So there I was, making my way diligently towards Fort Warden to reinforce the valiant souls who had been fighting for our Lord’s cause, yet as I drew near the outer court something seemed wrong… all was much too quiet. Archaeus hesitated as we approached the front gate; something had him spooked. I quickly realized that what was once a steel reinforced wooden barrier was nothing more than shards and splinters in a heap on the ground. Worse, the surrounding walls had been reduced to mere rubble; the castle was ravaged.
I hastily began searching for survivors, but none could be found. Yet despite this harrowing loss, I refocused my efforts on repairing the castle. Stone by stone the inner postern walls, the keep roof, and finally the outer perimeter was repaired by my single hand. A few of the locals agreed to defend the keep while I went off in search of reinforcements. As I shook hands and started towards the keep door I paused momentarily as I heard the faint sounds of metal clicking. My eyes wilted slowly as I realized what this meant…
It wasn’t long before I was surrounded and overwhelmed by the sound of metal bombarding flat stoney surfaces. The castle was under siege! The Ebonheart Pact was here, and with their Emperor no less! “How could I be the only abled defender?! Where is everyone?!” I thought to myself silently.
I did all I could, trading blow for blow when the opportunity presented itself, but I was terribly outnumbered. Skirmishes ensued with grave wounds being matched with grave wounds, but the most notable point in the battle occurred when I found the Emperor sieging a gate alone by himself. I suspect his followers were off bickering amongst themselves, abandoning their post alongside their Emperor as one could expect from such a dishonorable lot, or as is historically typical within the Ebonheart Pack, planning a potential political overthrow. Whatever the case may be, there he was, just he and I. I nocked one of my finest arrows as I crept up, slowly pulled back on my trusty Covenant’s bow, and let the first shot fly.
As expected, the Emperor turned immediately as the arrow stuck in his breastplate and an epic one on one battle ensued. His power was immense; his spells, which hit much harder than the common grunt’s that can be found in the Pact, felt like projectiles hurled by Sithis himself. Nevertheless, praise Stendarr, my proficiency with restoration spells kept my heart beating. I was determined. After what seemed like an eternity of healing, evasion, and interrupting every chance I could take I noticed the frequency of projectiles was slowing. The Emperor was finally out of mana! Now was my chance, as my bow had whittled his health down tick by tick I knew I had to act now. I charged up my relentless Dark Crystal and let it fly. As it sailed I chanted my Daedric Curse and called down my unforgiving Mage’s Fury upon his retreating figure. As these spells hit their mark I let loose one final arrow. As it pierced into his back, his stride faltered. Arcs of electricity seeped through his flesh building to one final electrical explosion within his veins. In that final moment I watched as his body turned to ash; the Emperor lay dead upon the icy ground. I had triumphed.
I set my eyes back to Fort Warden as I wiped the blood from my brow. With a deep breath I vowed: “We will not falter…. The Covenant……. will not falter.”
-Lord Shaszahan the Archmage, of The Septim Bloodline
Edited by shanersimms_ESO on 25 June 2014 16:57 -Lord Shaszahan the Archmage, of The Septim Bloodline