Chapter Text
-A Lament for Assassins Assassinated
[This was found carved into the cliff walls near the ruined Falkreath Sanctuary of the Dark Brotherhood.]
HERE LIES a Family, not of blood but of blade. May their suffering have ceased evermore.
ASTRID, loving Matron and wife, who followed her heart into ruin. She is forgiven for her fallacy, of course.
ARNBJORN BLIND-EYE, who had the soul of a wolf yet the heart of a Brother. You were avenged swiftly, fret not.
FESTUS KREX, who pursued the Clever Craft with ardent fervor. Your insights will help me for the rest of my journeys.
GABRIELLA HLAALU, who embraced Death like none other. Know that you were loved, and are not forgotten.
VEEZARA, last of the Shadowscales, who was unafraid of Change. May your tale float along the river, Brother.
-Autopsy Report: Commander Antillan Maro
Written by Styrr Crypt-Wheel under the light of ARKAY, performed in the Hall of the Dead in Solitude.
Middle-aged Imperial, perished from exsanguination caused by the systematic removal of the arms and legs; reports from another of the Penitus Oculatus state that the man had conversed with him the morning of the day I estimate he was killed, and had an air of ‘melancholy, yet pride at a job well-done’. The body was discovered hanging from the prow of the I.N.S Katariah three moons ago, coinciding with the (as yet unexplained) panics at Castle Dour and the upper nobility of Solitude. The pressure to examine the man’s body, as an aside, is startling.
Far be it from a humble servant of Arkay to gossip, but I cannot help but point out that, as tragic and horrible as Commander Maro’s murder was, something else happened on that ship. Something awful.
-’Where is The Dragonborn?’
[from a 4E202 edition of the Sweetroll Courier news-letters]
It was only one year prior, dear reader, that the Dragons returned to plague Skyrim. And on the eve of the first year since the World-Eater Treaty, our intrepid scholars ask a question that everyone from Morthal to Dawnstar is asking: Where is the Hero that journeyed into Sovngarde? Read on for an exclusive interview with Flynnach, the Breton himself, and testimonies from Jarl Balgruff of Whiterun, Legate Rikke of the Imperial Legion, and the housecarl of the Dovahkiin, Lydia Stone-Back. ALSO: ten tips to make your hearth more eye catching, and the search for the best smoked horker in the province!
Memospore Transmission: Analysis of Subreal 10996x1/0 of the 5th-Style Spinning, for the Intraplanar Research Agency of the Aurbic Empire
From the notes of I.R.A Agent Ivhan Macluresson
[Note to self: I’ll chuck this at the Quill-Beyond before submitting to HQ. He’ll probably be able to use it for his ‘audience’.]
Subreal is two years ahead of baseline 5th-Style, circa year 203 of the Fourth Era. The resurgence of the Dovahkiin (in the form of the Reachman, Flynnach Endwalker), the defeat/dethroning of Alduin, and the foiling of Sharmat Miraak’s plot have all occurred as standard. The Prophecy of the Sun has not been started in earnest, and the Dawnguard remain in a ‘cold war’ with the Volkihar. The Greybeards, incensed by the murder of Paarthurnax, renounced their service to him and barred access to High Hrothgar once again. The Dragonguard Blades, meanwhile, are on the rise, with the base at Sky Haven Temple quietly amassing strength and observing the political climate, and securing the aid of the independent Orc Strongholds.
The Civil War is on-going, though heavily leaning towards Stormcloak victory; the Empire only holds Solitude, and the murder of Titus Mede II severely demoralized the Legion. This, in addition, led Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun to ally with the Stormcloaks, and Eorlund Gray-Mane agreed to supply them with Skyforge Steel weaponry. The movement’s success, combined with the general inadequacy of replacement Emperor Cassynder Glovid, has notably emboldened most of the kingdoms in neighboring High Rock, which are plotting their own secession with the aid of Hammerfell. All this has begun to place significant pressure on the Aldmeri Dominion, who fear an ‘alliance of free Men’ may result from this.
The Dark Brotherhood is heavily resurgent; after the baseline events involving Astrid and the Emperor, the Dragonborn has begun reforming the organization. Sanctuaries are again active in Imperial and Dominion territories [specific bases are in Kvatch and Mathiisen], and a tenuous alliance is present between the Brotherhood and the An-Xileel of Argonia. The Skyrim branch, under Flynnach’s guidance, have continued to amass high-profile contracts, gold and infamy; other notable kills beyond the baseline include King Vortog of Orsinium-Thrice, the Motierre line of politicians, Aldmeri Battlereeve Paelonnimo, and Thanes Erikur the Sly and Bryling Far-Spear of Solitude.
The lot of the Reachfolk has become quite faceted for a Variant. Flynnach, using his status as a Shezzarine Hero and Nord legend, has campaigned for his people to be more formally recognized by the rest of Skyrim. This has, in turn, led to a ‘counter-movement’ to the Forsworn, wherein the various tribes and other descendants to more steadfastly assert their heritage without excess violence; as a result, in Markarth there is now an active Embassy to help explain and defend their beliefs. The Forsworn, however, are still a prominent threat in the Reach, and there are unsubstantiated rumors of back-room collaboration with the Embassy.
The College of Winterhold has been effectively neutralized; during Ancano’s scheme, everyone at the College was somehow discorporated, and Jarl Korir has blocked off and condemned the building. The Thieves Guild is still struggling under the curse of Nocturnal, and have largely been written off as a credible threat even in Riften. The Companions lost Harbinger Kodlak to illness, but the appointment of Skjor has ensured they remain steadfast and consistent with baseline.
The Dovahkiin has largely abandoned his adventurer career to lead the nascent Brotherhood, and has withdrawn from the public eye as a result. The commonly-accepted theory amongst the people of Skyrim is that he simply absconded to a quiet life with his wife Muiri, a theory which he reinforces with occasional ‘appearances’ in major cities and/or public events such as festivals or funerals. Despite this, he maintains relatively close ties to his native Reachman tribe, who started the Embassy in Markarth.