---

The Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion slowly circle around each other, eyes locked like competing predators, simultaneously provoking and avoiding another Great War. Tamriel teeters on the brink. Armies mobilize to the heart-thrum of training drums and fell voices sail the air, calling for death and ruin on both sides. All of the prophesied Heroes have gone; to faraway lands, beyond the veil, in hiding. The shrines of the Nine are as silent as ever. Demon-Princes watch with bated breath.

A plea for help has been sent to White-Gold Tower from the coastlines of High Rock. It speaks of a Man and his marauders, zealots, and Daedra that haunt the Abecean Sea, boarding and pillaging with impunity, far away from the Emperor's fixed gaze. It speaks of a Man insane and divine, doom-driven, clutching the very soul of fire in a gauntlet so black and bright it moves between worlds, carrying a Scroll on His back that speaks of death and cannot be read.

Wise and elusive, this Man cloaks himself and his gore-soaked apostles in the impenetrable green shroud of Valenwood, from where it is said blood runs upstream into the rivers and brings bad dreams. Even the elves fear Him. Their whispers spread far and wide; the Prophet of Dagon-Ur has come.

Red Mountain shivers at night. Dragons flee north to Atmora. The Serpent moves. The Emperor acquiesces to the plea.

In northern Valenwood, near Arenthia, one small boat and its crew prepare to sail the streams and rivers of Valenwood south, in absolute secrecy, to Greenheart, from whence the darkness spreads.

To kill Akhar.

Heart of Darkness is one of my favorite books and I loved ES:III Morrowind (even if I came late to the party), so I'm down. :D

Man, I need to finish playing all of the Elder Scrolls. Conrad was pretty alright though.

So I take it that this RP is inspired by that Heart of Darkness and that we should all expect a Skooma-fueled jungle nightmare if we sign up?

One can only hope.

Haven't read Heart of Darkness, but I have played TES III, IV, and V extensively and I like this premise. Sign me up!

@Turboshitter Yes, though I'd say that the adaptation Apocalypse Now is a bigger inspiration for this RP than the source material. But that is definitely the idea.

Huge swaths of Elder Scrolls lore is extremely weird and almost psychedelic in its style and substance. I'll be drawing on that to fuel the madness and power of Akhar. The nice thing about fantasy worlds is that the fascinating, mysterious antagonist can become even larger-than-life by giving him supernatural powers. That will play a big role.

We will be playing the small group of people sent directly by the Emperor to assassinate Akhar. Initially, the RP will focus on the journey into Valenwood, a realm I intend to make as hostile and alien as the lore describes.

Sounds awesooooome. I take it most of us will not be leaving alive? I wanna gauge just how attached I should get to my character before committing to this xD

Roleplaying is a collaborative effort and I'm not a big fan of cutting people out of that collaboration without their consent... unless their character does something really stupid. We'll see. I'm more interested in the narrative and how our characters deal with & adapt to their situation than their deaths.

Question - Can I play as a flesh (long pork) eating Bosmer?

@Jbcool He/she could be an Imperial sympathizer and our guide through the jungle. Thoughts?

@Hank If you trust me with that much responsability then sure, I can dig it.

Very interested.

Alright then. If certain death isn't guaranteed, then I'm definitely interested. Might play a half-mad Breton mage or a lusty argonian maid a grizzled Orc/Nord spellsword who switched to magic-focused combat after their soldier/mercenary lifestyle left them unable to wholly rely on their physical prowess and skill with a sword.

Both character concepts are fine. The most important thing to remember is that there has to be a plausible reason for your character to be on this mission. My character will be the Penitus Oculatus officer in charge of the quest and while his assets and allies can be as varied as the population of Tamriel itself, keep the political landscape of Tamriel in mind (I didn't mention this before, but this roleplay takes place shortly after the events of Skyrim -- think 4E206 or 4E207).

Any other takers?

@Hank Thinking of playing a cleric type character, perhaps on the mission to gauge the dark forces at work like daedra?

@The Dow Dragon Sure, I could see a priest of the Imperial Cult accompanying the group in order to investigate the reports of Daedra under Akhar's command and to combat them if necessary.

Oh, character concept time!

Necromancer or Conjurer (Daedra), imprisoned for dabbling in some bad things, offered a pardon if the mission is completed successfully (no great loss to the empire if something goes wrong), every party has got to have a former-criminal with a new leash on life. :3

I might have some more up my sleeve, but that's one that came to mind pretty quickly.

@Hologram Prose I understand the concept, but would a Penitus Oculatus officer willingly put his faith in a convicted criminal sorcerer deep behind enemy lines? You'll have to convince me with a good character sheet and an explanation that seems believable.

Speaking of character sheets, my intention is to post the OOC thread tomorrow with a CS for y'all to fill out.

Oh, character concept time!

Necromancer or Conjurer (Daedra), imprisoned for dabbling in some bad things, offered a pardon if the mission is completed successfully (no great loss to the empire if something goes wrong), every party has got to have a former-criminal with a new leash on life. :3

I might have some more up my sleeve, but that's one that came to mind pretty quickly.

Awwww, I wanted to do that xD

I could do my spellsword and our characters would have a sort of semi-friendly, semi-antagonistic relationship as the righteous spellsword (or oooh! maybe a crusader or Vigilant of Stendarr!) tries to keep the heretical mad sorceror on his/her leash.