Escape From Prison
LiannUriel 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 twentysevent of last seed, the year of Akatosh 433. These are the closing days of the third era. And the final hours of my life.
LiannWake up.
Valen Dreth 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 gaurds 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.
LiannStand 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.
What’s going on?
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.
Who are you?
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.
Why am I in jail?
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.
What should I do?
You will find your own path. Take care…there will be blood and death before the end.
I go my own way.
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.
LiannEnter 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.
LiannFollow the party through the iron gate.
Baurus You stay here, prisoner. Don’t try to follow us.
Baurus locks the door behind him.
LiannTake 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.
LiannMove 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.
LiannReveal yourself.
GlenroyDammit! It’s that prisoner again! Kill her! She might be working with the assassins!
UrielNo, she is not one of them! She can help us. She must help us.
GlenroyAs 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?
The Nine guide and protect us.
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?
The Lover.
The signs I read show the end of my path. My death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.
What about me?
Your stars are not mine. Today the Lover shall sweeten your journey as you confront your fate.
Can you see my fate?
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.
Aren’t you afraid to die?
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.
Where are we going?
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.
Tell me about the Blades.
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.
Will Uriel Septim life?
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.
LiannFollow 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.
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.
The Emperor gave it to me.
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?
I must take it to Jauffre.
Jauffre? He said that? Why?
There is another heir.
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.
How do I get there?
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.
The sewers?
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?
I'm a Knight.
I thought so. A few rats and goblins won’t give you any trouble.
After the sewers, then what?
You must get the Amulet to Jauffre. Take no chances, but proceed to Weynon Priory immediately. Got it?
No. Please explain more.
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!
What about you? What will you do?
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.
LiannExit through the sewers.
Travel to Weynon Priory.
Next: Deliver the Amulet
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