Author's note - It's not necessary, but to get background information on the characters and what happened before this story you may want to read Liberation in the Morrowind section.
Chapter 1 – Arrival
Lando sat watching the Morrowind countryside, bathed in moonlight, slowly roll past as the horse-drawn carriage trundled down the road towards the Morrowind/Cyrodiil border. Ahead of them were the Valus mountains, which marked the border, behind them was barren countryside all the way back to Mournhold, where they had set off from many days ago. Alaina lay asleep next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Delphine Jend, the Breton destructionist, who lived in Bravil but had been in Vvardenfell at the time and had hitched a ride with them, lay sleeping on the floor of the carriage. Lando couldn't sleep – he had too much on his mind. He had mysteriously appeared in Vvardenfell, with no memory of the previous week of his life, then spent the next few weeks of his life battling terrorists, corrupt guards and assassins, and then had found out he had been enchanted with a spell which could have literally made him explode. He had also lost his dear friend Ah-Mazia, and his comrade-in-arms Swordsman. But now he was on his way home, back to Cyrodiil, to his homeland of Chorrol, and normality, with the woman he loved.
Morrowind/Cyrodiil border, the next morning
Lando had finally managed a few hours' sleep, and woke up when the carriage suddenly drew to a halt at the border. He clambered out of the carriage and walked over to a small trough of water by the guardhouse, washing his face and running his wet hands through his straggly brown hair. He took in his surroundings – they were in a large valley between two enormous mountains. This was one of two passes through the Valus mountains, the other being a far more treacherous route out of the Argonian town of Gideon and across Blackwood towards Lewayiin.
Blocking the road through the valley was a guardhouse where several Imperial guards stood, and a large gate forged from steel blocked the road.
Lando walked towards the guardhouse, and Alaina and Delphine joined him. A guard approached them.
"You" the guard said, looking at Lando. "Who are you and where are you from?"
"Captain Lando Armitage of the Imperial Legion, comrade" Lando replied. "I'm based in Chorrol"
"An Imperial, then, Captain" the guard said with a hint of dubiousness about his voice. "Very well, you may proceed. And yourself, ma'am?" he said as he turned to Alaina.
"Alaina Winterstar. I'm Imperial by blood but I have been living in Morrowind. I seek passage to return to my homeland"
The guard nodded. "I know the Winterstar family. You have a few distant relatives living in Anvil, I believe. You may proceed"
The guard turned to Delphine. An instant look of untrusting came over him.
"A Breton? What is your business in Cyrodiil?"
"Oh, for the love of the Nine, I live here!" Delphine snapped. "I have been in Morrowind on business" She reached into her small bag and produced a wad of papers – her passport and the land deed to her house in Bravil, and her certificate of membership of the Cyrodiilic Guild of Mages.
"Everything seems to be in order" the guard said. "I apologise for taking your time"
Two other guards swung the heavy gate open as Lando, Alaina and Delphine mounted the carriage as it rolled into Cyrodiil.
"It's funny" Lando said. "I don't remember security being that tight at the border"
"It definitely wasn't like that when I left" Delphine replied.
Chorrol town gates, later that day
The horse-drawn carriage came to a halt at the gates. Lando noticed that an unusually high amount of guards were on patrol inside the city. Lando and Alaina stepped down from the carriage and collectively paid the horseman the 350 gold the journey had cost them. Delphine Jend had parted company with them when they had reached Cheydinhal, making her own way back to Bravil.
"Right, to the Oak and Crosier" Lando said to Alaina. "I'll show you what a true pint of ale tastes like"
"That's a nice sword you have there, Lando!" a voice shouted. Lando swivelled round and saw a guard running out of the guardhouse towards him. Lando instinctively drew his sword, but as the guard got closer he recognised him.
"Roman Andrias!" Lando exclaimed. "It's good to see you, old friend!"
Roman shook Lando's hand, then admired the glass longsword in his hand. "I don't know where you've been, but I want to go there if that's the kind of souvenir you get! Where have you been anyway?"
"Don't ask…" Lando said. "How are my family?"
"They're very well, although they have been somewhat worried about you. Your sister has been staying with your parents since you disappeared"
"I'd better go and pay them a visit then. What time do you get off duty tonight?"
"Around 6 o'clock, all being well"
"Then be in the Oak at five minutes past!" Lando said, slapping Roman on the shoulder.
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Lando and Alaina walked hand-in-hand through Chorrol.
"I feel a bit unsafe here, Lando. All the guards seem to be staring at us" Alaina said quietly. She was right – Lando hadn't been given as many dirty looks from guards since he had walked through the Telvanni parts of Vvardenfell.
"Something's changed here" Lando said as they walked past the town trader. Lando noticed the sign, which read 'Andreas Verbucia – Proprietor'
"Make that two things that have changed" Lando said. "The atmosphere in this town and the owner of Northern Goods And Trade. Seed-Neeus must have sold the store"
The door to the small house gradually swung open. An elderly man answered it.
"Lando… Thank the Nine! I thought I might never see you again"
Lando stepped forwards and embraced the man. "It's good to see you, Father. May I introduce Alaina Winterstar?"
The man turned to Alaina. "Lucius Armitage. Very nice to meet you. Are you and my son an item, then?"
Alaina nodded.
"Well, come in!" Lucius said. "We were just about to eat. And it's a good thing you're back, Lando. I'm afraid you may soon have to decide where your loyalties lie"
Inside the Armitage household, five people sat around the dining table: Lucius, Lando, Alaina, Lando's mother, Tertia, and his sister, Maria.
"Did you notice anything strange about the people of Chorrol, Lando?" Lucius said, pouring each person a glass of wine. Lando shook his head. "You didn't notice that every single resident of Chorrol is of Imperial blood?"
Lando paused as he thought. "You're right… How strange…"
"Things have changed while you were gone, Lando" Lucius said. "Lando, do you know of a man called Audens Avidius?"
"Yes. He's a Captain in the Imperial City, is he not?"
"Not exactly. He's now known as Emperor Audens Avidius"
"We have a new Emperor at last? Surely this is good news!"
"I wouldn't go that far. The man is evil. He is driving a stake through this land"
"How do you mean?"
"Almost everyone not of Imperial blood has been ordered to either leave Cyrodiil or die. A few figures of authority were allowed to remain – mostly major figures in the Mages' Guild. Modryn Oreyn, second-in-command of the Fighters' Guild, and even Chancellor Ocato, were ordered to return to their homelands because they posed a threat to authority"
"You are not serious?"
"Sadly, I am. Cyrodiil used to be the finest land in Tamriel, now it is a hotbed of corruption and oppression. The guards now have the right to kill for almost any crime – and they treat not being Imperial as a crime"
"Is no-one doing anything about this?"
"There's talk of a revolt. Already Arch-Mage Hannibal Traven and Vilena Donton have spoken of revoking the Guilds' alliance to the Empire, and the folk of Skyrim have promised to aid the revolution. Now, Lando, I know that your heart belongs to the good of the Empire, but so do ours, and that is why if this revolt occurs we shall be joining it. What say you?"
"I hate making quick decisions like this" Lando said. "But I shall stand by my family to restore the good of the Empire"
"I knew you would, son"
The room fell silent, and Alaina took Lando to one side.
"I thought you said it would be safer here?" she snapped.
"Sorry about that" he replied. "The drinks are on me tonight. By the way, you may want to spend some time in the archery range behind the Fighters' Guild hall. I think your crossbow may suddenly become very useful"
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"Summerset Isle or High Rock?" Lando asked, lying in bed. Alaina looked at him inquisitively.
"I'm thinking about where else we can go"
"If only the old team were back together" Alaina sighed as she climbed into bed next to Lando. "I don't suppose we'll find a Dunmer Battlemage and an Argonian marksman round here now, will we?"
"Wait" Lando said, holding up a hand to motion Alaina to stop talking. "Do you hear that?"
Alaina listened. She could hear heavy rain outside, but there was something else. Voices in the distance.
"No! I will not leave!" It was the voice of a High Elf man.
"These are our orders, Elf. Either leave this town now or die!" The second voice sounded like it belonged to a guard.
"Never! I have the right to live here! Who shall replace me as head of the Guild?"
"Contumeliorus Florius"
"The Imperial! I might have known!"
Lando got up out of the bed and began putting on his Mithril mail-shirt.
"Where are you going?" Alaina asked.
"To investigate" Lando replied. "I'm a Captain in this town, remember?"
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Lando ran through Chorrol, the rain beating against his face, to the source of the voices. They were coming from a small house near the Grey Mare Inn. Three guards were stood around the door, and in the doorway, the High Elf was stood, brandishing a sword. Lando recognised him – it was Angalmo, former alchemist and now owner of the Chorrol Mages' Guild.
"What's going on here?" Lando shouted. The three guards turned around.
"Captain Armitage! You have returned!" one of the guards said. He let his sword fall to the ground.
"You return in dark times" the guard said. "We must carry out these orders, or face certain death"
"Who do these orders come from?" Lando asked.
"Straight from Emperor Avidius" the guard replied.
"He is intent on destroying our guild!" Angalmo spat. "The only reason Arch-Mage Traven himself is being allowed to live is because he is an Imperial!"
"You have your Captain back now" Lando said to the guards. "And this Captain will not simply stand and watch his hometown be torn apart at the seams. Return to your quarters at once, and do not threaten Angalmo again"
Suddenly Lando felt a tap on his shoulder. Clutching the handle of his sword in its sheath, he turned round. It was Roman Andrias.
"I thought I might find you here!" Roman said. "Bittneld Curse-Bringer has just been found dead outside the city gates!"
"Dead?" Lando said in shock. Bittneld Curse-Bringer was the Commander of the Guard in Chorrol – the only person in the town's guard who outranked him.
"Yes, we were on patrol and found him lying on the road with five arrows in his back. Lando, this means you are the Commander of the Guard now!"
"You're right…" Lando said. "And while I am Commander things shall not be as they are now. Roman, tell every guard in the town to be outside the Oak and Crosier at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning"
Chorrol town centre, the next morning
Alaina sat on the edge of the raised deck which the Oak and Crosier was built upon. She looked at Lando, standing at the top of the steps leading up to the door of the inn, ready to speak to the town guard. Lando had changed – when she had first met him, he was lost, confused and vulnerable. But now, standing back in his homeland in his glittering Mithril armour and glass sword, he was Captain Lando Armitage, warrior and leader. Whatever happened in the coming days, she felt safe with Lando.
Eventually, every guard in Chorrol arrived at the meeting point. Fighters' Guild members had been left to police the town and watch the gate while the briefing was in place.
"Soldiers of the Empire" Lando began. "Dark times are upon us. I returned to my homeland to find that Emperor Avidius was ruling the nation with an iron fist. Many have been driven out of their homes, and those who are left live blanketed in fear and oppression. And I will not stand for this!"
A few of the guards cheered in agreement.
"As long as I am in charge, any orders from the Emperor will come to me before anyone even thinks about carrying them out. And mark my words, for the most part these orders will be ignored"
"You're mad" a guard muttered.
"If wanting the glory of Cyrodiil restored makes me mad, then I suppose I am" Lando retorted. "You would rather live under the iron grip of Emperor Avidius?"
"At least with Emperor Avidius there is order. The Empire was verging on anarchy with Chancellor Ocato in charge!"
"And you would rather live under a dictatorship than have your freedom? Tell me, soldier, what dangers have there been to Cyrodiil since the Oblivion crisis? The only one I can think of is people being killed in cold blood and driven from their homes, and that did not happen with Ocato in charge!"
"You've lost your mind, Armitage" the guard spat. "You think you can take on Avidius?"
Lando nodded.
"You're a fool, Armitage"
"Guards, listen to me. As long as I'm in charge of the guard in Chorrol, we shall not associate ourselves with what has become of the Empire. We shall become independent"
"This is nonsense!" the rebellious guard shouted. "I am returning to the Imperial City. Yes, you heard me right, I'm deserting you! And don't think Emperor Avidius won't be hearing of this!"
Lando paused.
"Everyone who wishes to stand up against the oppression, stay with me. Everyone who supports Emperor Avidius, leave this city now. You are relieved from duty"
Several guards walked towards the town gate. Lando noticed in their ranks several soldiers who had never trusted his command, or whom he had had disputes with in the past. Those that remained did so because they were loyal to Lando.
"If you don't mind me saying" one of the remaining guards said. "This is a terrible risk, Sire. I am worried about the threat of invasion from the Imperial Legion"
"Yes, there is a threat of invasion. But you must believe that we can defend this city"
"But we are too few in number, Captain!" Roman shouted from in the crowd.
"Maybe, but you forget we have the Guilds of the town, and any commonfolk who can brandish a weapon. We must also call for aid from Hammerfell and Skyrim"
Whilst Lando was talking, Count Laythe Wavrick had joined the crowd. When Lando finished, he spoke up.
"Forgive my lateness, Captain, I had to sign the official document that states you are now Commander of the Chorrol Guard"
"I've said enough, Count. You must have something you wish to say"
The Count nodded and stepped up next to Lando.
"We have pressing times ahead of us. But Chorrol will prevail and help to restore the good of the Empire. I believe that achieving independence here in Chorrol is the first of many steps. We must build towards an invasion of the Imperial City to overthrow Emperor Avidius. It honours me to know that I will now have the full support of my town throughout whatever may lie ahead"
Lando sat down. A strange pain had suddenly come over him, causing him to become short of breath. Alaina looked at him.
"Are you alright?" she asked him. As she spoke the pain began to subside. Lando nodded.
"I'm fine"