2920 , vol 01 - Morning Star A part of the twelve volume set " 2920 " . Content . Morning Star Book One of 2920 , The Last Year of the First Era by Carlovac Townway 1 Morning Star , 2920 Mournhold , Morrowind Almalexia lay in her bed of fur , dreaming . Not until the sun burned through her window , infusing the light wood and flesh colors of her chamber in a milky glow did she open her eyes . It was quiet and serene , a stunning reverse of the flavor of her dreams , so full of blood and celebration . For a few moments , she simply stared at the ceiling , trying to sort through her visions . In the courtyard of her palace was a boiling pool which steamed in the coolness of the winter morning . At the wave of her hand , it cleared and she saw the face and form of her lover Vivec in his study to the north . She did not want to speak right away : he looked so handsome in his dark red robes , writing his poetry as he did every morning . " Vivec , " she said , and he raised his head in a smile , looking at her face across thousands of miles . " I have seen a vision of the end of the war . " " After eighty years , I don ' t think anyone can imagine an end , " said Vivec with a smile , but he grew serious , trusting Almalexia ' s prophecies . " Who will win ? Morrowind or the Cyrodil ic Empire ? " " Without Sotha Sil in Morrowind , we will lose , " she replied . " My intelligence tells me the Empire will strike us to the north in early springtide , by First Seed at the latest . Could you go to Artaeum and convince him to return ? " " I ' ll leave tomorrow , " she said , simply . 4 Morning Star , 2920 Gideon , Black Marsh The Empress paced around her cell . Wintertide gave her wasteful energy , while in the summer she would merely sit by her window and be grateful for each breath of stale swamp wind that came to cool her . Across the room , her unfinished tapestry of a dance at the Imperial Court seemed to mock her . She ripped it from its frame , tearing the pieces apart as they drifted to the floor . Then she laughed at her own useless gesture of defiance . She would have plenty of time to repair it and craft a hundred more . The Emperor had locked her up in Castle Giovesse seven years ago , and would likely keep her here until he or she died . With a sigh , she pulled the cord to call her knight , Zuuk . He appeared at the door within minutes , fully uniformed as befitted an Imperial Guard . Most of the native Kothringi tribesmen of Black Marsh preferred to go about naked , but Zuuk had taken a positive delight to fashion . His silver , reflective skin was scarcely visible , only on his face , neck , and hands . " Your Imperial Highness , " he said with a bow . " Zuuk , " said Empress Tavia . " I ' m bored . Lets discuss methods of assassinating my husband today . " 14 Morning Star , 2920The Imperial City , Cyrodiil The chimes proclaiming South Wind ' s Prayer echoed through the wide boulevards and gardens of the Imperial City , calling all to their temples . The Emperor Reman III always attended a service at the Temple of the One , while his son and heir Prince Juilek found it more political to attend a service at a different temple for each religious holiday . This year , it was at the cathedral Benevolence of Mara . The Benevolence ' s services were mercifully short , but it was not until well after noon that the Emperor was able to return to the palace . By then , the arena combatants were impatiently waiting for the start of the ceremony . The crowd was far less restless , as the Potentate Versidue - Shaie had arranged for a demonstration from a troupe of Khajiit i acrobat s . " Your religion is so much more convenient than mine , " said the Emperor to his Potentate by way of an apology . " What is the first game ? " " A one - on - one battle between two able warriors , " said the Potentate , his scaly skin catching the sun as he rose . " Armed befitting their culture . " " Sounds good , " said the Emperor and clapped his hands . " Let the sport commence ! " As soon as he saw the two warriors enter the arena to the roar of the crowd , Emperor Reman III remembered that he had agreed to this several months before and forgotten about it . One combatant was the Potentate ' s son , Savirien - Chorak , a glistening ivory - yellow eel , gripping his katana and wakizashi with his thin , deceptively weak looking arms . The other was the Emperor ' s son , Prince Juilek , in Ebony armor with a savage Orcish helm , shield and longsword at his side . " This will be fascinating to watch , " hissed the Potentate , a wide grin across his narrow face . " I don ' t know if I ' ve even seen a Cyrodiil fight an Akavir like this . Usually it ' s army against army . At last we can settle which philosophy is better - - to create armor to combat swords as your people do , or to create swords to combat armor as mine do . " No one in the crowd , aside from a few scattered Akaviri counselors and the Potentate himself wanted Savirien - Chorak to win , but there was a collective intake of breath at the sight of his graceful movements . His swords seemed to be a part of him , a tail coming from his arms to match the one behind him . It was a trick of counterbalance , allowing the young serpent man to roll up into a circle and spin into the center of the ring in offensive position . The Prince had to plod forward the less impressive traditional way . As they sprang at each other , the crowd bellowed with delight . The Akaviri was like a moon in orbit around the Prince , effortlessly springing over his shoulder to attempt a blow from behind , but the Prince whirled around quickly to block with his shield . His counter - strike met only air as his foe fell flat to the ground and slithered between his legs , tripping him . The Prince fell to the ground with a resounding crash . Metal and air melted together as Savirien - Chorak rained strike after strike upon the Prince , who blocked every one with his shield . " We don ' t have shields in our culture , " murmured Versidue - Shaie to the Emperor . " It seems strange to my boy , I imagine . In our country , if you don ' t want to get hit , you move out of the way . " When Savirien - Chorak was rearing back to begin another series of blinding attacks , the Prince kicked at his tail , sending him falling back momentarily . In an instant , he had rebounded , but the Prince was also back on his feet . The two circled one another , until the snake man spun forward , katana extended . The Prince saw his foe ' s plan , and blocked the katana with his longsword and the wakizashi with his shield . Its short punching blade impaled itself in the metal , and Savirien - Chorak was thrown off balance . The Prince ' s longblade slashed across the Akaviri ' s chest and the sudden , intense pain caused him to drop both his weapons . In a moment , it was over . Savirien - Chorak was prostate in the dust with the Prince ' s longsword at his throat . " The game ' s over ! " shouted the Emperor , barely heard over the applause from the stadium . The Prince grinned and helped Savirien - Chorak up and over to a healer . The Emperor clapped his Potentate on the back , feeling relieved . He had not realized when the fight had begun how little chance he had given his son at victory . " He will make a fine warrior , " said Versidue - Shaie . " And a great emperor . " " Just remember , " laughed the Emperor . " You Akaviri have a lot of showy moves , but if just one of our strikes comes through , it ' s all over for you . " " Oh , I ' ll remember that , " nodded the Potentate . Reman thought about that comment for the rest of the games , and had trouble fully enjoying himself . Could the Potentate be another enemy , just as the Empress had turned out to be ? The matter would bear watching . 21 Morning Star , 2920Mournhold , Morrowind " Why don ' t you wear that green gown I gave you ? " asked the Duke of Mournhold , watching the young maiden put on her clothes . " It doesn ' t fit , " smiled Turala . " And you know I like red . " " It doesn ' t fit because you ' re getting fat , " laughed the Duke , pulling her down on the bed , kissing her breasts and the pouch of her stomach . She laughed at the tickles , but pulled herself up , wrapping her red robe around her . " I ' m round like a woman should be , " said Turala . " Will I see you tomorrow ? " " No , " said the Duke . " I must entertain Vivec tomorrow , and the next day the Duke of Ebonheart is coming . Do you know , I never really appreciated Almalexia and her political skills until she left ? " " It is the same with me , " smiled Turala . " You will only appreciate me when I ' m gone . " " That ' s not true at all , " snorted the Duke . " I appreciate you now . " Turala allowed the Duke one last kiss before she was out the door . She kept thinking about what he said . Would he appreciate her more or less when he knew that she was getting fat because she was carrying his child ? Would he appreciate her enough to marry her ? The Year Continues in 2920 , Sun ' s Dawn ( v2 )