Elder Scrolls: Empire of Blood

02: Rise

In the City of Sentinel in the province of Hammerfell, a woman of middle age lay dying in the bedroom of the broken-down insula she shared with her teenage daughter Sunna.

"My darling daughter my hour of death draws near I can feel it in my bones and though I am saddened by the thought of leaving you I welcome the chance to see my father, my mother, and my brothers again," she rasped as she caressed her daughter's face.

Sunna was a true beauty to behold inheriting both her mother's looks and her father's golden hair a lasting reminder of the love between a Redguard Princess and a Nordic stranger.

Yes, Obia was the last remaining child of the dead King and Queen of Hammerfell and it was her forbidden love for a young Nord that saved her from sharing the fate of her father and brothers that dark fateful night so long ago.

With her dying breath, she handed Sunna a ring and a letter and instructed her to seek out the nobleman known as Muhsin and he would help her.

Sunna gave her mother a decent burial and then followed her instructions that led her to the outside of a lavish villa near the city docks.

After convincing the guards that she was not a threat to their master and that she truly had business with him she was allowed entry where she was shown to a lavish study where she was then asked to wait until she could be seen by the master of the house.

Sunna was in awe as she stepped into the room there were relics of places she had only ever dared to dream of going in her childhood.

Tusk from the mammoths of Skyrim, a jar of ash from the Red Mountain of Vardenfell, a dagger from the Dark Brotherhood, the Crown of Barenziah along with various types of other treasures.

"They really are quite amazing aren't they?" Said a Dunmer dressed in fine silks as he entered the room.

"My men said that you have business with me?" he asked the young woman as he took a seat and motioned for her to join him.

Sunna took the offered seat and began to tell him her story as well as giving him the ring and letter her mother had given her before she had died.

The old dunmer scanned the ring before reading over the letter carefully, he then rose from his seat and pulled a rope that rang bells throughout the house calling for one of his many servants.

"You rang my lord?" asked a young redguard woman dressed in pink flowing silks and golden jewelry adorning her arms and neck.

"Ah yes Tulla, please tell the cook to prepare an extra seat and food for dinner tonight young Sunna here will be joining us and if you would please show her to the guest rooms so she can freshen up," he replied before sitting down at his table and writing a letter.

Sunna gave the old mer a confused look to which he smiled and waved a hand.

"Don't worry my child all will be explained in good time, now run along and follow Tulla to your new residents."

Sunna did as he told her and began to follow the beautiful older woman through the great halls of the house admiring all the artworks and plants that decorated the walls.

"You must be of great importance," said Tulla to Sunna as they walked passing the other guest and servants of the great house "Muhsin would not just give a room in his house to just anyone, and judging by the excitement displayed upon his face as he wrote that letter something big awaits you in the near future."

Sunna pondered the other woman's words as well as what her blessed mother had written in the letter to cause such a stir in the elf's mood.

She could now only wait and see what the outcome of her mother's instructions would be and what lay in store for her at dinner.