Chapter 2: The Dwemer War
"Akatosh, you know I don't do big fights anymore. I'll clear out the occasional bandit cave but not something big like this. Not since Serana left. Besides, the heroes and I haven't fought as a team like actually all of us fighting together since Karstaag." said Argon
"Nonsense Argon. You are only saying this because you are upset over Serana leaving. It was a shock to the Divines two. The two of you were together for so long, not even death could seperate you." said Akatosh
"But now she's gone. Left in my moment of vulnerability. Do you know where she is?" Argon hopefully asked Akatosh
"No, she seems to have disappeared. I can't find her anywhere in Tamriel. Where ever she is, she doesn't want to be found." Akatosh told Argon
"This is my fault..." Argon said
"It's not your fault. You were simply trying to adjust again and Serana couldn't adjust to seeing you so vulnerable." Akatosh assured him
"Whatever, I guess it's time I start fighting again anyway. Did you get the team assembled?" Argon asked
"They are all waiting in the Council Meeting Room at the White-Gold Tower in the Imperial City. I'll take you there." Akatosh grabbed Argon's arm and they vanished
--------
Argon and Akatosh materialized in the Council room in the White-Tower. The big round table was filled with, the Emperor, the High Chancellor, members from the Elder Council, Skyrim's High King, the Divines, and Tamriel's Greatest Heroes. There was an empty chair in between the Divines. Four Divines sat on each side of the chair Akatosh took his place at the empty chair. Like the Divines, there was an empty chair in the middle of the heroes except this chair only had two heroes on each side since there was only five heroes. Argon took his seat in the middle. To his immediate left was Nerevar, to his far left was Fayen. To Argon's immediate right was Sheogorath, to his far right was Garnin.
"Now that we are all gathered, we can get down to business." said The High Chancellor
"It would seem that the Dwemer have returned to Blackreach, thanks to Akatosh we now knoew how." said The Emperor
"For the last three months, the Empire has been secretly talking to the Dwemer. We are doing all we can to keep their existence a secret." said The High Chancellor
"Three months?!" exclaimed Argon
"That's what I said isn't it?"
"Did you guys know about this?" Argon asked the heroes
They were just as shocked as he was.
"So, for three months a great threat has been literally underneath my feet and I didn't know about it?!"
"We didn't want to tell you because we didn't know how bad it would get. Besides, you've dealing with a lot since Serana left you." said Akatosh
"Serana left you?" Nerevar asked "Why?"
"It doesn't matter Indoril. There is a much bigger problem at hand." said The High Chancellor
"I know we have saved you twice, but that doesn't give you permission to call me by my first name." said Nerevar
The High Chancellor shut up.
"Anyways, you said that you didn't want to tell us because you didn't know how bad it was going to get. Clearly since you told me it's gotten pretty bad. How bad is it exactly?" Argon asked
"Pretty bad. When we first started talking to the Dwemer, they were interested in peace also so we decided to negotiate. They promised to keep their existence a secret and not disturb anyone as long as we gave them supplies like food, water, clothing, cloth, and scrap metal. So we did. Once a week we would have someone load up a wagon and go to one of the Great Lifts. The courier would load the wagon onto the lift and then ride the lift down to Blackreach. There he would go to the castle and give the supplies." said the High King
"So? That's not that bad." said Argon
"But things got worse. According to the couriers all the Falmer in Blackreach have been slain. Not such a big deal, the Falmer give us trouble anyways. But one courier managed to get a look at the falmer. The bodies were filled with holes. The holes weren't the right size to be done by a blade of an arrow or even a crossbow bolt. It didn't look like any sort of magic we've ever seen before." said The High Chancellor
"But they're not using these new weapons on anyone in Tamriel so why worry?" asked Argon
"Because, the Dwemer's requests grew larger. They wanted ownership over their cities." said The High Chancellor
"Then give them to them." said Argon
"We did. But they wanted ALL of them." said the High King
"But that means you would have to turn over Markarth. That's a thriving Skyrim city. Not to mention a hold capital. You can't just kick the people out of their homes. The nords are already restless enough." said Argon
"That's what we told them." said The Emperor
"But they refused to accept. They demanded we turn over Markarth, or as the Dwarves call it, Nchuand-Zel." said The High King
"Why do they care so much?" asked Argon
"They call it their greatest and most succesful city aside from Blackreach. If they don't get it, they threaten us with a war. And a war against the Dwemer is almost imposible to win. The last Dwemer war was only won thanks to Nerevar over there. But that win barely happened, and now that they are armed with these new weapons we have never even seen before who knows what the outcome could be?" explained Zenithar
"Oh and it gets worse." said Julianos
"How could it get worse?" asked Argon
"They are being lead by the ancient Dwemer High Priest and Chief Tonal Architect, or Magecrafter, Kagrenac." said Julianos
"plops! Not that asshole!" shouted Nerevar
"I'm afraid so." said Akatosh
"He's the guy who was about to unleash the Numidium on the world." said Garnin
"He's also the one who managed to use the power of Lorkhan's heart. If he can tap into Lorkhan, this bitch can do anything." said Fayen
"He needs to die." said Talos
"So what do you propose we do to prevent this war?" asked Argon
"We can't prevent it. We can't simply give them Markarth. We have to go to war." said The Emperor
"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Argon
"I'm afraid he is Argon. We decided that a few weeks ago. The reason you're here is because we have a plan." said Akatosh
"And what would that plan be?" Argon asked
"Since I am the god of war, this is my area. I came up with the idea that we send a team behind enemy lines to take out the Dwemer. You will be our front line of defense. You will fight the war. At least, most of it. We are sending you into enemy territory because you guys are the only ones who can actually do something." said Talos
"You're sending us to Blackreach? Where the Dwemer are? With their new weapons that we don't know how to defend against?" said Argon
"We have to, it's the only way." said Talos
"That's a suicide mission!" said Argon
"It's the only chance we have. We have to take the risk of you never coming back." said Talos
"Fine. We don't really have much of a choice do we? When do we set out?" asked Argon
"Tomorrow. Get some sleep. Argon I'll go back to your house and get your equipment and leave it in your room. I know it's only the morning but I want all of you to rest. No going and doing anything else you need to rest if you are going to have any chance of surviving the first day." said Akatosh
The heroes went to their Inn and spent the day sipping mead and sitting around.
--------
The next day everyone was once again gathered in the Council room. This time however, the team was standing on top of the table waiting to be teleported.
"Remember, the first thing you do is find shelter and then set up. Don't go attack on the first day unless you have to. Eventually the Dwemer will know you are there. We have already informed them that we are not giving them Markarth and they can kiss our asses. So as of now we are at war, Blackreach is going to be crawling with Dwemer on the defense. Heroes, Argon has been to Blackreach many times, follow him." said Akatosh
"Thank you Martin." said Sheogorath
"I know a place we can use as our home." said Argon
"Oh and one last thing, about two months ago, we sent a scout down to Blackreach to see how bad things were down there. She was supposed to have only been down there for three days. She was the best fighter we had except for you guys. She never came back. Becareful." warned Stendarr
Dibella ran to Fayen and gave him a big hug.
"I'm going to miss you." she told him
"I'm going to miss you too, but I promise I will be back." said Fayen
"You'd better. I'll be waiting for you." Dibella said
"I love you." Fayen told her
"I love you too." she replied
"Wish I could have said bye to my lass." said Sheogorath
"You have a girlfriend now too?" said Argon
"Yes. Her name is Azura." said Sheogorath
"What in Oblivion is going on with all this breaking lore?!" Argon exclaimed
"Don't worry Argon, I am not with any god-like person. My Jenira is perfectly mortal." said Garnin
"So the summer in the Isles paid off, huh?" asked Argon
"Yes they did." said Garnin
"Okay, heroes, it's time to go." Akatosh cast a spell on them and they were transported to the Great Lift of Alftand
"I thought he was gonna send us to Blackreach." said Nerevar
"Maybe something down there stopped him from doing so." said Argon
"What could stop a god's power?" asked Garnin
"I don't wanna find out." said Fayen
The heroes stepped onto the lift. Argon closed the gate to make sure no one followed them down into Blackreach. He then pulled the lever to the lift and it descended to the Dwarven city below.