The Elder Scrolls: The Fifth Era
“Your Grace, it does not serve the realm to permit the Nords to resume their worship of Talos. If anything, if I may, we should be pushing for more stringent enforcement of the ban on such heresy. Waning or not, the Aldmeri Dominion is powerful, and angering them will do us no favors.” Mander Brandton, Arch-Mage of the Mage’s Guild, was an old man. He was well spoken, even if his voice had grown feeble with the years. The young emperor, however, had little appreciation for eloquence. He had as many virtues as vices, but among the most egregious of his flaws was a remarkable impatience. This was not, however, the reason he wrinkled his nose at Arch-Mage Brandton’s counsel.
“Did Tiber Septim fear the Aldmeri Dominion of his day, Arch-Mage?” Emperor Tychus Mede, the First of His Name, asked pointedly. His voice was cutting, and chased the elder wizard’s words out of the hall. The room was absolutely silent. The eyes of each member of the Elder Council were fixed on the young emperor. In his regal garb he looked quite the lord, but his face lacked a single wrinkle. He was a boy. Nineteen years old, yes, but still a child compared to these weathered, wizened councilmen. The Arch-Mage was taken aback by the stern, assertive tone his emperor's voice had suddenly taken. The emperor may have been new to the throne, but it was quite obvious that he was far from a stranger to the concept of commanding authority.
“I'm afraid I do not know of his personal feelings on the matter, Your Grace, our books say little of him,” Mander Brandton said evenly, his voice maintaining its practiced gravitas. The young emperor scowled, looking from his seat at the head of the long table to the window. It was a beautiful day, and sunlight streamed through the rose tinted glass. His empire was out there, beyond those windows. There were hundreds of thousands out there who pledged fealty to him, all of them relying on his wisdom and foresight. He spoke for the realm, and his realm wanted Talos.
“All men feel fear, even Tiber Septim.”
“A wise observation, Your Grace.”
“But do they hide behind their mother’s skirts when afraid? Do they let themselves be trodden upon?” the young emperor asked. There was a certain fire in his voice, a distinctive passion. It would have been inspiring had the emperor not been crowned for less than two weeks and had been more than nineteen winters of age. Such were the laws of succession, however, though there some of them would have been pleased to see one of his sisters take the throne, women though they were. Good leaders are good leaders, but the emperor reeked of inexperience and childish daring.
“No, Your Grace.” But it was not the place of the Arch-Mage to question the emperor's authority.
“Precisely. I will not reign over this empire subservient to the whims of a foreign power. This empire is a sovereign nation, independent, and I will not kneel to some Altmer who styles himself as my better. This council is dismissed.” The emperor waved his hand lazily. “Servants, bring me wine and paper,” he then called, “this will take some time.”
When Emperor Tychus Mede, the First of His Name, laid down to sleep that night, he had finished drafting a royal edict lifting the ban on Talos worship and reinstating Talos as a recognized member of the Nine Divines. He did not wake the next morning; rather, he was discovered dead, his throat opened and his blood spilled. The draft of that royal edict was nowhere to be found.
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This is a political drama in the vein of A Song of Ice and Fire set in the universe of the Elder Scrolls. An interesting combination, and one, I hope, that will resonate with some of those of you whose interest I’ve captured with this post. So what’s this RP going to be like?
Each player will, more than likely, write for at least a few characters across the world. This is a truly global story, with angles to be explored from the Black Marsh to Hammerfell and everywhere in between. In practice, we’ll probably focus on three or four of these areas of interest. I would most definitely like to see the Empire be the main focus of the story, with a focus on the uncertain succession following Emperor Tychus Mede I’s death. With no obvious successor, eyes turn to the late Emperor’s two sisters and uncle, each of whom has a strong claim to the throne. I’ll also be writing from the perspective of a dunmer freedom fighter in Morrowind, following the ongoing war of independence between the dunmer rebels and the argonians of the Black Marsh.
This is really just a barometer for interest though. Long term ideas and such are still largely up in the air. It’ll all depend on what kind of interest this garners, and with what kind of story those interested parties might want to pursue. All the same, though, if this goes anywhere I have some lovely ideas as far as the political landscape of Tamriel goes. Civil war, intrigue, invasions, ancient magic, and more all await you here.
Cheers.
