"Soldiers!" Gaius yelled as the archers on the wall readied their bows. "Ready, Aim, Fire!"
A barrage of arrows flew into the air, before being followed by the shouts and screams of Aldmeri soldiers who had been hit by an arrow finding it's mark.
Gaius ran down the stairs towards the Gate barricade. The screams of pain and the clashing of steel could be heard from all around the district, they had been cornered on every available entrance to the City, and thankfully, only the stables had already been overrun, but sadly, the occupants, humanoid and animal, slaughtered like equals, this displeased the Commander. He saw brave Imperial Soldiers holding the Aldmeris back, whilst a Sorcerer from the College of Whispers held the barricade in place.

"Move that barricade!" Gaius ordered, walking up to the Sorcerer, who had Imperial Guards on each side, protecting her from harm.

"Commander, if I move it, they will overrun the district in a matter of minutes!" The Sorcerer replied, her magicka reserves depleting the longer she held the barricade.

"They'll overrun us anyway, your magicka is drained, you're tiring. You'll lose it all and everyone will be slaughtered." Gaius added, grabbing his warhammer and preparing for a fight. "Soldiers, move back to the next blockade!"

The Sorcerer nodded and stopped the barricade, allowing the Aldmeri soldiers to advance into the city. Everyone moved to the next blockade in the middle of the district, near the Plaza, to regroup with another legion squad. He saw civilians, armed with Imperial Legion weapons and shields, side by side with legionnaires, ready to defend their home from the invaders. Gaius joined their ranks and prepared for an onslaught, bringing his warhammer down on the skulls of many Elves in the middle of the onslaught. Soon, they broke the wooden barricade keeping them apart, and charged into the Plaza, killing numerous civilians and legionnaires as they entered.
Gaius was knocked down, but saw something in the sky. A flame, brighter than the sun itself. It exploded in the sky and distracted the Elves, allowing the Legionnaires enough time to kill many Aldmeri Soldiers, forcing them to retreat back to their encampment in Weye.

"They'll be back," Gaius said. "Get a squad down onto the gate again, and repair the wooden barricade, we'll need it to hold them for longer. There is a hole in the wall, see if you can patch it before they return, if not, get a couple of troops defending it. GO!"

Karma ducked someone as she went against the crowds of people fleeing from the attack that was happening.

"This is ridiculous," she said as a group of people pushed her back yet again. She moved through everyone over to a building and stepped into a doorway to avoid the groups. She wanted to get to a place where she could be useful but fighting a large group wasn't a good place for her. Anyone on her right could easily cut her down if they got on her blind side. Angling herself so she could see without turning her head halfway around like an owl, Karma saw an alley she could get down across the now thinning escaping civilians.

She darted across the street, roughly shoved by someone who she considered cowardly considering how strong he was, and slipped into the alley. It was one of those widing ones that went between multiple buildings and she ended up close to the plaza in the district where the Aldmeri were the soldiers had fallen back to.

She wasn't used to carrying a bow around. usually she went with her sword and a half a dozen throwing knives. She pulled the bow off of her shoulder and readied and arrow before ducking out of the alley into the street and around a building until she was nearer to the plaza and the advancing enemy.

To them, she probably didn't look like a threat. Standing at barely over five feet tall, she looked like a boy barely fifteen years old. She notched her arrow and took out one of the Aldmeri soldiers that bypassed her. She smiled behind the high collar of her jacket and drew another arrow letting it fly into the space in the armor at the waist. Karma drew another arrow but was starting to get arrogant and neglected to look around. She was being stupid - in a situation with multiple angles she could be hit from and failed to guard her right side. The thought dawned on her as she took an arrow in her right shoulder that dropped her to the ground.

Karma cursed, dropping her bow. She was good at compensating for her lack of sight in her right eye but always seemed to lack the restraint to stay out of these kinds of binds.

Being relatively ambidextrous, she pulled a knife out of her jacket in case anyone got close enough to try and finish her off. Course, being half slumped against a wall wasn't a particularly threatening stance. Then she saw they were retreating.

Karma tried to stand up only then noticing that there was more blood than she'd anticipated coming out of her shoulder. She cursed as she fell back against the wall with a wave of dizziness. "Arrow must have hit something more vital than I thought..." she muttered to herself. She was at least smart enough not to pull out the arrow. That would only make the bleeding worse.

"Everything is set up, Commander." A Legionnaire said as Gaius returned from looking over the wounded.
"They seem to be checking their dead and regrouping."

"Have we found out who is leading this assault?" Gaius asked, ordering Legionnaires with hand signals. He wasn't that injured from the battle, but had taken quite a few knocks to the head during the confrontation.

"No, Sir," The Legionnaire replied. "Legate Antonius seems to think it's just a normal Commander."

"He's wrong," Gaius explained, walking over to an alleyway. "It's definitely the Dark Prince, they're too tactical. Return to Green Emperor Way, tell them to prepare for a lot of wounded soldiers and civilians coming their way."

The Legionnaire nodded and ran to the Palace District, where a makeshift medical encampment had been set up. As Gaius headed down the alleyway, he saw something shuffle in the dark, and drew his warhammer. He noticed a young boy, maybe around the age of fifteen, an eyepatch over one eye and an arrow through his right shoulder.
Without thinking, Gaius snapped the shaft of the arrow, causing the boy a lot of pain, and helped the boy out of the alleyway, heading over to one of the healers stationed at the blockade.

"They're hurt, I think it's pierced a tendon." Gaius explained, giving the boy to the healer. "He needs medical treatment, take him to the encampment, quickly, before they return!"

As the healer nodded, the warhorn sounded and Gaius ran to the blockade, watching as the entrance barricade is broken in a matter of seconds, which troubled Gaius. That barricade couldn't have been broken by the amount of people there, they'd need a lot of men, or they would need...

"Brace yourselves!" Gaius yelled, drawing his warhammer. "Here they come!"

As the Aldmeri Soldiers entered so did another Altmer, riding a demonic horse armoured in full ebony. He wore ebony armour himself and wielded an enchanted sword, there was only one man who had that much authority over the elves...

The Dark Prince had arrived...

Location: The Elven District.

Never had Marius seen a more desperate battle. On his end, the Legion, was desperately fighting to defend the Imperial City from an opponent who most were convinced would win anyway. On the other was the Aldemari Dominion, the damned Thalmor, who were eager to crush the Empire beneath the wake of their armies and replace them as the dominant faction in Tamreil. Soldier and Citizen found themselves baring sword to combat the enemy and both were slain as equals. Marius, being the proud and courageous man he was, found himself witnessing the carnage from the front lines amongst his subordinates while at the same time causing some carnage himself. He had been fighting for so long that the sweat was now beginning to pour into his eyes and cause them to burn but this small nuisance did not stop him from being with his men. Eventually the Aldmari pulled out of the Elven District and with that Marius ordered that his men go back behind the barricade where the wounded would be treated and those still able to fight would rest.

Once over Marius removed his helmet and shouted over the noise of seige and chatter amongst those present.

"I need a message delivered to Commander Gaius!".

A Legionnaire stepped forward, volunteering for the job.

"With haste run to the Commander and tell him that the Elven District is holding...".

With that the sound of warhorn came in loud from outside the barricade. "Looks like they want another beating!", someone commented.

"And will continue to hold.", Marius told the messenger, putting his helmet on. "Men form up on me!", he ordered loudly.

"I know some of you think that we cannot win this and perhaps you are right!", Marius spoke to his men as they marched back to fight infront of the Barricade to prevent the enemy from forcing their way past it. "The Thalmor are rat bastards! And as you can see they will fight us tooth and nail...but they do not know what they are up against. The Empire is Civilization! The Empire is Order. The Empire is Power! And here...We are The Empire!".

The legionnaires with him gave a loud cheer and stopped a few yards from the barricade. "Ready Pilum!". Anyone who still had a javelin with them aimed it at the charging enemy, awaiting Marius's order to fire. "Fire!", he shouted and a small volley slammed into the Aldmari. Still they came. "Shields! Shields!", He ordered before a volley of arrows and magic fire fell on them. Some who were not fast enough fell slain, others screaming in pain and agony. The holes in the formation were filled and Marius then lead the Legionnaires with him on a charge against their attackers.

Gaius dove to the ground as a burst of lightning flew over the barricade, killing one Imperial Soldier and the Civilian he was trying to defend as the lightning ripped right through them, killing them instantly. Gaius looked over the barricade, and saw the Aldmeri soldiers marching ever closer to the barricade, which made Gaius' heart drop. The Dark Prince had dismounted his horse and was marching with the Soldiers, leading the Aldmeri towards Green Emperor Way, killing anything that went his way.

"Soldiers!" Gaius yelled, it was barely heard of the crackling fires and clashing of steel, but Gaius' gruff voice made it louder.
"Turtle Formation, we will push them back!"
The soldiers screamed and stood up, heading into a turtle formation, with Gaius at the front, ready to attack The Dark Prince with all his might.

The Turtle charged at the Soldiers, their swords stabbing where they could not see, but Gaius knew they had hit the mark.
"Break!" Gaius screamed, and watched as the Talos Plaza district was filled with both armies, each trying to take control. Gaius charged straight for The Dark Prince, taking out his legs and kicking him in the chest. The Dark Prince simply stood up and gripped his hands around Gaius' throat, showing unnatural strength and power that wasn't normal for an Altmer, even one of his size. A Legionnaire ran at The Dark Prince and was immediatly stabbed through the chest by The Altmer Leader, allowing Gaius an opportunity. Gaius kicked The Prince in the stomach and they both fell to the ground, sprawling around for their weapons. As Gaius grabs his warhammer, The Prince cast some sort of Paralysis spell on him, freezing him completely in place.

"Soldiers!" The Prince yelled, kicking Gaius over and taking his sword. "Fall back! Retreat!"

Gaius watched them retreat back to Weye, and was unfrozen by one of the battlemages that had arrived.

"Commander!" A Legionnaire said as he ran through the doors. "Commander Gaius, Sir!"

"What is it, Centurion?" Gaius replied, dusting himself off.

"Legate Marius says that the Elven Gardens are holding, and will continue to hold." The Legionnaire said.

"And I shall make sure it holds." Commander Gaius added, beckoning a battalion of soldiers who had regrouped over and followed the Legionnaire to the Elven Gardens District to help Legate Marius Titus.

Marius's shield met a sword. The strength behind the swing insufficient to dent the fine Imperial Steel used in creating it, the swing ricochetted and Marius saw an openning for a counter attack. He lunged forward, giving his Thalmor opponent a belly full of steel, and then pulled back. The High elf knew that this wound he had received would be the end of him and he lashed out in a flurry of wild and desperate swings in hopes of slaying or harming that man who had slain him. Marius merely backed off and then bashed the elf down to the ground with his shield. He advanced but a few paces before two more challengers made at him. Knowing they had the numerical advantage, they went on the offense and kept swinging at the Legate. Marius met each blow with his sheild or his sword. Unfortunately their strategy was flawed in that it underestimated his endurance. Their relentless onslaught of attacks would have tired a lesser soldier but Legate was not yet winded by the time that they begun to tire. Their attacks slowed and it was then that Marius made the transition from defense to offense. As one raised and brought his sword down on his shield, Marius intercepted the strike with his sword, forcing it through his wrist. He screamed in agony and reached for a dagger with his free hand but Marius gave him no chance to make use of it. He moved the blade into position, thus twisting the mans arm as his steel was still going through his wrist, and then forced it through his chest plate and into his heart. With his shield arm he pushed the man off his blade and gave his attention to the startled and shocked Aldmeri soldier.

He came out of his stunned state and quickly grabbed another sword than made at Marius who in turn swung at him. In this engagement Marius's sword did not connect, he pulled back mid swing and raised his shield to block the second swing for the first had cut through his chestplate and into his chest a bit. Encouraged from his initial blow doing harm to the high ranking Officer, he pressed on and went for another blow. Marius however punished him for doing so by bashing him with his shield, giving him a bloody nose and causing him to stumble back. The Legate pressed on and sliced into the Aldmeri soldier's thigh, bringing him to his knees. He attempt to strike back but Marius blocked once more and then jabbed his sword down into his left shoulder and through his heart.

Marius stood back a bit examining the battle around him. Despite his men's best efforts they were beginning to falter under the pressure of the Aldmeri forces. Frustrated, he gave the order to fall back behind the barricade. But he was interrupted by a legionnaire shouting "Marius, behind you!". Marius turned, raising his shield , to face whatever foe had snuck up behind him but he was not fast enough. The war-hammer wielding opponent hit Marius right in the head, knocking to the side and to the ground easily. His helmet rolled off, Marius laid on the ground dazed by the sheer force of the blow. His vision blurred, he saw a large figure stand over him. It was the Aldmeri, an Officer, and the same one who had just struck him. He raised the hammer high, no doubt intending to then smash it down on Marius's face, but a javelin peirced his chest and he fell forward. Marius felt a hand grab his collar and his body being dragged back behind the barricades.