#sekiryu

-- Bloodies-His-Face

Report for the Elder Council

Compiled by General Alexus Nipia

Frostfall 7, 2E 583

With sincere regret, I cannot make direct contact with the Elder Council as the 2nd Legion still has the lengthy task of securing Bruma and the surrounding area. May this letter find Councilor Lovidicus and the rest of you well, and may I also commend Chancellor Tharn on securing a temporary truce in the Three Banners War. Whatever brief cessation of hostility it may be, know that the 2nd Legion will use every moment to restore Imperial control in Cyrodiil’s north.

Onto the matter at hand, I received a request to keep track of a former Arena Champion by the name of Bloodies-His-Face. Recently, he attended the Varen Memorial Cup held in Kvatch and then again in the Imperial City (Akatosh speed her recovery). It would please the Council to know he spent time up here in Bruma (as recent as last week), and I personally got reacquainted with the champion.

I’d known of Bloodies-His-Face (Red to his friends, a privilege I had the honour of using but will refrain otherwise to maintain formality in this report) indirectly from my time serving under Varen Aquilarios during the Colovian Revolt. He’d fought in several skirmishes alongside Varen’s personal cohort across the countryside and on the Red Ring Road. He was particularly known for his ferocity when fighting against Emperor Leovic’s army; part of a personal vendetta I later learned.

Before he became an Arena Champion, Bloodies fought in the Coronation Cup held in Leovic’s honour a decade prior. Alongside him were a cohort of Argonian servants whom Leovic had conscripted to fight. Despite his best efforts to train his egg-kin, Bloodies outlived them all and was even forced at arrowpoint by the Emperor to fight the second-last of his kin. For this, he sought revenge and joined Varen’s Rebellion.

When we disposed of Leovic in 2E 577, many of us parted ways. Since then, Bloodies recounted adventures had in Blackwood, Morrowind, and even Skyrim. He had ‘kept busy’, as he told me. The Council, of course, knows that a year later was when the dread Soulburst occurred and the Dark Anchors heralding Molag Bal’s invasion appeared. To recount for the Council: during this time, Bloodies had rallied local Imperial guard and citizenry against the initial wave of Daedra, as well as the treachery of Legion Zero.

From what I understand, Bloodies-His-Face formed the Order of the Sacred Ashes after helping many citizens escape the Imperial Isle six months later. Though a brotherhood of pauper knights initially, it serves to remind the Council that Bloodies and his comrades battled Daedra and the Worm Cult across Tamriel. They even, at times, partook in the Three Banners War. However, he insisted that his knights swear to maintain peace and justice first and foremost over any provincial claim to sovereignty. I hope this would satisfy the Council’s curiosity to his allegiance from the start.

I did not manage to learn more of what he has been up to between then and the Varen Memorial Cup, as he spent most of his time in the region at Fort Dragonclaw. Once again: my deepest apology for not compiling a more recent dossier on the Sekiryu clan, but I can at least inform the Council that it would appear Bloodies-His-Face is deeply affiliated with them. In the least, it can only be beneficial that he is of respected standing among their number as the Council knows that the Sekiryu are descended from the Akaviri who fought Reman at Pale Pass.

In summary, my brief contact with Bloodies-His-Face has informed me well of his character and alliances. I can confidently report to the Council that if we seek the services of Bloodies, his Ashen Knights, or his contacts with the Sekiryu, then it can only mean good things for the Empire. And at such a dire time when our citizenry worry for the future, we could always do with more heroes.

Covert Report

Frostfall 12, 2E 583

Your grace: it took considerable digging, but I finally have insights to report on the assassination of Primate Artorius. The Dark Brotherhood sent not one assassin but several to topple the primate. However, this does not suggest that just one of their number is not capable of such carnage as we previously thought. I’ve still no clue as to who delivered the killing blow to the primate, or if indeed the assassins fell upon him all at once (highly unlikely).

I learned the identity of one of the assassins, rather directly I might add. An Argonian by the name of Stops-His-Heart, a shadowscale as it were. Your grace, we’ve every right to be wary as shadowscales are said to serve the people of Argonia. Though he indicated otherwise, I would not be surprised if his loyalty was foremost to his people.

I should perhaps clarify. I met with the assassin directly, albeit not of my own accord. My inquiries were not as subtle as I had believed. He cornered me at the Publick House in Anvil and insisted on buying me a drink. I somehow felt compelled. My fear aside, he was more cordial than threatening. Regardless, I was hesitant to drink even though the waitress poured us both the same drink from the same bottle. An Argonian would always have the advantage at a dinner table.

He didn’t remark on my reluctance at all and went right into matters. He told me he had heard I had been discreetly looking for trouble. I explained to him—once again, not of my own accord—that I was working for the Count Kvatch (my many apologies, your grace, I know you wished to remain distant from this) to learn more about the Dark Brotherhood. All the while, I found myself staring into his eyes more than was acceptable.

Stops chuckled and said, ‘Count Carolus shouldn’t be so worried about his business partners, but we can forgive the professional curiosity’. I have said nothing of this to anyone else, your grace. He asked me what I wanted to know and this time I felt free to answer. I asked him first and foremost if Stops-His-Heart was his actual name.

He eyed me for a moment, and I could feel the hairs on my neck standing as he did. Then he responded: ‘It’s what I go by. I’d prefer to keep my Saxhleel name to myself if you don’t mind’. I made a mental note to follow up on this, but I regret to say I’ve nothing to report. I can say that of his aliases (of which there are few), Stops-His-Heart is the one I could find him by most. Peculiar to say the least, as I’ve not uncovered the identity of his fellow assassins. Almost like among their number, he is quite brazen.

Instinct begged me to excuse myself. But I looked into his eyes again and I asked him if he was only a dagger for hire. He smirked and shook his head. He explained to me he performed clandestine work for the Order of the Sacred Ashes and the Sekiryu clan. I asked him to elaborate, as I was entirely certain the Ashen Knights were not ones for illicit activities.

He explained, ‘working within the law can only get you so far’. He went on and told me that the Order had a sub-sect of Ashen Knights who were versed in subterfuge. They were called the ‘Peacekeepers’. In his way of explaining: sometimes to track down Daedra and cultists, you need to get information in unconventional ways. Sometimes, to eliminate particular cultists, you need a sharp knife and a deft hand.

As for his work with the Sekiryu clan, it’s more or less cloak and dagger work performed on the battlefield. If all that he says has been true (and I daresay it has), I’ve been led to believe the Sekiryu have battlefield assassins known as ‘Dragon-Fangs’. As we’ve heard of the reports from Cyrodiil, your grace knows as well as I do the Sekiryu fight hard and fast in the name of the Pact. I suppose it should not come as surprise they employ martially trained rogues to assist in neutralising enemy garrisons.

He then gestured to my drink and somewhat ‘commanded’ me to partake. After a toast to you, your grace, he told me that purified chamomile induces a deep sleep. He said something else about Argonians, but I missed it due to loss of consciousness. When I awoke, he was gone but I believe he left a message for you. I’ve enclosed it with this report.

As an occasional reader, I must admit feeling a certain fondness for the adventures of your gaggle of Saxhleel, fantastical as they may be sometimes. I too am occasionally known to embellish - laying eyes on the Dragonfires, for instance? Ridiculous, although certainly compelling.

Regardless of the amount and intent of artistic liberty taken, however, I see it as my duty as an upstanding member of the Barristers' Guild to remind you that discussing contract killing within your writings (and presenting it as fact, no less) is, as one may expect, dangerous, and has every possibility of getting yourself or your muses prosecuted as assassins should the wrong eye fall across your work. As a man of letters, I'm sure I hardly need to remind you that murder carries with it no statute of limitations.

Consider it free legal advice. And write about Mistral more, I miss the beaches.

Jo'zahn di Dunei, Esq., Barristers' Guild of Cyrodiil

Dunei Law, Leyawiin, Blackwood

'To Jo'zahn di Dunei, Esq.

I will confess I am guilty of being somewhat biased when I am collecting records, and you'll probably see more to do with noteworthy Argonian figures. I sometimes find Tamrielic histories to be remiss in remembering that they exist... However, I will not attempt to dissuade you on the veracity of some of these accounts. After all, I am but a simple archivist.

On that note, I am quite unsure as to what you're suggesting. My line of work in acquiring information for the Dragonclaw Archive certainly can be dangerous. And the written work you refer to could be, as you said yourself, quite an embellishment in itself. Besides: Cyrodiil has been in such violent freefall for the last few years, so I am not so worried about Imperial guards banging on our doors here at Fort Dragonclaw. Regardless, I thank your for the advice.

Mistral, eh? I'll be collecting records from Khenarthi's Roost next week; I shall try to find anything more to do with the beach culture they have there. Be sure to check back then.

Kind Regards, Stops-His-Quill, Archivist Fort Dragonclaw, Jerall Mountains'