CHAPTER 1: THE BORDER
Skyrim and the Elder Scrolls series don't belong to me, its a property of Zenimax Media and Bethesda Softworks, but Aetius, Velger, Augvia and Varal belong to me. Ulfric Stormcloak does not. Anyway engough about that, lets get on with the second chapter of Aetius's Journal!
After my 'heroic fight' with the Bandits I limped my way over to the local healers in Cheydinhal. A few weeks later I decided that Cyrodiil seemed to small. I needed somewhere new, somewhere I hadn't been.
Hammerfell seemed a bit too hot and dangerous, spefically due to the fauna there. High Rock had incredible vistas and game, however the Counts there would not take kindly to me hunting upon their lands. Black Marsh was out of the question due to countless diseases the swamps have, not to mention the lack of game as well as the fact that some of the people there were not exactly Empire friendly; Morrowind got destroyed the Red Mountain, a local volcano, which left it a land of ash and death, to put it mildly I wouldn't go there for a holiday. Although the majority the Dunmer were gifted Solstheim as an act of 'kindness' by the Nords of Skyrim. Although from what I hear half of the island was destroyed by ash and fire from the Red Mountain.
So, that left me with one country, Skyrim. The majority of the people there are pro Empire plus due to the strong military presence of the IV Legion stationed there, this meant I always had a fall back plan in case the entire population somehow turned on me. Which was high tail it back to Cyrodiil and let the Legion sort it out. Or if push came to shove I could always claim asylum as an Imperial citizen, which would get me refuge in Castle Dour, an Imperial stronghold.
Most likely, that wouldn't happen. However it was always good to have a fall back plan.
I did move out of my parents house, although I just moved several streets across the road to a local Inn called 'The Sheeps Head'. Once there I gathered the rest of my meagre earnings from my room in the Inn and told the Tavern keeper Velger, I wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. This earnt me an inquiry into where I was going, I informed him I was to leave for Skyrim. This netted me a free bottle of Alto Wine, as according to Velger it was a 'goodbye gift'.
Once I had my wash and payed my tab, I left the bar; unto the paved streets of Cheydinhal, the high houses there casted a perpetual shadow over some parts of the city. I informed my parents I would be leaving Cyrodiil altogether and setting my sights for Skyrim. This netted me 'goodbye hugs' from both Varal and Augvia. They told me that they would miss me and to write frequently to them, which I said I would.
Once that was done I headed to the marketplace of Cheydinahl and went to the local Snyod mages guild. After the Oblivion Crisis the Mages Guild was looked upon dissfavourbly, due to the Mythic Dawn members (who started the crisis) using magic. This lead to public pressure for the Mages Guild to be shut down, to make a long story short they disbanded, but they split into two factions who were the Snyod and the other being the College of Whisperers. Many looked disfabourlly upon the College of Whisperers due to them making use of Deadra.
The Synod guild in Cheydinhal was always a pain to navigate around, it was always stuffy and its bookcases were constantly packed with spells and scrolls; in this Snyod Guild there were bookcases every step of the way. Which meant that moving around required a great deal of finesse and agility.
Using my savings I was able to acquire an enchanted map. While I have heard of enchanted items such as armour and weaponry, this one was different. According to the Snyod researcher there it would literally show me the world, as if I were a Dragon flying up from Aetherius, it wouldn't tear or break apart if exposed to rain, sleet or snow.
Although I dismissed these claims, that was before he opened the enchanted map. When the Snyod researcher opened it, it was a different experience. It was as if I was viewing Cyrodiil from up above, the land, clouds, and cites were shown, it was a surreal experience. To put it simply, I bought the map.
Instead of buying way on a caravan to Anvil, and once there I would buy passage upon a ship bound for the city of Solitude. I decided to change that plan and find a caravan that was heading for the border of Skyrim, my reasoning being it would be cheaper.
So with the map in my pocket and a few hundred Septims left I looked up at the sky, it was late afternoon. I headed to the commerce sector in Cheydinhal, once I was there I booked passage with a caravan belonging to the East Empire Company, although this left me devoid of any Septims. The caravan was leaving early in the morning.
Unfortantly I had to return the bottle of Alto Wine to Velger. Unfortunately I decided it would be a good idea to start drinking at the tavern when I got back. When the day dawn I realized that was a REALLY bad idea, because it felt like there was an entire legion going to war in my head, to make a long story short, I had a hangover. Fortunately Velgar gave me back my bottle of Alto Wine the next morning. (I'm probably never going to touch wine again)
I left the residental district and was bound for the gates, my main purpose was to locate the Caravan that would be taking me to Skyrim, this was a hard task, the gates to Cheydinhal are constantly packed with Guardsmen, Caravans and members of the local Fighters Guild. I was able to locate the caravan, by shouting over the constant noise of chatting and horse neighs.
Unfortunately, for me none of the people in the Caravan seemed to like listening to me talking constantly, the just kept to themselves and occasionally scanned the horizon.
The caravan journey was uneventful, we reached the border in a few weeks, believe me the Jerral Mountain pass is inhumanly cold. Plus the constant checking and re checking of my Imperial Citizenship Papers by the Census and Excise Office that was stationed at the border. This made everything a lot slower (quite literally).
Three hours later, night had fallen and the bureaucrats at the C & E Office got permission to let the caravan and I through. It's as if the people there can't tell their arse from quill!
I was bloody cold trudging through the damnable cold and the constant stares by Legionnaires were making me feel more paranoid than safe.
Fortunately for us a few miles after the C & E Office there was a Tavern, its name was 'The Sleeping Dragon'. Contrary to many taverns across Cyrodiil (whose floors don't reek of piss) this one was clearly a Nordic Tavern, instead of using a dammed chamber pot. we were told if nature calls we would have to "leave and squat".
Nordic beds, for a lack of a better word are basic. And the rooms in the Tavern were essentially small, just about enough space to fit a single, small cupboard and one bed.
That's not even the worst part, it was hardly a bed! It was just a bunch of furs thrown over each other with a straw mattress!. Although i've slept in worse places, but the taverns bed ranked among the top ten. Fortunately I had my finely Cyrodillian made Bedroll, so I slept pretty soundly. As expected I had to pay the room fee the next day.
Unfortunately no one in my damned caravan had roused me from my less than pleasant slumber. They left me behind! Damn them all to Oblivion!. I made a rash decision, I decided I would waste no time I would get to Falkreath (which was the town just beyond the border)
When I left the tavern and started trekking to Skyrim, I put a good few miles between me and the Tavern. I hate it when I think 'it can't get more worse than this' because that's what I was thinking, a few miles later the winds pick up, it was a damned snowstorm! Have you ever tried running in twenty seven inches of snow? Its hard work, and when your shielding your face with your arms (and swearing) it becomes even more harder.
Fortunately at the time fate smiled upon me, as I spied a group of (what seemed to be) mercenaries. Although I found it odd that they were all wearing the same colour cuirass, although i've seen odder things. I thought these mercenaries had uniform colours to distinguish themselves from one another. There leader introduced himself as 'Ulfric Stormcloak' if i'd have known the trouble I was about to get into, I would have ran screaming back to Cyrodiil.
The mercenaries were heading towards Falkreath, and as luck would have it I was heading that way, so I joined with them to make it to Falkreath alive.
The mercenaries didn't stick to any major roads and seemed almost paranoid to a point. The mercenaries and I finally left the Jerral Mountains. The snow finally thinned out and the weather got slowly warmer. Finally I had made it to Skyrim! The air smelt clean and the woodlands looked sublime!
As we were walking through the forests of Falkreath we came to a cross roads, although the sign was nestled bellow a rocky outcrop. Once we were there Ulfric took a look at the sign, then not a few seconds later we were ambushed! I was expecting bandits, not my own countrymen! It was a bloodbath, the mercenaries were getting cut down, either by arrows or through the stabbing thrusts of the Legionnaires. This presented me an ample opportunity to hide under the bodies of fallen mercenaries, which I did.
At that moment I started screaming, I didn't know why the Legion was attacking the mercenaries but I didn't want to stick around either. It seemed the battle was going in the Legions favour and Ulfric and the remaining mercenaries threw down their weapons.
I started shouting "I'm an Imperial citizen held hostage! You have to help me!" I was dragged out of the mass of bodies I hid under. My bow and quiver was taken from me. I was dragged in front of the Imperial Captain who led the ambush.
I showed her my Citizenship Papers. She just bloody laughed and called me "A Stormcloak sympathiser" she then proceeded to rip up my Citizenship Papers!
She then told the men under her command that I was a plain clothes Stormcloak solider, this got me knocked out by the Legionnaires.
When I next woke up I was on a cart surrounded by Imperial Legionnaires.
I hope you enjoyed reading that as I enjoyed writing it, per usual constructive criticism is welcome!