Disclaimer: I don't own the elder scrolls, only the OCs that I'll inevitably make.

Welcome to the first chapter of The Rise, I have a plan for this whole story but I'm open to suggestions; I'll try to upload a chapter as often as I can. If you like this (or even if you don't) review and give suggestions, they'll really help me.

Oh and a little note: Bold means speaking in dragon tongue

Italic means thoughts


I stared intensely at the screen of my TV, the only light source in my almost pitch black room. I was playing Skyrim on my Xbox and I had just gotten myself killed by a bandit. "Ugh, it's been too long since I've played this game, I'm losing my skills." I laughed quietly to myself, what skills? I loaded up a previous save file only to find it had saved at the point of death, I'd lose hours of progress, damn it. I got slowly more and more frustrated with the game as I tried to survive. I failed, a lot.

My anger reached a level I had never experienced by playing a game before, and I've played dark souls, I roared in rage and punched the screen. My hand didn't hit the screen and stop, it just seemed to fall through and I had put too much momentum into this punch so I fell through. Everything went black.

A sensation of falling overtook me until my eyes snapped open. My surroundings shocked me more than anything before in my life. I was in a cart moving slowly down a cobbled road the scent of a forest filled my nose and a chill swept through my body, as if I wasn't wearing my jumper anymore. I looked around to notice someone I recognised. "Ralof? No, that can't be right," he looked at me with confusion evident in his eyes.

"Do I know you, Breton?" wait, Breton? Well, I'm in Skyrim then.

I was lost in thought when Ralof coughed to get my attention, oh right, he asked me a question. "My apologies, I was lost in thought. In response to your question, no you don't know me, but I know you." That confused him but he seemed to accept it. We weren't near Helgen which means I woke up early. The rest of the cart ride was uneventful. We reached Helgen and were shepherded off the cart. One by one they called our names until it was only me left.

Now I assumed that I couldn't exactly make myself into an orc so I was just going to have to pass for a Breton. Hadvar asked my name, perfect a chance to give myself an awesome name like in the movies "my name is Aidan." fuck. I panicked. That opportunity flew away quickly.

After that we were moved to the chopping block. The red-headed Nord barged his way to a quick death and I was called upon next. What if the Alduin doesn't attack? I could die here. I was pushed forward by one of the imperials and made to walk to the block. My head was pushed onto the block and I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid, but I tried to reassure myself, it's ok, he won't kill you but Alduin probably will If you don't get your arse in gear, oh thanks brain.

Right on cue Alduin dropped from the sky and landed on the tower before shouting and calling forth a meteor storm and knocking me off the block. I picked myself up and ran to the tower with Ralof, It was damp and smelt bad but at least it wasn't on fire. "We have to get out of here!" I gathered that already, Ralof. I climbed through the tower slowly, aware of what was fated to happen on the second floor. I stopped Ralof as we neared the floor and confusion was evident on his face; that was until Alduin punched his head through the wall of the tower and breathed flames upon the unlucky Nords trying to clear the rubble. "You have to jump Aidan, we'll catch up when we can." well, here goes nothing. I took a few steps back before running and jumping across into the inn, landing on my feet heavily and falling to my knees, damn that hurt, next time roll you moron. I proceeded to make my way down to the ground floor.

I spotted Hadvar and ran to him while he convinced a child to avoid a slow fiery death, quite easy really. "Still alive prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way." I followed him through Helgen until we reached the entrance to the keep where I immediately sided with Ralof, the Stormcloaks didn't just try to kill me after all, and we entered the keep.

Inside all was quiet and I thanked the, now very real, gods for the silence to calm down and gather my thoughts. I was in Skyrim, a game, and have been placed in the position of the Dragonborn most likely meaning I have the ability to learn shouts. However cool that may be, now is not the time to dwell on such things, first I must make it to Riverwood and I can figure things out in relative safety. I take the gear off a fallen Stormcloak and luckily it fits me. I picked up the axe and swung it about, it was too heavy for me and I felt that I would be useless in the upcoming fight. I asked Ralof if I could swap for his dagger and he agreed; this felt much better and I was certain I could do at least minor damage with this iron dagger. However what works well in theory doesn't always work well in practice. Luckily I didn't have to wait long to test my abilities.

The gate to my left sunk into the floor rather loudly and shocked me; I immediately drew my dagger and prepared myself for battle. My dagger would have little effect against their armour so I used Ralof's aggressiveness to move behind the two imperials and plunged my dagger into the captain's neck, killing her instantly. The ease of which the blade passed through her throat sickened me, I sickened me. I had never even been in a fight before and here I was, stabbing someone in the neck. I removed my blade from her neck and, looking to my right, saw that Ralof had dispatched of the other imperial. The sight of the blood surrounding the bodies and the sensation of stabbing someone in the neck was too much for my stomach to handle and my breakfast left my stomach in a hurry. I wiped my nose and mouth with the rags I was wearing previously. Ralof merely looked at me and said "First time?" I nodded and suggested Ralof check the captain for a key while I took a second dagger, this one made of steel, and cleaned off my first on the rags.

The clothes that the second imperial was wearing, I remembered from playing the game, had a higher armour rating than the cuirass and fur boots I was currently wearing so I took some time to change into those. We left the room shortly after I followed the corridor the imperials came from to acquire an iron sword, which was much lighter than the axe so I felt I could wield it sufficiently enough to deal damage.

I followed Ralof through the damp tunnel and after a few moments the tunnel in front of us collapsed due to Alduin's rage. "Shh, voices, two inside Ralof we need to be quiet." He nods before we creep inside, I hand Ralof the iron dagger while I stick to the steel one. I close the door quietly behind us and move to the wall on the right, motioning for Ralof to follow. The voices were right around the corner and I counted down on my fingers to ambush them. Ralof charged with a battle cry that made me glad I was on his side and I, again, slip behind the heavily armoured one and end his existence, the sickening feeling was still there, though less strong and I believed I could keep the rest of my food down. I looked to Ralof and saw him end the second guard with a swift slice across his neck. "you should take some potions, we'll need them later if there's more guards" I nod and found a few potions around the room, I also ate part of a loaf of bread and washed it down with the wine on the table, it was disgusting but I guess I'd have to learn to like it. I placed the potions in the loops of the belt on the armour, it'd have to do for now. We proceeded down more corridors until we came upon a torture room. Sounds of fighting could be heard and I knew there was no chance of sneaking so I drew my iron sword and prepared myself.

The first man I encountered, the assistant, wielded a mace and was too slow in his swings. I easily dodged his attacks while slicing my sword through the imperial amour, fights seem to hold a sort of grace to them as I nimbly danced past his attacks and landed several attacks around his body. He eventually succumbed to his wounds. The second man I fought was tougher and it was a more memorable fight as it was my first encounter with a magic user. He wielded a sword in one hand and a sparks spell in the other. Our swords collided and before I could try to move around he unleashed his spell and the electricity flowed through my body. I fell to my knees and I saw the smug look on his face as he moved in for the kill. Pain and fear was all I felt in those moments and right before he swung his sword a stormcloak soldier landed a blow to his head with a Warhammer. I had never been happier to see someone's skull crushed. The soldier, who I noticed was a girl, helped me to my feet and asked if I could walk and I nodded, not trusting my words.

After some time I took to relax myself after the near death situation I looked around the room, finding a shield that I put on to defend myself against attacks that I couldn't dodge. I also found a bag to wear so I could carry some supplies like the bread I found earlier that I hadn't finished and the potions, damn, you could've used one after the shock attack to help the healing process, oh thanks captain hindsight, twat. There were a few lock picks in the pack along with some apples, I took the picks and slipped them under my left bracer but left one out to pick the lock on the cell with a dead mage in it. I had seen a few videos on lock picking so I knew the basics and 2 broken lock picks later the door was open. I took the mage's clothes and put the hood on but kept it down, in case it rained, and the robes I folded up and put in my pack, they were too big but I could use them in enchanting or could sell them if I needed money. What really interested me was the spell book by his side, the gold was cool too you know, that was obvious you idiot. The spell book said that it was easy to harness your magical abilities; all you had to do was find the energy in your mind and then will it to do what you want. In this case I had to will it to turn itself into electricity which I could then propel into enemies. I tried what it said and surprisingly it worked I put the book in the pack and after a few strange looks from the Stormcloaks we moved on.

Further down the tunnels was a room filled with imperials, this is going to be tough, I told the two other Stormcloaks to follow the stairs to the right and fight the imperials on the lower level before circling back around to trap the other imperials me and Ralof would fight in a sort-of pincer move. The Stormcloaks quickly agreed after commenting on the strength of the plan. I placed my shield on my back and readied my sparks spell in its place. We charged and executed my plan swiftly, with the two Stormcloaks taking down any resistance to their sweep. Ralof charged in and started hacking away at any imperial who dared to come close. I unleashed my sparks spell at the imperials that were further away, I managed to keep the spell up for a few seconds before it stopped, magicka reserves must be empty, I picked my shield off of my back and charged into the fray. Two soldiers lie dead at Ralof's feet and a third was soon to join them. I ran in and stabbed the soldier through the neck, that makes three then, I pulled my sword out before charging the soldier who I had hit with the sparks. He was still on his knees when I reached him and I ended his suffering with a quick stab to the neck. I turned to follow the path and attack the final few soldiers when an arrow pierced my thigh. The pain was excruciating and I was sent tumbling to the ground. A soldier ran over to me and was about to end my life but I raised my shield and it took the brunt of the attack. Before the soldier could swing again my sword pierced his stomach, he looked down, a mix of rage and pain filled his eyes before sorrow etched itself upon his face. His arms fell limp and his weapon clattered to the ground, I managed to push him off of me, my sword still embedded in his stomach.

I sat myself up without moving my legs, so as to not provoke any more pain from the arrow wound. I looked around, the soldiers were dead and the Stormcloaks were converging on me. Ralof was the first to reach me and asked if I was ok and asked how many fingers he was holding up. I asked if he was counting his thumb too and he slapped me "Now is no time for games! We need to remove this, it's going to hurt and then we'll bandage you up, you'll have to sit out of any fights and we'll get you a healer in Riverwood." I shook my head; we'd need every person able to fight. If magic was simply willing your magical energy to do what you want then maybe I wouldn't need a book to learn a spell I wanted, worth a shot, go for it. That was about as encouraging as my mind could get so I began willing my energy into both hands and commanded it to heal. After a few tense moments of nothing happening my hands lit up with two golden orbs in them.

"Yes! I am the master! Nothing can stop me now!" my joyous cries were stopped by the throbbing pain in my leg and a reminder from my brain, except arrows, then you're screwed. "Ralof, you need to pull the arrow out and then I can heal the wound and carry on fighting." He nodded and instructed the other Stormcloaks to fetch something to bite down on to, and I quote 'stop him for screaming like a new-born babe' real encouraging from the guy you're about to let pull an arrow out of your leg. They were also told to get a bowl of water to wash out the wound before I heal it.

The returned quickly enough and the bowl of water was placed by my thigh and something was put in my mouth to bite on. The female Stormcloak soldier placed her hands on my shoulder and asked if I were ready, it was nice to know that even though we had only met they cared quite a bit for me, well that's what I though anyway, turns out she was doing to that to stop me from moving around while the arrow is pulled out, now that's not to say they didn't care, they wouldn't be helping me if that were the case, but they just didn't care as much as I'd like to think. I nodded to signal them to pull the arrow loose. Ralof began by snapping the arrowhead off; this was when it started to get painful as he proceeded to pull out the arrow shaft quite quickly. I was sure my screams of pain could be heard throughout the keep. The bowl of water was poured onto the wound and I began to heal myself. The hole began to close, the sensation was strange and it itched having your skin grow that fast. After a few seconds the wound closed and all that was left was a circular scar "something to remember, eh?" Ralof stated with a smile, I punched him in the arm before thanking him and the others for helping me. I stood up and tested my leg, it was perfectly fine! It was amazing what magic could do, I'd definitely have to spend some time in Winterhold. I picked up a bow and a quiver full of arrows, I had done some archery a couple years back, I wasn't great but I wasn't terrible either. The quiver fit nicely between my back and the pack and I kept the bow between the quiver and pack with the string going diagonally across my torso.

There was a bridge through a passageway that would eventually lead to the exit. The two Stormcloak soldiers, who I found out, were called Mary and Hort said they would stay and wait for Ulfric. I knew that the bridge would collapse after we crossed it and there was a chance that they would die down here, I wasn't about to let that happen, but how are you going to convince them to come with you without revealing what you are to them?, that was something I'd have to work out. After a few minutes of compiling arguments I decided just to tell them that they would die down here if they didn't leave and that Ulfric would find a way out, at least I hoped he would, after some time spent talking amongst themselves they decided to join us and we walked across the bridge together. After we crossed the bridge it collapsed, just like I knew it would, the sound was deafening but we moved on after Mary and Hort told us how glad they were to decide to follow us.

We entered the cave that the keep attached to and I spotted a coin purse near a skeleton, he won't be needing that, I fastened it to my belt before continuing with the group. We came to an opening and I stopped everyone, I remember this part, frostbite spiders. I mentioned it to the group and they seemed to shudder slightly before readying their weapons. I readied my bow and moved forward cautiously.

I crouched down before nocking an arrow and sending into the first spider I saw, the shot caught him unaware and killed him instantly, the group charged in with their weapons while I stayed back, I hate spiders, I launched a few more arrows, missing a few and only managing to injure those I hit. After a few moments the battle was over with us as the victors. I retrieved as many arrows as I could but most were broken or broke when I tried to pull them out.

We carried on down a side path and I told everyone to crouch down, my excuse was that I could see bear tracks, I was lying, this was just to make sure they didn't wake the bear before we could kill it we moved slowly until the bear was in view. I took a coin purse from a wheelbarrow of wine and put it in my pack, I'd transfer the gold later as it'd be quite noisy. Everyone readied their bows and nocked an arrow and on my mark we fired, the bear died before it could stand. I drew my dagger and moved closer, I removed the arrows from its hide and added the unbroken to my quiver, and then I made an incision along its stomach and began to remove the bear's hide. I rolled the skin up and placed it in my pack to use later for armour. I then removed the bear's claws for use in alchemy but I only managed to remove three whole claws as the rest broke.

We carried on through the tunnel and down a ledge where I spotted a chest with a coin purse and a few extra healing potions. We exited the cave and I breathed in the fresh air before being tackled to the ground as Alduin swooped overhead. "It's ok, he's gone now, and you can get off of me before I suffocate." I was helped up and we began our decent towards Riverwood. The path was long and winding but we eventually reached the standing stones. I'd wanted to see these since I first got sucked in the game. And I had already made my choice; the mage stone. I touched the stone and a strange feeling flowed through my body as a light shot into the sky. I felt, smarter? I couldn't really put my finger on it but something was different and I knew I would be able to learn magic faster than others now. The rest of the path was uneventful except for a few wolves which were dispatched quickly. I skinned the wolves and added their pelts to my pack and we reached Riverwood soon after. I'd say the journey took about an hour and I finished off the bread in my pack as we entered the town. I made it.


Wow. First chapter done, that was really fun to write and I'm going to enjoy writing the rest of it and showing you the story of my character. As I said before I'd love you guys to review and point out any mistakes I made or just give suggestions for the story. I guess that's it for now, see you guys next chapter.