Better Cities:Martin

Book Information Martin
ID	xx166B12
	25		1.0
Locations
Found in the following locations: On a bookshelf in Auriel's Books after completing the main quest On a bookshelf in Osslas' Scripts after completing the main quest

Martin

by Anoriel

A retrospective of Martin Septim's life

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he most recent emperor, Martin Septim, was never supposed to be. Even looking upon his death several months ago, many of us hardly knew he existed until a few days before that time. Yet, his impact is extroardinary [sic].

Martin was hardly a saint before he knew he was the heir of the emperor. In fact, Martin is something that Uriel should be known for in his cons. He was the illegitimate son of Uriel VII, hidden away, and raised by simple farmers. Martin knew nothing of his heritage, and lived an interesting life away from the throne. It has been recollected by the champion of Cyrodiil in fact, that Martin had studied and experimented with daedra worship in his youth. It is likely that he worshipped the ideas of the god, Sanguine. He threw away those ideas later, however, and became a chapel priest.

It is not known exactly when Martin became the priest of the Kvatch chapel, although it's believed to be around 3E 421. He sought knowledge, solitude, and praised the Nine, and for twelve years, he did just that. The Kvatch guard captain, Savlian Matius, recalled that "Martin was a fair and honest priest, yet we saw the charisma and determination in his eyes, and thanked Akatosh that he was leading our sermon." Turns out that he led much more than that. Obviously, until 3E 433, there weren't many notable events around Kvatch. Sure, the Emperor was aging, but his three sons would vie for the throne. It's interesting to think of what Uriel thought about his lost son, and it's been rumoured [sic] that ever-kind Uriel often sent word to Jauffre, former Grandmaster of the Blades, who kept a close eye on Martin.

Martin felt that the Nine were his protectors, but on the 3rd of Hearthfire, that was simply turned on its head. In a Kvatch survivor's recollection, Tavia states: "There was fire at every corner you looked. The look of death itself, and there was no where to run to. All I could do was sit in the chapel, and watch as others fended for not only their lives, but mine." Martin certainly was strong with a blade, but had only had to use one quite sparingly. However, he was defending his chapel, his people, and it was his thing to do. Holed up, with less and less supplies, the survivors viewed that staying in the chapel was their death sentence, yet they were saved by the Hero of Kvatch; later the champion of Cyrodiil, on the fifth of Hearthfire. From that point on, Martin had severe doubts of the Nine. Can you blame him? The city burned, for what reason? Yet, on the fateful day that he and the other townsfolk were saved, he thought he may have been delirious.

After all, the proclaimed Hero of Kvatch told him he was the emperor's heir. Escorted by Jaufree [sic] and the Hero to a Blades sanctuary for to the north, it may all have been a blur to Martin. After all, simply a month ago he was leading the Sundas sermon, now he became one of the empire's hopes. Truth to be told, Martin was a bit reluctant to lead a nation, especially from hiding. Yet, he became accustomed to his role, and amazed at the fact that the Champion of Cyrodiil without fail, and with boundless courage, accepted and succeeded at every perilous quest he was assigned. "The champion gives me hope" are some of Martin's last words, those before the Battle of Bruma.

Occurring during the holiday of North Wind's Prayer, on the 15th of Evening Star, Martin inspired those to fight for him, including Blades and hundreds of guards and Legionnaires from around the Empire. From just outside the chapel of Talos in Bruma, Martin gave his only speech to those living in the Empire. The crowd erupted raucously and saluted their emperor, yet remained nervous. It seemed to be the empire's dying day, fighting a tide of change and revolution caused by Mehrunes Dagon. Under Martin's command, the empire just barely held on. The Champion of Cyrodiil destroyed a Great Gate to Oblivion and halted the advancing daedra in their tracks. It was marked as an honorable day in the history of the empire, yet also a solemn one.

In just a few days however, it was the Champion's job to escort Martin to the Temple of the One and relight the dragonfires, taming the threat from Oblivion once and for all. With the Amulet of Kings reclaimed, Martin Septim marched throughout the Imperial City, his city. At the Imperial Palace, he was greeted by Ocato, ready to be crowned as emperor. Sadly, it was not to be, as the alarm went up that the Oblivion gates had opened within the city, and in fact, Mehrunes Dagon was inside.

Here is where Martin came up with his greatest plan. Since he bore the blood of dragons, he was the only one who could defeat Mehrunes Dagon. The Amulet of Kings would be used to infuse Akatosh's blood with his own, and in theory, he'd sacrifice himself for the Empire. Wonderful people do extroardinary [sic] things, yet Martin's sacrifice left us all amazed at the selflessness. Praising the nine for his life, Akatosh pushed out Mehrunes Dagon, and closed shut the jaws of Oblivion.

It is now, in this period of turmoil, that we can see the impact Martin has left for us. He is a symbol - of courage, of hope, and of loyalty. The grace of the gods gave us Martin, and he helped us survive the Oblivion Crisis.