Chapter VII:
Fighting Back
5th of Morning Star, Third Era 390
For fourteen days, Johlin and his new companion, Fa'rad, had traveled across the mountains and deserts of Hammerfell. It was a new year in the Third Era: 390. Johlin was determined to take the fight back to the Imperials after the atrocities committed at Rihad. "How much farther?" Johlin asked Fa'rad. "Just a few more miles." They were traveling through the Alik'r Desert, in the northern region of Hammerfell. During their two-week trip, Johlin had told Fa'rad everything, from Tharn taking over the Empire to Johlin's imprisonment, to retrieving the first piece of the Staff. "We've arrived" Fa'rad said as their two horses stopped at the top of a sand dune overlooking a large port city.
"Sentinel: capital city of Hammerfell." "You say your friends are here?" "Yes. The Alik'r Warriors' main base of operations is here." "Good. Let's go then. Hya!" They rode down to the city gates and into Sentinel. The sandy streets of Sentinel reminded Johlin of Rihad; they were alive with activity. Beggars on the corner, merchants selling goods, people walking to where they needed to go. "This way" Fa'rad said as he turned his horse right. Johlin followed him to a large building near the city square.
Fa'rad dismounted, approached the building's door, and knocked twice. "Who is it?" a man who cracked the door asked. "Fa'rad." "Who's your friend?" "Someone who can help us take the fight to the Empire." The doorman grinned before fully opening the wooden door. "Enter." Fa'rad led Johlin down the building's hallways until they were in a large meeting chamber. Inside, several Redguards who appeared to be senior members of the Alik'r Warriors sat and waited for them. "Fa'rad. What is the news from Rihad?" the man at the end of the table asked. Fa'rad lowered his head. "Burned to the ground." "What? What of our warning?" "It was too late. The Imperial garrison destroyed everything and killed the city's queen."
"Damn them. My sister was in Rihad" one of the Redguards muttered. Their leader noticed Johlin standing in the corner. "And who might this be?" he asked curiously. "My name is Commander Johlin Cineus. I was the head of the Imperial Guard before..." "Before the Empire turned against its citizens?" one of the Redguards interrupted. "Fa'rad, why have you brought this Imperial here? The one branded a traitor?" another shouted, standing up from his seat. "He's told me much about the Empire, Manis." The one Fa'rad had called Manis sat down again and asked, "what has he told you that the rest of us do not know?"
"How about that the Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn has deceived us all? And that he has replaced the Emperor as ruler in his guise? And worst of all, the Daedra are somehow involved in all of this!" The Redguards had looks of shock on their faces. "Is this true, Johlin Cineus?" their leader asked. Johlin nodded. "I had my doubts about the Emperor's true identity. But Daedra?" "Aye, 'tis true. I encountered them myself in the dungeons of Fang Lair." "Fang Lair? What is in those Dwarven ruins besides old constructs?" "That is where things get interesting..." Johlin explained his plan to the Redguard warriors, everything about retrieving the eight pieces across Tamriel.
After ten minutes of talking to them, things grew silent as Johlin waited for a response. Finally, their leader stood up from his chair at the end of the table. "Johlin Cineus, I welcome you to the Alik'r Warriors. My name is Falidyn." He extended his hand out, which Johlin happily shook. "We will do everything we can to help you on your quest." "Good. Because I'm looking for some payback against the Imperial Army for what they did in Rihad." Falidyn grinned, and looked over at one of his comrades. "We have that covered."
15th of Morning Star
After a week and a half of planning, Johlin and the Alik'r Warriors were ready. They had planned out an attack on the Imperial garrison located at Fort Sandmoon, several miles east of Sentinel. It was controlling the trade moving through the northern regions of Hammerfell, and if dealt with, would send a message to the Imperial Army. "Do we have all the supplies we need?" Falidyn asked Johlin. "Yes." "Good. Let me review the plan one last time" he said as his lieutenants gathered around the map table. "Fort Sandmoon is located right in front of this small canyon leading to the back entrance to the fort. Our main assault will hit the front gates, which will no doubt be heavily guarded by Imperial soldiers. In the meantime, Johlin and Fa'rad will lead a small force through the canyon and hit them in the rear. You'll infiltrate the fort and open the main gates so that the rest of us can storm in. Any questions?"
"Won't this be at bloodbath for the main assault?" warrior lieutenant Razlden asked. "Indeed. That is why the strike force needs to act fast. We'll hold out as long as we can." Johlin didn't like the sound of that, but he knew if he acted quick enough, it wouldn't lessen the body count. "Gather your men. Tonight, we ride for Fort Sandmoon" Falidyn ordered the lieutenants. As the warriors mounted their horses, Johlin hurried over to Falidyn's horse just as he started to mount. "Falidyn: whatever happens, if we take any prisoners...spare most of the men. The officers are the ones responsible for their crimes." Falidyn could tell that Johlin was being serious, and gave a considerate nod in response. "Hya!" he shouted to his horse as he and his lieutenants rode off into the desert out of Sentinel.
"Are you ready for what's to come, my friend?" Fa'rad asked as Johlin mounted his horse. "Yes. Colonel Maarius and his officers must pay for what they did." Fa'rad chuckled. "Spoken like a true Alik'r Warrior." And with that, Johlin and Fa'rad rode their horses out of the city to meet up with the bastion of Redguard warriors. As Johlin rode, he felt his heart sink. There were only eighty of them against an entire garrison of 200. And knowing the training Imperial soldiers received, there were going to be lots of casualties on both sides.
That Night
As the Redguards set up camp in the desert, Johlin sat with Fa'rad at their campfire. Johlin looked at his necklace around his neck that Ria Silmane had given him when they had first started seeing each other. He wondered why she hadn't contacted him yet. He wondered if she had gone off into Aetherius, leaving Johlin alone in his quest. But of all the feelings he felt, the biggest one he felt was regret. He missed her company. He still loved her. And he would never get the chance to say it to her. "Johlin, is everything alright?" Fa'rad asked with concern.
Johlin came back to reality. "Huh? Oh, nothing." "You seem distraught." Looking down at the necklace in his palm, he asked, "who gave it to you?" "A woman I used to be in love with." "Used?" "She's...gone now...I'd rather not talk about it." "Johlin, brother...I am your friend. saved you from certain death. You can tell me what troubles you." "Her name was Ria Silmane. She was Jagar Tharn's apprentice in the Imperial City." As Johlin recalled her, thoughts of long lost love flooded his mind. "She was special...but I stopped seeing her. I believed in duty back then, and my duty as a knight was more important to me than her. I guess you don't miss something until it's gone." "What happened to her?" "She witnessed Tharn's treachery...and he killed her...right there." "I'm sorry, Johlin." "I should have been there. I knew something wasn't right about that meeting. I-I-I could have saved her or-or..."
"What's done is done. All you can do now is look forward." Johlin sighed and nodded. "You're right. I just...I just never had the chance to say goodbye." "She would want you to move on." "I know..." "You'd better get some sleep." "Yeah" Johlin rested his head on the makeshift mat and drifted off to sleep. As Johlin slept, he felt the familiar sense of falling through blue skies until landing in a strange realm. "Hello?" Johlin recognized this place. "Ria?" "Hello again, Johlin." Turning around and spotting her, he almost shed a tear at the sight of his former love. "I thought you had left me and gone to the afterlife in Aetherius..." "Not until your work is done. We cannot allow Jagar Tharn to win, and I must guide you through what is to come." She looked at his bag containing the first piece.
"It seems that you are well chosen, Johlin. I see that you have won the first piece of the Staff. That in and of itself is not a simple task. I have discovered the second piece's location. There was once a great maze built by the Archmagus Shalidor to guard what he called Glamorill, the Elven term for 'the secret of life'. I know not the location of the great maze which was called the Labyrinthian, but somewhere in its twisted corridors lies the second piece of the Staff of Chaos. Shalidor, according to the old texts, made his home in the Fortress of Ice. He would not have built the Labyrinthian far from his home. I would search to the north, in Skyrim, for such a place. I wish you well on your journey..." Johlin watched as she began to disappear again, and the realm around him started to collapse. "And Johlin?" His heart leaped as he looked back up at her disappearing form. "I loved you as well."
The Next Morning
After waking early in the morning, the Alik'r Warriors set out towards Fort Sandmoon. Now, the warriors were nearing the fort, and could see it from where they were. The time was now to attack. Falidyn drew his scimitar out and raised it in the air. "We are the Alik'r Warriors! We defend this province and its people from those who would seek to exploit them! We will not let the Imperials exploit us any longer! For Hammerfell!" he shouted. Everyone raised their scimitars and yelled "For Hammerfell!" in response. Johlin did the same. To look like he was a member of the warriors, he was dressed in Redguard robes and had a headscarf over his hair. "For victory or death!" Falidyn shouted before storming off into the open sandy field in front of the fort. His warriors joined him in the charge. Their massive cavalry charge caused the sand to pick up into the air and create a massive dust cloud.
"Colonel! Look!" shouted one of the Legionaries as they spotted the gargantuan dust cloud and the horses in front of it. Colonel Maarius had a look of shock on his face. "Archers! Into positions!" The Imperial archers took up positions along the wall and readied their bows. At the same time, Johlin and Fa'rad led a team of twenty men through the back canyon. As the main assault drove toward the front gates, a hail of arrows flew their way. Clusters of them came down over the Redguards, killing many in the first wave. "Keep going!" Falidyn shouted to the others. In the canyon, Johlin's group was nearing the back entrance. "We're almost there!" Fa'rad shouted on his horse.
Johlin drew his scimitar out as they came closer to the entrance. Suddenly a bastion of Imperial soldiers armed with shields and spears came out and formed a barricade with their shields. "Damn!" Johlin muttered as he realized this was a deadly formation. "I will deal with them!" Fa'rad shouted before leaping off his horse and running towards the soldiers. Johlin watched in amazement as Fa'rad jumped over their shields and attacked from behind, slicing down several soldiers at once with his scimitar. Johlin dismounted along with the other warriors, and the fight began.
One of the Imperials rushed Johlin with his sword raised. He blocked the attack and countered with a thrust to the abdomen. Blood splattered over the Imperial's armor as Johlin moved onto the next target. He swung the heavy scimitar at another soldier, skewing him. The other Alik'r warriors were having just as good luck, and soon the entire formation was wiped out. The remaining soldiers retreated back behind the fort's walls. "Advance!" Johlin yelled to his comrades as they stormed through the back gates. Johlin cut through another group of Imperials as he made his way to the main gate. As he sliced through a soldier, he heard someone yell, "Commander Johlin Cineus!" Turning around, he found himself staring into the imposing eyes of Colonel Maarius, who was coming down the steps of his tent to meet with him. Maarius drew his steel greatsword from his back and readied himself for battle.
Fa'rad hurried to Johlin's aid. "No! Help Falidyn and the others by getting the main gates open! I'll deal with this scum." "You never should have come here, Cineus" the colonel taunted. Johlin took off his headwraps and drew out his sword. "You going to taunt me all day or fight me?" Maarius replied with an evil grin before raising his greatsword in a strong attack. Johlin rolled to the side and dodged his swing, then thrusted his sword at Maarius' side. The colonel grunted in pain as a small patch of blood gushed from the stab wound in his armor.
The two danced in the sand as they fought circling around each other and swinging blades. Maarius was more powerful, but Johlin was faster and dodging his attacks. The bald man shouted in rage as he performed another heavy swing. Johlin blocked and countered with a blow to the colonel's chestplate. Meanwhile, Fa'rad cut down two officers and rushed to the front gate to open it. Outside, the bloodied Redguards stormed through the now-open gates with vigor. "Now we bring the fight to them!" Falidyn shouted to his fellow warriors after jumping off his horse.
As the battle raged around them, Johlin and Maarius were completely focused on one another, determined to best the other. Johlin was gaining the upper edge as he leaped around Maarius and thrusted his sword through the colonel's back plating. "Argh! Come here you bastard!" The enraged Maarius spun around and heaved his sword at Johlin. He blocked, but it knocked him down to the sand. On the ground, Johlin crawled back a few inches as Maarius swung his sword in a heavy attack once more. The former knight dodged his sword, rolling to the side as the sword hit the sand. Picking himself back up, he swung his scimitar through the colonel's abdomen. Maarius counterattacked and swung a blow to Johlin's chest. Blood oozed out of the cut in Johlin's chest, which seared with pain through his body.
Ignoring the pain and blood, Johlin kept fighting the battered, bloody brute with all his strength. He performed an upper swing and landed his scimitar right on Maarius' left shoulder. Furious and ready to finish the battle, Maarius grabbed Johlin by the neck with superhuman strength and held him in the air. Johlin was stunned at the sudden attack, and gasped for air as the colonel held his neck in his tight grip. What shocked him even more was when a surge of red energy coursed around Maarius, revealing him to be a Dremora. Horns protruded from his bald, now pale-skinned head. His red eyes seering with rage, Maarius chuckled as he prepared to snap Johlin's neck.
Nearing death, Johlin had to act fast if he were to best the Dremora warrior. He noticed on the side plating of his new, black Daedric armor was a small dagger. It was a Daedric dagger, and was powerful enough to kill this monster. Using all his remaining strength, Johlin grabbed the dagger with his free hand and thrusted it through the Dremora's chest. "Agh!" Maarius' imposter cried out as he let go of Johlin's neck. Hitting the ground with a thud, Johlin looked up at the bleeding demon. "Tell your masters I'm coming for them" he shouted before plunging the dagger into the demon's neck. The death of the Dremora posing as Maarius shook the morale of the other Imperial troops. The battle was practically over when the other officers morphed into their Daedric forms in a last-ditch effort to fight off the Redguards.
"What in Oblivion?" Falidyn was shocked as he watched a Dremora warrior that had just been an Imperial officer charge him. He blocked the demon's attack and stabbed him the chestplate. Soon all the Daedra were dead by the Redguards' hands, and the surviving Imperial soldiers dropped their swords and surrendered. "Victory is ours this day!" Fa'rad shouted as the other Redguards raised their swords in victory and cheered. Panting and sweating, Johlin sat down for a rest. The battle was finally over, and Hammerfell was safe from the Daedra and Tharn.
"We did it, Johlin. Hammerfell is saved." Fa'rad said as he sat down next to his friend. "For now." "You mean...there are more of those demons from Oblivion?" "Yes, and I'm going to have to face them. Something is not right here. There is someone far worse than Tharn involved in his plots." "You're welcome to stay here and rest if you would like." "I can only stay for about a week. Then I'm off to Skyrim for the next piece of the Staff." "Rest here until your wound is healed, then we'll escort you to the border." "Thanks, Fa'rad." As the warrior stood up to celebrate with his friends, Johlin sat there and thought about what was to come. Whatever was going on with Tharn didn't just concern him anymore...all of Tamriel and Nirn was involved now.