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Darth Cheesecak

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Jul 30, 2012
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Hello all I've been spending a great deal of time with the impeccable Elder Kings mod, and now after a significant amount of time I have started and thoroughly enjoyed my first "RP" run.

Using a user generated King of the Colovian Estates by the name of Valerian I set out to forge the empire of Tamriel, the results were spectacular.


The first few chapters will be about Valerian I and his conquests. The rest will cover his heirs.
 
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Part 1: Opening moves

King Valerian I

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"It has been twenty years since the last Akaviri potentate was assassinated with all of his heirs. In that time Tamriel has slipped further and further into chaos. High Rock has collapsed into feuding city-states, Skyrim's Jarls battle endlessly for dominance, even Cyrodiil finds itself is hopelessly divided between the Colovians and the Nibenese, the petty kingdoms of Skingrad, Kvatch, and Anvil drown the west in blood.

CEA8319F172C0C5F739E9CC550E274232A8F8897


It must end."

"But how my lord?" Tacitan, Steward of the Colovian Estates asked.

"It is quite simple my friend, we shall reforge Reman's empire with fire and sword, the petty kings of Cyrodiil will bow before me willingly or they will be crushed beneath my boot."

"What would you have us do my lord?" Lucia the Chancellor asked.

"Lucia you will send emissaries to our neighbors they will "request" that they pledge their loyalty to me."

"Tacitan you and Marshal Uriel will remain in Sancre Tor, Tacitan will ensure that the taxes are being collected efficiently, Uriel you will see to training our levies. When it is time to march we will not be found wanting.

"Yes my lord" They bowed and exited.

Lucia joined the king at his table and he poured her a glass of wine.

"You know the Jarl of Frostcrag will never submit willingly, he's too much of a "Proud Nord"."

"I know, but trying diplomacy first always looks better."

They laughed at that before Lucia left to instruct the emissaries.

Valerian sighed and looked at his map of Cyrodiil, one province divided up into numerous kingdoms, duchies, and petty lordships.

"This is going to be interesting."

The next four months proved trying, four of the five lords contacted pledged their allegiance, the stubborn Jarl of Frostcrag alone refused. The Royal army defeated the Jarl and his warriors at Bruma before besieging him in his mountain capital and after 32 days it fell the Jarl was led off in chains, the Duchy of Frostcrag was given to the Marshal Uriel.

In five short months Valerian had achieved all of his initial goals, The Colovian Estates were united, all of northwestern Cyrodiil was now under his control.

His gaze shifted south to the kingdom of Skingrad a land wracked by a terrible civil war...




Part 2: A Wedding and the War for Skingrad will be out tomorrow.
 
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Colovian Estates is op :laugh:

I will follow this.
 
Part 2: A wedding and the war for Skingrad.

Having secured the Colovian Estates in record time Valerian I found two things weighing on his mind. The conquest of Skingrad and finding a worthy bride.
Valerian decided to get his domestic concerns out of the way first, to that end he summoned his three most trusted councillors to inform them of his decision.

"You summoned us sire?" Lucia asked.

"Yes, I have decided that it is time for me marry."

"Do you have anyone in particular in mind?" Tacitan asked.

"I do, Lucia I would like you to be my queen, do you accept?"

She did, they were married the next day with what some would consider unseemly haste, the young king turned down the gold that traditionally comes with a wedding, preferring the prestige that choice would grant him.

Their marital bliss was interrupted by a large peasant rebellion in the county of Underpall, once again the young king personally led his army into battle gaining valuable experience defeating the rebels at Underpall, Pale Pass, and destroying them utterly in the second battle of Underpall.

The rebel leader was brought before the young king in chains defiant to the end.

"What did you hope to achieve?" Valerian asked

"A free Underpall!" The rebel spat.

"No, I don't think that was your real goal, so many rebel leaders say that they are great liberators striking back against tyranny!, but all they ever really want is power and if they do succeed their subjects often find them far worse than the original regime."

"That's not tru--" the rebel started.

"Enough! I have entertained your bleating long enough, I find you guilty of high treason, guards take him away."

The rebel screamed for mercy all the way to the headsman's block. His body was thrown to the dogs.

From then on Valerian I was known as "The Iron Hand"

With his domestic concerns taken care of Valerian was finally able to turn his attention to Skingrad.


Skingrad had been in the midst of a civil war for months between the tyrannical king and his sister.

The Colovian armies led by the king in person swept across the border seizing a county. During the siege Valerian felt that he had gained even more understanding of the art of war. After some further skirmishing the king of Skingrad agreed to meet to discuss terms of surrender.

The defeated king was made to walk barefoot to Valerian's tent where he was finishing up a lively game of dice with his young wife.

"What are your terms?" the king of Skingrad asked.

"Oh nothing too crippling, I have taken a county, that will become my property you are to give up all claims to it."

"Very well, is there anything else?"

"Oh yes I have captured several prisoners of some rank you will pay me for their release."

"It's not like I have any choice, in return for my accepting these terms I want your word that you will not interfere in my war with my treacherous bitch of a sister."

"Of course! You have my word as a king that I will not disturb your kingdom as long as your civil war lasts."

After settling a few more minor points of protocol the king of Skingrad rode back to his capital in defeat while Valerian returned to Sancre Tor in triumph.

A year later Skingrad's civil war ended the king was dethroned by his sister which conveniently enough made the truce Valerian had signed null and void.

Recognizing a golden opportunity when he saw one Valerian invaded yet again seizing another county and creating the duchy of Virtue.

A second heavy defeat in less than a year caused the turbulent counts of Skingrad to rebel en mass pushing for independence.

After three years of heavy fighting the rebels won their war, Skingrad had been divided up into a series of feuding counties, all of whom pledged their alleigance to Valerian a short time later.

At a stroke Valerian had seized the kingdom of Skingrad almost without a fight, he quickly usurped the title and had the former queen assassinated placing all of Skingrad and all of the Colovian Estates under his rule.

Sancre Tor was a blaze of activity as the castle's defenses were improved the earth walls replaced by a palisade and the hall improved into something a little more worthy of a king.

Valerian and his advisers gathered for another council of war...

"Colovia and Skingrad are ours but where should we focus on now?"

"Kvatch just had an outbreak of the Crimson Plague--" Tacitan ventured. "They are unlikely to put up much of a fight."

"That wouldn't work they recently married into Anvil's royal family an attack on Kvatch would lead to us fighting two kingdoms at once" as usual Uriel's keen military mind proved invaluable.

"Alright Kvatch and Anvil are both off the table for the time being, Nibenay is too strong for us to make much progress. What about the "Imperial Commune"" Valerian asked.

"I wouldn't risk it" Queen Lucia responded "They are fantastically wealthy and would use that wealth to buy enough soldiers to hold us off, Cheydin seems like our best option it has no allies, it's poor, and it just had its own Crimson Plague outbreak."

"It is decided then, we march on Cheydin!"




Part 3: The Dark maiden and the re-birth of Cyrodiil will be out tomorrow.

*No screenshots this time I'm afraid, steam isn't letting me upload anything at the moment, if I get it to work I'll edit pictures in at the right spot*
 
Sounds great so far :)
If Steam isn't playing nice, you could consider an alternative such as imgur, or upload directly here to the forums if the screens are small enough.

I'll probably end up doing that, for now I'm going to focus on getting the story out, I had the foresight to save every few years so right now I'm working on getting back in character to write the dialogue.

I've had to cut most of the council banter scenes for pacing reasons, but they've been invaluable for figuring out how the characters think.
 
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Part 3: The Dark maiden and the re-birth of Cyrodiil

After seven years on the throne King Valerian "The Iron Hand" has enjoyed an unbroken string of successes that has seen him unite the Colovian Estates, crush a dangerous peasant rebellion, and seize the throne of Skingrad.

The nascent kingdom of Cheydin will be the next to fall...

"Milord I have good news from Cheydin!" The messenger gasped.

"Out with it then."

"The northern counties have broken off and declared their independence."

"Excellent, you are dismissed."

"Milord" He bowed and left.

"Uriel give me your appraisal of the situation"

"This is just the kind of opportunity we've been waiting for your grace, we can annex these petty lords and then march on the duchy of Scina, their defeat will give us all the land we need to credibly usurp the throne."

"Good, Tacitan Lucia do you have anything to add?"

"Cheydin and the rest of the east is Nibenese my lord" Tacitan ventured "They will resist us much more forcefully than the west simply because they view us as foreigners."

"While Tacitan does have a point the Nibenese lords are realistic enough to bow to the inevitable, If we can annex the northern counties and usurp their throne they will come to heel easily enough."

"What of the rest of Cyrodiil, I know Kvatch and Anvil will be immobilized for the foreseeable future and the Imperial Commune is more interested in gold than conquest but what of Nibenay?"

"Nibenay is occupied my lord" Lucia responded "They are currently attempting to take Leyawiin from the king of Rimmen. Their armies are fully committed there."

"Marvelous, Lucia send a formal declaration of war to each of the northern counts, Uriel you will raise our troops and meet me in Kingscrest."

"You won't be leading your soldiers my lord?" Uriel asked.

"Not that contingent, Tacitan's economic policies have payed off handsomely, I will use some of that windfall to purchase the services of several mercenary captains, I will combine them with my retinue and together we will advance on the enemy before they can get their forces organized. When you join me we will begin the assault in earnest."

The Conquest of the northern counts proceeded exactly as planned, Valerian smashed their armies aside and assaulted their castles as soon as Tacitan and the home army joined him. Few prisoners were taken before the northern counts began surrendering one by one. One year after the wars began Valerian had achieved total victory.

The duchy of Scina fell shortly thereafter its duke assassinated in his bed to speed the process.

Cheydin fell but before Valerian could consolidate his hold and subdue the remaining counties the Duke of Falkreath raised the standard of revolt claiming that he should be the king of the Colovian Estates.

Clearly the subjugation of the last independent counties in Cheydin would have to wait.

The rebels and their leader duke Farengar crossed into Cyrodiil and defeated a royal army at Pale Pass, the king furiously marched his mercenary soldiers west arriving just in time to save Sancre Tor from the rebels, defeating them in battle and driving them back into the wilds of Skyrim. The rebels were defeated in battle at Helgen and Falkreath. The castle fell two weeks later under a furious assault.

Duke Farengar was brought before his king in chains and thrown into the dungeon of Sancre Tor, he was never seen again.

Farengar's rebellion was short but costly one royal army had been destroyed and another had its strength cut in half. King Valerian now 26 disbanded his mercenary soldiers for the time being to give his depleted treasury the time it would need to recover.

It took a further five uneventful years for Valerian to collect enough gold to make his next move. Amid thunderous applause the king of Colovia proclaimed himself the High King of Cyrodiil, he was just 31.

Four years of vicious campaigns and assassinations followed, by the end all of Cyrodiil had submitted. Valerian moved his capital to the Imperial Isle taking White-Gold Tower as his palace. King of all Cyrodiil at the age of 35 Valerian lacked only one thing; an heir.

While walking through the royal gardens Valerian was stopped by his steward Tacitan.

"My lord Morrowind has been in a state of civil war for the last six years. Recently the King of Morrowind begun turning the tide against the rebels, because of that we have several Dunmeri refugees asking for a place at your court."

"Bring them to me Tacitan, I would speak to them before I make my decision."

A short time later the refugees were brought before the king.

"Greetings Dunmer, you already know who I am so it is only fair that I learn your names."

The first a sickly older mer stepped forward. "Raythe my lord"
The second little more than a boy. "Farwil your grace."
The third a ravishing beauty. "And I am Uvoo my lord."

The king spoke with his guests at length about Morrowind asking about it's king, the feuding great houses, and whatever other topic came to his mind. Eventually his guests were escorted out leaving Valerian with much to think about.

Several days later he received news that made his heart leap, his wife Lucia was finally at the age of 36 pregnant. Their son Uriel was born some months later. The succession was as much as it could be in those uncertain times secure.

The ambitious Uvoo had plans of her own for Valerian...

Part 4: King of the North!, Seduction, and Black Marsh. will be out tomorrow.

(Note: yet again I am having screenshot issues, Luckily enough I have a friend highly skilled in the arts of computer-fu who should be able to help me in time to have screenshots for part 4.)
 
*Cheesecake's note: The next section will be a bit more "Chronicle-y". This is because I was forced to delete and then reinstall CKII and Elderkings due to reasons that are somewhat beyond my understanding (I'm still learning the quirks of my new computer). I will be forced to rely entirely on my dynastic notes (Yay Microsoft word!) as opposed to my carefully constructed saves. Section four will be out in a few hours.
 
Part 4: King of the North!, Seduction, and Black Marsh

In the months since the Dunmeri refugees joined Valerian's court the youngest Farwil had been palmed off to the count of Bravil his claims on some of Morrowind's border counties would prove useful in securing the frontier.

The oldest of the three Raythe was found to have a brilliant military mind, he was named martial to replace the late Uriel who had succumbed to cholera shortly after the refugees arrival.

The third refugee the oddly named Uvoo was quick to adopt the religion of her liege, many at court thought this was done out of a desire to assimilate or perhaps in hopes of making herself a shoe in for the young Farwil should Valerian ever take Morrowind.

They had drastically underestimated the young maiden's ambition... Uvoo's sights were not set on some claimant to an oft raided border territory but on High King Valerian himself.

The High King was made aware of this plan shortly after its inception by his peerless spymaster the young Amantius Tharn, Valerian paid it no mind his sights were set on Skyrim where years of patient plotting and diplomacy were finally bearing fruit...

When Valerian came to the throne his lands already included the kingdom of Falkreath, after securing Cyrodiil he turned his attention to acquiring the Reach and the Rift.

The Rift was the first to fall; four kings assassinated in five years allowed an almost uninterrupted spree of conquests, after having the last independent ruler of the Rift Risi I (a child of four) killed the Rift was his. The Reach proved a somewhat harder target. Requiring a long drawn out process of fabricating claims, pursing an aggressive war of annexation, assassinating a petty king, and repeating. It was expensive and it wouldn't be until the reign of Valerian's son Constantine that the turbulent Reachmen would truly be brought to heel but none of that mattered Valerian had everything he needed to claim the vacant throne of Skyrim.

The Pale and Solitude were brought down quickly, Winterhold fell after a hard struggle. Skyrim barring Solstheim was united.

It was after this great victory that Valerian's attention was drawn back to the Imperial Province. Uvoo was after years of planning ready to make her move. She began innocuously enough a light hearted laugh here, a flirtatious glance there and before he knew it Valerian found himself falling for the exotic beauty. He rationalized with the knowledge that elves were famously infertile.

Unfortunately for Valerian's married life (and fortunately for Tamriel as it would turn out) Uvoo quickly found herself pregnant a few short weeks before Queen Lucia found herself unexpectedly with child for the second time at the age of forty.

Valerian's half elven son Constantine was born three weeks before his first daughter Katariah.

Valerian had planned on only acknowledging his bastard son to leave his oldest child Uriel (who was showing every sign of being an able successor) when tragedy struck.

Uriel Cyraliin died of the crimson plague at the age of fifteen, the royal couple was devastated. Valerian was faced with a difficult position; by rights his trueborn daughter Katariah was his only heir but she was already at the age of six showing herself thoroughly unfit for rule cruel, arbitrary and slothful to boot!

Valerian's mind was made up Constantine Cyraliin was legitimized, though only a few weeks older than his half sister he was already proving himself a worthy heir. Valerian decided to personally educate his young son, his genius and commanding voice were already working in his favor.

Lucia was furious that her beloved daughter was to be passed over for some bastard half-breed, their marriage never recovered. Valerian found comfort in his mistress's arms leading to the unexpected birth of his second daughter a dunmer girl that he named Potema several years later she was legitimized immediately after birth.

With his domestic troubles settled Valerian was finally at the age of 49 able to focus on his next great ambition; the conquest of Stormhold.

The Caro family had managed through herculean effort to unite the entire kingdom of Stormhold under their banner, this served only to make them a target.

Three kings would die before Stormhold bent the knee. The Caro family was surprised to learn that they would be allowed to keep the duchy of Stormhold. (And indeed a Caro would end up sitting the throne of Black Marsh under Valerian's grandson.)

His enemies were broken and demoralized, his kingdom safe and prosperous Valerian was ready to proclaim himself Emperor, the only thing he needed was the Amulet of Kings lost these many years in Sancre Tor.

It was only then that Valerian received an urgent letter from his steward and long time friend Tacitan.

Tamriel would never be the same again...


Part 5: Birth of an empire, death of an Emperor should be out sometime tomorrow. It will also return to my previous system owing to the fact that I have finally with some help (Thanks Natasha!) been able to organize my notes and write a half decent script.
 
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Part 5: Birth of an empire/death of an emperor

(Sancre Tor, Royal excavation site)
Valerian I "The Iron Hand" found himself back in Sancre Tor the former capital of his kingdom before the annexation of the Heartlands. He was there to meet with his old friend the Steward Tacitan.

"Your letter said it was urgent that we speak..."

"I did indeed my lord, I've found it. It has taken an ungodly amount of time but the Amulet is yours!" *The Steward reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out the Amulet of Kings. He turned it over to his lord with haste.

Valerian smiled. "The Amulet is mine, Skyrim and Cyrodiil are mine, Stormhold is mine! It is time my old friend, return with me to the Royal

Palace, it is time for my real coronation."

And so it was that after decades of blood, sweat, and sacrifices Valerian I was crowned emperor of Tamriel. The Dragon Fires were lit.

Tamriel had an emperor again...

(White Gold Tower, Imperial council chambers)

"What now my lord?" Raythe marshal of the Empire asked.

"We only have complete control of Cyrodiil and Skyrim, it is time for the Argonians to bend the knee."

"Is Argonia even worth conquering?" Amantius Tharn Valerian's Spymaster asked. "The Argonian's fetid bogs and swamps hardly seem a target worthy of your legions."

Valerian smiled. "You are absolutely right Amantius, Argonia has no resources to recommend it. I am invading for two reasons. The first to force an end to the predatory raids on Stormhold. The second is for more of a long term goal." He looked at his Marshal.

"Raythe from what direction would an invasion of Morrowind stand the greatest chance of success?"

"From the South my lord, the mountain passes leading to western Morrowind are heavily defended, my kin do not view the Argonians as a legitimate threat, they have never taken the time to properly fortify that border."

"There you have it, Raythe ready the legions I'll be leaving tomorrow."

The emperor had lost none of his skill and the empire's hired killers were as brutally efficient as always. The argonian tribes were progressively outfought, outmanoevered, and overwhelmed.

In three short years all that remained of "Free Argonia" had been consumed by the empire and the province of Black Marsh was born.

Valerian returned to the Imperial City in triumph but at the age of 72 his robust health finally began to fail him.

(The Imperial Palace, the emperor's room)

The Emperor was bedridden his body propped up by pillows to ease his breathing. His son Constantine, his daughter Potema, and his long time mistress Uvoo were at his side.

The emperor took off the Amulet of Kings and handed it to his son.

"My son you must waste no time, I will not survive the night and it is important that you be crowned with haste."

"Yes father."

The Emperor spoke with his children for some time giving them last minute advice before dismissing them.

Valerian passed early in the morning with only his lover at his side.

His son Constantine I was crowned with great ceremony before lighting the Dragon Fires keeping with the ancient tradition.

Ther was a great deal of theological debate after Valerian's death, the end result was the widespread acceptance of a new addition to the Aedric pantheon. There were now Nine Divines. At a stroke Constantine found himself not only the son of a great emperor but a god.

But while many in the Empire celebrated the ascension of both their new emperor and the new Divine a bitter princess and an ambitious sister were plotting Constantine's downfall...



Part 6: Civil War will be out Monday (I'd say tomorrow but I owe someone a romantic weekend, Happy Independence day my American forumites!)
 
Nice! More screenshots would be nicer too :)
 
Part 6: Civil War

(The Imperial Palace, The Imperial City)

Constantine the second emperor of Tamriel was looking over his father's surprisingly detailed maps of Morrowind pausing every few seconds to read one of the many notes that Valerian had made as he prepared his conquest.

"The Redoran and Indoril will provide the greatest resistance..." hovered over the fortress of Blacklight.

"The Hlaau are traders at heart, they will likely be the first house to assimilate, while the Telvanni will likely submit after an appropriate show of force, the wizard lords are still not to be trusted." was scribbled right over Mournhold.

Constantine's train of thought was interrupted when his steward the ancient Tacitan entered the room.

"My lord it is urgent that we speak." The Steward gave as much of a bow as his advanced age and failing body would allow.

The emperor smiled. "Of course, my father considered you one of his greatest advisers and closest confidants. What did you wish to speak about?"

"Your sisters want you dead." Tacitan said gravely.

"Of course Katariah does----wait did you say sisters? Potema wouldn't work with our bitch of a sister to bring me down!"

"You think she isn't capable of such an act?"

"Not at all I just know she hates her so much more than she hates me."

"I can only advise caution my lord, princess Katariah hates you and because your father granted her Skyrim she would actually have enough followers to pose a threat."

"Thank you for your counsel Tacitan." The old man got up to leave. "Please send for my sister, I need to speak with her.

"My lord" The Steward left.

(A short time later, the emperor's personal chambers)

"You summoned me?" Princess Potema Cyraliin was said to have been born with the positive traits of both her parents. A classic quadruple threat; Intelligent, beautiful, ruthless, and utterly consumed by ambition.

"An old bird told me that you are plotting to kill me, so were you going with poison or something a little more visceral?" He laughed.

If Constantine had truly been on his guard he would have noticed the fleeting look of alarm that crossed his sister's face...

"Actually my real plan was to convince Katariah to rise against you in the hope that you two would be darlings and kill each other for me." She smiled disarmingly. "Of course if that didn't work I would just wait a century or so until one of your heirs was weak enough to displace."

"Damn elves and your blasted longevity!" The emperor said with mock anger.

The siblings shared a few more jests before Potema took her leave.

It wasn't until she arrived in her own wing of the palace that she allowed herself a sigh of relief followed shortly thereafter by a few distinctly villainous laughs.

"Katariah is blinded by hate and "dear" Constantine is a trusting fool. The empire is ready to ignite at a spark, time to play the match..." the princess thought to herself.

She left the capital the next day heading north to Skyrim...

(Two months later the Palace of Kings, Windhelm)

"Why are you here? Katariah High Queen of Skyrim and princess of Tamriel spat.

"Would you believe that I simply missed my dear sweet sis--"

"No."

"Sister you wound me!" She smirked "Anyway it seems that our dear sweet brother knows of your plans..."

"Why would you tell me?"

"Why I was simply concerned for your safe-"

"Don't lie to me, you always have some kind of hidden scheme!"

"My motives don't really matter dear, our brother knows of your plots and as soon as he feels secure on the throne he will act against you. You have a vanishingly small window in which to act with any chance of success. Now if you'll excuse me I've sullied myself by being in your presence for far too long, I really must be getting back to the capital..."

And with that Potema disappeared, sometimes a talent for illusions really can come in handy.

Katariah raged and when she finally calmed down *Three executions and a castration later* she sent out a call to Tamriel's mercenary groups, they responded enthusiastically.

(Three months later Imperial Council chambers, the Imperial City)

Katariah had raised the standard of revolt rallying Skyrim to her cause, she prepared to march south with anger in her heart.

Black Marsh remained loyal to the emperor though its soldiers were tied down in a series of covert wars with the local argonian insurgents.

That left the emperor with his standing army of four legions, each a "retinue" of 5,000 men, his levy soldiers would be held in reserve.

The emperor personally took command of the first legion, advancing rapidly to deny Pale Pass to the enemy, Princess Potema was given command of the second legion and ordered to block the Frostcrag passes, the imperial marshal Raythe was given the third and fourth legions with the objective of destroying the rebel's field army.

Katariah moved much faster than the emperor was expecting, she managed to reach the Frostcrag passes before Potema's army could arrive, the rebel army began sacking castles on its way to the imperial city.

Potema against all expectations went north with her army, eventually settling down to siege Windhelm.

The Emperor ended up engaging the rebel army near Bruma, the battle lasted long enough for general Raythe to reinforce the emperor with the third and fourth legions. The rebel army was defeated and driven back to Skyrim in disorder.

The Emperor and the first legion pursued what was left of the Rebel army, eventually destroying them just outside Falkreath. A few short days later Windhelm fell Katariah's consort Ulfric Jarl of the Pale was captured and executed.

By most standards the rebellion was effectively over, the rebel capital had fallen, their army was destroyed and the imperial army had begun occupying southern Skyrim en masse, Katariah however was determined to hurt her brother before she fell.

Assassins were contacted and a bargain was struck. Emperor Constantine's young wife Princess Alessia Caro of Argonia was killed in her bed a few weeks before she was due to give birth. It was only then that Katariah surrendered, she went to her execution smiling...

Constantine gave Skyrim to his surviving sister Potema "As a reward for her steadfast loyalty and bravery in the field." Tacitan would have advised against it but he had died a month earlier.

After three years of civil war the Emperor was finally able to focus on expanding his empire, his gaze turned east to Morrowind.

The next twenty years were spent carrying out the policy that his father had affectionately named "Stab and grab" Constantine would declare a war of conquest, sieze a duchy, assassinate Morrowind's king and repeat until done.

By the time of his death by Cholera at 56 all of Morrowind and Vvardenfel had been added to the empire.

He left his son Uriel (by his second wife Lucina Tor) with an empire that controlled almost all of eastern Tamriel.

Uriel I (Later "The Great") at 16 was master of the greatest empire the world had seen since Reman Cyrodiil himself so many years before.

He was to prove a worthy heir...

Part 7: "Imperial Diplomacy" will be out sometime in the next few days.
 
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Hello all. I've hit something of a snag on the writing for part 6. As of right now it is a fairly bare bones account of Uriel's conquest of three new provinces, since these wars follow the by now standard imperial policy of "Stab and Grab" they are a bit more formulaic that I'm comfortable with.

So instead of focusing directly on the conquests I'll be shifting to cover the political machinations behind these events.

This means I'll spending most of my time writing and rewriting dialogue between the major players.

Since it would be rather rude of me to let this lie abandoned until I'm able to write something I don't want to delete immediately afterwards the next few mini updates will cover the most prominent characters for the next update.

Part 6.1 "Uriel" will be out either later tonight or early tomorrow.