Author's Note: I ALWAYS played Skyrim as a Nord warrior and I was starting to get sick of it. After about six months of not playing, I decided to restart on Skyrim and replay it rather than sell it. But this time, there was a twist: I'm going to be a wizard. Not just any wizard, an Argonian wizard named Sk'lar. A lizard wizard! I even did what I initially refused to: I installed a few mods. One was basically Fallout New Vegas' Hardcore mode but for the Elder Scrolls, another let me have multiple companions. The last one didn't start me out at Helgen, it started me out in Whiterun.

So, as the Madgod Sheogorath would say, this is going to be fun!

Chapter One: Lizards in Whiterun

It seems today will be a strange one indeed. Imagine, an Argonian in the city that isn't begging for scraps. Did it somehow slip past the guards, unnoticed until it was too late? Or perhaps greased a few palms with ill-gotten gold like a normal individual?

Janessa had no particular hatred for the reptilian race. Even as beggars in the streets they were quick-witted and resourceful, something she could admire. The guards, however, were another story. Simply put, anyone who was not a Nord was regarded with suspicion but the Khajiit and Argonians had it the worst. If they weren't flat-out refused entry, they were stripped of any gold they had in a false tax and beaten for amusement. It was cruel, sure, but Janessa learned long ago you don't fight battles for someone you don't know.

And so she stared curiously at the lizard currently selling small trinkets to the owner of the store with an oddly elated look on it's scaly face over the edge of her tankard. It didn't sneak past anything, she decided. It was too loud, too clumsy for any sort of stealth. That must mean it had gold and a lot of it judging by how much it had to trade. Janessa was so deep in thought she nearly jumped when she glanced up to find the lizard standing in front of her, it's smile revealing glistening fangs. The Dark Elf scowled but the smile only grew broader.

"Excuse me for bothering you during your drink," It spoke in a scratchy voice with harsh hisses elongating each s... Divines above, he must have recently got off the boat from Black Marsh with that heavy of an accent. Bringing up even more questions on just how the hell he ended up here in Whiterun. "My name is Sk'lar. I hear from the shop-keep you are a mercenary? I'd like to hire you."

Janessa studied him more closely. He was fairly tall for an Argonian, dressed simply and covered in rough forest-green scales. Harmless enough. Her lips curled into a mocking smirk and she waved for him to sit down.

"I'm taveling north, through the mountains." Sk'lar explained once he was seated, his smile never letting up. "I need a bodyguard to defend me on the roads."

"No deal." The smirk disappeared and she frowned. "It's nearing cold times, much more dangerous traveling up in those mountains. Probably take at least a week to get through even on horseback."

"I can pay you well. Just name your terms."

"500 hundred gold for two weeks. 50 more for every day after."

Sk'lar was shaken. "500? It might take some time to raise that." He looked away, thoughtful, then beamed and stood up. "Meet me here tomorrow. I'll make sure you get your money."

With that, he scurried out of the shop.

Janessa let out a rare chuckle. Time to ready my bow, this should get interesting.