"Ten thousand septims to each of us, then?" you ask. You want to be sure. It's an extraordinary price. You could just about afford two custom-fit sets of full plate with that kind of money. Not that that's what you'd use it for. "That's what the flyer said," Lucius, the aged, somewhat unkempt, Breton sitting across from you answers, jostling with the wagon along the marshy road to Leyawiin. Over the past few days you've gotten to know the dour retired knight, less by what he says and more by what he doesn't. Like his stance on the Vashar. Any upstanding citizen of the Empire knows their traditions and beliefs are not only illegal but immoral, a slap in the face to the Eight Divine. "You seem rather concerned about the reward, for someone 'not doing it for the money'." "I'm not, but there is a lot you can do with ten thousand septi-" You spill over the poor priestess seated beside you as the wagon sinks into a ditch. Talia was her name. "Sorry, sorry!" you apologize, over the angry shouting of the driver to his horses. The priestess laughs as she apologizes to the quiet Vashari she spilled over. "You need not apologize for what you could not control." You squint, noting the silly hypocrisy, as you pull yourself upright gripping the wagon wall. "Didn't you?" She chuckles. "Do as I say not as I do." "Well, I can see why you're here and not in the temple," Lucius says. "I'm here because my Lady guided me here, as yours has you," she replies, sincerely, and you suspect, non-judgmentally. Lucius holds her gaze a moment, then departs. "We're here." You help Talia out of the wagon, the mysterious old man after her, and the lonesome Vashari last. She's wary to take your hand and turns her head to hide the violet markings on her face beneath her hood. She has the purple eyes, the same as everyone from the Forgotten Province. If she's grateful, she doesn't express it, as she quickly scurries off toward the road to the Green Heron Inn. The air is even thicker between the droopy trees. They provide some shade, but the mosquitoes move toward you in schools from the boggy pits around their roots. If this is a foretaste of Black Marsh, perhaps ten thousand isn't suspiciously high. You duck beneath a hanging vine and swear something crawled on you from it! On second thought, perhaps ten thousand isn't enough. You notice the Vashari struggling ahead of you, swatting swarms of gnats and constantly wiping her bare arms until Talia gives her her cloak. But then her arms are bare. You go and offer her your cloak. She hesitates, but accepts with a smirk and shake of her head. "I asked Lady Kynareth to protect me from the swarms. I was expecting a gentle wind." You shrug with a smile and go on up ahead to catch up with Lucius as you hear him and an armored Imperial raising their voices. "We're not doing this, Lucius. You're disqualified," the Imperial says, firmly. His hands press into the table he is leaned over, maps strewn across its surface. Farther back toward the inn, an almost regal-looking Breton blond watches on with mild concern. "Disqualified for what, Falco?" The Imperial holds his gaze, and his tongue. "You know why you can't be here, Lucius." "You know that truth and justice are more important than peace." "You can't be here, this is an imperial expedition, Lucius." "Taking place outside the Empire." "Sanctioned and funded by the Empire." "I'm not here for the money, Falco. I'm here because Rurik's dead." The Imperial hangs on a pregnant pause before he says, "What you're doing is illegal, Lucius." "Not in High Rock. Not anymore." And then you know. He must be talking about the Meridian Reformation, in Camlorn. "We're not in High Rock." "And this expedition isn't in Cyrodiil!" But before Falco can respond, the blond Breton steps in, "Sir Marius? Let's let him at least attempt the trial. You need not burden yourself with a friend's disdain if he does not pass. And should he succeed, I will bear the blame of bringing him along. I will already be in trouble with the Synod for what I've participated in to make this expedition possible. It is more important that we succeed than whatever comes after, or along the way." Falco turns to her with a stubborn look in his eye. "Remember the stakes. There is a storm sweeping across the Padomaic barely being held back by the greatest mages of the Empire, House Telvanni, and the Dominion. What we find inside the Xanmeer could be the key to saving Tamriel." A shadow of doubt casts across his eyes, but it's impossible to tell whether it's in what she says or their odds of success. He turns with a sharp exhale and storms off. A towering orc with half his armor on lumbers out from the inn and goes after Falco seeing his outrage, but not before giving the blond a dirty look. You notice in the background, when she mentions the Xanmeer, the High Elf introducing herself to the Vashari turns with a stunned stare, as if she'd had an epiphany. It also seems to catch the attention of the Wood Elf bowwoman speaking with the mysterious old man, and the aloof Dark Elf watching them from the shadow of a nearby tree. Talia seems the only one uninvested, besides the Khajiit she went over to go sit by, throwing claws and punches between the branches of a bush he'd stripped of all its leaves. You also notice that the mage, you gather by her association with the Synod, also notices who perked up at the mention of the Xanmeer and who did not. With hands loosely folded above her waist, she addresses you all, "Pardon me. My name is Lucienne Thaloray, Master of Alteration. I am the one heading this expedition on behalf of the Stormwall Initiative, representing both the Empire and the Synod. I thank you all for coming all the way here to enlist in this expedition. For those of you who make it, you will not only be doing a service to Cyrodiil but, I believe, all of Tamriel. However, this expedition is only happening because the last team sent into Black Marsh has gone missing. I fear we may not only be going up against the natural dangers of the shifting swamps but darker forces secretly at work." When she says this, she hugs her arms and looks off in a direction. You notice her hand feel for something beneath her draping sleeve, which end just past the elbow. "We need very specific kinds of people to aid us in this quest, and the test I have designed is tailored to find them. A few hours journey from here, there is an Ayleid Ruin. There is an item inside that I will ask you to retrieve, but that is only half of the test. When everyone returns, I will ask each of you in private who you want to take along on this expedition and why. The answers I receive will only be known to me, and I will not tell you my reason for asking. Only that it is as important as retrieving the item. We will go over the details of what you're looking for on the way. Other than that, are there any questions?" You speak up, "If we make it, what will we be looking for in the Xanmeer?" She holds your gaze a moment before responding. "When the Empire finally took a collective interest in the strangers sailing into Morrowind ten years ago, they discovered the strange beliefs of the Akaviran people known as the Vashari. Who have a paradoxical concept of future ancestors, the 'becoming ancestors', also known as the Vaedra. When they came to Tamriel and learned of the erroneously thought Ninth Divine, Talos, they believed they'd found another Vaedra. But that's just it. They were already worshipping their own Vaedra who could grant them blessings, who enabled them to pass the great storm that surrounds Vashar. But the Xanmeers of Black Marsh predate even Ayleid civilization, and I have reason to believe the one we seek holds information not only on the Vashar but on this belief in Vaedra, particularly the one they worship. Oranu." Hello, thanks for reading this narrative introduction to The Elder Scrolls: Stormwall . This is a level 5 - 20 Unofficial Elder Scrolls Tabletop Roleplaying Game (by Delvebound, using the D&D 5e system) campaign. If you don't know, it plays just like 5e so if you're familiar with that there isn't much to learn. There are lore-accurate classes and beyond the standard 5e spells, there is also a supplementary Mages Guild Arcanum book we'll be using that adds lore-inspired spells. I'll also be using a number of House Rules for more combat options, like maneuvers and climbing monsters. Nothing too complicated. I chose this system and setting to focus on narrative, character relationships and development, and engaging roleplay, but the campaign begins with a hefty expedition so expect plenty of combat. Maybe there'll even be some social combat, if you're reading into the second half of this trial quest. If you're looking for a good story and want to be part of what makes it great, please apply by filling out a UESTRPG Character Sheet for you the player. Yes, you. Not the character you want to play. I thought that would be more fun than the usual questionnaire. You don't have to fill out appearance or equipment information, and as a rule you don't need to share anything too personal. You could leave it at name, age, sex, and experience (with tabletop) if you want, but part of the fun is seeing how you'd fill out a character sheet for yourself. Character Sheets can be found at uestrpg.com and or via this link: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kyMnBC36hGi3dZNKj0tXVVHNwunMGEl/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kyMnBC36hGi3dZNKj0tXVVHNwunMGEl/view?usp=sharing</a> Just download, fill it out, and send it to me on Discord: seronglir Additionally, I'd like you to tell me (maybe in the Character Backstory section) either about the character you think you'd like to play in this game if you have a concept or your favorite character that you have played in a previous game. Both is also fine. But don't think you need experience to play. The quality of a player is determined not by their skill but by their PASSION! Finally, if there's anything that would absolutely make you not want to play, any hard lines, include those in Other Notes. You can also put there if there are any special exceptions, accommodations, or potential scheduling conflicts you know will for certain come up within the next year (like if you're moving to another time zone in the Fall or something). This is a weekly game and we usually run 5 - 6 hours, if you include post-session discussion and hanging out. P.S. - Khajiits and Argonians will not be playable races. -Nine Divine guide you.