It's been a long time since I got to sit down and type. I wanted to thank all my supporters and fans who I gathered from my story "Love by Blood." After all this time away, I'm finally writing again. Since my character Karrick drew in such a positive crowd, I wanted to reach back and tell the story about how he came to be. Some things in this story will be of my own making, but I promise to stay as close to the Elder Scrolls lore as possible. I want to thank you all for your kind words and hope to see them again in this upcoming tale. Hope you enjoy.
My name is Karrick. I am a Paladin who serves Tamriel with honor and benevolence. I am not afraid to lead my companions into battle with fierocity and self sacrifice. But I was not always like this. There was once a time that I did not look kindly on the Divines and all they stood for. Too many times did the temptation of the Daedric lords taunt away at my soul. I did not always strive to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones... Perhaps it is best to take you back five years ago, in the little solidified village of Helgen.
I was working in a little blacksmith's shop alongside my brother, Jorvin, who was only a mere three years younger than I. I was only twenty-four at that time. We lost our parents before we were old enough to remember them. We have no memory of who watched over us the first few years of our lives as orphans, but we do remember all the times we were traded among villages for labor. We would work our hands to the bone every day for little to no food until our current "guardian" lost use of us, then would trade us to the next lot looking for cheap workers.
We stuck with each other no matter how difficult things became. And each time a new buyer would try to separate us, they would quickly realize we were more useful together. When we became of age, the years of hard labor had paid off. We both grew to be larger than any normal nord of the current age. So people tended to fear us if we grew angry. This helped us land a job with the blacksmith, Bormir, in Helgen. We made weapons and armor for the Imperial soldiers who guarded the border.
The coin in this busy intersection of Skyrim was just good enough to keep our rooms at the Inn paid for and food in our bellies. Of course, not too many of our kinsmen looked kindly towards us because we were without a clan, or family as simply put. We were and always will be just the dumb orphan boys we grew up to be. Because of this, no women wanted to wed, let alone bear any sons or daughters of those they didn't respect. Which this suited fine for us. We were used to being alone.
Business had been on the rise here of late ever since the war started between the Empire and Jarl Ulfric's Stormcloak Rebellion. When the High King was murdered by Ulfric, word got around fast and the Empire began to bolster it's ranks here in Skyrim to help quell the fighting. But the numbers of Ulfric's followers had grown larger than they expected. My brother and I, however, never cared much for politics. We just did our jobs and never cared for what went on around us. However, on this particular morning, our lives would be changed forever.
It was the 17th of Last Seed. My brother and I were doing our usual sharpening and repairs of the Imperial wears when we both noticed something was wrong. There were several Thalmor roaming around the village. Almost as though they were expecting something. Strangely enough, the Thalmor leader of Skyrim, Elenwyn, was present among them. This didn't settle well with most of the residence here. But we all kept to ourselves.
We continued to finish our orders throughout the morning, when we noticed the front gates opened and several carriages came through. They were packed full of men and women all wearing the same uniforms. They were Stormcloak rebels. But why were they brought here?
"General Tullius, sir. The headsman is waiting," we heard an Imperial soldier shout.
A headsman? General Tullius? This was turning out to be more than a normal day. This was going to turn into an execution sight. But why?
Just I had asked myself this question, my brother grabbed my attention by pointing at the last carriage to come through the gates. Sitting on the very back was Ulfric Stormcloak. The leader of the rebellion. But it didn't make any sense. Why was the Imperials stopping in Helgen for the executions? We were all told that if Ulfric was captured, he would be brought to Cyrodiil, the Imperial City and home to the Emperor.
Most of the village, including my brother and I, all watched from a distance as they unloaded the men and women from the carts and began calling their names to form a line to the headsman's block.
We could hear General Tullius confront Ulfric before the executions began. But as we waited to see this gruesome scene take place, we heard a load roar in the distance that seemed to come from over the mountain that overlooked Helgen.
"What was that?" My brother asked in confusion. I just shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.
Just then, we could hear the priestess begin her last rites for the prisoners.
"As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessing of the Eight Divines upon..."
Just then, one of the prisoners stepped forward and interrupted her.
"For the love of Talos, shut up, and let's get this over with."
He then proceeded to be placed on the block and prepped for his execution.
"Come on. I haven't got all morning," he continued to shout.
As the headsman raised his ax, the prisoner let out his final words.
"My ancestors are smiling on me this day Imperials. Can you say the same?"
Then the ax came down and brought the man's life to an end.
My brother shuttered with disgust, but managed to keep his composure.
"He took his death with real courage," Jorvin said.
"Indeed he did," I responded as I watched as the next prisoner began to walk up for his turn.
Just then, we heard another roar from the mountain. This time, it seemed to be closer.
"What is that?" My brother asked again. "It doesn't sound like any creature I've ever heard in my life. It sounds huge."
I looked towards the mountain, knowing whatever it was, was coming from there.
Just as the next prisoner's head was placed to the block, I heard another roar as a large black winged figure flew over the mountain and down towards the village. It landed on the tower in the center of the village, directly in front of the prisoners. "Dragon!" I heard a villager shout. Then, without warning, the creature shot a powerful blast from it's mouth as the sky turned red and fire began to rain down on Helgen.
Jorvin and I ran to the workbench to grab some supplies as fast as we could, equipping ourselves with weapons in case we needed them. He grabbed a couple iron swords, while I grabbed an iron mace. We both started to run for the gates in hopes that we could escape the carnage with our lives. But just before we reached them, a fireball from the sky crashed on the ground between us, knocking us away from each other. It made me black out for a few seconds from the impact. But when I came to, I could not see Jorvin.
As I began to search around for him, all I could see was Imperial soldiers scrambling about to make their way out of the village. Just then, one of the soldiers I saw before spotted me and came to check on me.
"Are you hurt?" he asked as he helped me to my feet.
"I think I'm alright," I replied. "But I don't see my brother."
The Imperial looked around a bit but didn't seem to be worried about that.
"I'm sure he's fine," he replied. "But we can't stick around here. We have to get moving."
I finished gathering myself and followed the soldier towards the keep. It seemed to be the only place that wasn't blocked by debris or fire.
As we made our way, I continued to look for Jorvin, but couldn't see him anywhere. My worst fear was that he had been pinned under the debris and was burning to death. I didn't want to leave him, but I didn't have a choice. Just before we reached the keep, one of the Stormcloak rebels cut us off.
"Ralof," the soldier shouted. "You damned traitor, out of my way!"
The fair haired rebel quickly shouted back at him. "We're escaping, Hadvar. You're not stopping us this time."
The two men looked at each other with great hatred in their eyes.
"Fine," this Hadvar replied. "I hope that dragon takes you all to Soverngarde."
The rebel ran past us as we headed for the barracks entrance to the keep.