Chapter III:
Hammerfell
10th of Evening Star, Third Era 389
It had been over a week since Johlin's departure from central Skyrim. Now, the convoy he was riding with had just passed through the western mountains into Hammerfell. The convoy had stopped to rest in the mountains, and had set up camp for the night. As the campfire burned, Johlin stared at the light. "So, traveller...you've been quiet this whole journey" said the Nord merchant. "I have nothing to say..." The Nord merely grunted, and looked over at his two sleeping companions: an Argonian and a Dark Elf. "It's been a long journey through Skyrim. Are you ready to enter Hammerfell?" "Of course." "Why are you so quiet, if I may ask, friend?"
Johlin stared into the fire again, the light of the fire glittering in his eyes as he recollected his memories. "I know betrayal. I lost someone I loved, and have been stripped of my honor." The Nord realized that he had pried too much. "I'm sorry. I had a family. Wife and a daughter. Both were taken by disease. This necklace is all I have left of my daughter" he showed the small necklace hanging on his chest. "I'm sorry to hear that." The merchant looked at him. "My name is Benkon Torbensson" he said, offering his hand. Johlin shook it. "Lorenian Aborulus" he replied, faking his name. "Well, we'd best head off to sleep." "Agreed" Johlin responded before sleeping behind a rock.
As the merchants and Johlin slept through the night, their horses began to get uneasy. They started whinnying and prancing around in place. Suddenly, three bandits grabbed the merchants and held them hostage. "Give us everything you have!" one of the bandits, a Khajiit, demanded. "Okay, okay!" Benkon shouted, scared for his life. The Khajiit yanked the necklace hanging around Benkon's neck. "No! That's all I have left of my daughter!" "Kill them" the bandit ordered. Everything after this happened in what seemed like a flash of light to Benkon. A dark figure swooped past the bandits, and next thing he knew, they fell to the ground dead.
Before them stood Johlin, who held a bloody dagger in his hand. The merchants were shocked. They thought he was just a wanderer. "Wh-who are you, really?" Benkon asked. Johlin looked at them with a sense of pride. "My name is Johlin Cineus...I was the former chief of the Imperial Guard." "You? The supposed traitor?" "I told you I had been betrayed..." "And now I believe you. Thank you for saving our lives." "We should leave these mountains and continue to Hammerfell. It's not safe here..."
14th of Evening Star
By now, word of Johlin's escape had spread across all of Tamriel. He was a man at large now. The Imperial Guard was spread all across the continent in search of their former commander. He and the merchant convoy had arrived in Hammerfell. As Johlin rode on one of the horses, he stopped at the top of a sand dune overlooking the Redguard city of Rihad. "This is where we part ways, my friend" he said to Benkon. The two shook hands. "Thank you, Johlin...you are no traitor in my eyes."
Johlin spurred his horse and began to ride towards the walled city. He was dressed in a torn cowl to hide his identity and shade him from the sun. Hammerfell was infamous for its blazing heat and scorching hot deserts. "Welcome, traveller" said the gatekeeper as Johlin entered the city on horseback. Walking through the sandy streets of Rihad, Johlin noticed an Imperial soldier harrassing a merchant. "You are not allowed to sell food here!" shouted the guard as he nodded at the other soldiers. "But I paid!" "Not enough!" the guard shouted back as the others began to vandalise the store. "No! Please, don't!" the merchant pleaded.
Johlin's blood boiled. He wanted to do something, but could not blow his cover. He saw a "Wanted" sign on one of the walls with Johlin's face on it. He continued his ride down the streets of the city. In his mind, Johlin was pondering on how he would find information on Fang Lair. He was lost on a train of reverie as he decided what to do. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. "The queen of Rihad might know something of its location" he thought to himself. Looking to his left, Johlin spotted a Redguard merchant waving at him to come over to his stand. "Hello, traveller! Looking for some goods?" he asked kindly.
"Sure" Johlin replied. "So what brings you to Rihad?" the merchant asked as Johlin picked out some food. "I heard of nearby Dwemer ruins. I'm a scholar for the Mages Guild, and am recording the history of the Dwemer..." "Ah. Well, you're correct; there are ruins nearby. No one but the queen knows of its exact location though." "Do you know how I might get an audience with her?" "Queen Blubamka has an open-door policy at Rihad's palace. All are allowed to have an audience with her. You might want to speak with her about your ruins."
After handing the Redguard some coins for the food, Johlin said, "thank you" before heading to Rihad's palace. Continuing his ride through the streets, Johlin noticed that everything seemed...wrong. Redguard citizens took one glance at him and looked the other way. Children stared at him with frightened eyes. Did they know who he was? They couldn't. His hooded figure shielded him from identification. Then he realized why everyone was so afraid of him: he was an Imperial. There weren't many other Imperials in the city besides the soldiers who harassed its citizens. They feared him because he was an Imperial, and were afraid he was just like the soldiers.
Approaching the palace gates, a guard stopped him. "What business do you have with the queen, traveller?" "I wish to see her on business for the Mages Guild." Looking him over, the guard nodded. "Very well. You may enter." Johlin spurred his horse and rode to the stone palace. Hitching it outside, he entered through the massive doors. Johlin was greeted by a plethora of senses. The smells of warm food coming from the kitchen. The sounds of music from the great hall. The bright red velvet carpet that led to the throne room ahead of him. It was enchanting.
Johlin walked past several guards standing at attention and noticed that Queen Blubamka was already speaking with some Imperial soldiers clad in knight's armor. The leader of the soldiers was shouting at the queen. He was dressed in Imperial battle armor and had a cape on his paldron that identified him as a high ranking officer of the Guard. "This is your only warning: your city will submit to Imperial rule, or it will burn to the ground!" "My stance on your issue remains: we are loyal to the Empire. My citizens are simply expressing their disdain for your methods of ruling us" she replied. "Your citizens will fall in line or they, and yourself, will perish!" "I don't take kindly to threats, Colonel Maarius." "Then you best heed them, for your sake and those of your people. Good day." The Imperial soldiers turned around and stormed out of the building.
Johlin gave them a nasty look, then turned his attention back to the queen. "Yes? What is it?" she asked irately. "Your Highness, my name is-" "I know who you are, Johlin Cineus. All of Tamriel does." Johlin had a look of shock on his face, which the queen noticed. "Do not worry, I have no reason to arrest you. I know you are no traitor." Johlin put down his hood, revealing his messy and long brown hair. "So why are you here then, Commander Cineus?" "I wish to enter the Dwemer ruins of Fang Lair. Word has it that you know it's location. I must go there; the fate of Tamriel hangs in the balance."
"I believe you. But my knowledge of Fang Lair is only a half-truth." The queen stood up from her throne and gracefully walked over to Johlin. She turned to a window overlooking the desert and thought back on the events prior to Johlin's arrival. "I only that Fang Lair is somewhere nearby. It's exact location has been lost to history." "Then how will I find it?" "The Elder Scrolls..." "You...have a Scroll?" "I have one that has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. It holds the location to Fang Lair...and more." "Then why don't you read it?"
The queen gave him a strange look, as if he had just asked a very stupid question. "One does not simply read an Elder Scroll...that could cause permanent blindness or worse. You need to decipher them." Johlin could see where this was going. "I had a piece of parchment that could decipher the location from the Elder Scrolls. The only problem is that bastard goblin, Golthag the Dark, recently attacked the palace and stole it. He and his goblins reside in a place called Stonekeep a few miles north of here." "Then I will retrieve it for you." "Make haste, Johlin Cineus. Return when you have the parchment and I shall give you the information you seek."