Sun’s Dusk 19th, 4E 201
While Linjii is never one to not welcome a quiet day in the aftermath of nonstop adventure, this one has been thinking. And that is often not a good thing.
Things have come to a relative standstill here in the Resistance hideout. While some small victories have been had against the Thalmor here, there is no illusion that the group’s successes will continue indefinitely. Baan Dar may be on our side time and again, but we are all as Alfiq compared to the Senche that is the Dominion. They are steadfast and insidious in their motives, and there is no doubt in my mind they are the biggest mortal threat to Tamriel that exists. They care not for anyone that is not mer, and even then they narrow their focus to their own warped views of restoring divinity to their own race. I know enough of the Altmer worldview to have some sense of that, though Linjii does not pretend to understand it.
There was a gathering of some of the regulars today, including many of the new faces pulled in recently. Discussion and planning were done, with Khulan again bringing up the acquisition of the two airships (though the Thalmor will no doubt be looking for them, forcing us to keep a low profile for the time being), Ameir confirming that the river routes through the forest are clear enough for traffic again, protected by the Pahmar guard, and Erid’or being introduced to the collective properly. It is likely he will join Jo’ran at the Topal island base to continue research in safe seclusion. Resources are being handled carefully, and right now the agreement is that we should avoid pushing our luck too much and instead focus on moving contraband to places in need.
During this, I asked some pertinent questions I had about the nature of the smuggling. Was the sugar at the heart of it meant meant for the paws of our fellow Khajiit, or to embolden the skooma trade? Ameir made it clear our goal was to undermine the Thlamor in Elsweyr wherever and whenever possible, and that meant finding ways to embolden Khajiit, not get them into a drug-induced stupor. She believes the Thalmor, while condemning skooma, are just as likely to secretly fund its distribution, to keep the masses in line and justify their propaganda about Khajiit. Still, once the moon sugar leaves our hands, where it goes next is never a certainty. Ameir hopes that the coin produced will be for the greater good in the end.
I have been optimistic up to this point about our prospects, but this meeting was a reminder of just how much things have devolved here in Elsweyr. I am grateful that none of the Khajiit here share the petty prejudices of those that do not know their history, who only see Anequina and Pelltine and not the schism that has created. Linjii is not judged here for being born in Rimmen, or for even saying that Skyrim is the closest thing he has to a home now. And yet the enormity of the task the rebels face is starting to weigh on me. Our numbers grow, to be sure, but how long until the Thalmor properly retaliate?
And of course, this one compares it all to what he has seen and done in Skyrim. Surely the whole land is buried under a deep layer of snow now, and biting winds beat against the walls of those cities where people I consider friends now prepare for the long, dark nights. Yet I am certain the Thalmor do not let the winter stop them from carrying out their tasks. The World-Eater is dead, and the Dragonborn walks among the people, but war still looms, and the Thalmor no doubt pull strings there too. To that end, I’ve been going back and rereading my own journal, and think of Uthgerd, Illdi, that old dog Meeko, Burns-His-Scales, everyone at the College. and of course my beloved Ysolda... Especially my beloved Ysolda.
Am I doing the most good by being here, doing my small part to try and free a divided Elsweyr? Or is it better that this one be in Skyrim, where he has a College to co-run, a bard’s school eager for his tales, and a woman waiting to be his wife?
There is no way I can go back now, for I know the Resistance values my help. But I already feel the tug to return to Skyrim, despite everything, and winter be damned. I probably should have stayed, took to the responsibilities I already had, instead of leaving and coming to my homeland to create new ones. Now I am truly divided. Curse my wanderlust!
Better to dwell on this later. There is still much to be done here, but I just wish we had a bigger, bolder way to strike at the Thalmor. Maybe it will come in due course. We shall see.
Oh. And note to self: no matter how the others think this one looks in it, the chitin armor looks awful on Linjii.
