Before you begin reading, I would just like to say that this story takes place 600 years after Alduin's defeat, and this prologue takes place 50 years in the future, after this story concludes. There will be lots of made up locations, characters, and lore, so if you see something you don't recognize, don't sweat it. Enjoy the story!
Standing tall, a fifteen minute walk from where Whiterun used to belong was a monument below the red sky. It was built from dark grey stone and was carved precisely. Old, yet still stunning, was the memorium of multiple heroes. Without them, Tamriel would no longer contain any life.
There were three etched tablets that were larger and stood out more than the others. These tablets belonged to the individuals who single-handely prevented a debilitating disease from wiping out the entire population.
The first tablet read this: Varzo Gurkan: This Redguard sacrificed everything he had for us. For the people of Tamriel. He had even given up his life. Without this man, we would not be standing here in this unforgiving tundra, building this monument. It is imperative that we never forget what he did for us. Now we must make our own sacrifices to prevent anything like the plague that he saved us from from happening again.
The tablet to the left of it had these words: Farie Koriuth: The Altmer herself was required to guide Varzo Gurkan on his quest in stopping the plague, and to this day she wishes it could have been her who was sacrificed instead. From fighting Daedra to saving lives, this is another name that we mustn't forget.
The final tablet on the right stated: K'an Adeus: Varzo Gurkan's right hand man, and his most faithful companion. Without Adeus, Gurkan would not have been able to sacrifice himself for us. That is because he would be dead. Adeus gave his life defending Gurkan, and that may have been the biggest loss Gurkan had ever witnessed. Adeus knew it would have been an even bigger loss if it were Gurkan that was killed. Perhaps Adeus is the biggest hero of them all.
Below each tablet was a bowl filled with various offerings. People of all races stopped by and dropped off flowers, gems, and weapons of all kinds. They felt as if they owed these heroes something for their deeds, so donations were a way for them to express their thanks.
While this plague was not even close to natural, it still had the same effect on people as a normal disease. People got infected, had fevers, and they died. But this disease got out of control. That's because it was created by Daedra themselves. A cult, known as Mehrunes' Vectors created the infection themselves. How it entered the realm of Nirn remains a mystery, but how to send it back to Oblivion was discovered, nearly too late.
People had no idea they were infected. That is the reason why it spread so quickly, as a simple shake of hands would transmit the disease. The final few stages of the disease were the most traumatizing. The body begins to freeze on the inside, making the pain feel like hundreds of jarring needles are seeping through the skin. Far too often, people tried to set fire to themselves to stop the pain, but it would just kill them even faster.
No one knew if the insanity was caused by the Daedra, or if it were the people themselves, mainly because no one who was infected by the disease made it out alive. Not a single man, mer, or beast. Except for the "Souls of Immunity." Only nine of them in existence (one representing each race) the year the plague began, these mortals were granted by Akatosh himself resistance to the disease. Only they could save Tamriel, and they did, but one stood out more than the others.
A Redguard that resided in a shack, on the border of The Pale and Hjaalmarch. At twenty-one years old, he was living on his own, constantly working to get by. He was a strong man, always using his axe to chop down trees and improve his household. He would hunt for deer and Mudcrabs, take care of his garden filled with cabbage and carrots, and go fishing for even more food. Every day he would go to sleep at ten o'clock and once he woke up he would follow the exact same schedule: Hunt, garden, fish. That's what stood out to Akatosh about this man.
Instead of constantly being on a quest, searching for gold, or being so caught up in a mission, this man was completely average. He didn't want to be the man that saved the world, the hero that everyone loved. He just wanted to be a simple man. And he was. Until the night the plague came to Tamriel, and he realized what he had to do. It was ironic. He did not want to be a hero, but it is exactly what he would become. His whole entire life was about to change in a flash.
The Redguard's name was Varzo Gurkan.
Prologue is all done! In the next chapter I will introduce some characters and you'll get to see the main story unfold. Quick reminder that this prologue takes place 50 years after the next chapter, so technically next chapter will have happened before this. Thanks for reading! Please review!