Blades

Formerly known as the Imperial Blades, this storied and ancient organization is now all but forgotten in the Empire's present state of decay. Originally a faction of the Akaviri army which had invaded Tamriel in ancient times, partly to hunt down and destroy dragons - their original sole calling - they eventually found their way into the service of the Dragonborn Emperors. As the bodyguards of the Septim Dynasty, they were known far and wide throughout the Empire and beyond as a type of Imperial Secret Service, responsible only to the Emperor himself.

The downfall of the Blades as a prestigious organization began with their failure to protect the last Uriel Septim at the end of the Third Era, when he was slain in the catacombs beneath the Imperial Prison in Cyrodiil by assassins from the Mythic Dawn, servants of the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. Even their successful protection of Septim's heretofore unknown heir Martin and his subsequent self-sacrifice, ending the Oblivion Crisis, did not save them from eventual decimation by the Thalmor nor their present obscurity.

Now reduced to two veteran members, however talented and dedicated, the Blades are desperate to regain their numbers and to defend the Tamrielic Empire - and mankind - from both the Thalmor and, now, the resurgent threat of Anduin and the Dragons.