Elder Scrolls: Arena - Tenyin Mariner

Chapter 1

I am Tenyin Mairner, an honorable Redguard woman who is part of the council stationed in the Imperial City itself. I represent the entirety of the Redguard race from Hammerfall, speaking on behalf of their best interests. I was born and trained to be the best possible for the position I was given at my early age. Although I am still not young myself, just reaching the ripe age of 30, I am very much not any weaker or unable to hold my possible. I was given the title of Knight and held such while not attending my duties on the court, during which I am simply called a politician with no specific title.

This was all before I was caught while doing my duties in the Imperial Tower. The last few months have been nothing but work because of the mysterious changing of The Emperor, Uriel Septim IV, and the even more odd disappearance of Jagar Tharn and Talin. The two posed as leaders of the Battlemages and Imperial Guards respectively but the odd thing about their absence is that there is no way Uriel would be without one of them by his side. He trusts them with this own life but all that is there to replace it are two random Imperial Soldiers. I don't know why that has changed but it has more than just myself worried and confused. The date is Year 389 of the Third Era and the last thing I can remember is preparing to leave for Hammerfall for some long time off. Everything suddenly blacked out and my mind went blank for an unknown amount of time.

When I came to, I could not bring myself to open my eyes or get any clear sight on where I was. The ground I was laying on felt exactly like cold, solid stone of a dungeon. I personally hadn't felt it myself seeing as I had done nothing to condemn myself to such a miserable place but the emptiness and silence gave it away. Even in the colds of Skyrim, my skin had gotten used to all the different climates of Tamriel, given enough time to acclimate of course. This cold, though, was different. It wasn't anywhere near as cold as the blizzards of Skyrim but this was simply a stale feeling, the chilling held air of death. Thankfully, I felt the linen from a basic outfit keep the icy sensation away a little in addition to my abundant, brown hair. It felt stiff as well, barely being able to assist the linens for warmth.

After getting the basic picture of what was below me and not hearing any movement besides rats, I felt brave enough to open my eyes and what I saw was just as unappealing as I had imagined it. The cells in the Imperial City were, in no way, made for comfort or a day off. I was surrounded by the same cold stone as I had foreseen. My muscles ached and were stiff, probably meaning that I had been dumped in the cell quickly after blacking out. It has been hours as well and they were not thinking of what would happen if I had woken up at all. It was apparent they had no interest in killing me, most likely not wanting to cause any sort of internal problems within the many races and territories of Tamriel. It was a smart political decision for sure, and whatever had happened, must have come up from the ones that were much, much higher in the political positions than myself. Despite the fact that I wasn't the highest member of the council by far but I can always theorize and I have an initial theory before moving from my position. With the odd behavior of Uriel Septim and the absence of Jagar and Talin, I can make the initial suspicion that one of the two had something to do with it. It could be someone outside the Imperial City but Uriel never was a pushover, even when confronted face to face...

I had to ignore my suspicions until I was somewhere safe, or in this case somewhere that wasn't in the Imperial Dungeons. After my body had fought against the slight paralysis, I stumbled to my feet and noticed a couple other small but unnecessary details including hanging shackles and moss growing from the unkempt hold. A few awkward steps forward and the room appeared bigger, having a symmetrical look of a 'U' shape with the other side containing both a table and the locked prison door. There was no apparent way out, the cells being unkempt but sealed and extremely well-made enough to not be inescapable.