[i]"The best techniques are passed on by the survivors..." - Gaiden Shinji, Blademaster First Era, 947[/i]

Port of Rihad, 

The sun was rising high in the near cloudless sky, a swift breeze smelling of salty air was heavy in the wind. The light blue water sloshed against the docks of port. Dockhands moved crates from a nearby warehouse onto a large Baghlah. The ship was ornately decorated, with a bow sculpted into the shape of a mermaid. Its flag was purple, with two yellow-gold curved scimitars crossed in the center. 

A single redguard stood overlooking the scene. He tall and lean, his face heavily decorated with purple and blue war paint. He was not dressed like most redguards: he wore a long, navy blue velvet robe, with gold-and-silver-colored trim that gleaned in the sunlight. Large jewel earrings, some hoops, others solid stones, dangled from his ears, giving him an almost outlandish appearance to be sure. 

“Aye Captain!” cried a dockworker. The redguard turned to the man- an imperial. “It is two more ships like this that need filling, yes?”

“Yes, yes, two ships, just like this one, they need to be stocked, and quickly.” The captain spoke quickly with a commanding air. “And that's Captain Therdim if you don;t mind."

 The dockhand quickly bobbed his head in understanding before rushing off to report his orders to his fellows. High Captain Therdim strode to the edge of his ship’s bow to lean on the railing to overlook the countless other ships at dock. Some were fishing or the rare trading vessel, but the ones Therdim were interested in counted the largest group. Dozens of war ships lined the harbor, more than Therdim could count at a glance, from smaller and swift dhow's to great and powerful war galleys armed with ballista's or catapults. The past years had seen a drastic up scaling in naval war ships all across the western coast line of Hammerfell. War was in the air and every man and women knew it, it was on the lips of soldiers to common folk. 

The buildup of forces had no doubt not gone unnoticed, but as if yet no one knew for certain when and where Temijen planned to strike. His up scaling of the Ra-gada navy was a such that many ships were actually beached instead of docked at a proper harbor. With large camps fortified and built around these areas, effectively creating what many had termed 'ship sheds'. These sheds had so far served to store the ships light and dry in readiness for launch at the break of war, and even Therdim could not guess the overall naval strength Hammerfell now possessed. Indeed, it would seem Temijen had planned well. 

 The sound of an approaching pair of feet shook Therdim from his thoughts, and he turned to be greeted by Captain Nhermur of the [i]Red Mist[/i]. They greeted each other respectively. "Captain Nhermur, to what do I owe the honor?" 
 
Nhermur was slightly shorter than him, but wider of shoulder and more compactly built. He flashed an easy smile before responding. "I just thought I'd pay a visit to an old friend. I see everything is proceeding apace as planned." He added the last with a nod to the cargo being loaded below deck. 

Therdim rubbed his chin. "Ah, yes, it would appear to be so. With any luck we should reach Stros M'kai in a weeks’ time, sooner if the wind favors us." 

Nhermur nodded. "So Temijen has so ordered, though to what end we will not know until we get there." 

Therdim eyed him thoughtfully. "It would seem obvious; he means to strike out against the Aldmeri Dominion."

"But where –or when– will we strike first? The Aldmeri according to recent reports still marshal in Valenwood, but it would seem he proposes to attack Alinor itself."

Therdim shrugged as if it did not matter. "A difficult proposition to be sure, it is well known that the Altmer possess a formidable fleet. But so do we, if there is any in Tamriel that can match them at sea, it is us." 

"The Altmer have battlemages to bolster their ships, it would be no simple task," Nhermur was quick to point out. 

Therdim looked back out at sea as he considered. "That they do, but if rumors are to be believed it would seem Temijen still has a trick or two hidden in his sleeves." 

"In that case I hope your right." 

The waters before them were dotted with dozens of tiny islands. Swaying palm trees and shifting sand covered them. Ships maneuvered around them skillfully, against crashing waves, thick with white salt, heading forward toward the rising sun.

--------------

Sentinel Palace,

 Temijen paced across the balcony that overlooked the courtyards and gardens bellow. At this vantage point offered a fantastic view of the city as a whole, as well as the coast and ocean beyond. With his arms folded behind his back, he stalked back and forth lost in thought. He almost did not note the shadow at the balcony edge, the figure there shrouded in shadow. 

"I do hate when you stalk about." Temijen voiced without turning toward the figure. 

"I do so apologize my lord, it's an old habit." The sound of the speaker tone made it evident he had a smile on his lips. "But you understand my discretion; it would not bode to well if any saw you in my company." 

Temijen had stopped at the center of the balcony and gripped the railing, his back to the stranger. If the man meant to do him any harm, it would seem incredibly easy just then. 

"Have you made progress with the dwemer discovery?" Temijen asked cutting right to business. 

"Oh yes, we have been able to learn much from the ruins of Volenfell had revealed many secrets." The figure stepped out of the shadow of the column, revealing a robed man draped in a desert headdress which concealed most of his features. Alik'r wizard smiled then added. "While the old Dwemer contraptions are still to advance for us to use, but ballistae’s based on their designs have already been constructed. Once they have been properly tested you will have a new and potent weapon to use for your fleets." 

"Now that is good news, let me know when the test have been completed, once that is done have them shipped to Stros M'kai." 

The Alik'r wizard bowed. "Of course, it shall be done, as soon as the latest expedition returns with their discoverers." 

The footsteps of someone from the main chamber that lead to the balcony warned them of someone approaching. The man shifted to hide once more in the shadows and seemed to become almost one with them- or he simply vanished might have been a more appropriate description. A guard entered through the wide curtains and bowed low. 

"Forgive my disturbing you lord vanquisher, but a missive directly from the Imperial capital has arrived." 

Temijen turned intrigued by the news, though his hard face betrayed no emotion. "Is that so? Well, hand it here, let’s see what the fowls want." The man handed over the letter and Temijen read it carefully. Temijen huffed, as he reread the letter shaking his head. He looked to the guard and waved him off. After several minutes the Alik'r wizard stepped from the shadows again, seeming almost as if he had suddenly appeared from nowhere. 

"I assume the Empire has not a made declaration for Hammerfell to rejoin the fold." 

Temijen scoffed. "They seek a summit within the Western Reach, in the city of Evermor. They think they can call us to the table like dogs." He spat in disgust. 

Alik'r mage said nothing for a moment as he thought on the implications. "So they wish a meeting, who else is to come to this 'summit'?

"They call upon their bickering slaves in High Rock, and the High King of Skyrim. It takes little imagination of what they wish to discuss." 

"Perhaps this can still be used to our advantage my lord? Going to his meeting means nothing- attendance could help us discern how the other provinces feel if nothing else. Much could be learned, and no agreement would need be made with the Emperor." 

Temijen, however, was shaking his head. "I will not attend any audience of theirs, even if the cowardly Titus Medes no longer sits on the throne; they have long since lost our respect and our support." 

The man only shrugged. "We lose nothing in going, and stand to gain. At the worst of it, you can see their new Emperor beg for Redguard aid. That is at least something." 

Temijen left hand went to his chine as he thought on the matter more. Finally with a nod he answered. "Very well then, we will see what this new emperor has to say. And I will get a measure of this 'Emperor Gaius Triarius the First', for their sake let us hope he has more iron in his belly then his predecessor."