Tamriel's New Empurrer

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<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793326355088670720/imperial_palace_ext..png"></center> It’s a lovely morning in the Imperial City, and you are a terrible little Khajiit. Despite the arguably pleasant spring atmosphere, you don’t really want to be here. You only agreed to come because Broomsbury, your benefactor and landlord, made you come. [[Where is he, anways?|Exposition 2]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793658919914176513/imperial_palace_ext._x_brooms.png"></center> “Na’jii!” A thick Khajiiti accent breaks through the arguably pleasant spring atmosphere. Ah, there he is. That motherfucker. What a tool. [[Ask him what he wants.|Exposition 3]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793658919914176513/imperial_palace_ext._x_brooms.png"></center> Brooms takes a deep breath, mutters something under his breath, and comes very close. “For the hundredth time, Na’jii, we are here -- on a very tenuous invitation -- for the coronation of the new Empress of Tamriel. It is a triumph for Khajiit everywhere that she is one of us! All you must do is stay quiet and keep your hands to yourself. Quite literally, this one wants you to do nothing.” [[3: but that sounds boring|Exposition 4]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793658919914176513/imperial_palace_ext._x_brooms.png"></center> “Listen; do not fuck this up for me.” Brooms turns away and begins walking to the door. “This one has no time for this. There are several nobles inside to flirt with. Remember; no stealing!” You pout, but he doesn’t see it before he walks inside. You’re already starting to feel an itch in the back of your mind, and your fingers twitch instinctively. [[Immedietly ignore Brooms' instructions.|Exploration Landing 1]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/429838371339108362/793660369347280937/imperial_palace_int..png"></center> You walk into the center and are met with a nice courtyard, complete with a little fountain and pond. It’s all very peaceful and regal, which are your two least favorite adjectives to describe a place. Where will you go? [[Explore the upper passage.|Up 1]] [[Explore the lower passage.|Down 1]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692317830873088/council_chambers_staircase.png"></center> You decide that snooping around and eavesdropping on conversation would be a great way to pass the time. With so many people appearing from all over, there will probably be all sorts of conversations! Maybe some of them will even be about mischief, your favorite topic. You manage to find a big spiral staircase that’s a bit out of the way, but seems like it goes somewhere interesting. Once you’re finally at the top, you’re met with a (locked) double door made of finely-carved oak. [[Bust out the lockpicks.|Up 2]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793695361087569940/imperial_council_chambers_x_councilmember_1.png" width=700 height=500></center> The door quietly opens after a bit of lockpick-based persuasion, and you creep into the upper walkway of a large, circular hall. Below, seated around a large table, are a group of fancy-looking people having a serious conversation. One woman seems to be mid-speech. “... and if we don’t manage to convince them of the benefits of such an alliance, the economic impact will be immense! There’s absolutely no way another raise of taxes will go over well with the citizenry!” [[Tell me something I don't know, lady!|Up 3]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793695358814650368/imperial_council_chambers_x_councilmember_1.5.png" width=700 height=500></center> But for real, the second she starts using words bigger than 7 letters, you zone out. With a twist of your handy-dandy ring of invisibility, you vanish and begin quietly stalking around the upper balcony. From what you manage to gather as your interest in their conversation rekindles and fades, the woman -- Quadirah -- is very mad at this other guy -- Leonduil. She thinks his plan is dumb, which insulted Leonduil, because he’s insecure about his intelligence and has daddy issues. On the other hand, Quadirah has always had to fight for others to see her as an equal in the room, which means that she’s very protective of her opinions. Really, it’s just a classic case of talking past each other. [[They should really be getting therapy included in their workplace benefits.|Up 4]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793695358814650368/imperial_council_chambers_x_councilmember_1.5.png" width=700 height=500></center> As you’re walking around, casually listening and assessing the frankly abysmal workplace environment, you happen upon something that immediately piques your interest. It’s a box. A locked box. On a podium all by itself. Oh, there’s got to be something good in there. Your fingers twitch, and before you know it the lockpick is already in your hand. From below, you can hear Leonduil hold back tears. [[Lockpick...TWO!!|Up 5]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692390363103252/amulet_of_kings.png" width=500 height=500></center> This one is a bit harder to force, and it ends up taking you a bit longer than normal to crack it. It seems like whatever is inside, they really don’t want someone taking. Luckily for them, you just want to borrow it for fun. But once you open it... oh man. The amulet that’s inside is shinier than anything you’ve ever seen in your entire life. It’s huge, and heavy, and full of gems, and heavy. Did you mention it’s shiny? You drool a little bit before you catch yourself and pocket it. [[Brooms will be so impressed when you show him this later.|Exploration Landing 2]]

<<if visited("Up 5", "Down 5")>> <center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692422907363328/imperial_palace_int._x_guards.png"></center> You are met with the same nice courtyard, complete with a little fountain and pond, but now there are a few more people in it than just you. Two large, beefy women in fancy-looking armor are looking around the courtyard, looking very confused, before they do a double-take in your direction and begin walking over. [[Wave hello at your new friends.|Guards 2]] <<else>> <center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/429838371339108362/793660369347280937/imperial_palace_int..png"></center> You are met with the same nice courtyard, complete with a little fountain and pond. It’s still very peaceful and regal, which continue to be your two least favorite adjectives to describe a place. Where will you go? [[Explore the lower passage.|Down 1]] [[Explore the upper passage.|Up 1]] <<endif>>\

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/429838371339108362/793664143650848808/basement_staircase.png"></center> People are definitely less likely to notice you snooping if you go low. After all, who wants to throw a party below ground for an occasion like this? Soon, after several flights of descending stairs and only a few clueless guards, you stumble upon a door. [[Finally!! Open it open it open it open it o|Down 2]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793664693687550003/palace_basement.png" width="700" height="500"></center> You open the door, and are greeted by perhaps the most beautiful sight in your entire miserable, kleptomaniac life. The basement is piled with stuff. It’s rife with stuff. There’s so much stuff that it’s likely nobody in the whole world knows exactly what’s inside. You can feel your heart beating so fast, you think it might explode. [[SNOOP. STEAL. REVEL IN BOTTOMLESS ECSTACY.|Down 3]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793665290528620564/basement_x_dignitary.png" width="700" height="500"></center> Well, you don’t need to tell yourself twice! You make short work of sticking your grubby little paws in every crate, sack, and shelf you can find. You even pocket a couple things that spark your interest. A comb, an empty vial, etcetera. You know, treasures! But among the dusty air and treasures, you start to pick up on something else. You can hear a voice -- a lady’s voice -- talking to herself. She’s mumbling something about thank you for this honor, I will lead this land into a new age of light, blah blah blah. You have to stifle a yawn as you eavesdrop. [[Who cares! Free stuff!|Down 4]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793664693687550003/palace_basement.png" width="700" height="500"></center> But, as quickly as that farce started, it stops. With a muffled thud, the final bookshelf falls. The basement falls once more into a peaceful quiet, the only thing indicating the previous events being the settling dust. The whole thing only looks marginally more messy than it did before. Actually, on second glance, it might be less messy now than before. Wait... wasn’t there someone talking down here? They’re quiet now. You are suddenly distracted by a bent fork, which is immensely more important than whatever it is you were thinking about before. [[Collect your treasures and BOUNCE.|Exploration Landing 2]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793665290528620564/basement_x_dignitary.png" width="700" height="500"></center> If she wanted your attention, she would’ve mumbled about something more exciting! Your attention is quickly lost as you begin snooping, stealing, and reveling once more. In fact, you’re so caught up in your snooping, stealing, and reveling that you don’t notice how precariously that bookshelf was balanced until you manage to yank out the tiny wooden wedge supporting it. Suddenly, you can hear it creak and groan, and then finally topple. It falls into another bookshelf, and in a comical chain of events, it knocks over another one, then another, then another. [[Oops.|Down 5]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/794023577640894464/coronation_hall.png"></center> You feel like you’re totally killing this game of charades, even though you’re admittedly a bit lost on the plot. It seems like they’re using house rules, but Brooms told you that it would be rude to point out that they do things wrong here, so you keep your mouth shut out of politeness to your new friends. You’re quickly shuffled into a massive room, with high ceilings and fancy food, filled with a bunch of equally fancy-looking people. You scan the room in awe as they usher you up to the front, where what looks like a big, fancy chair sits. [[Oh! Hi Brooms!!|Coronation 2]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793660369347280937/imperial_palace_int..png"></center> It’s a lovely morning in the Imperial City, and you are a terrible little Empress. You’ve settled into your new role quite nicely, all things considering! Brooms -- now your Royal Advisor -- has given you lots of helpful tips. Some of them include “your name is Nadivar-ri now” and “Do not talk to anyone unless I’m there. Actually, no, just don't talk to anyone.” It’s very easy, all things considered. But easy isn’t fun. Which is why you’re now wandering around your palace, looking for fun things to do. [[Explore the upper passage.|Up A]] [[Explore the lower passage.|Down A]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793697439319457802/imperial_council_chambers_x_councilmember_2.5.png" width=700 height=500></center> It’s always fun to snoop on meetings that you’re not supposed to be in. It keeps everyone on their toes and ensures that they’re behaving when you’re not around. The two main rules you’ve instated are “don’t be mean” and “if you fight you have to hug and make up afterwards.” It’s really helped raise the productivity of meetings, as well as the workplace satisfaction of the councilmembers. Today, it seems like they’re meeting with an Argonian man dressed in very fancy clothes. The conversation is unusually tense, and after a few moments of your expertly-honed Empress observation, it’s not hard to see why. Leonduil is talking right past the poor man! You make a mental note to have a talk with him about that afterwards. [[Drop down and defuse the situation with your special brand of charm.|Up B]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793697402816299038/palace_basement_x_guards.png" width=786 height=590></center> Ah, your favorite place. It’s always refreshing to head down into the basement, and even more so now that you own the place. Sabina and Rhea are there to greet you; you promoted them to head of guard after you were coronated, because friends gotta support friends. “Hi boss!” Both of them speak in unison with big smiles on their face. “We just got finished hiding the things for this week!” [[:3c oh HELL yeah|Down B]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793664693687550003/palace_basement.png" width="700" height="500"></center> One of your first decrees as the new Empress was there would always be treasures to find in the basement. It was a great stress reliever, and channeled your kleptomaniac energy into something productive. Besides, the scribes LOVED how efficient you were at helping them catalogue all of the stuff down here. You dismiss your BFFs and spend the next few hours sifting through the basement, having a great time organizing the various hairpins you find. [[Who needs a spa day? Not you!|End]]

<<if visited("Up B", "Down B")>> <center><img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c3/d0/34/c3d0344156b777595e16a2780d473c52.gif"></center> <center>Thank you for playing! I hope you enjoyed the game! <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b4sloL22ITDWxn6Z_zVhVItu-1Wcu25RDmmiG-HIiMk/edit?usp=sharing">A link to the (2-page) transcript of this game can be found here.</a> Created for Evermore Winter 2020 Writing Contest Written by @catnap#6495 Images graciously sourced from internet and pixelated by me</center> <<else>> <center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793660369347280937/imperial_palace_int..png"></center> It’s still a lovely morning in the Imperial City, and you are a terrible little Empress. Why not keep exploring your domain? Not like you have much else to do. [[Explore the lower passage.|Down A]] [[Explore the upper passage.|Up A]] <<endif>>\

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692422907363328/imperial_palace_int._x_guards.png"></center> “Lady Nadivar-ri! Thank goodness we found you,” says the large brunette woman, wiping a bit of sweat off her brow. “Geez, me ‘nd Sabina have been runnin’ around all day lookin’ for you! Do you feel a bit better after practicin’ your speech? [[Nod benignly. You WILL win this game of charades.|Guards 3]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692422907363328/imperial_palace_int._x_guards.png"></center> The large blonde woman -- Sabina -- grins and claps you on the back. Wow, she’s strong! That fucking hurt! “Ah, I knew you’d be fine after a bit t’ clear your head! And here Rhea thought you’d chicken out.” Rhea chuckles, and embarrassed smile on her lips, and rubs the back of her head. “Hey, no harm no foul, right? Uhh, by the way, Sabina... did you bring the amulet?” [[Oh wait, you mean this amulet?|Guards 4]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793692422907363328/imperial_palace_int._x_guards.png"></center> Their faces light up in unison. “Oh yeah! We must’ve gave it to you before you went t’ practice. Duh.” They turn, big dopey smiles on their faces, and motion to you. “Well, lucky for you, you have the best escort to the coronation ceremony in the entire Imperial City. Wouldn’t want anything t’ go wrong, y’know.” [[Go on a nice walk with your new friends.|Coronation 1]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793695990355591198/coronation_hall_x_brooms.png"></center> In the crowd, you manage to spot your companion and give him a little wave over your shoulder. He looks equal parts confused and elated, but when he snaps out of it to see you waving, he quickly motions for you to stop. You then spend the next few seconds playing a game of actual charades as you try to parse what he’s gesturing. The most you get out of it is to act regal and elegant. Ew. [[But you DO wanna win this game of charades...|Coronation 3]]

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/794023577640894464/coronation_hall.png"></center> You stand still for what feels like 5 million years as some guy talks a lot about history, none of which you understand. Then a lady gets up and talks for another 5 million years about politics, which you understand even less. When you start to feel bored you glance over to Sabina and Rhea, both of which seem eager to cheer you on to the finish line. Just when you think your legs are going to give out, an official-looking woman approaches you and places a crown on your head, gesturing for you to put your amulet on. “My friends and colleagues, please welcome the new Empress of Tamriel!” Wow. That’s one hell of a prize for winning a game of charades. <center>[[A FEW MONTHS LATER...|Epilogue Landing]]</center>

<center><img style="border:10px outset silver;" img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/429838371339108362/793697443363553310/imperial_council_chambers_x_councilmember_2.png" width=700 height=500></center> Everyone seems shocked, and silence blankets the hall for a few breathless seconds. The Argonian blinks a few times, and then bursts out into laughter. “Why didn’t you just bring her in to talk in the first place? Fellow beastfolk always understand how to carry themselves.” He claps you on the back, which you’ve become very resistant to after befriending Sabina and Rhea. “It’s a deal! We Argonians will join your pact, and support Tamriel and the Empress in whatever ways we can.” You give a wave to your newest friend and exit the hall among much cheering, feeling very satisfied with yourself. [[All in a day’s work (dust off hands for dramatic effect).|End]]