The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - In a Complex World.
Disclaimer: The rights and all properities of The Elder Scrolls, and all its components belong solely to Bethesda Game Studios. The rights and properities of Shayne the Breton and any other misc characters that I might implicate belong to Mynced.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Chapter One: Azura's Words.
The cold winds swept across her face as she looked Southwards, towards the shrine of Azura. Shayne pulled her cloak tighter around herself as she examined the familiar ice bergs in the freezing cold waters before her. As always, she would have to time her jumps correctly, unless she wanted a reunioun with the hypotherium she knew all to well. She cursed her short stature as a Breton as she slipped on the first mini pad of ice, barely managing to keep herself upright. She cursed the location of the shrine, and found herself immedietely apologising; a devout follower to the lady of night she felt bad even for a slight misgiving towards the shrine.
Usually Shayne did not journey to the shrine during any sort of ice storm, however she felt herself drawn on this paticular day after she had awoken from a vivid dream. It was as though the lady had called to her, summoning her through her dreams. The dream was paculiar; she had dreamed of a Nord, tall and mighty. He wore a horned helm upon his head, his black hair fell out of the helmet just past the nape of his neck, his broad and masculine chest was bare; a cloak of fur covered his back. She watched him journey through a mist in the lands of Sovngarde, a deadly looking axe strapped beneath his cloak. It was as though she had been part of the enviroment watching this man, he had opened his mouth and let out a mighty shout which shook the land of the dead and parted the mist; than she woke.
Mere seconds later she felt a warmth stir in her heart, and in her head the Lady of Night wisphered "to my shrine.."
That was more than enough to bring Shayne from her warm blankets in Winterhold and out into the snow storm in the middle of night on a journey to Azura`s shrine.
Shayne`s foot had slipped into the water a bit as she made her way unelegently across the cold shallow pools and had become numb; looking up, the shrine was finally in view. Her foot fell on the first stone step and she stopped to adjust her cloak and comb down her fiery red hair which had become more than frazzled from the harsh wind and cold that was common in the Lands of Skyrim. She was only slightly out of breath; Shayne prided herself in taking care of her body and mind eating right, staying active and meditating.
As she reached the top, she could see the sillouette of Aranea Lenith; a more devout priestess than Shayne could even believe. The old seer stayed with Azura at her shrine, never wavering, and never abandoning her Daedric Goddess.
"Hey, Aranea"
Shayne raised her hand in greeting as she finally came to a stop at the alter, gazing at the magneficent marble statue of Azura, which stood high into the clouds and loomed over the ice and water that surrounded it.
"Child" Aranea replied nodding her head, "it is good you've come, Azura showed me you would."
Shayne smiled as she sat on a relitively dry spot and pulled her frozen foot out of her boot and began to rub it, urging her body heat into it.
"Yes ma'am, it's times like these I wish that I didn't seem to have some sort've mental block with destruction magic, would've loved to make myself a nice big ball of flame to keep me warm."
Aranea's face twitched slightly, "ah but you have been gifted with many other talents child."
Shayne laughed, her breath coming out in a wispy steam "yes, but isn't that always the silver lining?"
Shayne was a mage at the College of Winterhold, a very skilled mage when it came to illusion, alteration as well she had a very special knack for restoration; which was nice when someone had a paper cut. In reality Shayne hadn't had a whole lot of field work with her magic; at the very worst having to heal a broken arm. Generally, she made herself rather invisable to avoid most dangers on her few journeys, like the two hour hike to the shrine of Azura; once in a while she would encounter a Horker which she would simply confuse and than take off at a very brisk pace.
Shayne replaced her boot on her foot and kneeled before the shrine, bowing her head.
"My lady... Azura, you have summoned me and I have come without a moments notice, please bestow your wisdom upon me."
When Azura spoke to her, which was extremely rare, her mind went still and she was sucked into an almost tranquil state. All she saw was white, and all she felt was warmth;
"My lovely child Shayne of Winterhold, I have summoned you here to speak of destiny, a destiny which is about to unfold."
Shayne stayed silent, waiting for the God to continue.
"You dreamed of a man, this man is special, and you will become special to him. For he, Shayne is the Dragonborn, and he carries upon his shoulders a burden like no other. You are dear to me, as you have been bestowed but a small inkling of my power to see the future, and you have seen this in a dream. You are to assist him, young Breton and in this your destiny shall unravel itself."
Shayne felt a pang of confusion jolt through her body, "Dragonborn? Really? What does that mean?"
A tinkling sound of laughter filled Shayne's mind, "you must have patience; all questions answered with time."
Shayne knew that was the best answer she would get from the cryptic Azura, and settled. She was unsure what all this had to do with her, and what exactly her destiny would be, but the Daedric God had never led her astray before and Shayne wasn't going to start doubting her.
"You are to stay at my shrine until he comes, he has been sent out on a quest for me, to retrieve my eye and he shall return soon. You will need to be very convincing if you expect him to accept you as his travel companion, so prepare yourself."
With that, Shayne was abruptly discharged from the tranquility of her communications with Azura; the coldness of Skyrim met her as she blinked her eyes and fought off a black out. Shayne stood and looked at Aranea; the old seer had her eyes closed and was obviously meditating, out of respect Shayne stayed silent. She stood and walked closer to the statue, wedging herself into a crook out of the elements and huddled closer to the ground; intending to sleep.
Many thoughts whirled around her head; she wasn't quite sure what exactly Azura had been expecting from her and she wasn't sure how she was suppose to sell herself as a valuable allie to the Dragonborn, and she certainly wasn't sure how this was going to pan out; but those questions would have to wait.
Sleep took over.
