Vlastarus has always been a migrant town. Its relatively close proximity to Cyrodiil’s south-western Border Keeps means it is often the first haven for travellers from the south; especially as the safest route into the Heartlands from the Valenwood is now across the savannah of Northern Elsweyr. Nowadays however the refugees come to Vlastarus from all over war-torn Cyrodiil, yet despite the ongoing conflict the town appears to be flourishing. That’s often the thing about migrant towns, the people tend to be more appreciative of their opportunities, and value a little more dearly what they earn.

Despite the towns location however, there is no direct road or path connecting Vlastarus to the Gates of Altadoon, so it has become a constant target for the Covenant, resulting in the flags flying above the town regularly changing colour. It matters little to the people of Vlastarus however what colours fly above their town, for despite the constant presence of banner soldiers they still suffer attacks by goblins, bandits, undead and wildlife. The banner soldiers of whatever creed seem to care nothing for the people of Vlastarus, only for their sullied flags and callous banners.

Thus the towns leaders, a Khajiit named Jurana and the Elf Nelerien, welcome enthusiastically the aid of any mercenary adventurer looking to earn a little coin or battle experience, regardless of their race or allegiance.

S.K

In happier, more peaceful times it was said that the Colovian forest could offer a person of faith all the sanctuary they need, but it seems now neither piety or priory is enough to offer the faithful protection against the damnable deeds of cowards.

Defenceless against corrupted heart and afflicted disposition, the Gottlesfont Priory will soon be forced to close its doors. Only a few faithful now remain to tell of that harrowing night when soldiers smashed down their doors, killing the abbot and the few priests who dared resist, and pillaging all they deemed of value. Even amongst the heretic Dark Elves or the tree worshipping lizards, there exists a shared morality that during times of war you never deliberately target the innocent.

And yet there are people who will try to tell you that most of the evil in this world is done in the name of faith, or by people with good intentions. The worst evil is, and always has been done by those too craven to avoid doing what they know to be wrong, or too afraid to do what they know to be right.

When the flame of Gottlesfont is extinguished and the doors are eventually closed, it will be a stain upon every banner of Tamriel.

S.K

I spotted their makeshift shelters first, grimy animal skins stretched taut over wood and bone, with large rocks placed as ballast, the traditional shelters of the Ogre. Growing up in rural Cyrodiil we were taught from a very young age to recognise such structures and give them the widest possible berth. For like the wild bears they share their hunting grounds with, whilst they will shy from human contact, they are easily startled and are ferocious when they feel threatened. If left alone however they generally stay clear of human or mer settlements, unless it is to pinch the odd vulnerable livestock.

No matter how primitive they may seem to us, these humble shelters, along with their crude goblin-like tributes to Malacath, are to be found throughout the out-lands of Tamriel, proof perhaps that these brutish, uncivilised creatures have a shared culture, making them more then just animals. Usually they live in small communities, but perhaps it is that they are gathering together at the Serpent Hollow Cave, along with the bear matriarch and her sloth of bears, for mutual preservation against such large numbers of soldiers roaming this war ravaged land.

However, I remember the threat the Ironhands Ogres posed in Stormhaven when from the Wrothgar mountains they gathered in large number to raid Gavauden. That was perhaps the first time in generations humans had witnessed the threat of an aggression of Ogres with a common, and shared purpose. Indeed, if not for the aid of the Murtag Orc Clan and their General, the dream tormented Godrum, the whole of eastern Stormhaven may have come to resemble Aphren’s Hold.

I do wonder if once upon a time we may have been closer to ogres, perhaps in the Merethic age when out of common need we may have co-existed side by side, as they sometimes do now with the goblin tribes. As we grew more civilised however, they seemed to us to be more wild. Such a close relationship with the wild bears suggests that they are now closer to beasts then either men or mer, and perhaps it is inevitable even that one day they will be but beasts and disappear into the wilderness forever; their makeshift shelters becoming little more then Antiquarian oddities.

S.K

Our lives are full of moments and cruxes that we attribute to luck; whether that luck is then considered good or bad is purely a matter of perspective. For every player that is dealt a good hand in a game of Tribute, there will be others that will inevitably be dealt bad. For every person in the right place at the right time, there will be somebody who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whenever I hear the comforting tale of someone unlikely saved, there is also a lament of one who wasn’t. Can it be just luck, or is there something more at work?

Take my experience this evening at the Breakneck Cave. I knew its doors were closed a long time before the war began because of the well publicised spider infestation, so it was a surprise as I rode past on my way to Vlastarus in the south to find bandits were guarding its entrance. Of course nothing says ‘welcome, please come in’ more to an adventurer then armed hoodlums guarding a door.

At first glance it appeared the Black Daggers were using the caves as a warehouse of sorts, yet they clearly hadn’t overcome the spider problem. However, as I delved further down beyond the crates and barrels it occurred to me that this number of guards for such small amount of provisions was somewhat overkill. And that is when I spied Hegris, the leader of the Black Dagger bandits.

Clearly Hegris is a dangerous man, you don’t get to climb the ranks to become leader of the largest bandit gang in the Heartlands without being ruthless, callous a cut-throat, and perhaps a little lucky; although I am sure this Nord will tell you his luck was simply the warriors advantage. But it wasn’t simply down to luck that I discovered Hegris in the Breakneck Caves today, it was cause and effect. I chose to ride past the abandoned cave, and made a choice to challenge the guards at the door, and Hegris himself chose to visit this very same day, which proved to be his last. Perhaps then this is all luck really is, a cause, an effect, and a matter of perspective.

S.K