Spryo's Journal
By
Megaman97
Prologue
It had taken a few weeks to get into Skyrim illegally from Hammerfell. Skyrim is an old land and home to the Nords a hardy and stubborn people. The time of my arrival was in 312 2nd night of the month of Rain's Hand. In this land and all the lands we used sharpened swords tempered and sharpened in the best forges. It is a place of harsh snowy gales and home to the biggest mountain in the world. This is where the story takes place but where I come from its different. My old home in the harsh desert with the rolling mounds of sand dunes over the vast landscape. Now he had to admit that while living there it was tough but had to leave under an order from the chief. He was to go to Skyrim and see if the Nords land was ripe for taking. This was supposed to be an easy infiltration and then me Spryo could head back home. While going across a common road to what is believed to be a town called Riverwood. While Spryo was checking his supplies and his map he heard talking up ahead. He checked if his sword was well oiled then moved off the path to check who the voices belong to. He had been told that there was to be a war happening in Skyrim. That's why the chief had sent him. To see which side was weaker during the end the pounce on the unsuspecting side. Now back to Spryo as he slowly snuck up on a small but strong group of soldiers. By their colors of blue he suspected that the patrol group of ten was on the Stormcloaks side. There were too sides to this war the Stormcloaks and Imperials. The Stormcloaks were led by the infamous Ulfric Stromcloak. The Imperials were led by the ok General Tulius. The war was fought for political and religious reasons but that long explanation can be left for another time. As he stealthy came across the group there was the infamous Jarl of Windhelm himself. Just when he was deciding whether to confront them or not they were surrounded by imperial troops. They last thing he remembered during the quick fight was a pommel of a sword hitting his head.
Chapter 1
As I slowly opened my eyes I realized that I was moving. I was now in a different part of Skyrim with 4 other men in the back of a horse drawn carriage. Their hands where bond but the leader of the infamous group of Stormcloaks was gagged and bond. As I was pondering over why he was gagged the man with dirty blond hair acknowledged that I was awake and gave me a friendly greeting. I gave him a nod but given are current predicament I didn't see anything to be happy about. As we continued the man introduce himself as Ralof. Then a horse thief who had been quiet the moment before was now blaming Ralof and his band of Stormcloaks. I soon drifted of thinking of home and where we were being taken. Then the horse thief inquired about the man with the gag on. Before Ralof could answer the question the Imperial guiding the carriage told us to shut up. Completely ignoring the Imperial driver Ralof explain he was with the band of Stormcloaks and that was their leader. I of course knew this from the briefing the chief had given me. But then I thought that if the caught the leader weren't we going to a chopping block. Just as I thought of this impending doom the thief voiced what I was thinking in a very panicked voice. Then Helgens towers loomed overhead and it sent an ominous feeling down my spine. As we passed through the small town we were watched as if we were animals. I did not like the prospected of dieing here after being falsely named as an enemy. Maybe I could explain that I crossed illegally and just pay the fine. I was jerked out of my thoughts as the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Then someone called to us saying that we had to get off the carriage and tell them our names. They already knew Ulfric and as he walked toward the block he walked with a defiance of a man who was willing to die for his belief. Ralof listlessly said his name and sauntered over to the line of people for the block. Then it was the thief's turn but he yelled that he wasn't supposed to be here and ran down the road we had come. Not even ten seconds down the road an arrow sprouted from his back. I knew it was an instant kill and that there archer was good because of the pool of blood around the thief. So I decided against running and as the called me up I said my name with no emotion. He promised my body parts would be returned to Hammerfell. Since I was last I followed the captain to the line surrounding the chopping block. The General (the one mentioned in the prologue) asked the local priest to give us our last rights. I zoned out thinking of home and the uncompleted mission. Then I saw a man who was completely defiant and wanted to get it over with. He demanded his death be quick and wished his brothers in arms a farewell and that he would save a spot at the feasting table in Sovngarde.
Chapter 2
As he walked up the Legate (second in command) set him on his knees as the executioner readied his axe. He said his last words and the next thing we knew his head rolled into a basket put there before they started. Then the Legate looked at me and I knew I was screwed. She said that the Redguard yes me was next. I silently cursed her and slowly walked toward my impending doom. Then we heard the sound of giant beating wings. We all looked around for the source of the sound but seeing nothing continued. Then we heard a faint roar but chose to ignore it. As he got ready to strike get this a dragon landed on the tower behind him. Someone screamed dragon but I barely noticed because the dragon seemed to be staring at me and judging me. Then it roared a mighty powerful roar the literally shock the heavens. Meteors started falling and I was knocked over but amazingly unscratched. I heard someone called me and the voice sounded familiar. I looked up (remember my hands are still bond) and see Ralof free and holding a war axe. I forced myself up and ran toward a nearby tower when one of those evil fire balls of doom nearly hit me. I ran and jumped through the open door which was immediately closed behind me. I got up to see Ulfric and Ralof finishing a conversation. Ulfric was going solo while Ralof and I tried to find another way to escape the dragon. I was about to ask if he could cut the bonds off but he took off up the stairs and I had no choice but to follow. We were part of the way up the tower steps when the dragon burst through the wall and breathed a long breath of fire. Then it stopped seeming satisfied with its work it flew off. I felt a little lucky but focused on finding a way out without getting burned to a crisp or eaten. Then Ralof suggested that we jump through the hole in the wall and on to the 2nd floor of a house right next to us. I was a little skeptical at first but agreed to go first after seeing a hole in the house. Ralof said he'd follow. I jumped but with my arms still bound I barely landed up right. I ran and jumped through a hall in the 2nd floor wooden floorboards. I looked behind and didn't see Ralof and I figured he got caught up with something. I ran out a nearby door to see a life or death scene. There was a small boy that I swore I'd seen from the carriage. He stood in front of the very dragon that had been attacking the whole time. When the dragon seemed to be ready to spout fire again I saw a heroic scene. An imperial soldier seemed to solidify out of nowhere and grabbed the boy barely getting the boy and himself out of the way. He saw me and gestured me to come forward and I complied. He ordered the boy to stay with an older man and said to go with him if I wanted and chance at living. So I followed close behind and we zipped past a few burnt homes. As we were passing a brick wall a webbed wing appeared in front of me and scared me. This webbed hand was none other than the dragons. Then as quick as it happened it flew up and away again to wreak more havoc. We ran through a nearly completely burned home and ran out into a courtyard were chaos was finding its new home. The man and I now identified as Hardvar ran into another courtyard to a tower that had yet to be severely damaged. About half way through the courtyard we ran into Ralof. After a quick exchange of comments I was left with a choice with not enough time to decide. I would either follow Ralof into the tower or Hardvar. Imperial or Stromcloak which one to trust to help me escape. I was shaken out of my thoughts when the dragon roared and reminded me where I was. I had a very tough decision to make.
Chapter 3
After some seriously quick thinking (think I broke the record) I choose Ralof for reasons which would be explained later. I ran towards him and used my shoulder to bash the door open and dived inside. Once inside we inspected our surroundings. There were several banners hanging around and a dead body on the other side of the large room. I then requested that he finally cut my bonds since he still had his war axe. But instead he took out a knife and cut them. By now I trusted him and respected his skill with the axe. Then we inspected the body and found that it had: a Stormcloaks cuirass, boots, and gauntlets. Since I was in ragged clothes given to prisoners I quickly switched out. I also noticed a war axe near the body. Although I loved to use swords it would have to do until we got out of here or I found one. While given the axe a few practice swings Ralof saw a door we hadn't noticed and checked the lock. There was also one on the other side we both decided to check out. But as he reached it we heard voices and hid on either side of the doorway. As they neared the door I recognized one of the voices. One was the voice of the legate while the other I had no idea. As I remembered how the legate had called my name and not the masterminds made me think of vengeance. So I silently got out the small war axe while Ralof brought out two of his own. As they stepped through the threshold we pounced. It was pretty quick because it was 2 on 2 and we had the advantage of surprise. Before I finished the legate, she begged for mercy. Usually I'm very merciful but then I remembered she showed no mercy when I told her I was innocent. So I finished her with little to no remorse. I then realized that they fought with swords and had heavy armor. With heavy armor I could absorb more damage and laden out my own. So I quickly changed while Ralof scouted ahead. I also took the sword which I swung and slashed with the precision of a master. With that we set off ready to fight off any opposing threats blocking our way.
Chapter 4
We went through the door the previous 2 Imperials had made their appearance. We found a passage that lead down and I started to feel hope. As we got down the stairs a part of the ceiling collapsed and nearly crushed us both. Luckily there was a door a few feet from the rumble left unscathed. We were about to walk through when all of a sudden I heard voices on the other side and from the sound of it there were 2 of them. I whipped out my sword and crouched down to muffle my approach as much as I could. I silently opened the door with Ralof doing the same thing as I was to sneak up on them. I was getting close when my luck ran thin and one of them turned around. I thought to myself "you can't be serious. Using the mastery of the blade I charged both to end it quickly. Even though I was shorter than most I was the strongest person in my village and so they underestimated me. Ralof took one while I took the other. I messed with him a bit making him think he had the advantage. Then I saw Ralof finish his and decided to end it. I stabbed him in the abdomen then pulled out only to spin and slash him in the same area. Then I noticed that a barrel was slightly open and decide to check it out before checking the dead men. In there I scored several potions and other supplies. Then I checked the men for keys and other valuables. All I found were a few gold pieces while Ralof scouted ahead. Once I caught up we continued. As we were going down some stairs we heard fighting up ahead. Ralof and I burst into and executioners room to the sight of some Stormcloaks fighting the executioner. (Yes the same one that was about to chop my head off earlier.) I grew furious and charged forward to help taken down. With the combined force of three people he was beaten fairly easily. Once downed we checked the cells for anything useful. In one cell I saw gold coins and a book of some sort. Having some skill with magic I recognized it to be a destruction spell book of some sort. (A/N: for people not familiar with the series the spells are centered on several schools of magic: Illusion, Alteration, Destruction, and Conjuration.) Knowing a spell could help later I asked if anyone of the men and women around had a look pick. Ralof had 13 which I gladly accepted. After the first few attempts I learned that these locks where different from the ones at home. After 4 failed attempts I finally got the door open. Once inside I saw a dead mage, 6 pieces of gold and the book. Knowing I was more of a warrior than a mage I took the book and gold and left the mages body after checking it for gold. Once done I joined Ralof and a woman that had fought with us at a doorway. I saw it lead down and hopefully out. With that we entered ready to face anything to get out of here alive and unscathed.
Chapter 5
As we descended down I got the feeling it was going to be easy to get out if there was an exit. We ran around a corner only to meet 3 Imperial troops that started to fire arrows. I ran past the first to engage the third one. While charging forward I toke in my surroundings. We were fighting in a small cavern with oil in one section in the room. I got an idea and with the little magic I knew I summoned fire to my left hand and ran past him. Of course he took the bait and ran into my trap. I got out of the oils radius and let a stream of fire loose from my left hand. The unknowing Imperial was left with a surprised look on his face when he burn to a crisp. I noticed my comrades were finished fighting and also nearly burned the woman as well. I apologized then noticed a tunnel seeming to lead deeper into the underground passageways. The women offered to stay back and guard while Ralof and I scouted forward. We went separate ways each wishing the other luck in their escape. Further down the passage we ran into giant frostbite spiders that with are skills we easily dealt with. A little further down we found a drawbridge. I pulled the lever and the drawbridge fell down and we continued. Before even stepping five feet into the cavern we heard a crash and boulders destroyed the small bridge. We knew the woman wouldn't be escaping that way. That is if we didn't run into a dead end first. But we continued on never giving up hope. As we continued on my hope raised as I saw a light signifying a way out. I was about to run forward toward to freedom. When a firm hand on my shoulder stopped me. Knowing it was Ralof I was about to ask the meaning of this when he then made a gesture to stay quite. I complied and checked my surroundings again and was surprised to see a sleeping cave bear. Ralof then whispered that we had 2 options. We could either try and sneak past it or shot an arrow from the spot we were at. But being the warrior I am I ran forward and before the bear could move I stabbed its side effectively killing it. Ralof looked at me like I was crazy while I just shrugged. We then ran towards the light and outside into the harsh land of Skyrim.
