Chapter 1: Caught
Tyradus sat in a carriage, along with three other Nords. Two in armor, and one in rags. Their hands were bound with leather straps.
He looked closely at the Nord who was gagged with a cloth. He was familiar, but Tyradus couldn't put a name to his face.
The four had been captured by the Imperial army when crossing the border from Cyrodiil. Tyradus knew that he was innocent, but he didn't know about the others. He had a feeling that it was because of them that he was taken prisoner.
Every prisoner had been silent for the trip, but finally, one broke the silence.
"Damn you Stormcloak rebels..." The Nord in the rags growled. "Everything was great until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If it wasn't for you, I could've stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell!"
The Nord across from Tyradus scoffed. "Their laziness was the problem in the first place, horse thief. They were too damn lazy to fight back against the Aldmeri Dominion, and that's why we're here! To take Skyrim back from the elves and restore our traditions!"
Tyradus's eyes widened. "So, you're the Stormcloak rebels? I heard a lot about you in Cyrodiil. Don't take that as a compliment, though. Those things aren't always, or ever for that matter, good. You're pretty famous for just being rebellious bastards who deserve death and nothing more."
"By the looks of things, you probably aren't too innocent, yourself. And even if you are, you look enough like one of us. I guess they have you mistaken for a real Nord, one that doesn't back the Empire."
"Just the fact that I'm a Nord doesn't mean I'm a rebel like you. I was just coming home to Skyrim when I was ambushed! Funny. The Imperial soldiers in Cyrodiil never attacked people without reason. That was only the Thalmor."
Ralof scoffed again. "I couldn't care less about how the Imperials act in Cyrodiil. I just want them to leave my homeland alone."
"Shut up back there!" The soldier driving the carriage shouted.
"What's his problem, huh?" The ragged Nord turned to the gagged one.
"Watch your tongue!" Ralof shouted "You're talking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King!"
So, that's who it is? I knew he looked familiar. In the Imperial City, just about every wall is lined with paintings of Ulfric with... negative things that I'd rather not repeat written underneath."
"Figures. The legion will do anything in their power to turn others against all who oppose them. A word of advice, Cyrodiilian. Never trust Imperial propaganda!"
Lokir spoke up. "S-So, where do you think they're taking us?"
"Not sure," Tyradus responded. "But, if they've got the leader of the rebellion with us, I doubt it'll be too far away from Sovngarde."
"So, what village are you from, horse thief?" Ralof asked.
"Why do you care where I'm from? What difference does it make?"
"Well, a Nord's last thoughts should be of home."
"Rorikstead... I'm from Rorikstead..."
"General Tullius, sir! The prisoners have arrived!" One of the Imperial soldiers shouted.
"Good, let's get this over with!"
Tyradus looked back. He saw an Imperial, mounted on a horse next to an Altmer, obviously from the Thalmor embassy.
"It's Tullius!" Ralof shouted. "And it looks like the Thalmor are with him! Those god-damned elves! They probably had something to do with this!"
The carriage stopped at a wall.
"Wait..." Lokir whimpered. "Why... why are we stopping?"
"Why do you think?" Ralof replied, with a look of sorrow in his eyes. "End of the line."
The carriage came to a stop. The prisoners began hopping off.
A look of anger appeared on Tyradus's face.
I'm not dying today! I'll escape, even if it means I kill every Imperial soldier here. I couldn't give less of a damn about the rebels. All I care about is that I get out of here!
"You! Stormcloak! Tell them that I'm not with you!" Lokir was starting to panic.
"Face your death with some courage, thief!"
"Prisoners, step forward as we call your names from the list," an Imperial soldier said.
"Empire loves their damn lists!" Ralof shouted angrily.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm... for the next half hour, at least."
Ulfric glared at the soldier.
Ralof looked down, with the same look of sorrow in his eyes again. He looked up once more and shouted, "It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric!"
Ulfric walked toward the block.
"Ralof of Riverwood." The Stormcloak walked forward.
"Lokir of Rorikstead."
"No!" Lokir shouted. "You can't do this! I'm not a rebel!"
"To the block, prisoner!" The Imperial general shouted, drawing her blade. "NOW!"
"You're not gonna kill me!" Lokir yelled as he took off, sprinting.
"ARCHERS!" The general shouted.
The Imperial guards loaded their bows. They shot six steel arrows heading straight for Lokir.
Damn fool! Looks like I'll have to get him out of this...
Tyradus shifted his hands as far as he could in the binds. All of the arrows changed course. They all barely missed Lokir. He was lucky enough to get away.
Telekinesis... Haven't practiced that spell in a while. Glad to see it's still as powerful as ever!
The archers loaded their bows again. Tyradus sent their arrows off-course once more. It bought Lokir enough time to disappear into the woods.
"Damn, one got away!" The general shouted. "No matter. His hands are bound, and he's armorless and weaponless. Whatever's hiding in the woods will kill him soon enough. Hadvar, continue."
"You..." Hadvar began. "Who are you?"
"My name is Tyradus."
"Tyranus? Aren't you a Vigilant? Yes, I met you in Markarth! You were investigating a Daedric cult!"
"My name is Tyradus, you damn fool!" He was getting agitated and impatient. The two day, sleepless carriage ride had taken its toll on his mood.
Hadvar grunted, checking the list again. "General, he isn't on here."
"To Oblivion with the list! He goes to the block! Come with me, prisoner!"
Tyradus followed the general, as he was told. He saw Tullius shouting at Ulfric.
"Ulfric Stormcloak..." General Tullius smirked. "Some here in Helgen call you a hero. But, a Hero doesn't use a power like the Voice to murder his king and usurp his throne! You started this war! YOU plunged Skyrim into chaos! And now, the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace! Priestess, give them their last rites."
The priestess began speaking, "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the eight divines be upon you. May they watch over-"
"For the love of Talos, shut up, and let's get this over with!" One of the Stormcloaks shouted, stepping forward.
"As you wish..." The priestess seemed angry.
The Imperial general pushed the Stormcloak down. The headsman raised his axe.
I need to wait for the right moment... Tyradus thought. Right now isn't that time. I cant risk saving that Stormcloak...
"My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials!" The Stormcloak soldier shouted. "Can you say the same?!"
It ended with a loud chop. The general kicked the Stormcloak's body over. Blood flowed from the lifeless body.
"As fearless in death, as he was in life," Ralof whispered.
Shouts came from all around the block, from both Stormcloak and Imperial soldiers.
"You Imperial bastards!"
"Death to the Stormcloaks!"
"Faithless dogs!"
"Justice is finally being brought to Skyrim!"
"Next, I want that Nord!" The general shouted, glaring and pointing at Tyradus."
He stepped forward, to the block. He was reluctant, but he stooped down, and put his neck to the block.
They can't even be bothered to clean up?
The headsman raised his axe.
Right now would be a good time to escape...
"Fus... RO DAH!"
The force caused the headsman to fly back into a wall. Tyradus hopped up. He used his magic to create a fire and burn the leather bindings around his hands.
"The Voice!?" The general questioned as she drew her blade. Tyradus quickly turned and shot a gout of flames into her face.
"Argh!" The general grunted as she fell to one knee. "Soldiers! Kill him!"
Many Imperial soldiers surrounded him. The Stormcloaks watched the showdown in disbelief, Ulfric especially. Tyradus created a wall of flames around himself. The soldiers who had gotten too close already screamed and burned. The others stepped back. They began drawing bows to shoot through the fire.
"No you don't!" Tyradus shouted. He cast Ebony flesh and conjured a bound sword in his hand. He dispelled the wall of fire and began hacking at his aggressors. The Stormcloaks began cheering Tyradus on. The oncoming arrows hit Tyradus. Some simply bounced off, others cause little damage. Before the soldiers could unsheathe their blades, all was lost for them. Quickly, they had all been killed.
They were all down, but arrows kept flying. Tyradus noticed three Imperial soldiers atop of a tower, firing arrows from a distance. Their accuracy was horrible, and their fire was easy to dodge. Tyradus shot a single fireball at them which missed. It blew up part of the tower wall, causing it to collapse beneath them. They fell to their deaths.
The fight was over. The Stormcloak soldiers kept cheering.
Tyradus cut the binds of Ralof, Ulfric and a few other Stormcloak soldiers.
"Free the rest of them," Tyradus commanded. "The civilians fled into their homes when the fight started. You shouldn't have much trouble."
"Wait!" Ulfric shouted. "You! You have the Voice?"
"The Voice? What are you talking about?"
"Unrelenting Force! The Voice! Were you taught by the Greybeards, like I was?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've never spoken with the Greybeards, I don't know what the Voice is, and I sure as hell don't know why I'm wasting time talking to you! I have to leave, and that's what I'm doing. I'm looking for somebody important."
"How do you expect to find this person so quickly on foot?"
"I'm taking one of the Imperials' horses. They shouldn't be needing them anymore."
"Won't you at least need a map to know where you're going?"
"Finally! Some useful words out of you! I bet they have one somewhere around here. Let's just hope I didn't torch it."
Tyradus walked into one of the towers of Helgen. He grabbed a map off of a table, rolled it up and climbed onto one of the Imperials' saddled horses. "Oh, and by the way, you're welcome for saving you and your soldiers' lives.
Tyradus spurred the horse on. It ran with surprising speed.
This must be one of the white horses, bred in Cyrodiil. The horses bred here in Skyrim are nowhere near as quick!
My first priority is to get far away from Helgen. If any more Imperial soldiers show up, the citizens might inform them that I was the one who ravaged the troop. I would get a bounty of more than 100,000 on my head! Then, I find Kh'aaru. We'll visit our family as planned, and then return to Cyrodiil.
We agreed to meet in Riften, but there's no way in Oblivion that I could read a map.