The Armorer ' s Challenge Summary . A book written by Mymophonus , the book details how the Empire was able defeat the Argonian forces at Black Marsh due to changes in the combat doctrine , as Sirollus Saccus shows that not even his finest armor can hope to defeat an Argonian soldier in such climates . He then left to Morrowind and since then has happily continued his trade there . Content . Three hundred years ago , when Katariah became Empress , the first and only Dunmer to rule all of Tamriel , she faced opposition from the Imperial Council . Even after she convinced them that she would be the best regent to rule the Empire while her husband Pelagius sought treatment for his madness , there was still conflict . In particular from the Duke of Vengheto , Thane Minglumire , who took a particular delight in exposing all of the Empress ' s lack of practical knowledge . In this particular instance , Katariah and the Council were discussing the unrest in Black Marsh and the massacre of Imperial troops outside the village of Armanias . The sodden swampland and the sweltering climate , particular in summertide , would endanger the troops if they wore their usual armor . " I know a very clever armorer , " said Katariah , " His name is Hazadir , an Argonian who knows the environments our army will be facing . I knew him in Vivec City where he was a slave to the master armorer there , before he moved to the Imperial City as a freedman . We should have him design armor and weaponry for the campaign . " Minglumire gave a short , barking laugh : " She wants a slave to design the armor and weaponry for our troops ! Sirollus Saccus is the finest armorer in the Imperial City . Everyone knows that . " After much debate , it was finally decided to have both armorers contend for the commission . The Council also elected two champions of equal power and prowess , Nandor Beraid and Raphalas Eul , to battle using the arms and armaments of the real competitors in the struggle . Whichever champion won , the armorer who supplied him would earn the Imperial commission . It was decided that Beraid would be outfitted by Hazadir , and Eul by Saccus . The fight was scheduled to commence in seven days . " Sirollus Saccus began work immediately . He would have preferred more time , but he recognized the nature of the test . The situation in Armanias was urgent . The Empire had to select their armorer quickly , and once selected , the preferred armorer had to act swiftly and produce the finest armor and weaponry for the Imperial army in Black Marsh . It wasn ' t just the best armorer they were looking for . It was the most efficient . Saccus had only begun steaming the half - inch strips of black virgin oak to bend into bands for the flanges of the armor joints when there was a knock at his door . His assistant Phandius ushered in the visitor . It was a tall reptilian of common markings , a dull , green - fringed hood , bright black eyes , and a dull brown cloak . It was Hazadir , Katariah ' s preferred armorer . " I wanted to wish you the best of luck on the - - is that ebony ? " It was indeed . Saccus had bought the finest quality ebony weave available in the Imperial City as soon as he heard of the competition and had begun the process of smelting it . Normally it was a six month procedure refining the ore , but he hoped that a massive convection oven stoked by white flames born of magicka would shorten the operation to three days . Saccus proudly pointed out the other advancements in his armory . The acidic lime pools to sharpen the blade of the dai - katana to an unimaginable degree of sharpness . The Akaviri forge and tongs he would use to fold the ebony back and forth upon itself . Hazadir laughed . " Have you been to my armory ? It ' s two tiny smoke - filled rooms . The front is a shop . The back is filled with broken armor , some hammers , and a forge . That ' s it . That ' s your competition for the millions of gold pieces in Imperial commission . " " I ' m sure the Empress has some reason to trust you to outfit her troops , " said Sirollus Saccus , kindly . He had , after all , seen the shop and knew that what Hazadir said was true . It was a pathetic workshop in the slums , fit only for the lowliest of adventurers to get their iron daggers and cuirasses repaired . Saccus had decided to make the best quality regardless of the inferiority of his rival . It was his way and how he became the best armorer in the Imperial City . Out of kindness , and more than a bit of pride , Saccus showed Hazadir how , by contrast , things should be done in a real professional armory . The Argonian acted as an apprentice to Saccus , helping him refine the ebony ore , and to pound it and fold it when it cooled . Over the next several days , they worked together to create a beautiful dai - katana with an edge honed to a keen sharp enough to trim a mosquito ' s eyebrows , enchanted with flames along its length by one of the Imperial Battlemages , as well as suit of armor of bound wood , leather , silver , and ebony to resist the winds of Oblivion . On the day of the battle , Saccus , Hazadir , and Phandius finished polishing the armor and brought in Raphalas Eul for the fitting . Hazadir left only then , realizing that Nandor Beraid would be at his shop shortly to be outfitted . The two warriors met before the Empress and Imperial Council in the arena , which had been flooded slightly to simulate the swampy conditions of Black Marsh . From the moment Saccus saw Eul in his suit of heavy ebony and blazing dai - katana and Beraid in his collection of dusty , rusted lizard - scales and spear from Hazadir ' s shop , he knew who would win . And he was right . The first blow from the dai - katana lodged in Beraid ' s soft shield , as there was no metal trim to deflect it . Before Eul could pull his sword back , Beraid let go of the now - flaming shield , still stuck on the sword , and poked at the joints of Eul ' s ebony armor with his spear . Eul finally retrieved his sword from the ruined shield and slashed at Beraid but his light armor was scaled and angled , and the attacks rolled off into the water , extinguishing the dai - katana ' s flames . When Beraid struck at Eul ' s feet , he fell into the churned mud and was unable to move . The Empress , out of mercy , called a victor . Hazadir received the commission and thanks to his knowledge of Argonian battle tactics and weaponry and how best to combat them , he designed implements of war that brought down the insurrection in Armanias . Katariah won the respect of Council , and even , grudgingly , that of Thane Minglumire . Sirollus Saccus went to Morrowind to learn what Hazadir learned there , and was never heard from again .