Amidst the scrubby grasslands and granite boulders of County Kvatch stood Fort Wariel. Centuries ago, in the days of Tiber Septim, it stood as a vital legionary post near Hammerfell and vital vanguard against threats from the Redguards. Later, when the Empire was more or less consolidated, it still held importance as the primary garrison and trade depot in County Kvatch when Forts Sutch and Hastrel were retired. Inevitably, however, Wariel declined in importance. In 3e 211 it was closed for good, with the newly refitted castle at Kvatch providing greater protection and more varied services than the fort could. The once proud keep fell into disrepair and negligence. For most of this century, its only residents were Lady Mantle blossoms and ginseng roots, their leaves slowly bobbing from the warm breezes of the Gold Coast.
But today, Fort Wariel was receiving an unusual amount of attention. The door had been forcibly torn open and occasionally the sounds of battle flared up from within, only to silence a few moments later. Near the open door stood two men, both Colovian men, intently watching the opening as if at any moment something of great importance would occur. Both were clad in the regalia of the Imperial Guard; the younger had on light chainmail while the elder wore the simple armor of Anvil guardsman and had an impressive claymore strapped to his back.
The elder was a man who seemed to be in his early thirties. He was a serious looking man in all regards. He had the perfect posture found only in well disciplined soldiers and was expression was brimming with determination. Despite his austerity, every now and then he would start tapping his foot, almost as though he were anxious or energetic. Than, after several minutes of watching there was the sound of lighting deep inside the fort. The elder nodded once. "That's it. I'm going in there," he declared and began to walk inside.
"Captain, stop!" the younger called out, "You do remember that the count gave strict orders only to go in if there was an emergency?"
The elder stopped and turned. "I heard a spell. That's an emergency."
The younger shook his head. "Please, Captain Lex, just stay out. There're only bandits holed up in there. We never even take injuries when we run these mop-ups."
The captain didn't seem pleased, but strode over to the side of the youth all the same. He looked back the fort. Another one of the warm, coastal breezes blew by, and the captain's foot began to tap once more. As the captain debated weather or not to try once again to take matters into his own hands, a word rang out from inside the building. "Clear".
The youth smiled. "See, captain? Nice and easy."
The captain nodded, but didn't smile, "Very good," he said evenly, "We've secured the building. I'm going to go inform the count."
At that, the youth turned. "You sure, Captain Lex? I mean, we've just finished off the bandits. You know I hear that there's a lot of vintage wine in those sorts of buildings..." he said, grinning slyly.
The captain scowled. "Tell the men that there is to be neither looting nor drinking. Everything inside that fort is the rightfully confiscated property of the Empire," he said forcefully, much to the youth's chagrin. "Clearup the mess inside and have the guard back at the castle by sunset. Those are your orders."
The captain turned and began to walk south to the Gold Road while the younger soldier kicked a nearby stone. "Dammit! So much for my bonus... How did we get paired up with that martinet? I've haven't the faintest idea how they put up with him in the City…"
Captain Lex took a brief respite from walking on the Gold Road about an hour later. He looked out over the Gold Coast, and Anvil. The afternoon sun bathed the surrounding countryside in light, making a dramatic effect on the golden grass. The country was still hardly developed. Only the occasional fort or camp broke the uniformity of the rolling hills and sleepy farms.
He still was a handsome man; he kept his face well washed and he never had one hair out of line. He wasn't old enough to wrinkle or even have many blemishes, but there was no more youthfulness in his face. Indeed, the strength in his eyes came less from young energy than a smoldering zeal. He didn't seem very pleased, though. When he surveyed the city of Anvil he frowned, but when he glanced east he felt a much sharper prang of nostalgia. If he were a lesser man he would have sighed.
At that point he heard the clacking of hooves behind him and looked back to the east. A large black stallion was galloping towards him. He quickly checked whatever sentimental expression he had on his face and regained his proper air of command. He reached out his arm and when the horse passed the rider wordlessly passed on to him a large sheet of parchment. Lex turned to get better lighting and began to read.
SPECIAL EDITION!
EMPIRE TO WITHDRAW LEGIONS FROM THE EAST!
The question has been asked time and time again in the modern age: what is the greatest threat to the Empire? Should we fear another Prince of Oblivion beginning another crisis, or perhaps worry over a new black tide rising from the Dragon Land of Akavir? According to the Imperial Palace, the answer is no—the threat is Cyrodiil!
On Morndas, Reagent Ocato issued the new quarterly legion goals, containing two unorthodox and surprising measures. The first is the proposed renovation of several of the decrepit forts throughout Cyrodiil, taking them from ruins to operating bastions of Imperial might. The second is to recall roughly thirty percent of the legions from Morrowind and the Black Marsh back to the heartland, a sort of order that hasn't been issued since Tiber Septim united Tamriel in the Second Era.
"This is an unbelievable command," states General Darius, who lead the Imperial Legion fort in the secluded town of Gnisis in the Morrowind province, "Order has been hard enough to maintain with the madness going on. With the recall in Fort Buckmoth our legion is supposed to cover nearly half of Vaardenfel. I just don't see how it's possible. We haven't fully recovered from our losses in the Redoran uprisings, let alone the Oblivion crisis."
Stranger still is the apparent lack of reasoning behind these recalls. The palace has said very little in regards to the matter, but rumors range from a massive military review to the beginning of a phased withdrawal from the eastern provinces. Recent unrest in the province of Morrowind in perticular seems to support the latter theory.
"Imperial forces have occupied the East for too long, and it's produced little benefit for both the invader and the invaded," said Badrak Indarys, noted Dunmer critic of the Empire. "The fact that the Empire is withdrawing from the region should come to little surprise to anyone who has critically weighed the situation in both Morrowind and the Black Marsh."
Do these rumors imply the end of the Empire as we know it? Or are we just seeing a minor rearrangement in our military organization? Whatever the truth may be, one thing is certain: the eyes of the Empire shall be following these developments very closely.
Captain Lex shook his head disapprovingly. He had, of course, known this news for some time. Now that it was public knowledge, however, it would make the already delicate political situation in the Empire worse. He carefully folded the parchment up and slipped it into his armor. His gaze returned to Anvil. He had wasted enough time already, he reasoned, and pressed forward to the city.
Hieronymus Lex entered the court of Anvil with a certain calm. He glanced around the high roofs of Castle Anvil and at his lord and lady. He was never exactly happy while he was here, but he was almost always relaxed. For a man who was called a 'fanatical' in his recommendation, the newly acquired calm was well appreciated by the court. Lex strode in confidently and knelt before the Count Umbranox. The count had never truly enjoyed the company of Lex, a fact he never tried to hide while they talked. "My Lord," Lex began, "The guard have fully cleared Fort Wariel of the marauders which had infested it."
The countess beamed. "Exceptionally fine work, Captain Lex!" she said with a very amiable tone to the guard.
"Yes," Count Umbranox said dryly, examining his fingernails, "Capital."
"I live only to serve, my liege," Lex said, his voice respectful yet reserved. While he always performed his duties admirably, there was always a lack of energy to his voice.
After a moment of silence the Countess Umbranox renewed her smile. "Oh, do stand, Captain Lex, we have important news to discuss."
Hieronymus Lex stood. The countess seemed to be in an especially good mood today, as she often was in the past year. She even seemed somehow younger and more vibrant around her husband. Lex was happy for her, but her spirits were not infectious. "Now, Hieronymus," she began, using the guard's first name to his own surprise, "You well know that the empire has fallen upon some hard times. My husband and I have decided that the two of us should do our part to remedy the situation. We are going on a trip, you see: a diplomatic trip, to be precise. Soon we will be in the Summerset Isles that we may speak to the Altmer. Because of the current political climate we've also found it prudent to speak little of the departure, keeping it a close secret. We leave on Morndas."
Lex kept a stoic face, but internally wondered about this secrecy. He was the captain of the guard. There was no reason that he should not have known about it. "I see. After your Sun's Rest address? Very good, my lady, I shall pack my things…"
"You're not going, Lex," Count Umbranox said curtly.
This time the captain couldn't help but look surprised. "Not going?" he repeated, "May I ask why, my lord?"
"Dear Hieronymus," the countess began, "You have provided excellent service to us over the past year. You've been perhaps the most productive guard captain Anvil has ever seen. In fact, because of your… Unique proactivity, my husband and I have come to a conclusion," she paused slightly, as to collect her thoughts. "Hieronymus, we believe that you are… Overqualified for this job."
Lex stared blankly at the countess, "Overqualified? For Captain of the Anvil Guard?"
"You see, Tamriel needs you more than we," the Countess began slowly, gesturing to herself and the count, "In fact, your services have been personally requested by Legion Commander Giovanni Civello. He wants you to help orient the newly returning commanders from the east back to Cyrodiil."
Lex could hear his heart begin to beat quickly. He could return to the city? No, he was thinking prematurely. He tired to sober himself back to reality. "My lady, I... I could not possibly do such a thing. My place is at—", Lex said, but was waved off by the countess.
"I already told you, the skills you possess are far too important to be used solely by the court. You are to return to the Imperial City, present yourself to the Legion Commander, and do some greater good. The Summerset Iles are a very safe and calm region, one where we need little protection. You shall return to the court when we return but until then… You are an acting captain of the Imperial Watch."
The countess beamed again while the count idly looked at a tapestry behind Lex. When his wife leaned over to nudge him he sprang to alertness. "Oh, yes. Well, get a move on Captain Lex," he said with the distinct air that he would rather be somewhere else.
"M-My lady," he stuttered, slightly phased, but with his optimism growing wildly within him, "This is… I mean, thank you! Thank you, a thousand times over! An acting captain?"
The Countess Umbranox nodded to the starry-eyed captain. Lex took a step forward as if he were to embrace the countess, but checked himself. He saluted smartly to the court, "Thank you. I shall go gather my things."
Lex turned and strode out of the hall with a newfound spring to his step, and one guard could've sworn that the captain had chuckled to himself. When he left the room and the great oaken doors closed the countess looked to her husband. "You see, dear? Wasn't that far more agreeable than sacking the man? Look how happy he was."
"My love, I believe being sacked would've been good thing. It would knock his pride down a peg."
"Dear! How could you say such a thing? Why do you always say such disagreeable things about Captain Lex?"
Count Umbranox gave a dry smile to his wife, "We've had… Differences of view in the past."
The countess looked about the court once nervously, "Why, that is a lie and you know it, husband," she insisted, You've never met Captain Lex before last year."
The count laughed slightly, "Ah, you are right, Millona, you are right…"
Hieronymus Lex broke out of the castle nearly laughing. He walked over to a nearby guard and slapped him on the back in an uncharacteristically boorish vigor. Before the confused guard could even address Captain Lex had already beelined for the stairs and was climbing to the walls. Halfway to his assent he actually laughed loud and heartily and surveyed County Anvil. Even further he could imagine the Imperial City in its dazzling radiance. His city. No longer was his homeland a source of heavy nostalgia. The melancholy had disipated to make room for a newfound optimism.
He felt like starting a speech, but no words could come to him. He only stood on the battlements, letting the breeze flow through his hair. He opened his arms up wide as to embrace the far-off capital, or perhaps his overwhelming good mood. The very strange mood on Lex's part was noted by the workers of the castle, who looked at him with an amused expressions. The captain was known to be despondant in Anvil, to the point where the stories of the fanatical guard captain seemed like gross exaggerations at best.
Lex quickly turned and jogged down the stairs, paying no heed to the chuckling guards and inhabitants of the castle. He was going to his chambers to pack his belongings. 'Tomorrow', he thought frantically, planning out his return to the Imperial City. It would be tomorrow that he would dust off his old armor. He would order a carriage! Indeed, for the first time this year Hieronymus Lex's luck was starting to change. It was time for the captain to return to his post.
