User:Vincentius1/Fiction/Duel of Iron Might
About the author: Landomas of House Mothralion was the High Kinlord of the city-state of Cloudrest, during the reign of Uriel Septim V of the Third Empire, being among Uriel V's entourage known as the Circle of the Auxiliary Diamond, which also included Othrok of Dwynnen. Landomas was a member of the Welkynar Gryphon Riders until the last High Kinlord had passed away, and the people elected Landomas as the successor. The High Kinlord was challenged by a then Crown Prince, Uriel Septim V when he was visiting the Summerset Isles. The spar ended with Landomas' defeat. The two's friendship had blossomed with the duel, which ultimately led to his demise when Landomas joined Uriel V in his failed expedition to Akavir. House Mothralion had been staunched worshippers of Trinimac, believing that Cloudrest is the ancestral home of the Trinimac. The Mothralion are supposedly descendants of Cyrellion, an Aldmeri Champion who invoked the Duel of Iron Might, which, according to Ancient Altmeri legend, created the Great Plains of Central Summerset, stretching across Shimmerene and Lillandril. The Searing Gash, an Ancient Altmeri-Glass Longsword that belonged to Cyrellion is a prized treasure of Cloudrest and House Mothralion.
Tamriel, by its own people, has been in a constant struggle for survival, and so combat is held in a high regard. But none is held more sacred than the ancient rite known as the Duel of Iron Might. The Duel is old, originating from Elven legend. It begins with the origin myth of Malacath, who was created in the aftermath of a duel between the Trinimac the Warrior God of the Aldmeri, and Boethiah, the Daedric Lord of Plots and Deceit. The latter had influenced the modern-day Dark Elves to exodus from their homes in the Summerset Isles, something that the Aldmeri Pantheon had sorely disdained. And so, Trinimac the Paragon had approached Boethiah the Dark Warrior, declaring a duel that rocked the ancient lands of Tamriel forever. But in the end, Trinimac had fallen into disgrace, devoured by the Daedric Prince. And out of the dung was Malacath. The Duel of Iron Might refers to two events, the one between Trinimac and Boethiah which is recounted by the modern-day followers of Trinimac and Boethiah, and the Ancient Tale of the Duel of Iron Might, a famous Epic created by the Aldmeri, one that transcends the Eternal Isle, and into the mainland. The latter is a story that is kept alive by the Fighters Guild and other similar groups. To this day, the Orsimer, and worshippers of both the Aldmeri Pantheon and Boethiah still recite the duel between Trinimac and Boethiah, while essentially everyone else recounts the Duel of Iron Might epic as an example of master combat, being the earliest record of formalized fighting styles. Not to mention, the epic is among the earliest examples of Elven history on Summerset Isle, as early Elven-Summerset history was mainly set on Auridon where High Lord Torinaan first landed on Tamriel. Ancient tapestries in the ruins of Mor Khazgur have depicted the battle as part of Malacath's tale. The legend was an inspiration of early-Orcish arts, showcasing a detailed, dynamic painting, all the while showing a narrative that eventually leads into Malacath's birth and the future of his people.
The Epic goes as such. Based on the High Elves' knowledge on their early history, the epic of the Duel of Iron Might begins in the Summerset-Colonial Period, when High Elves had begun to inhabit Summerset Isle, while Firsthold was the capital and the settlements of Skywatch and Bewan were growing from fishing villages to substantial towns. Auridon was where most of the population lived, around the region of Vafe, with little to no people as far down as modern-day Vulkhel Guard. But when High Lord Torinaan had opened the Isle of Summerset for people, the earliest forms of modern-day Shimmerene and Karndar Watch had begun to appear, supplying passage to Bewan and Firsthold respectively. At this time, Summerset Isle was not as explorable as it is today. There once was a mountain range that ran right through Summerset Isle called Thorvarlais (Altmeris: Mountain of Stars), which connected modern-day Eton Nir, to the southern mountains which are also called Thorvarlais. Among those early colonies, was the village of Cloudrest, which rests among the clouds of Eton Nir. Cloudrest was the largest settlement found the farthest from Auridon or the inner coast of the Caomus River. It was a minor hold, one that distinguished itself from Shimmerene. At that time, those lands were lawless, an abundance of Welwa and highwaymen that sought to hide from Torinaan's law. Among those, was the warlord known as Chibet (Altmeris: The Northern Beast), who ruled Cloudrest with an iron fist, with the desire to usurp Torinaan of Firsthold. Chibet was a paranoid person, one that would kill those he deems a threat. But this would be hubris as it would lead to his downfall, as it was foretold in the Duel of Iron Might. One Elf stood up to Chibet's reign, and his name was Cyrellion. Cyrellion lived in early-Cloudrest from a farmer family that lived in Eton Nir, cultivating Mountain Ginkgo from the rivers of Eton Nir. When his farmstead was burned to the ground and his family was killed, Cyrellion left Cloudrest to hone his skills and face Chibet.
Cyrellion's journey to become the savior of his land was perilous, and it took him beyond the realms of Summerset to the mainland of Tamriel. To the earliest Ayleid settlements on Cyrodiil, to the Dwemer Smiths of Dwemereth, and even the Snow Elves of what is modern-day Winterhold. From the Wild Elves of Miscarcand, Cyrellion learned about aggressive sword-fighting, one that focuses on strength and speed, with the strength of a Gryphon, but the swiftness and evasion of a Ghost. It was here where Cyrellion's unique fighting-style, the Booming-Sword Style originated, as well as, a technique known as the Fifty-Two Fatal Strikes. From the Dwarves of Arkngthunch-Sturdumz, Cyrellion learned about the art of blacksmithing. The weaponry of the Dwarves are made with precision, made to cut even the thickest of metal. From the volcano of Red Mountain, the Dwarven Architects had crafted a sword from Glass excavated from the mainland. A unique form of Malachite that comes in a vibrant form of yellow-orange. To this day, many scholars speculate that the Glass had been tampered by the underground volcanic rivers that get infused into the developing Glass. Crafted in the style of Ancient Altmeri-Glass, Cyrellion was given the sword called the Searing Gash, said to be glowing from Cyrellion's burning passion. And from there, Cyrellion traveled west into Falmereth, where he met the Snow Elves of what is modern-day Winterhold, where he trained in the brutal cold and learned about Enchanting. The Searing Gash grew much stronger, with an enchantment of explosive lightning, where one swipe could rupture the land. Alone, Cyrellion traveled back to the Summerset Isles and challenged Chibet to a duel to the death. At this point, both warriors were famous across the realms, each at the height of their fame and glory. What exactly happened at the battle is unknown but the land was shaking, felt across the continent. Both struggled for ultimate supremacy.
It was a brutally stormy-night on the day of their duel, lightning strikes across the countryside, and floods across the coast. The Exalted Aldarch of Firsthold proclaimed that the Gods themselves were furious with them, punishing them for abandoning Old Ehlnofey. But all of this was claimed amidst the hysteria. The only salvageable source of the battle comes from the Nomads of Eton Nir, who say that each strike laid forth lightning that broke through Eton Nir's earth, splitting the mountain range into a gorge of natural wonders. But in the passion and depth of their struggle, they soared for the ultimate blow, and the art that rose them to such Godly heights was lost and their technique vanished. Cyrellion the Bastion, and the Northern Beast were gone the following morning. In their wake was the Great Plains of Summerset, a scar across the land that would connect the coasts together to form the modern-day iteration of the Summerset Isles. The burning patches of Cyrellion's slash were said to turn northwest, where it became the modern-day northwest of Summerset. The gorge of Eton Nir revealed an endless vein of Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst, and Emerald. To this day, the mining industry of Summerset is very prevalent, with little signs of attempting to dry out either Eton Nir or Thorvarlais. Many Altmeri historians today would be vehement regarding this story, claiming it as official history while scholars of the mainland would disagree otherwise, dismissing both this and the existence of Aldmeris. But whether it is true or not is up to you, the reader. Considering Summerset's Age of Warfare, which spans across both the First and the Second Era, some information from Summerset's history before this point in time (which included the Summerset-Colonial Period), was lost amidst raiding and conquest. The Razing of the College of Sapiarchs signifies this idea even further, as it took several years for the College to amass a collection to rival their previous one, which was huge. But either way, my ancestral clan of House Mothralion still revere both Trinimac and Cyrellion the Bastion, even keeping the Searing Gash as their most-prized trophy. While my great ancestor Cyrellion has left quite an impact on Tamriel, I must now follow in his footsteps and establish myself as well. On the day after the New Life Festival, my friends of the Circle shall embark for Akavir, and conquer it in the name of Uriel Septim V and the Third Empire.
![[Content is available under Attribution-ShareAlike]](http://en.uesp.net/w/images/4/4d/Somerights.png){kind=small}
