Main Quest ( Arena ) For centuries , the inhabitants of Tamriel and their minuscule factions battled over petty wars and border conflicts , until in 2E 896 Tiber Septim crushed all those who opposed him , and proclaimed himself emperor of the known land . But the bitter years of multiple wars had its effects on the populace . . . " Tamriel , " Elvish for " Dawn ' s Beauty , " fell seldom upon anguished lips and soon was forgotten in a place where life and death were different sides of the same coin flipped every day . The populace started calling the known land , the place of their sorrow , the " Arena . " 389 years after Tiber Septim ' s conquest , Tamriel has a new threat . Tamriel ' s Emperor , Uriel Septim VII of the Septim Dynasty , celebrates his forty - third birthday . But , a jealous heart desires the throne , and after months of plotting his downfall , he puts his plan into action . . . Locations . " Note : In order of appearance . " Characters . Unnamed . " Note : The following can be found everywhere , depending on level . Not in order of appearance . " Introduction . Talin awoke in the darkened cell , his head pounding from the blow it had received . A single candle guttered and flamed in one corner . Occasionally the clink of chains could be heard as they swung in a slight , fetid breeze . He knew where he was now . It came back to him even as he struggled to his feet . Fighting off the nausea he made his way to a crude stone bench . I have been taken by the Emperor , but for what ? His thoughts were interrupted by a low moan that came drifting down the corridor outside his cell door . Suddenly he was glad for the obvious strength of his cell door . I have been left to die , he thought incredulously . They did not even bother to strip me of my possessions . Indeed , upon self - examination Talin found that he still carried his dagger and his pouch of money . It seemed that the Emperor had no fears of his escape . And why should he ? He did a quick circumspection of the room , finding that except for the slime covered walls and floor , no water or food had been left . A slow death indeed . Suddenly the air near the center of the cell seemed to brighten , slowly coalescing into a globe of brilliance . Talin fell back , shielding his eyes from the glare . The light receded , and in the purple afterimages of that burst he could see the shimmering form of a woman floating , her body draped in gossamer and blown by an unseen wind . " Do not fear Talin , for it is I , Ria Silmane . " Talin looked on in shock as the figure of his friend took on form and substance , though somehow it did not seem to lose its edge of etherealness . " Ria ! What in the name of the Lady has happened ? " Ria ' s face seemed etched in grief , drawn by a sadness he could not comprehend . " Talin , do you remember the last time we saw each other ? It was at the Mid Year ' s festival . I fear that is where the evil took form . " " What happened to you ? " Talin asked in a shocked whisper . He had known Ria since he had been summoned to court to learn under her tutelage the ways of Sorcery . Ria had been the senior apprentice to Jagar Tharn , the Imperial Battle Mage of Tamriel . " I am dead , Talin . Only my powers keep me in this form , though the pull to the afterlife is strong . I can resist , but only for a time . It is imperative that someone know the truth ; that someone stop the evil which has struck from the heart of the Imperial Seat . " Talin sat down once more , his legs seeming to no longer obey . Left to die in a cell , my friend already dead ? What has happened to us all ? " The Emperor is not who he seems to be , Talin . He is in fact , Jagar Tharn . The true Emperor was captured by Tharn and shifted to another dimension , a prison in which time runs much slower than on this plane of existence . " Talin looked up , his face a mask of shock and outrage , " But what of the Amulet of Kings ? " " The Emperor is not dead . Only in the event of his demise would the Amulet warn the Elder Council . Tharn was meticulous in his planning . With time in the dimension in which the Emperor has been imprisoned running at a fraction of what it does here , it will be centuries before the true Emperor dies . And when he does , who will care ? Those people will have seen the glorious rule of Uriel Septim VII end generations in their past . Tharn must be stopped , here and now . " Ria ' s face had a resolute set , one that if Talin had noticed , would have sent shivers of foreboding through his body . Talin looked around , " Why are you here ? I am but one , and not skilled in much of anything . Why not go to General Warhaft , or the Imperial Guard ? " Ria shook her head , " They have been captured along with the Emperor , and Tharn has transmorphed others to take their places , those who are loyal to him only . I cannot trust anyone else with this Talin . As you said , Tharn will not search for you as he would someone he considered a threat . Most of them are dead already . You can see the disdain the Wizard has for you , not bothering to even bind you in this cell . He does not see you as a threat , and in that arrogance he has made his first mistake . " For the first time the ghost of Ria Silmane smiled , and to Talin it was as if the sun had come from behind a cloud . " I wish to escape , that is sure . Beyond that I know not what I can do , Ria . " " Take this , " at Ria ' s gesture a ruby key flashed into being in a niche in the northern wall of the cell , " it will unlock the cell door . You are in the sewers of the Imperial City . If you make your way west , then south , I can effect your escape . " Talin thought a moment , " It will not do to have me surface in the City itself , for I would be quickly captured . I think it an uncommon occurrence to see a man pull himself through a grating on a city street . The guards at the least will have questions , ones I will be unable to satisfactorily answer . " Ria smiled again , " I am not as helpless as you may suppose . Even in this form I am able to work my magic , but to do so depletes the energy I use to remain on this plane . Your escape however is paramount to all other considerations . Get to the south - west corner of this sewer . There you will see a Shift Gate . It will transport you to another city , where you will appear inside their city gates . Teleportation between cities is common enough , I doubt you will come under scrutiny . With that you will be far enough from the center of the Empire to begin . " Talin felt a faint fear gnaw in the pit of his stomach and he whispered , " Begin what ? " " Your training , of course . " There was an uncomfortable silence as Talin looked at his friend . He did not entirely trust his ability to help her ; to really make a difference . The alternative however was to allow the man who had killed his friend to continue the charade . Talin was not one to let a lie go unanswered . Ria concerned him however . Even now he could see the fringes of her form dissipating , and her face took on a worn and lined expression , as if she were tiring . He did not relish the idea of being alone in this , not knowing who he could trust . " Will I see you again ? " " If you survive these sewers and escape , I will come to you again . There is much I must investigate first so that we may find a way to free the Emperor from the dimension in which Tharn has placed him . Only by his release will the truth come to light . Remember Talin , Tharn has taken on the form of the Emperor , and no one will gainsay his word for yours . Had I been able I would have appeared to the Elder Council , but my body lies close by , forgotten and decayed . In this form I cannot travel far from my mortal remains . " Ria looked down , her once wheaten tresses hanging limply as the ethereal wind diminished , " I cannot come to you again as I have now . It takes energy I dare not squander . " She reached out and touched Talin on the forehead . He felt a slight tingling , like an itch behind his eyes . A moment later it was gone . " I have linked us so that I can appear to you regardless of the distance , but I will only appear to you henceforth in your dreams . The way is safer and less costly . It is very important that you rest now and again , when you are safe . It will only be during those time that I can reach you . " Ria looked into Talin ' s eyes , " You are entering a dangerous arena , my friend . One in which the players are beings beyond your mortal comprehension . I see in your destiny the ability to transcend . There is a power within you as yet untapped . Look for me when you have gained some experience in the world . You are my last and best hope , Talin . ” Before Talin could respond the form of Ria faded from view . In the deepening gloom Talin could feel the icy fingers of fear creeping slowly back into his flesh . Then the glint of ruby caught his eye . He walked over to the niche and picked up the key . It felt warm to the touch , and strangely comforting . He thought about his friend Ria , dead now though she clung to unlife for the sake of justice . He thought about Jagar Tharn , who had killed his friend and attempted his own life . Such evil could not be permitted to grow , or go unchecked . Looking about the cell his purpose became clearer , as if his ruminations had opened a door to the beginnings of understanding . Perhaps Ria had ensorcelled the key to produce this reaction , he knew not , but a litany from his old Armsmaster came to mind and he whispered , " Given the outcome of certain death , die with a blade in hand . " The cell door was a massive construction of iron and steel . He paused only a moment to listen . The moaning was gone , but from the darkness he could hear dozens of tiny claws skittering and scratching the damp mossy brownstone . Occasionally red eyes gleamed out at him . Talin inserted the key to the lock and turned it . With a groan the mechanism released and the cell door swung open on rusty hinges . Despite the noise nothing flew out from the darkness to attack . It was as if the sewer itself had decided he was no threat , and turned its back on him . " Tharn , " he thought , " you will not escape me so easily . " Grabbing the candle from its holder Talin drew both breath and dagger as he ventured into the darkened hall . . .