The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin - Akavir and Beyond

                                                                   Chapter One

     This day has started early for Iriisii, the responsibilities of being Empress bring with it never ending responsibilities. She has been going over the usual papers needing her seal. Diplomats wanting audiences to discuss political matters, exchanging platitudes and promises that she knows will never come to anything. There was something that crossed her mind recently, actually over breakfast this morning as Lord Blackwell gave her the itinerary for the day. And she wished for something exciting to happen to take her away from all of this. Then she remembered that saying that she herself has used from time to time, 'be careful what you wish for, you might just get it'. And that unnerving feeling of gastric distress that came over her in that moment.

     The memory has been hanging over her like a dark cloud all day, it is dusk and nothing has happened. She thinks to herself, 'just the rest of the night to go now. What is the worst that can happen?' She looks up from her tankard of Tessio's to see Lord Blackwell taking care of his own. The door to the outside opens and a guard walks in, spots Lord Blackwell, walks over as Iriisii starts looking for a fast escape. The guard leans over Lord Blackwell and whispers in his ear. The last bit of Tessio's is spewed across the table as Iriisii makes a dive out of the chair. She makes it to her feet, swaying from side to side as the Tessio's reacts to her sudden movement. She swaps the chair with a different one from the next table nearby, as Tessio speaks to his barmaid and points to the chair.

     She turns to Lord Blackwell who is still coughing into his tankard. Tessio calls out to them.

     Tessio: "Everything all right over there?"

     Iriisii: "Don't worry it wasn't the 'Special Brew'.

     Tessio breathes a sigh of relief and continues wiping the bar surface, even though you can see your own face in it once you got past the glow from the torches reflecting on it. She sits patiently waiting for Lord Blackwell to regain his composure. Once he does, he apologizes for the disturbance.

     Lord Blackwell: "I am very sorry about that your Majesty. I was caught completely by surprise."

     Iriisii: "Now that, is a strange occurrence. What is it that caught you like that?"

     Lord Blackwell: "I was informed of a letter that was addressed to you."

     Iriisii: "To me? To cause such a reaction from you it wasn't written by Uncle Sheol was it?"

     Lord Blackwell: "It might as well have been since I cannot read it. The courier that delivered it could not say where it came from or who paid to have it delivered. He only said that the bearer of it was of very large build, almost completely covered by white robes. The courier said it was his voice that was strange, but he could not say how. Once he was given the letter, the bearer spoke a few words and the next thing he remembers is handing it to the guard at the Throne Room door."

     Iriisii: "That does sound strange, but not strange enough to warrant such a reaction."

     Lord Blackwell's voice drops to a whisper: "The courier came from Akavir."

     Iriisii's face goes rigid, she closes her eyes, then lowers her head before holding up two fingers to Tessio.

     Tessio: "Coming right up!"

     After their bottles have been delivered, Iriisii looks as calmly as she can at Lord Blackwell.

     Iriisii: "You cannot save me from my own stupidity, and so you have to let me read it."

     Lord Blackwell: "How is this the fault of your own stupidity?"

     Iriisii: "I wished for something exciting over breakfast, to come and take me away from all of this for a bit. I got that queasy feeling in my stomach, and the feeling of a dark cloud hovering all over me today."

     Lord Blackwell: "Happen very often?"

     Iriisii: "Just a moment."

     She looks around very carefully to see who is still there and does not see Tendril Sethri anywhere.

     Iriisii: "That is strange."

     Lord Blackwell: "What now?"

     Iriisii: "Usually when I get that feeling, Tendril Sethri is somewhere nearby, usually when he has something to say to me."

     Lord Blackwell: "Is that he does not seem to be here now a good thing or a bad thing?"

     Iriisii: "I may know after I see what is in that letter."

     Lord Blackwell hands it over to her. She does not feel anything malevolent about it, although there are strong traces of magic about it.

     Iriisii: "Gods! Why did I not see this before?"

     Lord Blackwell: "What?"

     Iriisii: "Serendipity, Deja Vu, Kismet, take your pick."

     Lord Blackwell: "I do not understand."

     Iriisii: "It was maybe five, six years ago. I was sitting at a table in the Bannered Mare in Whiterun. Sethri walked up, sat down, greeted me, and gave me a letter from Sigunn."

     Lord Blackwell: "Rigmor's mother?"

     Iriisii: "Yes. It was that letter that brought me to Bruma and everything that happened afterward."

     Lord Blackwell leans back in the chair.

     Lord Blackwell: "So that was what started the whole chain of events that brought us here."

     Iriisii nods her head.

     Iriisii gives the letter a little wave, "and where is this going to take me now?"

     A voice from the door calls out, "There you are! Well at least you are with the Empress, so I know its business."

     Valerica walks up, grabs a chair, and sits. Tessio wipes his brow with the polishing rag in his hand. The barmaid had just finished cleaning the chair.

     Valerica: "This meeting looks serious, what could be so Nirn shaking?"

     Iriisii: 'I am about to find out."

     Iriisii breaks the seal, unfolds the letter and begins reading it. At first it is incomprehensible to her, then first Shivista helps, then Darkstar. With each reading a portion, they together are able to make sense of it.

     Iriisii: "Someone went to a lot of trouble to make certain the contents of this letter could not be read except for a handful of people in all of Nirn."

     Lord Blackwell: "What did they do to it?"

     Iriisii: "Nothing that you could duplicate, sorry. First it was written as the Tsaesci write, but they did not use the Tsaesci language, just their multifold style. The language is Ashen, but the syntax is somethin I have never seen before. And the letters, the letters are Dovahzul. It came from one of the beast races of Akavir."

     Lord Blackwell: "Which one do you think?"

     Iriisii: "I can rule out the Tsaesci, and the Ka-Po-Tun, based on the content. I also do not think the Tang Mo had anything to do with it, except maybe they delivered it to the courier, and that leaves..."

     Lord Blackwell: "Who does that..."

     Valerica: "Shhh, Martin, let her do this. It must be done carefully not to attract the wrong attention."

     Lord Blackwell: "What do you know about it or believe you know?"

     Valerica: "Just by process of elimination, there is one probability left. Potentially the most dangerous probability, one that must be carefully considered as to how to approach."

     Iriisii: "Indeed Lady Valerica, Lord Blackwell, have you ever heard of the 'Snow Demons' of Kemal in Akavir?"

     Lord Blackwell: "I cannot say that I ever have."

     Iriisii: "Tamriel has had contact but it was first in 1E 2703, Reman I defeated them then and sent them back. In 2E 572 they took Windhelm and moved on into Morrowind. It took the combined armies of the Nords, the Dunmer, the Tribunal. Not until the Hist sent the Argonians to get involved did they finally repel that invasion. And we have the Ebonheart Pact as a result of that. Anyway, I was doing a task in Windhelm for the Vigilants. Looking into something going on under the city. While I was there, I ran across an ancient temple. No one had been inside since the mid second era. It was in there I found this story. The details are too close to the historical records for it to not be factual. What concerns me most is that we kept wondering why the Tsaesci wanted so badly to invade Tamriel. We assumed it was mainly for a ready food supply. But now I think that was incidental to the real reason."

     Lord Blackwell: "Which is?"

     Iriisii: "They were being forced out, not by the Ka Po-Tun, or the Tang-Mo, separately or together. All three, the Ka Po-Tun, the Tang-Mo, and the Tsaesci were keeping the Snow Demons of Kamal in check. But it took all three, now the balance is upset and the Kamali are once more gathering. During the cold winters in Akavir the Kamali are trapped within the ice floes where they go into a kind of sleep until the ice thaws. Now the ice has thawed."

     Valerica: "And they are gathering, but this time, with the Tsaesci demolished, the others cannot keep them in check."

     Iriisii: "Precisely. But there does appear to be a ray of hope. A Kamali, I do not know what the equivalent word is, mage, sorcerer, something along those lines, appears to disagree with where the leaders want to take them. He found out about what I did to the Tsaesci and thinks I could be the one to deal with this situation."

     Lord Blackwell: "But what can you do? What can any of us do? If it took three armies and the Dunmer gods to stop them before?"

     Iriisii: "I know, but the key is to hit them before they leave, or rather to change their path to Atmora."

     Lord Blackwell: "Why Atmora?"

     Valerica: "That is brilliant! Martin! Atmora is now a constant ice hell. It does not thaw out there at all, at any time of the year. If they can be marooned there the ice and cold will freeze them again and this time it will become their perpetual prison."

     Iriisii: "The key is they came here looking for something, a person, an artifact, all we know is that it was called the 'Ordained Receptacle'. Some think that was what the Tsaesci came here for originally, to find this 'receptacle', and see if it could be used against the Kamali. Besides, in the past, they did not have me, the Last Dragonborn. And I am more than the Dragonborn of the past. I can call upon many more than they could then. I have access to 'Chaos Weapons' from the Fifth Era, even now I am close to creating my own personal weapon using what I have learned from studying those weapons. I have one of the ancient Dwemer plane ships, that can bear me and all I take with me virtually anywhere, even into the Oblivion Realms. I can call upon the Psijic Order, and others I have not said anything about. I will use them if I must, but I prefer not to. Besides, am I not 'WAR', first of the Four Horsemen, if the Kamali want war, I will give them WAR. And it will be on my terms, not theirs."

     Lord Blackwell: "You have been keeping things from me."

     Iriisii: "Some things, yes, but not because I do not trust you. But rather to keep certain hands from getting theirs on them."

     Lord Blackwell: "You mean the Synod?"

     Iriisii: "Yes. I shudder to think what damage they could do if they got access to even half of what I have found and stored away. I am always keeping in mind just how dangerous these things are so that I can keep focused on not using them unless there is no other way, and then making sure that word of their presence does not get spread everywhere. Believe me when I say, I am scared half out of my wits about where this could lead to. And if most of the other scholars even suspected what I am thinking, well, I would have no choice but to take a page from your book, and arrange some permanent disappearances."

     Lord Blackwell: "That is a frightening thought, that you would even see the need of such a thing. But what could be that frightening?"

     Iriisii: "It is just possible, it could involve what happened that is recorded in a certain book. The book entitled, 'Where Were You When The Dragon Broke'."

     Lord Blackwell: "I am sorry, I do not see the connection. Valerica, dear?"

     Valerica is stock still, an expression of dismay, horror, fear, all mixed into one on her face.

     Iriisii: "She sees and understands what I am talking about. About why I must be so careful, and also why I cannot leave this alone, but must go in person and deal with it."

     Valerica in a hoarse whisper, "I do not envy you in the least. But there is no one else I would trust to deal with this. The consequences if things went wrong are too horrible to imagine."

     Lord Blackwell: "What consequences?"

     Iriisii: "Let me just say, they could affect everything, and not just on Nirn, or even in Mundus. It could affect all of Existence itself. I must go and do this, find out the truth of what happened, how it has come to this, and what must be done to preserve what we have."

     Lord Blackwell: "Was there anything in that letter?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, he wants my help to find someone. This is where the letter gets obfuscated."

     Lord Blackwell: "How so?"

     Iriisii: "He speaks of a Tsaesci woman, wait, not woman, maiden. Why that is important I do not know, but it seems it is. She disappeared several thousand years ago, possibly in the Merethic Era. According to the writer, she is extremely powerful and carries the loyalty of Dragons, like I do now. I suspect this was either before Alduin began his reign of terror, or..."

     Lord Blackwell: "Or what?"

     Iriisii: "Now I begin to understand. This has to do with the multiple timelines before Akatosh had the Jills merge it into one."

     Lord Blackwell: "You have lost me now."

     Valerica: "I can tell you about it all later. I had ample time to study even the most esoteric of things spoken of and written about. I know of what you speak. You think she may have 'went to sleep' before the 'merge' of the timelines. And so nothing of her and her abilities were changed, altered, or lost because of it. Maybe she was from one of the other timelines, and if so..."

     Iriisii: "That could mean a lot of things. But best if I find out before anyone else does. I hope it means she could be of help in dealing with the Kamali. We cannot let them come to our shores again. We are not recovered from the Tsaesci. Either way I need to ask of the Dragons what they may remember of her, who she is, why did she disappear, and every other question I can come up with."

     Lord Blackwell: "You spoke of going back to your old home. You think they would join the Empire?"

     Iriisii: "If they could see advantage to it, yes. And I am just the one to do that. Besides I have unfinished business there."

     Lord Blackwell: "The one who put the contract on your life, that started everything that has led you thus far."

     Valerica: "What is this about a contract on your life?"

     Iriisii: "I was still a young girl, about eighteen when it happened. My whole village was put to the torch. I was the only survivor, and that because the 'Mother' decided to capture and train me as an assassin rather than kill me. Somehow no matter what I do, some trace of them still haunts me. I have to go back and find out why it happened and what I must do to put a true ending to it all."

     Valerica: "I would say that as far as you have come, you will find out what you need, do what you must, and shake the dust of the past from your boots."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Lady Valerica, from your lips to the ears of the Gods."

     Valerica: "Go find your mates, go to bed with them, things will look very much different in the morning."

     Iriisii: "Thank you again, I shall do just that."

     Iriisii stands carefully and makes her way outside. Then starts back toward the palace to her mates and her children. She gets out of sight of Tessios, in a very quiet part of the Plaza, and becomes aware she is not alone. Looking around she sees no guards, no late night citizens out for a walk. But by the same token she senses no threat to herself either. She stops and sits on a stone bench in a portion of the shadows forged by the moonlight. She then sits patiently waiting for who that waits for her to speak their mind, maybe, just maybe it has some bearing on events now coming forward.

     Mephala: "I greet thee Dragonborn Empress, you have indeed come far since I last spoke with you. Farther than any of us, Daedra or Aedra, could have thought possible. How you took care of the Tsaesci was inspired, worthy of one who has reached for and grasped being the First Horseman called 'War', too long has that position gone unfilled. And involving the Gods of Eld, was a masterstroke of genius, both for how they came to your mate's heartfelt call but did so in such dramatic fashion proving to everyone with eyes to see that you are of their blood and flesh. And now another page of Nirn's past has revealed itself to be read. This time all who stand above watch this and know dismay, yea, even horror of this opening on the eve of Akatosh's dream.

     Yes, I see the question on your mind, how could those of us who stood apart from the creation of Mundus and Nirn now care for its fate? In some unforeseen way it has become, or you might say 'grown on us'. We could and did not ignore it as did those within the void, even as we did not take part in it. We too, do not wish to see it fall, even as it seems upon occasion that is exactly what we have schemed for. Our purpose is as 'agents of change', to keep things here from growing staid, eventually 'dying on the vine'. Which would be in my eyes at least, a tragedy of future purpose. Did not Akatosh's servant lay on to your Rigmor to make Cyrodiil a 'shining beacon' to draw its children home? We believe that Nirn should be the 'shining jewel' in the night sky that all the other worlds of Mundus see.

     You have taken it into yourself to set aside the path you have trod since your second birth, and embraced the Great Balance. Who is to say this is not what was intended from the beginning for you, even if those who brought about your conception had no inkling of it. For as an Aasimar Scourge, you could never stoop to even hear and listen to my words, much less work with me. But as Champion of the Great Balance, this becomes possible. The Kamali, even as they as colloquially called 'demons' are in truth far from it, they are the destructive aspect of nature given intelligence and physical form. As a 'force of nature' they cannot be reasoned with, but certain individuals can be reasoned with, can be brought over to serve the 'Great Balance' with you, and give you the inroads you will need to deflect the Kamali from the direction they move to. The key to successfully fight a 'force of nature' is not to stop it, but to deflect it, to spend its energies in another direction.

     You have seen one future fate of Nirn occurring at the end of the Fifth Era. As you have thought, the third Numinidium was reawakened and used to devastating effect. What you did not know was that event started here with this one, or more correctly with their first foray into Tamriel, continuing with their second attempt through Windhelm and Morrowind. And now the third, but not final time of their resurgence. But what needs concern you now is this question, will they find the 'Ordained Receptacle' and what part does it play in all of this? Also a little correction to history that may or may not be helpful. It concerns the period when the Tsaesci sat upon the Ruby Throne you now occupy. I am aware of all that is written about it, but what has subsequently been hidden from the record was that there was some Kamal survivors from their defeat in Morrowind that joined the Tsaesci to take the throne from those who came after Attrebus. and who is to say they were all completely rooted out later after their rule ended. After all, Morag Bal had to have a initial point of contact to negotiate her plans with the Tsaesci. I see I have given you much to consider, but one more thing and I will leave you to plot and plan what you will do. All who have not done so yet, will ask you to be their Champion. I know you will wrankle at some but consider this, if you are to be the Champion of the Great Balance, are you not already in part the 'Champion' of all?"

     Mephala departs and Iriisii sits, thinks, and considers what she has been told. Adding it into what she already knows, she can see where it fits tightly, bringing the light of comprehension to more of what is going on, and now its past, and its future, as well as its present. A soft, warm breeze before the coming winter, a presage of what is to come?

     Kyne: "My Thunderchild Daughter, this time at least, Mephala speaks the truth without the undercurrents of plots within plots that is her hallmark. All that she has spoken to you of is true. Now you must consider what you will do with this knowledge. We have faith in you, faith forged in the fires of adversity. We will stand with you, no matter what you decide, for we know you will act for the best of all of us. You have the tools needed to begin here at your hands, use them, forge what else you need, then temper those tools so they do not break when you use them. One last gift we give you, make of it what you will, 'when all seems dark and unforgiving, shadows abounding everywhere, seek the light of home, there you will find what you earnestly seek."

     Iriisii adds Kyne's words and with the uncertainty of Mephala's words taken away, the mists of doubt are blown away, revealing at least where she needs to start from and the direction she must begin in. She resolutely stands, bending the cricks and creaks, both figurative and literal from her body and mind. She spots a guard walking toward her.

     Iriisii: "Guard!"

     The guard comes running over, stopping short and coming to attention when he sees who is calling him.

     Guard: "How may I serve, Your Majesty?"

     Iriisii: "Find the Captain of the Night Watch, tell them to have the the Captain of the Guard, the Lord Chancellor, all of the Legion Commanders in the city, and my Council of Advisors to meet me in the 'War Room' as soon as they can wake up and get there."

     Guard: "What do I say the problem is?"

     Iriisii: "Tell them the Kamal Horde of Akavir gathers once more and if they think they are going to just roll over us, they have quite another thing coming!"

     The guard turns and takes off at a run. He knows the import of the task the Empress has given him, and this message is one that is not to be delayed by Court Protocol. Iriisii starts making her way back toward the palace, this time to the 'War Room', then thinks, better to get the kitchens fired up early this is going to be a long day. The guard searches for and finds the Duty Captain in the room set aside for the Officer of the Day.

     Guard: "Captain! Emergency request from the Empress!"

     Duty Captain: "What is it at this time of the night?"

     The guard relays what the Empress wants.

     Duty Captain: "Did she say why?"

     The guard looks around and shuts the door, figuring this is not the time to start a panic.

     Guard: "Sir, she said, 'The Kamal Horde of Akavir gathers once more and if they think they are going to just roll over us, they have quite another thing coming!'"

     Duty Captain, white-faced: "She said the Kamal Horde?"

     Guard: "Yes, sir."

     The Duty Captain sits down and writes out a series of coded messages, he rises, then opens a second door on the right side of the room from the main door.

     Duty Captain: "All runners on deck, now! This is not a drill, damn it, move your asses!"

     He hands them out to the runners. 

     Duty Captain: "The recipients are written on the outside face of the message. Now go find them and deliver these like your lives depended on it, because they just might."

     He then sits and writes out several longer missives and gives them to the guard.

     Duty Captain: "Take these to the courier station and get them sent out. Tell them to spare no expense to get these delivered as soon as possible."

     Guard : "Yes sir! Sir?"

     Duty Captain: "Yes. Guardsman?"

     Guard: "Who are these Kamali?"

     Duty Captain: "A question first, have you taken advantage of the new training the Empress has been giving?"

     Guard: "Yes, sir. I was in the first batch that asked and volunteered."

     Duty Captain: "Thank the Gods for our Empress, son. You and your fellows that have been taking that training may be the only ones to live through what is coming. The Kamali make the Tsaesci look like school yard bullies. The last time they came, they took Windhelm in just a few days, killed all but one of the royal family, then went straight into Morrowind. The royal survivor rallied the Skyrim forces and came up behind them. It took the Skyrim forces, the Morrowind army, and the Tribunal to bring them to a stalemate. It wasn't until the Hist sent the Argonians in that the combined forces were able to beat them before their own ships could come and get them. And I would not bet a fake Septim that there were no survivors that managed to slip away and hide."

     Guard: "I will get these sent out if I have to roust every courier we have out of their beds."

     Duty Captain: "Thank you Guardsman, may the Gods watch over you in the coming days."

     Iriisii notes the added level of anxiety as she walks into the kitchen to find the head cook firing up the ovens already.

     Head Cook: "Your Majesty, what can I do for you?"

     Iriisii: "When you get things going here send someone to the 'War Room' with a extra large food tray. Some juices, ale, coffee, and whatever else you can lay hands on. It is going to be a long day."

     Head Cook: "Right away, your Majesty. Uhh...is it as bad as the rumors are making it out to be?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know what the rumors are saying. But whatever is being said, I will pull in every scrap of help I can find wherever I can find it. If I have to empty Shor's Halls in Sovngarde of all the heroes, you can be sure I will do it."

     Head Cook: "Thank you, your Majesty. Everyone I know prays at the Temple for you, and thanks the Gods for sending you to us."

     Iriisii: "I will tell you a secret and I do not mind if you spread this around on the sly. I think of all of those in this Empire, no, 'my' Empire as my family, and no one fucks with my family!"

     The Head Cook straightens his back, a gleam lights up his eyes.

     Head Cook: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, all of us will do our part, and we will send whoever comes to make trouble slinking back with their tails between their legs!"

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Head Cook, I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders."

     She reaches out and squeezes his shoulder before turning and heading for the 'War Room', passing some of the kitchen staff on their way in, she can hear the Head Cook riding herd on everyone, getting them at their jobs. The guards she meets in the hallways are alert and snap to attention as she passes. She still stops to speak a few words with them. She does not mince words about how serious this could be, but she assures then she will leave no stone unturned to find every ally and asset she can bring to bear. And when it comes she will be on the front lines as she was with the Tsaesci. They will have to come through her before they get to anyone else.

     As she nears the 'War Room' she can hear the voices clamoring about what in Oblivion is going on now. Why were they dragged out of bed this early in the morning. Some like General Tullius and Lord Chancellor Blackwell are trying to restore some kind of order, then Lilith spies her coming down the hallway. She ducks out, trots to her and asks what to do.

     Lilith: "Apologies, Your Majesty, those few of us who have a good idea of what you said in your message have tried to impress the seriousness of this, but we are far outnumbered. But be that as it may, what kind of entrance do you want to make to grab their attention?"

     Iriisii: "Gods, this is one time when I wish Desidarius was here, but we will just have to make do. Damn but I need armor fit for the First Horseman, that may be the only thing that would shut that cacophony up. I wonder..."

     Lilith as if reading her mind, "You can try. I mean you can call 'War's Mount', why not the 'Armor' to go with it."

     Iriisii: "Worth a try at the very least. Give me a moment to see what we can pull off."

     She closes her eyes, shuts out the noise, voice by voice, until there is dead silence in her mind. Then she reaches out like she does when she has called the 'Horsemen'. This time it is not just her words that travel to them but her astral aspect as well. She looks around where she has landed, the room is bright, well kept but lived in as well. It is then that 'Death' walks into the room notices her. He immediately goes to one knee and bows.

     Death: "It is my pleasure to welcome you, War. How may I be of assistance?"

     Iriisii: "Did the previous 'War' have a specific set of armor that he wore?"

     Death looks up questioningly, "Yes, he did. But it will change to match what it sees in you should you decide to equip it. May I ask what is the reason you ask?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know how much of Nirn's history you are familiar with, but the Kamali have thawed and gather to once again seek the 'Ordained Receptacle'."

     Death: "I will call our brothers, together we will ride with you and meet them on the battlefield. If you will come with me, I will take you to where our armament is kept."

     Iriisii: "Thank you."

     Death rises and gestures for her to walk alongside him. He asks what she knows of the situation as they make their way to the armory. As she tells him what she knows, has been told, has speculated about. He listens carefully, evaluating everything, then coming to a conclusion, but wanting to speak to 'Famine' who is also their historian first before saying anything to Iriisii.

     Death: "Here we are, his things are stored in the vault with the crossed blades symbol. Your touch as 'War' will open it. I will call our brothers, they should be here soon."

     Iriisii: "I do not know how to thank you for how you have helped me so far."

     Death: "There is no need, future events will give us much to ponder about our place in Existence. And the possibility of going further than we ever expected. Such is reward enough for me, at least."

     Iriisii: "You have been speaking with the 'Aspect of Death' have you not? I have no issue with that, just understand there is much he knows but is commanded to be silent about. That does not mean that some way can not be found to reach such knowledge from other means that does not violate his oath."

     Death: "I understand, and would never put him in a position where he could become compromised."

     Iriisii: "Good, then I have naught to worry about in that direction then. Now let me see if that vault will open for me."

     Iriisii steps up to it and looks over the surface, there at the hilts of the crossed blades. There is enough room to slip her hands around them. As she does this, she notes that they feel like they were molded for her hands. There is a deep 'click' and as she pulls on those 'hilts', the door splits in front of her, each side opening as she releases the hilts. Then she steps inside and takes a deep breath, to try and catch what this vault can tell her of he who was the previous 'War' before it makes itself 'hers'. 'Feeling' the vault is like putting on an old, worn, but much loved set of clothes. She feels comfortable, like she has been here many times in her life, instinctively knowing everything in here, where it is, what it is used for. Her hands reach out and touch objects of their own volition, their history coming alive for her. She hears a chuckle and looks back toward 'Death'. The vault likes and respects you. I think, if I am not wrong, that it has waited for you for a very long time.

     A glowing ribbon of light erupts from a arcane sigil carved in the interior wall, wraps itself around her and sinks inside her as she leans back into its gentle hold. When she comes back aware, she notes Death is quiet, not speechless just not knowing what to say.

     Iriisii: "What just happened?"

     Famine: "Yes, what indeed did just happen?"

     Pestilence: "If I am not mistaken, the vault has joined itself to her will and call."

     Iriisii: "And this means what exactly?"

     Death: "It will make itself available to you, anywhere you are, at any time you wish, all you have to do is 'call' it and it will be there for you."

     Iriisii: "I take it this has not happened before?"

     Famine: "In the beginning, it did, but as the positions passed hands, the ability stopped being granted. Now that it has returned, and for you, it means great deeds are ahead."

     Death tells Famine what she had told him about the events on Nirn, asking him if he had any insights that could help her deal with this."

     Famine: "Hmmm, there may indeed be something in the records, please excuse me a moment while I access them."

     He goes over to a large, thick, elegantly embossed book. He lets his finger wander over its cover as he whispers to it, then opens it and begins reading.

     Famine: "Yes, I see. It makes sense this way. Interesting, I wonder if anyone put those pieces together."

     He finally closes the book, sighs deeply, then turns to Iriisii.

     Famine: "What I am about to tell you may not seem possible to you, but the evidence is there if one looks deep enough to draw the lines together. The previous attempts by the Kamal to find the 'Ordained Receptacle' failed because they came looking too soon. They did not understand the meaning of the what they were told they needed to protect themselves from the Ka Po-Tun. They knew what the king of the tiger people was trying to do, and so they wished for protection before he was successful. The problem then was if they managed to find what they were looking for, it would be an inferior version of what they needed."

     Pestilence: "Come out and tell her what she needs to know. You can discuss the details later since we are going with her."

     Famine: "Very well, War, the Ordained Receptacle they seek is you, the Last Dragonborn, the greatest of all Dragonborn. Being anointed of Akatosh, is equal in meaning to being 'Ordained'. And being a Dragonborn, able to take and store dragonsouls..."

     Iriisii: "Is equal to being a 'receptacle'. And the Tiger King has managed to merge himself with a Dragon. You are right it does make sense when you go deep enough to connect the lines. I will have no choice but to fight, the question is do I fight the Kamal or the Ka Po-Tun?"

     Famine: "You may have to fight both, for different reasons. If the Kamali will not listen and let you deal with this as you wish, you may have to fight them to get them to accept your authority in this. Then you will have no choice but to fight the Ka Po-Tun, for he will see a chance to deal with an old persistent enemy in a position of weakness having lost a great battle with you. He may also think you weakened enough for him to even defeat you."

     Iriisii: "It makes sense from what little I know of them. But one thing for certain is I do not want this fight on Tamrielic soil. They have suffered enough to last for a millennium, now they have a chance at peace and I will see that they get it. The question then is where can I lure them to where we can battle this out and not drag anyone else into it. Wait! Now I know what Kyne was trying to tell me, I know where to stage the battle!"

     Famine: "Where do you want this to be done, War?"

     Iriisii: "In my homeland, where the battle was fought that birthed our people, the Aasimar."

     Pestilence: "I concur, it is big enough, remote enough, and there is great energy buried there waiting for you to come and wake it, accept it, and use it."

     Iriisii: "It would explain the pull I have been feeling, trying to get me to return. But first I need War's armor, if I am to be drawn into this then let it be as 'WAR' with my brothers at my side."

     Death: "Take your armor, WAR. Let it show who you are now and who the future will see when it calls your name."

     Iriisii turns back to the Vault, and there it is, laid out on a table, ready for her to put it on and become 'WAR' once again. She knows it will change to reflect who 'WAR' will be once she immerses herself and personifies the Aspect. She walks to it, touches it. She swears she can feel its desire to change, to become something new, never before seen or experienced. It feels like it is almost putting itself onto her, and when the last piece is fitted, it glows with a blinding light and begins bringing out what it sees inside her.

     Once the light dims back and the new 'WAR' can now be seen. The other three Horsemen stand amazed at the vision that is 'WAR'. They swear they can see visions of past epic battles being fought as they look into the armor. Its bands wrapping all the way around her chest, curving down her back to reach, winding down and around her legs, to enwrap her feet. It takes a few seconds before it dawns on her what is missing. So she places the helm on her head, and calls deep within herself, 'Snowdevil, come and make your mark upon me.'

     She feels him eagerly portaling himself to her, knowing what she wants and intends, he changes enroute and emerges from his portal to wrap himself around her armor, following its lines, until he lays his head facing outward, just below her neck and becomes a completely lifelike drawing of a sinuous serpent-like dragon completely wrapped around her. She looks at her brothers to find them kneeling before her, enrapt by what they just witnessed. Death wraps up their thoughts and feelings.

     Death: "All hail the 'Dragon of War'!"

     Iriisii: "Time to go back. Are all of you ready?"

     Death: "This is what we were born for, War!"

     Outside the War Room, in the Imperial Palace, Lilith watches as Iriisii vanishes from in front of her, and four armed and armored figures appear in her stead. She instinctively draws her sword and takes a defensive position to guard those in the War Room.

     Lilith: "On my life, whoever you are, you go no further!"

     Iriisii removes her helm.

     War: "That will not be necessary, Lilith."

     Lilith: "Your Majesty! Iriisii, How? What? Who?"

     War: "We are now the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'. I am 'War', beside me is 'Famine', 'Pestilence', and 'Death'. We will lead the 'Charge of War' from now on until this is resolved. You will be our 'Right Hand', Lord Blackwell will be our 'Left Hand'. We now have more knowledge of what is happening and why. The situation is more dangerous than was first thought, this war will be a 'Crux Point' that will affect all of Existence, thus we have become involved. If you would announce us, we will begin."

     Lilith: "What of the children and your mates? How do we proceed with them?"

     War: "They are in no danger for now. That may change later, we will address that when it is needed."

     Lilith: "Give me a moment, I will need to get their attention."

     War: "Very well. But first, if you please, kneel before me."

     Lilith to her credit does not hesitate but does as she is asked.

     War places her hands on Lilith's shoulders.

     War: "Lilith se ashen, kein calls hi wa ahmik, fen hi kos un haal?"

     She recognizes 'War' is speaking in Dovahzul. And the gravitas of this is not lost on her. Somehow she knows what is being asked of her and what it will mean for her future if she accepts the charge."

     Lilith: "As I have pledged my life to the service of Iriisii Starborn, Empress of Tamriel, so now do I pledge my life to the service of Iriisii Dovahkiin, 'War' of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

     A red glow surrounds Lilith and changes her Siren's armor to something more akin to War's armor.

     War: "Alok Lilith, grah vahdin do kein. Haal se dovah do kein."

     Lilith rises, feeling the difference in her armament, she looks at what she can see. And is amazed by what she sees. then she draws her sword and sees it is no longer just steel. It corruscates with a red crackling that seems to be within the metal itself.

     War: "You now bear a 'Soulblade of War', in the service of War, it is nigh unstoppable. A fit weapon for the 'Right Hand' of the 'Dragon of War'."

     As Lilith turns her sight once more to War, the drawing of the dragon on her armor moves. Its head lifts from the armor, looks at her, nods its head, and returns to its place.

     Lilith in an awed voice, "Never have I seen such a thing!"

     Death: "And until now we have never had a holder of war such as Iriisii has shown us. Truly she has achieved rebirth as an Archon."

     Famine: "Not since the first members of the Four, has there been an Archon, and the first 'War' was that Archon. He began the 'Saga of Legends' that has endured about us to this day. With a new 'Archon', we begin a new 'Saga', one that may very well endure until the end of time itself. Hail to the Archon 'War', hail to the Dragon of War!"

     War returns her helm to her head, its dragon form reshapes itself until it is indistinguishable from the dragon that is now resident in her as her dragonsoul.

     War: "Announce us, Hand of War, for we must be about the business of the 'Four'."

     Lilith turns and walks to the door into the 'War Room', girds her resolve takes three steps inside and two to the right, draws her 'Soulblade' and raises it above her head. The blade rings with the sound of deep bells the sound of which reverberates with the sounds of battle within the bells gong. As the faces all turn to look at her.

     Lilith: "Hear ye all who hear the 'Bells of War' sing out. I, Lilith, the 'Right Hand of the Four' do announce unto you, the Dragon of War, and her brothers, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. I present unto you, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

     As she sheathes her sword the echoes of the bells still ringing, War and her brothers walk into the room. The uproar is immediate with the military moving to the front and drawing blades to protect the others. Then War, removes her Dragon Helm, exposing her face to all.

     War: "I stand here before you all now as 'War', First of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The gravitas of this situation demands our presence, and we will now take command of prosecuting this war. You all will have your duties to perform and it is expected that you will perform them to the best of your abilities, for nothing less will be expected. Lilith has accepted becoming our 'Right Hand'. We have selected who we wish to be our 'Left Hand' and will speak to him of it later. Now we must add the knowledge we know of this to what you already have. Then you will know why we had to come. Sit gentlemen and listen carefully, for the fate of Nirn and Existence itself hangs on what we do."

     As War takes Iriisii's seat at the conference table, each represented there takes theirs. Three more chairs are pulled from the sides of the room and placed behind War's. As her brothers take their seats, War begins to go over everything known about this situation, correcting the records as she goes. Hours later, and as the food and drink trays are emptied and replaced.

     War: "Now we come to the penultimate question. Who or what is this Ordained Receptacle the Kamali come here to seek."

     Lord Blackwell: "Is the answer to this question known?"

     War: "Yes, it is. But first it must be clarified, the first two attempts were premature, for the Kamali did not understand the prophecy they were acting upon, and also did not understand the history of Nirn. This was due to their periodic 'freezes' and 'thaws', and also explains why they are now gathering again. The 'Ordained Receptacle' they seek is a person, and that person is the Empress Iriisii Dovahkiin."

     The uproar over this revelation threatens to extend out to the rest of the palace. Lord Blackwell takes it in stride and works to calm things down so that a more detailed explanation can be discussed. Once it has died down, War continues.

     War: "Yes, we are certain of what we declare. She is the Anointed of Akatosh which fills being 'Ordained', being Dragonborn fills being the 'Receptacle' with the qualifier of being 'Ordained' because the Dragonborn is the receptacle of the dragonsoul given to her upon being anointed and for each dragon whose soul she has consumed when they challenged her to combat. It is important also to note that she absorbs their knowledge, their power, their memories, and they then become a part of her, losing their place within the next Kalpa. For they will not be reborn unless she finds a way to forge a path for this to be done.

     They seek her for their prime enemy, not the Tsaesci as so many thought, is instead the Ka Po-Tun, whose ruler has found a way to merge himself with a dragon. Now with the Tsaesci out of the way, the Ka Po-Tun seeks to take what was once theirs, strengthening his position. What he portends for the Tang Mo is unknown at this time, for they have been the primary adversary of the Kamal until now. The Kamal are caught between their old adversary and a new strengthening one, For the Tsaesci managed to keep them balanced, culling the numbers of both Tang Mo and Ka Po-Tun. This also brings up the question no one knows to ask. What of the Ka Po-tun? What does he wish to do once his strength is great enough to deal with the Kamal and the Tang Mo. For he is now part Dragon, and will see the Empire with its current Dragonborn Empress as well as the coming 'Age of Man' under Akatosh' Golden Plan as the supreme threat to his rule."

     As these words and ideas make sense to these, the Empires hands and feet, sword and shield, heads are nodding with understanding. And a few are extending that understanding to project what could happen.

     Lord Blackwell: "Where does all of this go? Is there any way to head this off?"

     War: "Good and proper questions, Lord Blackwell. At the moment our purpose is to divert the Kamal by the Empress going to her previous home, far away from Tamriel, and remote enough that few if any others will be engaged in the hostilities. It is hoped that by doing this if the presence of Xan'ith Karek can persuade the Kamal there is another way to protect them from their enemies, then one war at least will be avoided. This will likely draw the Ka Po-Tun to follow, what the Tang Mo will do is unknown at this time. Perhaps the Ka Po-Tun will enlist them to add to their numbers and take on the Kamal. If that happens the Empire must aid the Kamal with the expectation and agreement for them to join the Empire and fight against the Ka Po-Tun."

     Uproar erupts again as many want to know why another war is needed at all if it can be diverted, let all three destroy themselves against each other.

     War: "This will not be the outcome of that suggestion. It will buy time, yes, but the outcome will be disastrous. Iriisii has seen what would ultimately happen. The Kamal under Xan'ith Karek, who is an ancient Dragonborn from before the time of the Dragonbreak, before the timelines were merged into the one we have now, will ultimately win that war. And one day, even though millennia from now, will go to war with the Empire. The Numinidium will be reawakened and will go to war for the third and final time. Nirn will be destroyed, nothing left of it but a world of rubble circling the sun. The survivors of the battle will emigrate to Masser by way of the Pandemonium Fortress, which will be constructed by the Demigod Orphis. If not for the Empress effort on behalf of the Psijic Order existing at that time, the end of the Fifth Era, the survivors would have been enslaved by Orphis, and you most certainly would not wish to know of their fate. For she went there by way of a 'temporal travel spell' created by the Fifth Era Psijic Order to take on and defeat Orphis after the failure of many others. So she then ensured the safe passage of the survivors to Masser, so that they could build a new home under the surface.

     This is not what Akatosh and the other Divines envisioned for Nirn, for it affects them as well. And so she has searched for a way to change what happened and stop the destruction of Nirn from happening. This is what was discovered that could be used to ensure that the future of Nirn is ensured. This is our goal, our ambition, this is what we will be fighting for, to keep Nirn from becoming nothing more than a world of rubble, a passing footnote in the history of Existence."

     Silence follows her words, and it just now becomes real that although this is their Empress, she is also 'War' and it is 'War' that is speaking to them now. Each of them has to make up their own mind as to the truth of what she is saying, about what is happening now and what will happen thousands of years from now. For in the end it doesn't matter except for what would the people of Nirn think of those in their past. That they could have prevented the destruction of their homeworld but chose not to because it's happening was too hard to believe it could be the truth.

     Then a fist begins to beat on the table, and a voice calls out 'War...War...WAR!'. Another joins it, and then another. And then the table vibrates and rocks, the 'Call to War' resounds and echoes down the halls. The door opens as Rigmor, Illyria, Rose, and Byrsael rush in having been told of what was going on in the 'War Room'. Illyria immediately feels the change in Iriisii and knows what is going on. She reaches out to stop Rose and Byrsael from approaching Iriisii. She was too late to stop Rigmor who wraps her arms around Iriisii and knows something is off. As she turns 'Iriisii' around so she could look at her, she is perplexed as she looks, feels, even smells like Iriisii. But somehow is not Iriisii.

     She is about to question her as to where Iriisii is and what did she do with her, when Illyria steps up, bows deep, and then speaks.

     Illyria: "My greetings 'War', First of the Four Horsemen."

     War: "Greetings Illyria of the Aasimar, mate to Empress Iriisii."

     Rigmor looks to Illyria, "

     War: "She is within me as is Shivista and Darkstar."

     Rigmor: "Then what brought this about?"

     War: "The scope of the coming war with the Kamal has changed. The entire future of Nirn will be chosen as this war plays out. The 'Four' were needed to come and lead the war to ensure Nirn's survival in the future."

     Rigmor: "Then when she returned from the Fifth Era and began seeking a way to stop Nirn's destruction, she did find a way and set it in motion. Now someone is trying to turn it back to the path it was on?"

     War: "Yes, that is correct."

     Rigmor: "Then which side are you on?"

     There is a sudden murmur from those seated at the table, wondering why none of them had not already posed this question.

     War: "We are on the side of Nirn's survival."