The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Unfamiliar Faces
Prologue:
Not long after arriving in Skyrim, he learned that the Nord province was going to Oblivion in a handbasket. Just stopping outside Helgen to rest and eat had gotten him caught up in an Imperial Legion ambush of several Stormcloak rebels, including the Jarl of Windhelm himself, Ulfric Stormcloak. That was what started his travels across the province. In a rather ironic turn of event, the dragon, Alduin, chose that moment to return, right as an Imperial executioner was about to take his head. "Funny," he thought, "to owe your continued life to a dragon you would travel all the way to Sovngarde to kill. If this isn't the work of Sheogorath, I don't know what is." He chuckled at the thought of the daedric lord of madness, as a courier walked up, and handed him 2 letters: one bearing the marks of both General Tullius and Jarl Elisif of Solitude, and one bearing the mark of Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. Reading both letters, he realized that a moot had finally been called for, and that both Jarls, and General Tullius wanted him to be in attendance.
At this particular moment, he was in Riften. He had stopped here after checking in with the Dawnguard. Isran had assured him that between the Dawnguard and Serana, the daughter of the now dead vampire lord, Harkon, the situation was well in hand. Vampire attacks had dropped substantially after Harkon's death. As he put the letters in his pack, he felt a peculiar stone.
He headed to Honeyside, the house he kept in Riften for times when he was in the area, and spoke to his housecarl, Iona, letting her know that he wanted her to assist the Jarl's escort in getting her to the Moot in Solitude, then retired to the study he had set up. He reached in his pack and pulled out the stone, examining it closely. It had a perfectly round shape, and looked like the portal he and Serana had used to enter the Soul Cairn. In the center, though, was a glowing white gem. He touched the jewel, and then felt himself being pulled through to another location, as he disappeared from Honeyside in a shroud of mist.
Chapter 1: Outside of Time
The mist subsided, and revealed an elaborate shrine with statues of different people in numerous alcoves. Banners and different artifacts displayed the deeds of those enshrined here. The statues showed people of all races and professions: Warriors, wizards, scouts, even thieves and assassins. Only one thing did all of them have in common. They were all dragonborn. He even found an alcove dedicated to himself. The likeness was uncanny, even down to the stubble short cut hair and full set of daedric armor, with dragonbone sword and bow.
"Welcome, Dovahkiin," came a booming voice as a shadow covered the entire area. An enormous golden dragon descended, landing in front of the dragonborn Imperial. "Dreh ni faas, Qahnaarin do Alduin," the dragon stated, "Do not fear, vanquisher of Alduin. I am Akatosh, Divine of Time, and chief of the Nine Divines."
"What is this place?" the Imperial man asked.
"Belur do faal Dovahkiin," Akatosh explained, "A Shrine of the Dragonborn. This place exists tir do tiid, outside of time as you know it. The world as you know it is gein do pogaan, one of many, each one with it's own Dovahkiin. Each one followed their own path: osos zinaal, osos zomaar. Some honorable, some terrible."
"So," the dragonborn noted, "Each alcove represents the dragonborn of another world, Kusah. Interesting." He had taken to learning the dragon tongue from Paarthurnax after the fall of Alduin, and had become quite fluent.
"Each Alcove has a tome, or Umaak, record of a certain Dovahkiin's deeds," continued Akatosh, "I chose to bring you here, as I have watched you, and have deemed you to be zok zinaal benix unadaan, most honorable among the chosen."
"Why me?" the Dovahkiin inquired, "What makes me so worthy, Drog Bormah?"
"You not only used your Thu'um to defeat Alduin, Duaan do Sil, devourer of souls, but you also brought an honorable end to the war that would have plunged all of Tamriel into chaos, and stopped the Sosnaak Drog, Vampire Lord, from shrouding all of Nirn in Unahzaal vulon, eternal night. You sent the Dovah Sonaak, Miraak, to the grave when he sought to return from Hermaeus Mora's realm of Oblivion, and even stopped the lok fahliil, high elf, Ancano from using the Eye of Magnus, which would brought about gral do lein, destruction of the world. Those actions made you worthy, Dovahkiin, and it is for that reason, that I have need of you for two things. A favor and yun rahvariin voth jul, zeim hi, a new covenant with man, though you."
"A favor?"
Akatosh motions to an alcove to the right of his guest's. The statue showed an Imperial woman with blonde hair down past her waist, green eyes, and wearing a suit of elaborate daedric armor that highlighted her gorgeous, and toned body. She carried a dragonbone bow, and an akaviri longsword. The artifacts showed her to be aligned with the Legion, Dawnguard, Companions, and College of Winterhold. "Her," the dragon stated, "She was another that I had taken an interest in. She followed a path similar to yours, only her Umaak ends in battle with Miraak. She could have defeated the Dovah Sonaak, had Molag Bal not interfered. The Vul Drog, Dark Lord, was angered when the Serana of her world chose to cure herself of her vampirism, renouncing all ties to Molag Bal. Bal took his revenge by giving a fraction of his power to Miraak. When that happened, she stood no chance. I created this shrine as a means of preserving the memory of the Dovahkiin, but only one of the Dovahkiin can open the Umaak of another. Open hers, Riala's, and she will be brought to your world, Dovahkiin Mikkel. She will meet you at Dragonsreach in Whiterun."
Mikkel stepped up to the book in front of Riala's alcove. When he reached out and opened the book, a brilliant light filled Riala's alcove. When the light faded, the statue was missing.
"She has been brought to your world, Dovahkiin," Akatosh noted, "Now comes the new covenant." The golden dragon breathed a stream of golden flames, engulfing Mikkel, A golden jewel appeared on the chestplate of his armor. "Ful lingrah ol hin rei ahtiid daar sogaal, fent jul siiv grah-zeymahzin ko dov. So long as your line wears this gem, shall man find an ally in dragonkined."
"I will endeavor to continue to prove myself worthy of your trust," Mikkel replied, bowing to the divine dragon. He then stepped on the stone where he arrived and touched the gem on his portal stone, disappearing from the shrine.
End Chapter 1
Note: For your information, I do not speak fluent dragon. I used a translator online. (just google dragon translator to find it)
Next Chapter: 2 – A New Crisis
