I had managed to close the first Oblivion Gate just north of Leyawiin, and had just found a second gate just south of that location. As soon as I entered it, I used the Cloak of Shadows spell, narrowly avoiding an attacking Xivilai that just happened to be walking towards the gate on his way into my world. He looked around for me, wondering where I went. I calmly walked around him and blasted away with a spell of God's Fire.

Looking up at the landscape, I could see several towers in the distance. Another maze I had to work through, no doubt.

The air here was foul, smelling of rotting flesh. Thunder and lightning constantly filled the air with an unnerving racket. The flash of lightning always brought forth a shadow that always made me turn to look behind me. I was grateful I had learned this Cloak of Shadows spell. Without it, I'd have been a nervous wreck.

As it sometimes happened, the way to the main tower was not always a direct route, but one that ended up going through one tunnel after another. In each of these, the heat from lava flows was almost unbearable at times.

And the inevitable deadroth, storm atronach, or zombie around every corner always made for an interesting trip. My new axe certainly got quite a workout.

Eventually, however, I managed to make my way to the main tower powering the Oblivion Gate. The towers all had some things similar about them, but there was always a twist or turn, or boobytrap that made them different.

Once at the top of the tower, I summoned a number of creatures to my aid. Then going cloaked again, while the guards of the tower were distracted, managed to gain access to the Sigil Stone, ripped it from it's perch, and watched the light display as the magickal energies went wild.

As the tower fell, and I found myself appearing back at the Oblivion Gate's former entrance, I was attacked by a Spider Daedra that had wandered out of the gate before I had closed it. I was not prepared for it, and the little spiderlings it summoned almost did me in with their paralyze spells. A restore health potion saved the day, and I managed to defeat the monster.

The walk back to Leyawiin was...wet. During my time inside the gate, a driving rainstorm had gathered in the area. I actually welcomed the rain, as it seemed to wash most of the smell of dead things off of me.

I headed back to the Castle to report my success to the Duke, and ask again for his help in sending troops to Bruma.

I was told to go right in to the main chambers by the guards at the door. Count Caro was just coming down the stairs for a late dinner. "Count Caro." I stated, "The Oblivion Gate at your door is in ruins, and no longer threatens your people or city. Once again, I ask for your aid for the city of Bruma."

"Oh, my, that is good news!" he exclaimed. "With the Oblivion Gate near Leyawiin closed, I suppose the immedate threat is lessened. I will do as you ask. Let no one say Leyawiin did not do its part to uphold the Empire."    

I spent the night at the Mages Guild offices, sleeping a very deep sleep. I didn't want to celebrate my victory. I just wanted to sleep. I wanted this to be over. The constant run-ins with Oblivion Gates were starting to really get on my nerves. I started having nightmares. Nightmares of the people of Ald-Ruhn. Nightmares about what they went through as they were all killed in their beds by these monsters. Nightmares about the enter Empire filled with these things.

I got up early, got something to eat, made sure my horse had a good meal. We would be taking the Yellow Road north to Cheydinhal next, and there were no cities along the way to stop for rest.

Yet, rest we did. Or had to. Several more Oblivion Gates had opened along the way during my journey. Once again, I had to go in, find the right tower, and close the Gate that it controlled. My horse, kept out of sight, was the only one of us that actually got any rest at all on this trip.

I finally came to the start of the Blue Road, and just a short gallop to the east would put me at the city gates of Cheydinhal.

All I had to do was manage to outrun the trolls, minotaurs, and bandits that seem to infest this stretch of roadway.

Having wasted enough time with the other Oblivion Gates along the way, I was loosing the light of day. The sun was setting in the west, and a bandit already took a shot at me (I heard an arrow fly right past me). Rather than toy with them, I urged my horse to run at full speed, determined to make it to Cheydinhal before the final bits of sunlight were but a fond memory of this day.