Thalmor Report on the Factions of Skyrim: The Penitus Oculatus

These reports are winding down and I've saved some of my favorites for last. If there are any corrections I need to make just let me know. Thanks for everyone's continued feedback.

Special thanks to Blackfyre87 for letting me pull references from his post on the Penitus Oculatus, that can be read here

After the Dominions execution of all Blades agents with our borders and then their official disbandment at the end of the Great War, the Empire did not go on without an intelligence organization for long. The Penitus Oculatus (which means the Inner Eyes) formed shortly after the Oblivion Crisis as the Blades abandoned their role as the protectors of the Emperor as the Dragonborn line came to an end. The Penitus Oculatus, a purely Imperial organization, took over as the Emperor’s bodyguard and protectors. They have over time added responsibilities, and this will be discussed in length later.

Agents of the Penitus Oculatus are selected for their unwavering loyalty and their devotion to duty. They are also known as “Specters” a shortening of their title of Inspectors in Cyrodiil. (Perhaps they think they're frightening someone?) It is said their recruitment process is an especially brutal one as initiates are asked to perform some immoral task in a test of loyalty to the Empire. This is of course an attempt to weed out any who would falter or hesitate in the face of adversity. Obviously these agents must be loyal to the Emperor above all else. Their agents are spotted easily due to their uniforms that stand out from the regular Legion armor, however not all of their agents don this mantle.

Here in Skyrim their is only one known Penitus Oculatus command post at Dragon Bridge southwest of Solitude. Their leader is a Commander Maro, whose own son is serving under him (This should be exploited if the situation arises.) It appears that the Penitus’s presence was due to a planned visit by the Emperor to Skyrim for the wedding of a relative, this appears to have been cancelled and yet the agents remain. However there is a suspicion that they are doing much more than simply waiting to protect the emperor. Penitus Oculatus agents are also infiltrators and perform counter-intelligence for the Empire. They are also assassins and are known to kill those who are deemed a threat to the Empire. Common opinion holds that they are hamstrung by Imperial policy in a way that the Blades were not. I do not believe that this is the case, I have a feeling this is only a rumor spread by the Oculatus themselves in an attempt to throw us off their trail. They operate in secret and should be observed carefully. There’s no doubt that their is an intelligence war transpiring between the Thalmor and the Oculatus. We have reason to believe that they are operating actively within Hammerfell after the signing of the Second Treaty of Stros M’Kai in 4E 180. Their machinations appear to be extensive as they are attempting to prod both the Forebears and the Crown factions within Hammerfell to some end we have not ascertained yet. We also have reason to believe that their agents have infiltrated the Dominion proper, although these must be very low scale and small teams to have avoided our detection for sometime.

Even here in Skyrim they leave their mark. Many in the holds that support the Stormcloaks whisper about the Imperial spies that must be in their midst, theres no doubt the Oculatus is involved in this in some way or control the entire network. Ulfric's capture at Darkwater Crossing and quickly prepared execution at Helgen reeks of their influence. I believe that Justiciars should move away from using the Skyrim’s political ruling class for intelligence, they are too inept to realize a proxy war is waging as they speak, we should seek other means. The Oculatus also appears to be keening watching what is left of the Dark Brotherhood here in Skyrim and we should allow them to operate freely against them, our agents are spread thin as it is. We would be wise to identify each of Penitus Oculatus agents here in Skyrim and observe their movements and whom they talk to. Though they must have learned a lesson from the demise of the Blades, they have proven to be very crafty and are our main rival here in Skyrim whom I can say without hesitation, we are at war with. It has been hard to tell if they have carried out any direct action against us due to the general chaos of the civil war and the return of the dragons, but we shall operate against them just as effectively and let them know who they are attempting to trifle with.

Status: Highest threat level, identify their agents in the province and gather intelligence against them, prepare execution operations that can be carried out at a moments notice. Emissary Level Approval

By my hand and seal

Elenwen