Chapter 2: Anywhere but Elsweyr
Tirdas, 21st of Heart Fire, 4E 98
Dear Diary,
It is strange. This one has always maintained a good schedule to write in her diary when time permits, sometimes daily, but at least once a week. It has been a month since Khinashi last wrote. Much has happened since we left Corinthe leaving for Cyrodiil about a month ago, but at the same time, nothing has happened.
The ride out of Elsweyr was long and rough, and there were times our cart was stopped, and our escort questioned of the contents in the back – where we were hiding. It was true, all of Elsweyr by then had heard of us, or heard the lies about us. Tarel at-Taneth was right, if we did not leave Elsweyr, it would not have been long before we were discovered. Luckily our escort was good with words, and we avoided any conflict until after we had crossed the border.
Khinashi has heard many things about the lands outside of Elsweyr, and had always wanted to travel. Even now, this one's curiosity drives her to explore, but...Cyrodiil is much different from Elsweyr, and so are its people. It did not take long before we realized we were unwelcome inside the cities – the presence of Ma'ketra, Ma'krin and Jahirr made most afraid, and our explanations fell on deaf ears. Bravil, even as close to Elsweyr as it was, would not allow us inside. Even then, we were lucky we were brought to Bravil, for at least some there have an understanding of our kind. If it had been another town, except for Leyawiin, they may have simply cut us down on sight.
We lived in the wilderness for awhile but decided to move on, for being so close to Elsweyr was a risk in itself. We decided to head west to Skingrad rather than Leyawiin to the south – for it would be too much a risk of running into the Renrijra Krin there - and we learned from our previous mistakes. We travelled under the cover of night and kept to the forested regions and made a hidden camp amongst the trees, while J'shabi or this one would go inside the city to buy supplies with the coin we were given for our journey. Khinashi has yet to get used to the houses being built on the ground, and the lack of Khajiit. The lack of trees and thus being able to see much further is a strangeness as well, but it is nice to look up at the sky at night and count the stars...until Khinashi looks for the Moons and remembers.
It has been over a month since the Festival of the Third Moon and none have seen Jone or Jode since. It has been the topic of the crowds during our delves into the cities, but Khinashi knows it has caused much more than simply chatter in Elsweyr, however any details have not yet made it to Cyrodiil. People here are starting to call it the Void Nights Anomaly, and something about that fills Khinashi with anger. It as if it is simply a fact and nothing more to them, all the suffering and confusion it will be causing within our homeland is simply a topic of idle chat...Khinashi wants to learn more about it, to see how such a thing could happen – how Ra-Zara'chi could do this, but where does one go to learn such a thing? Who within Cyrodiil would care enough to research it? This one hopes more details upon events in Elsweyr will reach Cyrodiil soon. It is troubling not knowing what is happening there, Corinthe could not have been the only place to be affected.
And now we come to the present. The mood within our small pride has soured from the trials of living in the wilderness. Some days we argue, others we avoid each other, and yet still some days we are as close as we were back home.
We stayed around Skingrad for about two weeks until our camp was discovered by a group of hunters. Jizad hiding in the trees could see them far before they approached, and Jahirr could smell them from just as far away, and so we had time to hide Ma'krin, Ma'ketra and Jahirr – for we thought they would simply pass by without trouble if they did not see them. We were wrong, for they were not hunters, they were bandits, and our attempts at making peace did not go over well.
After Jizad took down a few of their number from his position in the trees, and Jahirr, Ma'ketra and Ma'krin stormed out of their hiding places, the remaining bandits – not knowing what they were – ran in fear from the sight of them, or from one of Smallpaw's spells, this one is not quite sure...
J'shabi insisted we did not pursue them, and some of us were more reluctant than others to agree, for they may have had supplies which could have helped us, but J'shabi knows more of living in the wilds than the rest of us except for Jahirr, and so we let them go. We could not risk them returning with larger numbers and so now we travel further west, to the city of Kvatch.
Already this one can see it on the horizon as morning approaches, and her thoughts drift away to what she had read about it. It is common knowledge to almost everyone of its history in the past century... the site of the first Oblivion Gate during the Oblivion Crisis, where the Champion of Cyrodiil shut it down and rescued the only surviving, secret heir of the Emporer. The city had been completely destroyed in the attack but in the years following was rebuilt – and much bigger than before. Its significance to history, and the remains of the first Oblivion gate, mean it is a large tourist attraction which has attributed to its success following the beginning of the Fourth Era.
Khinashi is sad that Ma'ketra, Ma'krin and Jahirr will not be able to see the inside of the city walls when we arrive there tomorrow.
For a moment it seemed like there was total darkness as the sun was eclipsed by the round object in the air, but then it was smashed aside and sent flying high above and far away. Khinashi was the furthest, but she was not sure she would be able to make it in time before it hit the ground. Ma'krin always hit the hardest, but also the most unreliable, and so J'shabi can never coordinate with him like Khinashi and Ma'ketra are.
A blur of fur swipes past Khinashi in the blink of an eye and dives into the grass, scratching and sliding, as she lifts her head and smacks the ball up again, just before it hit the ground. It does not fly in a random direction, but merely straight up in the air, repetitively bouncing it up and down as Ma'ketra turns around and positions herself. Khinashi realizes this and turns back away, and surveys the scene.
J'shabi is busy running toward them and will reach them in a few seconds, but Ma'krin hangs back, walking at a relaxed pace. Khinashi gives a sign to her partner, to show what strategy she thinks they should do, and Ma'ketra complies with the suggestion.
Ma'ketra angles her head forward and smacks the ball high and far, but not as far as Ma'krin would do. Far enough that Khinashi could reach it in time, directly within her path. She knew not to hit it too far, for else J'shabi might intercept it, and they were already dangerously close to their end zone, she would not have to bounce it far to win the round.
And so Khinashi jumped up at an angle, twisting in the air as she too hit the ball with her head, and bounced it far and to the side, sailing high above J'shabi's head as she neared. J'shabi turned to run toward its destination, but before she reached it, Ma'ketra was there again, bouncing it back over to Khinashi.
This volley went on for awhile, and Khinashi could see the frustration in J'shabi's facial expressions as she was unable to intercept it at any time. It is this J'shabi refers to whenever she would call this game 'keep away' instead of Thjizzashka. Also because it was easier for her to pronounce.
Eventually J'shabi could not keep up, and Khinashi and Ma'ketra only had to get passed the slow Ma'krin to win the round. Khinashi had doubts he would even bother to intervene.
She was surprised then, when she saw that Ma'krin was actually charging toward her.
Khinashi judged how long remained until the ball could be bounced away from him, but it soon became a choice between being trampled or not, and Khinashi in her wisdom valued not having broken limbs over winning a game, and dived out of the way before he reached her.
Ma'krin, as fast as he was running – which is to say faster than he normally bothers to – hit the ball hard, very hard, and the angle at which he did sent the ball soaring across our game field. It went even beyond our field and into the city...and then it was out of sight, covered by the busy streets of Kvatch.
The sound of a window breaking was heard seconds later, followed by a few screams and running peoples, until they realized the circumstances.
Khinashi heard a small laugh coming from their sole audience, Smallpaws, who seemed to approve of the direction the game was taken.
"Well? Did we win?" J'shabi asks. This humored Khinashi, for she knew even J'shabi must have heard what happened, and yet still winning was her first concern.
"That depends on what you define winning as, J'shabi. Ma'krin sent the ball past the line we decided would be the mark you needed to reach, without using anything other than our heads to do so, and without letting it touch the ground. Yet, he also sent it into the city and broke a window, which is sure to not make our already suspicious neighbors any friendlier."
"So we won."
"Spoken like a true Khajiit, J'shabi. Yes, you and Ma'krin won the round, which is to say the game as well, since we cannot really continue."
Both of them laughed and smiled, but Khinashi noticed J'shabi wincing, and her attention drifting past her. She turned to see Jahirr and Jizad returning from today's hunt for food, which seemed successful at first glance judging by the carcass of a dead deer strapped to Jahirr's back.
It has been nice to see Jizad and Jahirr working together so well, their skills complement each other perfectly for hunting. Jahirr as a Pahmar-raht could track with his nose and outrun any beast – already a trait no other race or form of a race could boast - but with a Dagi's ability to climb heights, and Jizad's own personal skill at archery, it made the task laughably simple and systematic. With the pride working together, living in the wilderness was not as much of a challenge as Khinashi thought it would be, and certainly not as difficult as J'shabi made it out to be. It had become so easy that they allowed themselves free time to play games, like today.
"How are you back from your hunt already? You've hardly been gone for an hour at most, it's only mid-day. You do remember what we agreed on, right?" J'shabi asks accusatively. This one could tell what was coming, and the look on Jahirr and Jizad's faces told her that Khinashi should step away and read a book or something. Yet her curious ears disallowed her from tuning out completely.
"Yes, Jahirr and this one took that into account-"
"Tell me then, so I know you remember."
Jizad sighed before beginning. This had not been the first time he had to do this.
"It we are to kill any creatures for food, it cannot be young, it cannot seemingly be a parent to a young child, and if female it cannot be pregnant. We must kill it as quickly as possible so as to minimize its suffering from pain, and avoid killing it in front of others of its kind to avoid scarring them."
"It looks young." J'shabi says flatly.
Khinashi tore a peek over her shoulder to see the deer. It was by no means a child, a young adult at very least.
"J'shabi, we are not their only predators, most do not live long enough to become old in the first place – not as old as your conscience would prefer-"
"This isn't on my conscience! I didn't kill it! You two did!"
"The way you act sometimes J'shabi, you seem to feel like you did." Jizad retorted.
"Oh, just get on with it, then, it's too late now!" J'shabi flailed her arms and turned to walk away, and the sniffling sound that came from her direction indicated her eyes must be welling up.
The rest of us turned to look at each other with a knowing, sad expression. Rationally, J'shabi understands that the rest of us must hunt for food to survive in the wilderness, especially as Senche and Pahmar require a large diet to stay healthy. Still, what happened to her parents has always followed her.
After several seconds, she turned back around and approached the rest of us again.
"I'm sorry, I know you're just doing what you have to." she sighs. "Were you able to get what I asked from the market?"
Jizad looked away, afraid to meet J'shabi's gaze.
"No. That is in part why we did not take so long. We did not realize until too late that we were nearly out of money, not enough for the fruit you asked for, and we did not want to return empty-pawed, so..."
J'shabi tilts her head and stares at Dagi for him to continue.
"Well, this one thought we could just use Moon Sugar to trade for currency, like in Elsweyr..."
J'shabi holds the bridge of her nose. "Jizad, Moon Sugar is illegal outside of Elsweyr."
"This one is well aware of that now! The merchants were not happy with Jizad, and then the guards arrived and chased him out...thankfully when he found Jahirr outside we escaped capture."
"So you didn't get anything we needed." J'shabi sighs.
"This one is sorry..." Jizad answers solemnly, and Khinashi could tell he was looking for a way to change the subject.
"Why is Moon Sugar illegal here anyway? Jizad thought only Skooma was."
"Skooma is illegal everywhere, even Elsweyr, Moon Sugar is only allowed in Elsweyr. The sugar does not bode well with smooth-skin stomachs, and they do not understand a Khajiit's connection to it, and merely see us as drug addicts." Khinashi answers.
"Well, I can see why they think that. Even Khajiit can be harmed by Moon Sugar, Khinashi. I don't think that needs reminding..." J'shabi glares at her.
This one scoffs. "Only when taken too much, like anything else. It just tastes good so Khajiit do that accidentally. It is still important to many aspects of our lives J'shabi – from our birth, to help ease the growing within the first week, for Senche and Senche-raht when they become of age to grow again...Our religion needs it, and our diet as you know."
"No one needs anything, you're just used to it so you think you do. I don't eat it and I'm fine, and I am a Khajiit too." J'shabi adds the last part as if she felt that needed to be reminded yet again.
"It is complicated, J'shabi, but just know that Khajiit as a whole depend on it in ways not able to be understood by those not taught in its use. It has a purpose, both spiritually and practically." Khinashi responds.
"You sound like this one's father, rambling on about spirits. Jizad thinks people just make that stuff up to justify their sugar cravings." he says.
"Perhaps," Khinashi responds. "Khinashi thinks there is more to it than that though."
Silence falls upon the pride for a few seconds, until J'shabi speaks up again.
"Well, as interesting as that may be, it doesn't change anything right now. If we're out of money I'll just have to go pick some plants to eat again. They don't taste good, but I had to get used to it when I was on my own."
"Jizad is still amazed from your story, J'shabi. How you managed to survive travelling through Valenwood alone...And picking plants really is a crime in Valenwood?"
"Yeah, a big one, I found that out the hard way, too...The Bosmer's twisted cannabilistic culture didn't help make Valenwood feel any more welcoming, either, and yet people still think I'm one of them!" she laughs.
J'shabi picked up her backpack and was ready to begin her search, until she looked back and saw Khinashi's pack, still full of oranges from Corinthe.
"Will you ever explain why you won't let me eat any of those oranges you bought back in Elsweyr? I like oranges. It would be easier if you just let me eat some of them so I wouldn't have to keep buying other things, or eating plants."
"Soon, J'shabi." Khinashi said with a smile.
"You said that last time! When is 'soon'? They'll go rotten if we don't eat them soon."
"Indeed, Jizad is wondering if it was a good idea to have let Khinashi decide where so much of our supply funding went." he says.
Ma'krin and Ma'ketra growl in agreement.
"Alright, fine...This one guesses it has been long enough, although it has been humorous to watch you all guess."
"You mean I can eat them now?"
"No, Khinashi will show you why you cannot. Come, let us go to Kvatch, J'shabi."
The Suthay and Ohmes walk through the gates of Kvatch, and Khinashi quickly scans the area for what she had been wanting to see since they arrived in Cyrodiil. Or, at least one of the things.
"There it is!" Khinashi shouts and runs over to a large ashen-coloured arc portruding from the ground. Large spikes jut out from the sides, before the arc breaks off at uneven sides. It stands about twice their height, and large enough for several of them to pass through.
Khinashi disregards the small fence surrounding it and jumps over, and walks up the platform and touches the arc.
"Khinashi...are you sure that's a good idea? I don't think they'd put a fence around...whatever that is if they didn't mind people touching it."
"Jone and Jode, almost a hundred years have passed, and it is still warm!"
"Khinashi?"
Khinashi looked around and took note at the people giving her suspicious looks, and decided it best to heed J'shabi's advice, and climbed back down.
"What is that thing anyway?" J'shabi asks.
"This is what this one was telling you about, J'shabi – it is the ruins of the Oblivion gate that destroyed Kvatch at the end of the 3rd era during the Oblivion Crisis! Or at least, one of them, anyway...The one that was shut down."
"Oh, that." J'shabi says uninterested.
"What? You mean you are not excited to see this? This is where the Oblivion Crisis started in full, and where the Hero of Kvatch rescued Martin Septim, who would go on to save the world!"
"I know, I've heard the stories too, and more than one of those times from you. It's an interesting story, if it really happened. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but, it doesn't really change anything now, does it? That was almost a hundred years ago."
"The Oblivion Crisis was a real event, J'shabi, Oblivion Gates opened up over the whole world. This is not the only remnant of that time, even in Elsweyr and every other province, less-intact ruins remain. There is no questioning if it happened."
"I know, I didn't mean it like that, I just mean...History has been known to...you know, get carried away sometimes, especially tales with heroes. You know that more than me."
"Yes, but this is an exception. The Champion of Cyrodiil really did all of those things...and Martin-"
"Single-handedly defeated the Daedric Prince of Destruction in open combat in the Imperial City, yes I know. Don't we call him Merrunz or something?"
"Actually, that is not exactly-ah, forget it...and yes, Merunnz – sometimes Ja'khajiit, too."
"But doesn't Ja'khajiit mean kitten?"
"Yes, and also another word for Suthay-raht, after a group of them once-"
"Okay I get it, it's complicated." J'shabi chuckles. "I love your stories Khinashi, but we should focus. You said you were going to show me why I'm not allowed to eat oranges anymore."
Khinashi hung her mouth open for a couple seconds, slightly unwilling to stop talking, before agreeing and walking off toward the market. She took one last look at the ruins of the Oblivion gate, and tried to imagine what it might have looked like 98 years ago. She cannot decide if she would be fascinated or scared to death. Probably both.
The sound of chatter and street performers reaches its height as the two Khajiit approach the market district, just southeast of the Chapel of Akatosh. Like all of the other cities they have visited so far in Cyrodiil, it mostly consists of humans, with some elves, and rarely any Khajiit or Argonians. Khinashi is somewhat glad for the last, as in Bravil, the Argonians never gave her welcoming looks, but then, perhaps her staring was not received well either. She had never seen one in person before then.
Khinashi followed her nose to her destination through the bustling crowds, and the aroma of many other scents, and found it in the form of a fruit stall and a large, heavy-set Breton who gave a clear look of impatience. His attire was that of most Cyrodiilic merchants. Dull-colored in comparison to what Khinashi had come to expect from Elsweyr, as if they gave no mind to what they wore other than that they were wearing something. 'Shirts' as they called them, were tucked in, and made their legs look awkwardly long.
When Khinashi stood next to the stall, she had to pull her head over the counter just to see him, even J'shabi, who was a little taller, would have to stand on her toes. If Jizad were here, he would have to stand on the stall itself. Humans were always roughly the same height as each other, in the end, so they do not take into account shorter races like Bosmer – or some forms of Khajiit.
"Hello!" Khinashi shouted to grab the man's attention. He looked around for a couple seconds before looking down, and his expression turned to one of even more impatience.
"What is it, cat? Can't find your parents or something? I can't help with that."
Khinashi sneered for a moment at the merchant's response. Khajiit call each other cats quite often, but when outsiders do, it is always with a tone that reeks of rudeness.
"This one would like to make a considerably large transaction with your business, which Khajiit thinks you will find quite generous."
"You gonna buy something or what?"
"Sell something, actually."
"Look I don't mean any offence but I don't really care for what you picked up off the ground and think is valuable. I sell produce, you got fruit or vegetables then fine. I'm not interested in anything else, and don't expect a deal if it's half-rotten or...or might as well be, just don't waste my time."
Khinashi did not answer, and instead simply hauled up her sack full of oranges onto the stall for the merchant to see.
"Oh, oranges, is it? Well, lets see here...How many are there?"
"50, fresh from the Tenmar forest of Elsweyr."
The Breton took out a few oranges and checked them over.
"I think I could give you about...400 gold for them."
Khinashi saw J'shabi's stunned look. Khinashi had spent only 100 gold on them in Corinthe.
But this one was not satisfied.
"Do not try to make a fool of this one. You would need to make a better offer of twice that much if you want them."
The Breton seemed angered by Khinashi's words.
"Twice? Are you trying to run me out of business? 400 Gold is a good deal! And these Oranges don't seem like they'll last much more than a week at best."
"Khinashi, that is a lot of money, that's already twice what we were given when-"
"This one has brought these all the way from Elsweyr, they are foreign here. You will have no trouble selling them all in a week and still make a large profit."
"That's just too much, I can't do that. 400 gold or no deal."
"Perhaps this one could take them to one of your competitors then, hmm? They may be more willing to give Khajiit a better offer. They would be wise, too - how often do Cyrodiils get to eat Oranges now that Elsweyr is not a part of the Empire?"
The Breton did not answer, and so Khinashi picked up the sack of Oranges and started to step away, despite J'shabi's protests.
"Alright, fine, 800 gold it is. I may not make much profit off of them alone, but you're right, not many come this far to sell those anymore. It'll attract customers."
Khinashi smiled knowingly and turned around, placing them back on the stall.
"You have made a wise decision. You will not regret this." Khinashi says.
"I hope not." The Breton said. He pulled out a large sack of coins for Khinashi to count, as he did the same for the Oranges. Khinashi smiled to J'shabi, and her stunned, speechless expression was more valuable than any amount of gold she could have haggled for. The Breton's curiosity took the better of him and he took a bite out of one of the oranges.
"It's been awhile since I tasted these. You know they say they used to grow in Cyrodiil, ages ago." he says.
"When Cyrodiil was a jungle?" Khinashi asked. She had read about that, but she was never quite certain of the truth of them.
The Breton scoffs. "If you believe in that."
"Something must have been different for them to think that was the case, though. Languages have not changed so radically in thousands of years, it must be more than transcription errors." Khinashi countered.
"Some say Talos used his voice to make Cyrodiil cold. Others say he used his chin...M'aiq wonders, how big must his chin be to do that, hmm?" Another voice said from behind.
Khinashi turned around to see a Cathay Khajiit in brown robes and a strange fur hat. He did not look at them, and simply continued on his way, walking with his hands behind his back.
Khinashi nodded to J'shabi to indicate for her to finish counting, and approached the mysterious Khajiit.
"What do you mean? You know how Cyrodiil was changed from a jungle?" says, running up to him.
"M'aiq knows much, and tells some. M'aiq knows many things others do not."
Still the Cathay did not stop walking, Khinashi ran up to his side and walked with him.
"Hmm, do you know what happened to the Moons, then? Why they are gone?"
"The Moons are not gone, they are simply hiding. M'aiq is on a pilgrimage to find them and move them elsewhere."
"Um, M'aiq, this one does not think it works like that. How would you move them even if you did find them?"
"M'aiq will put them in his pocket of course." he says confidently.
Khinashi look at him with a raised eyebrow and half-open jaw.
"What? You look at M'aiq as if he is a liar."
Khinashi was not sure how to respond to that, and so she did not, and simply changed the subject.
"Are there any others searching with you?"
"M'aiq prefers to adventure alone. Others just get in the way. And they talk, talk, talk."
"This one is sorry, she was just curious about the Moons. Khinashi will not bother you anymore, then. Good luck on your pilgrimage, clanmate."
M'aiq stopped for a moment and ruffled around his robes and pulled out a bundle of folded paper. He stared at it for a few moments, before handing it toward Khinashi.
"M'aiq thinks you should have this. It knows things, but not as much as M'aiq."
"What is it?"
"Lies written on paper for fools to read. M'aiq thinks."
Khinashi unfolded it and noticed the symbol of the city of Riverhold drawn on the top left edge. 'Black Horse Courier' was written in bold letters on the top, except 'Horse' was crossed out and replaced with 'Pahmar' just above it. Beneath that were the words 'Living Under Void Nights' as the article name. Khinashi knew of the Black Pahmar Courier an Elsweyr adaption of the Black Horse Courier of the Cyrodiilic empire founded over a century ago. This could tell her everything she wanted to know!
She looked up to thank M'aiq, but he was already gone.
Khinashi ran back to J'shabi to show her, and decided she would read it in detail while they returned to their camp.
The Black Pahmar Courier, Elsweyr Edition.
19th of Heart Fire, 4E 98
By S'renjar
Living Under Void Nights
By now all Khajiit are no doubt aware that the glistening twin moons that have guided our kind from the beginning of time have failed us, or we have failed them. What most may not yet know, is the true extent of what this means for us.
For the past month S'renjar has travelled across Elsweyr to learn the answer to that question, and the truth is darker than the Void Nights themselves.
This one will start with what he feels is the most concerning, and because there have been many theories – some of which were worse than what has become of the situation, so in some ways it may ease a few minds, despite the harrowing implications of which the truth could mean for us.
Ever since their initial disappearance, every Khajiit newborn, from Dune to Senchal and beyond, has grown to become a Suthay within the following week. Despite the absence of the moons, as of so far there does not seem to be any other peculiarities of note. So no, Dro'rajul of Orcrest, they are not becoming demonic abominations or born without souls, or whatever your third theory was. You can climb down from the Orcrest arena walls and stop spreading hysteria amongst our people, if local authorities have not already spiked your water supplies.
The question remains of how this might affect the future of our people if the Void Nights do not end. What will happen in a hundred years, when the last of our other forms die as elders, and only Suthay remain?
Elsweyr is a harsh land, and one we have always had to work together to survive in. Every form has a purpose within our society, and to so suddenly - within the very next generation - have that taken away from us, how will we continue as we do today?
Without the Dagi, who will collect the fruit in the rainforest our southern Khajiit depend on as a source of food? Without the Pahmar, who will replace our best trackers for hunting? Our Cathays have proven our best warriors, and the Ohmes and Tojay as our ambassadors to other lands in which our other forms would be unwelcome.
The Senche, who have always been able to turn the tide of battle even in the unlikeliest of situations, are a staple in the defense of our kingdom, and without them, the Bosmer and Argonians may seek to reclaim territory, and could do so with ease. Even the smallest of us, the Alfiq like this one, use our size and magic to become an irreplaceable asset to us all. If this were the only effect the Void Nights had on us, it would already be terrible enough, but it seems the divines do not pity us this day, which brings S'renjar to his next discovery.
The rumors you have heard surrounding our sacred Moon Sugar are true. Harvests since the Void Nights have become diluted in their sweetness – and it is not just because the new overseer at the Torval planation is bad at her job, but that may also be a factor to some extent. Moon Sugar harvested before the crisis retains its special sweet flavor we so depend on, but any harvested afterwards reportedly tastes 'dull', along with a handful of profanities.
Moon priests have reported a lack of visions as of late from this change in Moon Sugar, but – although they did not tell him this directly – they also appear to make more sense, so that may be one beneficial side effect. Conversely, newborn Khajiit treated with improper sugar have become even more unbearably annoying during their first week of life, and it is safe to say the same may be said for Senche and especially Senche-raht who reach their second growing stage. Last – and perhaps most concerning – Skooma and Sugar addicts are not happy, and it is a possibility their withdrawals may make the craziest among them try something irrational if a substitute is not found soon.
Many have tried to convince S'renjar to not release the information regarding our Moon Sugar crisis publicly – some for personal gain, others in an attempt to stall the inevitable panics and riots this information will cause - but this one feels it too important to hide behind political barriers, and even greed has its limits. To those who have threatened to kill him if he revealed this, S'renjar only has this to say to you: Good luck finding him. To those who have bribed him with gold and other pleasantries, S'renjar says this: You are fools, but thank you for the coin nonetheless, it will surely make hiding from the others easier.
Next we come to the political implications of the Void Nights. Many of you, or at least the ones who actually pay attention to your Clan Mothers during weekly sermons, know of the rotational system Elsweyr's leadership is based upon. It is formally known as one of the aspects of the Ja-Kha'jay. In normal times, power over Elsweyr would change paws depending on the phases of the moons – be that the King of Senchal and the Khajiit lords in the south, or the tribal Chieftains of the north.
Each major city of Elsweyr also took this concept and made it their own on a smaller scale, defining terms for ownership of resources or territory within the city, or – in the case of Senchal's role-model unemployment statistics – when and which Khajiit work and when they get payed. It looked nice on paper and in truth, it did work out pretty well when no one had any reason to believe the Moons would suddenly disappear, but now, many of Elsweyr's cities are going through a lot of problems of a bureaucratic and domestic nature.
Dar'ji, one of Senchal's many working class citizens, is enjoying his extended paid vacation - a lesson for other employers across Elsweyr to not write in paper that you will pay your employee's vacation until either Masser or Secunda next shine full, during the eclipse – the last moment the moons were seen - in a failed attempt to rip them off with the eclipse counting as his only vacation time. Investigations are underway to see if dockworker Dar'ji is somehow responsible for the Void Nights.
To prevent civil war between northern and southern Elsweyr, Mane Rid-Rawl'vah has declared complete and unrivaled power over all resources and stately affairs until a more permanent agreement can be made between all reigning powers throughout Elsweyr regarding the Void Nights. Many are not happy with this decision, believing the Mane should remain a spiritual advisor and non-partisan to the ruling governments of Elsweyr, but it seems to be keeping claws from clashing so far. After having seen what happened in Corinthe mentioned in the last edition, perhaps that is for the best. The city's two tribal heirs once more declined an interview from S'renjar to discuss what caused the unexpected and sudden reunion that saved the city.
The Mane has also requested that all Khajiit once more shave their manes – this time out of respect to the missing moons. As with any regional shaving, nothing bad will happen to those who refuse, but you will probably be given dirty looks by the more patriotic of our people on the streets, and given bad deals by merchants. Even Mane Rid-Rawl'vah has opted to shave his own mane this time. S'renjar feels that defeats the point of being the Mane, but ah well.
Many have their theories for what might have caused the Void Nights to occur, all of them ranging from crazy to non-sensical, and as such not suitable for a professional article such as this. Do not fear, the Mane himself has dedicated all available resources into looking in the truth of the matter, and if an answer can be found, he will find it. Progress on research may be slow while Elsweyr settles into the fact that the Moons are gone, and what that brings with it. S'renjar has heard outside organizations such as the College of Whispers are also looking into why the Moons have disappeared, but as we all know, if you want to learn about the moons you ask Khajiit, not smooth-skin mages in Cyrodiil who think Azurah is spelled without the letter H.
"Hey, well we know the twins father is okay! I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that!" Khinashi says gleefully, noting the author of the article.
"So only Suthay are born, Moon Sugar loses its flavor and Elsweyr is in a political crisis and at threat of civil war while Ra-Zara'chi seizes all power over the land. I guess it...could have been worse?" J'shabi says, after taking in all of the information Khinashi read to her on their way back to camp.
"Not by much." Khinashi responds. She was not surprised by the news, she had been suspecting this would be the case, but it hardly made accepting it any easier.
"Well, think on the bright side, Khinashi. Khajiit might've not been able to be born at all, Moon Sugar could have stopped growing completely, and it could have caused a full-blown civil war."
"Without our forms, how will Elsweyr stand together? We have to work together to survive – we always have." this one retorts.
Khinashi was lost in thought as she looked to their camp in the distance. She could see them already as little specs, with Ma'ketra and Ma'krin being more like dots. Elsweyr has grown dependent on each other to survive for thousands of years, and unity has made us strong. Without each other, we are weak. Others will see us as weak, and we will be swept aside like so many other lost races, if the sugar and political crisis does not make us drive ourselves to extinction first. Ayleid, Falmer, Kothringi, Lilmothiit...Khajiit. Why would Ra-Zara'chi want this?
"The other races do just fine, and they don't have Senche-raht or Alfiq or Dagi. They all look the same...for the most part." J'shabi says.
"It is different for them, J'shabi...Khajiit are different, that is what makes us Khajiit."
"The Void Nights may not last forever. It could still just be a natural event, they could return."
Khinashi laughed at this. She was not sure if J'shabi was trying to cheer her up, or if she truly believed that.
"You cannot truly think it is natural still. It is too coincidental. They have been gone for a month, and right when Ra-Zara'chi kills his brother to become the Mane? That would not make sense."
"It makes more sense to me than someone just...making the moons disappear. How could any one person do that? How could any number of people do that, for that matter?"
Khinashi remained silent for several seconds before responding.
"This one does not know...but she is determined to find out."
J'shabi looked at Khinashi as if she were the one spouting nonsense this time.
"Oh, and I suspect you just think a book out there will tell you? Maybe we could check a local library, they might have a spare copy of 'How to Make Masser and Secunda Vanish from Thin Air'". J'shabi said in a joking tone.
Khinashi would normally find J'shabi's teasing humorous, but not this time.
"You are mocking this one." Khinashi said. Her ears involuntarily flattened to dismiss any notion that found it funny.
"You can't really be serious, Khinashi. Not about this, if this were anything else, I would go along with whatever mad scheme you could come up with, but this?"
"We are free to go anywhere, J'shabi. Anywhere but Elsweyr, there must be someone, somewhere that is trying to find out what happened to the Moons. If we found them, maybe we could help them, and maybe learn how to reverse it, maybe...How to bring the moons back."
"If there were anyone trying to do that, I doubt we would be of any help. We're just kids. Sure we may have gotten lucky and survived Corinthe, and helped Portneu, but we're still kids. They probably wouldn't even want our help."
"Maybe, but we could still try." Khinashi said, as firmly as she could to indicate how serious she was about it.
J'shabi kept opening and closing her mouth, trying to find words to retort, but eventually gave up.
"Alright, fine, I guess if I can't talk you out of how silly it sounds, then tell me this: Where would we even start to try and learn what happened to the Moons? We can't go to Elsweyr, don't even try to convince me on that."
Khinashi saw J'shabi's question as a challenge. She sought to convince Khinashi to give up by showing her the reality of the difficulty of the situation, but Khinashi was not going to go down easily.
In truth, she had no idea where to start. The first natural thought was a Clan Mother, or a Moon priest, but they only live in Elsweyr...Khinashi looked down, not wanting to face J'shabi's 'I told you so' look, even though she would never say those words.
Her eyes caught a glimpse of the newspaper again, and she was reminded of the final lines. She re-read them, and smiled knowingly to J'shabi.
"The College of Whispers. The Newspaper said they were researching the Void Nights, and plus, it is close by, or this one thinks...inbetween Kvatch and the Imperial City, east of here. We can check on your map when we get back. There are many mages there who could help us. This one's father once studied there himself, even."
"I remember that. The newspaper said they were wasting their time, or something like that, though...What makes you think some Imperial mages will know anything about what happened to the Moons?"
"It could have some basis in magic, in-fact that is quite likely, really – and the College of Whispers was one of the two magical institutions involved in sending Umbriel back to Oblivion about 60 years ago. Do you know of that?"
"Remind me."
"Umbriel was a large floating city that devoured the souls of those beneath it, in which its occupants would then take host inside the corpses and lead them as an undead army, ever-growing, all across Tamriel. Parts of Black Marsh, Morrowind, and Cyrodiil were destroyed in its wake as it made its way to the Imperial City – where the College of Whispers and the Synod sent the entire city back to Oblivion!"
"Masser and Secunda are a lot bigger than any city."
"Yes, but it could have similarities with what happened to the Moons, and if it does, then there is a good chance the College of Whispers could learn more about it."
"I still don't think it's such a good idea asking a group of mages for help...When Mages are involved with anything, nothing ever seems to work out the way it should."
"But this one is a mage, too, J'shabi..."
"And nearly every one of your spells backfire in some way!" she says.
This one frowns and droops her ears.
J'shabi looks down. "Sorry. Anyway, it might help if you told the others about your plan. I don't think they would appreciate you making any decisions for them without asking them first. No matter how much you think we might be able to make some sort of difference, it all comes down to what we all think we should do."
"Then this one will."
Jahirr shakes his head from the news, but does not seem all too surprised either.
Smallpaws and Ma'ketra look at each other, signing words back and forth. Ma'krin looks happy to hear about his father, but otherwise gives no response.
"So it really is happening..." Jizad says under his breath.
Khinashi looks surprised, and Jizad looks as if he instantly regretted voicing his words aloud. She was about to question him, but then J'shabi tugged her shoulder.
"You're forgetting something Khinashi. Wasn't there more you wanted to tell them?" J'shabi reminded her.
All save Ma'krin looked up toward Khinashi, as if expecting some sort of surprising revelation.
"Ah, yes...Well, this one has been thinking...These Void Nights. Since we have the opportunity given to us, it would make sense if we looked into what caused them."
Khinashi paused for a moment. She felt more hesitant explaining it after J'shabi's initial reaction, but became more confident when no one spoke against the idea this time so soon. Jizad was not the type to do that, nor were Smallpaws and Ma'ketra. Jahirr and Ma'krin were, to varying levels, but Jahirr seemed patient enough to hear her out, and Ma'krin simply was not paying attention.
Khinashi and J'shabi have talked about it on the way back here, and we think-"
"We?" J'shabi questioned.
"Well, Khinashi...thinks, that the Cyrodiil Mage's College of Whispers may hold the answer to our crisis."
Smallpaws's eyes instantly widened at the mention of the college, but whether out of interest or fear, Khinashi could not tell. It appeared both.
Jahirr on the other hand, firmly shook his head.
"You think these Mages may know what really happened to the Moons?" Jizad evenly questioned.
"This one does not know...Maybe? The newspaper said they were researching it. Khinashi thinks we could help them come to a conclusion. It is better than staying here, or wandering around with no real goal other than to survive. We should make the best of our freedom of travel."
Smallpaws meowed to grab Khinashi's attention, and was apparently trying to sign something to her, but she could not translate it.
"Jizad is unsure. This one does not trust mages...No offence to you, Khinashi. They only seem to make things more difficult and complicated, and often more dangerous. It may not be wise to go to them."
Jahirr nodded in agreement, which Khinashi thought was strange, given that her Father was a mage, and Jahirr was his best friend. But then...Jahirr would have been with her Father while he studied at the College of Whispers. Perhaps he is against the idea from what he had experienced in person, but her Father never told her anything bad about it.
"Sorry, Khinashi, but I still have to agree with Jizad and Jahirr. Maybe if you had an idea of some other place we could try..." J'shabi says.
"But they are our best lead! They could find out what happened if we just help them!" Khinashi protested. This was not how she wanted it to go.
"It could also get us killed, Khinashi." Jizad responded.
"Killed? You act like we would be asking them to shoot fireballs at us and see if we survive! We would simply be asking them questions, and helping their research. Why would we need to be in any danger?"
"There is always a danger where magic is involved." Jizad continues to talk evenly, despite Khinashi's raising tone.
Smallpaws performed the deformed sound he makes when trying to use illusion spells to talk, and failing to do so. Khinashi was not sure if that was to grab her attention once more, or if he wanted to say something.
"If you want to tell Khinashi something, then just write it out. We have supplies for that in our backpacks."
Smallpaws fervently shook his head at the thought. Khinashi still never quite understood what he had against writing.
"Let's take a vote then, if more than half of us want to go then we will, but if not, we won't. Simple as that, okay?" J'shabi says.
Khinashi nodded reluctantly, it was obvious how this would turn out now.
"Stand by Khinashi if you think we should go to the College of Whispers – so we can try to learn what happened to cause the Void Nights, or at least be pointed in the right direction." Khinashi said.
"And stand by me if you think going there would be too dangerous. We all know what happened whenever we tried to walk in a city with all of us together. Why would mages be any more willing to hear us out?" J'shabi said.
It did not take many moments for most to make their decision. Jizad and Jahirr walked next to J'shabi. Ma'ketra and Smallpaws remained still, but eventually Ma'ketra joined J'shabi's side as well. Ma'krin was still eating, of course. He did not care for the vote.
Which meant everyone else except Khinashi and Smallpaws were against going there, and Smallpaws was undecided.
Khinashi just felt like crying. She felt naïve for thinking her friends would be as eager, or at least willing, to search for the truth behind the Void Nights. She felt stupid for thinkng she could make any difference about it. J'shabi was right, we are just kids...Little kittens too far from home, who will accomplish nothing...
She felt irrationally angry, then, that Smallpaws still had not joined J'shabi's side, as if were not already clear no one wanted to go, J'shabi had not yet closed the vote.
Khinashi just wished he would join J'shabi so they could go back to doing nothing.
Khinashi just wished she could understand his sign language, and know what he was trying to tell her earlier...
"Why do you hesitate, Snorepaws? What is it about this College that both intrigues you and makes you fearful?" Ma'ketra signed to me, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"I told you already, I don't really want to talk about it."
"You seemed as if you wanted to tell the walkers earlier, but they would not listen."
"I wasn't sure I wanted to then, but it doesn't matter now, anyway, it wouldn't change anything."
"Still, perhaps it would do your mind well to share it. Bad memories are worse if you keep them to yourself, and this one does not like seeing you so vulnerable. It is unlike the you Ma'ketra has come to know."
"They aren't bad memories though, at least, what I can remember of them."
"Oh, so it is a story, then? You still owe Ma'ketra a favor from earlier, so do yourself one and share what it is that bothers you about these Mages. For this one's sake to see you well, if not for your own."
"Fair enough... Well, it's not about the mages themselves. It's just the place, the College of Whispers."
"You have been there before?"
"No. Not me, someone I knew, back when I lived in High Rock."
"You do not know them anymore?"
Smallpaws considered how to answer that question, and decided it was easiest to answer it indirectly.
"He was a Breton kid, but he would be an adult by human standards now. We grew up together and he helped me learn how to read and write, and how to use magic. He himself had a special...untapped potential with magic that very few are born with, which well surpassed even the Altmer's inborn ability. The College of Whispers took an interest in him, said they'd help him learn how to control it better. Then months later I got a letter...not actually addressed to me, but it said there was an accident at the College, and that he didn't survive it."
"Ah...Ma'ketra is sorry. You were close, no?"
"He was like a brother to me, and my friend, but in a way he was my father too. He...well, uh, he's kind of the one who gave me my name..."
Smallpaws sat there silently. He felt awkward for saying that, he hadn't told anyone it before. He hadn't intended to tell anyone, because he knew they would guess the rest. He knew that people would feel sorry for him if they knew he had been mistaken for a housecat at birth and given to someone as their pet for a birthday present. They wouldn't understand that if he could go back, he wouldn't have changed anything, or, not much anyway. He just hoped Ma'ketra would understand enough not to question it.
The walkers were still busy talking, arguing or debating. Smallpaws did not bother to listen.
"So you fear the college that killed him?" Ma'ketra signed at last.
"It's hard to say. I've always wanted to find out what actually happened to him. The letter never went into detail, because it wasn't addressed to people who would have been able to understand it. I considered going there myself, but when I saw it in the distance, I turned away. They wouldn't be able to understand an Alfiq, they would think I was a housecat, like everyone else. I travelled some more and ended up in Torval, and I kind of forgot about it since then. Until now."
"Perhaps the walkers here would help you learn what happened. You would at least get the chance to find out for yourself. If you still think it is something you should learn."
"It doesn't matter, since it doesn't look like we'll be going there anyway. Maybe that's just as well. Maybe I shouldn't know."
Ma'ketra looked sad for a few moments, but soon changed to a look of determination.
"Well, this one thinks you are wrong. If you turn away, you will regret this, and it will cloud your mind and keep you unhappy. Ma'ketra thinks you should know, and she will make sure you get the chance to find out."
Ma'ketra walked away from J'shabi's side, past Smallpaws, and returned to the camp.
"Ma'ketra? What are you doing?" J'shabi asked.
"You are changing your mind?" Followed Khinashi with a hopeful tone.
Ma'ketra did not turn to respond to them. She walked up to Ma'krin, who was busy licking clean a cooked leg of deer, and grabbed another with her mouth that he had not yet gotten to. Ma'krin's attention was immediately taken away from his own, and gave Ma'ketra a death stare.
Ma'ketra turned and ran away, over to where Khinashi was standing, when Ma'krin ran over to follow, she dropped the leg and held it tight beneath her feet.
"If you want this back, brother, then stand here and proclaim your will to going to this College of Whispers if the walkers ask you."
Ma'krin growled, taking it as a challenge. He never liked using signs much. He reached for the leg, but Ma'ketra held it back.
"Try to steal it and this one will put it where you cannot reach it. You would be a fool to think you could outrun her, you never have."
Ma'krin must have realized the logic in what she signed, because he immediately did as she asked and stood on the side of Khinashi for the vote.
"You want to go to the College too after all, Ma'krin?" Khinashi asked, she was more than a little surprised – and confused, as to what was happening.
Ma'krin begrudgingly nodded.
"What about you, Smallpaws? With Ma'krin voting, we are tied, so you must be our tiebreaker. Do we go or stay?" Khinashi asks.
Smallpaws looked at Ma'ketra and gave the single sign of thanks before joining her. Khinashi must have noticed, and for a moment he wondered if she understood that much of the language.
"Whatever, so it's settled, then. For better or worse, we go to the College of Whispers. I guess we should get packing." J'shabi announced. Everyone else departed from their votes and returned to camp with varying levels of enthusiasm.
Jahirr growled and stepped forward to look at both Ma'ketra and Smallpaws as they made their way back.
"You made a mistake rigging their vote, Ma'ketra. We should not go there, there is a danger the walkers are unaware of."
"If there is danger, Jahirr, then why do you not write it out to Khinashi, the only one of them who do not seem to realize this?" Ma'ketra responds.
"This one has lived among her and her father long enough to know she would only see that as all the more reason to try and stop the danger. She does not realize that not all problems can be solved. Jahirr only hopes that things will have changed since this one was last there."
"You've been to the College of Whispers before?" Smallpaws asked.
"Yes, with Jo'azha, long ago. This one would have preferred to never return. Perhaps we will be unfortunate enough for you to find out why, little one."