17 Sun's Height 582

Where do I even begin?

I was approached by a stranger with an offer. I should have known better... But I was in a corner. I had little time to hesitate. The Rosesongs are kind people, but I would have been discovered soon enough. And it would have brought my mother's wrath on them, and they hardly deserve that fate. So I gambled, believing if there was trouble I could see myself out of it.

How foolish I was.

I went to the meeting place that morning - barely got a look at the face of this benefactor before I was I was taken by surprise. I saw they had a gag on their mouth and their hands were tied - and then nothing.

My awareness returned later, as I was being dragged down steps, bound in chains - where I was precisely, I could not say (though it did seem to resemble where I ended up). I was forced upon a sacrificial altar. I remember the knife coming down, and then... The pain of a blade to my heart, the drift of my life leaving me, then nothing.

Then I awoke in Coldharbour. Yes, that Coldharbour - the facet of Molag Bal's domain. I recall a few scant accounts of this place in my family's vast archives, though nothing that could truly prepare me for well - being sacrificed and awaking there in a cell.

Now, that all sounds wild enough - but it got only stranger from there.

I awoke in a cell in what I now know to be Coldharbour, a facet of Molag Bal's realm in Oblivion. I was released from this cell by another prisoner - a Nordic woman named Lyris Titanborn. She is an impressive woman - was? At any rate, the next part of this sounds like something out of a novel, and had I not been the one to experience it, would hardly believe it to have happened. We fought our way out of the prison, easily enough - Lyris is quite capable with an axe and I still had my spells - and into Coldharbour proper. I won't bore with too many details, but Lyris was intent on rescuing a man known as 'The Prophet', as he was apparently (and now I know it to be so) the best chance of leaving that place.

So that is precisely what we did - again, I'm not over-eager to go over the details. There is something about dying, waking up, and coming back that has just unseated me; and I am still trying to process it all. We enlisted the aid of a strange man named Cadwell - and I want to make special note of this, for he appears to be someone who lives, and even more importantly - survives in Coldharbour; which, after all I've heard of the God of Schemes and his affairs - I find to be quite impressive. A pity we did not bring him along, or even could have, for he is someone I would most like to get to know.

At any rate, he helped Lyris and I navigate our way though to the Prophet, whom we freed via putting Lyris in his place in the prison. There was little other option, and she was willing to do it, but it still bothers me to have left behind someone who without her aid I most assuredly would still be trapped in that accursed place.

And what a place - it felt like Nirn, but not in a comforting manner, and it was bereft of life. Those who were trapped were hollow shells of people, driven to madness. And it was so very cold.

I have always hated the cold.

The Prophet and I both escaped - but where he ended up, I can't say ("In a city near the sea, in a land of eternal spring. The air smells of the ocean, and of markets, and gardens." Could be Auridon, perhaps? We shall see.). I awoke in an unfamiliar place - a little island called Khenathri's Roost. It is a little island off the coast of Elswyer, and last I heard the Dominion was planning to attempt some sort of negotiation. A lovely place, dotted with moon sugar farms and boasting some of the loveliest beaches I have seen - at least, what I have had the pleasure of looking at thus far. As for the Prophet, I am uncertain where he ended up - he is not sure either. At least he was not when he spoke to me in a vision.

I would say that is such an odd sentence to write, but given everything I've accounted so far... Its not the strangest thing.

At any rate, he seems to think it best I go on with my business for now - and I am inclined to agree. In a weird way, this has all worked out in my favor - Khenarthi's Roost is the last place my mother would think to send agents to look for me - a perfect place to lay low a while whilst she attempts to search for me. Presuming she even does, of course.

I shall see if I can be of any use around here. Endear myself to the people here, make some sort of connections - I am sure I will need them in the coming months? Years, potentiality. And if its anything I know how to do, it is

Auri-el preserve me, I sound like my mother.