Recruitment


That evening, our carriage finally arrived in Solitude. Hadvar and I climbed out.

"Thanks for the ride Bjorlam." I thanked the driver.

"My pleasure," he replied before heading back to Whiterun.

We both entered the city through the main gate and made our way to the entrance of Castle Dour. As we entered, we saw General Tullius discussing a situation with a middle-aged Nord woman, clad in a suit of heavy Legion armor in the war room.

"I'm telling you, Ulfric's planning an attack on Whiterun." the woman told General Tullius

"He'd be insane to try. He doesn't have the men," he answered.

"That's not what my scouts report, sir. Every day more join his cause. Riften, Dawnstar, and Winterhold support him."

"It's not a cause. It's a rebellion."

"Call it whatever you like, General. The man's going to try to take Whiterun."

"Jarl Balgruuf…"

"Balgruuf refuses the Legion's right to garrison troops in his city. On the other hand, he also refuses to acknowledge Ulfric's claim."

"Well, if he wants to stand outside the protection of the Empire, fine. Let Ulfric pillage his city."

"General."

"You people and your damn Jarls."

"Sir? You can't force a Nord to accept help, he hasn't asked for."

"If Ulfric's making a move for Whiterun, then we need to be there to stop him. Draft another letter with the usual platitudes, but this time share some of your intelligence regarding Ulfric's plans. Embellish if you have to. We'll let it seem like it's his idea."

"Yes, sir."

"You Nords and your bloody sense of honor."

"Sir."

"Is that Legate Rikke there?" I asked.

"Yes, that is," Hadvar responded. "She's Tullius' second in command and the one who handles the new recruits as you already know."

Hadvar and I both cautiously entered the war room.

"Hadvar, I didn't think you'd make it out of Helgen alive," Tullius said in shock.

"I owe that to Svanhild here." the young Legionnaire chuckled.

"Svanhild? Svanhild Frost-Blade?" Rikke asked. I nodded both times. "By the gods, who would have thought that you would return to your ancestral home, after spending all those years at the Emperor's doorstep?"

"Wait a minute, you know me?" I asked.

"Your father, Hjorik and I were shield siblings in the Great War; not only that, but we were actually twins. so that makes you my niece," she answered.

"How did you know I'd return to Skyrim?"

"Your parents lived a comfortable life in Markarth, until the 178th year of the 4th Era, when those Reachmen who weren't executed or thrown in the mines, began to attack and kill the Nord residents there. Your father really began to fear for your mother, Else's safety. He had good reason to; she was pregnant with you at the time. So your parents both took a carriage to Bruma, where they had you. I remember visiting them, a few weeks after that. They told me that when you come of age or if anything happened to him or your mother, they would send you here to join up with the Legion. I've also heard of your reputation among the people of Skyrim; you're the Harbinger of the legendary Companions warriors' guild, you made Markarth safer by killing Madanach, the king of the Forsworn, you helped the Dawnguard diminish the threat of vampires in Skyrim, and of course everyone knows you as the Dragonborn. Okay, enough talk, I have a little test for you; pass that and we'll talk about you joining the Legion."

"What kind of test?"

"The kind that evaluates your usefulness during... duress. I'm sending you to clear out Fort Hraagstad. If you survive, you'll pass. If you die, then well, at least the halls of Sovngarde will await you."

What's at Fort Hraggstad?

"The ancient Nords built many of the fortresses that dot the landscape of Skyrim. Sadly, most have fallen into disrepair. And nearly all have been overrun with bandits or other vagabonds. Fort Hraagstad is one of the few that remains mostly intact. We're going to install a garrison there, but first, you're going to clean out the bandits that have moved in."

"Oh, I've already cleared out the place."

"Well then, I'll send troops to garrison the fort right away; I'm impressed. Speak to Beirand about getting you outfitted, then come back here and General Tullius will administer the oath."


So I exited the war room and approached the forge where the Nord blacksmith, Beirand was working.

"Seems that there's no end to the needs of the Legion, but what can I help you with, lass?" he said.

"So you make armor for the Legion?" I asked.

"It's almost all I have time for these days. The men training here in Solitude and the troops out in the field, they all need weapons and armor."

"Sounds like you're pretty dedicated to the Empire."

"Well, to be honest, not really. But High King Torygg supported them, and now lady Elisif has thrown in with them. You could say I'm a King's man at heart. Hmph. I guess that's 'Jarl's man' now. My loyalty lies with Solitude. So where Jarl Elisif leads, I follow."

"Oh yes! I forgot to mention, that Legate Rikke said you'd get me kitted out."

"Yep. I have just one question for you. Would you like light armor for scouting detail, heavy armor for full-on combat, or something in between?"

"Considering that I'm a heavy combat gal, I'll go for heavy."

"The Legion doesn't make finer steel anywhere else in Skyrim. If this doesn't keep you from dying, I don't know what will." he gave me a set of heavy Legion armor, as well as a matching sword. "Now, that's it. One free outfit per soldier. You lose that or get it banged up, you'll need to pay like everyone else."


I re-entered Castle Dour, clad in my new armor and overheard another conversation between Tullius and Rikke:

"Tell me again, why I'm wasting men chasing after a fairy tale."

"If Ulfric gets his hand on that crown, it won't be a fairy tale. It'll be a problem."

"Don't you Nords put any stock in your own traditions? I thought the Moot chose the king. We're backing Elisif. When the Moot meets, they'll do the sensible thing."

"Not everyone's agreed to the Moot. You've been here long enough to know that Nords aren't always sensible. We follow our hearts."

"So what - Ulfric gets this crown and then suddenly he's High King?"

"No, it's not as simple as that, but the Jagged Crown would be a potent symbol for his cause to rally around. But, if we found it first..."

"And we gave it to Elisif?"

"In the absence of the Moot, it would further legitimize her claim."

"Perhaps... I'm entrusting you with what resources I can spare. But I'm warning you if this turns out to be a waste of time and men..."

"It won't be a waste."

"Make sure you take your niece here. You can send her back when you get there and find nothing but old bones and cobwebs."

"The Stone-Fist's no fool. He's found the Crown. But we'll get to it first."

Tullius turned his attention back to me.

"Auxiliary Frost-Blade, perfect timing," he said. "Your aunt is suggesting that you both should head out to look for some crown, whatever in Oblivion it's called. But first, it's time for you to take the oath binding you to the service of the Emperor and thus to every citizen of the Empire."

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Well then. Repeat after me. Upon my honor, I do swear undying loyalty to the Emperor, Titus Mede II..."

"Upon my honor, I do swear undying loyalty to the Emperor, Titus Mede II..."

"...and unwavering obedience to the officers of his great Empire."

"...and unwavering obedience to the officers of his great Empire."

"May those above judge me, and those below take me, if I fail in my duty."

"May those above judge me, and those below take me, if I fail in my duty."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empire!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empire!"

"Congratulations, you're now officially a Legionnaire, Just remember, we take care of our own. Once you're in the Legion, you're in it for life." Tullius smiled before making his way to the barracks.

"Welcome to the Legion, Svanhild," said Rikke. "Now you've just been recruited, you get to tag along on a little trip with me."

"What's this trip?"

"Ulfric's right-hand man, Galmar Stone-Fist, has located what he believes is the final resting place of the Jagged Crown. I've already ordered some troops to assemble and wait for us outside Korvunjund, an old Nordic ruin, north of Whiterun."

"What's the Jagged Crown?"

"Well, there's this ancient verse- "Maw unleashing razor snow, of dragons from the blue brought down, births the walking winter's woe, the High King in his Jagged Crown." The Jagged crown dates way back to King Harald's time if not before. Legend has it that the crown is made from the bones and teeth of ancient dragons, and it is said to increase the power of the wearer. Whatever the truth, if Ulfric gets his hands on it, it would be a powerful symbol around which to rally support for his cause."

"How do we know the crown is in Korvanjund?"

"Well, to be frank, we don't. Its location was lost with King Borgas when the Great Hunt killed him while he was off on his Alessian campaigns. Supposedly, his body was brought back to Skyrim and secretly buried with the crown. Knowledge of that location was lost, in the Wars of Succession. But my agents report that Galmar is pretty damned convinced Korvanjund is the tomb of King Borgas. I know Galmar; he was a comrade of mine during the Great War, as was Ulfric himself.."

"Ulfric fought for the Empire?"

"We had been friends since we were children; when Ulfric went to High Hrothgar to train with the Greybeards, I thought I would never see him again. But then, the Great War broke out and soon enough, we were fighting side by side on the battlefield. We were now young adults hoping to eventually spend the rest of our lives together once the war was over. But our hopes were wasted when the White-Gold Concordat was signed."

"That's a shame," I replied. "War can turn the best of friends into the worst of enemies." I began to yawn.

"You look tired," said Rikke. "I can't blame you because it's pretty late. Head over to the Winking Skeever for some food and rest. We'll be heading out right after breakfast."

"Why not in the barracks, like the other Legionnaires?" I muttered.

"Because you're my niece who hasn't really got the chance to know me, so you deserve the best privileges." Rikke smiled.

I approached the exit of Castle Dour and glanced back at the older woman before heading to the inn.