Post by Felix Falora on Sept 13, 2010 1:08:49 GMT -5
He's finally done. I present to you my longest character profile yet.
Full Name: Rolland Marscorn
Nicknames: Champion of Cyrodiil, Scourge of Oblivion, Crusader of the Nine, Grand Champion of the Arena, and Fighter's Guild Master.
Age: 27
Height: ?
Weight: ?
Gender: Male
Race: Redguard
Alliance: Lawful Good
Home: Tamriel
Franchise: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Physical Description: As a Reguard, Rolland is naturally dark skinned. His hair has been braided into multiple locks, come to be known as dredlocks in real life, and hang to his back when not hidden by his helmet. He has dark, serious eyes, aged with his experience in the battlefield. His face looks worn and weary, but his body remains tough still. As for clothing, he'll wear simple clothing to show his humility and humbleness, a simple brown shirt, linen shorts, and cloth shoes. When in battle, however, he wears the Crusader's Relics, enchanted heavy armor befitting the Holy Crusader leading the Knights of the Nine. A helm created by Dibella, a cuirass created by Akatosh, gauntlets created by Stendarr, grieves created by Mara, and boots created by Kynareth.
Weapons: As the Holy Crusader leading the Knights of the Nine, he carries Zenithar's Mace and Arkay's Sword, both blessed and enchanted by each of their divine creators. Both weapons deal fire damage, but the mace also has a chance to turn the undead while the sword damages a magic-user's source of power. He also carries Julianos' shield to defend himself as well. Though the shield is good against melee attacks, it shines against magic as it reflects part of the magic back at its caster.
Abilities/Powers:
Racial Abilities: As a Redguard, Rolland is naturally resistant to poison and disease. Redguards are also naturally inclined to go through Adrenaline Rushes during battle. These Adrenaline rushes seem to make a Redguard more agile, more endurable, quicker, stronger, and possess more health then they normally do. Rolland is no exception to the Adrenaline Rush.
Birthsign Abilities: In the land of Tamriel, starsigns dictate how a person will function. In Rolland's case, he was born under the sign of the Ritual. This grants him two powers that he has never used before he learned about them from the Emperor. Blessed Word, an ability used to turn the undead, and Mara's Gift, a powerful healing spell, are the abilities anyone born under the Ritual sign will know.
Armor Enchantments: When armor is enchanted, it seems to better the wielder. The Crusader's Armor, of course, betters Rolland, who weilds it to smite evil and help the innocent. The helmet helps Rolland's skill with Restoration magic as well as his personality and grants him the ability known as Serene Beauty, allowing him to calm anyone he touches. The cuirass fortifies Rolland's health, further helps his skill with Restoration magic, and has a magical resistance against normal, unenchanted weaponry. The gauntlets further help Rolland's Restoration magic and give him a better resistance to disease which, when combined with his racial abilities, makes him practically immune. They also grant him the ability Stendaar's Mercy, allowing him to heal another on touch. The grieves further his skill with Restoration Magic, but also help his skill with Destruction Magic. They grant him the ability Blessing of the Eight, which allows him to shield another from damage on touch, blessing them with the power of the eight divinities (excluding Talos, for he wasn't a God before the Crusader's Relics were made of course) and protecting them for a short time. The boots help his Restoration even more, so he's practically a master of Restoration magic with all of the Crusader's Armor donned, and grants him the ability Woodland Grace, making him a friend to the wildlife of Tamriel, Kynareth's servents. The enchantments of the shield and weaponry have already been discussed, but the Sword and Mace give him the ability Crusader's Arm, furthering his skill with eithers blades or blunt weaponry, depending on which of these weapons he is wielding at the time. (Note that Crusader's do not duel wield as they want their shields. I will not deny realistic duel wielding, but since he needs his Crusader's Shield, Rolland will not duel wield.) Wearing the entire Crusader's Armor set in itsself grants two new abilities, but one is only specific to having defeated Umaril and thus is rendered useless unless he is reborn. The other, Holy Aura, gives Rolland a sense of being protected by the gods himself and he takes less damage from attacks.
Magical Abilities: The only magics Rolland knows are those of the Destruction and Restoration schools. Rolland can heal and buff himself and his comrades as well as use the powers of the elements to attack or debuff enemies. The Crusader's Armor gives him spells seen in the Armor Enchantments and, yet the path he took as the Divine Crusader also blessed him with three other powers. One is the Pilgrim's Grace. The God's bless him and increase his potential overall. The second is Lay Hands, allowing him to heal an ally of disease and restore their energy. He used this to free a man from a fatal curse and gain the Gauntlets of the Crusader. The third is the Blessing of Talos. Normally it makes Rolland less agile and fast, but stronger and more durable. However, when he used this blessing to strengthen himself against a powerful enemy, he was able to follow that enemy into death and destroy him once and for all.
Skills:
Major Skills: The skills that a Crusader knows.
Athletics: Running around in Heavy Armor in battle means one keeps himself fit. As a Crusader, Rolland puts himself through harsh training each day, the same he expects from his fellow Knights of the Nine. Part of this training involves running. Rolland's been known to run until he's collapsed, but it has bolstered his endurance and speed by tenfold.
Blade: Naturally Crusaders would be skilled in swordplay. Redguards are also known for training well with the different weapons accordingly. Rolland, being both, is serious about his weapons training and learns different styles of fighting for all sword-like weaponry, whether it be long swords, short swords, daggers, etc.
Blunt: As with a blade, Crusaders and Redguard train with blunt weaponry in order to specialize between hacking at limbs and inflicting blunt trauma. Rolland is the same, training with maces, clubs, war axes, war hammers, etc. Also, for some reason, axes in the Elder Scrolls universe are considers blunt weaponry. Do not dwell too much on it.
Destruction: Also known simply as elemental magic, wielders of Destruction Magic control the powers of fire, frost, and lightning. As a male Redguard, much less a Redguard at all, Rolland has found it hard to weave the tapistries of magic at all. In the end, with practice and hard work, he is able to create magic potent enough to do great damage, but cannot make magic as severe as a High Elf or Breton can, much less a mage at all.
Hand to Hand: In the event that one is disarmed, it is important to know how to fight with your hands. Many melee classes believe this and Crusaders are no different. As hard as he trains with the blade and blunt weaponry, Rolland also trains hard in bettering his physical body. He's no flashy martial artist, but he's good for a street brawl and, when wearing gauntlets of steel, you can expect those punches to hurt a lot.
Heavy Armor: When you think of a Crusader, you probably think of holy men garbed in plate armor going out with swords and fighting in the name of God. Well... Rolland gives you the Elder Scrolls version of that. In the name of the Nine Divinities, he garbs his heavy Crusader's Armor and fights. He knows how to use it, how to wield it effectively, and how to look good in it.
Restoration: Of course the Gods would want someone who could heal the weak to serve them and, as such, Rolland has practiced in Restoration magic. Like Destruction magic, he had a hard time with Restoration magic because magic, in itsself, required a focused mind to use, and Rolland's would usually be focused on battle. However, when wearing all of the Crusader's Armor, Rolland can heal and restore the weak with about the same efficiency as a master Healer.
Minor Skills: Everything else.
Armorer: Rolland used to be an expert of repairing his weaponry and armor. He had to do it a lot in the midst of battle. Then he became the Holy Crusader and, gained with it, a stand to hang his armor and weaponry. The Gods, favoring Rolland, repair his armor and weaponry when he hangs it up, done with battle. Now he remembers enough about smithing to repair unenchanted armor and weaponry, but has lost the rememberence to repair anything beyond.
Block: Even if not one of a Crusader's major skills, all melee fighters know how to block with a shield. Though not adept enough to know how to use his shield to recoil enemies and knock them back, Rolland can at least put it in front of his enemies to block their attack so he can continue fighting on.
Acrobatics: Rolland's never seen the need to be nimble and jumpy. Acrobats may know how to jump down high distances and land in ways that keep them from taking damage, but Rolland figures he can take the roads. Since he's never bothered in training, Rolland has no experience in Acrobatics whatsoever. It's safe to say that you can expect no fancy flips or rolls from him in combat.
Light Armor: Favored among the stealthy and nimble, Rolland feels that light armor is a waste. He wants something he can feel safe in, so why not go out in a suit of plate armor? Since Rolland wears heavy armor exclusively, he has no knowledge with light armor.
Security: Rolland only has a minimal knowledge of lockpicking. Every adventurer has needed a little sense of what to do in case they come across a locked door in a dungeon. That being said, Rolland is not really good at it because he's never felt the need to practice, considering the only thing one can practice on is other people's locks, the locks used to protect their valuables.
Sneak: Sneaking is for thieves, criminals, and the cowardly. This is Rolland's thought. He refuses to sneak; he charges straight into battle with no fear.
Marksman: Though he has allies who have trained with a bow, Rolland has never done so. He prefers to get in close and hack or bash away at his enemies. Rolland wouldn't know what to do with a ranged weapon if he ever got his hand on one and would most likely accidentally shoot his eye out.
Mercantile: Being so many famous things, Champion of Cyrodiil, Holy Crusader of the Knights of the Nine, Fighters Guild Master, Grand Champion of the Arena, one might expect Rolland to get good deals on goods in the stores, right? Well unfortunately for Rolland, he is too honorable to haggle for lower prices and will buy at full price as well as sell his unneeded items for whatever the shopkeeper is offering, even if he's getting screwed in the process.
Speechcraft: At least being esteemed in so many ways leads to people respecting you. Rolland does not have a silver tongue, but when you have saved the entire empire twice, become the Grand Champion of the Arena, and returned the Fighter's Guild to its former glory, people in Cyrodiil tend to oblige his need for information. That's only Cyrodiil though.
Alchemy: Dwelling into the realm of magic, Rolland knows no more then what he feels he needs to know. He does not understand the principles behind alchemy and doesn't feel the need to dwell into it.
Alteration: Rolland feels the altering reality via the use of magic is against the word of the Gods. They have given him the powers he has needed and he respects them. He refuses to practice in Alteration.
Conjuration: Rolland hates the art of Conjuration. He cannot bring himself to hate the people themselves, but he warns them that they travel into the realms of the dark. Then again, Conjuration allows one to raise the dead and summon demons from the planes of Oblivion to serve them, so it's understandable.
Illusion: The Gods do not help those who hide behind a false face. Rolland remembers these words when they were spoken to him by Talos and he has taken them to heart. Illusion is the art of deceit. You do the math.
Mysticism: Rolland does not truely understand the nature of Mysticism. As a result, he tries to avoid it. However, compared to the other three magical schools he does not dwell in, he does not hold so much contempt for it.
Personality: Rolland is a compassionate and loyal companion. As a Crusader, he embodies everything a mythos full of benevolent dieties would want to see. He is humble and modest, putting the needs of others before the needs of himself. He is benevolent and generous, giving a lot of money he makes to the poor instead of spending it on luxeries. He leads a simple life, serving the Gods at the Priory of the Nine when he is not out serving Cyrodiil as its champion, defending it from monsters and those who would try and recreate the great Oblivion Crisis. But above all else, he is honest and nondeceitful. He would never boast about his achievements for the world to hear, nor attempt coercement. He is a joyful fellow, optimistic in his service and proud of the way he has lived thus far. He is sure that if his morality were to ever contradict the Gods, he could seek their favor once more through walking the Pilgrim's Way once more. But no matter what else, he is also a fierce warrior. Redguards are known for their talent in the battlefield and Rolland is no exception. He fights with a passion that can only be felt when fighting for the sake of the innocent. He is experience in battle more so then he sometimes wants to be. He has no mercy for those who are truely wicked, yet will try and save those he thinks he can from a path of darkness. Those he can save, he brings into the service of the Gods. Some go on to repent. Others revert back into their old ways and it is then that Rolland shows just how little mercy he has for those who would threaten the world. Above all else, Rolland has respect for the God. He prays often and preaches the word of the Gods for all to hear. That being said, the Gods of Cyrodiil are highly open-minded, so do not expect some of the bullshit you hear from Christianity. Though they demand humbleness and a strict lifestyle, at least they don't demand celibacy for you to follow them and they're accepting of a certain orientation, though Rolland himself is straight. But that's beyond the point. Rolland is proud to serve them and spend his days in the service against evil. Some say he may prove yet to be the next Tiber Septim and ascend as a tenth diety.
History:
Much unlike most Redguards, born in Hammerfall, Rolland himself was born in the land of Cyrodiil already. Raised in the city of Chorrol, his father was an old war veteran and his mother a smith, for women needed to do something for the warrior men while they were out fighting. Rolland was trained at first to be a Warrior by his father. He learned everything about melee fighting from him, to keep fit, to always constantly train the body and the spirit in proxy. Eventually, during one of their training missions, his father was murdered by a group of Highwaymen. They used poison daggers and though he was able to defeat them with Rolland's health, he eventually sucumbed to the poison, his resistance to it not as high as it used to be due to his old age.
Most people might've expected Rolland to go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge if not get depressed and disheartened. Rolland took a different approach. He prayed at Chorrol's chapel. The holy temple built in the name of Stendaar offered him comfort and it was there that he thought of taking up the life of a priest. He would go to pray every day for most of his youth after that horrible tragedy. He became interested in the art of Restoration magic at the age of 14, when a Priest healed his wounds after another run in with brigands. He began to learn and, in doing so, the priests commented that, with his training as a Warrior already, he might find the Gods would favor him a Crusader. He studied hard in the fields of Restoration magic and even learned some Destruction magic in the process. He wondered if the priests were speaking true and if the Gods would favor him. He had no idea the plan that the Gods had set up for him.
Rolland eventually took a trip to the Imperial City for his 18th birthday. It was there, however, that fate intervened. A Wood Elf thief had stolen something from Red Diamond Jewelry, a ring of sorts. When the guard had come looking for the ring, their search method highly forceful, he was forced to transfer it off when he realized they would come for him soon. Rolland was his unforunate target. The guards found the ring on Rolland and, as a result, placed him in the dungeon. It was there that he was humiliated and taunted by a Dunmer male named Valen Dreth, who had obviously gone insane during his own time in prison, yet still had a lot to say to Rolland anyway.
"Wake up, Redguard! Ah, there you are. How do you like your cell, huh? Roomy enough for you? I can't even imagine what it's like for you. No more sunshine, no more open seas. Just a box and a dirty beam of light for the rest of your life. Bet you're glad it won't last long, huh? Oh, didn't you know? No one ever leaves this prison alive! You're going to die in here, Redguard! Die!"
Despite Valen's ranting, something other then the execution comittee came down to find Rolland in that cell. Emperor Uriel VII and his bodyguards, the Blades, were trying to escape the city. The Emperor's sons had been assassinated and he was next. The secret route out of the city conveniently led out of Rolland's cell, meaning that he had a chance to break out. Thanking the Nine Divinities for such a deus ex machina, he was shocked to find that the Emperor identified him as the one he had seen to save all of Tamriel. There was no time for talking, however, as they had to make their way through. Inside the passage, the assassins laid in hiding and ambushed them, killing one of the Emperor's guards, Captain Renault. They attempted to leave Rolland behind, but he caught up to them by using a secret cave within the passage that led to an overpass in another room they had entered.
Glenroy, the second of the Emperor's guards, stood ready to kill Rolland, but the Emperor stopped him. Now convinced that Rolland was their savior, he asked Rolland his starsign and revealed to him the powers granted to those born under the sign of the Ritual. Uriel asked that Rolland accompany him, at least to the end, and Rolland chose to do so. They made their way through more waves of assassins until they eventually hit a trap and a dead end. Baurus, the third of Uriel's guards, fought well. But Glenroy had been slain. Rolland was left to guard Uriel, but knowing that he would die, Uriel gave Rolland the Amulet of Kings and asked him to take it to Jauffre to find his last son and close shut the jaws of Oblivion. He was then slain before Rolland's eyes. Rolland slew the assassin, but felt a deep regret that he could not save the emperor's life.
Baurus let Rolland go. Knowing that Uriel trusted Rolland, Baurus chose to trust the Emperor's judgement and give Rolland the key out of the prison, a secret route that led through the sewers. He told Rolland that Jauffre could be found at Weynon Priory, ironically near his home city of Chorrol. Rolland promised Baurus that he would see the Emperor's wish fulfilled and made on his way.
Rolland, as he promised, immediately set out towards Weynon Priory and contacted Jauffre there, showing him the Amulet of Kings. Jauffre told Rolland he could find Uriel's last son, Martin, at the city of Kvatch, and then gave him a map to help him find his way. Rolland set out to Kvatch, but found the citizens of Kvatch in an encampment, learning that it had been destroyed and that an Oblivion Gate still stood in front of it, blocking the way for Savlian Matius and the guards to get in and save the remaining people. Being the stalwart, fearless type that he was, Rolland charged into the Oblivion Gate and helped to close it. He came back out and the guard, motivated by what he had just done, rushed in. With Rolland's help, they took the city back, even with the unfortunate discovery of the Count's death, and Rolland found Martin in the encampment later on and convinced him to journey back to Weynon Priory together.
When they got back, however, the Emperor's assassins had already attacked the Priory, slaying one of the Priors in the process. Jauffre had been lucky enough to arm himself and slay those that attacked him, but the Amulet of Kings had been taken away. Losing one requirement in lieu for another, Jauffre decided that they needed to play for time and asked Rolland to accompany him and Martin up to Cloud Ruler Temple, a stronghold above Bruma that the Blades used as a sanctuary. The three travelled there and Martin was honorably recognized by the other Blades as Uriel's son. Rolland was initiated into the Blades and asked to travel back to the Imperial City, to meet Baurus in the Elven Garden's district at Luther Broad's Boarding House.
Rolland travelled there and had to help Baurus stop an undercover assassin from killing him. He learned that the assassins were all part of a Daedric Cult known as the Mythic Dawn, a cult that worshipped the Daedric prince of destruction, Mehrunes Dagon. An answer would apparantly appear in a series of books known as Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes." The first book was found on the assassin. Rolland had to travel to the Arcane University to get the second and learn about the whereabouts of the third and fourth from an Argonian Scholar named Tar-Meena. It was there he met a girl named Emily, an initiate in the Mage's Guild and at least 16 years old. He helped her with some books she was carrying and told her she could seek him for help anytime she needed it. He had no idea how important she would be later on, nor did he know he'd end up the object of her affections.
Rolland had to go to First Edition to find the third volume, but only after he could convince the original buyer to hand it over to him. The buyer, Gwinas, handed it over after he learned the Mythic Dawn was behind the Emperor's murder and also handed over an invitation to a meeting for the fourth volume. Rolland took this to Baurus and the two took to the sewers together to get to the meeting place. Baurus met with the Sponsor, who spoke as if Baurus was interested in joining the Mythic Dawn. But a patrol of Mythic Dawn guards revealed Rolland and the two had to slaughter them all. Rolland retrieved the fourth volume off of the Sponsor's corpse and let Baurus know he'd take them to Tar-Meena. Baurus told Rolland he'd return to Cloud Ruler Temple and protect Martin. The two shook on it and then went their seperate ways.
Rolland took the books back to Tar-Meena, who said she needed at least two days to study them. When he asked what he could do to help the guild and its members, Tar-Meena told Rolland that he could help Emily with ingredients gathering. Thus the two set to the lands to gather ingredients. It was there that Rolland and Emily learned about each other. Emily turned out to be a Healer in training. Gathering ingredients was part of what she had to do. Even then, however, she was poor in Alchemy. Rolland promised Emily that she would amount to great things if she continued to work hard and, though nothing sexual or even romantic in a manner of speaking happened, the two did share some tender moments during Rolland's wait.
When Tar-Meena finally got the results back to Rolland, they revealed to him that the Mythic Dawn's hideout could be found in a marking on the tomb of Prince Camarril at Green Emperor Way in the Imperial City at dusk. Rolland took to the tomb at such a time and discovered the location, marked it on his map, and made his way for the cave immediately. He did not bother pretending that he had come to join them. He slew his way in, killing every acolyte and guard that got in his way until he made it to the antechamber, where a ceremony was taking place, held by Mankar Camoran himself. He tried to get to Mankar Camoran in time, but he failed. Camoran returned to his Paradise with the Amulet of Kings. Fortunately he left behind the Mysterium Xarxes. Rolland took the book and a statue collapsed on top of an Argonian prisoner, killing him instantly. Rolland took a few seconds to pray, then escaped the cave, killing through as many of the cultists as he needed to.
He brought the Mysterium Xarxes back to Martin, who was almost shocked and appalled at the thought of anyone handling it, yet thanked Rolland for his services and decided he would study it to see if he could find a way into Mankar Camoran's Paradise. While Martin studied the book, Rolland was sent to investigate the appearence of a couple of spies in Bruma. After his investigations, he found and killed the spies before returning to Martin. Martin discovered that he needed a Daedric artifact to help with the ritual. After reading the book of Modern Heretics, Rolland learned about and travelled to the location of Azura's shrine. When asked to present to her an offering of glow dust, he killed Will-o-the-Wisps he found and offered the glow dust they dropped to her. Azura bequeathed upon Rolland a task. Her followers had become vampires after slaying a vampire lord and his kin and sealed themselves away due to it. She wished him to bring them the peace of death.
Though not one wishing to serve the Daedric princes at all, Rolland could sympathize with those who had set out to rid the world of evil and, having become infected with it, sought to contain themselves so it would not be released. He travelled to the Gutted Mine and slew her infected followers. In return, she presented him with her artifact, Azura's Star, said to be capable of trapping the souls of one's enemies within. Disgusted by the idea of trapping souls (and not realizing the gameplay advantages of keeping this item =P), Rolland gladly handed the artifact over to Martin, who agreed to destroy it when the time to perform the ritual came. But it had not ended yet. An oblivion gate had opened outside of Bruma and Rolland was sent to help the guard close them, having done so once before at Kvatch. He accomplished the task, but it seemed that Bruma could potentially be the target of another seige, similar to Kvatch.
Rolland was sent to the other cities to ask their aid. He talked to High Chancellor Ocato in the Imperial City, but he absolutely refused to send any legion soldiers to the frontlines, saying they'd be needed in the city to hold it down. He then went to the other cities. Savlian Matius gave eager aid from Kvatch, willing to repay the debt he owed to Rolland. The other cities' counts and countesses refused to send soldiers initially because they had Oblivion Gates outside of their city. Once Rolland closed them, they were more then ready to dispatch aid to Bruma. Cheydinhal was especially greatful to Rolland; the count's son had gotten himself and a group of others lost in the Oblivion Gate due to their insistance at playing hero. Rolland went in and saved the count's son, Farwil, who made Rolland an "honorary Knight of the Thorn" as he so put it. The count was so happy to see his son alive that he rewarded Rolland with the magical sword Thornblade, a sword that destroyed the armor of his enemies.
When Rolland got all the help the other cities of Cyrodiil could offer to Bruma, he returned to Cloud Ruler Temple. Martin had discovered the second needed component for the ritual by this point, the blood of the gods. It almost seemed impossible until Martin reminded Rolland that the former Emperor, Tiber Septim, had ascended on to becoming Talos. His armor would still be in the crypts of Sancre Tor. Blood would surely be on it. Given a key to the catacombs, Rolland immediately went to them. The resting place of Tiber Septim had been contaminated by the undead. What was even worse was that Tiber Septim's loyal blades had been raised to kill those who came to give tribute. When he struct down the first undead Blade he encountered, he released the poor man's spirit. Rielus, as he was once known in life, told Rolland about the Underking's curse. Though the Underking was long gone, the curse lingered on. Only by freeing all of Tiber Septim's Blades could he continue on.
Rolland journied further through the catacombs, slaying the skeletons and freeing the spirits of Casnar, Valdemar, and Alain. All four were Blades that follower Tiber Septim. They used the last of their power to break the curse and then went on to finally rest in peace. Rolland took the armor of Tiber Septim from the tomb and brought it back to Rolland, who reassured him that the armor itsself would not be destroyed and that he just needed a scraping of the blood. While Rolland was gone, he discovered the third ingredient, a Great Welkynd Stone. Only one was known of and it was inside the Ayleid ruins of Miscarcand. Rolland journied there, fought through the guardians of the ruins, and took the stone. When the last king of Miscarcand tried to take Rolland's life, Rolland instead sent him back to death. He returned to Martin, now supped up in Imperial Dragon Armor, and gave him the stone. Martin greeted him with bad news.
The last ingredient needed for the portal was a Great Sigil Stone, which could only be retrieved from a Great Gate, much like the one that was opened when Kvatch was destroyed. That meant they had to let the Mythic Dawn open the Great Gate to invade Bruma. Rolland was rightfully appalled, but knowing there was no other way, he went to convince the countess of Bruma to see the situation at hand. Trusting in Rolland's experience and reputation, she met with Martin to discuss the plans. When all was ready, the forces that Rolland had gathered, the Blades, the guards of Bruma, Rolland, and Martin himself went to the area where the Mythic Dawn had opened their first Oblivion Gate. Martin made the obvious inspirational speech and then Daedra began to swarm out. As the races of Tamriel fought against the infernal Daedra, the other two gates would open up one after the other in slow succession. Many casualties were had during the defense. Baurus and Jauffre had been killed. The captain of Bruma's guard, Burd, was also slain.
It wasn't until after the blood of his friends were shed that the Great Gate was open. Rolland immediately charged in. He was not bothered by the appearence of the Siege Crawler slowly making its way towards the gate, nor was he bothered by the seemingly innumerable amount of Daedra. He made his way through the fortress, slaughtering any demon that stood in his way. When he got to the Great Sigil Stone, he took it like any other and closed the Great Gate. Retreiving Baurus' and Jauffre's weapons, Martin promised to place them in the Halls of the Blades so that others could honor their sacrifice. They returned to Cloud Ruler Temple. Martin prepared for the ritual. With Azura's Star, the blood of Tiber Septim, a Great Welkynd Stone, and a Great Sigil Stone, Martin opened the gate to Mankar Camoran's Paradise. Rolland travelled inside, understanding well what he had to do, and the portal closed the moment he stepped into Paradise.
Mankar Camoran began to speak to Rolland. Rolland seemed not to listen. He made his way through the Savage Garden to a Draemora guard named Kathutet. Kathutet deemed Rolland worthy to speak to and informed him the only way to continue would be to wear a piece of equipment known as the Bands of the Chosen. To get them, Rolland would either have to kill Kathutet or help him. Rolland chose to kill him, seeing the thought of helping a Draemora as blasphemous. He looted the Bands off of his corpse and Mankar Camoran began to speak again. He seemed to be talking about how Tamriel was a plane of Oblivion, but Rolland chose to ignore him, continuing on to the Forbidden Grotto. As he went on, he saw those of the Mythic Dawn he had slain. They seemed miserable and depressed, no doubt now seeing the foolishness of their ways. As he truely entered the Forbidden Grotto, he saw Mankar Camoran's true paradise.
The Garden had been a seperate entity for his followers to live in. In this Grotto was lava and Camoran's immortal followers burning in it. It was truely Hell. As he went to fight through the Grotto, Rolland came across a Mythic Dawn agent by the name of Eldamil. Eldamil seemed to regret what he had done in life for Camoran and offered Rolland his services. Though he had no will to accept them, Rolland found he had no choice when Eldamil told him he could not leave wearing the bands and that he had the knowledge to remove them near the end. Rolland let Eldamil come with him and the two made their way through the sickening plane, Eldamil kept good on his end of the bargain as he helped Rolland remove the bands. The two made their way back into the beautiful part of Paradise near Camoran's palace, Carac Agaialor. Camoran's children, Ruma and Raveh, greeted Rolland, even if with hostility, and let him in to speak with their father.
Mankar Camoran sat there on his throne with the Amulet of Kings somehow around his neck, as if to say he had enough power to defy the Gods. He monologued about how the Septim dynesty had come to an end, how Mehrunes Dagon would reclaim everything that belonged to him, and how pitiful Rolland, as the last defender of humanity, would look dead. Then he and his children attacked. Though a tough battle, Rolland perservered. With the will of the Gods guiding him, his faith in them being his strength, he slew Mankar Camoran and took the Amulet of Kings back from his corpse, destroying his Paradise and returning by magic to Cloud Ruler Temple. He present the Amulet of Kings to Martin and, when Martin put it on, able to wear it, it proved he was a true Septim. Martin said he seemed to know the very first day Rolland came to get him, even though he was hesitant at the time, and that it was time to put an end to everything once and for all.
Martin and Rolland traveled to the Imperial City. High Chancellor Ocato met with them there and stated that the Elder Council agreed with Martin's claim to the throne. Before Martin could be named Emperor, however, Oblivion Gates began to open everywhere in the Imperial City. Martin, Rolland, and a group of Imperial Soldiers made their way to the Temple District, in the hopes they could relight the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One before it was too late. Sadly, however, it was too late. Mehrunes Dagon had come to Tamriel and all hope seemed lost. Martin and Rolland made their way into the Temple of the One, but with Mehrunes Dagon in the world, it seemed nothing could be done... until Martin realized the Amulet's true potential, though he also knew what it would cost him. He bid a confused Rolland farewell and, as Mehrunes Dagon tore the roof of the Temple of the One into two, Martin used the Amulet's power combined with the power of his own blood to turn into the very avatar of Akatosh himself. The two did battle, but Martin won. As he banished Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion, however, he turned into stone and thus gave his life for Tamriel.
When High Chancellor Ocato came seeking Martin, Rolland gave him the sad news that Martin was gone. The statue of the dragon, Akatosh's avatar, would now stand forever as a testament to Martin's sacrifice for the world. However, with the Septim line dead, the Empire would be without an emperor, which only meant trouble would lie ahead. But even though Rolland was saddened by Martin's death, having become a good friend to the emperor-to-be, Ocato was extremely happy that it was all over and that Oblivion would supposedly never bother them again. With the power he held as High Chancellor, he bequeathed upon Rolland the title of Champion of Cyrodiil, a title only six others at the time held. In two weeks, a set of Imperial Dragon Armor, the same Martin had worn, would be available to him. Rolland would wear this armor for a good period of his life, but he would eventually pass it down to one of his elite in the future.
Nearly a year had passed since the great Oblivion crisis. With the thread of Daedric invasion gone, the Arena had opened once more. Rolland, having continued to train himself, seeking favor with the Gods, wondered if the Arena was where he needed to test himself to see if they'd give him any notice. He decided to enter and become a participent. Entering the bloodworks, he came across the Battlemaster, a fellow Redguard simply known as Owyn. With all the personality of a commander of boot camp, Owyn seemed to dismiss the fact that Rolland was the Champion of Cyrodiil and treated him like dirt. Rolland did not mind. He figured such a thing would happen. Plus one had to remain humble, even under pressure. He signed himself up in the Arena and was given the rank of Pit Dog as well as a Heavy Arena Raiment. Day after day he'd fight and every third match he would ascend in rank.
He made more gold with every ascension and began to earn Owyn's respect. When he hit the rank of Myrmidon, Owyn seemed to be a bit friendlier. Once he hit Gladiator, the two of them could conversate like natural friends. Rolland eventually battled and slaughtered his way up to Champion rank. With his title secure, he was confident he attain the title of Grand Champion of the Arena. When he spoke to Agronak gro-Malog, however, he discovered the Orc's name was the Gray Prince and, confused as to why he was called such a name, questioned him about it. Agronak explained his life story. He was the son of a lord, but his birthright was revoked as the mistress of his father kicked his birthmother out, thus leading Agronak to lead a peasent's life. He asked Rolland if he could journey to Agronak's home of Crowhaven and bring proof of his nobility to him.
Even with the Grand Champion match ready to be fought, Rolland was not one to deny a person in need. He accepted Agronak's quest and journied to Crowhaven. Coming inside, he was shocked to feel the presence of evil as well as the sight of the undead. Having to fight through skeletons and zombies, he eventually came to a door that required the key Agronak gave him to open. He was attacked by a vampire and, after felling the evil beast, searched the room for anything that could count as proof. Coming across a journal, he read its contents and realised in horror that it was the journal of Agronak's father, the vampire he had just slain, Lord Lovidicus. With the journal in hand, Rolland travelled back to the Imperial City Arena with the sad news of Agronak's past. When he got back, Agronak was so happy to get the proof that he taught Rolland all of the secret techniques he had learned during his training regime. When he actually read the journal, however, he went from being shocked to horrified. Discovering that he was half-vampire, he immediately saw himself as evil and thus fell into a slump. When Rolland asked him about the challenge, Agronak agreed, in a rather cryptic fashion, and made his way to the Arena.
Rolland was sent to speak to the Battle Matron, Ysabel Andronicus, and she exclaimed that he was going to die. She asked him to give her his Arena Name, a name he'd be known by when it was placed on his tombstone, and he chose The Divine Avenger. Ysabel let him go to the Arena and the fight was on... only it didn't ever really start. Agronak did not really fight. He made a good show out of it, but he was so easy that Rolland questioned him on why he wasn't really fighting. It was then that Agronak begged Rolland to kill him, telling him that he could not live on knowing what he was and exclaiming that all he wished for now was to die. It struck Rolland's heart to hear those words and, after a mock fight, he gave Agronak the mercy-killing he begged for. Rolland immediately left the Arena ground and reported back to Ysabel with Agronak's Raiment of Valor in hand. Shocked at his actual victory, Ysabel was moved to tears and rewarded Rolland with his own Raiment of Valor as well as the title of Grand Champion.
But a lot was sacrificed. A fellow combatant he had befriended in the Arena, a nameless Gladiator who was not important to the actual story, suddenly became very hostile, telling Rolland that they were no longer comrades and that he would look forward to the day he could crush him and leave his blood stained in the Arena. That, combined with Rolland's own pains from causing Agronak's degradation from a proud Orc fighter into a sad man who wanted to die for the sake of the world, to rid it of his evil bloodline for good, drove him away from the Arena. Even with the title of Grand Champion to grace his reputation further, he felt he had not achieved a single thing in that gladitorial world other then death. Thus, when the Adoring Fan tried to come and worship him, Rolland told the Bosmer kid to go mourn Agronak and leave him in peace. It would take him a month to collect his thoughts, but he would eventually do so.
"I had become so afraid for the lives of my comrades that I had forgotten this guild was created to take risks for the people of Tamriel."
~Vilena Donton, former Fighter's Guild Grandmaster[/center]
After Rolland had prayed and self-reflected for up to a month back in the home city of Chorrol, he went to prove his worth again, this time joining the Fighter's Guild. Before he became a true member, however, he was sent to Anvil to talk to the leader there, Azzan. Azzan hooked Rolland up as a member and sent him to solve a problem with a woman known as Arvena. She had apparantly been having rat problems, but when he questioned her about it, Rolland learned she loved the rats and that finding them dead was the issue. When he went down to investigate, he found a mountain lion there. He slew the mountain lion and was sent with the hunter, Pinarus Inventius, to slay the mountain lions outside the city. Even after that, however, there was yet another mountain lion in the basement when Rolland returned. After slaying it, he learned that an Argonian woman named Quill-Weave had it out for Arvena's rats. He was to investigate at night and found that Quill-Weave was leaving rotten meat near a hole at Arvena's house. She had not meant for mountain lions to invade Arvena's house and begged Rolland not to tell. Rolland, being the honest Crusader he was, "ratted" Quill-Weave out anyway. Arvena thanked Rolland for the help, taught him a bit on how to win people over with speech (something he'd probably never use as he was not one to lie), and Rolland went to recieve his next quest from Azzan.
His next contract was to stay at Norbert Lelles' shop and guard it. Thieves had apparantly been breaking into it during the night and Norbert wanted Rolland to take care of it. Rolland stayed the whole day, selling goods for Norbert, up until the thieves broke in. Slaying them, he learned their names from Norbert and found they had been well trusted customers of his before. Gaining promotion for his deeds, he was sent to Cheydinhal to recieve quest from the guild leader there, an Orc named Burz gro-Khash. He was sent to deliver a weapon's shipment to members in the Desolate Mine. After giving the three their weapons, he helped them slaughter the goblins infesting the mine. Rolland was rewarded for his courage with yet another promotion and more gold. He was then sent back to his home city of Chorrol to receive more work as the Guild Master, Vilena Donton, resided there. He had apparantly been sent to the other two cities to test his worth.
Vilena asked him to get the contract from her Champion, Modryn Oreyn. Modryn told Rolland of a member, Maglir, who had defaulted on his contract. Rolland was sent to Skingrad to find out why. Rolland discovered that Maglir was drinking his sorrows away in the tavern. He was supposed to get Brenus Astis' Journal, but had apparantly chickened out, saying he had a family and needed to stay alive for them. Rolland headed over to Fallen Rock Cave for him, slaying his way through hordes of the undead, and gained the journal himself. Though he felt sympathetic for Maglir, he told Modryn the truth and was praised highly for his honesty and sense of duty. He then recieved his next contact from Modryn, sending him to Leyawiin to stop fellow Fighter's Guild members from causing trouble there. Finding the three in a tavern, Rolland finds that they just want some work, but can't find any because a new group, the Blackwood Company, has been taking all the jobs. Rolland asks around town and finds a woman, Margarte, needs help finding alchemical supplies, but she doesn't trust the Blackwood Company to do it. When Rolland shows her an offering of Ectoplasm, harvested off the corpses of ghosts and wraiths slain in Fallen Rock Cave, that she asks for to prove the guild's worth, she agrees to make the Fighter's Guild her sole supplier. Rolland goes and tells the others about their new job and they thank him kindly. He returns to Modryn for his reward and, after being promoted, is sent back to Anvil.
Azzan tells Rolland to pair up with Maglir, the guy he had to help before, and find a den of thieves. A man in town, Newhiem the Portly, tells them he heard they were holed up in Hrota Cave. He also mentioned they stole a family heirloom from him, a flagon, and he'd be thankful if they got it back. The two travelled to the cave, slaughtered the thieves there, and even retrieved Newhiem's flagon. Newhiem rewarded Rolland with beer (which he immediately gave to Maglir) and netted some gold from completing the contract. It was then back to Cheydinhal and another visit with gro-Khash, who ordered him to speak to Biene Amelion at Water's Edge, a settlement north of Leyawiin. Biene mentions that her father incurred a debt of up to 1000 septims and, since he died, the debt was forced onto her to pay. She wanted him to go raid her grandfather's tomb and get his armor and sword that she might pay off the debt. Considering his belief against breaking into tombs (if it can be helped, unlike Sancre Tor, which could not be helped and actually did more good then "sacreligious evil") and the fact that he made a good bit of money off of his fights in the Arena and working with the Fighter's Guild, he offered to pay her debt in full and she accepted, saying that he could keep the armor and whatnot if he ever did go into her grandfather's tomb. Back to Chorrol for another quest.
Modryn, this time, wanted Rolland to escort Vilena Dolton's son, Viranus Dolton, to Nonwyll Cave to clear it out as well as find out the fate of a farmer named Galtus Previa. Viranus has apparantly lost his brother and Vilena stopped letting him go on contracts. Modryn thinks the boy needs some more confidence and thus trusted Rolland to take good care of him. After convincing Viranus to come with him, Rolland took the boy to Nonwyll Cave. They battled the fierce monsters there, such as trolls, ogres, and minotaurs, and not surprisingly to Rolland, considering, found Galtus dead. He reported it to Modryn who rewarded him with an enchanted Ebony Longsword, better then the Akaviri Katana he'd been using during the Oblivion Crisis and the Arena. Modryn then gave him another contract. Maglir defaulted yet again. Irritated by this turn of irresponsibility, Rolland travelled to the inn/tavern there and found that Maglir not only defaulted, but defected over to the Blackwood Company. He refused to tell Rolland about his contract and Rolland, quite pissed considering the elf's treachery, forced it out of him.
He went to the Mage's Guild in Bravil and spoke to a woman named Aryarie. She needed 10 samples of Imp Gall for research asked of her by the Archmage, Emily. Unphased by the new knowledge that the girl he had helped during the Oblivion Crisis had worked her way up to Archmage, Rolland travelled to Robber's Glen Cave as asked of him and killed the imps there, taking their galls and returning them to Aryarie, who rewarded him with a Ring of Aegis, a ring that gave him shielding properties. He stopped wearing this and most other "trinkets" in the future, but as of now, he wore it to help himself do more good. Returning to Modryn and netting himself more gold, Modryn then instructed Rolland to meet him at his house at night. When Rolland did so, Modryn told Rolland that he doubted the Blackwood Company were as good as they claimed. He asks Rolland to meet him at the Fighter's Guild in Leyawiin where they would go about their business there.
When Rolland meets Modryn at Leyawiin's Fighter's Guild, they travel to the Ayleid ruins of Arpenia. Modryn explains that the contract in which Viranus' brother, Vitellus Dolton, was stolen by the Blackwood Company. They had claimed to complete it, making them look competent and the Fighter's Guild look like cowards. However, they doubt the guy they needed to kill was actually killed, but rather bought off by the Blackwood Company. The guy in question, Azani Blackheart, was not in Arpenia. They then travelled to the ruins of Atatar, where they dispatched Azani and his minions after all. Modryn asked for Azani's ring, thus gaining proof that it was the Fighter's Guild who really pulled it off, and pays Rolland as well as more promotions, this time to Wader. Back to Anvil.
Azzan sent Rolland to Brittlerock Cave to help a scholar, Elante of Alinor, find and study a Daedric shrine inside. Rolland cleared the cave out for her and escorted her to the shrine. In return, he got a book from her, 2920, Morning Star (v.1), and more gold from Azzan. On to Cheydinhal, where gro-Khash sent Rolland back to Bravil to ask about Fugitives. Finding out their positions in Bloodmayne cave, Rolland entered the cave and then slaughtered them. More gold, back to Chorrol. Modryn, this time, sent Rolland to the Forsaken Mine to help Viranus and his crew slay the trolls inside. When he got there, however, he found the trolls and the Fighter's Guild members were slaughtered, along with a few of the Blackwood Company. Only a few trolls were alive and Rolland slew them. He found Viranus' corpse, a journal on it. It explained that the Blackwood Company came in and started killing everything, including the Fighter's Guild members, during the successful cleansing of the mine. It was as if they were frenzied. Viranus had enough time left in life to write this. When Rolland brought the journal back to Modryn and explained the situation, he was infuriated. He told Rolland to lay low and return to Azzan in Anvil, that he would take full responsibility for this.
Azzan told Rolland that Modryn was, of course, expelled from the guild. If it weren't for his work, Rolland would be suffering demotion as well as Vilena was not so stupid to not see he had a part in it. In the meantime, Rolland was sent up to Bruma to examine the case of the Stone of St. Alessia, stolen from the Chapel of Talos in Bruma. This hit Rolland hard as a Crusader and he made his way up there as quickly as he could. The priest there, Cirroc, told him that bandits stole the Stone and made to the east. When Rolland made to the east, he found one Khajiit there, named K'Sharr. He says ogres attacked them and took the Stone to the Ayleid ruins of Sedor. After having K'Sharr placed in jail, since he didn't want to be a cold-blooded murderer really, he took to Sedor and killed the ogres, retrieving the stone and returning to Bruma. He gets three potions of healing from Cirroc, gold from Azzan, and is done in Anvil for good. He is then sent to Cheydinhal, for the last two contracts supposedly.
gro-Khash wanted Rolland first to go help an old family friend of his, Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak. After going to his estate, Rolland found that the lord's daughter went missing. He went out to find that she had been kidnapped by ogres. After slaying them, he returned her and got Lord Rugdumph's sword in return. More gold from gro-Khash and another contract. He was sent to Harlan's Watch to speak to Drarana Thelis. Some locals apparantly were attracted by the strange lights to the Swampy Cave and were never seen from again. When Rolland went to examine the lights, he found they were will-o-the-wisps and slew them with his magical blade before heading into the Swampy Cave. Finding trolls and the corpses of the locals there, he slaughtered all the trolls and then went back to Drarana with the bad news. He got a Mind and Body ring out of her and gro-Khash said he had no more work for Rolland as well.
Rolland decided to finally go see if he could help Modryn. Modryn had some ideas on what to do to prove the Blackwood Company was ultimate evil after all. Rolland was sent to Glademist Cave to capture a high-ranking member, Ajum-Kajin. After slaughtering the Argonian's guards, he brought him back to Modryn's house where they interrogated him. After beating on him some with his fists, Rolland learned from Ajum-Kajin the numbers and leader of the Blackwood Company. But the Argonian chose suicide over betraying the source of their power and put on an enchanted ring, which burned him to death immediately. Modryn decided some undercover work was needed and sent Rolland to the Blackwood Company's main HQ in Leyawiin after rewarding him with an enchanted amulet. Like most of the trinkets he recieved during his work, this would be given away to someone else, just like his Imperial Dragon Armor.
Rolland went to the Blackwood Company building. As expected, the recruitment leader, Jeetum-Ze, seems suspicious considering Rolland's exploits in the Fighter's Guild. But since some of the members turned out to be Fighter's Guild defectors, he took it as a blessing and let Rolland join just in time for a mission. There was an infestation of goblins at Water's Edge, the same settlement Rolland had went to before to help Biene Amelion. Rolland was then told to drink a potion of Hist Sap. Hist trees came from the Black Marsh, the Argonian homeland, and they were supposed to be immune to it. Turns out this sap went bad and had some bad side-effects. Forced to drink it, Rolland blacked out. When he came to, he was at Water's Edge, standing and fully armored. There were goblins everywhere, even in the houses. In the name of the Nine Divines, Rolland slaughtered them all. Some time after he killed the last one, however, he fell unconscious, probably due to the abnormal events caused by the potion.
Modryn's men found Rolland unconscious outside of Water's Edge on his way back to Leyawiin and brought him back to the former Champion's house. When Rolland explained what he had witnessed and done, Modryn had bade vibes from it and told Rolland to explore Water's Edge. When he got back, he found only a couple dead goblins. The rest were livestock... and civilians. Rolland immediately felt nausea when he checked the houses and saw the civilians dead in the same positions as the goblins when he slew them. Even poor Biene was dead, decapitated on the floor. Only one survivor was there, Marcel Amelion. Turns out he hadn't been killed after all, but only went in hiding and let others think he was dead. The father of Biene, he mourned her loss. Rolland couldn't even think straight to comfort him. When he left Water's Edge, he felt broken inside... and then a sudden surge of righteous anger. He immediately travelled back to Chorrol to report to Modryn what he saw.
Modryn was rightfully angered. He advised Rolland not to blame himself. There was nothing he could've done to stop it as he had been out of it due to the sap's effects. But enough was enough. It was time to destroy the Blackwood Company. Rolland was sent back to the Blackwood Company's HQ. He was greeted as a traitor and slaughtered everyone there. He went upstairs and killed their leader, then went into the basement and destroyed the Argonians working on the Hist tree. Upon seeing the abomination it had become, nature corrupted by machinery, he destroyed the tree by barring the gears running the machine with pipes. The results were a meltdown that led to the tree's fiery demise. Upon leaving, Maglir confronted Rolland. Expelled from the Fighter's Guild for sure, and with nowhere else to work for his family, he attacked Rolland in blind rage. Though Rolland prayed afterwards for the safety of Maglir's family, he killed the foolish elf and returned to Modryn.
Modryn, pleased to learn that it was done and over with, awarded Rolland with the helm of one of his reletives, the Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw. He was then sent to speak to Vilena Dolton about what just happened. Due to scheming with Modryn behind her back and being involved with the death of Viranus, Rolland was stripped of his rank as Champion, which he had been promoted to after being done with Azzan and gro-Khash. However, Vilena, upon self-reflection, realized that she had forgotten the reason for which the Fighter's Guild was created. She saw Rolland knew why the Fighter's Guild had been formed and thus made him its Master. Rolland went to Modryn and reinstated him as second-in-command with an equal priority on recruitment and contracts. Modryn took the job back eagerly and began to work with such ideas in mind. This would eventually lead to the recruitment and training of two of Rolland's greatest allies, Hemlor and Isaac.
Full Name: Rolland Marscorn
Nicknames: Champion of Cyrodiil, Scourge of Oblivion, Crusader of the Nine, Grand Champion of the Arena, and Fighter's Guild Master.
Age: 27
Height: ?
Weight: ?
Gender: Male
Race: Redguard
Alliance: Lawful Good
Home: Tamriel
Franchise: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Physical Description: As a Reguard, Rolland is naturally dark skinned. His hair has been braided into multiple locks, come to be known as dredlocks in real life, and hang to his back when not hidden by his helmet. He has dark, serious eyes, aged with his experience in the battlefield. His face looks worn and weary, but his body remains tough still. As for clothing, he'll wear simple clothing to show his humility and humbleness, a simple brown shirt, linen shorts, and cloth shoes. When in battle, however, he wears the Crusader's Relics, enchanted heavy armor befitting the Holy Crusader leading the Knights of the Nine. A helm created by Dibella, a cuirass created by Akatosh, gauntlets created by Stendarr, grieves created by Mara, and boots created by Kynareth.
Weapons: As the Holy Crusader leading the Knights of the Nine, he carries Zenithar's Mace and Arkay's Sword, both blessed and enchanted by each of their divine creators. Both weapons deal fire damage, but the mace also has a chance to turn the undead while the sword damages a magic-user's source of power. He also carries Julianos' shield to defend himself as well. Though the shield is good against melee attacks, it shines against magic as it reflects part of the magic back at its caster.
Abilities/Powers:
Racial Abilities: As a Redguard, Rolland is naturally resistant to poison and disease. Redguards are also naturally inclined to go through Adrenaline Rushes during battle. These Adrenaline rushes seem to make a Redguard more agile, more endurable, quicker, stronger, and possess more health then they normally do. Rolland is no exception to the Adrenaline Rush.
Birthsign Abilities: In the land of Tamriel, starsigns dictate how a person will function. In Rolland's case, he was born under the sign of the Ritual. This grants him two powers that he has never used before he learned about them from the Emperor. Blessed Word, an ability used to turn the undead, and Mara's Gift, a powerful healing spell, are the abilities anyone born under the Ritual sign will know.
Armor Enchantments: When armor is enchanted, it seems to better the wielder. The Crusader's Armor, of course, betters Rolland, who weilds it to smite evil and help the innocent. The helmet helps Rolland's skill with Restoration magic as well as his personality and grants him the ability known as Serene Beauty, allowing him to calm anyone he touches. The cuirass fortifies Rolland's health, further helps his skill with Restoration magic, and has a magical resistance against normal, unenchanted weaponry. The gauntlets further help Rolland's Restoration magic and give him a better resistance to disease which, when combined with his racial abilities, makes him practically immune. They also grant him the ability Stendaar's Mercy, allowing him to heal another on touch. The grieves further his skill with Restoration Magic, but also help his skill with Destruction Magic. They grant him the ability Blessing of the Eight, which allows him to shield another from damage on touch, blessing them with the power of the eight divinities (excluding Talos, for he wasn't a God before the Crusader's Relics were made of course) and protecting them for a short time. The boots help his Restoration even more, so he's practically a master of Restoration magic with all of the Crusader's Armor donned, and grants him the ability Woodland Grace, making him a friend to the wildlife of Tamriel, Kynareth's servents. The enchantments of the shield and weaponry have already been discussed, but the Sword and Mace give him the ability Crusader's Arm, furthering his skill with eithers blades or blunt weaponry, depending on which of these weapons he is wielding at the time. (Note that Crusader's do not duel wield as they want their shields. I will not deny realistic duel wielding, but since he needs his Crusader's Shield, Rolland will not duel wield.) Wearing the entire Crusader's Armor set in itsself grants two new abilities, but one is only specific to having defeated Umaril and thus is rendered useless unless he is reborn. The other, Holy Aura, gives Rolland a sense of being protected by the gods himself and he takes less damage from attacks.
Magical Abilities: The only magics Rolland knows are those of the Destruction and Restoration schools. Rolland can heal and buff himself and his comrades as well as use the powers of the elements to attack or debuff enemies. The Crusader's Armor gives him spells seen in the Armor Enchantments and, yet the path he took as the Divine Crusader also blessed him with three other powers. One is the Pilgrim's Grace. The God's bless him and increase his potential overall. The second is Lay Hands, allowing him to heal an ally of disease and restore their energy. He used this to free a man from a fatal curse and gain the Gauntlets of the Crusader. The third is the Blessing of Talos. Normally it makes Rolland less agile and fast, but stronger and more durable. However, when he used this blessing to strengthen himself against a powerful enemy, he was able to follow that enemy into death and destroy him once and for all.
Skills:
Major Skills: The skills that a Crusader knows.
Athletics: Running around in Heavy Armor in battle means one keeps himself fit. As a Crusader, Rolland puts himself through harsh training each day, the same he expects from his fellow Knights of the Nine. Part of this training involves running. Rolland's been known to run until he's collapsed, but it has bolstered his endurance and speed by tenfold.
Blade: Naturally Crusaders would be skilled in swordplay. Redguards are also known for training well with the different weapons accordingly. Rolland, being both, is serious about his weapons training and learns different styles of fighting for all sword-like weaponry, whether it be long swords, short swords, daggers, etc.
Blunt: As with a blade, Crusaders and Redguard train with blunt weaponry in order to specialize between hacking at limbs and inflicting blunt trauma. Rolland is the same, training with maces, clubs, war axes, war hammers, etc. Also, for some reason, axes in the Elder Scrolls universe are considers blunt weaponry. Do not dwell too much on it.
Destruction: Also known simply as elemental magic, wielders of Destruction Magic control the powers of fire, frost, and lightning. As a male Redguard, much less a Redguard at all, Rolland has found it hard to weave the tapistries of magic at all. In the end, with practice and hard work, he is able to create magic potent enough to do great damage, but cannot make magic as severe as a High Elf or Breton can, much less a mage at all.
Hand to Hand: In the event that one is disarmed, it is important to know how to fight with your hands. Many melee classes believe this and Crusaders are no different. As hard as he trains with the blade and blunt weaponry, Rolland also trains hard in bettering his physical body. He's no flashy martial artist, but he's good for a street brawl and, when wearing gauntlets of steel, you can expect those punches to hurt a lot.
Heavy Armor: When you think of a Crusader, you probably think of holy men garbed in plate armor going out with swords and fighting in the name of God. Well... Rolland gives you the Elder Scrolls version of that. In the name of the Nine Divinities, he garbs his heavy Crusader's Armor and fights. He knows how to use it, how to wield it effectively, and how to look good in it.
Restoration: Of course the Gods would want someone who could heal the weak to serve them and, as such, Rolland has practiced in Restoration magic. Like Destruction magic, he had a hard time with Restoration magic because magic, in itsself, required a focused mind to use, and Rolland's would usually be focused on battle. However, when wearing all of the Crusader's Armor, Rolland can heal and restore the weak with about the same efficiency as a master Healer.
Minor Skills: Everything else.
Armorer: Rolland used to be an expert of repairing his weaponry and armor. He had to do it a lot in the midst of battle. Then he became the Holy Crusader and, gained with it, a stand to hang his armor and weaponry. The Gods, favoring Rolland, repair his armor and weaponry when he hangs it up, done with battle. Now he remembers enough about smithing to repair unenchanted armor and weaponry, but has lost the rememberence to repair anything beyond.
Block: Even if not one of a Crusader's major skills, all melee fighters know how to block with a shield. Though not adept enough to know how to use his shield to recoil enemies and knock them back, Rolland can at least put it in front of his enemies to block their attack so he can continue fighting on.
Acrobatics: Rolland's never seen the need to be nimble and jumpy. Acrobats may know how to jump down high distances and land in ways that keep them from taking damage, but Rolland figures he can take the roads. Since he's never bothered in training, Rolland has no experience in Acrobatics whatsoever. It's safe to say that you can expect no fancy flips or rolls from him in combat.
Light Armor: Favored among the stealthy and nimble, Rolland feels that light armor is a waste. He wants something he can feel safe in, so why not go out in a suit of plate armor? Since Rolland wears heavy armor exclusively, he has no knowledge with light armor.
Security: Rolland only has a minimal knowledge of lockpicking. Every adventurer has needed a little sense of what to do in case they come across a locked door in a dungeon. That being said, Rolland is not really good at it because he's never felt the need to practice, considering the only thing one can practice on is other people's locks, the locks used to protect their valuables.
Sneak: Sneaking is for thieves, criminals, and the cowardly. This is Rolland's thought. He refuses to sneak; he charges straight into battle with no fear.
Marksman: Though he has allies who have trained with a bow, Rolland has never done so. He prefers to get in close and hack or bash away at his enemies. Rolland wouldn't know what to do with a ranged weapon if he ever got his hand on one and would most likely accidentally shoot his eye out.
Mercantile: Being so many famous things, Champion of Cyrodiil, Holy Crusader of the Knights of the Nine, Fighters Guild Master, Grand Champion of the Arena, one might expect Rolland to get good deals on goods in the stores, right? Well unfortunately for Rolland, he is too honorable to haggle for lower prices and will buy at full price as well as sell his unneeded items for whatever the shopkeeper is offering, even if he's getting screwed in the process.
Speechcraft: At least being esteemed in so many ways leads to people respecting you. Rolland does not have a silver tongue, but when you have saved the entire empire twice, become the Grand Champion of the Arena, and returned the Fighter's Guild to its former glory, people in Cyrodiil tend to oblige his need for information. That's only Cyrodiil though.
Alchemy: Dwelling into the realm of magic, Rolland knows no more then what he feels he needs to know. He does not understand the principles behind alchemy and doesn't feel the need to dwell into it.
Alteration: Rolland feels the altering reality via the use of magic is against the word of the Gods. They have given him the powers he has needed and he respects them. He refuses to practice in Alteration.
Conjuration: Rolland hates the art of Conjuration. He cannot bring himself to hate the people themselves, but he warns them that they travel into the realms of the dark. Then again, Conjuration allows one to raise the dead and summon demons from the planes of Oblivion to serve them, so it's understandable.
Illusion: The Gods do not help those who hide behind a false face. Rolland remembers these words when they were spoken to him by Talos and he has taken them to heart. Illusion is the art of deceit. You do the math.
Mysticism: Rolland does not truely understand the nature of Mysticism. As a result, he tries to avoid it. However, compared to the other three magical schools he does not dwell in, he does not hold so much contempt for it.
Personality: Rolland is a compassionate and loyal companion. As a Crusader, he embodies everything a mythos full of benevolent dieties would want to see. He is humble and modest, putting the needs of others before the needs of himself. He is benevolent and generous, giving a lot of money he makes to the poor instead of spending it on luxeries. He leads a simple life, serving the Gods at the Priory of the Nine when he is not out serving Cyrodiil as its champion, defending it from monsters and those who would try and recreate the great Oblivion Crisis. But above all else, he is honest and nondeceitful. He would never boast about his achievements for the world to hear, nor attempt coercement. He is a joyful fellow, optimistic in his service and proud of the way he has lived thus far. He is sure that if his morality were to ever contradict the Gods, he could seek their favor once more through walking the Pilgrim's Way once more. But no matter what else, he is also a fierce warrior. Redguards are known for their talent in the battlefield and Rolland is no exception. He fights with a passion that can only be felt when fighting for the sake of the innocent. He is experience in battle more so then he sometimes wants to be. He has no mercy for those who are truely wicked, yet will try and save those he thinks he can from a path of darkness. Those he can save, he brings into the service of the Gods. Some go on to repent. Others revert back into their old ways and it is then that Rolland shows just how little mercy he has for those who would threaten the world. Above all else, Rolland has respect for the God. He prays often and preaches the word of the Gods for all to hear. That being said, the Gods of Cyrodiil are highly open-minded, so do not expect some of the bullshit you hear from Christianity. Though they demand humbleness and a strict lifestyle, at least they don't demand celibacy for you to follow them and they're accepting of a certain orientation, though Rolland himself is straight. But that's beyond the point. Rolland is proud to serve them and spend his days in the service against evil. Some say he may prove yet to be the next Tiber Septim and ascend as a tenth diety.
History:
Early Life
"I had already murdered the Highwaymen responsible, but still my father died. Stendaar... I need your advice during these hard times. What must I do to serve you?"
~Rolland, Holy Crusader of the Nine
"I had already murdered the Highwaymen responsible, but still my father died. Stendaar... I need your advice during these hard times. What must I do to serve you?"
~Rolland, Holy Crusader of the Nine
Much unlike most Redguards, born in Hammerfall, Rolland himself was born in the land of Cyrodiil already. Raised in the city of Chorrol, his father was an old war veteran and his mother a smith, for women needed to do something for the warrior men while they were out fighting. Rolland was trained at first to be a Warrior by his father. He learned everything about melee fighting from him, to keep fit, to always constantly train the body and the spirit in proxy. Eventually, during one of their training missions, his father was murdered by a group of Highwaymen. They used poison daggers and though he was able to defeat them with Rolland's health, he eventually sucumbed to the poison, his resistance to it not as high as it used to be due to his old age.
Most people might've expected Rolland to go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge if not get depressed and disheartened. Rolland took a different approach. He prayed at Chorrol's chapel. The holy temple built in the name of Stendaar offered him comfort and it was there that he thought of taking up the life of a priest. He would go to pray every day for most of his youth after that horrible tragedy. He became interested in the art of Restoration magic at the age of 14, when a Priest healed his wounds after another run in with brigands. He began to learn and, in doing so, the priests commented that, with his training as a Warrior already, he might find the Gods would favor him a Crusader. He studied hard in the fields of Restoration magic and even learned some Destruction magic in the process. He wondered if the priests were speaking true and if the Gods would favor him. He had no idea the plan that the Gods had set up for him.
The Emperor's Assassination
"I can go no further. You alone must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings! Take the Amulet. Give it to Jauffre. He alone knows where to find my last son. Find him, and close shut the jaws of Oblivion."
~Uriel Septim VII, former Emperor of Tamriel
"I can go no further. You alone must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings! Take the Amulet. Give it to Jauffre. He alone knows where to find my last son. Find him, and close shut the jaws of Oblivion."
~Uriel Septim VII, former Emperor of Tamriel
Rolland eventually took a trip to the Imperial City for his 18th birthday. It was there, however, that fate intervened. A Wood Elf thief had stolen something from Red Diamond Jewelry, a ring of sorts. When the guard had come looking for the ring, their search method highly forceful, he was forced to transfer it off when he realized they would come for him soon. Rolland was his unforunate target. The guards found the ring on Rolland and, as a result, placed him in the dungeon. It was there that he was humiliated and taunted by a Dunmer male named Valen Dreth, who had obviously gone insane during his own time in prison, yet still had a lot to say to Rolland anyway.
"Wake up, Redguard! Ah, there you are. How do you like your cell, huh? Roomy enough for you? I can't even imagine what it's like for you. No more sunshine, no more open seas. Just a box and a dirty beam of light for the rest of your life. Bet you're glad it won't last long, huh? Oh, didn't you know? No one ever leaves this prison alive! You're going to die in here, Redguard! Die!"
Despite Valen's ranting, something other then the execution comittee came down to find Rolland in that cell. Emperor Uriel VII and his bodyguards, the Blades, were trying to escape the city. The Emperor's sons had been assassinated and he was next. The secret route out of the city conveniently led out of Rolland's cell, meaning that he had a chance to break out. Thanking the Nine Divinities for such a deus ex machina, he was shocked to find that the Emperor identified him as the one he had seen to save all of Tamriel. There was no time for talking, however, as they had to make their way through. Inside the passage, the assassins laid in hiding and ambushed them, killing one of the Emperor's guards, Captain Renault. They attempted to leave Rolland behind, but he caught up to them by using a secret cave within the passage that led to an overpass in another room they had entered.
Glenroy, the second of the Emperor's guards, stood ready to kill Rolland, but the Emperor stopped him. Now convinced that Rolland was their savior, he asked Rolland his starsign and revealed to him the powers granted to those born under the sign of the Ritual. Uriel asked that Rolland accompany him, at least to the end, and Rolland chose to do so. They made their way through more waves of assassins until they eventually hit a trap and a dead end. Baurus, the third of Uriel's guards, fought well. But Glenroy had been slain. Rolland was left to guard Uriel, but knowing that he would die, Uriel gave Rolland the Amulet of Kings and asked him to take it to Jauffre to find his last son and close shut the jaws of Oblivion. He was then slain before Rolland's eyes. Rolland slew the assassin, but felt a deep regret that he could not save the emperor's life.
Baurus let Rolland go. Knowing that Uriel trusted Rolland, Baurus chose to trust the Emperor's judgement and give Rolland the key out of the prison, a secret route that led through the sewers. He told Rolland that Jauffre could be found at Weynon Priory, ironically near his home city of Chorrol. Rolland promised Baurus that he would see the Emperor's wish fulfilled and made on his way.
The Champion of Cyrodiil
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. So much blood has been shed on this day, the blood of the few that stood bravely against Hell. But you still stand, a hero to the many that you have given life to. Never fault yourself for what you could not prevent for you did your best and succeeded in the long-term."
~Emily, Archmage of the Mage's Guild
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. So much blood has been shed on this day, the blood of the few that stood bravely against Hell. But you still stand, a hero to the many that you have given life to. Never fault yourself for what you could not prevent for you did your best and succeeded in the long-term."
~Emily, Archmage of the Mage's Guild
Rolland, as he promised, immediately set out towards Weynon Priory and contacted Jauffre there, showing him the Amulet of Kings. Jauffre told Rolland he could find Uriel's last son, Martin, at the city of Kvatch, and then gave him a map to help him find his way. Rolland set out to Kvatch, but found the citizens of Kvatch in an encampment, learning that it had been destroyed and that an Oblivion Gate still stood in front of it, blocking the way for Savlian Matius and the guards to get in and save the remaining people. Being the stalwart, fearless type that he was, Rolland charged into the Oblivion Gate and helped to close it. He came back out and the guard, motivated by what he had just done, rushed in. With Rolland's help, they took the city back, even with the unfortunate discovery of the Count's death, and Rolland found Martin in the encampment later on and convinced him to journey back to Weynon Priory together.
When they got back, however, the Emperor's assassins had already attacked the Priory, slaying one of the Priors in the process. Jauffre had been lucky enough to arm himself and slay those that attacked him, but the Amulet of Kings had been taken away. Losing one requirement in lieu for another, Jauffre decided that they needed to play for time and asked Rolland to accompany him and Martin up to Cloud Ruler Temple, a stronghold above Bruma that the Blades used as a sanctuary. The three travelled there and Martin was honorably recognized by the other Blades as Uriel's son. Rolland was initiated into the Blades and asked to travel back to the Imperial City, to meet Baurus in the Elven Garden's district at Luther Broad's Boarding House.
Rolland travelled there and had to help Baurus stop an undercover assassin from killing him. He learned that the assassins were all part of a Daedric Cult known as the Mythic Dawn, a cult that worshipped the Daedric prince of destruction, Mehrunes Dagon. An answer would apparantly appear in a series of books known as Mankar Camoran's "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes." The first book was found on the assassin. Rolland had to travel to the Arcane University to get the second and learn about the whereabouts of the third and fourth from an Argonian Scholar named Tar-Meena. It was there he met a girl named Emily, an initiate in the Mage's Guild and at least 16 years old. He helped her with some books she was carrying and told her she could seek him for help anytime she needed it. He had no idea how important she would be later on, nor did he know he'd end up the object of her affections.
Rolland had to go to First Edition to find the third volume, but only after he could convince the original buyer to hand it over to him. The buyer, Gwinas, handed it over after he learned the Mythic Dawn was behind the Emperor's murder and also handed over an invitation to a meeting for the fourth volume. Rolland took this to Baurus and the two took to the sewers together to get to the meeting place. Baurus met with the Sponsor, who spoke as if Baurus was interested in joining the Mythic Dawn. But a patrol of Mythic Dawn guards revealed Rolland and the two had to slaughter them all. Rolland retrieved the fourth volume off of the Sponsor's corpse and let Baurus know he'd take them to Tar-Meena. Baurus told Rolland he'd return to Cloud Ruler Temple and protect Martin. The two shook on it and then went their seperate ways.
Rolland took the books back to Tar-Meena, who said she needed at least two days to study them. When he asked what he could do to help the guild and its members, Tar-Meena told Rolland that he could help Emily with ingredients gathering. Thus the two set to the lands to gather ingredients. It was there that Rolland and Emily learned about each other. Emily turned out to be a Healer in training. Gathering ingredients was part of what she had to do. Even then, however, she was poor in Alchemy. Rolland promised Emily that she would amount to great things if she continued to work hard and, though nothing sexual or even romantic in a manner of speaking happened, the two did share some tender moments during Rolland's wait.
When Tar-Meena finally got the results back to Rolland, they revealed to him that the Mythic Dawn's hideout could be found in a marking on the tomb of Prince Camarril at Green Emperor Way in the Imperial City at dusk. Rolland took to the tomb at such a time and discovered the location, marked it on his map, and made his way for the cave immediately. He did not bother pretending that he had come to join them. He slew his way in, killing every acolyte and guard that got in his way until he made it to the antechamber, where a ceremony was taking place, held by Mankar Camoran himself. He tried to get to Mankar Camoran in time, but he failed. Camoran returned to his Paradise with the Amulet of Kings. Fortunately he left behind the Mysterium Xarxes. Rolland took the book and a statue collapsed on top of an Argonian prisoner, killing him instantly. Rolland took a few seconds to pray, then escaped the cave, killing through as many of the cultists as he needed to.
He brought the Mysterium Xarxes back to Martin, who was almost shocked and appalled at the thought of anyone handling it, yet thanked Rolland for his services and decided he would study it to see if he could find a way into Mankar Camoran's Paradise. While Martin studied the book, Rolland was sent to investigate the appearence of a couple of spies in Bruma. After his investigations, he found and killed the spies before returning to Martin. Martin discovered that he needed a Daedric artifact to help with the ritual. After reading the book of Modern Heretics, Rolland learned about and travelled to the location of Azura's shrine. When asked to present to her an offering of glow dust, he killed Will-o-the-Wisps he found and offered the glow dust they dropped to her. Azura bequeathed upon Rolland a task. Her followers had become vampires after slaying a vampire lord and his kin and sealed themselves away due to it. She wished him to bring them the peace of death.
Though not one wishing to serve the Daedric princes at all, Rolland could sympathize with those who had set out to rid the world of evil and, having become infected with it, sought to contain themselves so it would not be released. He travelled to the Gutted Mine and slew her infected followers. In return, she presented him with her artifact, Azura's Star, said to be capable of trapping the souls of one's enemies within. Disgusted by the idea of trapping souls (and not realizing the gameplay advantages of keeping this item =P), Rolland gladly handed the artifact over to Martin, who agreed to destroy it when the time to perform the ritual came. But it had not ended yet. An oblivion gate had opened outside of Bruma and Rolland was sent to help the guard close them, having done so once before at Kvatch. He accomplished the task, but it seemed that Bruma could potentially be the target of another seige, similar to Kvatch.
Rolland was sent to the other cities to ask their aid. He talked to High Chancellor Ocato in the Imperial City, but he absolutely refused to send any legion soldiers to the frontlines, saying they'd be needed in the city to hold it down. He then went to the other cities. Savlian Matius gave eager aid from Kvatch, willing to repay the debt he owed to Rolland. The other cities' counts and countesses refused to send soldiers initially because they had Oblivion Gates outside of their city. Once Rolland closed them, they were more then ready to dispatch aid to Bruma. Cheydinhal was especially greatful to Rolland; the count's son had gotten himself and a group of others lost in the Oblivion Gate due to their insistance at playing hero. Rolland went in and saved the count's son, Farwil, who made Rolland an "honorary Knight of the Thorn" as he so put it. The count was so happy to see his son alive that he rewarded Rolland with the magical sword Thornblade, a sword that destroyed the armor of his enemies.
When Rolland got all the help the other cities of Cyrodiil could offer to Bruma, he returned to Cloud Ruler Temple. Martin had discovered the second needed component for the ritual by this point, the blood of the gods. It almost seemed impossible until Martin reminded Rolland that the former Emperor, Tiber Septim, had ascended on to becoming Talos. His armor would still be in the crypts of Sancre Tor. Blood would surely be on it. Given a key to the catacombs, Rolland immediately went to them. The resting place of Tiber Septim had been contaminated by the undead. What was even worse was that Tiber Septim's loyal blades had been raised to kill those who came to give tribute. When he struct down the first undead Blade he encountered, he released the poor man's spirit. Rielus, as he was once known in life, told Rolland about the Underking's curse. Though the Underking was long gone, the curse lingered on. Only by freeing all of Tiber Septim's Blades could he continue on.
Rolland journied further through the catacombs, slaying the skeletons and freeing the spirits of Casnar, Valdemar, and Alain. All four were Blades that follower Tiber Septim. They used the last of their power to break the curse and then went on to finally rest in peace. Rolland took the armor of Tiber Septim from the tomb and brought it back to Rolland, who reassured him that the armor itsself would not be destroyed and that he just needed a scraping of the blood. While Rolland was gone, he discovered the third ingredient, a Great Welkynd Stone. Only one was known of and it was inside the Ayleid ruins of Miscarcand. Rolland journied there, fought through the guardians of the ruins, and took the stone. When the last king of Miscarcand tried to take Rolland's life, Rolland instead sent him back to death. He returned to Martin, now supped up in Imperial Dragon Armor, and gave him the stone. Martin greeted him with bad news.
The last ingredient needed for the portal was a Great Sigil Stone, which could only be retrieved from a Great Gate, much like the one that was opened when Kvatch was destroyed. That meant they had to let the Mythic Dawn open the Great Gate to invade Bruma. Rolland was rightfully appalled, but knowing there was no other way, he went to convince the countess of Bruma to see the situation at hand. Trusting in Rolland's experience and reputation, she met with Martin to discuss the plans. When all was ready, the forces that Rolland had gathered, the Blades, the guards of Bruma, Rolland, and Martin himself went to the area where the Mythic Dawn had opened their first Oblivion Gate. Martin made the obvious inspirational speech and then Daedra began to swarm out. As the races of Tamriel fought against the infernal Daedra, the other two gates would open up one after the other in slow succession. Many casualties were had during the defense. Baurus and Jauffre had been killed. The captain of Bruma's guard, Burd, was also slain.
It wasn't until after the blood of his friends were shed that the Great Gate was open. Rolland immediately charged in. He was not bothered by the appearence of the Siege Crawler slowly making its way towards the gate, nor was he bothered by the seemingly innumerable amount of Daedra. He made his way through the fortress, slaughtering any demon that stood in his way. When he got to the Great Sigil Stone, he took it like any other and closed the Great Gate. Retreiving Baurus' and Jauffre's weapons, Martin promised to place them in the Halls of the Blades so that others could honor their sacrifice. They returned to Cloud Ruler Temple. Martin prepared for the ritual. With Azura's Star, the blood of Tiber Septim, a Great Welkynd Stone, and a Great Sigil Stone, Martin opened the gate to Mankar Camoran's Paradise. Rolland travelled inside, understanding well what he had to do, and the portal closed the moment he stepped into Paradise.
Mankar Camoran began to speak to Rolland. Rolland seemed not to listen. He made his way through the Savage Garden to a Draemora guard named Kathutet. Kathutet deemed Rolland worthy to speak to and informed him the only way to continue would be to wear a piece of equipment known as the Bands of the Chosen. To get them, Rolland would either have to kill Kathutet or help him. Rolland chose to kill him, seeing the thought of helping a Draemora as blasphemous. He looted the Bands off of his corpse and Mankar Camoran began to speak again. He seemed to be talking about how Tamriel was a plane of Oblivion, but Rolland chose to ignore him, continuing on to the Forbidden Grotto. As he went on, he saw those of the Mythic Dawn he had slain. They seemed miserable and depressed, no doubt now seeing the foolishness of their ways. As he truely entered the Forbidden Grotto, he saw Mankar Camoran's true paradise.
The Garden had been a seperate entity for his followers to live in. In this Grotto was lava and Camoran's immortal followers burning in it. It was truely Hell. As he went to fight through the Grotto, Rolland came across a Mythic Dawn agent by the name of Eldamil. Eldamil seemed to regret what he had done in life for Camoran and offered Rolland his services. Though he had no will to accept them, Rolland found he had no choice when Eldamil told him he could not leave wearing the bands and that he had the knowledge to remove them near the end. Rolland let Eldamil come with him and the two made their way through the sickening plane, Eldamil kept good on his end of the bargain as he helped Rolland remove the bands. The two made their way back into the beautiful part of Paradise near Camoran's palace, Carac Agaialor. Camoran's children, Ruma and Raveh, greeted Rolland, even if with hostility, and let him in to speak with their father.
Mankar Camoran sat there on his throne with the Amulet of Kings somehow around his neck, as if to say he had enough power to defy the Gods. He monologued about how the Septim dynesty had come to an end, how Mehrunes Dagon would reclaim everything that belonged to him, and how pitiful Rolland, as the last defender of humanity, would look dead. Then he and his children attacked. Though a tough battle, Rolland perservered. With the will of the Gods guiding him, his faith in them being his strength, he slew Mankar Camoran and took the Amulet of Kings back from his corpse, destroying his Paradise and returning by magic to Cloud Ruler Temple. He present the Amulet of Kings to Martin and, when Martin put it on, able to wear it, it proved he was a true Septim. Martin said he seemed to know the very first day Rolland came to get him, even though he was hesitant at the time, and that it was time to put an end to everything once and for all.
Martin and Rolland traveled to the Imperial City. High Chancellor Ocato met with them there and stated that the Elder Council agreed with Martin's claim to the throne. Before Martin could be named Emperor, however, Oblivion Gates began to open everywhere in the Imperial City. Martin, Rolland, and a group of Imperial Soldiers made their way to the Temple District, in the hopes they could relight the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One before it was too late. Sadly, however, it was too late. Mehrunes Dagon had come to Tamriel and all hope seemed lost. Martin and Rolland made their way into the Temple of the One, but with Mehrunes Dagon in the world, it seemed nothing could be done... until Martin realized the Amulet's true potential, though he also knew what it would cost him. He bid a confused Rolland farewell and, as Mehrunes Dagon tore the roof of the Temple of the One into two, Martin used the Amulet's power combined with the power of his own blood to turn into the very avatar of Akatosh himself. The two did battle, but Martin won. As he banished Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion, however, he turned into stone and thus gave his life for Tamriel.
When High Chancellor Ocato came seeking Martin, Rolland gave him the sad news that Martin was gone. The statue of the dragon, Akatosh's avatar, would now stand forever as a testament to Martin's sacrifice for the world. However, with the Septim line dead, the Empire would be without an emperor, which only meant trouble would lie ahead. But even though Rolland was saddened by Martin's death, having become a good friend to the emperor-to-be, Ocato was extremely happy that it was all over and that Oblivion would supposedly never bother them again. With the power he held as High Chancellor, he bequeathed upon Rolland the title of Champion of Cyrodiil, a title only six others at the time held. In two weeks, a set of Imperial Dragon Armor, the same Martin had worn, would be available to him. Rolland would wear this armor for a good period of his life, but he would eventually pass it down to one of his elite in the future.
Grand Champion of the Arena
"The land of Tamriel needs heroes, and I'm happy to oblige."
~Agronak gro-Malog, former Grand Champion of the Arena
"The land of Tamriel needs heroes, and I'm happy to oblige."
~Agronak gro-Malog, former Grand Champion of the Arena
Nearly a year had passed since the great Oblivion crisis. With the thread of Daedric invasion gone, the Arena had opened once more. Rolland, having continued to train himself, seeking favor with the Gods, wondered if the Arena was where he needed to test himself to see if they'd give him any notice. He decided to enter and become a participent. Entering the bloodworks, he came across the Battlemaster, a fellow Redguard simply known as Owyn. With all the personality of a commander of boot camp, Owyn seemed to dismiss the fact that Rolland was the Champion of Cyrodiil and treated him like dirt. Rolland did not mind. He figured such a thing would happen. Plus one had to remain humble, even under pressure. He signed himself up in the Arena and was given the rank of Pit Dog as well as a Heavy Arena Raiment. Day after day he'd fight and every third match he would ascend in rank.
He made more gold with every ascension and began to earn Owyn's respect. When he hit the rank of Myrmidon, Owyn seemed to be a bit friendlier. Once he hit Gladiator, the two of them could conversate like natural friends. Rolland eventually battled and slaughtered his way up to Champion rank. With his title secure, he was confident he attain the title of Grand Champion of the Arena. When he spoke to Agronak gro-Malog, however, he discovered the Orc's name was the Gray Prince and, confused as to why he was called such a name, questioned him about it. Agronak explained his life story. He was the son of a lord, but his birthright was revoked as the mistress of his father kicked his birthmother out, thus leading Agronak to lead a peasent's life. He asked Rolland if he could journey to Agronak's home of Crowhaven and bring proof of his nobility to him.
Even with the Grand Champion match ready to be fought, Rolland was not one to deny a person in need. He accepted Agronak's quest and journied to Crowhaven. Coming inside, he was shocked to feel the presence of evil as well as the sight of the undead. Having to fight through skeletons and zombies, he eventually came to a door that required the key Agronak gave him to open. He was attacked by a vampire and, after felling the evil beast, searched the room for anything that could count as proof. Coming across a journal, he read its contents and realised in horror that it was the journal of Agronak's father, the vampire he had just slain, Lord Lovidicus. With the journal in hand, Rolland travelled back to the Imperial City Arena with the sad news of Agronak's past. When he got back, Agronak was so happy to get the proof that he taught Rolland all of the secret techniques he had learned during his training regime. When he actually read the journal, however, he went from being shocked to horrified. Discovering that he was half-vampire, he immediately saw himself as evil and thus fell into a slump. When Rolland asked him about the challenge, Agronak agreed, in a rather cryptic fashion, and made his way to the Arena.
Rolland was sent to speak to the Battle Matron, Ysabel Andronicus, and she exclaimed that he was going to die. She asked him to give her his Arena Name, a name he'd be known by when it was placed on his tombstone, and he chose The Divine Avenger. Ysabel let him go to the Arena and the fight was on... only it didn't ever really start. Agronak did not really fight. He made a good show out of it, but he was so easy that Rolland questioned him on why he wasn't really fighting. It was then that Agronak begged Rolland to kill him, telling him that he could not live on knowing what he was and exclaiming that all he wished for now was to die. It struck Rolland's heart to hear those words and, after a mock fight, he gave Agronak the mercy-killing he begged for. Rolland immediately left the Arena ground and reported back to Ysabel with Agronak's Raiment of Valor in hand. Shocked at his actual victory, Ysabel was moved to tears and rewarded Rolland with his own Raiment of Valor as well as the title of Grand Champion.
But a lot was sacrificed. A fellow combatant he had befriended in the Arena, a nameless Gladiator who was not important to the actual story, suddenly became very hostile, telling Rolland that they were no longer comrades and that he would look forward to the day he could crush him and leave his blood stained in the Arena. That, combined with Rolland's own pains from causing Agronak's degradation from a proud Orc fighter into a sad man who wanted to die for the sake of the world, to rid it of his evil bloodline for good, drove him away from the Arena. Even with the title of Grand Champion to grace his reputation further, he felt he had not achieved a single thing in that gladitorial world other then death. Thus, when the Adoring Fan tried to come and worship him, Rolland told the Bosmer kid to go mourn Agronak and leave him in peace. It would take him a month to collect his thoughts, but he would eventually do so.
Grand Master of the Fighter's Guild
"I had become so afraid for the lives of my comrades that I had forgotten this guild was created to take risks for the people of Tamriel."
~Vilena Donton, former Fighter's Guild Grandmaster[/center]
After Rolland had prayed and self-reflected for up to a month back in the home city of Chorrol, he went to prove his worth again, this time joining the Fighter's Guild. Before he became a true member, however, he was sent to Anvil to talk to the leader there, Azzan. Azzan hooked Rolland up as a member and sent him to solve a problem with a woman known as Arvena. She had apparantly been having rat problems, but when he questioned her about it, Rolland learned she loved the rats and that finding them dead was the issue. When he went down to investigate, he found a mountain lion there. He slew the mountain lion and was sent with the hunter, Pinarus Inventius, to slay the mountain lions outside the city. Even after that, however, there was yet another mountain lion in the basement when Rolland returned. After slaying it, he learned that an Argonian woman named Quill-Weave had it out for Arvena's rats. He was to investigate at night and found that Quill-Weave was leaving rotten meat near a hole at Arvena's house. She had not meant for mountain lions to invade Arvena's house and begged Rolland not to tell. Rolland, being the honest Crusader he was, "ratted" Quill-Weave out anyway. Arvena thanked Rolland for the help, taught him a bit on how to win people over with speech (something he'd probably never use as he was not one to lie), and Rolland went to recieve his next quest from Azzan.
His next contract was to stay at Norbert Lelles' shop and guard it. Thieves had apparantly been breaking into it during the night and Norbert wanted Rolland to take care of it. Rolland stayed the whole day, selling goods for Norbert, up until the thieves broke in. Slaying them, he learned their names from Norbert and found they had been well trusted customers of his before. Gaining promotion for his deeds, he was sent to Cheydinhal to recieve quest from the guild leader there, an Orc named Burz gro-Khash. He was sent to deliver a weapon's shipment to members in the Desolate Mine. After giving the three their weapons, he helped them slaughter the goblins infesting the mine. Rolland was rewarded for his courage with yet another promotion and more gold. He was then sent back to his home city of Chorrol to receive more work as the Guild Master, Vilena Donton, resided there. He had apparantly been sent to the other two cities to test his worth.
Vilena asked him to get the contract from her Champion, Modryn Oreyn. Modryn told Rolland of a member, Maglir, who had defaulted on his contract. Rolland was sent to Skingrad to find out why. Rolland discovered that Maglir was drinking his sorrows away in the tavern. He was supposed to get Brenus Astis' Journal, but had apparantly chickened out, saying he had a family and needed to stay alive for them. Rolland headed over to Fallen Rock Cave for him, slaying his way through hordes of the undead, and gained the journal himself. Though he felt sympathetic for Maglir, he told Modryn the truth and was praised highly for his honesty and sense of duty. He then recieved his next contact from Modryn, sending him to Leyawiin to stop fellow Fighter's Guild members from causing trouble there. Finding the three in a tavern, Rolland finds that they just want some work, but can't find any because a new group, the Blackwood Company, has been taking all the jobs. Rolland asks around town and finds a woman, Margarte, needs help finding alchemical supplies, but she doesn't trust the Blackwood Company to do it. When Rolland shows her an offering of Ectoplasm, harvested off the corpses of ghosts and wraiths slain in Fallen Rock Cave, that she asks for to prove the guild's worth, she agrees to make the Fighter's Guild her sole supplier. Rolland goes and tells the others about their new job and they thank him kindly. He returns to Modryn for his reward and, after being promoted, is sent back to Anvil.
Azzan tells Rolland to pair up with Maglir, the guy he had to help before, and find a den of thieves. A man in town, Newhiem the Portly, tells them he heard they were holed up in Hrota Cave. He also mentioned they stole a family heirloom from him, a flagon, and he'd be thankful if they got it back. The two travelled to the cave, slaughtered the thieves there, and even retrieved Newhiem's flagon. Newhiem rewarded Rolland with beer (which he immediately gave to Maglir) and netted some gold from completing the contract. It was then back to Cheydinhal and another visit with gro-Khash, who ordered him to speak to Biene Amelion at Water's Edge, a settlement north of Leyawiin. Biene mentions that her father incurred a debt of up to 1000 septims and, since he died, the debt was forced onto her to pay. She wanted him to go raid her grandfather's tomb and get his armor and sword that she might pay off the debt. Considering his belief against breaking into tombs (if it can be helped, unlike Sancre Tor, which could not be helped and actually did more good then "sacreligious evil") and the fact that he made a good bit of money off of his fights in the Arena and working with the Fighter's Guild, he offered to pay her debt in full and she accepted, saying that he could keep the armor and whatnot if he ever did go into her grandfather's tomb. Back to Chorrol for another quest.
Modryn, this time, wanted Rolland to escort Vilena Dolton's son, Viranus Dolton, to Nonwyll Cave to clear it out as well as find out the fate of a farmer named Galtus Previa. Viranus has apparantly lost his brother and Vilena stopped letting him go on contracts. Modryn thinks the boy needs some more confidence and thus trusted Rolland to take good care of him. After convincing Viranus to come with him, Rolland took the boy to Nonwyll Cave. They battled the fierce monsters there, such as trolls, ogres, and minotaurs, and not surprisingly to Rolland, considering, found Galtus dead. He reported it to Modryn who rewarded him with an enchanted Ebony Longsword, better then the Akaviri Katana he'd been using during the Oblivion Crisis and the Arena. Modryn then gave him another contract. Maglir defaulted yet again. Irritated by this turn of irresponsibility, Rolland travelled to the inn/tavern there and found that Maglir not only defaulted, but defected over to the Blackwood Company. He refused to tell Rolland about his contract and Rolland, quite pissed considering the elf's treachery, forced it out of him.
He went to the Mage's Guild in Bravil and spoke to a woman named Aryarie. She needed 10 samples of Imp Gall for research asked of her by the Archmage, Emily. Unphased by the new knowledge that the girl he had helped during the Oblivion Crisis had worked her way up to Archmage, Rolland travelled to Robber's Glen Cave as asked of him and killed the imps there, taking their galls and returning them to Aryarie, who rewarded him with a Ring of Aegis, a ring that gave him shielding properties. He stopped wearing this and most other "trinkets" in the future, but as of now, he wore it to help himself do more good. Returning to Modryn and netting himself more gold, Modryn then instructed Rolland to meet him at his house at night. When Rolland did so, Modryn told Rolland that he doubted the Blackwood Company were as good as they claimed. He asks Rolland to meet him at the Fighter's Guild in Leyawiin where they would go about their business there.
When Rolland meets Modryn at Leyawiin's Fighter's Guild, they travel to the Ayleid ruins of Arpenia. Modryn explains that the contract in which Viranus' brother, Vitellus Dolton, was stolen by the Blackwood Company. They had claimed to complete it, making them look competent and the Fighter's Guild look like cowards. However, they doubt the guy they needed to kill was actually killed, but rather bought off by the Blackwood Company. The guy in question, Azani Blackheart, was not in Arpenia. They then travelled to the ruins of Atatar, where they dispatched Azani and his minions after all. Modryn asked for Azani's ring, thus gaining proof that it was the Fighter's Guild who really pulled it off, and pays Rolland as well as more promotions, this time to Wader. Back to Anvil.
Azzan sent Rolland to Brittlerock Cave to help a scholar, Elante of Alinor, find and study a Daedric shrine inside. Rolland cleared the cave out for her and escorted her to the shrine. In return, he got a book from her, 2920, Morning Star (v.1), and more gold from Azzan. On to Cheydinhal, where gro-Khash sent Rolland back to Bravil to ask about Fugitives. Finding out their positions in Bloodmayne cave, Rolland entered the cave and then slaughtered them. More gold, back to Chorrol. Modryn, this time, sent Rolland to the Forsaken Mine to help Viranus and his crew slay the trolls inside. When he got there, however, he found the trolls and the Fighter's Guild members were slaughtered, along with a few of the Blackwood Company. Only a few trolls were alive and Rolland slew them. He found Viranus' corpse, a journal on it. It explained that the Blackwood Company came in and started killing everything, including the Fighter's Guild members, during the successful cleansing of the mine. It was as if they were frenzied. Viranus had enough time left in life to write this. When Rolland brought the journal back to Modryn and explained the situation, he was infuriated. He told Rolland to lay low and return to Azzan in Anvil, that he would take full responsibility for this.
Azzan told Rolland that Modryn was, of course, expelled from the guild. If it weren't for his work, Rolland would be suffering demotion as well as Vilena was not so stupid to not see he had a part in it. In the meantime, Rolland was sent up to Bruma to examine the case of the Stone of St. Alessia, stolen from the Chapel of Talos in Bruma. This hit Rolland hard as a Crusader and he made his way up there as quickly as he could. The priest there, Cirroc, told him that bandits stole the Stone and made to the east. When Rolland made to the east, he found one Khajiit there, named K'Sharr. He says ogres attacked them and took the Stone to the Ayleid ruins of Sedor. After having K'Sharr placed in jail, since he didn't want to be a cold-blooded murderer really, he took to Sedor and killed the ogres, retrieving the stone and returning to Bruma. He gets three potions of healing from Cirroc, gold from Azzan, and is done in Anvil for good. He is then sent to Cheydinhal, for the last two contracts supposedly.
gro-Khash wanted Rolland first to go help an old family friend of his, Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak. After going to his estate, Rolland found that the lord's daughter went missing. He went out to find that she had been kidnapped by ogres. After slaying them, he returned her and got Lord Rugdumph's sword in return. More gold from gro-Khash and another contract. He was sent to Harlan's Watch to speak to Drarana Thelis. Some locals apparantly were attracted by the strange lights to the Swampy Cave and were never seen from again. When Rolland went to examine the lights, he found they were will-o-the-wisps and slew them with his magical blade before heading into the Swampy Cave. Finding trolls and the corpses of the locals there, he slaughtered all the trolls and then went back to Drarana with the bad news. He got a Mind and Body ring out of her and gro-Khash said he had no more work for Rolland as well.
Rolland decided to finally go see if he could help Modryn. Modryn had some ideas on what to do to prove the Blackwood Company was ultimate evil after all. Rolland was sent to Glademist Cave to capture a high-ranking member, Ajum-Kajin. After slaughtering the Argonian's guards, he brought him back to Modryn's house where they interrogated him. After beating on him some with his fists, Rolland learned from Ajum-Kajin the numbers and leader of the Blackwood Company. But the Argonian chose suicide over betraying the source of their power and put on an enchanted ring, which burned him to death immediately. Modryn decided some undercover work was needed and sent Rolland to the Blackwood Company's main HQ in Leyawiin after rewarding him with an enchanted amulet. Like most of the trinkets he recieved during his work, this would be given away to someone else, just like his Imperial Dragon Armor.
Rolland went to the Blackwood Company building. As expected, the recruitment leader, Jeetum-Ze, seems suspicious considering Rolland's exploits in the Fighter's Guild. But since some of the members turned out to be Fighter's Guild defectors, he took it as a blessing and let Rolland join just in time for a mission. There was an infestation of goblins at Water's Edge, the same settlement Rolland had went to before to help Biene Amelion. Rolland was then told to drink a potion of Hist Sap. Hist trees came from the Black Marsh, the Argonian homeland, and they were supposed to be immune to it. Turns out this sap went bad and had some bad side-effects. Forced to drink it, Rolland blacked out. When he came to, he was at Water's Edge, standing and fully armored. There were goblins everywhere, even in the houses. In the name of the Nine Divines, Rolland slaughtered them all. Some time after he killed the last one, however, he fell unconscious, probably due to the abnormal events caused by the potion.
Modryn's men found Rolland unconscious outside of Water's Edge on his way back to Leyawiin and brought him back to the former Champion's house. When Rolland explained what he had witnessed and done, Modryn had bade vibes from it and told Rolland to explore Water's Edge. When he got back, he found only a couple dead goblins. The rest were livestock... and civilians. Rolland immediately felt nausea when he checked the houses and saw the civilians dead in the same positions as the goblins when he slew them. Even poor Biene was dead, decapitated on the floor. Only one survivor was there, Marcel Amelion. Turns out he hadn't been killed after all, but only went in hiding and let others think he was dead. The father of Biene, he mourned her loss. Rolland couldn't even think straight to comfort him. When he left Water's Edge, he felt broken inside... and then a sudden surge of righteous anger. He immediately travelled back to Chorrol to report to Modryn what he saw.
Modryn was rightfully angered. He advised Rolland not to blame himself. There was nothing he could've done to stop it as he had been out of it due to the sap's effects. But enough was enough. It was time to destroy the Blackwood Company. Rolland was sent back to the Blackwood Company's HQ. He was greeted as a traitor and slaughtered everyone there. He went upstairs and killed their leader, then went into the basement and destroyed the Argonians working on the Hist tree. Upon seeing the abomination it had become, nature corrupted by machinery, he destroyed the tree by barring the gears running the machine with pipes. The results were a meltdown that led to the tree's fiery demise. Upon leaving, Maglir confronted Rolland. Expelled from the Fighter's Guild for sure, and with nowhere else to work for his family, he attacked Rolland in blind rage. Though Rolland prayed afterwards for the safety of Maglir's family, he killed the foolish elf and returned to Modryn.
Modryn, pleased to learn that it was done and over with, awarded Rolland with the helm of one of his reletives, the Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw. He was then sent to speak to Vilena Dolton about what just happened. Due to scheming with Modryn behind her back and being involved with the death of Viranus, Rolland was stripped of his rank as Champion, which he had been promoted to after being done with Azzan and gro-Khash. However, Vilena, upon self-reflection, realized that she had forgotten the reason for which the Fighter's Guild was created. She saw Rolland knew why the Fighter's Guild had been formed and thus made him its Master. Rolland went to Modryn and reinstated him as second-in-command with an equal priority on recruitment and contracts. Modryn took the job back eagerly and began to work with such ideas in mind. This would eventually lead to the recruitment and training of two of Rolland's greatest allies, Hemlor and Isaac.
