“General...” Rikke said, a note of warning in her voice. “You know we can't declare the Reach an Imperial protectorate without the agreement of the High Queen. The country won't stand for it. The Reach is still remaining a Hold of Skyrim – we're just taking a more direct interest in its administration. There'll still be a Jarl running it, he'll just have the support of the Legion, seeing as we're still working out who among the guard was in the Silver-Bloods' pay.”
“A new Jarl?” Nepos asked, no doubt raising an eyebrow and sipping his tea at the same time. “Who's that then? Do they know what they're letting themselves in for?”
“He certainly seems to,” Tullius said gruffly. “Rikke and I decided that in order for this to stand any chance of working, we'd need a citizen of the Reach in charge. No point bringing an outsider in, they'd last five minutes. Sadly, since Markarth's leading family were all killed by the Forsworn, that's not left very many people in the city with any influence whatsoever. In fact, much as it pained us both to admit it, we really only have one option.”
Silence for a moment and when Nepos did speak, he sounded rather unsure of himself.
“General, where exactly is this going?”
“We'd like to offer you the Jarldom,” Tullius said, not a hint in his voice that he liked anything about this situation whatsoever, but clearly out of options. “You'll need to swear loyalty to the Empire of course, and uphold the White-Gold Concordat, or at least let the Thalmor do it.”
“I've never been a Talos-worshipper, sir,” Nepos said faintly. “And I have the greatest respect for the Empire, of course. It's just... are you sure? Me?”
“Frankly no, but you're a capable man who everyone speaks very highly of, from the Nord shopkeepers to the Reachman smelter workers,” Tullius sighed. “You've got the skills, I'm sure, it's just a matter of your... commitment. I'm hoping you'll be administering justice fairly and that you'll do your best to keep the Forsworn in line?”
“I shall keep the peace to the best of my ability,” Nepos promised, sounding a little shaken. “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow,” Tullius said, getting to his feet. “We'll escort you to the Keep at noon, I imagine you have preparations to make.”
“I certainly do,” Nepos said. “Well, I'll not keep you both any further, I'm sure we can discuss all the details in the days to come.”
“Indeed,” Tullius said, still suspicious but clearly resigned. “Thank you for your time, Jarl Nepos. I'm hoping this will prove a successful partnership all round. We can see ourselves out.”
There were more pleasantries, then Uaile telling the Imperial commanders to come with her, and then the sound of the door closing, a few moments of silence... and then laughter. Cackling, hysterical laughter and at least one squeal before Nepos finally sat in a chair and poured himself a drink.
“You can come out now, lleidrai,” he called. “How much of that did you hear exactly?”
Brynjolf retrieved his clothes while Karliah slipped out, Sapphire close behind.
“Did I hear that right?” Karliah gasped. “General Tullius just made you Jarl??”
“Yes!” Nepos actually squealed. “I don't – my goodness, I don't even know what to say, I just... oh my stars, I have letters to write, Himself is going to either kill me or kiss me, oh sweet Anu, Karliah, this changes everything. Listen, I need to give you that credit note for Delphine – don't worry, Brynjolf will know how to reach her, and yes you'll still all get your coin. Also seeing as your next stop is Karthspire Forsworn camp, I'll need to give you the passwords and a letter for the camp commander, and now it looks like I need to give you a note for her father as well. Make yourselves at home, all three of you, this could be a while, now where is my inkpot...”
Brynjolf exchanged glances with his colleagues, silently wondering what the world was coming to. The Jarl of the Reach was fencing goods for the Thieves Guild – a Forsworn Jarl of the Reach who was clearly on close terms with Madanach himself. And the Empire had signed off on the whole thing. The world was clearly mad... but Brynjolf wasn't complaining.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 21.8
“A new Jarl?” Nepos asked, no doubt raising an eyebrow and sipping his tea at the same time. “Who's that then? Do they know what they're letting themselves in for?”
“He certainly seems to,” Tullius said gruffly. “Rikke and I decided that in order for this to stand any chance of working, we'd need a citizen of the Reach in charge. No point bringing an outsider in, they'd last five minutes. Sadly, since Markarth's leading family were all killed by the Forsworn, that's not left very many people in the city with any influence whatsoever. In fact, much as it pained us both to admit it, we really only have one option.”
Silence for a moment and when Nepos did speak, he sounded rather unsure of himself.
“General, where exactly is this going?”
“We'd like to offer you the Jarldom,” Tullius said, not a hint in his voice that he liked anything about this situation whatsoever, but clearly out of options. “You'll need to swear loyalty to the Empire of course, and uphold the White-Gold Concordat, or at least let the Thalmor do it.”
“I've never been a Talos-worshipper, sir,” Nepos said faintly. “And I have the greatest respect for the Empire, of course. It's just... are you sure? Me?”
“Frankly no, but you're a capable man who everyone speaks very highly of, from the Nord shopkeepers to the Reachman smelter workers,” Tullius sighed. “You've got the skills, I'm sure, it's just a matter of your... commitment. I'm hoping you'll be administering justice fairly and that you'll do your best to keep the Forsworn in line?”
“I shall keep the peace to the best of my ability,” Nepos promised, sounding a little shaken. “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow,” Tullius said, getting to his feet. “We'll escort you to the Keep at noon, I imagine you have preparations to make.”
“I certainly do,” Nepos said. “Well, I'll not keep you both any further, I'm sure we can discuss all the details in the days to come.”
“Indeed,” Tullius said, still suspicious but clearly resigned. “Thank you for your time, Jarl Nepos. I'm hoping this will prove a successful partnership all round. We can see ourselves out.”
There were more pleasantries, then Uaile telling the Imperial commanders to come with her, and then the sound of the door closing, a few moments of silence... and then laughter. Cackling, hysterical laughter and at least one squeal before Nepos finally sat in a chair and poured himself a drink.
“You can come out now, lleidrai,” he called. “How much of that did you hear exactly?”
Brynjolf retrieved his clothes while Karliah slipped out, Sapphire close behind.
“Did I hear that right?” Karliah gasped. “General Tullius just made you Jarl??”
“Yes!” Nepos actually squealed. “I don't – my goodness, I don't even know what to say, I just... oh my stars, I have letters to write, Himself is going to either kill me or kiss me, oh sweet Anu, Karliah, this changes everything. Listen, I need to give you that credit note for Delphine – don't worry, Brynjolf will know how to reach her, and yes you'll still all get your coin. Also seeing as your next stop is Karthspire Forsworn camp, I'll need to give you the passwords and a letter for the camp commander, and now it looks like I need to give you a note for her father as well. Make yourselves at home, all three of you, this could be a while, now where is my inkpot...”
Brynjolf exchanged glances with his colleagues, silently wondering what the world was coming to. The Jarl of the Reach was fencing goods for the Thieves Guild – a Forsworn Jarl of the Reach who was clearly on close terms with Madanach himself. And the Empire had signed off on the whole thing. The world was clearly mad... but Brynjolf wasn't complaining.