Ninth Arc: Flames of Revolution
~South to Cyrodiil~
-Ratway: In Riften, Delvin helps the group gain a guide to Cyrodiil, and gives them directions to Esbern’s old living quarters in the Ratway Warrens. They determine that someone else has searched the Loremaster’s room—using magic—before them, but manage to locate a Memory Stone containing a message from Esbern to Cyrus, which in turn holds the first key to his mind-wall.
-Dreaming of Thienne: Nihlus facilitates a conversation between Ylgar and Thienne through dreams; the two discuss the events of Anu Orgon, the words of Ylgar the Blind, and the value of prophecy. Thienne encourages Ylgar to trust his instincts and do what feels right, rather than attempt to follow in the footsteps of his past/future self.
-Crossing the Jerall Mountains: Guided by Delvin’s contact, Vostrad, the group begins the trek to Cyrodiil on foot (Tu’uwucoo and the Saartolr are sent back to Bromjunaar).
-An eagle follows the group for a time, possibly some kind of Thalmor spy.
-The group encounters a patrol, who they learn to be Dragonfires, and part ways on neutral terms.
~Honeyvale~
-Ambush: Thalmor ambush the party with a fucking avalanche; Nihlus alone escapes capture, and is contacted by the patrol of Dragonfires, who seek to free one of their companions from Thalmor captivity as well, specifically before the prisoners can be taken to the the blacksite Honeyvale.
-Convoy: Ylgar, Steinn, Sabin, and Nevetrius are taken on carts toward Honeyvale, alongside Vostrad the Dragonfire “Talos” (yep, that’s what he calls himself).
-Ylgar senses dwemerlike tech in each of the prisoners and attempts to discern their purpose (these are later learned to be ID chips)
-Nevetrius’s gut tells him that he’s been to Honeyvale before, and the thought fills him with fear.
-Mattianus sends a message to the group to slow progress however they can; the group makes trouble and stalls the carts a fair amount.
-Shortcut: Nihlus and the Dragonfires take a shortcut toward the same location to set up an ambush of their own.
-Mattianus (Dragonfire Mage) brings allies in from Valenwood via teleportation.
-Nihlus tells the Dragonfires about some of the more surprising abilities of the group, to prevent surprise from compromising their chances of success; they are unexpectedly chill about Sabin’s lycanthropy, and very intrigued about Steinn’s ability to use the Voice (with their only frame of reference for that being Tiber Septim)
-Reprisal: The Dragonfires launch their ambush; once the group has recovered their equipment and slaughtered a number of Thalmor agents, they flee through a portal ahead of the arriving enemy reinforcements, finding themselves in Valenwood.
-Thalmor tech now includes magic guns and anti-magic beams/fields.
~Valenwood~