[b]The Royal Fleet on the High Seas, near Lilmoth on the Coast of Black Marsh. 16th of Midyear King Aelid Sillonor, First of his Name, Ruler of the Aldmeri Dominion, Protector of Alinor.[/b] A fleet of thirty ships set sail from Dusk in Alinor, carrying the Battle-Mages and Thalmor bound for Valenwood, as well as the King and his personal entourage. Aelid had reluctantly agreed to allow High Justicar Aldra of the Thalmor into coming with him to the summit, as he could not refuse her knowing it was her Thalmor that would by dying for the Bosmer, not his own Loyalists. While he agreed with Aldra a fair amount, he found she lacked the social tact his people were known for. She was zealous and fiery, but also too blunt and direct for the subtly of a diplomat. He hoped she did not bring ruin to him. Of the fleet of thirty, ten split off with the Thalmor to go reinforce Valenwood. Aelid wondered if he would ever see any of those men alive. The remaining twenty ships continued the course. Besides the High Justicar, King Aelid had also seen it fit to take with him Lord Commander Dobin of the Order of the Eight, as well as his Seven other Knight-Brothers. Dobin was fierce and loyal, and he would have no other mer alive watching his back. The Kingsguard were also brought to show off in their own way. [i]‘Those Argonians were sending you two messages in one, Your Grace. That they could have slit Dobin’s throat while he was sleeping, rather than deliver that message to his chambers. Remember this, and look for the subtle signs in politics.’[/i] Walden had advised him at sunset on the docks two days prior, as the Royal Fleet prepared to leave port. Taking this advice, Dobin and his Knight-Brothers were adorned in armor of only the highest craftsmanship, with each and every one of The Kingsguard having a specific God of the Eight being the primary adornment on their armor. The Lord Commander’s was displayed with Akatosh, with ruby’s for the eyes of the dragon. Their armor had swirling lines of glittering gold on silver, with epic displays of warriors clashing against demons and other beasts engraved into the artwork on the breastplates. Their cloaks were white with gold trim, and barely breezed past the floor. The High King of the Dominion wasn’t dumb enough to think that nobody at the meeting would find the chance of all these political leaders in one spot alluring, and as such he would dare any to bypass Dobin and his Order. It was his own silent challenge, and strutting as the Argonians had done. Yet as Aelid thought these many heavy thoughts on the parchment light ship of his people, Dobin approached him. Leaning on the railing as Aelid did, he would speak quietly. “I would speak with you about your plans during this summit, Your Grace.” “Then speak, brother.” “You say you would draw closer relations to the Argonians as the Khajjit have betrayed our Dominion for the assassination of their Mane, an act I believe to have been from other sources than ours. However, they are in a bloody civil war. I have reports the North supports the Empire while the South wishes Independence. I must ask if it would be wise to send supplies and troops into the south to aid them. Even if they don’t re-join our Dominion and keep their Independence after the war, we would still have a powerful ally.” “A powerful ally? A fractured people is weak, Surely you learned this during the Rebellion on Alinor, Dobin. If the High Justicar heard you attempting to broker Alliances with Cats and Lizards!” “Aye, Your Grace. But you and I both know that Cats and Lizards die just as well on the battlefield as Mer or Men do.” Dobin had a stout and serious look on his face, as if he was leading up to something more. Aelid was annoyed that his friend wished to talk politics, when the King wished simply to relax and listen to the splash of the waves against their beautiful near silken ships. “I would prefer the Dunmer and Bosmer rejoin our cause, as they are the purest and most fit for our people. Perhaps the Bretons could join, if they were lucky. But we must make do with what we can, and I understand your point Dobin. Perhaps we could help these Southern Cats, and they could aid us in the future. I shall see about sending an envoy to them after the summit. I doubt rebels like that will be at an official political meeting.” Dobin waited a moment, and opened his mouth to press the issue, when a sailors voice caught the wind. “We’ll be laying anchor at Lilmoth within the hour, then riding through all of Black Marsh to Stronghold! Prepare for thick jungle and giant bugs!” A few sailors laughed, but Dobin remained stone faced, and Aelid found he could not smile at their lightheartedness. “AND I was hoping that if we unify Elsweyr under a friendly banner, perhaps we could strike Valenwood from two sides, and we could regain the Bosmer? I would confess, I miss my homelands, Sire. I would see the Wood Elves restored to our Dominion.” “Aye, as would I, Lord Commander.” Aelid said wistfully, dropping a small silver medallion over the edge of the ship, and into the surf below. It was superstitious, but he heard Altmeri Sailors do it once for good luck, and he decided that he would need all the luck he could get. [b] Alinor, Summerset Isles, Capital of the Aldmeri Dominion 16th of Midyear Lord Regent of The Fourth Aldmeri Dominon Orthos[/b] Orthos stood proudly on the Capital’s Docks, watching sailors and shipworkers scurry by furiously, crafting and maintaining the remainder of The Royal Fleet which King Aelid had not taken, or the Valenwood Reinforcements. A smaller time merchant approached the Lord Regent timidly, and spoke softly. “Excuse me, my Lord. But I’m afraid the construction of this many ships may take longer than we had originally hoped." “How long?” Asked Orthos coldly, not breaking his gaze with the sunset on the sea. “It may take months! The amount of lumber and spider silk, not even mentioning the enchantments...” “I trust you will make sure it is completed in an appropriate amount of time. I take it the High King will be gone for some time, and I would surprise him with this Secret Fleet that we may use The Royal Fleet for offensive purposes, thus leaving us ‘vulnerable’ to Naval assault from the Imperials. Yet when they show up…” “This hidden fleet is to throw them back..?” The small time merchant whispered, his eyes large as moons. Awe slowly spread across his face as he realized The Lord Regent had chosen him to assemble a fleet capable of repelling a invasion. If this merchant failed in his duty, all of the Dominion would pay… Without another word, he rushed off feverishly, a new haste in his step and urgency in his voice. Orthos was glad the merchant understood the importance of his job. The imperial man, Walden, said that this merchant was too lowly to assemble anything worthwhile. He hoped the man was wrong. Turning away from the docks, Orthos climbed the glass steps up into the palace, where it shimmered in the rising moonlight. He had heard strange reports from The Arcane Society about some ‘superb plan’ to aid the Dominion with their Sorcery. Yet these were still just rumors and whispers, and Orthos had never been one for the Arcane. He was a practical mer, believing only what his eyes and ears tell him. He had other things to focus on. [b]Actions -King Aelid has landed his Fleet in Lilmoth and is currently riding North, towards Stormhold. -The Lord Regent Orthos has begun construction on a secret fleet of ships.[/b]