Lutherus Sotasius - Chapter III, Part V

  • THE RENEGADE FROM CYRODIIL

    Warrant Report of Magistrate Albius Oruro, Subject: Lutherus Sotasius. Date: Last Seed, 30th, 43, 201.

    "You're a hard man to find, Lutherus." Said the Magistrate, as he pushed the disarmed, unarmored Lutherus onto the prison wagon. "This time there won't be any Dragon to come to your rescue." He finished, placing a cloth bag over Lutherus' head. "Guard! To Solitude, right away!" The cart ride to Solitude was long, but not as long as Lutherus' original journey to Helgen from the border, so they arrived at Helgen an hour after noon. Solitude - the Citadel stronghold of the Imperial Legion in Skyrim, home to the Imperial Legion's General Tullius, sent to quell the Stormcloak uprising in Skyrim, a region long ascertained by the Imperials as their own territory. Lutherus was marshalled into the City, his vision still obscured from the bag on his head. He had no idea his Companion, Faendal was with him, in the same predicament. The bag was finally removed, stinging Lutherus' eyes as it revealed a dark room, the only light coming from a small window."

     

    "General Tullius." Said the Magistrate. "I give you Lutherus Sotasius, the Renegade from Cyrodiil. The Fugitive of Helgen."

     

    "Good job, Albius. Thank you, please take your leave." Replied General Tullius.

     

    "At once, Sir."

     

    As Magistrate Albius left, General Tullius approached his prisoner. "So, you are the Renegade of my people, eh?" Lutherus said nothing. "You can speak, boy." Said a voice in the corner, Lutherus turning and acknowledging it as Hadvar.

     

    "I...I am." Replied Lutherus, gradually.

     

    "You are the pest who has become quite my little problem, in the past few weeks. Do you know how insulting it is to my power to have to direct troops to track down a traitor?"

     

    "No, Sir."

     

    "Hmm, what to do with you...and your friend, that...elf." Lutherus was shocked at the news, once again, he had been the reason why Faendal was in an unescapable predicament. "Don't looked so shocked, prisoner. Treason applies to anyone willing to hide a known criminal from our searches."

     

    "General Tullius." Interjected Hadvar. "If I may, Sir...I have more than enough reason to believe that this Imperial is a matter of inexplicable coincidence."

     

    "Bah!" Responded General Tullius. "Coincidence. And what do you have to possibly provide that belief with?"

     

    "He escaped Helgen with me as my prisoner, but after that he stayed in Riverwood, and even took action against the Bandits in the Barrow there. No traitor of the Imperial Legion would dare to be so selfless. Oblivion, he would not of stayed with me if his intentions were to be a traitor. Quite frankly Sir, if he was this 'Renegade' the Imperial Magistrate presses him as, I probably would not even of left Helgen alive."

     

    "Good point." Replied General Tullius. "But if that is so, why did he not alert the local Magistrate at Riverwood upon his arrival?"

     

    "That was my doing, General. I advised him to lay low, whilst I could come here to plead his case to you." General Tullius' face soured at his subordinates negligence.

     

    "And WHY would you do that Hadvar?" He asked, furiously. "Why put your career as a competent Officer on the line for a felon?"

     

    "I pitied his case. He is a victim of circumstance and the greed of Ulfric."

     

    "The greed of Ulfric? What does that mean?"

     

    Havdar turned to Lutherus. "Lutherus, you tell him."

     

    "Well?" Said General Tullius, folding his arms and looking back to Lutherus.

     

    "It's true." Began Lutherus. "Ulfric Stormcloak taxed my crossing. As an Imperial, and as a scholar, they demanded my entire purse of Septim, 2000 of them that were going to pay for my Winterhold tuition. It was either that, or death at their hands. I had no choice." Hadvar moved in closer.

     

    "Tell him why you are here, Lutherus."

     

    "My Father was a famous General in the Imperial Legion. Silaric Sotasius."

     

    "Silaric?" Pondered General Tullius. "My Lieutenant who was cut down by Bandits?"

     

    "The very same."

     

    "And with green eyes?"

     

    "Blue." Responded Lutherus immediately, aware that General Tullius had tried to trick him into a lie. General Tullius was surprised.

     

    "See?" Said Hadvar, breaking the momentary silence. "He is not a renegade!"

     

    General Tullius continued to ponder. "Very well." He finally said. "I believe your case." Lutherus let out a sigh of relief at the news. "But, there is one catch." Replied the General. "Since you are of military birth, and to prove your innocence to me, you shall join the Imperial Legion. As I understand, you are also on close relations with Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. When you leave Solitude, I wish for you to carry a message to him, from me, to plead with him to see that his only option is to side with the Imperials."

     

    "I have communicated with the Jarl many times, he is a difficult man to coerce into making such a decision." Replied Lutherus.

     

    "But this is your trial by fire! You are an Imperial, you should recognise your ability to render no person immune to our delicate diplomacy. It's either that, or banishment from this realm."

     

    "Well." Replied Lutherus. "I guess I have no choice then. I do have one request though."

     

    "And that is?"

     

    "Faendal, my friend and Companion, the Elf you arrested. He is also innocent. I wish for him to receive the protection of the Legion too, as a recognised soldier."

     

    "Very well. Could do with more Auxiliaries." Replied General Tullius. "Go find Beirand, the Blacksmith. He shall outfit you two with your gear. I'll arrange for Faendal's release."

     

    "Thank you, General Tullius." Mentioned Hadvar, as he led Lutherus out from his keep to the Imperial Blacksmith. Lutherus found Faendal already dressed the part down there.

    "You certainly look the part!" Chuckled Lutherus, to Faendal. He was met with silence, Faendal was still angry that his friend had betrayed his trust. "...Listen, I'm sorry Faendal. I never knew they would actually come for me."

     

    "I was almost certain that I would die here, Lutherus. Camilla doesn't even know I'm here, and now I'm pressed into mandatory service with the Legion! Why couldn't you tell me?"

     

    "I couldn't tell you Faendal!" Replied Lutherus. "I was laying low!"

     

    "And if I got in your way?" He remarked. "Would you of have to kill me?"

     

    "Certainly not!"

     

    "I don't even know who you are anymore." Retorted Faendal, and stormed off. Lutherus sighed, and turned to Beirand - he had pretended not to hear.

     

    "Heh, damned auxiliaires." He murmured.

     

    "Can you train me with this Sword?" Asked Lutherus.

     

    "No, I can't. Speak to the trainer in the field down there, he might help you."

    "Thanks." Replied Lutherus, and descended the stairs. He was just about to meet with the trainer when an Imperial Officer approached.

     

    "You there! Auxiliary! Halt!" Demanded the Officer to Lutherus.

     

    "Yeah?" Replied Lutherus, unaware of how to properly address the attending Praefect, whose eyes soured at the recruit.

     

    "YOU SHALL REFER TO YOUR SUPERIOR OFFICER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGION'S CODE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Shouted the Praefect.

     

    "Uh...YES! SIR!" Replied Lutherus.

     

    "SIR?! DO I LOOK LIKE A NOBLE TO YOU AUXILIARY?!" Replied the Praefect, shouting even louder. "I WORK FOR A LIVING, ADDRESS ME CORRECTLY OR YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF THE MOST UNPOPULAR PERSON IN ALL OF SKYRIM!"

     

    "I DON'T KNOW YOUR RANK SI-" Replied Lutherus, stopping himself from repeating his previous mistake, and on the verge of tears.

     

    "IT'S PRAEFECT!" Replied the Officer. "PRAEFECT OTTIUS! SAY IT NOW!"

     

    "YES! PRAEFECT! OTTIUS!" Shouted Lutherus, at the top of his lungs, and shaking like a leaf.

     

    "Good!" Replied the instantaneously calmed Officer. "Now as I am led to believe, you are coming with me for your first field duty! Where is your colleague? The Elf?"

     

    "Right here, Praefect Ottius! Auxiliary Faendal, reporting for duty." Came Faendal's voice, as he walked up from behind the Officer.

     

    "Ahhh, so you've clearly the brains in this pairing! Good! Maybe this puke has guts in lieu of his casual ignorance!" Retorted Praefect Ottius, whilst Faendal smirked.

     

    "Where are we headed, Praefect?" Asked Faendal.

     

    "Helgen! Rebuilding duty!" Replied the Officer. "Seems the Bandits have taken over the derelict settlement, we need to clear them out and rehouse the refugees. Now, get your shit squared away, we leave at once to join the rest of the Battalion!" Ordered Praefect Ottius, as he readied a wagon to take the men to Helgen.

     

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Comments

3 Comments
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  June 13, 2016
    I love how Faendal got the rank right. That was funny. 
  • Ajani
    Ajani   ·  June 12, 2016
    Fucking imperial dogs!
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 12, 2016
    You're in the army now....