"Welcome Dragonborn." A powerful voice woke up Drahder from his slumber, his, now long grey hair flat against the floor, and his grey eyes full of wisdom slowly opened to find himself staring at the ceiling of the Hall of Valor. He remembered seeing this hall, years ago. When he came to kill Alduin, the World Eater and the Firstborn of Akatosh. Drahder sat up, hopeful to find himself amongst fellow warriors but found the hall empty
Well, not completely empty.
"Over here Dragonborn." Drahder turned to see a large man, half the height of a giant, long brown hair, brown eyes and wearing an armoured plateskirt with a large loin cloth, studded vambraces, one longer than the other, brown boots with plates on top of them, and a metal torc around his left bicep and around his neck. Across his back is an ancient Nord battleaxe, the giant had a small golden glow around him. Drahder smiled fondly at the guardsmen of the Whale-bone Bridge, and shield-thane to Shor himself.
Tsun, the god of trials against adversity.
"Hello again, Tsun." Drahder said. Tsun just smiled and nodded in respect to the Dragonborn.
"Aye, the same for me Dragonborn. However, our long waited reunion will have to be cut short." Tsun told Drahder with a sad smile on his face, making the aged warrior frown.
"Is something wrong old friend? Can I help?" He asked making the god laugh.
"Always eager to help aren't you, old friend?" The god then looked over Drahder's shoulder, and...glared? . "Do you think he can accomplish your problems?" Drahder turned to see seven...beings that put the Dragonborn on edge.
One was an elderly man. His hair and beard were long and looked soft, he wore white robes that looked a moth priest. In the elderly man's right hand was a scale, and in the other was a longsword.
Next to the elderly man was a women, her hair was dark brown and she wore a black and red dress but the dress looked noble in style. She had a bundle of blankets in her arms, as if a small baby was clothed by them.
The third person was a tall man, though a giant would be more appropriate, covered head to toe in steel armour with a massive greatsword. He stood straight and tense, ready to raise his greatsword.
The fourth person was a young woman, with a face and body that defined the definition of beauty. However unlike the the first woman, this one didn't have anything in her arms. She wore a purple dress with a white string to tighten the waist of the dress.
The fifth person was another woman but this one was old, older then the elderly man. She had a hunchback with a dark purple, almost black, cloak covering her ancient form. In one of her hands was a small branch, like it was just broken off a tree, which she used as a walking stick. In her other hand was a lit lantern, it was bright and a perfect blend of orange and yellow.
The sixth was a man in his twenties, soot covered his face, he was bald and had a full black beard. He also had burns covering all of his clothing. A leather apron with a white tunic, black breeches and boots.
The final one. It wore a black, hooded figure with a shining scythe at his side, bone feet and hands were the only things appearing out of the cloak.
Drahder looked at the seven beings for a few moments before looking at Tsun with a raised eyebrow before pointing his thumb at the beings.
"Who in oblivion are they?" Drahder asked Tsun who launched a boisterous laugh filling the hall with its infection. It made Drahder crack a smile even a few of the beings laughed, mostly the old man, beautiful woman, old lady and the one that looked like a blacksmith.
However one did not find it funny, and it was the one covered in armour.
"YOU THINK WE ARE A JOKE TO YOU?!" A different aura covered his large frame. It was dark, filled with anger and bloodlust. Drahder, at being hit with the dark aura, fell to his knees, no longer laughing or smiling but breathing heavily. Like he had been underwater for hours and just felt the sweet aroma of the air.
A large shadow shielded Drahder from the aura, he looked up to see Tsun's back and saw he was ready to defend the Dragonborn.
"Belay your attack Warrior! Don't forget you are here at the degree of my lord, Shor! If you continue this, I will throw you out of this hall and back into your world!" Tsun ordered the armoured man, who apparently was called Warrior, with his own aura, except this was protective and solid like a shield.
"Warrior stop!" A feminine but equally powerful voice called out. Drahder looked up to see the woman with the bundle of blankets. The Warrior stopped his aura attack, crossed his arms and looked away with a grunt of annoyance.
'What a milk-drinker.' Drahder insulted in his mind. He stood up to his full height wih a loud sigh.
"So, who are you and why are you in Shor's realm?" Drahder questioned the seven beings.
First the old man spoke, a stern but fair voice spoke from his throat. "My name is the Father, I am prayed to seek justice, to protect someone in battle and to judge fairly."
The woman with the blankets, a comforting smile and protective eyes. "I am the Mother, I am prayed for mercy and to protect loved ones."
The giant made of armour. "I'm the Warrior, maggot, prayed to for strength and courage in battle."
The beautiful woman, a disarming smile on her lips. "I am the Maiden who is prayed to protect young women from harm."
The old woman with a wise smile and question filled look. "The Crone is my name young man, payed to for wisdom and guidance."
The one that looked like a blacksmith sighed and simply said. "I am the Smith, no idea why but I'm prayed for strength on some occasions, and is known as the 'Mender of Broken Things'."
And the last one, the cloaked but dangerous figure. One that seemed the most powerful out of all of them. His voice like a whisper but scratchy that put the made other six beings visibly uneasy. "And I am the Stranger. I am not prayed for anything, I carry the souls to the other side as their bodies fail."
The six beings calmed down but Tsun wasn't affected, he just continued to glare at them, as if they were about to launch another attack against Drahder. The Father continued for his group.
"We are here mortal, to ask for your help on our plane of existence."
A pause happened before snickering escaped Drahder mouth, the Warrior was about to reach for his sword but the Mother held his hand, stopping him from doing so. When Drahder was able to stop his snickering, he asked a simple and honest question.
"Why should I?" At their insulted and confused faces, Drahder elaborated. "I mean, why should I help gods who are not my own? You are stranger gods, who don't even have champions of their own, so you try and take another world's champion. I've paid enough blood and enough tears to care about another world's problems!" Drahder glared at the seven deities. The Warrior's dark aura grew to terrifying heights, however Tsun's equally powerful protective aura grew in response.
"Warrior! We are not here to start a God War, we almost didn't survive the last one!" The Mother chastised Warrior, who actually stiffened when the words 'God War' was said.
"God War?" Drahder questioned but was ignored as the Mother and the Warrior stared at each other. Again, Warrior scoffed and looked away while crossing his arms. The Mother turned to Drahder with a comforting smile and eyes that showed understanding.
"Drahder Axe-Gale, you are mortal blessed with the soul of a dragon from the god of time, Akatosh. You have protected the realm of Nirn, protected its people whether they be mer or men, for nearly five decades. Even if it was just a beggar in the street or if it was a Jarl, a King or an Emperor. You have always put others before yourself, so they don't have to suffer. Yes, we are not your gods and our people are not yours to stand by. However they are people just like the ones in Nirn, and they will suffer. Some innocent, some not. However their suffering shall be a terrifying one, their hopes and dreams, what makes them living beings will be gone. Will you leave them to that fate?"
Drahder didn't know what to say, how could he? She knew, she somehow knew that he already thought of helping these god's people. It was a problem for him, even when he was growing up, Drahder always protect those who couldn't help themselves.
"Grrrr." The Dragonborn growled, knowing what his heart wanted him to do. Though he did have a question before he decided.
"If I come to your world, would I come back here when I complete my quest? Back to Sovngarde?" It was Tsun who answered him.
"Yes Dragonborn. Your place in Sovngarde has already been assured for the deeds you have done, so do not worry." Drahder nodded before breathing in and out slowly.
And gave his answer.