Cearbhail:

Well...stuff happens. I...Well...eh. You'll find out rather quickly, now won't you.

[Jurard]

I don't know how long I've been sitting in this cell for. It feels like ages. I don't even know what the current date is anymore, let alone the day. The time spent in this cell just drags on as I sit on my 'mattress' stuffed with ash. Occasionally I'll do pushups off my bed and do some crunches. And then I'll do some planks. You know…stuff I can do to keep my physical body in check while I wait for my hearing. Other than that, I have nothing to do. Iver is making love-talk to Yuki, and Ven spent his entire time meditating. He never moved from his spot, but he sat there, eyes closed and extremely focused. For a 19-year old he was really dedicated to his discipline.

I thought the day was going to drag on until I heard the jail door open up and several armored footsteps thundered into our hallway. And if that wasn't enough, I heard Yuki's cage door open, then Ven's… and then Iver's. I stood up from my bed to see a heavily armored Redoran guard as he walked up to the door. "What's going on?" I asked as he unlocked my cage door.

The helmeted guard looked up at me and spoke in a Dunmeri accent. "It's time for you hearing, miss battlemage." He grabbed me by my arm and started dragging me out of my cell. Three other guards in front of me had my comrades. There were four other battlemages with me when we were taken prisoner. They were also being rounded up and taken to our hearing trial. All eight of us. I wondered if we stood a chance of not being killed for invasion purposes.

The eight of us were pulled along in silence through the hallways. I guess it wasn't so bad. I mean, I've done the same with people who were prisoners of war. The only difference was that these prisoners were usually going to the chopping block. I know Dunmer…they don't chop off heads. No…we get fed to their giant subterranean worms. It seemed like a worse fate if you asked me. I just hoped that isn't what happened here today. I guess some end up as slaves. That wouldn't be so bad, I guess. The guard captain walking in front of us stopped by a pair of sliding doors. He slid them open and we were ushered into a round ball-shaped room with rows and rows of benches carved into the flooring. A few hundred Dunmer sat in these rows, and they looked at us with their red beady eyes focused on us. At the very center of the round room was a massive table with five Dunmer, dressed what I assumed were traditional robes.

The one in the center stood up and addressed us as the guards dragged us to the front row where our chairs waited for us. "House Redoran welcomes the esteemed battlemages of Cyrodiil to the town of Blacklight. You have caught us at an auspicious time, Imperial mages." He gestured around the table. "We have all the Houses here to hear your case and are seeking to unite together under the threat of the Aedra…" He looked down at me. "So…tell me, which one you is the leader?"

As I was pushed down into my seat, I raised my clasped hands into the air. "I am, you majesty."

"Your majesty?" He echoed with humor laden in his voice. He briefly chuckled before slowly gliding down into his seat. "Please, there are no majesties in this courtroom, only lords. I am Lord Drennan Redoran, presiding ruling Lord of House Redoran." He gestured to the other four Dunmer. "And starting on my right, your left, we have…"

She stood up from her chair. "I am Hranalin Indoril, High Priestess of the Indoril House." She looked down at me and bowed.

The Dunmer sitting next to her stood up. He had a polite smile on his face. "I am Transani Hlaalu, Duke of House Hlaalu."

Then the woman sitting next to Lord Redoran eyed Van and Yuki carefully, rubbing her chin in thought. Lord Redoran had to nudge her to break her focused gaze. She looked around for a second before clearing her throat and standing up. "I am Archmagister Brelyna Telvanni, High Magus of House Telvanni." She looked down at me, before pointing her fingers. "What are those two doing in your company?"

Lord Redoran snatched her hand. "That can wait until the last member of the Council has presented himself." She begrudgingly snaked her hand back in and took her seat in a very precise and calculating way.

The final Dunmer stood up. He wasn't skinny like the others, this one apparently enjoyed his food. His large belly bounced as he sat up. "I am Unamvil Dres, Councilor of House Dres." He took his seat quietly and just waited for Lord Redoran to continue.

Lord Redoran rose from his seat. "May it be recorded that on 4e003 20th Mid-Year, the hearing of the Imperial Battlemages began and concluded." He looked down at us. "You…leader." He focused his eyes on me. "Please tell us your reason for visiting Blacklight with your company of eight?"

I stood up and addressed the court. "My name is Arielle Jurard, I am a battlemage acting under the orders of Commander Hans Battle-Born, current General of the Imperial Battlemages Corps. I was sent here to acquire the allegiance of the five Great Houses to assist us in our war with the Aldmeri Dominion."

"The…Aldmeri Dominion?" Lord Redoran hissed in confusion. He looked back at the other presiding rulers. "Is there such a thing?" They all shrugged at the information.

That surprised me, but I held my tongue. I wanted to scream 'Have you been hiding under a rock?' But I didn't say anything. It was Archmagister that stood up from her chair and looked down at Yuki. "What are these two doing in your company?"

I shrugged. "They joined the battlemages a while ago. I don't really know their past, but they are my soldiers."

That seemed enough for her so she took her seat, glaring at me. Then she broke eye contact and looked at Lord Redoran. "To think themselves mighty enough to call themselves the Aldmeri Dominion." She scoffed. "It looks like your little theory about Altmers trying to take over Tamriel is more concrete than I may have held up to in belief."

He nodded. "This Aldmeri Dominion. What have they done?" He glanced down at me when he asked this. "We wish to hear the details from one who has seen it firsthand. Our spies have not returned with the news. We fear they were picked off before they could travel back."

"From what I was told at the beginning of the Aedra Extinction: the leaders of Black Marsh, the Resistance inside Cyrodiil, the Mages Guild, the Aldmeri Dominion, and the Akaviri Alliance all joined together to fight the Aedra. During the battle of Cheydinhal, the leader of the Dominion killed the other rulers and took control of the capital of Cyrodiil…and I've seen it myself. Dominion troops have control over the Imperial City. On our way down here to ask for your assistance, we were ambushed by an Aldmeri necromancer. She tried to kill us."

Lord Redoran nodded, picking up a binder. "We have full reports from Captain Senneria. She described the reanimated battlemages that tried to kill you. They were your comrades, correct?"

I nodded. I saw Thalfin alright. She had been killed just like the others. And she tried to kill us when we rendezvoused with her. And the other battlemages as well. Whoever this necromancer was…he or she would pay for killing my friends.

"We must fight this!" High Priestess Indoril stated. "The use of necromancy is foul and this monster is obviously an affront to our ways of life!"

Councilor Dres stood up from his seat, screaming at Indoril. "Of course you'd side with that Imperial slime! They are an affront to our ways. If it were up to them, we wouldn't be able to keep our slaves. They already ruined our economy by taking them away. I say we send them to their offer them up to the Dominion and in exchange offer a peace treaty."

"There is no honor in that." Lord Redoran replied, looking down on us. "But we are not here to discuss honor, but the fates of these battlemages before us." He looked down at me. "It was stupid of you to retreat into an enemy nation in the thick of a war. If we didn't know better with the giant bubble of Silence cutting us all off of our magicka…we'd suspect a full squad of battlemages to be here for conquest or trouble at least. While it appears that you all at least require some aid in a war…I do not feel it is beneficial to us. Our Telvanni mages are Silenced as well…and are not able to combat with our armies. That means no healers…no spellcasters. And we will be going up against a fully armed and magicka capable Altmer army. And since Morrowind was neglected aid during the Oblivion Crisis…why should the Houses of Morrowind assist the dying Empire today?"

I didn't have anything to say to that. "You are right…it was foolish of me to come here and request aid of your Redoran armies. It is true...our Empire did turn its back on your nation during the Oblivion Crisis…and that only made our relationship more distant. But…" I looked up at him. "As one fighter to another…I don't want to see my comrades die!"

"Neither would I." He replied. He looked at the rest of the Council. "Cast your votes."

"Wait!" Ven said. And they did. "As a member of House Telvanni…I believe it would be in the interest of Archmagister Telvanni to hear what I have to say." She looked down at him and nodded. "We have found a way to negate the effects of this Silence." That perked her eyebrows. "It's malachite. If you wear malachite it can cancel out the effects of this Silence. It would return your close-range magicka, for healing and touching spells, as well as long distance Destruction magic."

"And you use this as leverage to gain favor with the court?" She spoke calmly down at him.

He shook his head. "Not at all ma'am. As a member of House Telvanni…I'm just looking out for my House. If we lose our war…the Aldmeri Dominion might very well come for the Great Houses next. If you have your magicka available, you'll stand more of a chance."

I stood up. "There is also a plan to destroy the Dominion, but I cannot speak it aloud until we're all under the influence of Soul Separation, and for that we would need a room full of malachite."

Lord Redoran nodded. "It is time to vote on our decision. The vote stands for these options: Execution, banishment into Cyrodiil to face their fate with the Dominion, imprisonment for the crime of bringing war to our town, turning the refugees to the Dominion as a peace offering, or assistance in the war. The majority of the Houses rules." He looked out to the hundreds of Dunmer. "Great Nobles of the Great Houses, proceed with your votes." And we sat there for a few minutes while the Dunmer behind us bickered and talked about their decision.

After a few minutes had passed, a stack of papers were passed to the five leaders. High Priestess Indoril nodded and stood. "House Indoril has decided on helping the battlemages. The threat of this new Aldmeri Dominion is a threat on our way of lives."

Duke Hlaalu stood up next. "House Hlaalu remains faithful to the Empire. We also believe we should assist them in war."

Lord Redoran nodded and motioned for Archmagister Telvanni. She sighed as she stood up. "It would seem my master wizards are favorable to the information about malachite. They have voted to assist."

Councilor Dres stood up. "Execution, or turning them over to the Dominion for a treaty." He announced.

Lord Redoran nodded. "House Redoran is not above the idea of executing either, but it is a tie between helping and executing the traitors." He nodded. "The majority of the Houses agree: it is in our best interest to assist the falling Empire. Let it be known that on the 20th of Mid-Year that the Great Houses of Morrowind assisted the Empire…when they would not assist us just years ago." He looked down at me, and then looked over at Archmagister Telvanni. "Get your master wizards to gather as much malachite as we can get and bring it in here. We need to discuss this plan of theirs."

She nodded and stood up. "Right away Lord Redoran."

I stood there dumbfounded. I cannot believe they just agreed to help us. I looked to my fellow battlemages. They looked just as shocked as I was. I did it. I got the help of the Great Houses of Morrowind. Hans was right…they would help after all. He said it was a solid bet that they'd pretend to sold on the idea of killing us and then joining us at the end. It was in their nature to help us. They wanted to appear gruff and hatful of our kind, but they really wanted nothing more than to make a name for themselves, and that wouldn't happen if they hid in their dust-covered nation.

…

[Ja'Daan]

Mission log, 4e003 20th Mid-Year

We got a surprise a couple days ago. Prashin, the Mane of Elsweyr…the leader of our nation…came to Rimmen, a drug-infested warzone. And we can't just escort him back to the capital. He'll just come back. We really can't stop the Mane if he wants to do something…and until he's 18…the Mane is usually well…rebellious in his duties. He is overseen by a council of elders and tribal mothers but it's really his role to be the ruler. The Mane is a special Khajiit born with blue fur and white tribal markings. No one but the elders that advise and Leos like me know what he looks like. As far as anyone knows…he's an off-breed.

But anyway, I went to the secret meeting with the drug leaders. I got to see all their faces and now we can begin assassinating them. But…we really shouldn't. I just got here, and I just saw their faces. It would look really bad on my cover if people started dropping all the sudden. Besides all that, we're actually being re-tasked soon. With the Mane here we're actually linking together with the battlemages coming in to search for some ruin. Shab! We were so close to learning the truth of this town and freeing it. We can't just let this town escape its freedom like this. This isn't over.

Ja'Daan.

…

I was forced to go on a morning patrol with Zap. I had J'Ariana and Ja'Pran out looking for the recon squad. They were going to meet up with the squad and get them all set up for our operation. If at all possible we wanted to be done with this town and move on before we had to scrub the whole mission. I had an entire list of the drug cartel. If we killed the Ya'Tirrje and the main threats, we could at least destabilize the drug trade enough to get it beaten after our mission was done. From what I heard about he battlemage squad coming up to meet us, they were some badass soldiers that fought in some pretty massive battles. Three Khajiits, one Breton, one Imperial, one Nord, and one Redguard. A very diverse group if you asked me. They would stand out, but they should know the basic rule of walking in a crazy town…dress like you belong.

The streets of Rimmen looked like they always did. There was a combination of druggies littering the street, as well as some corpses. The entire street just looked filled with people who didn't need to get anywhere soon, dressed like they didn't care who saw them, and did whatever they wanted. I saw a couple having sex right in the middle of the sidewalk. People just walked around them like it was an everyday experience for them. Sickening, stuff like this is what needs to be fixed. Zap led me through the streets as he looked for any signs of trouble. "You see anything, J'Erian?"

"Besides that old man that still has a lot of vigor?" I said as I took my eyes off the man hammering the woman underneath him.

Zap chuckled at that. "I guess growing up on a farm you don't see much of that."

"If I did, I'd be worried since we're all related." I replied back. "And we're not inbred by the way." I said to him.

He nodded. "Glad to hear it. Your sister still hanging around that Zetta guy?"

I nodded. Zetta wasn't going anywhere soon. He was going to stay with us until we could bring down the Crushers and the Ya'Tirrje. "Yeah…she really likes him." And that wasn't a lie. She really did like him. I was beginning to think if there was going to be a thing between the two of them. It was too early to tell though. I looked up at Zap. "So, where are we going today?"

Zap looked back at me. "Just having a meeting with some of the cell leaders today. We're going to discuss what we're going to do this rival gang pushing in on our turf?"

"What rival gang?" This was news for me. Maybe I could use them to assassinate the drug lords in the town. It would look like they were smart. And then the two gangs would just fight and kill each other off.

Zap looked back at me. "These Khajiits stepping on our heels…they've been asking questions…killing people. We're going to teach them a lesson." When he looked back at me, his eyes flicked with anger. And when I looked closer, we had traveled down an alleyway. We normally take this route so I didn't think twice about it. And before I could do anything, Zap pulled out a mask and covered his mouth and toes. A heavy mist fell around us. I tried to turn around and run but it was fast and I lost the feeling in my limbs. My vision started blurring and I found myself on the ground. Zap walked up to me, looking me in the eye. That was the last thing I saw before I blacked out.

…

When I came too, the first thing I was aware of was that I was tied up to a support beam. I'm no firedrake…I don't do magicka. Tie me up and I'm useless. I had a quick look around the room. Dro'Indra was tied up to a post just like me. He was still out cold. He must have been outwitted, but that seemed unlikely. The room itself was an empty room that they used to cell leader meetings. The windows were boarded up, the door was triple locked. Zap stood by the entranceway, leaning against it like he was bored. When his eyes met mine, he pushed off the wall and glided up to me. He unsheathed a dagger and placed it to my neck.

"Good morning, J'Erian." He said to me, actually smiling. "Welcome to the other side of the dagger." He pressed it to my neck. "Now…tell me. What are a couple agents of the Mane doing in a rundown town like Rimmen, huh? Trying to save it? Think that you can handle the Crushers? Get rid of the drugs…the impoverished living? Think you can just kill some people and life changes? Well…it don't. People die in the streets every day, and nothing ever changes. When I kill you, my day won't change for the better, won't change for the worse neither. You know what will change? Your status. You'll be dead, worm food, a meat sack. Me…I'll be alive. And that won't change."

He pressed the knife to my neck. He pulled it away and placed it to my side. He pushed it inside and I felt the bitter sting of that dagger puncturing some pretty important organs. Shit…I don't think I'll be able to fix those. He left the dagger in my side and brought up his fist to my face. With a left hook, I saw my vision blur, and my entire face just went numb. Zap continued beating me a few times and I thought I passed out. After he worked my face he started slamming and elbowing my chest. It pushed all the air out of my lungs and I was left breathless. After a few minutes, I started coughing up blood. I couldn't believe it was going to end like this. Well…it wasn't. Ja'Pran and J'Ariana were still out there. That brought a small smile to my face.

He looked up at me. "Oh…thinking your little bitches are going for help?" He pointed behind me. "We already handled them. We're going to keep them. Oh…and you need change her name from M'Ariana to slut. Cause that's what she is now." He smiled and grabbed onto my shoulder like he was telling me a joke. "After my gang took a couple whacks at them, you know…beat them for killing my homies, they took turns whacking their insides too. You should have heard the white-fur cry your name while we broke her. She cried for hours trying to wake you up. After a few times around a circle, she just stopped screaming and passed out. I don't think she liked it."

Oh no…this was really it then. We were screwed…some more than others. "You…" I tried to bring words to my mouth but all I did was cough up blood. "bastard…"

He nodded. "Maybe but…I keep the peace, and you came here and killed my boys. You broke our laws…you intended to from the start. And you know what…no one will bat an eye once you're all dead. Sure, the two girls we'll keep around for pleasure, but other than that…the rest of you are disposable."

"Sir…what should we do with the blue-fur?" Someone asked through the doorway.

Zap looked from me over to the door. "Did we catch him?"

"The Ya'Tirrje caught him. He practically ran into her lap." The person answered. "She doesn't want him dead and handed him to us. She says he's useless dead. And she wants to see the interlopers before we kill them. She's on her way."

"Shit." Zap said. He looked at me, sighing. "Oh well, so much for killing you slowly." He patted the dagger in my gut which sent hot flashes of pain through my body. "Don't go dying on me now, J'Erian. Wouldn't want to make my boss mad."

Dro'Indra started waking up at this second, moving his head around like he was hung-over. He looked around. "Tirdas already?" He looked around and then found me. "Oh…hey boy. See you've experienced your first ambush." He nodded. "We'll get out of this."

Zap spat on the floor. "You're lucky my boss wants to see you."

Dro'Indra smirked. "They always do."

We waited for a few seconds before the doorway opened up. Bright light shone into my eyes and I was left seeing a tall Khajiit woman wearing pirate garb, chewing on a leaf. She walked into the room and looked at Dro'Indra. He looked up at her, his eyes wide. "Councilor Ri'Pruta?" He sounded surprised. "Oh…you spiked my drink. And then…you…"

She nodded as she walked up to him. "You find it surprising that I would be the Ya'Tirrje? I thought it was pretty obvious. How else could the Crushers get away with everything in town? Sure, I have to be sneaky about it, get rid of detectives that are getting too smart for their own good…sometimes having to kill them." She shrugged. "The town is doing great now. People have the freedom they've always wanted…and I get a nice paycheck for that freedom of theirs…when they want protection from my enforcers…or drugs." She walked up to me, smiling. "Big boy. You must be…Ja'Daan." She said my name and it sent shivers down my spine. She knew my name! I looked at Dro'Indra, who stood there looking at the ground. I never saw a look of hopelessness in his eyes before…we must have actually lost for once.

She walked past me. "And these are the girls." I heard her kick something and Ja'Pran cried out in pain. "This one's too cute…make her look not so much." And I heard more series of kicks. "That will be enough. She still needs to be wanted for a high price." She walked back up to us and snapped her fingers. Two guards walked into the room with Prashin trapped in their arms. She looked from him over to us. "And who is this?" She asked as she pointed to him while looking at me and then over to Dro'Indra. When we didn't answer she shrugged. "Well, if he's just a stupid boy…I can always kill him. I don't need any mix-breeds." She pulled out a dagger and held it to his chest. "Answer me or he dies."

"His name is Prashin." I said to her as I coughed up more blood.

She nodded. "That's a good start. What breed is he? I've never seen a breed like this before."

I spat on the ground. When she held the dagger to Prashin, she turned to face him. "Either you tell me…or I kill you."

He looked from me over to her. "I'm…I'm a Mane."

That shook her. "You're…no." She shook her head. "That's just…die!" She stabbed him in the chest. And I saw blood fly out of his chest as she pushed him down, stabbing him again. "That's what you get for lying, you filthy piece of trash! No one mocks our leader in such a fashion!" She spat in his face as she stood up off the ground, breathing heavily as she looked down at him.

"No!" Dro'Indra screamed. "You bitch!" He cursed at her in Ta'agra. "You just killed the Mane!" He struggled against his binds. "Do you realize what you've just done? The entire Khajiit army will rain onto your town and destroy you for this! And I won't rest until your head is on a pike."

She looked down at the bleeding corpse of Prashin. She shrugged. "Oh well." She turned to walk out the door. "This was your fault…bringing the Mane to such a corrupted settlement." She paused and looked down at Prashin. "Stupid boy."

Cearbhail:

Who would have guessed this would happen? Well...I was driving home from Kendo, sat down on my computer and was like...what to do with the Ja'Daan scene? And then...it hit me. They should totally be found out and then killed. No...Just the Mane. Yeah...and then they could die next chapter. it sounded good in my head and it doesn't really matter in the long end. You'll find out why. And I will explain my reasoning when the time is right.