent to the Red Mountain. The phrase "going to Red Mountain" is almost synonymous to someone disappearing entirely. Some of them were speculated to put unto death, though word of anything were just rumors. No one knows what goes on in there.
William then got to the main deck as some bosmeri sailors are cleaning the deck with holystones. Ahead, he saw an argonian who only wore trousers and boots, sharpening a blade while on a crate beside him was a mug of diluted rum. As he approaches the argonian, it spoke to him, "Is it true what they say about Akavir?"
"About what?" William quickly quirked is head to him.
"That they eat people?" The argonian asked him, his eyes staring back at him.
William then gave a low growl, "I already ordered that these talks are forbidden. So who told you that?" However, the argonian didn't answer. "I said, who told you that?" But again, the argonian just gave him a silent stare. The admiral sighed and shouted, "Who told this argonian here about Akavir?" When everyone heard his shout, everyone got silent but still, no one answered. William could already feel his headache kicking in but he kept a level head, "I said, who?"
"Please!" The argonian visibly shook, "I just want to know whether or not they eat people!"
"And that's what you're worried about?" The admiral came in closer to him, "About some Akaviri eating you, really? And if I tell you yes, would you then jump off the ship, or start a mutiny? Is that it? That's why you're sharpening your blade? Starting a mutiny or even plotting one is punishable to have your soul trapped, do I need to remind you of that?"
"N-no!" The argonian denied, "I-it's to protect me in case Akaviri try to eat me!" He was visibly shaking, handling the knife in a dangerous manner.
William quickly put his hand forward in a cautious fashion as more sailors abandon their duties and start watching the scene. "Put the knife down." He said calmly as things are turning bad immediately, and with the added alcohol in the mix, things would turn sour quickly if he doesn't defuse it.
But the argonian just kept holding the knife, "Don't take it from me! I don't want to be eaten!"
"The soldiers would protect you from the Akaviri, I would make sure of it. Now, put the knife down." The admiral walked in closer but the argonian aimed his knife at him.
"Stay back!" The argonian shouted as he pointed the knife at him.
William prepared a Calm spell within his hands and released it at the argonian. Quickly the spell took effect and the once agitated lizard is transformed into a calm argonian that dropped the knife that early was firmly in his grasp. The admiral promptly took the knife and placed it on his pocket. "See? This is what happens when we spread rumors about where we will go!" He shouted to the crew, "What we know is that we should be cautious however we shouldn't be afraid. The Empire will know and will send dragons if our situations go awry."
The admiral saw the faces of those around him, and he knew that he didn't succeed in persuading them. It didn't even boost the confidence of the crew. What this argonian did was just another thing in this trip, paranoia is already on the loose and there's nobody that can stop it. Only the certainty that every one of them would survive. "Everyone return to your posts! Lashes are now increased to thirty to anyone caught spreading false rumors about Akavir!"
Later that night, the high officers were having a joint dinner in the small planning room, the other officers were in another separate room beside them. It was a simple dinner with salted venison, plain bread, and mushroom soup. However, as their ship approach ever closer to Akavir, the waves grew ever calmer. Still, there was a lingering atmosphere of uncertainty and paranoia. It was so thick that the officers can feel it.
"Our mages already confirmed that they detected no magic that occurred except the incident with that one argonian earlier." One altmeri officer spoke. He had a standard blonde fair that is typical for the high elves, his cheekbones pronounced, and nose straight. His eyes, however, were different, having a blue one on one side, and a gold one on the other. He wore a standard officers uniform, adorning a blue ribbon. His blue ribbon represents that he is the Commander of Magics of the fleet.
"But we can't detect Akaviri magic, even if we detect magic that we have seen from the time of Versidue Shaie or Uriel V, it's ancient! It's almost five-hundred years since we saw Akaviri magic in display! Who knows if they have magic that uses another conduit other than magicka? And one day we will find our bodies buried beneath the oceans." Captain Decimus ranted as he chews on another piece of salted venison.
"Our battlemages are one of the finest ones in the Imperial Legion, granted to us by General Lydia. They saved lives during the war, do you have no confidence in them?" The altmer replied angrily to the captain.
"What we know is that the Akaviri right now is on war with each other," Another woman who is an imperial spoke, and she wore a yellow ribbon with her standard officer uniform. She has black and blue eyes with fair skin that is brilliant with youth. Her nose is sharp and cheekbones high. She quirked her mouth and relaxed her back on the chair, "Their position is weak, and we can exploit their weakness with our new ships."
"Vice Admiral Atia we are in no position to declare war on the Akaviri. We must proceed with caution with every choice that we make once we see land. If we would be reckless then the Captain's warnings would prove right. We only have seven ships with our fleet, heck we can even barely call this a fleet." The Admiral countered.
Atia sighed, "With all due respect Admiral, we have the Thalmor's soul gem cannons and if the Akaviri still use boarding tactics then we would have an unparalleled advantage. We have sufficient munitions to destroy fifty ships, and if we ran out, our battlemages can use their great fireball spell to decimate-"
"I don't need a reminder, Vice Admiral. But what if they have cannons that can even outrange ours? Do we ask for the dragons to burn their ships when it is already too late? We must be cautious for every knot that we get closer to Akavir, all ships must be on its highest alert, cannons ready to fire at any moment any ship who doesn't confirm their identity."
"And risk war?" The altmer commander countered.
"We wouldn't, it's a precautionary measure. We can't risk war, and the people still don't want any conflict. However, we must prepare for the worst case scenario. We already saw that our crew isn't stable and a chance of mutiny is high. So, I must admit that my policy of banning talks about Akavir has failed." He then looked at the captain, "But this doesn't mean that we are going to go back to Esrionet or Morrowind. No, we are going to Akavir."
"Are you insane, Admiral?!" The Captain stood up in outburst, "I've already told you all a thousand times, this is suicide!"
"And what? Return to Tamriel? Carrying nothing but shame and disappointment towards the people and the Emperor? Captain, are you so selfish that you are willing to save yourself than to even take a risk?"
"The crew here have families back in Tamriel so don't lecture me on this Admiral! It's also foolish to go into a voyage we know we are going to die!"
"Isn't it also foolish not to tell the Emperor ahead of time before wasting the government's money on this expedition? The Elder Council has given this task to us, better for us to die than to retreat without knowing anything. They already know the risk, and even with just seven ships on our fleet, they are heavily armed. I have told you that I care about their families, but let us not let their task go in vain. So are you going to stand there and complain, or are you actually going to help us come up with a plan when their ships attack us?"
After their dinner, they all went to the Admiral's cabin. There he laid a map of blue and figures of ships on it. "Since we would be outnumbered in case of any naval engagement," The Admiral started, "We will avoid any types of raiding and use range and formation. What I plan is this." William arranged the model ships in a manner that it would resemble a curved arc, "This is a crane formation, we would utilize the range of our ships, drawing them within the arc and we would bombard them with our cannons."
"Then how... do you we..." Vice Admiral Atia shrugged and looked at William, ".. draw them?"
"Our frigates are our smallest and fastest ships, we can draw them out by using hit and run. And for our position to not be obvious, we would have first a," The Admiral then arranged the arc in a reversed formation than earlier, "reverse crane formation. With Vengeance and Vallor both on the front and Hope and Conqueror on the sides. The two frigate ships would then assemble on each end. As soon as we got them we would slowly retreat back to the crane formation. They would think that we are routing but in reality, we are setting a trap. We would bombard them in range, however, we must not let them get near our ships. Cannons and artillery mages will do the trick."
"Commander of Magics, have the mages strike lightning towards the masts of enemy ships. Also, use your mages to capsize any ship that gets too close."
"This plan is..." Atia paused, "Is sound, relatively sound. But we are forgetting many crucial factors, it's what we still don't know who is the enemy fleet, their behavior, their offensive capabilities, and the seas. Sure we have maps and records of the Akaviri five hundred years ago but they aren't relevant now.
Right now our best bet is for our mages to detect any enemy ships and assess the situation from there. Our crucial disadvantage right now is our small fleet, even if our ships can handle fifty pirate ships that don't have any range offenses, a hundred ships can overwhelm our fleet. In short, we either need to tread very carefully and call back up from Tamriel. If only the Emperor and his dragons were here, he could just shout them out of the sea."
"But we also have an advantage," Decimus spoke up and sighed, "Even if I object this expedition, there is one key advantage that we have. They don't know that we are coming. After that, we may set up base, teleportation cannot happen and dragons can arrive from Tamriel to Akaviri for a day. This expedition is doomed from the start, I told you all already!"
"We are not doomed nor will I allow a single man in this fleet to be doomed. Captain Decimus have you ever gambled in your life?"
Decimus then shook his head, "N-no."
"You're a captain and you've never gambled Captain? Even with your crew?"
"No." Decimus answered, "Where are you going with this."
"Captain, every day of your life at the sea you gamble your life. I still remember during the war when the Thalmor Navy was blocking the Imperial Navy stationed at Iliac Bay. That's when I just got a report from our redguard allies that Stros M'kai is being bombarded by the Thalmor. So I have to make a choice, either to confront the Thalmor at Iliac Bay and sinking the ships, or we have to sneak past them and rush towards Stros M'kai. I know that these two options mean suicide, but I have to choose.
And I chose to risk my fleet and sneak past the Thalmor. The chances of that happening are almost slim but we slipped past their patrols and headed straight to Stros M'kai and destroy the enemy fleet. In the game of war, you must always choose, and if the odds are against you, a stroke of luck can change everything. Right now odds might be against us, but I choose to risk my life if it so means changing everything."
As soon as the meeting came to a halt, every one of them returned to their respective rooms and slept for the night. If not the dark sky that looms it's the paranoia that supplements the dread. There are plans but they might be foiled but the sea of uncertainty. But it was a risk that the admiral of the expedition was willing to take.
When the admiral woke up from his bed he heard a commotion outside of his cabin. These were typical during mornings but today it is unusually louder than what he expects for a usual morning routine of the ship. He then got up from his bed and fixed himself up for the day, strapping the ebony saber on his waist. He didn't even wait for morning breakfast and directly went to the decks.
The admiral got out of the cabin and saw that officers rounded up wounded men, some soldiers are wounded, only two were dead. On the gallows were five crew members, each is wounded and their hands tied. Apparently, the argonian who panicked yesterday was among those who mutinied, among with him were two redguards and two imperials, "These mutineers will serve as an example to those who seek to ruin this expedition!" A Nord officer shouted, "In punishment, these mutineers would be han-"
"Wait!" The admiral shouted and approached the gallows, "What happened officer?"
The officer saluted the admiral, "Sir! These men tried to mutiny however the Captain stopped them." What the admiral heard was a shock to him. The first thing he expects to mutiny was Captain Decimus, but he wasn't him of all people. The officer then stepped aside and the Captain and came forth to face him.
"Captain Decimus," William nodded to Decimus and held his own saber of the hilt, "can we talk privately?"
"Yes, Admiral." Decimus nodded in return.
"Quaestor, I will give command whether or not you will execute them. In the meantime, let them remain on the gallow. I'll discuss their situation with the captain here."
Before the admiral and the captain can go back to the cabin, the argonian shouted, "Please don't execute me! I have a family back in Argonia! Please! I'll get the lashings! That'll be enough!"
"Quaestor, can you remind him of what punishment is for mutiny?"
The quaestor straightened his posture and said with a loud gruff voice, "It's to have their souls trapped sir!"
"Don't worry. I will discuss with the captain here what punishment would be the most suitable. Because right now, death would be mercy." They then got to the poop deck as the argonian kept screaming for his life while the crew just stared at the men that remained in the gallows. The two then step foot in the poop deck and observe the ships that trailed behind them. Massive behemoths of the sea, with their banners, hoisted up high to give glory to Tamriel.
The two then faced each other and William was the one to start the exchange. Another argument perhaps? Or a shouting showdown with the captain? Who knows. "Captain, I honestly didn't expect that you were the one to stop the mutiny, I honestly thought that-"
"I'm the ringleader?" Decimus interrupted and William showed a little tension formed from his shoulders, "Admiral, even I am not that stupid. I may have objections but it doesn't mean that I'll start a mutiny just because. According to our battlemages, the argonian was the one who only mutinied out of fear in Akavir, the rest wanted to seize this ship, turning it into a pirate ship. They hoped that with the paranoia going on everyone would side with them."
"So you had the battlemages read their thoughts?"
"Initial thoughts. That's all that we can gather." Decimus sighed and leaned on the wooden railing on the poop deck.
William held the pommel of his sword and looked at the gallows, "So what do we ought to do with them?"
"I would rather have the argonian be amnestied, clearly he just needs rest. The others, they needed to be thought a lesson, have their souls trapped and use it as our ammunition. If you are going to be stubborn Admiral I might as well participate in your stubbornness." Decimus gave a grin to the admiral.
William gave a chuckle as a response, "Not as stubborn as you, captain." He then walked at the wooden railing as he looked down the deck where the gallows were, "Quaestor!" He shouted. The man he called then looked at him, "Have the argonian be released and the rest of them will have their soul trapped!"
The quaestor nodded as he received the orders. He ordered two marines to let go of the argonian and the rest had mages cast soul trap and the soldiers released them out of their misery. As the heads of the mutineers turn blue and purple, their tongues hanging off from their mouths, the admiral saw something that he couldn't believe. Land. Land made of earth as ocean water crashes down its mossy rocks.
He immediately got his spyglass out of his pocket and saw that it is indeed land. But that isn't possible! Land was supposed to be days away as he and the officers calculated it to be! And from his spyglass, he can see far away that there were small ships, similar to what we saw years ago. But those were long gone, now they bolstered huge ships that dwarf those tiny ships. On the mast is a golden yellow squid that they don't recognize. A symbol that is nowhere to be found in the history of Tamriel.
But even with their small sizes, the size of the fleet that he saw is more than his fleet. About twenty ships he saw and they all bore the same symbol with the golden yellow squid. And to his surprise, the fleet was coming their way here.
"By the Nine..." He gasped, "Man your stations! This is not a drill! I repeat this is not a drill! Man your stations' ladies! Twenty Akaviri ships heading towards us!"
In haste, the captain grabbed the spyglass without resistance and looked ahead. As Decimus saw from the spyglass, he gave a loud gasp, "This is impossible... From my calculations, we are days to Akavir!"
"Well, those calculations are now defunct. Man your stations' captain, this might be our last battle."
Decimus nodded and hoisted his sword up high with his hands on the railing, "Man your stations' ladies! Man the cannons or I'll fuck your asses! Mages, prepare your artillery! Marines, open the gun ports and prepare our cannons!"
The Admiral quickly got down the deck and wore his bicorne. He then saw the Commander of Magics looking at the foreign fleet, "Commander!" He shouted amidst the chaos, "Do we still have contact with Morrowind?"
"Yes, Admiral." The Commander answered in return. Both of them then rushed towards the cabin room.
"I want you to send a message to Tamriel that we are currently seeing Akavir earlier than expected. We also are also currently in contact with the Akaviri with their ships heading straight towards us. Inform every ship in our fleet that we are now going to conduct that plan we came up with yesterday. Have all of them on high alert and even if they are human or mer, we must never ever bring our guard down."
The Commander of Magics then saluted the admiral and went ahead to do his duty. Meanwhile, William went away with his cabin and went to the poop deck to observe everything. Even if it was chaotic, it was an orderly fashion. Although due to the haste, the men who were hanged in the gallows remained and no one took down their bodies. The argonian was just cowering in a corner like a cornered rat, shivering in the cold. Artillery mages had their wands up high and charged a Great Fireball spell, commonly used in land artillery.
He grabbed his spyglass from the floor and observe the oncoming foreign fleet, and their ships didn't relent even if they were small. At a scale like this, it almost looks like an organized group of pirates. From his sides, he then saw two frigates go ahead towards the ships. Now their plan is set on the loose, this new Akaviri, with squids as their banner had to just take the bait.
This is it. This encounter would define their name for years to come, either the glory of Tamriel, or a laughing stock and shame to the Empire and its people. Whether or not these akaviri ships with golden squid as their banner would decimate them with their magic. Only this moment they will tell.
This is a crossover that I've been thinking off for the past month ever since I've binged watched Game of Thrones within two months. This is also a minor crossover to Emperor of Tamriel, another story of mine involving this empire, borrowing some elements from it. However, I will try as much as possible for this story to an Elder Scrolls x GOT crossover with very minor elements to that story while at the same time, just being able to read this fanfic without reading that story since it's going to be bothersome.
This story from what I plan is mostly Tamriel and some of its people, like I plan Neloth to interact with the local populace of Westeros as he is curious and how Tamriel will just deal with their politics, Tamriel's interests, and the White Walkers. Or how the Daedra would just mess Westeros or Essos on that matter.
I also would like to thank Airchampion for helping me beta read and giving his insights on this beginning chapter!
So, if you have any comments, recommendations, constructive criticisms regarding this fanfic please feel free to review or pm me! Any flames are not welcome. So I thank you, dear reader, for sparing your time reading this fanfic and I hope you comment or recommend something if you have something to say! 'Til next time dear readers!