It was a long, and tiring journey to the Imperial City. With no shortage of misadventures along the ride south. But eventually I arrived at the Imperial City... even thirty or so years after the Great War. It's wall's, and the great tower at the center were still in ruins. I'm honestly surprised that the Empire didn't put any resources to the reconstruction of it's capital. I'd be willing to bet good money that the Thalmor are directly responsible for such a delay.
"Excuse me! I have a message for someone matching your description." A courier said as he gave me a message. I opened it, and it red. 'Come to the Temple of the One, alone.'
I made my way to the Temple of the One. The Imperial City's center of worship, intact compared to the rest of the city. If rumors are to be believed, it was protected by a magic field. Believed to be projected by Akatosh himself. But I'm getting off topic. I arrived at the Temple, and found an old Imperial man standing beside the Dragon statue in the center. "Magnificent isn't it?" The man said. "The statue?... it's a close likeness to a Dragon." I said, only mildly interested by the statue itself. "It's more then just a statue... this. Is the Avatar of Akatosh. Here, two-hundred years ago. Martin Septim, last of the Septim line sacrificed himself, and the Amulet of King's to end Mehrunes Dagon ambitions of conquest. It's such a pity that so many have taken credit for young Martin's heroism. The worst offenders... being the hated Thalmor." The man said.
"So... why did you ask for me?" I asked. "Well... let's just say that there are some. Let's just say, 'interested parties' that want the truth to be known. And I think I may have a way. All that's need is some blood... your blood." The man said. "Excuse me?" I asked. "You have Dragons blood, this is a Dragon. Your blood may restore the Avatar of Akatosh... and at some point a better name has to be thought of." The old man said. "And how would this even work? Would you have me just smear my blood on the statue?" I asked. "That might work... though I was thinking more of dunking the blood into the statues mouth. There is one further problem though... the mouth is way up there. And thanks to the hated Thalmor, I can't wrangle together even a basic scaffold to get up there." The old man said.
"So... you want me to do some favors across the Imperial City, if not the entirety of Cyrodil to get you your scaffolding?" I asked. "With any luck you won't have to leave the city... though you should speak to a Justicar in the city. By the name of Athyarel, nothing happens in this city without her direct approval. If she were somehow removed... well, things might actually get done." The old man said. "So you want me to... dispose of Athyarel, so that you can pour my blood into the Dragon statues mouth?... I must say. That's one of the stranger requests. But if it helps with the war to come with the Dominion and Thalmor. Well whatever your planning just might be crazy enough to work. Also, I'm sorry for not asking sooner. But what's your name old man?" I asked.
"Wulf... just call me Wulf. Now Athyarel should be in the Imperial Palace, barking orders at the Elder Council. Do what ever it takes to be rid of her." Wulf said. So over the followed weeks, I did odd jobs around the Imperial City and the surrounding towns and villages. Of course, I had to disguise myself as a common mercenary to throw off the Thalmor. Now wearing fairly ordinary iron armor. I garnered fame anew and eventually I got an audience with Athyarel... and let me tell you. She makes the trolls up in Skyrim look like fussy children. "YOU DARE BRING ME DARK CHOCOLATE WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR WHITE CHOCOLATE!?" She shouted to an overworked servant. I'd share what I said to her to convince her to come with me to a secret place to kill her... but the very memory of the hallow. Sappy flirting is too much, even as I think about it my stomach is churning like a storm.
In short, I took Athyarel onto the city outskirts, jammed a dagger into her chest. Lured a band of bandits, and littered there dead bodies all around a sewer grate to make it look like it was the bandits who killed her. Nobody suspected foul play, and every working stiff in her employ rejoiced with song and dance. Thankfully with her out of the way, we officially started building the scaffolding... thankfully this wasn't like that incident on Solstheim where I footed the bill for the excavation of a dangerous tomb. I only had to pay one-thousand Septims in one go.
"Now... now can we do this?" I asked of Wulf as I stood with a knife at the mouth of the Dragon statue. He merely gave me a thumbs up, and I cut my hand. Pouring my blood into the statues mouth. "Martin... you've slept for too long." Wulf said as the ground began to rumble. "Oh boy..." I muttered as I jumped off the scaffolding as it rumbled and collapsed as the statue shook. "It's time for you take your rightful place in Nirn and Aetherius." Wulf said as the stone cracked, revealing a Dragon of fire beneath. "At long last... my slumber is over. Let the Amulet of Kings be forged anew. And the covenant of old between Alessia and Akatosh be reborn." The Avatar said... or Martin, either name could be applicable to him I think.
Then the fire dragon cut a claw across his chest, drawing blood from his heart. And from the small waterfall of blood, emerged a large ruby jewel. Surrounded by eight smaller jewels. "Behold... the Amulet of Kings. Reborn by your immortal Dragons blood, and the final vestiges of my mortal blood. May you serve Tamreil well, as her rightful Emperor, and may your enemies fall to your righteous fury." The Avatar said the reformed Amulet of Kings magically floated into my hands. "I... thank you. But why do you not seek the Ruby Throne?" I asked. "You are of mortal flesh, I am a god in all but name. I am beyond the Ruby Throne. Gods such as I are not meant to rule in the mortal world. Besides... I was Emperor once before. Never again. Now go... and proclaim to the whole of Nirn. That a Dragonborn sits on the Ruby Throne... and remember. Should Nirn be at Oblivions mercy again, I shall come to your aid." He said as he flew up into the sky.
"All hail Fange, Emperor of the Fourth Empire of Tamriel. First of his name and house. Now I must be going, take this to remember me by." Wulf said as he tossed me a simple coin. "And where are you going?" I asked. "Where ever Talos bids me to go... may Talos go with you." Wulf said. I then got a better look at the coin... it had his face. In fact, it was almost indistinguishable from the heads printed on Imperial Septims. I looked up... and Wulf was gone. I didn't even hear him run off to leave. "Okay... now to FINALLY meet the Elder Council about being made Emperor." I said to myself, as I made my way to the Imperial Palace.
I burst through the chamber doors of the Elder Council's chamber. "What is the meaning of this?... what are you doing here?" A Councilor asked. "I have come to claim the Ruby Throne." I said as I held aloft the remade Amulet of Kings.