Don't you just love Skyrim? Don't you just hate the characters, devoid of all humanity? Well, this is my story about my Dragonborn. He's a male Nord who joined the stormcloaks and is semi-reluctant to be dragonborn, he's also married to Ysolda and has two kids named Hroar and Runa (But I won't include the kiddies in this story). He is a warrior too, so don't expect a bunch of sneakin' and such. Everyone good? Okay. This story revolves around a tweaked version of the main storyline. Tell me which quest lines y'all want me to include. (Besides Thieves' Guild and Brotherhood). I'll even make my own quest because I can't create a mod! Now, without further ado, Skyrim, Tale of a Hero.
My eyes were just opening, my head was throbbing, and my hands were bound. I shook my head to get my long brown hair out of my face. The cold air hit my skin. The smell of pine filled my nose. I remembered trekking through the wilderness near Darkwater Crossing, then arrows, some war cries, a few spells, and a mace to the face. Now, I was in a carriage, surrounded by what looked like captive soldiers.
"Hey you, finally awake, eh?" The blonde and muscular one before me asked. "You were caught trying to cross the border right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, like us, and that thief over there." The man said, motioning toward a dirty man with short hair to his left. "Damn you Stormcloaks, damn you to oblivion." He cursed, Stormcloaks? I wondered. "Before you came along the Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I'd've stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell." The thief said, disrespectfully. "We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." The man said to the two of us. "I'm Ralof," He told me, "Ralof of Riverwood." Riverwood, I remember that little town down the road from my home in Whiterun. "I guess you're right brother," I replied cynically, "I'm Holdan. I hail from Whiterun" I told the blonde soldier.
"Shut up back there!" The Driver commanded. "Ugh..." I responded. The thief kicked my leg and asked, "What's wrong with him, eh?" The thief asked me, motioning to my right. I turned to my right and was startled so see a man clad in dark furs. His brown hair pulled back, and a gag across his mouth. "Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King!" He barked at the thief, startling me once more. The thief looked shocked, "Ulfric Stormcloak? Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the Rebellion! If they captured you- Oh Gods! Where are they taking us!?" He panicked. Ralof turned to him, "I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits us..."
It hit me there. I was going to die shortly. I was sitting next to a man who lead a rebellion, and he was going to die, along with all of his followers, whom I was mistaken to be with. "This is a really off day for me." I said aloud. At this point I felt like death was here. I'd done enough, and killed enough, to never be called a hero during the great war. After we surrendered, I left the legion. I was an affirmed worshipper of the ninth Divine, Talos. I couldn't serve an Empire that would throw away their core. So I left. After a few years in Cyrodiil, I had to go North. I guess this fight was taking place here. Now that fight would end, and so would my life.
"Hey, what village are you guys from?" Ralof asked the two of us. "Why do you care!?" The thief shot. "A Nord's last thoughts, should be of home." He told us. "I was born and raised in Whiterun," I told the the man. "Rorikstead, I'm, I'm from Rorikstead." The thief revealed.
We passed through a gate and into a town with a stone wall. "General Tullius sir, the headsman is waiting." A soldier reported. "Good, let's get this over with." The General said. I remembered him from the war. He was a brutal commander during the war, and was biased to Cyrodiil, regarding all non-Imperials as lower class. "Look at him, General Tullius, the military Governor. Heh, it looks like the Thalmor are with him!" I noticed the High Elves in their moonstone armor, and my blood began to boil. "Damn Elves, I'll bet they had some part in our capture." Ralof said through gritted teeth. "Tell me about it, I've fought hundreds of them, they all had the same arrogant sneer." I said.
"This is Helgen," Ralof said, looking around, "I used to be sweet on a girl from here." He told me with a chuckle. "I wonder if Vilod still makes that mead with juniper berries mixed in." He rambled. "Heh, I could go for one of those." I confessed. Meanwhile, the thief was praying to every God in Aetherius. "... Divines, please help me." He finished.
Our cart came to a stop, facing a wall. "Why are we stopping?!" The thief panicked. "Why do you think?" I asked back, "End of the line." Ralof told him. As we stepped off, the thief began to sputter out his innocence. "Face your death with some courage, thief." Ralof said behind me. The man went over the checklist of captives. "Empire loves their damned lists." Ralof said through his gritted teeth. Tell me about it.
First to be called off was the Jarl. "Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm." The man said. Ulfric made a confident stride to the line, making sure to step on a legionnaire's foot on the way. "It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric" Ralof called to his leader. "Lokir of Rorikstead." And with that, the thief began his run. "You're not gonna catch me!" He yelled behind him. His run was cut short by an arrow through his back. "Anyone else feel like running?" A centurion asked, threateningly. "Ralof of Riverwood." The man said. As Ralof passed the man, the two exchanged death glares. Something happened between them.
"Wait a minute, who are you?" The legionnaire asked rudely. "Holdan, Holdan of Whiterun." I told him. He looked upset. "Heh, you picked a bad time to come home to Skyrim, kinsman." He told me. I nodded to the legionnaire. "Hey captain, this man isn't on the list. What do we do?" He asked the woman. "Forget the list, he goes to the block." She said, sneering at me. "By your orders captain." He said, "Well Holdan, at least you'll die here, in your homeland." With that, I made my way over to the line. Talos claim me.
"So, big old Ulfric faces the chopping block." General Tullius began, "Some here in Helgen, in Skyrim, call you a hero." He continued. He clearly had no respect for the Nord standing before him. "Yet, a hero doesn't use a power like the damned voice to murder his king and usurp his throne." He told him. I could hear the muffled grunts from the rebel leader. "You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos! Now the Empire is here to put you down!" He yelled, punching the big man in the abdomen.
I couldn't describe the sound, but it made my heart sink. It was loud, and it filled all of our ears. It rang through the mountains, and seemed to come from the throat of the world. "What was that?" Someone asked. Tullius looked annoyed. "It was nothing, let's get this over with." He said, walking away. I've always hated him. Treat a man with respect before he dies.
Then a priestess it seemed came to the front. "As we commend your souls to Aetherius; blessing of the eight divines upon you all. Shor, Mara, Dibel-" She was cut off be a red haired man in Stormcloak armor. "For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." He said, approaching the block. "As you wish!" She huffed indignantly. He was thrown to the floor and pulled to the block. "My ancestors are smiling at me Imperials, can you say the same?" He taunted, then the blade fell through, splattering blood onto the floor. I caught a glimpse of Ralof, who turned his head away from the scene. "As fearless in death as he was in life." He said respectfully. "Next! The Nord in the rags!" The captain ordered. What a bitch...
Then it came once more. The shrill, bone rattling sound. It filled my heart with fear and sadness. "There it is again." Ralof whispered. "I said, next prisoner!" She commanded.
So there I was. On my knees. An executioner staring me down and ready to chop. I saw my life as a Nord pass me by. I grew up with two people; Ysolda and Fivol. When the Aldmerri Dominion attacked, Fivol and I joined the legion. I remember my friend and I fighting it out at the Imperial capitol to take it back. I remembered holding his dead body in my arms. I remembered before I'd left when I'd talk with Ysolda about opening a trader with her. She'd always loved the idea of being a shopkeeper. I never understood why she'd want to be a trader.
The blade was falling, when it came. It was big as an inn and dark as ebony. It darkened the sky with its wings and let out its gods awful sound. The Executioner turned to see the huge beast and screamed. The beast landed on the tower and bit the man's upper torso off.
I stood up and Ralof yelled to me. "This way friend! Gods won't give us another chance!" He was running into the tower behind us. I followed. Inside, two soldiers were bleeding heavily. Someone came and cut Ralof and my bindings off. "Jarl Ulfric!" Ralof yelled, scared. The roar of the beast just outside dragging on my ears. "C-could the legends be true!?" He asked frantically. Ulfric gave the two of us a serious look. Fear not present, only determination to survive. "Legends don't burn down villages." He said in a low voice. Ralof and I backed up. "T-then that thing!" Jarl Ulfric just nodded. Ralof began to murmur. Then he raised his head. "We need to move! Now!" he yelled at me.
As we ran up the tower's steps, I had no idea where we were going, I just knew I needed to move. A stormcloak was pushing on some ruble. "I just gotta move this debr-" He was cut off by the huge beast, who's head burst through the wall, bricks crushing the poor man. "Yol, Toor Shul!" I heard in my head, as flames erupted from the monster's mouth. The injured man was roasted alive. Just as suddenly as the beast appeared, it flew away. "Gods damn it!" I yelled. Ralof approached behind me.
"Hey, you think you can jump through that roof over there?" He asked me, motioning to the destroyed inn. "Are you kidding me!?" I yell at him. He shakes his head. "Can you though? It may be your only escape!" He told me. I looked at the huge gap, weighed the probability and turned to him. "Yeah, I think I can." I replied. Ralof gave me a smile. "I'll meet you soon, just jump through." He told me. I was confused. "Wait, you aren't jumping?" I ask him, and he shakes his head in response. "I can't jump that far, I'm too heavy." He says. "Meet me by the keep. If you don't make it, I'll see you in Sovngarde." He tells me.
And with that, I jump. I thought to roll when I hit the second story, but as soon as I hit the floor, it breaks. I land on the floor, debris breaking my fall. I get up to see three soldiers fighting the grounded beast. I stand up to see a boy behind them, trying to help his father to his feet. I run to the boy and ask him his name. "Ronar." He says. I try to get his father to his feet but the monster's impact makes me drop him. I still have the boy as I bring him behind a destroyed house. Yol, Toor Shul!" I heard again, and flames followed. Around the corner I knew the boy's father was burned to a crisp.
I left the boy in the care of a blacksmith who was hiding. I ran around the corner and noticed the general standing there, barking orders at his legionnaires. Theurges shot firebolts at the beast who flew above. I passed by them, hoping they wouldn't see me. "The escaped prisoner!" Tullius yelled, pointing at me. Two soldiers ran at me, swords drawn. There's a damned monster attacking the town and you're worried about me escaping! I thought as I ran. Then, Ralof burst out, an axe in each hand. "Holdan, take a weapon!" He yelled, throwing me the axe in his left hand.
I felt the axe in my hand. It felt good. One of the legionnaires attempted top strike me down, but Ralof chopped his stomach with his axe. While Ralof was recoiled, I brought my axe across the torso of the other soldier. Both lay dead.
"Into the keep!" Ralof orders as we run. I feel the ground shake as the monster lands directly behind me. I turn to see a pair of crimson eyes staring straight at me. "In! Now!" Ralof yelled, panic wrought through his voice. I sprint through the open door of the keep as the beast begins to breath fire once more. "Son of a bitch." I mutter once we're 'safe' inside.
The two of us are panting. A thousand thoughts are racing through my mind. "That thing..." Ralof begins. His voice was shaking with fear. "That thing was a dragon." He said hysterically. "Just like the children's stories and the legends. Harbingers of the end times." He says with hysteria coating every word. I look around. I see a dead stormcloak on the floor. "Looks like we weren't the first ones with the idea to hide here." I say, nodding to the corpse. Ralof catches my eye and a look of sadness strikes his face. "Oh no! Gunjar!" He says, moving to the body. He knelt next to him. "We'll meet again in Sovngarde, friend." He says.
He turns to me, "I think you should take Gunjar's gear. He'll understand when I tell him in Sovngarde." He said with a morbid smile. "Oh, uh. Fine." I say. After about five minutes of fitting the cuirass on, which was slightly bigger than my size, I slip the axe into its loop. "You look like a true son of Skyrim." Ralof told me as he walked over to a door made of bars. "Bah, it's locked." He grumbled. As he's thinking I see motion down the opposite hall. "Imperials!" I warn him. He immediately turns and readies his axe. "Let's get the drop on them." He told me. I nodded in response.
The soldiers opened the gate with a lever, and that's when we popped out. I noticed that one of them was the captain who wanted my head. My axe struck her armored shoulder and she cried out. The other punched Ralof in the face. I blocked an attack from the captain, who was stronger than she looks. Ralof ducked under the legionnaire's sword and came up splitting his chin with his axe. The captain was alone against the two of us. She struck fast at Ralof who's axe was knocked away. This opened her up for a strike to the chest by me. The two legionnaires lay on the ground dead.
I sighed in discomfort. "What's wrong?" Ralof asked me as he pulled a key from the woman's pouch that hung from her side. "I don't like killing women, never did." I tell him. This causes him to laugh. I bend down and take up the sword she was using. "What are you doing?" Ralof asked me. "I prefer swords to axes." I tell him. "Here, take this back." I tell him, handing his iron axe back. "What ever pulls your carriage." He tells me.
Ralof unlocks the door and walks through. "This way, friend." He tells me. We make our way down stairs only to see another pair of imperial soldiers. One took notice, but before he could say anything, the ceiling above them collapsed, and that Gods awful roar followed. "Won't be dealing with them anymore now will we?" He joked. We opened the door and saw three imperial soldiers. "For Skyrim!" Ralof yells, an axe in each hand. I run the one on the left through with my blade and Ralof takes on the heavy one and the smaller one. The smaller one dies with his arm flying off, the heavy turns to face me with an axe lodged in his forehead. "I don't think I'll be getting that axe out soon." Ralof tells me.
After grabbing some potions, I follow Ralof down another set of stairs. "Troll's blood!" Ralof yells as he sees what's at the bottom. "A torture room!" He says in disgust. I find it hard to stomach, knowing that Fvol and I fought for this army once. Heh, less than five years ago I'm serving this legion, now a friend of mine lodges an axe in ones face. I thought cynically.
A torturer and his assistant were fighting two stormcloaks in the room. I saw lightning arc from the torturer's hand and fry one senseless. She drop to the floor dead. I ran over to this man and beheaded him with a spin. His assistant was being hacked at by the other rebel, who carried a greatsword. I stared at the woman on the floor. I feel bad about it, but I reluctantly take the steel sword she was wielding. After that I discard the imperial sword I was previously using.
"Did Jarl Ulfric come this way?" Ralof asked his ally, who was also blonde, but looked to be about sixteen years old. "No, not yet, haven't really seen which way he went." He told my friend. "Alright then. Holdan, the three of us have to get out of here before that Dragon brings the whole tower down on our heads." He told me. I nodded in response. The three of us moved down the corridor, seeing rotted corpses of the unattended prisoners around us. "Makes me sick that they do this." The rebel said. We kept moving until we heard they voices of some arguing imperial soldiers. "Orders are to wait for General Tullius." The heavily armored one told a smaller one. "I'm not waiting to be killed by a drag-" He couldn't finish whining as he took an arrow to the chest. The rebel used a bow he'd found to make the first strike.
"For the Empire!" They all yelled, running at us. I found myself taking two at once. I ducked the blade of the smaller one, while using the recoil as leverage to get up and slit his throat quickly. Ralof turned the heavy one around and smashed his face with an axe. The rebel had cleaved a soldier in half, when he was stabbed in the back. "God's no!" Ralof yelled. He threw his axe like a tomahawk into the imperial's head. All of them were slain now. "I really wish that man could've lived. He was barely old enough to have a beard." I told Ralof, passing by the deceased teen. "Rest in peace." I said under my breath.
Ralof and I made it to what looked like a small drawbridge. I pulled a lever and it fell. Once we passed over the corridor shook. The ceiling behind us crushed the bridge. "Looks like we're not turning back." Ralof joked. "Heh, yeah." I replied. A little later and we would have been crushed. The stone halls were now replaced with mossy tunnels. "Talos guide us." I say.
The smell is fetid and the air is musty. We trek down the tunnel, noticing the webbing on the walls getting increasingly larger. The Dragon's roar is now but an echo. But then, we see them. Spiders. Spiders bigger than a wolf. my skin crawls at the sight of them. Ralof charges in. His axe lands right between the fangs of a smaller one. I notice that he's picked up the boy's greatsword and it's on his back. "Use the sword!" I yell at him. Ralof nods and pulls the five foot long iron off of his back. I sever the thorax from a spider's base. I run over and kick one's leg out from under it, allowing Ralof a strike to it's front.
We made our way through, having to sneak past a bear, and back into the tunnels. Then I saw a light at the end. "Ralof, look! Daylight!" I cheer as we approach. "Guess we made it out alive." He said gladly. The two of us were exhausted.
The light was blinding as we exited the tunnel. Then, the sound of birds chirping filled my ears. The smell of pine through my nostrils. I looked before me at the view of Skyrim. I'm alive. I'm home. I thought, taking in the scenery.
It was all shattered when I heard that roar, straight from Oblivion. Ralof and I hid behind a rock. "Heh, looks like he's gone for good this time." Ralof told me.
We started down a thin path that seemed to go down a hill, hiding the view in the trees. "My sister Gurder own's the mill in Riverwood." He told me. "We should Hide out there until we're ready to head out." He explained. "It's probably best that we split up once we recover. Boy, this place'll be swarming with imperials." He thought aloud. I considered where to go. I couldn't think of anywhere. "Riverwood sounds good to me." I told Ralof, who nodded in reply.
