2920 , Vol . 15 Content . 2920 : The Last Year of the First Era By Carlovac Townway 4 Sun ' s Height , 2920 The Imperial City , Cyrodiil The Emperor Reman III and his Potentate Versidue - Shaie took a stroll around the Imperial Gardens . Studded with statuary and fountains , the north gardens fit the Emperor ' s mood , as well as being the coolest acreage in the City during the heat of summertide . Austere , tiered flowerbeds of blue - gray and green towered all around them as they walked . " Vivec has agreed to the Prince ' s terms for peace , " said Reman . " My son will be returning in two weeks ' time . " " This is excellent news , " said the Potentate carefully . " I hope the Dunmer will honor the terms . We might have asked for more . The fortress at Black Gate , for example . But I suppose the Prince knows what is reasonable . He would not cripple the Empire just for peace . " " I have been thinking lately of Rijja and what caused her to plot against my life , " said the Emperor , pausing to admire a statue of the Slave Queen Alessia before continuing . " The only thing I can think of to account for it is that she admired my son too much . She may have loved me for my power and my personality , but he , after all , is young and handsome and will one day inherit my throne . She must have thought that if I were dead , she could have an Emperor who had both youth and power . " " The Prince … was in on this plot ? " asked Versidue - Shaie . It was a difficult game to play , anticipating where the Emperor ' s paranoia would strike next . " Oh , I don ' t think so , " said Reman , smiling . " No , my son loves me well . " " Are you aware that Corda , Rijja ' s sister , is an initiate of the Morwha conservatorium in Hegathe ? " asked the Potentate . " Morwha ? " asked the Emperor . " I ' ve forgotten : which god is that ? " " Lusty fertility goddess of the Yokudans , " replied the Potentate . " But not too lusty , like Dibella . Demure , but certainly sexual . " " I am through with lusty women . The Empress , Rijja , all too lusty , a lust for love leads to a lust for power , " the Emperor shrugged his shoulders . " But a priestess - in - training with a certain healthy appetite sounds ideal . Now what were you saying about the Black Gate ? " 6 Sun ' s Height , 2920 Thurzo Fortress , Cyrodiil Rijja stood quietly looking at the cold stone floor while the Emperor spoke . He had never before seen her so pale and joyless . She might at least be pleased that she was being freed , being returned to her homeland . Why , if she left now , she could be in Hammerfell by the Merchant ' s Festival . Nothing he said seemed to register any reaction from her . A month and a half ' s stay in Thurzo Fortress seemed to have killed her spirit . " I was thinking , " said the Emperor at last . " Of having your younger sister Corda up to the palace for a time . I think she would prefer it over the conservatorium in Hegathe , don ' t you ? " Reaction , at last . Rijja looked at the Emperor with animal hatred , flinging herself at him in a rage . Her fingernails had grown long since her imprisonment and she raked them across his face , into his eyes . He howled with pain , and his guards pulled her off , pummeling her with blows from the back of their swords , until she was knocked unconscious . A healer was called at once , but the Emperor Reman III had lost his right eye . 23 Sun ' s Height , 2920 Balmora , Morrowind Vivec pulled himself from the water , feeling the heat of the day washed from his skin , taking a towel from one of his servants . Sotha Sil watched his old friend from the balcony . " It looks like you ' ve picked up a few more scars since I last saw you , " said the sorcerer . " Azura grant it that I have no more for a while , " laughed Vivec . " When did you arrive ? " " A little over an hour ago , " said Sotha Sil , walking down the stairs to the water ' s edge . " I thought I was coming to end a war , but it seems you ' ve done it without me . " " Yes , eighty years is long enough for ceaseless battle , " replied Vivec , embracing Sotha Sil . " We made concessions , but so did they . When the old Emperor is dead , we may be entering a golden age . Prince Juilek is very wise for his age . Where is Almalexia ? " " Collecting the Duke of Mournhold . They should be here tomorrow afternoon . " The men were distracted at a sight from around the corner of the palace — a rider was approaching through the town , heading for the front steps . It was evident that the woman had been riding hard for some time . They met her in the study , where she burst in , breathing hard . " We have been betrayed , " she gasped . " The Imperial Army has seized the Black Gate . "