Chapter Three: Drem Mu'ulaav (Peace Council)

1st of Morning Star, 4E 206

He's been brooding for almost a month!

ALMOST A MONTH! LOST!

I swear to Dagon, I could throttle that pompous brat!

Fortunately, whilst 'Lady' Ulfric was sobbing into his pillow, I was rebuilding Windhelm.

So far the Grey Quarter and Docks have been completely renovated AND expanded, and there's a giant statue of Talos dominating the courtyard outside the Palace of Kings.
(Virtually all of the coin for these projects came out of MY pocket, thanks to the War draining the Holds of gold and resources.)

I asked Rikke to summon the Jarls and those who would have been chosen, by either side, to replace them, to High Hrothgar for a Peace Summit.

I "convinced" Ulfric to come under his own power.
(With the help of a cadre of rather displeased College Mages wielding fully charged Fireball spells, but I digress.)

As expected, Ulfric, Tullius, and I were the last to arrive.

It's taking all of my willpower to keep everyone from fighting, and possibly killing, each other.

Delphine and Esbern aren't exactly helping, either.
They keep prodding Arngeir, the current Greybeard Grandmaster, and he's come to me about those two more times than I can count.

I think I'M about to kill someone.

At least the talks started today.

THAT'S something.

28th of Sun's Dawn

   It's been just over a year since we began, and completed, the Reach Campaign.

The only comfort I have is that I've finally seen Brelmyna for the first time in six months.

Brelmyna Maryon.

My love. My life. My wife.

I can't bear to be away from her.

With the exception of a single night, we were unable to see each other when I was in Winterhold because of the fact that I was overseeing the reconstruction of the town and also due to the fact that, in my absence, Tolfdir became Acting Archmage and he appointed none other than Brelmyna as Acting Master Wizard.

Tolfdir sent her here to head the delegation representing the College.

All three of my friends, and now former classmates, have come so far since we entered the College:

Onmund, a Nord, has become the liaison between the College and the people of Skyrim.

J'zargo, a Kahjiit, has become a powerful mage and liaison to the Imperial Province of Cyrodill.

Brelmyna, a Dunmer of astounding beauty, has not only become my wife and Alchemy Instructor at the College, but also the mother of my child.

ChildREN. IT'S TWINS.

I grow impatient, something she teases me about, waiting for little Nerevar and Symmachus to be born.

I can scarcely think of two better names.

Both of them were legendary Dunmer generals:

Nerevar was the War Chief of the First Council who defeated the Dwemer and Nord Coalition at Red Mountain.

Symmachus was a general under, and close friend of, General Talos; Talos later became known as Tiber Septim.

It was Symmachus and his cunning that secured Morrowind as an Imperial Province.

3rd of First Seed

I have reaffirmed that I have almost no patience for petty politics.

Especially, when there's an entire Province to rebuild, supply lines to stabilize, new troops to train, prisoners to be released, and dead to be buried and mourned.

Things may have been better off if I had just let Alduin devour them all.

2nd of Mid Year

With the way these talks are going, the twins will be born long before they're over.

I should probably take the time to mention who is present and which factions they represent:

Nazir and Cicero are from the Dark Brotherhood;

Brynjolf and Karliah are from the Thieves Guild;

Aela the Huntress and Vilkas are from the Companions of Whiterun;

Brelmyna, Onmund, and Enthir are from the College of Winterhold;

Esbern and Delphine are from the now-defunct organization known as the Blades;

Those representing the power struggles within the Holds are:

From Winterhold - Korir, Jarl of Winterhold, Stormcloak sympathizer and Thaena, his Housecarl; Kraldar, Citizen, Imperial sympathizer and Thonjolf, his Housecarl;

From the Pale - Skald the Elder, Jarl of Dawnstar, Stormcloak sympathizer and Jod, his Housecarl; Brina Merilis, Retired Legionaire, Imperial sympathizer and Horik Halfhand, her friend and pseudo-bodyguard;

From Haafingar - Elisif the Fair, Jarl of Solitude, Imperial sympathizer and Balgeir Bearclaw, her Housecarl; General Tullius and Legate Rikke, Military Governor and Commanders of the Imperial Legion in Skyrim

From the Reach - Igmund, Jarl of Markarth, Imperial sympathizer and Faleen, his Housecarl; Throngvar Silver-Blood, Land Baron, Stormcloak sympathizer and Yngvar the Singer, his Bodyguard;

From Hjaalmarch - Idgrod Ravencrone, Jarl of Morthal, Imperial sympathizer and Idgrod the Younger, her daughter; Jorgen, Lumber Mill Owner, Stormcloak sympathizer and Thornir, his friend;

From Falkreath - Siddgeir, Jarl of Falkreath, Imperial sympathizer; Dengeir, Former Jarl of Falkreath, Stormcloak sympathizer;

From the Rift - Laila Law-Giver, Jarl of Riften, Stormcloak sympathizer and Unmid Snow-Shod, her Housecarl; Maven Black-Briar, Business Owner, Imperial sympathizer and Maul, her Bodyguard;

From Eastmarch - Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm, Stormcloak commander and Galmar Stone-Fist, Stormcloak general; Brunwulf Free-Winter, Retired Legionaire, Imperial sympathizer;

And, lastly, from Whiterun - Balgruuf the Greater, Jarl of Whiterun, Seeking Neutrality and Irileth, his Housecarl; Vignar Grey-Mane, Affiliated with the Companions, Stormcloak sympathizer and Olfina Grey-Mane, his niece.

15th of Mid Year

We've done it.

By The Nine and The Fifteen, we've
done it.

With the Aedra and Daedra as my witnesses, I nearly killed him, but Ulfric agreed to the Terms.

He and I exchanged rather heated words in Dovahzul, the language of the Dragons.

I almost slit his throat, too.

Thank Talos, he relented.

The 'Pax Draconis' has been signed.

Finally, after all these years.

After all of the bloodshed and loss.

Skyrim.

Is.

At.

Peace.



Now, the REAL war begins.

Chapter Two: Krongrah (Victory)

14th of Sun's Height

Flawless. Absolutely flawless.
The Argonians, along with several Bosmer, Dunmer, and myself, dove off of the cliffs behind Fort Neugrad and into the small lake that serves as the water supply for the fort.

We entered the Prison through the Cistern and proceeded to take the fort from within.

The Kahjiit, along with the rest of the Bosmer and Dunmer, were able to snipe the sentries and enter the fort undetected.

We managed to strike from above AND below with such speed and precision that we not only caught the Stormcloaks completely unaware, we also caught the attention of General Tullius.

Our platoon is now his “go to" for missions involving Infiltration, Espionage, Sabotage, and Ambush.

30th of Sun's Height

With Neugrad in Imperial hands, the rest of Falkreath Hold followed.

We've reopened Pale Pass, established garrisons, and have begun receiving troops from Cyrodiil.

Intelligence reports that Ulfric has withdrawn most of the Stormcloaks to Windhelm.

4th of Last Seed

The Pale, Winterhold, and Rift campaigns were three of the easiest I've ever seen.

With the bulk of his forces entrenched at Windhelm, Ulfric couldn't maintain his grip on his last remaining allies.

We've already begun a naval blockade of the city.

Winterhold is nearly rebuilt.
All that's left is the last bit of dock at the new naval yard.

18th of Last Seed

I write this as I sit in the Forward Command Post at Kynesgrove.

Seven months.

Seven months and Gods know how many missions, but finally -after ten grueling, bloody years- the Legion has reached, not only Eastmarch, but Windhelm itself.

Tullius wanted to launch a full assault, but Rikke and I managed to talk him down.

Gods, he just LOVES to throw bodies at obstacles.
As if that will magickally solve his problems.

Ulfric has made himself nice and comfortable in the city.

Rikke tells me that the General expects me to find a way to finish Ulfric off, once and for all.

Easier said than done.

31st of Last Seed

Two weeks.
It's been almost two weeks, and I've yet to deliver a plan of attack to the General.

Windhelm, the City of Ysgramor, was built by those with a defensive mindset.

The main approach is a bridge.
Which, for millennia, has been a “bridge of death".

The main approach.

The. MAIN. approach.

Port.

The port is connected to the land by a very small sliver.

If we were to attack the port, we could divide Ulfric's forces, whilst simultaneously establishing a “beachhead" which gives us a small foothold in the city!

It's beautiful.

We'll march a contingent to the north of the city, we're already moving troops to and from Winterhold and Dawnstar, so we can use that to “mask" our movements.

We'll take the road west, then north, and then hump it cross country and strike from the east while Tullius strikes at the main gate from the south.

Intelligence reports that the port was evacuated due to the blockade and news of our recent victories.

I know when, and HOW to strike.

7th of Hearthfire

We've spent the last week moving into position.

I've been given mostly militia to bolster our ranks.

Tullius seems to have a low opinion of militia, especially LOCAL militia.
Let's hope Ulfric feels the same.

I remember Igmund, the Jarl of Markarth, telling us how Ulfric was a militia commander at the time of the “Markarth Uprising".

I pray to Talos that he has forgotten how useful militia can be.

8th of Hearthfire

Somehow Rikke and Björd found out that it was my birthday.

We had to postpone the assault, much to my consternation, due to a blinding snowstorm.

I sense Björd and Proximo are responsible for this.

I pray to my Matron, Nocturnal, that Shadow conceals our plans from Ulfric.

I pray today, for it's her Summoning Day, and her influence in Tamriel is at its peak.

20th of Hearthfire

The storm has finally cleared.

I've had time to look over the plans, and have decided to alter them.

During the blizzard, I sent a message to Winterhold to send an emissary to Solstheim for aid.

Raven Rock, Thirsk, AND the Skaal have answered the call.
They arrived at Winterhold two days ago.

I will join Tullius in the frontal assault, while our new allies assail the city from the East, West, and North.

Myrvano, the commander of the Raven Rock forces will secure the Docks and evacuate the Grey Quarter, while the Skaal and warriors of Thirsk provide cover by engaging the Stormcloaks.

The city will be under constant bombardment from both land and sea.

29th of Hearthfire

Surprisingly, the assault went as expected.

The Docks were taken and the Grey Quarter evacuated with relative ease.

Meanwhile,Tullius and I became bogged down on the bridge.

It wasn't difficult to summon all of my rage and charge the gate, unleashing a Fus shout on the main gate that damaged the entire city.

With the gate decidedly demolished, we swept into the city and engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Many died.

Even more surrendered.

Thanks be to Talos.

1st of Frostfall

Ulfric seems to constantly underestimate me.
It's become a nasty habit.
And, a mistake that has proven to be fatal.

The Stormcloaks attempted to use the alleyways to halt our advance and slaughter us.

Fools.

I. LIVE. HERE!!

Within minutes of entering the city, we were standing before the Palace of the Kings.

Once again, I unleashed my Fus.
Once again, the doors came off of their hinges.

The Great Hall was filled with Stormcloaks.

Ulfric, you fool, you've given me plenty of time to regain my Voice.

2nd of Frostfall

Whilst the battle was relatively short, it was long enough for me to be able to use my Thu'um.

Ulfric, seeing his forces crushed before him, surrendered and asked that I be the one to take his life.

My response shocked all who heard it.

I claimed my Right of Challenge, in accordance with ancient Nord Law.

He, reluctantly, accepted.

We donned tunics that were roughly spun and laid our weapons aside.

We were allowed the use of a single sword, mace, or axe and three shields.

Once all three were broken, all you had was sword, mace, or axe.

The candle is low, so I'll continue this tomorrow.

3rd of Frostfall

We selected our weapons, an axe for each of us, and readied our shields.

Just not a minute before he launched his attack, I tossed my first shield aside and was quickly given my second.

It was tossed aside a minute later.

Upon receiving my third, and final shield I waited until he attacked, which I easily dodged, and tossed my shield aside.

Everyone; especially Ulfric, Tullius, Björd, Galmar, Proximo, and Rikke; stood starting at me in utter bewilderment after seeing me toss aside my shields.

In all fairness, fighting him without a shield was tantamount to suicide, but I knew that he was mentally unstable and, thus, horribly out of his element. And, I was in no mood to “play it safe". I was resolved to completely destroy Ulfric once and for all, and the only way to do so would be complete humiliation in front of both armies, the gathered militias, and the citizens of Windhelm.

While it's true that I lost 95% of my defensive capabilities, I DID increase my speed and mobility. I also regained my natural agility, which has been said to rival the races of Mer and the Kajhiit. Quite the feat for a Breton.

My axe-work quickly reduced his shields to kindling.

After that, we quickly disarmed one another, bringing our chaotic and combative dance to its climax: a battle of the Thu'um.

He unleashed an Iis thu'um at me. Typical Nord, favoring the brutal cold that they're accustomed to.
Foolish Nord, because fire MELTS ice.

Not only did my Yol negate his Iis, it also slammed directly into him and sent him into a wall.

I closed on him in seconds and was readying the killing blow: my special Soul Rend thu'um.
I gave him the option of unconditional surrender or his soul on my mantle in its very own Black Soul Gem.

He chose the former.

Chapter One: Kein (War)

                     Qahnaarin

              (An Elder Scrolls story)

[My name is Hjalti, and the following is from an old journal that I found in a chest in the attic. My Da said that it belonged to one of our ancestors and that he was an adventurer.]

8th of Sun's Dawn 4E 205

It's been four years to the day since Durnehviir bestowed upon me the title of “Qahnaarin", or “Vanquisher" in his tongue.

I have certainly proven myself worthy of the name.

In the span of four short years, I've defeated hundreds of dovah and thousands of Men, Mer, and Beasts.

I brought the proud and mighty Volkihar to their knees.

Bards sing of my deeds in every court and tavern.

My tactics are now used as Basic Training for both the Imperial Legion and the College of Winterhold.

I have traversed the Soul Cairn, Apocrypha, and Sovengarde.

I have fought for love, for honor, and for profit.

So many battles fought and adventures had.
So many comrades buried.

Burgruk of Orsinium,
Alsiel of Summerset,
Lleryn of Mournhold,
Jeebza of Argonia,
Ysmi of Skyrim,
Ashtani of Elsweyr,
Bir'indi of Stros M'kai,
Valeria of Cyrodiil,
and
Selia of Valenwood.

They are but a few of my truest friends and most loyal allies.
And, I have buried each of them.

I know that they're in good hands.
Runil, while a former Thalmor Battlemage, is a true and honorable friend.

I knew that each of them wished to be interred at Falkreath, and I was more than willing to honor those wishes.

Now, I find myself back in the cold, back in the rain, drenching my blades with blood.
I stand with the Empire that once tried to execute me.

I stand against Ulfric and his Stormcloaks, because there's more at stake than pride and ego.

I'll try to rest, for now.
It'll be morning soon, and I already know that there will be a long and bloody road ahead of us.

15th of Sun's Dawn

Nothing like a week of forced marches to lift morale.

The men are exhausted and Procturus, our “Legate", doesn't seem to have the faintest idea of what he's doing.

I know that he despises me, due largely to the fact that I was given a field promotion to Centurion by General Tullius because of my combat experience and because I command the respect of the men.

Some of the Nords, who are Legionaires solely because they heard that I had joined, have taken to calling me “Son of Kyne".

I may be a Breton, but I know these wilds and where the game is bountiful.

I've been cutting the meat into strips and preserving it, then rationing it out to the men during the marches.

Several have marveled at how a Breton could be so hardy.
I “politely" informed them that many a Nord berserker had fallen by my hand.

Suffice to say, they got the message.

3rd of First Seed

DAMN HIM!! DAMN HIM TO THE VOID!!
I've told him, time and again, that Markarth was a death trap!

ALMOST AN ENTIRE MONTH WASTED!!

I told him that there were Stormcloaks, Forsworn, dragons, and all manner of beasts between Solitude and Markarth.

Just as I had told him that we should utilize an advance guard.

Now, HALF of the men are wounded and we're trapped in Markarth.

At least we MADE IT to Markarth.

Time to lead a suicidal offensive and clean up this  fetcher's mess.
AGAIN!!

With the Nine as my witness, I have half a mind to kill that idiot myself!

As usual, my fellow Centurion, Proximo has already volunteered himself and his platoon to me.

As he is so fond of saying, it's time to work my “magick".

I pray that his trust in me isn't misplaced.

14th of Rain's Hand

Well, it worked. Somehow.

We threw the gate open a I let loose with my Fus shout.
Damn near destroyed the walls, too.

By luck, my time with the Dawnguard, and the blessings of Talos and Zenithar, I managed to acquire the materials to make forty five Enhanced Steel Crossbows and forty five thousand Steel Bolts.

I issued them to the men and had them form a broken semi-circle at the main gate.

As soon as the gates were open and I unleashed the full power of my Voice, I had them open fire.

It was a slaughter.

Within seconds, two hundred and fifty Stormcloaks lay dead.

We pushed forward and sent Ulfric's boys into a full retreat.

I thank the Nine for the foresight to send a courier back to Solitude with a request for reinforcements.

A detachment of the Seventh Legion, under the command of Legate Björd Storm-Caller, arrived in time to cut off the Stormcloak retreat along the Karth.
Proximo and our men made short work of the rest.

All told, we suffered seventy-five percent casualties, mostly wounded.

We lost thirty-five of the finest soldiers I've ever had the honor of serving with, during the counter-offensive.

They shall be avenged.

7th of Second Seed

Due to our actions during the “Siege of Markarth", Proximo and I have been promoted to the rank of Legate.

We've also been moved to the reserves, due to our losses.

We've taken this time to replenish our ranks and secure The Reach.

The Hold is firmly in Imperial hands.

We even managed to secure Hjaalmarch and Haafingar Holds.

Western Skyrim is almost entirely claimed for the Empire.

23rd of Second Seed

I finally managed to broker a deal with Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun Hold.

He's agreed to “formally accept Imperial aid". Meaning that we don't have to bleed for the foreseeable future.

Proximo has jokingly begun calling me “Councillor" and “Your Grace".
Smart ass.

16th of Mid Year

North or south?

Falkreath is vital to our supply lines and troop movement, but so is Dawnstar.

Hmmm, strike from the south and take all of Falkreath and The Rift, or strike from the north and control the coast via The Pale and Winterhold?

Either course brings us closer to Windhelm, the prize, and the end of the war.

I need to think on this.

23rd of Mid Year

I've made my decision.

We will take The Pale, Winterhold, Falkreath, and The Rift.
Simultaneously.

Björd and Proximo shall strike from Haafingar and Whiterun, respectively, whilst I strike Falkreath and then The Rift.

It's an insane idea, but Proximo likes it.
Probably because HE'S insane.

Ulfric has had time to prepare for an attack, but he seems to believe that we will strike directly at Windhelm.

This may, or may not, be due to my ordering our reserve columns to move within striking distance of Fort Amol.

I may be damn near psychotic, but I'm not stupid.

Any seasoned warrior worth their salt knows that the best direction is MISdirection.

26th of Mid Year

By the Gods! Ulfric ATTACKED!

That n'wah actually ATTACKED!

OUR DECOY BROUGHT HIM TO US!

This changes things. We haven't even begun our offensive. This isn't cunning, it's desperation. That madman is trying to force a final confrontation. A final battle.

I think it's time I called upon the ghosts of my past. It's time to do things MY WAY.

Tullius sees the attack as a sign of weakness, but I know better. The most dangerous animal, is a WOUNDED animal. Ulfric is most definitely "wounded".

I've sent a dispatch to the General. Talos, hear me, I need your help.

5th of Sun's Height

It's been quiet. TOO quiet.I'm still waiting on the General's response.

Thank the Nine, Ulfric hasn't made any attempts to draw us into a battle.It seems like he's waiting. Both of us. Waiting.

I've had our decoy fall back to Valtheim Towers, Guldun Rock, and White River Watch.

We, effectively, control the western portion of the White River.

7th of Sun's Height

One of our patrols captured a Stormcloak courier.

Turns out old Ulfric thinks that I'm Björd. Interesting.

The men wanted to execute the courier, but I intervened.

She'll be better off laboring in Cidhna Mine.

10th of Sun's Height

I've finally received word from the General.

My plan to retake Fort Neugrad has been approved, despite the General's misgivings. I suspect that I have Rikke to thank for this.

Apparently, he doesn't think that a small force of Kahjiit, Dunmer, Bosmer, and Argonians could get the job done.

I realize that he would prefer to launch a full assault, but, in light of Ulfric's recent and rather erratic behavior, I believe that stealth is the best course.

Honestly, I'm interested in seeing how this plays out.