Morndas, 15^th Midyear, 4E 202

My Psijic robes had turned blue. Two days earlier, they were black. It has been over a month since they were their proper baby-shit yellow.

The Primary Timeline has not been stable since the second Artaeum appeared briefly months earlier. Mind you, Silah claims many of my actions threaten worse Dragon Breaks than that one.

I dismissed the anomaly and headed for my favourite seat, red wine, cheese, and dusty tomes on obscure subjects.

Before I sat down, Shije, once known as Jo’ahra, appeared out of the ether. I find it challenging to understand Alfiq with their naturally high voices. Shije is worse, as he sounds like he is breaking glass when talking. So, to avoid difficulties, we have decided to use telepathy instead of vocalising.

“Good morning, Shije. It has been some time since we last spoke.”

“Has it? You know that linear time has little relevance to me.”

“You have stopped your timeline and dimension hopping to visit, so there must be something important to discuss.”

“I can assure you I am not visiting for your eloquent banter or in the vain hope you have something interesting to say.”

“If you hit any crystal, even diamonds, in the correct spot, they can shatter. It would be fun finding that spot on you.”

“In ten minutes, I will create a small hole in the protective cover of Akashima. This breach will allow Nexendia to teleport here, gather you, Vayu, and Celestine, and bring you to the palace.”

“Dragonborn, Grandmaster Mitsumori requests your attendance and that of Divine Knights Vayu and Celestine. Monk Nexendia will arrive in ten minutes to teleport you to Akashima.”

“That is what I said.”

“I know you have a chip on your shoulder, which should be a worry being crystalline, but we do not look down on you because you are small. We shall observe protocol even if you wish to be barbaric.”

“You have undoubtedly scanned my soul, which is a breach of privacy beyond words, so know this is not my only form. I hate violence but can commit it with aplomb when needed. Do not mistake pacifism for cowardice.”

“I have not scanned your soul. However, knowing the plane of Frost Atronachs to be a place of conflict, I have always assumed you have other forms of defence other than vanishing.”

“I apologise, Dragonborn. We have put tremendous effort into protecting the surviving Dragonguard and civilians. I dislike this brief but necessary risk.”

Shije vanished.

I think Shije’s other form is that of a Frost Lord. They make everyday Atronachs look tiny.

The Psijic Order came to the aid of the surviving Dragonguard and moved them to Akashima. It was a small island of Akavir, but who knows where they moved it to? Like Artaeum, it will never be found by those who seek it. Most of those who travelled with me from Akavir lost family and friends when the Dragonguard compound was attacked. Hopefully, Grandmaster Mitsumori has information on the attackers. Some survivors live in Aurane, but after their arrival three months ago, we have been out of contact with those in Akashima.

I summoned Celestine and Vayu, and we chatted about inconsequential things while waiting for our Psijic transport.

I also spoke to Rigmor, as Mara’s Rings would not work through Shije’s barriers.

Monk Nexendia appeared from the ether.

Knowing the risk of an open portal, she quickly transported us to the entrance of the Grandmaster’s throne room.

We entered, and Grandmaster Mitsumori was sitting on a bamboo mat. Seated to his right was the Master of Arms, Lord Yatahashi Mori. Vayu’s immediate superior, Lord Raikou, stood next to Lord Yatahashi. All Kamals are sinister-looking, but Raikou’s third eye makes him terrifying to many. He is strange but kind.

To Grandmaster Mitsumori’s left stood Master Mage Merria. She is a bipedal Tsaesci bestowed with extraordinary magical knowledge. Her apprentice, Atheris, now lives with us in Aurane. She is also bipedal Tsaesci but with far fewer scales, and she can be mistaken for a Dunmer at first glance.

Lord Kide-dhigra, the Dragonguard Master of Arms, was not present. He is Tang Ho and easy to like.

Also missing was Spymaster Lord Mogami Hirakuni.

I went to the front of the raised platform and knelt with my head bowed.

The conversation that followed was in Tsaesci. The exact text is in a supplement for those who question my translation.

Mitsumori laughed and said, “Do I have to remind you, Sir Valdr Septim, that we serve you? Your show of subservience is unnecessary, and you know you killed our desire for unnecessary protocol whilst amongst us!”

“As you have told me many times, Grandmaster.”

“Please sit so we can get this discussion underway.”

I joined Vayu and Celestine. Nexendia stood next to Merria.

• Mitsumori: There are things of urgency to discuss. But first, we must understand what has happened within The Empire. The last of your journals we received ended with your return to Skyrim from Evermore and trial preparation.
• Merria: Your time in Evermore made for grim reading, Valdr.
• Celestine: There was a constant sense of dread. Every citizen seemed to be waiting for a cataclysm.
• Raikou: Many Orsimer were not paralysed by fear. They were wise enough to leave.
• Wulf: That is true, but now we have a dilemma. The Orsimer have the right to their traditional home. We must ensure that those who do not wish to remain in New Orsinium can return to Evermore and Orsinium without prejudice. However, countering the decades of fear instilled in the Evermorin by their false religious leaders and corrupt nobility will take time.
• Merria: I assume the trials of the Evermore guilty are over?
• Wulf: Yes, and so are the executions. King Sigmayne and others were condemned quickly as the evidence was overwhelming. They had to wait a month for their appointment with the headsman as His Imperial Majesty deemed it appropriate that he attend.
• Merria: Apart from King Sigmayne, who else faced the axe?
• Wulf: The Arch-Bishop and eleven nobles of various ranks.
• Merria: What about those you caught with the children?
• Wulf: They had diplomatic immunity. However, that did not prevent their names from filling pages in the news sheets. King Sigmayne kept excellent ledgers, and although encoded, the cypher was quickly discovered by the Penitus Oculatus. Many nobles were told to contribute to a rebuilding fund or face the same fate as the other four. They know the Penitus Oculatus will keep a keen eye on them, so I doubt any will risk interfering with children ever again.
• Celestine: When Priests of Arkay gathered the deceased from the griffon’s nest, they counted over five hundred child skulls. Adults, most of whom we assume were parents of the children, numbered over two hundred.
• Merria: You have dealt with much evil, Valdr. I doubt anything had disturbed you as much as Evermore.
• Wulf: I will be fortunate if I never have to deal with similar in the future.
• Mitsumori: What of the Native Reachmen?
• Wulf: I recently rescued Madanach, the King of the Forlorn, from unjust imprisonment in Markarth. Jarl Igmund claims he knew nothing of Madanach’s incarceration. I doubt that is true, but he is indebted to The Silver-Blood family, whose legitimate and illegal businesses provide most of Markarth’s wealth.
• Vayu: Nearly every guard in Markarth was a minion of the Silver-Bloods.
• Wulf: They tried to murder somebody in Father’s temple and frame me for it. They were the first three corrupt guards to die. I healed the innocent man, but dozens of guards attacked when I exited the temple.
• Celestine: None of the corrupt guards survived Valdr’s culling. Dozens lay dead, and many citizens cheered.
• Merria: Madanach led the rebellion that captured Markarth.
• Wulf: Yes, and for thirty years, the Silver-Bloods used him as leverage with many Forlorn tribes. However, like the Native Reachmen in Evermore, Daedric Princes took advantage of the situation and seduced tribes from The Old Gods to their worship.
• Vayu: Despite his thirty years of imprisonment, Madanach still yearned for peace. He was satisfied with Valdr’s punishment of the Silver-Bloods.
• Raikou: Did you kill them, Valdr?
• Wulf: Is that my way, Lord Raikou?
• Merria: The citizens of Markarth would be adversely affected by the demise of the Silver-Bloods.
• Wulf: Correct. Nobody else has the intimate knowledge of their business ventures. Any management change would cause disruption and loss of jobs. So, with the assistance of The Penitus Oculatus, we dismantled their illegal enterprises and installed overseers to keep the remaining ones honest. More of their profit now fills Markarth’s coffers.
• Celestine: Reducing their wealth and influence was a fate worse than death for the Silver-Bloods.
• Wulf: Madanach has accompanied me to other Forsworn camps. They have been given a choice. Accept Madanach as their Jarl and Imperial Law or be wiped out. They could maintain their Daedric Worship, but Hagraven would be reduced to advisor roles.
• Raikou: How successful has that strategy been?
• Wulf: After the first two tribes to reject our offer were eliminated, all others have fallen in line. The Druadach Tribe now controls a substantial part of The Reach. According to Druadach, Imperial and Skyrim laws, any Forlorn that attacks innocents is outlawed.
• Mitsumori: Is High Queen Elisif agreeable to this?
• Wulf: I awaited Her Highness’ approval before proceeding with this plan. She listened to Madanach and me and agreed this was the best long-term hope for peace. Reducing Daedric influence was paramount, and once underutilised land now contributes to Skyrim’s wealth.
• Vayu: Valdr ensured that most attackers were Forlorn. We did not want accusations of Imperial bullying to sour the movement.
• Celestine: This inclusive methodology has been used to significant success across Skyrim.
• Wulf: A couple of Divine Knights accompany interested parties when eliminating enemies of The Empire.
• Vayu: Hold Guards, Imperial Troops, Penitus Oculatus and Vigilants of Stendarr were tasked with providing the numbers. If Legionnaires helped remove the enemy, their banner was raised, and they took responsibility for keeping control of the captured resource. The same was true for the other participant groups.
• Wulf: All forts are now garrisoned by allies, not enemies. Even the smaller caves have guards preventing their reuse by enemies.
• Celestine: For the first time in many years, Skyrim is almost devoid of entrenched bandits, necromancers, vampires and so on. They can hide in the forests and mountains but are exposed when travelling.
• Vayu: Farms can now be found further from Hold capitals. Increased patrols have helped generate confidence amongst travellers.
• Mitsumori: You often expressed this desire in your journals, Valdr.
• Wulf: It is something we could never achieve in Akavir. By sharing the responsibility, we have achieved relative peace in Skyrim while dealing with other crises. We hope to achieve the same in Evermore.
• Merria: What about the Minotaurs that joined the Forlorn?
• Wulf: They have all retreated to the tunnels under the mountains. As far as I know, Granite is the only Minotaur who has not gone into hiding.
• Celestine: Granite lives with us and is the sweetest person you could ever meet.
• Vayu: He was an apprentice Lore Master. He now finds meaning in cleaving enemies in two with his giant axe.
• Merria: Granite is a strange name for a Minotaur.
• Wulf: His real name is Pado Tor, which means Elderly Stone. He thought Granite was a good nickname.
• Raikou: The Forlorn problem is resolved, but what about the Witchmen?
• Wulf: Most of them are fanatics who still believe in a future under Lady Namira, King Laloriaran Dynar and the fake Adamantium Tower. Very few surrendered. The Imperial Army have herded the survivors into an area where they can sustain themselves but not harm others. We shall let time decide the next course of action.
• Mitsumori: What other crises were there?
• Wulf: Only one of them presented an imminent threat to innocents. I will outline them in order of occurrence. However, you must understand I cannot quickly summarise pages of text in my journals into an easily understood condensed version. You will have my latest journals when Shije visits again. He did not give me time to gather them from our archives.
• Mitsumori: We are all paranoid, Valdr. We still do not know how our last compound was discovered.
• Wulf: You know I have always disliked mercenaries. That was amplified when dealing with The Companions.
• Yatahashi: Their blind worship of Ysgramor does not help.
• Wulf: True. However, I am now their Harbinger.
• Mitsumori: What happened to Kodlak Whitemane?
• Wulf: He was killed by rabid Werewolf hunters called The Silver Hand. I think we have wiped them from existence. However, I have jumped ahead in the tale. Like other members of The Companions, Kodlak was a Werewolf. In prayer, he pleaded to Lord Arkay for assistance. He wanted his afterlife to be in Sovngarde, not Hircine’s Hunting Grounds. Via Silah, Lord Arkay asked me to aid Kodlak.
• Raikou: Did The Companions welcome Hircine’s Curse?
• Wulf: Decades ago, some Companions thought being a Werewolf would improve their chances in combat. They made a deal with a Glenmoril Witch coven that worshipped Hircine. The witches cursed them without a Werewolf being involved. Since then, recruits that the leaders think are worthy have been invited to join the Inner Circle. Part of the induction is Hircine’s curse, given the old-fashioned way.
• Mitsumori: Only unskilled warriors would find improvement in Werewolf form.
• Wulf: I approached the Glenmoril Witch coven in Skyrim and asked them to remove the curse. They became hostile, so I decided the more violent option was acceptable. That involved the heads of the witches and Wuuthrad.
• Merria: Didn’t Ysgramor use Wuuthrad to kill many Mer?
• Wulf: Yes, and for that reason, I had never pursued its whereabouts for my museum. As it was, I had to gather bits of it so it could be reforged.
• Celestine: While Valdr was dealing with the Glenmoril Witches, The Silver Hand attacked Jorrvaskr and killed Kodlak. That is when the Companions asked him to join The Circle.
• Vayu: Until then, no Companion realised Wulf was The Dragonborn. He told them to shove the curse and explained that Kodlak wanted to be cured.
• Wulf: We reforged Wuuthrad and took it, and the witch heads, to Ysgramor’s tomb. We performed a ceremony that removed the curse from Kodlak’s soul and allowed him to enter Sovngarde. We performed a similar ceremony for other members of The Circle. There is only one Companion who has decided to remain a Werewolf.
• Mitsumori: You disguised your identity when joining The Companions.
• Wulf: Yes. I had to do the same when joining Skyrim’s Thieves Guild. It prevents people from being too cautious around me or relying on me too much. I am used to accomplishing tasks without using The Voice, so that was no burden.
• Mitsumori: Can we put Lord Hircine on the unfriendly list of Daedric Princes?
• Wulf: No, I am his mortal champion.
• Mitsumori: Please tell us that tale before moving on to The Thieves Guild.
• Wulf: A Werewolf named Sinding killed a young girl when transformed and was sentenced to death. He told me he intended to move far from civilisation and wanted a chance to atone for his crime.
• Raikou: Lycanthropy is not called Hircine’s Curse because it benefits recipients.
• Wulf: Sinding had stolen a ring, a relic of Hircine’s, hoping it would help him control his transformations. It did the opposite, as Hircine had placed a curse upon it to randomise transformations, not stop them if worn by the unworthy. The transformation that resulted in the girl’s death was not due to the phases of the moons. That is why it took Sinding by surprise. Usually, he would not be amongst people who may get hurt. I thought Sinding deserved a chance, so I allowed him to escape.
• Raikou: Once free from the prison, Sinding would have become prey for The Hunt.
• Wulf: Sinding knew that, and I volunteered to help defeat the hunters.
• Raikou: You knew that defeating The Hunt would earn Sinding a reprieve.
• Wulf: Yes. Our victory against the odds impressed Lord Hircine, and he named me his champion and allowed Sinding to remove the ring. I told Sinding of a Werewolf pack that lives in a remote part of Solstheim. That is where he headed.
• Celestine: The local Priest of Arkay helped explain the situation to the girl’s parents. They understood Valdr’s reasoning and felt pity for Sinding.
• Wulf: Jarl Horik Strong-Hand asked me to investigate The Thieves Guild. He knew they did not murder people but was concerned about their relationship with Maven Black-Briar. So, like I did with The Companions, I joined in disguise. I then discovered the guild was having a hard time. It was as if their luck had turned sour. Lady Nocturnal had aided the guild until her relic, The Skeleton Key, was stolen by one of their members.
• Merria: Nocturnal’s Skeleton Key would have been a hazard in the wrong hands.
• Wulf: Indeed, for it could open any lock. In summary, I aided in the retrieval of The Skeleton Key and killed the thief. Lady Nocturnal renewed her aid and named me champion. She did ask me to swear allegiance to her. I revealed my identity at that point, which startled the other guild members. She accepted my rejection of her offer with grace.
• Raikou: She neither opposes The Nine nor has sinister plans for mortals or Mundus.
• Wulf: I was offered the position of Guild Master but refused. I suggested that honour be given to Karliah Indoril, granddaughter of Queen Barenziah and, via her father, a descendant of Saint Indoril Nerevar. She had kept those connections quiet and was startled when I confronted her with the knowledge. She could argue a right to The Ruby Throne but would be lucky to survive many Grey Writs as Morrowind’s Great Houses and other concerned parties kept The Morag Tong busy.
• Yatahashi: How did you discover Karliah’s connection to Queen Barenziah and Saint Nerevar?
• Wulf: Karliah is the only Dunmer I have seen with violet eyes. I was positive that was significant, and when I discussed it with Auryen Morellus, he also suspected a hidden past. Along with Urag Gro-Shub, they investigated her heritage. Those two combined are formidable, and it took several weeks, but they came up with a definitive family tree.
• Mitsumori: What advice did you give Jarl Horik Strong-Hand concerning The Thieves Guild?
• Wulf: If we removed The Thieves Guild, it would soon be replaced with something less restrained. Lord Mogami often stressed the value of such guilds as sources of information. The Jarl agreed but warned the thieves that everyday citizens, no matter how rich, were off limits. Plenty of wealthy Skooma dealers and others would be valid targets. If they rob somebody of an unsullied reputation, they had better be able to justify it or expect a raid as restitution.
• Mitsumori: Lord Mogami will approve. You know we have often used the underground to achieve our objectives.
• Wulf: Where is Lord Mogami?
• Mitsumori: He is on the mainland, fishing for information. Lord Kide-dhigra is helping prepare his homeland for the inevitable Kamal attack.
• Raikou: Many of my people are tired of the senseless deaths. No territory is gained, and Tang-Ho preparedness guarantees heavy casualties.
• Mitsumori: All reforms take time, Raikou.
• Nexendia: There is renewed hope for peace in Akavir.
• Mitsumori: That pertains to the matter we shall discuss later.
• Wulf: The last problem did threaten innocents, but not as the perpetrators intended. A Vigilant scholar from Kvatch visited Skyrim. His research led him to believe an artifact important to vampires was in an unexplored tomb. He could have approached The Adventurers Guild for assistance, but like many scholars, he was protective of his knowledge. Keeper Carcette asked me to investigate, for she feared for the scholar’s life and that of one of her scholars who joined him.
• Nexendia: Has Keeper Carcette been provided with sufficient replacements for those she lost?
• Wulf: Yes, she received all the replacements requested. Surprisingly, many additional Vigilants now occupy their new temple. Keeper Carcette has been given superiority over all Vigilants in Skyrim or visiting Skyrim.
• Celestine: I accompanied Valdr and Keeper Carcette to the ruins that the scholars were investigating. The oldest and most powerful Vampire Clan, The Volkihar Clan, had been told of the scholar’s research and ambushed them on arrival. We found the Skyrim scholar dead at the entrance. We came across the Kvatch scholar just in time to witness his murder.
• Wulf: They had been torturing the scholar for quite some time, but his faith prevented the revelation of his findings. They killed him in frustration.
• Celestine: We killed the Volkihar vampires and then uncovered the relic being sought.
• Wulf: The leader and founder of the Volkihar Clan was Lord Harkon. The relic was a tomb containing his daughter, Serana. She had been interred in stasis by her mother, Valerica, in 2E 268 to protect her from Lord Harkon. She was thirty years of age at the time of internment.
• Celestine: Valerica and Lord Harkon once ruled over a small kingdom on the border of Skyrim and High Rock. Like all smaller kingdoms of that province, their realm was endangered by the expanding larger kingdoms.
• Wulf: Like many nobles throughout history, the Harkons abandoned Aedric gods for the powers promised by a Daedric Prince. They became Vampire Lords and devotees of Lord Bal.
• Celestine: Their kingdom’s population revolted and drove the Harkons out of the province. They purchased a castle on an island just off Skyrim’s coast.
• Wulf: Their powers and financial resources were superior to most vampires. That is why Volkihar became the predominant vampire species in Skyrim instead of the Cyrodiilic type. Unlike Cyrodiilic vampires, Volkihar vampires are easily identifiable, so they are forced to exist in the shadows. Very few of them are Daywalkers.
• Celestine: The Harkons panicked when The Vestige ended Lord Bal’s Planemeld in 2E 252. They thought all vampires may become endangered and sought more power from Lord Bal.
• Wulf: On the 20^th of Evening Star, 2E 254, soon after Serana’s 16^th birthday, they offered her to Molag Bal.
• Raikou: Was Serana already a vampire?
• Wulf: No. And she was not told of what was planned.
• Mitsumori: I am ignorant of this lore. Please explain what occurred.
• Wulf: The 20^th of Evening Star is Lord Molag Bal’s Summoning Day. He opens a portal to a pocket plane of Coldharbour. There, maidens are raped by him. Only a few survive the rape, and those that do are regarded as Pure Blood vampires and the wives of Molag Bal. They are called Daughters of Coldharbour.
• Celestine: The status of virginity was, as usual, an unnecessary requirement, as is the gender and age. Lord Bal also raped Valerica. Mother and daughter became Daughters of Coldharbour.
• Wulf: Parents risk the lives of young women in a ceremony specifically designed to offend Lord Arkay, Lady Dibella and Lady Mara. The Harkons did this, hoping to gain more favour with Lord Bal and obtain Pure Blood advantages.
• Raikou: They are few, especially if the raped is already a Vampire Lord.
• Celestine: It was a betrayal of Serana’s trust. Still, she loved her parents and forgave them.
• Wulf: Lord Harkon was still paranoid and sought more power. Years later, he came upon a prophecy and became obsessed with its fulfilment.
• Celestine: The prophecy required two components. One was Lord Auri-El’s bow. The second component was arrows tainted by the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour. Lord Harkon believed that combination would allow him to extinguish sunlight and allow vampires to rule on Nirn.
• Merria: How stupid was Lord Harkon? Crops would die, animals would die, and mortals would die. What is his clan supposed to feed on?
• Wulf: He also assumed mortals would be useless in the dark, which is invalid. The Harrowings of Rada al-Saran were defeated by the sheer number of troops mortals could field. If Lord Harkon ever tried to implement his plan, he would guarantee the elimination of every vampire by sword or starvation.
• Mitsumori: Alas, your experiences in Akavir and Tamriel have shown that many plans that harm mortals have no hope of succeeding. People like Lord Harkon concentrate on their desired outcome with little concern for the probability.
• Wulf: Valerica realised the danger to vampires that Lord Harkon’s plans presented. However, he also seemed to think that all the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour would be needed. That is when Valerica decided both she and Serana were in danger. If Lord Harkon obtained Auri-El’s Bow, he would not hesitate to kill either.
• Celestine: That is why Valerica hid Serana away in 2E 268. A while later, Valerica became trapped in The Soul Cairn.
• Wulf: Clues to finding Auri-El’s Bow were hidden in three Elder Scrolls. One of the Elder Scrolls was interred with Serana. I had another one. We had to enter the Soul Cairn to retrieve the third and rescue Valerica.
• Nexendia: I have never heard of a prophecy being spread across three Elder Scrolls!
• Wulf: It was a false prophecy.
• Celestine: After discovering the location of Auri-El’s bow, we travelled to a hidden valley where two Snow Elves lived. One was Knight-Paladin Gelebor, and the other used to be Arch-Curate Vyrthur.
• Wulf: As far as I know, Arch-Curate Vyrthur is the last mortal to speak to Lord Auri-El or any other shard of AKA.
• Raikou: Lord Akatosh used his steward to speak to you.
• Wulf: Arch-Curate Vyrthur became infected with Sanguinare Vampiris. Instead of praying to a shrine and accepting its cure, he demanded that Auri-El cure him! He thought it was a betrayal that Auri-El allowed his Curate to get infected!
• Merria: He reached the level of Curate yet ignored that Aedra cannot visit the realm they created and that they have very little power here. All he had to do was pray at a shrine and touch it.
• Celestine: The Arch-Curate was another example of intelligence not equating to wisdom. He believed that special arrows launched towards the sun by Auri-El’s Bow would block out the sun. He wanted to do that not to improve the lot of vampires but as revenge against Auri-El.
• Wulf: Arch-Curate Vyrthur inserted the clues across the Elder Scrolls. He did so, hoping that somebody who came looking for Auri-El’s bow would be a Daughter of Coldharbour.
• Merria: Forgive me for my confusion. How can somebody with the power to interfere with Elder Scrolls be so stupid?
• Celestine: As I said, intelligence does not equate to wisdom.
• Wulf: Many people had found their way to the hidden valley to find Auri-El’s Bow and died. Arch-Curate Vyrthur boasted about his plan finally working just before I made him fall hundreds of feet to his death.
• Celestine: When we returned to Skyrim, we wiped out the Volkihar Clan, with Serana aiding us.
• Wulf: Valerica lives in the ruins of Volkihar Castle.
• Celestine: More Snow Elves have been discovered in stasis and revived. The temple to Auri-El is being rebuilt.
• Wulf: We now refer to the Dwemer enslaved Snow Elves as The Betrayed. The Valley is home to a tribe of Betrayed that have evolved. Some of them can speak! We have collapsed all entrances to the valley, and two dragons are helping guard it. We can defy Ysgramor’s genocide and the Dwemer betrayal of the Snow Elves.
• Celestine: His Imperial Majesty will declare Snow Elves and the other valley residents as citizens.
• Wulf: Anybody who finds their way there and harms Snow Elf or Betrayed will be charged appropriately.
• Mitsumori: I can tell that was a very abbreviated tale.
• Wulf: The task was complex and lengthy. Serana has since been cured of vampirism. She wants to aid us but is taking time away to get used to her mortality and learn what she can about the last few hundred years.
• Raikou: I would be interested in hearing the specifics of that cure.
• Vayu: Valdr has avoided the details. I will write it out for you and send it via Shije.
• Mitsumori: How are the young ones we left with you?
• Wulf: Kai-Lin is a mini version of her aunt. Shiva never planned to be a parent, but her niece has ensorceled her. Sonaan Paw desires to become a bard, so she and Olette have bonded over music. Her ears are those of her Ka’Po’Tun father, and she has unusual colouring, but she will probably pass for Khajiiti in a few years. Verrien is reserved, but the other children give him confidence.
• Celestine: Aurane is always busy, and they are never without company.
• Mitsumori: That is best, but this world is not as bright without a child’s laughter.
• Wulf: Perhaps it will be safe for them to join you soon.
• Raikou: Now, let us discuss what we know of the attackers.
• Mitsumori: There were three types. Their sergeants and officers were large bipedal Tsaesci. Some were excellent swordsmen but no match for our sword masters.
• Raikou: The most potent vampires were of many races and, we believe, were unfortunates who either voluntarily or accidentally arrived on Akavir. The most numerous attackers, and the ones that swamped our defences, were mainly Nord and Imperial. Some were weak vampires. However, it is their tactics and sword forms that are of concern.
• Mitsumori: We believe they are the soldiers of Uriel Septim V’s invasion.
• Raikou: Valdr, do you know of any other way the Tsaesci would obtain many Legionnaires?
• Wulf: I am not aware of any significant troop losses anywhere near Akavir.
• Celestine: 3E 290 was the year Uriel Septim V and his troops were massacred. You say that only a few of the ‘Remnants’ were vampires. That leaves the question of how the others have lived to be over 400 years of age if Nord or Imperial.
• Merria: Stasis. You just told us that Snow Elves have been revived from long-term stasis. So was Serana. There may have been plans to use the Empire’s troops against it, but they were put in stasis until needed.
• Mitsumori: Eliminating The Dragonguard may have been done to conceal that plan.
• Wulf: You would expect a percentage of Uriel’s troops to be infected with Sanguinare Vampiris. I do not question our sword masters’ expertise, so when they say the enemy fought like Legionnaires, that is a fact.
• Celestine: How did they find our compound?
• Mitsumori: We lost many people during the chaos. A traitor could easily have slipped away unnoticed and unchallenged.
• Raikou: A traitor is the only explanation. It was always our most significant danger.
• Merria: We assume our external guards were eliminated without a chance to warn us.
• Wulf: Did their officers and sergeants display insignia?
• Yatahashi: They wore red Reiko armour. It is expensive but not rare. No insignia was shown. Their katanas were of excellent quality, but none saw maker marks. Few orders were issued, and no accents were recognised.
• Mitsumori: We have no idea who they are. We are confident they were not associated with Emperor Temujin. He has not hunted us down before and would not waste troops when the Ka’Po’Tun war consumes so many.
• Yatahashi: They may be an Akavir version of The New Order. Emperor Temujin may not know of them or is waiting to see what success they have.
• Wulf: Does the Psijic Order have any ideas?
• Nexendia: No, Valdr. But our monitoring of Nirn’s politics has been somewhat erratic since the duplicate Artaeum scrambled this timeline.
• Celestine: Do you like the blue robes?
• Nexendia: It is the only colour I remember. I did notice when they turned black for a day last month.
• Wulf: The hiding of Uriel’s troops would be something hard to accomplish, and that was a long time ago, well, for us non-Mer types.
• Nexendia: But it seems they have done so. You know the conflicting reports of what happened after The Battle of Ionith. Only two Legionnaires survived Uriel’s attempt to retreat to Septimia. The fate of several legions was unknown, but it was assumed that they had been slaughtered. The Tsaesci used magics that confused the Imperial War Mages and prevented communication.
• Wulf: They could have used some Corbs.
• Nexendia: Speaking of which, I have more of them for you.
• Vayu: I also think the Tsaesci caused the storms that interfered with the Far East Fleet.
• Wulf: The Elder Council and other nobles refused to blame Uriel for the disaster. However, I think it was an idiotic idea that drained resources from The Empire instead of using them to secure the territory already held.
• Raikou: Very few historians would disagree, Valdr. Invading a province with so little information was idiotic. Emperor Titus Mede II has far better plans.
• Wulf: What? He would never invade Akavir!
• Raikou: I did not say he was going to. However, we all know that if peace ever breaks out between the Ka’Po’Tun and Tsaesci, Tamriel would be in danger. We believe His Imperial Majesty has manipulated the politics of the Tsaesci and that Emperor Temujin is his puppet.
• Wulf: A Tsaesci emperor sympathetic to Tamriel would remove one threat. I doubt there is anything that would prevent Emperor Tosh Raka from attempting his promised destruction of Tamriel.
• Mitsumori: There are several problems with Emperor Mede’s plan. Emperor Temujin is getting fat in his palace while the suppression of Man continues. We believe he was instructed to abolish Blood Farms and slavery. He has made no move to do either.
• Raikou: As has happened many times in history, immortals of questionable morality are taking advantage of the situation. We believe they are planning an uprising not for the sake of the enslaved but to spread their dogma.
• Wulf: Do you know for sure this is happening?
• Raikou: No, but you can investigate via Ethereal Travel.
• Vayu: What indications are there that immortals are getting involved?
• Raikou: A sense of wrongness, undimmed by distance, when I try to scry Tenno Island. Any stranger to the Emperor’s island is soon found and, if lucky, quickly eliminated. If unlucky, they are enslaved on a Blood Farm. Although treated well, few survive more than a decade due to the strain of repeated blood collection. They are cattle. We have lost many agents over the years.
• Merria: That is why we became reliant on scrying.
• Wulf: You said immortals but did not suggest a Daedric Prince. Do you suspect another form of god?
• Raikou: Although your education was extensive, many parts of Tsaesci history are unknown to you.
• Wulf: Unknown to me because none of my instructors know it.
• Merria: I warned you that Valdr would immediately realise that sad truth.
• Celestine: Is the history muddied by Dragon Breaks or deliberate obfuscation?
• Merria: Logic says it is deliberate obfuscation. If powerful immortals are involved, that would be part of their plan. If their plans failed once, ignorance would allow them to try again.
• Raikou: The actions of unknown gods fill the obscured history. Of that, we are sure.
• Wulf: I am hesitant to interfere with Emperor Mede’s plans.
• Mitsumori: Let your mind travel there. If you believe intervention is required, discuss the issue with Emperor Mede and decide a course of action.
• Wulf: Do you think there is a connection between those who attacked our compound and whatever is causing Lord Raikou’s unease?
• Mitsumori: We do not know. That is something you will have to determine in person.
• Vayu: The magic surrounding Tenno Island is both ancient and powerful. It is why Emperor Temujin feels secure there no matter how troublesome the Ka’Po’Tun are.
• Mitsumori: However, such isolation keeps him ignorant of what occurs on the mainland and other islands. His agents could be feeding him disinformation deliberately or through incompetence.
• Wulf: Therefore, a force not controlled by him could form elsewhere in Tsaesci territory.
• Mitsumori: Or, as implied earlier, it may be like The New Order and Dominion leadership. Emperor Temujin may know of the organisation’s existence but will let their plans play out.
• Merria: After all, he is in a cozy seat of power, and perhaps a destabilised Imperial Empire will let him keep it without fulfilling his agreement.
• Wulf: Powerful clans live on Tenno Island. They do not have to bypass the island’s defences. It is they that Emperor Temujin should worry about.
• Mitsumori: The Emperor has a shield around his capital. However, if we are dealing with gods, it may not provide as much security as he thinks.
• Wulf: Okay, what do we need to do?
• Raikou: Your willpower and natural skills in Ethereal Travel are the catalyst. You want to discover what is happening, which should be enough to place your Consciousness where needed. Vayu and I will help create and maintain an Empathetic Link between you, us, Celestine, Merria and Nexendia.
• Mitsumori: Yatahashi and I will await your report.
• Raikou: Come, Valdr, let us do some snooping.

Raikou, Vayu, and I sat on the floor. Celestine, Merria and Nexendia stood behind me.

The room fell silent as I concentrated. I initiated an Empathetic Link to Vayu. He created one with Raikou. Soon, all participants saw through my eyes.

I had one desire. I wanted to find out what was happening on Tenno Island. I concentrated on that desire, and it was not long before my Consciousness found a host. Or, as I soon realised, my host invited my Consciousness as a witness.

My host approached the back of Priest Zirato.

As he turned, Zirato said, “Superstition! I see nothing more than superstition. Do not say anything, for I know why you were sent here!”

Zirato approached my host. He is a Tsaesci vampire of a type that enslaves other species and harvests their blood. The type of Tsaesci that own and run Blood Farms.

I could listen to Zirato whilst letting my mind wander. I looked behind him and saw that the temple was dedicated to three gods. On the right was a Shrine of Hon, in the form of a Lion-Dog, also known as Sishi. In the centre was a Shrine of Tsa, in the form of a hooded snake. On the left was a Shrine of Surei, in the form of a praying Akaviri.

Zirato said, “The people of your village are sinful! For this, the gods have punished them. There is no other reason. Anything else suggested is the idle invention of fools.”

My host felt anger and betrayal. Priests are respected and trusted. Zirato must pay for his crimes!

Zirato sneered, “You have rushed to the temple seeking aid. Perhaps I can offer some advice. Reject useless superstitions!”

Zirato turned and walked toward the shrines. Flames engulfed all three.

He then said, “You saw what happened to the other monks. I drowned them in the sacred pond.”

My mind travelled to the temple’s courtyard.

Eight monks floated lifeless amongst the lily pads. Seven were Tsaesci. One was Akaviri.

My host was confused as well as angry. Tsaesci Monks are adept at unarmed combat. How could Zirato overpower all eight?

Zirato boasted, “They begged for mercy but received none. Where were your gods? Why didn’t they save them? Tell me! Why?”

My host knew the answer, as did Zirato. The gods of this temple cannot manifest on Nirn.

I telepathically told my host, “I will avenge their deaths.”

My host replied, “You are not of this time, but later is better than never.”

“Who are you?”

“It is best you uncover the truth and learn. I will not remain a mystery for long.”

I let my mind wander upwards. I wanted to know where this temple was.

The only other building I could see was a small hunter’s cabin.

I looked at the mountains. Perhaps one of the others may recognise them.

Zirato snarled, “No aid was forthcoming, for your gods do not exist!”

I looked through my host’s eyes once more. A magical barrier had pushed him back.

Together, we witnessed Zirato’s transformation.

Zirato’s barrier protected against the physical, not the ethereal. Therefore, I got closer than my host could manage.

My host informed me, “What stands before you is a Phantom of Longwang. If guilty of anything, my people allowed entropy to rule. Flee before he recognises your presence. His powers are many.”

Longwang demanded, “Fall on your knees! Submit to me! Submit to me!”

Powerful ensorcellment battered against my host’s mind who resisted through will alone, for he did not have my mind barriers.

It was time to leave. As advised, Longwang was not yet aware of my ethereal presence. I would be in grave danger if he discovered it.

The confrontation with Longwang occurred in the past. My Conscience travelled to now and a beach on Skyrim’s northern coast.

An Akaviri, ill-dressed for the weather, was lying, shivering. He had crawled out of the water far enough not to be threatened by the incoming tide.

Like Rigmor in her cell years before, the Akaviri sensed my presence and could hear me telepathically.

I asked, “Who are you? What happened? It is a long way from Akavir.”

“You recognise where I am from. Therefore, as I die, you give me hope my journey was not in vain.”

“Are you too weak to make a fire?”

“Yes. Please, listen. Find Foggy Vale in High Rock. Speak to Endyval. Tell him…sun…rises. Our day. Our day!”

The Akaviri died, and I returned to Akashima.

I told the group, “Give me a minute to clear my mind.”

The others made their way to the Grand Master and murmured amongst themselves.

They went silent when I sat. Instead of facing Mitsumori, I turned towards Raikou. He and Vayu have the best chance of deciphering what I was about to say.

• Wulf: You saw and heard the physical but did not hear my thoughts or the host’s. Is that correct?
• Raikou: Yes, Valdr, that is correct.
• Wulf: The priest’s name was Zirato. The entity that appeared was a Phantom, an avatar of Longwang. I do not know if it is associated with the old god of the sea.
• Vayu: There may be some coastal villages where Longwang is worshipped, but from the little I know, drowning priests and declaring other gods to be non-existent seems out of character.
• Celestine: Longwang means Dragon God. Is he another shard of AKA?
• Raikou: You will find our knowledge of Longwang is limited, Celestine.
• Celestine: I know for sure that Rigmor will find the name amusing.
• Wulf: My host thought entropy was the only sin his people could be accused of.
• Mitsumori: Entropy is a natural force. Energy must be expended to combat it.
• Wulf: Complacency is a catalyst for entropy. Perhaps that was the sin committed by my host’s people.
• Celestine: That sounds like speculation to me.
• Wulf: It is all speculation till I arrive on Tennon Island.
• Mitsumori: Did you commit to helping his people?
• Wulf: My host and the Akaviri on the beach are like Rigmor in her dark cell. They needed help and subconsciously called for it. I answered my host’s call hundreds of years after the events in the temple. It is logical to conclude that both calls for help are associated, for I was concentrating on discovering the issue on Tennon Island. I committed to the Akaviri that I would deliver a message. I committed to my host that I would seek revenge for his people.
• Vayu: What did the Akaviri need you to do?
• Wulf: He instructed me, ‘Find Foggy Vale in High Rock. Speak to Endyval. Tell him…sun…rises. Our day. Our day!’
• Raikou: Do you know the name of your host?
• Wulf: I asked, but he said I should learn it via investigation.
• Vayu: That sounds familiar.
• Wulf:  I do not know his species. I used what little time I had to investigate other matters, such as the temple’s location.
• Raikou: There are many temples on Tennon Island. Most will be dedicated to single gods. None of us have the geological knowledge to pinpoint that one.
• Celestine: I know where Foggy Vale is. It is east of Fahrun on the Icy Coast. It was in the High Rock newssheets years ago after it was destroyed and its residents slaughtered by Redguard Marauders. The incident caused much political unrest.
• Raikou: How far in the past was the temple incident?
• Wulf: I do not know. Hundreds of years, but whether two hundred or nine hundred, I cannot say.
• Vayu: We are dealing with obscured history.
• Celestine: As said earlier, failed plans can be retried if history is obscured.
• Nexendia: That is a lesson Valdr’s museum tries to teach.
• Wulf: I have noticed several Psijic visitors.
• Nexendia: You are gathering quite an interesting collection.
• Wulf: Is entropy one of The Eleven Forces, Nexendia?
• Nexendia: You know I will not discuss The Eleven Forces!
• Wulf: I was hoping to catch you off guard.
• Mitsumori: What other insights can you share, Valdr?
• Wulf: Before Longwang obscured his form with shadow, I saw the armour he was wearing.
• Vayu: I also glimpsed it. It was the ancient armour the Dragonguard wore when hunting Akavir’s dragons.
• Wulf: Except it was black, not the traditional red.
• Raikou: Black Dragonguard armour was a symbol of rebellion.
• Wulf: That is why it caught my attention. It may be of significance.
• Mitsumori: What is your plan, Valdr?
• Wulf: I will ask my Dovah friends to look for the Akaviri and his vessel. I believe he was not far from Solitude.
• Mitsumori: He still had a distance to go to reach Foggy Vale.
• Vayu: It takes five weeks of agreeable weather in a large, fast vessel to reach Cathnoquey from Akavir. It is at least another six weeks from there to the coast of Morrowind. Add another six weeks to reach Solitude. The Akaviri spent months at sea only to die short of his intended destination.
• Celestine: If he thought the situation in Akavir was terrible enough to risk the journey, how much worse is it now?
• Wulf: The words I am supposed to speak to Endyval are, I believe, a code to start a rebellion.
• Raikou: The Akaviri would need the assistance of one of the significant Tsaesci houses or be rapidly defeated.
• Wulf: I feel a sense of urgency and need to act swiftly.
• Merria: While we have been talking, Shije has adjusted the barriers. You can teleport out of here, Valdr.
• Vayu: No guided tour of the island, then?
• Wulf: No, Vayu. I need to organise a meeting with His Imperial Majesty. I want Auryen and Master Urag to discover what they can about Longwang. The Akaviri’s body should be collected before it becomes mud-crab food.
• Celestine: I doubt Valdr wants to see how few survived the massacre.
• Wulf: I already know the numbers. It would not be helpful to see the reality.
• Mitsumori: That is wise, Valdr.
• Raikou: Before you depart, who do you think Endyval is?
• Wulf: I am hoping His Imperial Majesty can tell me that.

I stood and bowed to Mitsumori. He just shook his head in exasperation.

Several hours later, all was organised.

I was to meet Mede the next day in the same place as last time.

Silah had recovered the Akaviri and his small sailboat. He was a fisherman named Dhalraj. She gave him a traditional burial by dragging his boat to sea and incinerating it and its owner.

Silah recovered a book from Dhalraj’s body. It was titled ‘The Coast of Last Hope.’

It read, “Coast of Last Hope: Chronicle of Niril Dareth Part I

The blind square of the small window seemed to be a vessel filled to the brim with darkness. The wanderer stared into it but could see nothing beyond the dirty, cracked glass except a swirl of oblique snowflakes. A blizzard was raging outside, and the shabby shack, nestled in the sparse coniferous forest at the foot of the mountains, was fast disappearing under a white shroud. The first snowfall had caught him so inopportunely here, in this tiny hobo shelter on his endless journey from nowhere to nowhere, and now the miles of deserted space no longer seemed like an easy walk to him.

‘Skyrim is a harsh, inhospitable land,’ he thought, wrapping himself in the animal skin left behind by the hunters. A single thought warmed his soul – the fierce storms of the vast ocean were far behind him. Where were all those with whom he had shared his last gulps of water during the long voyage? One hoped they were in a better world. Keeping the memory of his faithful comrades alive until his last moments was a comfort that battled the guilt of being the sole survivor.

Where had the wanderings taken him? What became of him after he left the lonely hut, leaving behind notes about the last days of his journey? That I will probably never know. Translating at least some of his writing took years of hard work.

I had been interested in Akavir since I was a little boy, and my father told me stories about strange people from across the ocean. At last, I was presented with a piece of a mysterious world that was violent and, at the same time, filled with a remarkable, inexpressible harmony. A world where wise men contemplate the flow of life, sharing their wisdom with others, where magicians perform such miracles that we, the inhabitants of Tamriel, can only guess, where majestic palaces tower over miserable huts. A place where honour and loyalty are valued above life!

In the scant lines left by the unknown wanderer, there was no hint of why the Akaviri had chosen to cross the ocean. Truly, these people are as mysterious as the land that produced them.

The Sea of Ghosts bears its name for good reason. Looking at countless shipwrecks lost in the fog, frozen in the icebergs or found their last resting place on the cold stones, one cannot help but wonder what power makes people from the East travel long distances to these dismal shores.

Could it be their lust for profit or a more noble goal? Or maybe they are so miserable in their homeland that they are ready to tear themselves through the ocean’s raging fury for a better life. To swim to the shore of the last hope.”

Is that what Dhalraj did? Did he decide anything was preferable to his existence on Akavir and set sail for High Rock?

Auryen and Urag were pleased to have another obscure subject to research. It gives them an excuse to get covered in dust amongst the parchment and vellum scrolls.

Rigmor was not too pleased I might be at sea for months. I would have to assess the situation in Akavir before deciding if she could join me there.

Kai-Lin rushed into my room. The door was open, so that was okay. Not that it has stopped her in the past.

She asked, “The other children want to know when you and Rigmor are coming to dinner as everything is ready and the food might get cold. Are you going to sing some songs after dessert?”

“We shall be there soon, Kai-Lin, and we shall sing songs together.”

“Yeah!”

The young Ka’Po’Tun ran from the room and headed for Aurane’s gardens.

We set tables so all the children and some adults could eat together. All I had to do was summon Rigmor, and I hoped she smiled for the children. At least in Akavir, Mara’s Rings will let us speak.