The Elder Scrolls: Before the Great War

It is the Year 168 of the Fourth Age, and the Empire is a shadow of its former glory. The current Emperor, Titus Mede II, has just ascended the Ruby Throne, yet already, things look dire - Hammerfell, Skyrim, and High Rock are the only provinces loyal to the nation while to the south, the Aldmeri Dominion and its rulers, the Thalmor, plot a grim war to end the worship of Talos, the man who became a God, no matter how many they have to slaughter to do it. In the story we know, they would win the Great War and get everything they wanted, but today, there is still strength and hope.

Realizing the decay and inflexibility of the Imperial Legions to changing circumstances, the Elder Council has authorized a discreet package of reforms to them and the Empire as a whole meant to strengthen not just its armed forces, but the nation's institutions as a whole. These reforms are enforced by the 'Hidden Militia', a covert force recruited from adventurers, mercenaries, and wandering traders whose purpose is to supplement the Blades.

You are one of them, tasked with one of the most important reforms of all - Paving the way for negotiations to recognize the Reach and its inhabitants plus the Wrothgar Mountains, where Orsinium (already a source of Legionnaires) is, as legitimate provinces of the Empire with the full rights of such; this means that they will be legally equal to Hammerfell, High Rock, and Skyrim, albeit with safeguards to make sure that it does not look like the Empire is allowing Daedra-worshippers to have their own provinces that worship the forces of Oblivion openly.

Whether you are Imperial, Nord, Dunmer, or Anti-Thalmor Altmer, you are to make sure this happens. Protect the diplomats trying to make this a reality, discredit dissidents trying to undermine the peace of the Empire by hindering this reform, and above all, screw over the Thalmor and their agents, who are trying to stop you!

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Yes, an RP set in the Elder Scrolls universe a decade or more before Skyrim. You are part of the 'Hidden Militia', a group working for the Elder Council, to strengthen the Empire of Tamriel. You can be from any of the 'accepted' races (the ones in the Skyrim Character Creator), and if you are a veteran RPer who can justify a Snow Elf well, you can try making one. Being a Vampire is forbidden because in TES Lore, Vampires are almost always willing servants of the vilest Daedra, Molag Bal. Werewolves are also not allowed, unless you are a veteran RPer who can write your OC as keeping a secret (your superiors ICly will still have to know about it, though).

Now, the rules!

1.) No godmodding, powerplaying, metagaming, etc.
2.) No getting raunchy with OCs or NPCs under 18, please. With OCs and NPCs above 18, just be careful not to do anything above non-descriptive nudity.
3.) No OOC feuding! If you must argue, be respectful. IC, meanwhile, you can hate each other as much as you like as long as it doesn't seep over to OOC.
4.) Please notify me if you will be gone longer than a few days, I will let you guys know if I will be gone.
5.) Having Necromancy as a Magic is forbidden ICly but not necessarily OOCly. If you want it, be prepared to be slaughtered by every other PC if you can't hide it.

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Character Sheet:

Name:
Race: (Nord, Redguard, Imperial, Breton, Orc, Khajit, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Argonian; no Goblins or Akaviri, while Snow Elves need [i]heavy[/i] justification.)
Appearance:
Age: (Adults are encouraged, for once in my RPs.)
Skills: (Including Magic; Conjuration, Destruction, and Alteration. Necromancy is only allowed if you are willing to be killed by the other PCs.)
Personality:
Bio:

OOC Discussion Discord

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Name: Auron Falareth
Race: Altmer
Appearance:

Auron stands tall at 6’3”, with a slender yet athletic build that reflects his noble upbringing and years of training. His golden-blonde hair is slightly tousled, reaching above his shoulders. His features are distinctly altmer. He has sharp angular features, emerald green eyes, and of course, the pointed ears. He carries himself with the grace and poise of nobility.

He dresses in finely crafted elven light armor, reinforced with leather for flexibility and adorned with subtle gold etchings that reflect his heritage. Beneath it, he wears forest green robes with gold trim. A green cloak, fastened by an emerald brooch, drapes over his shoulders. A leather harness carries his elven longsword, scrolls, and pouches for potions, while a small emerald pendant, a keepsake from his mother hides under his armor.

Age: 28

Skills: Swordsmanship, Destruction Magic (Lightning focus), Alteration magic, Speech

Personality: Auron carries himself with the grace and poise of Altmer nobility. He’s formal, well-spoken, and sometimes a little too proper, often resorting to the rigid etiquette drilled into him during his upbringing. At first, this can make Auron appear aloof, distant, or even snobbish. He may seem overly critical of others’ “improper” behavior without meaning to. He simply defaults to what he knows. Unlearning these behaviors is hard.

However, beneath all of his nobility quirks, lies a genuinely sweet and caring soul. Auron struggles to express emotions directly but shows his compassion through actions. Auron believes in the ideals of loyalty and honor. His greatest strength is his empathy. He sees the struggles of the people of Tamriel, and fights for them, even if he hides this compassion behind his noble demeanor.

He struggles with guilt over his family’s role in the thalmor’s attrocities, and his believed failure to stop it sooner. He also has trouble saying “I care” without sounding stiff or awkward.

Bio: Born as Auron Falareth of House Falareth, a respected noble house. Auron grew up in Summerset, where power was everything. House Falareth aligned itself with the Thalmor, providing mages and diplomats to support the Dominion’s growing influence. Groomed as an heir to the house, Auron was expected to serve the Thalmor and uphold their authority.

However, during a diplomatic mission to Valenwood, he witnessed the Thalmor’s growing influence firsthand. Their manipulation of the Bosmer and their readiness to execute dissenters under the pretense of “unity.” He was disgusted by their ruthless methods and ashamed of his family’s complicity in such actions. he spoke out, and urged his family to resist the Thalmor’s increasing influence. He was soon labeled a sympathizer for the Empire and forced to flee.

Auron fled Summerset with nothing but his skill, wit, and a desire to atone for the sins of his family. The Hidden Militia found him, where he offered his sword and magic to the Empire, believing it to be the only chance to stand against the Thalmor’s cruelry. Auron fights not only for Tamriel’s unity but also to carve out his own destiny, free of his family’s shadow.

Name: Auron Falareth
Race: Altmer
Appearance:

Auron stands tall at 6’3”, with a slender yet athletic build that reflects his noble upbringing and years of training. His golden-blonde hair is slightly tousled, reaching above his shoulders. His features are distinctly altmer. He has sharp angular features, emerald green eyes, and of course, the pointed ears. He carries himself with the grace and poise of nobility.

He dresses in finely crafted elven light armor, reinforced with leather for flexibility and adorned with subtle gold etchings that reflect his heritage. Beneath it, he wears forest green robes with gold trim. A green cloak, fastened by an emerald brooch, drapes over his shoulders. A leather harness carries his elven longsword, scrolls, and pouches for potions, while a small emerald pendant, a keepsake from his mother hides under his armor.

Age: 28

Skills: Swordsmanship, Destruction Magic (Lightning focus), Alteration magic, Speech

Personality: Auron carries himself with the grace and poise of Altmer nobility. He’s formal, well-spoken, and sometimes a little too proper, often resorting to the rigid etiquette drilled into him during his upbringing. At first, this can make Auron appear aloof, distant, or even snobbish. He may seem overly critical of others’ “improper” behavior without meaning to. He simply defaults to what he knows. Unlearning these behaviors is hard.

However, beneath all of his nobility quirks, lies a genuinely sweet and caring soul. Auron struggles to express emotions directly but shows his compassion through actions. Auron believes in the ideals of loyalty and honor. His greatest strength is his empathy. He sees the struggles of the people of Tamriel, and fights for them, even if he hides this compassion behind his noble demeanor.

He struggles with guilt over his family’s role in the thalmor’s attrocities, and his believed failure to stop it sooner. He also has trouble saying “I care” without sounding stiff or awkward.

Bio: Born as Auron Falareth of House Falareth, a respected noble house. Auron grew up in Summerset, where power was everything. House Falareth aligned itself with the Thalmor, providing mages and diplomats to support the Dominion’s growing influence. Groomed as an heir to the house, Auron was expected to serve the Thalmor and uphold their authority.

However, during a diplomatic mission to Cyrodiil, Auron witnessed the Thalmor’s brutality as they purged Talos worshippers, burning homes and executing innocents. This moment shattered his faith in his people’s ideals and forced him to question his family’s allegiance. When he spoke out, he was branded a traitor and hunted.

Auron fled Summerset with nothing but his skill, wit, and a desire to atone for the sins of his family. The Hidden Militia found him in Cyrodiil, where he offered his sword and magic to the Empire, believing it to be the only chance to stand against the Thalmor’s cruelry. Auron fights not only for Tamriel’s unity but also to carve out his own destiny, free of his family’s shadow.

characters is one tab over ^ ^
[edit] for easy finding later, i dont think anyone minds it being here, too

@Crimson Flame, not accepted yet; the Thalmor have no power in Cyrodiil in this year as the Great War and the White-Gold Concordat have not happened yet.

<Snipped quote by Crimson Flame>

characters is one tab over ^ ^
[edit] for easy finding later, i dont think anyone minds it being here, too

I know, but he hasn’t been accepted yet. Once he is, then I’ll move him over.

@Crimson Flame, not accepted yet; the Thalmor have no power in Cyrodiil in this year as the Great War and the White-Gold Concordat have not happened yet.

Ok. What should I change it to?

@Crimson Flame, let's discuss this on Discord.

@Crimson Flame, acceptable now.

I shall make a character in a few days

I shall make a character in a few days

Okay. Just make sure not to do anything too disruptive, assuming you're Chronic.

<Snipped quote by ChronicleMan>

Okay. Just make sure not to do anything too disruptive, assuming you're Chronic.

k

@ChronicleMan, should we wait for your sheet? Reminder that the RP will continue to be open even after the IC starts, btw.

@ChronicleMan, should we wait for your sheet? Reminder that the RP will continue to be open even after the IC starts, btw.

I’ll make mine tmr

Name: Alexios Sintarus
Race: Colovian Argonian
Age: 23

Appearance: A young adult Argonian, Alexios has forest-green scales and gold-yellow eyes. His head is free of horns, quills or spines, allowing him to wear helmets. Due to rigorous legion training, he has built up a strong muscular athletic form. He almost always wears his Amulet of Akatosh. When he isn't wearing his legionary panoply, Alexios has homespun Colovian-styled plain clothes in wine-red and gold with a wine-red tied woolen cloak.



Skills:
One-Handed - Expert
Even before joining the Legion, Alexios often sparred with his father in the yard. In some ways, he ended up more of a swordsman than most of his cohort.

Two-Handed - Adept
Alexios also trained to use a long spear to deal with mounted combatants or larger foes.

Block - Expert
Sword-and-board is the Imperial Legion's bread and butter. The Cyrodiilic shieldwall is just as famed as their battlemages.

Heavy Armor - Adept
Heavy Armour use comes as naturally to legionaries as sword-and-board.

Light Armor - Adept
However, Alexios prefers to use a combination of both heavy and light armour for a balance of protection and mobility.

Athletics - Expert
Alexios would have left the Legion if he couldn't manage the rigorous training exercises. Fortunately for him, he excelled instead.

Provisioning - Expert
Another skill drilled into him by his father, Alexios knows more than most legionnaires (despite it being in their training manuals) about cooking meals and rations for different situations.

Armorer - Apprentice
Having recently been promoted to Lieutenant, Alexios has been taking lessons with Legion quartermasters and smiths on ways to maintain the effectiveness of his squad's equipment wherever they may be.

Personality: As typical of his Colovian upbringing, Alexios is disciplined and to-the-point. His humour at times can be somewhat dry, but he does possess one. He may seem unapproachable at first, but lends himself to be a stern yet caring comrade. He is an adherent of Akatosh, and believes fiercely in his doctrines of strength through endurance.

Bio: Born an unnamed hatchling in 4E 145 to poor Argonian immigrants, Alexios' birth parents gave him up for adoption to an affluent Colovian couple who were unable to bear children of their own. His adoptive mother Alaia was a seamstress, and his father Regulus was a retired Legate from the Imperial Legion. Soon after, they made their home in Kvatch a summer house after buying property in the Elven Gardens District of the Imperial City. As the balance of influence between Colovians and Nibeneans had tilted in favour of Colovians since the rise of the Mede Dynasty, the Sintarus family enjoyed respect within the community. Alexios' early childhood was peaceful, and he spent a lot of time with both parents. His mother would often make him new outfits as he grew, constantly taking Alexios' measurements, while Regulus took Alexios out on rides through the Imperial Isle.

When Alexios turned 13, his father thought him old enough and started to teach him skills from his Legion days. Most of Alexios' days soon consisted of being trained and moulded by his father, in order to follow in Regulus' footsteps and become a successful career legionary. The training yard, the bruises from sparring, the nicks from cooking, the ringing from his father's shouting: all of these became normal for Alexios. Alaia was the one to hold and comfort him after especially harsh days. For a while, Alexios struggled and starting at school made it no easier. Even though he's not the first Imperialised Argonian, it was still difficult for him to find friendship and support amongst his peers. Once, he was bullied on account of being adopted by Imperial parents: the other children called him a 'Trophy-Scale'.

He graduated when he was 18 and immediately enlisted in the Imperial Legion. Over the next five years, Alexios grew distant from his father but wrote often to his mother (whenever he could manage) and she would have care packages sent to him. Under the Eighth Legion, Alexios spent a lot of time in the field. His cohort were charged with rooting out renegades and bandits who had grown too strong and numerous in various regions. On one skirmish, the outlaws had taken refuge in an abandoned mine and rigged countless booby traps. When his commanding officer was crushed by falling logs, Alexios took quick charge of his squad. Barking the order for a shieldwall, the squad fended off arrows from cowardly bandits and their battlemage retaliated with fire and lightning. Under Alexios' leadership, the legionaries not only survived but apprehended the last of the outlaws.

Alexios was promoted to Sergeant for his bravery. However: he insisted that he remain in command of his squad, given the bonds he and his comrades had forged over time spent in the field. Together, they continued to bring honour to the Eighth Legion with their deeds. After recently being honoured with the rank of Lieutenant, Alexios and his squad remained tightly knit. Now, charged with joining the retinue of the diplomatic mission to the Reach, Alexios and his legionnaires remain battle-ready for whatever comes their way.

Gooood morning

I was asked to join and I have trouble saying no to people.

they'll be up in the next few days. I have a lizard in the works.

@Andre Valias, Approved.

@Rune_Alchemist, greetings! Want to join the Discord?

Also, someone made an Argonian too, just above, so it seems there's less elven bias than there used to be in the team. :P

For your consideration, Bee.

@Letter Bee
Okaaaay, here she is.

Lemme know if there needs to be anything thats changed or you'd prefer just not having a more hardened criminal as part of the cast. Don't worry, she's not gonna get up to any nefarious shenanigans ICly, promise <3

I assume she won't raise her scales at taking instruction or orders from the imps in charge?

@Carantathraiel

As it says, she knows where she stands in the pecking order of things. She's fine with her position and understands its a little precarious if she steps out of line.