Chapter Text
15 Sun's Dawn, 5E 15 (or perhaps still 4E, the debate rages on)
The old Imperial road stretched before me like a weathered serpent, its once-proud stones now cracked and overgrown with stubborn desert flora. As I crested yet another sun-baked hill, the vast expanse of the Alik'r Desert unfurled beneath the setting sun, a sea of golden dunes painted in hues of amber and crimson. Fifteen years have passed since the Mede line ended, and still Tamriel reels from the aftershocks.
I paused, wiping the sweat from my brow with a sand-encrusted sleeve. The air was thick with the scent of dust and distant spices, carried on hot winds that whispered of both danger and opportunity. I've heard whispers of a new era dawning, but out here, on the fringes of what was once a mighty empire, such lofty notions seem as insubstantial as a mirage.
My gaze drifted westward, towards the shores where Yokuda's children made their home. Hammerfell calls to some, while others hear the siren song of High Rock's spires. A choice looms before me, one that may shape the currents of fate itself.
As twilight deepened, I found myself at a crossroads. The path to my left wound its way through rocky foothills towards Sentinel, jewel of the Iliac Bay and bastion of Redguard pride. To the right, a less-traveled route snaked northward, eventually leading to the Breton city of Wayrest.
The last rays of sunlight faded, giving way to a tapestry of stars that stretched across the desert sky. A cool breeze whispered across the dunes, carrying with it the weight of choice. Before me lay two paths, each promising its own set of challenges and opportunities. My next step would set in motion a journey that could shape not only my own fate but perhaps the very course of history.
As I stand here, poised between two destinies, I can't help but feel that the eyes of both mortals and Divines are upon me. The sands of time seem to pause, awaiting my decision. Will I brave the sun-scorched streets of Sentinel, navigating the treacherous waters of Redguard politics? Or will I venture into the magical intrigues of Wayrest, where Breton nobles play their games of power and subterfuge?
The choice is mine to make, and with it, my true journey will begin.
[Next steps: Where will your journey begin?]
- Sentinel, Crown of the Alik'r
- Wayrest, Pearl of the Bay