As I looked around after leaving the keep I saw the scorched earth around me. The village that was once Helgen now reduced to ashes by a beast thought to be extinct. Still in the rags that the imperials had given me when I was first captured I began digging through the wreckage.

A few buildings still stood. Though they looked a bit worse for wear. "This will do." I said to myself as I walked into the mayors house. The place had been scorched but it was still in decent shape.

I decided now would be as good a time as any to begin my plan. What was my plan you ask. Simple really. First I'd raise a army. Then I'd take over Skyrim before eventually toppling the empire itself.

Now I know you may be asking. 'What's the point in doing that.' And the answer is simple really. What man doesn't want to rule the world.

Seeing as I was a no name prisoner with no ties to either faction no one would really be alarmed if I wasn't among the escapees.

As far as anyone was concerned Helgen would be abandoned and the bodies of the dead would be forgotten. As for how I would fund this operation it was simple.

If the mayors house was in tact that meant the cities reserves were as well. Coupled with what I could find among the corpses it'd be enough to hire a few sell swords to get my army started.

And with everyone preoccupied with the war between the imperials and the stormcloaks no one would concern themselves with some no name wonderer slowly fixing up Helgen.

By the time anybody figured out what I'm doing this place would be fortified with armed guards.

After all bandits take over old forts all the time with no worries. First thing first though. I'd have to find me some decent armor and a weapon before approaching any sell sword.

I searched the rubble and found just war I was looking for. The village armory. Every village had one for times like these. Granted the weapons and armor weren't as good as the holds they would do for now.

I dawned a set of leather armor and strapped a imperial sword to my waist. In my travels I had learned a few spells from other travelers such as the flame and healing spells. Knowing each of the imperials outpost contained a wizard I figured eventually I'd stumble upon something else in town but for now this would do.

Stealing the key from the watchtower I locked the gates behind me and set off to find my soldiers. If I headed west I had heard of a man in Marthrol that would fight any battle for you for a few hundred septims.

Deciding that would be my best option I headed west to find him. Imagine my surprise when only two miles into my journey I was stopped by bandits in iron armor.

"May I help you?" I asked.

The woman in front spoke up. "Ya you can help by handing over four hundred gold to use our road." She demanded.

"Now miss. You could try and take the gold from me. You might even succeed. But I assure you not all of your men will make it out alive. Or you could come work for me. " I responded calmly.

"Work for you. Doing what exactly?"

"Consider it mercenary work. All you have to know for now is you'll make a lot more if you do. If your interested in making my base in what used to be Helgen. If you wish to join me camp out near the gates and wait for my return."

She sat thinking for a moment before responding. "Alright we'll give you a chance. But if we don't make double what we asked you for in two weeks I'm taking your head." She said coldly.

"Deal. Now you wouldn't happen to have a horse I could use?" I asked. She whistled and a brown horse came galloping in from the hill above. I climbed on and looked down at her. "I'll be back in about a week. Until then you're free to do as you please." She nodded as I took off down the road. 'This is it. After years of planning I'm finally beginning. Look out world Berethor is coming.' I grinned riding away