2920 , Vol . 13 Content . 2920 : The Last Year of the First Era By Carlovac Townway 2 Mid Year , 2920 Balmora , Morrowind " The Imperial army is gathered to the south , " said Cassyr . " They are a two week march from Ald Iuval and Lake Coronati , heavily armored . " Vivec nodded . Ald Iuval and its sister city on the other side of the lake Ald Malak were strategically important fortresses . He had been expecting a move against them for some time . His captain pulled down a map of southwestern Morrowind from the wall and smoothed it out , fighting a gentle summer sea breeze wafting in from the open window . " They were heavily armored , you say ? " asked the captain . " Yes , sir , " said Cassyr . " They were camped out near Bethal Gray in the Heartland , and I saw nothing but Ebony , Dwarven , and Daedric armor , fine weaponry , and siege equipment . " " How about spellcasters and boats ? " asked Vivec . " A horde of battlemage s , " replied Cassyr . " But no boats . " " As heavily armored as they are , it will take them at least two weeks , like you said , to get from Bethal Gray to Lake Coronati , " Vivec studied the map carefully . " They ' d be dragged down in the bogs if they then tried to circle around to Ald Marak from the north , so they must be planning to cross the straits here and take Ald Iuval . Then they ' d proceed around the lake to the east and take Ald Marak from the south . " " They ' ll be vulnerable along the straits , " said the captain . " Provided we strike when they are more than halfway across and can ' t retreat back to the Heartland . " " Your intelligence has once again served us well , " said Vivec , smiling to Cassyr . " We will beat back the Imperial aggressors yet again . " 3 Mid Year , 2920 Bethal Gray , Cyrodiil " Will you be returning back this way after your victory ? " asked Lord Bethal . Prince Juilek barely paid the man any attention . He was focused on the army packing its camp . It was a cool morning in the forest , but there were no clouds . All the makings of a hot afternoon march , particularly in such heavy armor . " If we return shortly , it will be because of defeat , " said the Prince . He could see down in the meadow , the Potentate Versidue - Shaie paying his lordship ' s steward for the use of the village ' s food , wine , and whores . An army was an expensive thing , for . " My Prince , " said Lord Bethal with concern . " Is your army beginning a march due east ? That will just lead you to the shores of Lake Coronati . You ' ll want to go south - east to get to the straits . " " You just make certain your merchants get their share of our gold , " said the Prince with a grin . " Let me worry about my army ' s direction . " 16 Mid Year , 2920 Lake Coronati , Morrowind Vivec stared across the blue expanse of the lake , seeing his reflection and the reflection of his army in the cool blue waters . What he did not see was the Imperial Army ' s reflection . They must have reached the straits by now , barring any mishaps in the forest . Tall feather - thin lake trees blocked much of his view of the straits , but an army , particularly one clan in slow - moving heavy armor , could not move invisibly or silently . " Let me see the map again , " he called to his captain . " Is there no other way they could approach ? " " We have sentries posted in the swamps to the north in case they ' re fool enough to go there and get bogged down , " said the captain . " We would at least hear about it . But there is no other way across the lake except through the straits . " Vivec looked down again at his reflection , which seemed to be distorting his image , mocking him . Then he looked back on the map . " Spy , " said Vivec , calling Cassyr over . " When you said the army had a horde of battlemages , what made you so certain they were battlemages ? " " They were wearing gray robes with mystical insignia on them , " explained Cassyr . " I figured they were mages , and why else would such a vast number travel with the army ? They couldn ' t have all been healers . " " You fool ! " roared Vivec . " They ' re mystics schooled in the art of Alteration . They ' ve cast a spell of water breathing on the entire army . " Vivec ran to a new vantage point where he could see the north . Across the lake , though it was but a small shadow on the horizon , he could see gouts of flame from the assault on Ald Marak . Vivec bellowed with fury and his captain got to work at once redirecting the army to circle the lake and defend the castle . " Return to Dwynnen , " said Vivec flatly to Cassyr before he rode off to join the battle . " Your services are no longer needed nor wanted . " It was already too late when the Morrowind army neared Ald Marak . It had been taken by the Imperial Army .