The Imperial Library

Liann

Uriel speaks in a dream.

Uriel

I was born eighty seven years ago. For sixty-five years I ruled as Tamriels Emperor. But for all these years I've never been the ruler of my own dreams.

I have seen the gates of Oblivion beyond which no waking eye may see. Behold in darkness a doom sweeps the land.

This is the 27th of Last Seed, the year of Akatosh 433. These are the closing days of the Third Era. And the final hours of my life.

Liann

Wake up.

Valen Dreth

Pale skin, snotty expression. You're a Breton! The masters of magicka, right? Hmph. You're nothing but a stuck-up harlot with cheap parlor tricks. Go ahead, try your magicka in here. Let's see you make those bars disappear. No? What's the matter? Not so powerful now, are you Breton? You're not leaving this prison 'til they throw your body in the lake. Oh, that's right. You're going to die in here, Breton! You're going to die!

The guards are comming down the stairs.

Renault

Baurus! Lock that door behind us!

Baurus

Yessir.

Uriel

My sons…they’re dead, aren’t they?

Renault

We don’t know that, Sire. The messenger only said they were attacked.

Uriel

No, they’re dead. I know it.

Renault

My job right now is to get you to safety.

Renault

What’s this prisoner doing here? This cell is supposed to be off-limits.

Imperial Guard

Usual mixup with the Watch. I…

Renault

Nevermind. Get that gate open.

Renault

Stand back prisoner. We won’t hesitate to kill you if you get in our way.

Imperial Guard

You! Prisoner! Stand Aside. Over by the window. Stay out of the way, and you won’t get hurt.

Liann

Stand aside over by the window.

Baurus

No sign of pursuit, Sir.

Glenroy

Stay put.

Renault

Good. Let’s go. We’re not out of this yet.

Uriel

You…I’ve seen you…Let me see your face…You are the one from my dreams…Then the stars were right, and this is the day. Gods give me strength.

Liann

What’s going on?

Uriel

Assassins attacked my sons, and I’m next. My Blades are leading me out of the city along a secret escape route. By chance, the entrance to that escape route leads through your cell.

Liann

Who are you?

Uriel

I am your emperor, Uriel Septim. By the grace of the Gods, I serve Tamriel as her ruler. You are a citizen of Tamriel, and you, too, shall serve her in your own way.

Liann

Why am I in jail?

Uriel

Perhaps the Gods have placed you here so that we may meet. As for what you have done…it does not matter. That is not what you will be remembered for.

Liann

What should I do?

Uriel

You will find your own path. Take care…there will be blood and death before the end.

Liann

I go my own way.

Uriel

So do we all. But what path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the almighty Gods?

Renault

Please, Sire, we must keep moving.

Renault

Better not close this one. There’s no way to open it from the other side.

Baurus

Looks like this is your lucky day. Just stay out of our way.

Liann

Enter the passageway. Follow the Emperor and his Blades.

Glenroy

Don’t try anything. I’m watching you.

Four assassins attack. The Emperor holds back while the Blades defend him.

Captain Renault and the assassins are killed.

Baurus

Baurus approaches the Emperor.

Are you alright, Sire? We’re clear, for now.

Uriel

Captain Renault?

Baurus

She’s dead. I’m sorry, sire, but we have to keep moving.

Uriel

There’s trouble ahead.

Baurus and the Emperor join Glenroy across the room.

Glenroy

How could they be waiting for us here?

Baurus

Don’t know, but it’s too late to go back now.

Baurus

Don’t worry, sire, we will get you out of here.

Glenroy

They won’t be the first to underestimate the Blades.

Glenroy

I’ll take point. Let’s move.

Liann

Follow the party through the iron gate.

Baurus

You stay here, prisoner. Don’t try to follow us.

Baurus locks the door behind him.

Liann

Take a detour around the locked door.

Eavesdrop on the conversation between Glenroy and Baurus.

Glenroy

We should find a defensible spot and protect the Emperor until help arrives.

Baurus

Help? What makes you think help will get here before more of those bastards? We need to get the Emperor out of here.

The Emperor is attacked by more assassins.

Baurus

I think that was all of them. Let me take a look around.

Liann

Move into the next room.

Uriel

Have you seen the prisoner?

Baurus

Do you think she followed us? How could she?

Uriel

I know she did.

Glenroy

Sire, we have to go now.

Uriel

Not yet. Let me rest a moment longer.

Liann

Reveal yourself.

Glenroy

Dammit! It’s that prisoner again! Kill her! She might be working with the assassins!

Uriel

No, she is not one of them! She can help us. She must help us.

Glenroy

As you wish, sire.

Uriel

They cannot understand why I trust you. They’ve not seen what I’ve seen. How can I explain? Listen. You know the Nine? How They guide our fates with an invisible hand?

Liann

The Nine guide and protect us.

Uriel

I’ve served the Nine all my days, and I chart my course by the cycles of the heavens. The skies are marked with numberless sparks each a fire, and every one a sign. I know these stars well, and I wonder…which sign marked your birth?

Liann

The Lover. 

Uriel

The signs I read show the end of my path. My death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.

Liann

What about me? 

Uriel

Your stars are not mine. Today the Lover shall sweeten your journey as you confront your fate.

Liann

Can you see my fate? 

Uriel

My dreams grant me no opinions of success. Their compass ventures not beyond the doors of death. But in your face, I behold the sun’s companion. The dawn of Akatosh’s bright glory may banish the coming darkness. With such hope, and with the promise of your aid, my heart must be satisfied.

Liann

Aren’t you afraid to die?

Uriel

No trophies of my triumphs proceed me. But I have lived well, and my ghost shall rest easy. Men are but flesh and blood. They know their doom, but not the hour. In this I am blessed to see the hour of my death…To face my apportioned fate, then fall.

Liann

Where are we going?

Uriel

I go to my grave. A tongue shriller than all the music calls me. You shall follow me yet for a while, then we must part.

Baurus

You may as well make yourself useful. Here, carry this torch and stick close.

Liann

Tell me about the Blades.

Baurus

We’re the Emperor’s bodyguards. Our job is to get him out of situations like this. Although I admit, things are not going according to plan.

Liann

Will Uriel Septim life?

Baurus

My job is to make sure the Emperor gets out of here alive, and I intend to do it. Stick close and let us do our job and you’ll be alright.

Liann

Follow the party.

Three more assassins attack.

Even more assassins attack.

Glenroy

Hold up. I don’t like this. Let me take a look.

Glenroy checks the gate.

Glenroy

Dammit! The gate is barred from the other side! A trap!

Baurus

What about that side passage back there?

Glenroy

Worth a try! Let’s go!

Baurus

It’s a dead end. What is your call, sir?

More assassins attack.

Glenroy

They’re behind us! Wait here, sire.

Baurus

Wait here with the Emperor. Guard him with your life.

Glenroy and Baurus

For the Emperor!

Glenroy and Baurus attack the assassins.

Uriel

I can go no further. You alone must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings! Take the Amulet. Give it to Jauffre. He alone knows where to find my last son. Find him, and close shut the jaws of Oblivion.

An assassin apears from an hidden passage.

Uriel is struck and dies.

Liann's Journal I witnessed Emperor Uriel Septim's assassination. Before he died, the emperor gave me the Amulet of Kings. He told me to take it to someone named Jauffre, and that Jauffre would know how to find his last surviving son. He warned that the assassins were in the service of the Lord of Destruction.

Baurus

Baurus runs in and kneels at the Emperor’s body.

No…Talos save us…

Baurus turns to you.

We’ve failed. I’ve failed…The Blades are sworn to protect the Emperor, and now he and all his heirs are dead. The Amulet, where’s the Amulet of King? It wasn’t on the Emperor’s body.

Liann

The Emperor gave it to me.

Baurus

Strange. He saw something in you. Trusted you. They say it’s the Dragon Blood, that flows through the veins of every Septim. They see more than lesser men. The Amulet of Kings is a sacred symbol of the Empire. Most people think of the Red Dragon Crown, but that’s just jewelry. The Amulet has power. Only a true heir of the Blood can wear it, they say. He must have given it to you for a reason. Did he say why?

Liann

I must take it to Jauffre.

Baurus

Jauffre? He said that? Why?

Liann

There is another heir.

Baurus

Nothing I ever heard about. But Jauffre would be the one to know. He’s the Grandmaster of my Order. Although you may not think so to meet him. He lives quietly as a monk at Weynon Priory, near the city of Chorrol.

Liann

How do I get there?

Baurus

First you need to get out of here. Through that door must be the entrance to the sewers, past the locked gate. That’s where we were heading. It’s a secret way out of the Imperial City. Or it was supposed to be secret. Here. You’ll need this key for the last door into the sewers.

Liann

The sewers?

Baurus

There are rats and goblins down there…but from what I’ve seen of you, I’m guessing you are an experienced Knight. Am I right?

Liann

I'm a Knight.

Baurus

I thought so. A few rats and goblins won’t give you any trouble.

Liann

After the sewers, then what?

Baurus

You must get the Amulet to Jauffre. Take no chances, but proceed to Weynon Priory immediately. Got it?

Liann's Journal Baurus, one of the Emperor's bodyguards, told me that Jauffre was the head of the Blades, an order of knights sworn to protect the Emperors.

Liann

No. Please explain more.

Baurus

Take it easy. You’ll be fine. I know this is a lot to take in all at once. No one’s more surprised than me that I’m sending an escaped prisoner off with the Amulet of Kings! But the Emperor trusted you for a reason, and I trust the Emperor. The Amulet of Kings must get to Jauffre at Weynon Priory. He’ll know what to do with it. Jauffre should know how to find the heir that the Emperor spoke of. The Amulet must reach Emperor Uriel’s heir so a new emperor can be crowned!

Liann

What about you? What will you do?

Baurus

I’ll stay here to guard the Emperor’s body, and make sure no one follows you. You’d better get moving. May Talos guide you. By the way, thanks for recovering Captain Renault’s sword. I’ll see that it is given a place of honor in the halls of the Blades.

Liann

Exit through the sewers.

Travel to Weynon Priory.