Chapter 18: A meeting of the Empire's last
"Morning Ruigus, get up or I'm gonna have Odahviing burn you~~" Sang Alduin as the young colovian woke up.
"Can't be any hotter than the sun if he'd try that." He replied, sitting up with a smile.
"Yol." She said. Ruigus's eyes went wide yet nothing happened, she giggled.
"Perhaps I should put some more dedication into it…." She trailed.
Ruigus pouted and stood himself up, stretching.
"If you bring fire I need water." He then went for his jug, thirst clawing at him first thing this morning.
"I don't have anything to combat you." He stated as he saw it was empty, he had feared so when he first felt it's weight.
"A shame, yet I wouldn't want to start such a fight without it. Are we close to any settlement or spot that'll have it clean?" She asked.
"Weye actually, I can just refill it from a water pump they got out there, it won't be a hassle at all." He shrugged.
He then dusted the grass off himself.
"Gotta make it there quick, not saying it out of thirst." He said.
Alduin gave an audible "Hm!" of agreement.
Ruigus looked around and felt a fleeting feeling of contentedness.
"What a peaceful spot this one was." He remarked as a close-to-sea breeze blew over.
It reminded him of the forests back home.
"Are you ready?" Alduin asked softly, staring.
"Yeah. I don't mean to stare too long." He replied.
"Have you been around here often?" Alduin asked.
"Not this way in particular, but I've gone through Weye enough times, same goes for the Imperial City but I don't know even half of it." He said bemusedly.
"What I know here is what I know like the back of my hand." He added.
"The back of your hand?" Alduin asked.
"That's just an expression of saying how you've seen it enough times." Ruigus explained.
"Oh, interesting." She replied.
A small group of villagers approached, they waved and smiled at them.
Ruigus replied likewise.
"Good day!" Said one as they walked on.
"Good day." Said Ruigus.
The two groups went past each other.
"They're a friendly people, we're in the heartlands correct?" Asked Alduin.
"Yeah, just so you know it's said by people outside Cyrodil that heartlanders and nibenese are the friendliest people that they ever meet, among others aside from their own as I hear and can observe." Ruigus informed.
"Your people are exempt from that?" Alduin questioned, noting that detail. Ruigus chuckled at the question.
"Yeah, they say we're a cold people. I…..cannot be the judge of them." Said Ruigus, rather conflicted.
"I have trust, you are one after all aren't you?" She giggled.
'And so was Tullius for that matter, he is barely a type that takes any happiness if I am correct. He would fit the 'cold' but Ruigus knows him better.' Alduin contemplated. As Tullius was the only other Colovian she knew.
"Yeah, and so is Tullius too, I suppose he fits that cold part well…..but..." He stopped himself.
"One day I'll repay him for all that he's done for me. And the rest of us too." He said with a light sigh as he smiled.
"Anyways, when we get there to Kvatch, the whole kingdom, when we finally get there you'll see it all." Said Ruigus.
They could see the gates of Weye past a large number of farmfields that they trotted through.
"Are they going to ask us for any papers or any sort such as that?" Alduin asked.
"They shouldn't!" Ruigus exclaimed.
"Especially since we're soldiers, we got some identification with us and I am carrying that letter, just that Malborn and Secantius have the rest under their care right now." He added.
"So much for force." Alduin joked.
"Do to them what you did that one time to Lydia." Ruigus replied.
"Oh, her. I didn't even do it that with that much pain inflicted." She said, remembering that moment.
"You surely angered the blades however, part of the reason why Delphine wasn't too keen on you in the chat last time as we talked about before." He replied.
"Hmm, how is that Lydia doing anyways?" Alduin asked.
"She does fine, she did a very good job in that fight against Vulthuryol and his minions." He stated.
"A girl like her with some toughening up will make a great bodyguard for you Ruigus." Alduin remarked.
"...Yeah, yeah she will." He replied.
"I haven't thought that much about that concept either, I do not think it would be needed. Yet as you and I know well is that things change." He added.
"I see. In the old times I switched from having Wuthdeinkinbok and the others from my time with Vahlok or by my lonesome. It wasn't quite needed for myself at that time, now however I do believe I am coming around to that idea." Pointed Alduin.
"I understand why." Said Ruigus. Enjoying the cool air of the sea just over the horizon.
"I wonder if Weye has changed any." Wondered Ruigus.
"We're right about at the gates...is there any custom I should know of?" Alduin asked slowly.
"Nah, Heartlanders are always pretty trusting when it comes to letting people through, even into the Imperial city. It's different back home and with the southerner, or easterner nibeeneans depending on how you see Cyrodil." Said Ruigus, a hint of what Alduin sensed as pride.
"Surely they cannot be too open with how they conduct travelers. Even if we are of a great disposition." She asked tinged with an unbelievably manner.
"They are where all that paperwork pain stems from at worst if we're being very concerned here." Ruigus shrugged.
"They'll keep track of us one way or another." He said.
"Are they all like those Penitus Oculatus members?" She asked.
Ruigus burst out with hearty laughter.
"Thankfully not Alduin, they're just good when it comes to…..administrative and civil duties I suppose." He shrugged.
"I think a mentor, one of the many I guess I had said that they are friendly because they know how they can come track you if you do wrong, or appreciate you if you do good and it catches their attention, guards and those sorts at least." Said Ruigus.
"I find that to be potentially frightening for the common person." Said Alduin.
Ruigus smiled and then spoke.
"It's how it is for the Imperial city and how they make their tasks efficient, they not the sort to keep complete records of people like the Oculatus or the Thalmor, if only you knew how much I wish the records of my younger self were gone." He explained with carefree, mischievous grin.
"And what would they have of your younger self?" Alduin questioned with a tease.
"Er about three thefts, among some things not limited to the Imperial City." Ruigus admitted.
"What did you steal?" She asked, surprised.
"My first was picking a lock to get an ebony sword, I was kinda saddened it was a replica." He said.
"….You would do that." She said, wonder in the woman's voice.
Ruigus just grinned.
"I was caught each time too of course, had to spend two weeks tending to a farm because of it. And some work aiding this Priest that helped me out for a while." Recalled Ruigus.
"I recall you mentioning your time in agriculture and shrine work before, didn't quite know the cause." Acknowledged Alduin.
"Oh only partly, I did things like farming and that stuff out of volunteering." He replied, not an ounce of anything other than honesty.
"It was quite fun really, kept switching from duty to duty, training to training when I was younger." He remarked.
The two were at the gates.
"Welcome back Legionaries!" Greeted one guard. Dressed in typical Heartlander state gear.
Ruigus waved and gave a slight bow.
"Say they don't look like normal legionaries." Another could be heard saying.
"Looks like Tullius's, they don't look as pretty." Said another rather loudly.
Ruigus approached one of them on horse.
"Excuse me, I wish to let you know that there is going to be a force of about a few hundred making their way through here, just a heads up and I would ask to have it passed along as I proceed into the Imperial City." Said Ruigus.
The man looked up at him with a perplexed expression, then shifted into a more light hearted smile.
"We have soldiers coming around here all the time, say are you and your men coming from Skyrim?" The guard asked.
"Yes sir. Tullius's Legions, it's sure good to be home." Said Ruigus.
"Haha you're telling me, I want nothing to do with up there but I know a bunch of us are thinking of writing transfers, too bad they'll get denied with that manpower restriction or whatever nonsense. Er, you coming here for pay sir?" He asked innocently.
"Sort of, got a meeting I have to head out to as well." Replied Ruigus.
"Ah I see! Well welcome, enjoy what there is here and don't get lost in the city yeah? I'd like to talk more but we got more people coming up." Said the guard with a quick, sloppy imperial salute.
Ruigus replied with a smile and a salute of his own.
"Good day to you." He said before motioning Alduin.
"See?" He said.
"You are quite peculiar holding a mention of your status as dragonborn." She said quietly.
"I don't think it's a good thing for me to cheer at everyone about how I'm the dragonborn, it seems like I just boast without much in place to support it. I've come far but to the public I must show and work for more." He said.
Alduin nodded.
"Your wisdom belies your years." She said. She then opened her mouth to speak once more.
"Most of the time." She giggled.
"Oh just you wait until you start blurting out your true identity, that'll be something!" Teased Ruigus.
"Tch." Sounded Alduin. Ruigus laughed until he felt his mouth become very dry all of a sudden.
"Oh right I forgot, water." He said, he then looked around for a pump.
He saw one, trotted to it, dismounted and began to refill.
Alduin scanned around as people walked past, giving some glances on the edge of stares.
One thing she noted straight off was the overall different appearance and overall atmosphere she felt here.
The structures around her were mostly made of what seemed like marble and some of other materials not like stone. They showed off clear supports to the ground in the form of pillars of varying size and were all rather spacious and inscribed with informative words on the structures itself. Everything seemed to speak to her that a more time consuming work was put into them.
It all seemed rather wondrous to her.
The roads they had traveled on so far had already seemed as a rate above than what was in the north.
She noticed that all the civilians dressed rather fancily, even what seemed to be the lower classed laborers of the heartland.
She heard Ruigus climbing back onto that steed of his.
"Thank you to Stendarr and Zenithar for making it so that you do not have to spend money for water in this land." Chimed Ruigus.
"They do that elsewhere?" She questioned.
"Only Elsweyr and High Rock." He said as he took a big sip from his jug.
That was something to note for her.
"Let's go unless, you want to walk around some more." Said Ruigus.
"...No, let us keep going to the Imperial Palace without delay." She stated.
Ruigus nodded.
"We'll only have to go station our horses at the legion stables, they keep track of them for us and make sure they're taken care of, takes a fee though." Pointed Ruigus.
"Think it might be interesting?" Alduin asked lightly.
"Nah, we'll just say our names and give about probably about 150 gold, or septims rather." He said.
"The magic of modern logistics." Said Alduin. Ruigus once again laughed in response.
"You'll learn to say that a lot. It'll only get worse from here." He replied with a smile.
"Among other things as ever." She said with a small smile.
"We'd best do our best to make it all better." Thought Ruigus with what was hope.
The pair now made it to the bridge, there they saw both going towards and away from the Imperial city were many caravans of both merchant and military purpose.
Additonally, there were throngs of civilians traveling through.
Alduin found it interesting that they were all living as though their lives were normal with what were three wars just to their far north.
She should have felt a sort of anger or pity towards them, however she knew it was a war that did not directly affect them. Perhaps their concern was great. She wondered about it
The length of the bridge itself to the Imperial City was nigh lengthy journey in of itself.
Looking over the bridge she saw that it would have been quite a drop indeed and noted that even ships could pass under this wide wonder that this bridge itself was. The Ayleid's were said to have originally built it, the Heartlanders only improved and kept it in good maintenance since.
And in front of them they could see the gates of the Imperial City not all that far away, there was only a limited amount of free ground before they would reach the open gates.
"It's weird walking on this path everyday knowing that more than what just happened in the Great War happened many times, with war and all that many people carved a bloody path through here. It's absurd thinking Pelinal Whitestrake did the same once." Mused Ruigus.
"Pelinal Whitestrake?" She asked.
"Yeah him, er he was one of the so called 'big three' of the rebellion against the ayleids, there's endless tales of how he killed scores upon score of them. I heard he made his way through the Imperial city by himself." He said.
"That is quite an absurd thing." Said Alduin, recalling what Odahviing's report which had actually been gathered from Ruigus had said about the general goings since her banishment.
"I believe it to even the wildest tale!" Ruigus said with conviction.
"I'd consider him on par with maybe even Odahviing or Wuthdeinkinbok." Stated Ruigus.
"Interesting." She replied tersely.
"Either way he doesn't exist in our times for better or worse." Sighed Ruigus.
"Countless armies and heroes have worked their to the Imperial City, at the end of the day I am just glad to be joining them in that." He remarked.
"Never in my most wild of thoughts had I ever realized what foundations the Ayleids had in place, to see that they were able to create something so much more lasting….." She did continue her sentence.
"It troubles me." She said a few moments later. Ruigus looked over to her.
"I am not going to let it ruin our time here." She voiced.
"I was worried that I would, to be honest." Breathed Ruigus.
Alduin stared at him.
"Not you, never you." She retorted with fierce conviction.
"...I know but I want to do my best by you and myself." He beamed, blushing.
"You do Ruigus, I wanted us to split off so we could spend more time together." Assured Alduin.
He gave her a big dumb and earnest, innocent smile.
"Er if there's anything you want to do after this meeting goes. Let me know what you want to do." He then said.
"Your home will do fine, Ruigus." She replied.
"Oh, that'll be something." He said, scratching his bandanaless and helmetless head.
The two were silent afterwards.
Stepping off the bridge the pair made their way to what was the largest walls either of them had seen in their lifetimes.
They were rather self explanatory, these however were not of the original ayleid make but of what the Imperials had built since to copy what they had made, it barely showed any difference at the ground level.
At the gates there were no more than five-hundred guards that oversaw the passage of travelers. Alduin saw that it was necessary, given the volume of people.
They were saluted by a guard and went through undisturbed.
The first impression was good. The Aylied style buildings much unlike what Alduin had seen previously with the town of Weye were all seemingly interconnected with one another with occasional breaks for walkways, they currently were in a square, the so called 'Entrance of the Emperors' as it was inscribed by a large headstone. More letters that Alduin could not recognize were also inscribed on there in addition.
There were multiple posts that one of which the two rode up to that held a map of the entire city, a small 'you are here!' was marked on it.
"There's a lot of districts and these 'rings'" Stated Alduin curiously.
"Yeah no doubt. As you can see we'll have to make a small detour for a bit before we come back to this road and head straight down to palace." Said Ruigus as he looked up at the White-Gold Tower.
"It's quite a the structure isn't it?" He asked.
"Quite!" Breathed Alduin.
"So all the Emperors lived in that tower? It seems rather…...lacking for the desires of the most who are of quit indulgent behaviors." She stated.
"Some lived in their own estates, You are quite specific, you speak from experiences?" Ruigus asked.
"Yes. Most of my priests did not live what was an ultimately healthy lifestyle by the end. Only half ended up paying for it immediately by rebels." She told as they trotted along the main road. Their voices barely heard the other in close distance among the many hundreds of conversations and sounds.
Ruigus had been quite right when he said that the Imperial City was a place that housed close to a million people, as Alduin discovered as they wandered though the streets.
"I guess some things don't change." He replied simply.
"What do you mean?" She asked curiously.
"Well back in the war, not ours but back then there were many local lords who refused to fight, they were generally in the areas that flipped between both sides during the beginning of the war, er the regions of Leyawiin and Bravil most infamously so I heard from many people. By the time the war shifted they were considered so terrible by both us and the Dominion that they were stripped of everything after it, some were even executed, both by Imperials for treachery and I hear Dominion did it to appease the locals." Orated Ruigus.
"There were those who didn't want to help the fighting that were in some important roles, some were sacrificed in the end I suppose." He added.
"And here? You heard it from Kober, the council ran immediately without any notice and didn't bother to leave any sort of defense behind, at least the Emperor fought here for a short time before retreating and a lot of people suffered for it in the end. I cannot stand how one can stay in such a bad livelihood whilst the world is burning." He finished passionately.
"You were born in dire times Ruigus. And it seems even I was fated to come back into it. I see clearly what you mean by the failure of those who were meant to have done better by you and their leader. There is one thing I wish to mention in this, you always voice your concerns perfectly Ruigus." Stated Alduin.
"And I too was hardly from those 'indulgent'priests Ruigus, how Vahlok made me realize that, I shall never forget." Thought Alduin.
"Thank you, I….do not wish to be full of just mere talk however." He said.
"Uh, we'll be getting close to the Legionary stables, time's passing by fast." Remarked Ruigus.
"All the better." She replied with a light smile.
"Yeah, there should be an officer…oh!" Said Ruigus surprisingly when he just saw one approach and wave among some patrolling troops.
"Welcome! I haven't seen you two before!" Greeted the woman that stood before them.
"Hello, we just came all the way from Skyrim. Got a tribune's worth of men coming, little less than that." Ruigus announced to the woman.
"Ah you're one of Tullius's huh? Guess they sent you down to get yelled at by the council or some of the other generals around here." She laughed.
"Maybe! Here for pay of the troops and us and also a meeting indeed, I cannot quite say what it is." He said, with a pitying look.
"I understand, you want your horses taken care of while the Oculatus question you?" She asked jokingly.
"For sure, don't know how long we'll be stuck for as they repeat themselves again and again." Ruigus replied to which the woman laughed and then straightened up.
"Ah come with me, I'll get you two to a good stable." She said.
The two had their horses trot following the horse-keeper.
There was thousands of these stables, all part of singular buildings with what seemed separate, large rooms dedicated to one's horse. Notably these rooms were all numbered.
"These two should do, dismount and make sure they're secure on the fence we have for them and I'll write down your name and take your money before the tax collectors can." Remarked the horse-keeper.
"How much? Unless it changed?" Ruigus asked, continuing to handle this as best he could, it wasn't too hard as Alduin noticed.
"About 150 septims and I'll be sure to have a good crew take care of them. Unless there's something special about any of their conditions you know? It's only for basic care and storage." She informed.
"Er, my horse is magical I suppose, it's a long story but I suppose if someone skilled can check to make sure it's okay I'll shelve out something for it." Said Ruigus, wanting to see to it that the apparently maintenance-less horse of his, Trun was in good shape.
"Will be 100 septims for a check, sorry, mages want their money for their services." She snorted.
"That's how it always is, but that's fair." Said Ruigus as he counted septims and handed it all to the woman in two passes.
"First is the 150, other is the 100." He said, the officer nodded and smiled.
"And your names?" She asked.
"Ruigus von Kessel and Alavia….."
"von Kessel" Alduin finished lightly.
"A husband and wife team eh? I don't hear too many of those in this army, not in a while anyways." Remarked the officer as she wrote it down.
"Ah haha yes, I hadn't quite thought that even existed before we joined up. It's a funny thing." Said Ruigus as he smiled.
"Say, you said your last name was von Kessel right? I feel like I've heard that before." She said.
"The colovian last name does not mean much now, had a father in the army." Was all that Ruigus said in response.
"Ah, I see." Said the woman.
"Well either way I won't keep you from doing what you two were doing, feel free to visit to check up whenever and please come back within at least five days. My name is Stertinia and I hope you enjoy your time here." She said, giving a salute and a warm smile.
"Thank you Stertinia." Said Ruigus as he and Alduin began to walk their way back.
"That is quite the interesting service indeed, they require their own troops to pay for it." Said Alduin.
"It's how money spread goes around in the military, funny thing is that we'll probably have to pay again but we'll get our money's worth with our men too. Anyways, there's a lot of things we don't pay for but there are some that I recall that they will require us to pay for. Weird money flow it is, they'll pay us quite a lot but there's quite a few we may pay back to them for." Explained Ruigus.
"Confusing, but I think I understand the system since we just put a part of it in practice." She said, nodding her head as they walked past some staring younger soldiers.
"Well, after this it's straight to the Palace, I'll have to show the letter off for entry when we get there." Said Ruigus.
"It'll be nice to finally inspect it for myself, and for you I imagine Ruigus." Remarked Ruigus.
Ruigus nodded and chuckled.
"Yeah it'll be quite the thing, more looking forward to speaking with Mede, to be honest." He replied.
Alduin gave an audible "Hmm!" in agreement.
Coming back into the very packed streets they took the path through a set of gates that led them to the next district, the market district.
It was a rather spectacular sight.
Thousands of busy stalls lined the streets with multiple shopkeepers and merchants advertising their wares as many customers were lined up at each of them. All having to yell at each other as the sounds from the other drowned each other out with many looking quite pleased with themselves.
There was various decorations and some idols and crafts strung from building to building on lines just above them.
Alduin could have sworn that her ears even picked up music being played from somewhere unseen by the roving large crowds.
It was a large shift in tone and scenery from the busy, yet formal and neat entrance they had come through. This was a much wilder, more organic side of the Imperial city.
The man showcasing off what was like a giant white saber-tooth just at the entrance drove that nail in for Alduin.
"This place always seemed the happiest to me as a child, I'm glad to see it still is." He said, smiling in wonder.
"Each day it's always different." He said as he appraised each of the stalls with his eyes.
Ruigus was curious if that Labyrnthian from way back in Alduin's time was like this.
He supposed it was not important to dwell on it for the moment, he had to think of what their meeting was going to be like and formulate his own questions.
Proceeding through the district took a good hour or more worth of time, Ruigus had said to Alduin previously it usually took a day to wander a good portion of the city, she recalled him saying about a good quarter of it.
Along the way there were occasionally those similar stands with a map of the Imperial city indicating their location in it, they were only close to the next district before the White-Gold tower. A small garden district that preceded all entrance from the others into the Palace district. The 'Imperial Garden District' as it was called, not to be confused with the other 'Elven Garden District' just to the north of it according to the map.
With that the White-Gold tower seemed ever closer.
The two nearly had to hold onto each other as they pressed through the thick crowds as to not lose sight of each other, it dissipated when they reached the gates, a couple small lines stood as the guarding imperial legionaries held checkpoint.
"Our turn to wait in line I guess." Sighed Ruigus in a soft manner.
"There wasn't any anywhere else." Said Alduin, skeptical.
"This is where they definitely don't want to avoid filtering out people." Ruigus replied.
Ruigus looked up ahead once more, there was what looked like a thalmor officer among them.
A bitter reminder.
Their turn soon came after three minutes of wait.
"Hello we're here to go to the Emperor's Palace." Ruigus stated plainly to the one that stood in front of them.
"Eh? You're one of us unless…..." He inspected them more further.
"Ah, northerners comin' down for a visit, don't worry you're good to go through just bring whatever you have to show to the palace guards out there." The man pointed to them.
"I see, thank you and good luck!" Exited Ruigus and Alduin quickly.
The Imperial garden district was effectively a mere graveyard.
Hundreds of gravestones and crypt entrances lined along their path towards the Palace all with many statues dedicated to heroes and some to divines.
"There is a…...massive crypt or mausoleum of all the dead Imperial forces that died in the battle for this city." Spoke out Ruigus.
"...Is your father buried in it Ruigus?" Asked Alduin.
"No, he's buried at home. You know, they say he died here but Tullius always told me that he didn't." He added.
"What do you mean, Ruigus?" She replied.
"For who is the final man who died in the war, my father did not die here unlike what was said by the government. I have no doubt he's….dead but one thing I wanted ask is why?" He stated.
"I-I do not care if it is meaningless." He then said as they strolled through the eerily peaceful garden.
The Dragon lady's expression was thoughtful.
"Are you going to ask-" She was stopped off by a quick answer.
"Nah, it's not worth bothering him with, Mede at least. One day I'll ask Tullius but there wont be any time for it anytime soon." He said.
"Er, I might take the time to visit him when we go to Kvatch, he was buried there. I just wanna see mom more, rather her." He said with pain.
"That'll be nice to meet her!" Exclaimed Alduin happily.
"Heh thank you, I'll make it the best I can." He replied.
"But now must enjoy the presence of those long gone around us before we get there, can't say I want to be here too long, it is too depressing." He stated with full honesty.
"I can only imagine." Comforted Alduin.
Their walk was taking quite an amount of time. The graves as well as this whole garden spanned for such great length.
Furthermore, Ruigus did not believe he was quite worthy to go to his father's grave, it was something he was still not ready for.
Nevertheless the sight of men in full Imperial plate and with those helms that masked their wearers appeared as living statues on the entrance to the final district.
"Hello, we are here on special business, I have a letter with an the Emperor's seal on it." Announced Ruigus as he approached them.
One came forward.
"Let me see." He asked.
Ruigus searched for it calmly as Alduin inspected them from where she stood.
Ruigus's hands detected it, and displayed it.
The guard took it and examined the seal.
"You are clear to proceed into the Imperial Palace's district, be aware that it is a currently busy scene within it." He explained.
"So we may have to wait?" Asked Ruigus.
"Indeed." Was the response.
Ruigus suppressed a soft sigh but nonetheless appeared warm.
"Thank you, great day to you." He said with a slight bow as he motioned Alduin to come along.
"If worse comes to worse I guess we may have to beg." He sighed as they walked past and out of hearing range of them.
"That'll be poor form for us though." He added.
"Indeed, yet I think we can get entry one way or another, time or force." Alduin mentioned.
"Ooo, knocking out everyone clad in thick armor with bare fists to get attention is a good idea!" Ruigus replied sarcastically.
"I shall bite on your ear if you poke fun like that again." She chided.
"That may be preferable!" Ruigus shot up.
The White-Gold tower in all of it's old, Ayleid-Nedic glory proudly casted a shadow just now visible to them as they climbed stairs to one of it's great entrances.
It was by far, the greatest structure Alduin had ever laid eyes on. There was an immense magical power surrounding the air, she sensed the skills of mages using what felt like a ward on it. Even where they walked now had it's magical protection. Something most curious.
The Oculatus seemed to have taken over as the inner palace guards for this day as they stood as still as those other soldiers, like statues. Except their faces were visible.
"Hilarious how such an organization presents itself so boldly, it is the same with those Thalmor." Mused Alduin inside her thoughts.
"Halt, state your business." One approached, a middle aged heartlander woman as it seemed.
"I am Ruigus Kessel, here for the Emperor's summons along with Alavia Kessel, I have a letter from him here." He replied as he thrusted out the letter once more.
This time the man opened it and read it.
"Never thought I would meet the Dragonborn! Anyways, you check out, just show identification if you have any." The oculatus agent stated, he was in clear suppressed awe.
Ruigus was about to show it when another Oculatus approached.
"I'm afraid you cannot enter at this time, the Emperor is currently preoccupied." He stated sternly.
"How long?" Ruigus asked.
"For hours, I beg your pardon, I ask that you either return tomorrow or join the others on those benches." He pointed to a few waiting rows at half capacity with some rather prominent looking individuals with downtrodden expressions.
Ruigus could see another pair coming up behind them.
"I see, I thought the Emperor wanted to see us as soon as he could." Ruigus stated plainly.
The Oculatus gave patronizing expressions.
"We are sorry, but you must wait." The second one said.
"Hold." A voice announced from behind.
Instantly the two Oculatus agents straightened themselves.
Ruigus and Alduin turned to see two men standing behind them.
The first was the most strangest man Ruigus had ever laid eyes on in his life, yet not to be compared with those Ruigus believed to be complete freaks. He wore clothing similar to that of an official or heartlander lord in red and white coloring and there were the symbols of the Imperial Dragon on his shoulder cloth, what was strange was that all of his head save his eyes and ears was covered in what was like a red cloth mask attached to his hat for whatever purpose it existed for. He appeared quite lithe, his eyes were that of a light blue. He had a soft-neutral expression in them, in contrast to what was a threatening appearance.
The other man stared at Ruigus and Alduin with a piercing stare from hazel eyes with that predominant green.
He was dressed quite close to the same as his counterpart, yet more white and looked of more status, there was something written in the heartlander language on the chest of his tunic, covered by another shirt-like jacket. He sported a dirty blonde hair that reached down to where his neck began that was neatly combed. Tall as Ruigus he stood, a rather handsome fellow as he shared with him as well. In true heartlander fashion the man's face was like a porcelain pink-white sculpture, hairless and with a most serious look to him. He opened his mouth to speak.
"You are the dragonborn, aren't you?" The man asked, he had a low, close to arrogant tone.
Ruigus stood silent for a moment as the two stared at each other.
"Yes, I am." He replied, plainly in respect.
"I will speak to him and have him speak to you immediately." He said, and then began to walk past, the Oculatus did not stop him and even opened the doors for him to enter.
The masked man paused as he was next to them both.
"Please wait a few minutes and you will be in. I ask that you do not take my friend's tone in a wrong manner." He stated softly with an unparalleled calmness. His voice was the closest thing to a sage Ruigus could think of aside from the Greybeards, who were literal sages in a sense.
"There was nothing wrong that I could detect." Ruigus replied honestly.
"Neither did I." Added Alduin.
He and Alduin heard a chuckling sound come from him.
"I believe our fates are intertwined, Dragonborn, Commander, good fortune to you both in the meantime." He finished and proceeded inwards.
Ruigus and Alduin both stood silently.
"They did not seem like councilors, too young, they seem like my age." He thought.
"What a pair those two." Said Alduin. Ruigus furiously nodded his head in agreement.
"That makes us one as well, I think they have good hearts on them." He said.
"Agreed, I noticed that much from their visual inflections." She said.
"They seem to know who we are either way, I do not think they are councilmen." Said Ruigus as Alduin urged him to take an isolated bench.
"Hmph, I must admit it's difficult picking up on the nuances around here, you're good at talking with these people." She remarked.
"Eh? Nuances?" Ruigus asked.
"Etiquette, vocal patterns, speech, you get the idea right?" She explained.
"Oh! You can speak normally here, er I mean that it's the same way those western nords spoke, lots of politeness and all but minus the underlying boasting er you probably know better than me about them, anyways I wouldn't really worry about any of that here. I guess if it matters in Nibenay if we ever get a chance they're quite a wild and friendly bunch you'll see, I've had a few friends say they come on too strong; er that they are too loud to sum it up, Marcus is okay but he's definitely one of them." Ruigus finished with a laugh.
"In my homeland, we're relatively quiet but you can say whatever you want to say, boasting is ironically looked down upon unless you're on the battlefield that is, er not that it will matter for now I think. Anyways point is, I wouldn't worry about having to speak differently too much." Ended Ruigus.
"Interesting, I will say at the very least I will have to learn your language, you kept that a secret from me." Said Alduin with a near teasing tone.
"Aren't you able to pluck it from my mind?" Ruigus whispered. She giggled in response.
"Not even I can do that now among the other things we have done. I will learn quick." She assured.
"I guess that is what we'll work towards how ever long we'll have to stay here." He sighed.
Whilst he thought of that, there were just some people he wanted to visit.
"There are things I do wish to see when I get there." She stated.
"There is not too much to see as it is since the war, rebuilding is still a thing there, in contrast to all this." He replied sadly.
"Hm! It does indeed look like aside from the fact you mentioned those graves and that gargantuan crypt that no fighting went on here at all." She agreed.
"21 years, what a joke." He said dejectedly.
No more was said until an Oculatus agent ran up to them.
"Sir and Lady Kessel, please come with me." He requested. The two arose to their feet in response. And the agent began walking.
The two guarding agents opened the doors for them to proceed.
"Your weapons are allowed, be responsible." One informed and chided.
"Understood." The two replied to the agent.
The fact that weapons were specifically allowed aroused a strange feeling within Ruigus.
The Oculatus agent was silent as he led them into the White-Gold tower.
They were greeted by the sterile, neat, and ancient interior of the tower itself. The Oculatus led them whilst stepping over a symbol of the Imperial dragon on the floor.
"We will have to climb some stairs up to the fourth floor." The agent announced.
"Right behind you sir." Replied Ruigus.
Following the man as he turned into a room with a staircase guarded by two fellow agents who regarded them carefully they began to ascend.
As they reached the second floor Ruigus found the agent waiting for them and then began to climb up to the third floor.
The same repeated until they reached the fourth floor, there they were met by a group of Oculatus agents standing at multiple doorways as guards. There was one man in peculiar that stood in the center that came to them.
"Thank you Orfeo I will handle it from here." Said the man.
He was a tall heartlander with medium length, dark hair, mustached and with an experienced look among him. He wore a unique oculatus cuirass, suggesting a high rank. He regarded the group fairly.
"Understood commander." Said the agent as he bowed and left.
"Greetings to you Ruigus and Alavia. I am Commander Maro, leader of the Penitus Oculatus security wing and am the Watchmaster, the grand master of the organization." He introduced, and offered his hand.
"Thank you Commander, it is an honor." Beamed Ruigus as he shook the Oculatus's hand.
Maro offered his hand to Alduin.
"Erm?" She asked, Maro stood confused.
"Handshake Alavia, you do it the way we did it just now." Ruigus said as he addressed a confused Alduin.
"Oh!" She replied thrusting her hand into that of the Commander's who chuckled.
"No worries to be had, welcome to Cyrodil commander." Said Maro.
"And Likewise Dragonborn, I shall be taking you to join the Emperor in the prepared meeting room just in front of us." He stated quickly.
For being the leader of the of the most fearful organization in Tamriel aside from the Thalmor, the leader of the Oculatus held a friendly enough, respectable front.
He then turned to signal his mean to open the door. One pulled it to him.
"Proceed in." He said, standing with his left arm indicating to proceed.
The two were silent as they stepped in, the door closed and Maro came in with them.
It was a quaint room, filled with the finest furnishings that the palace could have. However of note there were two couches and one table in between the two.
In the one to their left sat a man well within his 70's, bald, with a most unrivaled pressured look to his face, a beard. And he wore the clothes befitting one who could only be Emperor.
"My Emperor, I have brought the-" Commander Maro was cutoff the moment the Emperor finished sipping from a teacup.
"Perfect, I order that you stay outside this room until we are done." Said Mede, slowly.
Maro gave a pitying look, then turned around to leave. He went out silently.
Ruigus and Alduin bowed.
"I did not order you to bow." Said Mede.
"My apologi-"
"I no longer can stand those who do it." Mede continued.
"I ask that you sit down." He requested.
The two walked and sat down onto the couch now across from the Emperor who didn't even face them before now scanned them with his faded hazel eyes, partly devoid of color and of life.
The two were silent as Mede seemed to stare past them.
"I thought that by some time into the half of the war the empire was destined to die. Perhaps it still may yet be." He stated. Ruigus sat, taken aback and Alduin was rather surprised herself.
"By all rights we should have. Then for whatever fortune left there was Tullius taking the vacancy of the warlord, the man who carried the front, and then the man who destroyed the artifact that was responsible for the deaths of almost a million of us all." Mede said, exasperated.
He turned his head to meet Ruigus's eyes.
"Would you believe Dragonborn and Commander, that the Dominion would be so desperate as to make use of a Daedric cultist with an artifact that removes the use for all need of things like intelligence and scouting, that they can see your every move and know what you will do next? Despite that, the true cause for failure was that of mine own and the overconfidence and stagnancy of our ways of thinking? I will tell you now that the Dominion is not a desperate creature, they are just finding the best method to rule everything even now, they do." Emperor Titus Mede the II monologued, there was a certain resignation, a most troubled and pained tone that he spoke with.
"And you should know Kessel, that I cannot stop them." Mede thought, as he closed his eyes and prepared himself.
There was a minute of silence and then Ruigus leaned forward.
"My Emperor, I have looked up to you since my youth and I have full belief in you and our Empire and we signed up out of duty to save it in these days no matter how bleak please do not demean your ability to keep it alive!" He beamed to the darkened Mede.
Mede opened his eyes to see a eager, bright, and dutiful man before him.
"I see." He replied, it was not pity or mercy that he received.
"I suppose I had invited you here to waste our time with….my talk, Sir Kessel. I wanted to thank you, and give a personal request if you will take it." Said Titus.
"What is it?" Asked Ruigus.
"In two weeks a response already has been formed to the rise of the undead. I want you both at it's forefront, your background and record is more than fitting enough to be placed in the military arm of what will be going forwards to this. How does being at the command of 2,000 legionaries sound? It will not be enough if not for the civilian leading contribution." He finished with a sigh.
"Civilian lead?" Questioned Alduin.
"An old Order, the Dawnguard has been reformed, they came to us with the request a week ago. They moved quicker than we, it is to be expected." He informed.
"They will be leading the effort in purging the many reported undead infestations in the land, their location is in Riften on the border of Morrowind, and they've asked us to provide manpower and money. They ease a burden off of us." State Mede.
"We are to work with them then?" Ruigus asked.
"Correct. Ulfric will be sending them material help along with some troops, will you have a problem with them?" He asked.
"No, Emperor Titus." Said Ruigus, to which the Emperor nodded slightly with approval.
"Excellent, there will be other powers, Thalmor included sending something to this reinvigorated order. Expect this to be mainly between your three parties however." The Emperor continued.
"You will be aided by the Circle of the Eight and all the religious troops they find willing to join, I imagine eventually there will be no shortage of fools." Said Mede as Alduin and Ruigus kept a rapt listening.
"They will declare a Crusade sometime soon, if not as we speak." The Emperor stated.
"I have no doubt they will want to speak with you directly at some point Dragonborn." Said Mede as he refocused onto Ruigus.
"However, my true request is that you protect someone crucial that I am sending there to act as a standing aid to act in my stead without the need to ask for me." He stated with a renewed life in his eyes as he spoke.
"I ask that no matter what happens in the coming times, you ensure his survival if you accept." He asked, a demanding, if not desperate look entered his eyes.
Alduin turned to look at Ruigus, his expression gave her an answer.
"We accept." She stated.
Emperor Titus Mede's expression lighted just for a moment.
"I thank you, I shall grant you massive rewards for doing this, I assure you of promotions to higher strategic rank to that of a General's and that of a Legate's considering your current ranks under Tullius and the proper titles you are fit to receive. And I must repay you for what you have done for us now." He replied.
"My lord Titus." Ruigus spoke up.
"Yes?" Asked Mede.
"Who is it that you wish for us to protect in particular?" He asked.
"…..My pupil. You shall see him soon, I wish for you to meet him in person first." Said Mede.
"Understood." Replied Ruigus.
"Before I tell you my reward I imagine you have other questions, I see that I have not much more to give you in conversation." He stated.
Ruigus opened his mouth, then closed and then reopened to ask a question.
"Who is leading this Dawnguard? Who created it now?" He questioned.
"Multiple religious and civil figures not directly involved in the war, a Keeper Carcette; leader of the Vigilants in the Kingdom and a certain renowned Isran and Celann in particular worked together quickly after it broke out as I have been told. They of course are in contact with the Arch Primates who in return contacted me to tell me of this plan." Stated Mede.
"I wish for you and my pupil to make this movement a success." He added.
"That is quite the irony my Emperor, I saved Carcette from death the night of the breakout." Said Ruigus.
"Indeed, she informed them and extension me of your deeds." Mede replied simply.
"I had no idea that she would have done that." Stated Ruigus.
"Some people will sing you a praise or owe you the world when you save them Ruigus." Said Mede.
"That may be so but I do not intend to have them go out of their own way." He replied.
"That is your philosophy, I am in no place to tell you how to respond to the slightest return or favor." Said Mede.
There was a silent pause among all of them in the room.
"Are there no more questions?" The Emperor questioned.
"None." Said Alduin.
"Excellent. Now your rewards. Your first shall be an added 30,000 gold on top of the 8,500 you are supposed to receive. I shall be granting you special rights within the Imperial lands as well, you will not have to be questioned wherever you go by whoever Imperial authority namely Oculatus questions, keep in mind that you will still not be above their overall justice or lack thereof. The documents will get you free passes into Imperial services as well. Aside from that…..I have only one artifact that I can grant you befitting of your deeds." The Emperor arose after he spoke.
He walked towards a desk on it, was a single box. He grabbed it and brought it back to the table.
"Many consider this useless, it is all I have to offer you after the Dominion took most of value." He said, and opened the box.
Inside was a rather weird object neither of the two before him had ever seen anything like once in their life.
Ruigus only recognized it had a trigger, like that of a crossbow.
"What is this?" Asked Ruigus.
"It is called a powder pistol." Said Mede. He then pointed to what were little black balls to the side of the pistol.
"It loads and fires these by one at a time much like any bow or crossbow. It is known for often being unreliable and that it's interiors often explode and render it useless. I have heard it's reload is complicated, there is an instruction book on it underneath the cloth, there is a special shooting range of sorts meant for this in the Arena. This thing is mastercrafted, a rarity for a handheld powder-weapon." He informed.
"That is all I know, I have never had a use for this, perhaps the both of you may fine one for such a thing." He said, and handed it to Ruigus, who deposited the box into his own bag, now with a noticeable bulge in it's shape.
"Nonetheless I thank you Emperor Titus, we will not fail. I promise it!" Beamed Ruigus with passion.
Mede regarded Ruigus with neutrality.
"I have one last thing to ask of you both, as a command. And, do not worry about the rewards, merely tell the Oculatus tomorrow and you will have the rest you need." He then spoke.
"What do you need of us?" Alduin now questioned.
"Join the assembly that is about to start within the Elder Council chamber, I think that it may give you an insight on how things will proceed with your army onwards, and it will sway support to you, even if the council is to disagree." He asked plainly, Ruigus couldn't help but feel wrong on how much the Emperor was so supportive of him, wasn't it meant to be the other way around?
Ruigus's face betrayed his pain, but nonetheless returned to a more composed and soldier-like expression.
"I will do it, I admit and shall tell you now I will not like being in the presence of the Elder Council." Ruigus said with no lack of openess.
"I understand. You will undoubtedly go against them along with me perhaps, those in this assembly may ask you questions, answer them as you see fit." Said Mede, standing up once again. He began to make his way for the door.
Ruigus stood up, Alduin followed after him.
"Emperor Titus. What is the meaning of this assembly?" Asked Alduin near demandingly but not without respect.
"There are as many meanings as you can make out of it, all I can clearly tell you now is that you shall see who supports you at home and who is skeptical, and who may not be alinged with your interests or desires. That will be all I have to say." Said the Emperor.
"I will now end our meeting. We are both busy and there is no time to waste, I shall ask of you to speak with me once more some day on however fortune treats us once again. Know this before we head out, I do not understand why such a prophecy was brought upon you Dragonborn, your's is a burden that shall be greater than mine by the end of this era." Finalized Mede. And then the old, tired Emperor opened the door for the two to proceed.
Walking through they saw Commander Maro, and another man with him who in particular wore Elder Council clothing, a breton man no more than his mid 40's.
His expression, nervous when the two came out, turned shocked only to recompose the second Mede the II came followed in after the two.
"Er, my Emperor." He said, quickly bowing with Maro.
"Amaund, it is good to see that you are here." Said Mede rather calmly as opposed to the man.
"Y-Yes. Sorry just wasn't expecting, ahem. The councilors have just sent word to me that they will be prepared in about a half hour." He then said, straightening himself as all stared at him.
"I best get ready as well then. Ruigus and Alavia Kessel meet Amaunt Motierre, High Chancellor of the Elder Council." The Emperor introduced unceremoniously.
Ruigus recognized the man's last name as one of the land's many pillars.
"An honor." Said Ruigus with a nod. With Alduin saying a mere "Well met." with as much care as the Emperor, of whom then began to walk away, Maro motioned some Oculatus to go along with the Emperor.
"The same extends to you both. My apologies I was most conflicted with that…...that fact that right now there are many thoughts running through my head right now about this assembly! I can personally assure what is decided is decided for an army to be created to aid that Order that is just now formed in stopping this tragedy. Now, expect to have to speak up as I have no doubt there are those will want to review both of your deeds thus far, expect both praise and indignation if not outright suspicion. My only real advice is that you speak from your experiences accurately as you can. Oh and one last thing, if someone is to say something that you wish to comment on, ask me for permission depending on the scenario, if you don't I will let you know but I think that you shall do well! I'm afraid that I must rush to speak to the Emperor further right now. Maro can you take them to the chamber?" The Breton High Councilor orated quickly with urgency and a sympathy.
"Of course, come with me you two." Emitted Commander Maro.
"Thank you, High Councilor." Said Ruigus, who was surprised by the man's forthrightness as he followed Maro.
The High Councilor stared at the three as they walked away. Breathed deeply and sighed with relief and then began a near jog to Titus.
"They did not go through with as you said they would. I must admit with this suddenness you nearly put me in panic attack." Motierre said to Emperor Mede.
"I hoped for that mercy too much, old friend. But…...This is the best I can ask for." He replied. Motierre replied with a concerned expression.
"You need to stop this! You think so little-"
"I know, but I do what I believe is best. In the end everyone is but a mere tool, and I am no different but I do not understand….." The Emperor trailed off as the two rested in chairs in Mede's quarters.
"Forget it, I was thinking of something abstract. Motierre, you are a rare man among all Imperials for following along with this as well as understanding me the most, I regret that I must treat your life like it is disposable the moment you fully trusted me but for now I will not hear your complaining on this matter, as you will say there is an important matter that must be decided on how much we want to commit, and how we should continue to go forward on." Mede orated tiredly.
"You want me to support Lucis no matter what don't you?" Amaund chirped.
"Yes even if the Dragonborn and that woman go against him, yet I heavily doubt it. I believe that Lucis and Ruigus are already alinged, however I cannot help but think Lucis may find it difficult to work with him. I could be wrong, yet again. But in the end I believe I can trust that Ruigus, they are both the products of my failure, our failure. The future may be in good hands." Mede said.
"You sound hopeful again." Amaund laughed, trying to cheer up Mede as best he could.
"Do not mistake it for a dying wish that was never mine." Mede replied.
"They must be ready by the next time, if not them, Lucis." He finished. Staring out the window in his quarters. The city looked hauntingly beautiful to him, it was only that each day as it felt more and more isolated drained his heart.
"The meeting shall begin soon. Get comfortable and if you have anything to ask I will be here for a few moments until his majesty appears." Said Maro to the two before him, sitting in the chairs of what belonged to the ancient group.
"I believe we will be fine." Alduin replied.
Maro gave a nod of approval and backed up to give privacy as he too waited.
Already some people were coming in.
"I never expected this." Ruigus said, he laughed quietly and incredulously.
"Neither would I." Agreed Alduin.
"I just do not understand, what, what was that back there?" He asked Alduin.
"All I can tell is, he is someone who has seemingly lost faith, his happiness." She responded.
"I do not know what else, I've never seen one act like that before." She added.
"I...I wish I could do something about that." Ruigus stated, troubled. Alduin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I do not think much can move a boulder, sometimes even the strongest Shout cannot, if he is your concern focus on the person he wishes to protect, I hope for our sake that this individual is amicable." She confided.
"I will treat and trust them the best that I can if Mede likes him so much. This still is something I never expected." He remarked.
"It may continue." Alduin said as she pointed out some people starting to come in.
Looking up Ruigus saw multiple people with the robes befitting the council. He tried his best to not judge.
As they began to fill out the seats across from them the Emperor and Amaund appeared and walked to one particular stone chair above the others, Mede sat down in the high chair and Amaund in the regular one below him.
Ruigus recognized high profile nobles and lords among the council, whom he counted twenty of, he noticed that there were other rows of the similar council chairs around them and this massive circle that they sat around.
"This must be important persons only." Thought Ruigus.
He continued to scan until he recognized one face.
Lord Detlev von Sondheim, who's Heartland name was 'Sosicles'. Not that it mattered to him. He knew full well who he was. Detlev was the current warlord of Colovia, Ruigus's ruler.
Detlev was an older man, undoubtedly in the start of his old age after having of been a high profile for so long after the infamous border war of the colovians forty years ago. The man's hair was a very short black, a definite Colovian man with the usual angular face. He had some fading freckles, blue eyes, and a stern expression.
This had to be the fifth time Ruigus had seen him, it was the closest in person he had so far as the man sat down and looked straight at the dragonborn.
"Who is he?" Alduin whispered.
"The Warlord." Ruigus replied. Alduin then scanned the man, and drew her own conclusions.
Their attention was drawn away when a peculiar pair walked up to the chairs closer to the Emperor, wearing that bright white and red clothing of theirs, unlike the robes of the council.
The very same two that had gotten them in, the man with those strange heartlander symbols on his clothes and that piercing look in his eyes and the man who had the cloth mask.
In that moment sense was made to Ruigus.
"I pray you are as good as you seem." He thought.
The one without the mask seemed to speak quickly with the Emperor, and then separated to sit down, he stared at Ruigus. Whilst his masked friend stood at his side, not taking a seat.
There was noise persisting through as many were conversing with one another and staring at the two peculiar individuals who were special to this occasion.
Then came a certain pounding of a wooden hammer.
"The assembly on the matter of the support of continued Imperial presence in Skyrim and Undead response shall be starting in a minute, may there be order in the council! Note that there is an absence of our Dominion advisors, they are currently formulating their own response and this assembly will be recorded on memory stone." Announced a confident Amaund.
Ruigus shot up inside his chair.
"Continued Imperial presence!?" He internally screamed.
There was a silence. Then the Emperor stood.
"Today is a fateful day. We shall be deciding whether or not our loyalists in Skyrim shall be continued to be supported by the Imperial Legion under the command of General Tullius, and by extension what we will send to aid the people of Skyrim. Let us begin." Announced Mede, he spoke in a concise and unceremonious manner.
"I would like to make a statement!" Yelled one councilman.
"Go ahead." Said Amaund.
"Frankly what, in the name of the Divines is this? We are deciding for two separate things that should not be lumped together like this." He said angrily.
"While by all rights you are correct in that they are two separate arguments however the core of them both is the Imperial Legion in Skyrim." Replied Amaund.
"Hmph! And it just so happens we have two that happen to be Tullius's pets in this very council!" The councilman exclaimed.
Ruigus's expression soured.
"Councilor Aquila." Amaund Chided. The councilor grumbled, he was certainly unsupportive of either of this.
"If one has a problem with Tullius of all people you are a rather foolish individual." Spoke up the one man who did not wear the council robes, the man who Ruigus would have to work with.
Amaund gave him a stern glare.
"And you have not even a shred of experience yourself, Lucis." Yelled one councilor. Lucis, as his name was stared down the councilor.
"I do not, but I have the knowledge of the man's skills, and I would say so far that he has done a good job in Skyrim itself even with Dragons emerging from Akatosh knows where as you all discussed last time. Now as we speak he discussed a favorable truce with the Stormcloaks and has managed to hold onto Dawnstar and hold on with very little fail in the war." Stated Lucis. There was an audible murmur of agreement among some.
"Yes yes but I ask you how many men have been lost?" Questioned the man.
"Redundant, as of now 54,000. Most of who died in the beginning of the war before we even realized that the rebellion had taken control of all of Eastern Skyrim. And Tullius was not even sent there with a small legion before then! And look at what we have now, three major holds left in Stormcloak hands and good victories." Argued Lucis.
"And now what has he done? Overextend our already limited forces?" The councilor pointed.
"Which is why we should continue to send reinforcements." Spoke up one another councilor, a certain Detlev.
"And think of this Deltev and Lucis, just recently we had a good army led by a legate Cassius get betrayed by one of the nords in his own unit and led to the destruction of his entire army, as well as a supposed defection of many of the nords inside it. There is no mistaking it, the people do not even want us there and will punish us for our mere kindness. Truly a good idea is to keep having the nords, who should be taking up the majority of the fighting stab us in the back as we try to end this war for them, I am no fan of bashing my own head against a stone wall." The man stated.
"If the idea of mixed units are that terrifying then we ought to have start programs that can increase the loyalty and confidence in the Nords that we are not there to slaughter them, unless you or one of your friends suggests that we should kill them all for their foolishness or alienate them if that is your fancy." Lucis stated.
"I make no support of that and everything that is to happen in Skyrim is in executable authority of the Governor-General! I will say again and again the land is a waste, may they all kill each other and we enjoy whoever wins." Stated the councilman, he was a man named Tranio.
"This is most petty." Thought Alduin.
"Imbecile." Lucis whispered to himself. His friend leaned to say something into his ear. And Ruigus carried a scoul.
"In any case. There is a truce whether or not that is for the benefit of our campaign, provided for the length of the current crisis. I would like to add that on the note of Lucis's statement that hit a note on the overall morale of the nordic populace both loyal and disloyal I would like to point out that a key figure in their legends and stories is currently present and not to forget that there is a nord in here!" A councilman announced, as all eyes turned to him.
"High Councilor permission to speak?" Asked Ruigus.
"Granted Sir Ruigus." Said Amaund.
"I would like to say that I have gone through some of the most intense fighting that skyrim has seen these last few months, I have fought dragons, fought rebels and undead both before and now. And the situation has turned to our favor, I suppose I can see that the Stormcloaks if they do not surrender after this may and will use whatever they can to find an advantage over us but with the undead I do not think it a just action to just give up on them! Isn't it the duty of the Imperial Legion to safeguard the peoples of man?" Ruigus orated.
"While that is the duty of the Imperial Legion that is not that of the Empire of Tamriel as of the beginning of the Fourth Era who is to serve as a great equalizer of power on the continent." Spoke up Councilor Aquila.
"Equalizing it when the High King was murdered. And even now his widow shall be named High King once the loyalist nord jarls have their vote." Said Councilor Detlev, his tone on the verge of offensive.
"Did the Imperial Legion not retrieve the artifact known as the jagged crown? A symbol of complete nordic authority?" A councilor questioned.
"An old relic is irrelevant now no matter what it was in the past. It is not pratical elect someone like lady Elisif just because we fetched it to her. It is nonetheless a wasteful effort." Lucis spoke up.
"He praises Tullius for his skills but seems to dislike the direction that he is taking?" Ruigus mused confusedly.
"Agreed but that is not to say that there should be anyone we can consider for High King, Lady Elisif is the best we shall get!" One declared.
"Unfortunately." Dejected Lucis.
"With that there decided before we speak further on the matter of the Undead it is now a good time to ask a few questions to our dragonborn and our newest commander that Tullius has favored." Announced Councilor Detlev. Whom faced Ruigus from his seat across from him.
"Ask away." Ruigus replied indifferently.
"You have managed to waste a section of a fort built by our esteemed Legion in combat against the rebels which led to the fort nearly being overrun by an army supposedly belonging to vampires, I cannot say that you are in any form unworthy of punishment." Said the councilor.
"You are looking at it with a lens after the fact. Not with how it was when we began the assault on it, I cannot help but sense that this is something picked out of a tree." Alduin spoke up, her demeanor was hostile.
"You are half-correct but Tribune Alavia, you are in possession of who may currently be one of the greater warriors in our army, did you not think to use him skillfully in combat?" Questioned none other than Lucis.
"He and I both did the best that we could, you cannot count on one person to singlehandedly take on a defensive formation by themselves! You would have taken the same amount of caution if you had been there yourself." She argued.
"I am not a military man. I cannot say that the way you in the Legion and I are similar, nor with most of this council evidently." Lucis pointed.
"Then what is the purpose?" Ruigus questioned.
"The purpose is that you must know that you cannot destroy Imperial property like a reckless child." A councilman stated.
"If we had done it the way you wanted it we would have climbed over our own dead!" Yelled Ruigus, his irritation taking the better of him.
A knock came from Amaund for silence.
"Nevertheless how it is discussed Ruigus and Alavia Kessel are to be confined in Cyrodil for the timespan of two weeks and when the time is over they shall be sent to follow along Lucis and the civil forces to the Dawnguard Order's stronghold." Amaund announced.
There was some silence. And Lucis was giving an intense stare towards Amaund and Mede.
"Well I don't see what is there to even talk about, we are already sending a sizable force to help out this sect who happens to have sweet talked the Arch Primates." Stated a councilor by the name of Vodingo.
"Again it is a question of how much we can dedicate." Said Councilor Detlev.
"Indeed, the money we have given both this order and our loyalists should be the last we send for a while….after all we have to focus on reconstruction." Said councilor Aquila.
"Well there will be no shortage of volunteers for this campaign the Arch Primates have created, and we cannot stop them without having to offend them and the divines." Said one.
"We wont have to necessarily cough up our valuables to the northerners either." One agreed.
"Yet it is still upkeep and manpower and that is most important." Said Councilor Tranio.
"Permission to speak High Councillor?" Ruigus asked once more.
"Speak." He replied simply, he held a small smile.
"I ask that in terms of manpower that you think of those stationed and sent who will learn of their experiences that can be useful later down the line." Suggested Ruigus.
"Which will lead to nowhere." Said Councilor Aquila. A murmur of agreement was with him.
"You pig! Why do you believe that there will not be another one after this? You ignore the obvious!" Ruigus thought angrily as he stared a stoic dagger at him.
"There is no doubt you have listened to that Tullius's ramblings, his reputation does percede him as only a man who knows warfare, I hope you understand how dangerous he is." Councilor Tranio argued.
"We have not had this assembly to discredit him." Stated High Councilor Motierre.
There was a most uneasy silence.
"Well then this assembly must come to a close, to those of you councilmen please raise your hands now if you wish to cease Imperial support and relief to the Kingdom of Skyrim." Amaund announced, several hands arose in favor, it was a rather sickening sight as the dragonborn found, if they outnumbered those loyal to them it would be the end of their hopes.
A few refused to rise their hands, notably Detlev, Lucis and one Councilor, Zenobia Zanardi; whom was the current director of the East Empire Company.
"High Councilor Amaund I would like to announce a compromise." Detlev interjected, the Colovian Warlord-Councilor stood out of his chair.
Amaund looked at Emperor Mede who gave an expression of approval to which Amaund gave Detlev.
"Speak your idea." Said Motierre.
"I think that we ought to send men and resources in increments, as of this moment we have the resources to continue dedicating ourselves to Tullius and his effort as well as to the loyalists currently handling with the prospect of hordes of undead at their gates each night. As time goes on and as it stabilizes or not we begin to send less, we had almost done something similar before this broke out, with that push towards recruiting locally. It will not be so taxing and I think it will give Lucis, Tullius, the Dawngard, and the Dragonborn some much needed lifeline before they can do their work without need of much help." Detlev orated with a certain passion.
Many were silent before a support arose as many in the room stood up in agreement. Only he and Alduin as well as Lucis had not stood up as they former were not even councilors and it seemed the latter was not one either.
Ruigus was rather surprised at his Warlord's save.
"It seems your compromise is a perfect solution. Chancilor Sondheim." Amaund replied. And with that the Emperor arose.
"It shall be further discussed. For now I shall be granting the civil forces extra equipment and supplies to bring." Mede said, an arbitrary tone rang in his voice but it was a victory nonetheless as Ruigus supposed.
"The assembly shall now be adjourned, if you wish to speak to me go through Commander Maro." Said the Emperor as he stepped off and began to walk towards the staircases in the other room, leaving quite suddenly.
And as abrubtly as it had started, the meeting ended with the chamber quickly filling out, it had been emptied in the same manner one might walk out of a butcher that had no product to sell.
They arose to see Maro as well as Lucis and his friend approaching them, the warlord; Detlev von Sondheim was approaching but stopped and turned the moment he saw Lucis, he stared one last time and made his exit.
"You did good. Going forward from here I will be handling what you shall be getting as a reward tomorrow. Please stop by whenever and ask for me, the Oculatus will be expecting you." Maro said.
"Will come as quick as able to." Nodded Ruigus.
"Excellent, I will be busy for the time being. Farewell." He said as he marched away.
Lucis approached next.
"I should have expected as much." He said indifferently.
"Sorry?" Ruigus replied.
Lucis gave a light sigh.
"I should have known that my Emperor would have wanted me to work with you." He stated with the same tone.
"I did not quite expect it myself, yet I look forward to it." Stated Ruigus.
Lucis thought deeply for a moment.
"How many men do you have left?" He asked.
"Around three-hundred." Said Alduin.
"For a Tribune that would say you've lost two-hundred in two sieges…Not bad."
"Did you not just criticize us earlier for ruining a single section of a fort?" Ruigus questioned.
"I know what I said." The Emperor's Pupil replied with the same unchanging tone.
"Yet are they with you?" He asked.
"No we went ahead of them, they should be arriving in a few days, can't accurately say aside from about three to five." Said Ruigus.
"I see, I will handle their transfer to their new unit when they arrive." He said.
"There will be four captains, I ask all but the one named Idwal Cario stay, he has told me he will be coming here for a pending promotion of his." Informed Ruigus.
Lucis seemed to recall something.
"I remember his application, I will put in a good word for him." Said Lucis.
"I didn't get to say how good he was as an officer however." Winced Ruigus.
"All that matters is that you like him, that is good enough." Stated Lucis, shrugging off the comment.
"Lucis." Said his friend. Lucis was silent and then opened his mouth once more.
"Describe him then." Said Lucis throwing his hand up lightly into the air as he postured to cross his arms. Annoyed but listening.
"He is a good warrior and listener that I have fought with multiple times in the small time I've known him, he's a skilled and decisive officer who think will be perfect in combat both against Undead and Stormcloak if things return to how it was before. He strikes me as someone who will go far I guess." Claimed Ruigus.
"…...I shall tell the Emperor." He stated.
"Will you be staying here in the Imperial city for long?" He asked.
"We will be here tomorrow and then we'll be going to my home in Kvatch starting later in the day." Informed Ruigus.
"Do as you please. Be back here by the second of the Sun's Dawn, we will begin march then." Said Lucis.
"We have only a week to be here from today." Thought Ruigus.
"That will be fine." Said Ruigus.
"Good, merely come to the entrance of the Arena and speak to the officers there and they will lead you to us." Said Lucis with approval.
"We will not miss it." Nodded Ruigus.
With that Lucis turned around and began to walk away.
"Lucis, one question." Lucis halted at Ruigus's question.
"Yes?"
"What is your full name?" He asked, Lucis turned to face them, his friend stood where he was and stared at him.
"Lucis Caesar." He replied, and continued to walk away, his friend held where he was.
He bowed.
"I am Rosario Vinceti." He stated.
"This time I almost did take his tone in the wrong manner multiple times." Ruigus replied with a light-hearted chuckle.
Rosario laughed heartedly, he sounded normal for what his mask could have suggested.
"I thank you again. I know that there may perhaps be trouble with him for the both of you in the future yet I ask you to understand his intentions. Know that I am his friend and that I shall support him as much as I want to help you and our efforts." He stated, his expression hidden behind his mask.
"I endeavor for the same Rosario. We shall do our best in the name of the Empire and if you have need of me do not hesitate to ask." Ruigus declared.
"That is most generous, I will be keeping in touch with you as his aide. The Emperor knows we can both be of use to the other." Replied Rosario.
"I do not understand what Mede's plan is." Alduin spoke up.
"His is to secure the future, I believe there is nothing more to it." Rosario replied understandingly.
"Do you think he considers this training for us both?" Ruigus asked him.
"Undoubtedly." He replied.
"Oh I must go, but I do have advice. Make your visits quick, I expect that some will want to drag you out in a visit as well and are writing up a response as we speak. May you be swift." He finished. And went to follow Lucis.
"Until we meet next time." Wished Ruigus.
Rosario smiled.
An Oculatus agent that was staring them down by a doorway coughed loudly.
Ruigus and Alduin looked at each other, Ruigus's expression caused Alduin to giggle.
"Let us get going then Ruigus." She said.
Walking until they exited the Imperial Palace they saw that the sun had begun to sink, they could see the moons Masser and Secunda making their appearance, the dragonborn thought of someone special to him and then heard Alduin ask something.
"Oh we're gonna need a place to stay aren't we?" She questioned nobody in particular.
Ruigus thought for a moment.
"I know one!" He exclaimed with great revelation.
"Oh?"
"My cousin's I nearly forgot!" He gushed.
"Where does he live?" Alduin asked. Blinking and with a inquisitive tilt of the head.
"The Martin Plaza district, we can get there before nightfall!" Jumped Ruigus. Who seemed most excited.
"Show me the way, Ruigus." She stated, laughing as Ruigus ran ahead of her and stopped to realize she was just but walking.
Ruigus had not once mentioned any other family than his mother and father. She figured it would be a nice experience.
Smiling the goddess walked forward, away from the White-Gold tower.
End of Chapter 18
Hello! One thing I wanted to bring up that I may have forgotten to last chapter but as you may have noticed when Ruigus was talking with the Brumans they spoke in Colovian (Which is German) and there were parenthesis underneath what they spoke, this will be what I will be doing whenever it comes to a character not knowing what language another speaks even if it is in english already, it will just be done out of perspective. At some point I will be editing the original chapters where the dragons spoke at that time an unrecognizable language to Ruigus and adjust accordingly.
This feature will not be toooooooo prominent which it kinda willl here and there aside from one project I have where it will be.
I promise I will be doing my best at this current moment and will be trying to get to another good point in the story by late July!
Oh and soon I may actually upload a "Chapter" that is really just a "story thus far" and/or "current characters" by the previously mentioned point.
I want to create a long series and am quite willing to go tooth and nail to finish it in some form or another and I know that things will get very very very confusing if not outright too much. I want to alleviate that as best as I can with that.
Until the next chapter!
