Ch 4: First Contact

The Vith Ah towered over the other ships as it sailed into the harbor. Jod and his men were all armed to the teeth, as they prepared themselves for first contact. The many mercenaries, mages, friends, and comrades that Jod had met throughout his life were equipped with a vast range of armor from enchanted mage robes to leather armor, all the way to the heavy yet durable orc and Ebony Armor, with their choice of weapons. Though they came in peace, they were ready for any situation that may arise.

"Gods, this is the ugliest city I have ever seen… and smelled." Vorstag muttered as he gagged once again as he saw a river of shit, piss, and who knows what emptying itself into the harbor. Not even Riften was this atrocious, when Jod and himself would walk through the Ratway to get a drink and Jod would get a new job at the Ragged Flagon. From what he could see the poor and the homeless were worse off, as he saw a pack of dogs eating a corpse in an alley.

'This city will eat you and spit you out if you have your guard down. I have a bad feeling about this, Ysmir may my blade be sharp.'

As Vorstag was about to tell Jod about this a garrison of men on horseback who he assumed were the city guards marched towards the dock. Jod walked out to meet them, and Vorstag and the others were his shadows as there band of misfit warriors began to meet the city guard. The silver dragon met the red dragon in a tense stand off, until a red haired man approached them with a golden pin of a hand.

"I am Lord Jon Connington, Hand of the King. In the name of King Aerys the Second, I order you to state your business. Who are you and why do you fly the dragon sigil?"

"We have come seeking refuge from a Great War. We-" Jod barely managed to get out before a chorus of hissing stopped him.

"What in seven hells are you? A talking lion lizard?" A soldier yelled, his hand grasping the crossbow tightly.

"My name is Jod, Thane of Whiterun and I am an Argonian from Skyrim. We have come seeking a new land to call home, though I assure you we come peacefully… and you've probably have never seen an Argonian judging by the look on your face, or elves and orcs?" Jod calmly responded as he noticed their faces of shock. Thankfully the crossbows were no longer pointed in his direction.

"No we have not, nor have we heard of the land you call Skyrim. We will escort you to our king, though we ask that you leave most your men on the ships, as we will not able to accommodate all your men. As well we ask that you leave your weapons on the ship."

Jod looked at his guards and nodded, and removed his ebony sword, though he kept Spell Breaker. As he gave his sword to a legionnaire and gave the command to guard the ship. Jod, Onmund, Mjoll the Lionness, Vorstag, Erandur and Lob took off. They marched up to the castle and saw if one took their eyes off the castle, you could see the fearful and hungry citizens of the city. The squalor of the market place made Helgen look like a lavish city...after Alduin chose the city to herald his return. The higher they got however the nicer the building were, with a strong presence of the local guards with gold cloaks.

As they entered onto the castle grounds and walked through the gardens the rich and powerful were frantically whispering as they passed by. Pointing at Jod and his companions in shock, a dull thud made Jod turn around and saw a young woman on the ground who fainted. A low rumble of thunder that Lob calls a laugh echoed of the courtyards, the other lords and ladys ran away. The laughter of the men and women however didn't bring a smile to Jod, as they were being stalked.

Jod noticed due to his training under the Dark Brotherhood, there were being followed. A child pacing them through the trees, a maid walking through the hallway above them. A gardener who was trimming the same spot for ten seconds now. The way they stared at Jod and his companions unnerved him, feeling like a wounded elk seeking shelter while unknowingly entering the bear den. Twin wooden doors with golden knobs in the shape of a three headed dragon were opened before them, and inside was a majestic throne room.

Pedestals lined the walls with Dragon skulls from the size of a small apple, and grew to the size of Odahviing. A gasp from Vorstag caught his attention and noticed everyone looking up. A skull that even made the legendary Dovahkiin shudder in fright.

'By the gods, this monster could have easily beaten Alduin in combat. It's tooth is as large as I am, and I have no doubt that it's maw could engulf a man on horseback. Thank the Gods it has already died, but that being said, are there still dragons roaming the skies in this land that are as large as him. If so than we have to be build ballista towers for every town and village.' Jod thought to himself, however even the skull of that monstrous beast was not near as shocking as the creature sitting on the throne.

A throne made entirely out of swords, and even the steps were made of swords. A throne that towered over everyone inside it, it would have made any normal man or woman into an imposing figure, a majestic king with the swords of his enemies. However this was not the case as their eyes rose to the top and a pitiful excuse of a man sat above them.

He looked like the decaying draugrs that roam the ancient tombs of Skyrim. White stringy hair covered most of his face and back. Gnarled fingernails stretched like a dagger, open sores and cuts laced his body as Jod noticed the blood stains on the tips of the throne. And when he spoke it sounded as though he was in the presence of Sheogorath in an unpleasant mood.

"Have you brought me some exotic pets my Hand." a raspy and cruel voice cut through the air, sounding like the husband of the Night Mother.

"No your grace, I have brought the leader of the fleet that arrived at king's landing. This is Ser Jod, Thane of Whiterun." Lord Conington said as he turned to Jod. "I present to you King Aerys, Second of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm".

"It is an honor to meet you King Aerys I am"-

"Do you lack manners as well as looks lizard, it is customary to bow before your king!"

Before Jod could reply the door opened with a thunderous boom and in marched a man wielding a steel sword while wearing armor with a snarling wolf helm.

"Rhaegar, come out to face me coward! What have you done with my sister!?"

"Guards arrest this traitor seize him. Throw him in the Black cells to rot." The King spat out in fury, his madness shown to every man and woman in the throne room.

"Wife, meet me in the our room now!"

"My king it is still the middle of the day, shouldn't we check on the children-"

"Your king has given you command, Ser Jaime, Ser Gerold escort my wife to our bedroom!" The king commanded as he descended from the Throne, cursing as he cut his hand on another blade. As he hobbled out with the remaining guards with white cloaks, the room emptied out with gossiping Lords and Ladies whispering to one another.

"Lord Jon, can you take us to a place overlooking the harbor before you show us to our room?"

"Yes I can do that.", Jon replied confused as he escorted them out of the throne room and into a hallway with a large open windows overlooking the entire city including the fleet of the men and women who were left behind to guard the ships. Jod concentrated as he cast Magelight over the the castle and soon another could be seen over the harbor like a shooting star.

Jod turned around to face a pale faced Jon Connington his eyes transfixed upon the glowing orb dissipating into the afternoon sky.

"You are a warlock, what spell have you cast upon us without our knowing monster?" Jon whispered in fear, his hands disobeying his will to remove his sword from his sheath.

"That was a simple illusion spell, useful to cast some light or to use as a signal. Again looking at your face it seems that there is no magic users in Westeros?" Jod replied wearily already wondering how this land could escape the gifts of magic.

"Magic died when the last of the dragons went extinct. Though there are some in Essos and of the North who claim to posses the ability of magic, though I have yet to see any proof of that. Until now. Are you the only magic user in Skyrim"?

"Actually we're all born with the potential to use magic, though there are some who vehemently oppose the usage of magic and prefer using steel to kill their foes. That being said everyone can easily learn at least the basic spells."

"Mm well perhaps it would be best to keep it a secret, I know that if the Septons hear of this they'd be screaming for your deaths. Calling you heretics to their faith."

"Who are the Septons?" Jod asked nervously already dreading the answer.

"The Septons are the priests of the Faith of the seven, one god with seven faces. They barely tolerate other religions and can be quite fanatical. Just try to keep your magic and faith a secret. At least while you're staying in the South. Come let me show you the rest of this castle and fill you in on what is happening with the current affairs of the land." Jon replied as he showed him to there rooms.

As Jod and his companions followed Jon caught a glint of red caught by the falling sun, a woman staring at him wearing a scarlet cloak and a gold necklace with a ruby on it. A sense of powerful magic emitting from her told Jod that perhaps magic wasn't truly dead after all.

As they passed through the halls of the castle a woman's cries and screams were echoing. The youngest and oldest guard just standing at the doors as their queen was being ravaged by a monster. Before the Hand of the King could make a detour to the other hall, Jod seemed to be at the entrance of the king's chamber.

"What are you doing, you're queen is screaming for help, and you stand here like a damned statue. What type of guards are you?" Jod growled out in anger.

"We swore an oath to guard the king, not to judge. I wouldn't expect a foreigner like you to understand. A dumb witted beast." Ser Gerold responded as he drew his sword out of sheath. The young knight with blond hair looked down in shame, a tear trailing down his face as a scream of pain ringed out that not even the thick oak doors could block out.

"Despite your castle forged armor, your rank and titles. You're no better than Bandits. Looking the other way while others are in pain and dying. To protect a monster and not the innocent." Jod shook with rage as frost and ice swirled around him. That was until a hand grabbed from behind and the familiar voice of Vorstag whispered in his ear.

"We can't win this fight. We need to leave, please Jod we are outnumbered and we'll die. Let's go to our room." Vorstag said as he noticed that there was a garrison of at least ten thousand men in this castle alone. Now was not the time to start another war, not with a lack of the presence of the Legion. His hands were getting numb, thankfully his Nords blood was working as his hands were not black with frostbite. The blizzard ended, though his rage was not quelled. Jod spat at the armored boots of the two knights as he stormed out pass the The Hand of the King. Vorstag gave a sigh of relief, though that relief was gone as whimpers of pain were still heard as they began to walk away.

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The Legionnaires sent to scout the lay of the land laid the foundation of a fort as they discovered a suitable plot of land. It was an hour ride away and could easily see the makeshift port city that the settlers claimed as their new home. Foraging parties were sent out to find any small game and berries to take back. Those who were skilled in archery were sent to hunt deer and any other large game in the forest, while the others fished and grew the vegetables. The trees were cut down and hopefully by the time they returned from their scouting mission the town would be almost complete. Though it would have to be much larger in order to sustain the sheer amount of people once they managed to regroup. If they survived that is.

Nearly a week's ride away from Base camp. Hadvar rode with twenty other legionaries, the cold breeze not bothering his strong sturdy war horse from Skyrim. Nearly two thousand horses were able to survive the harsh seas, thankfully the land seemed much like the forests of Falkreath and the plains of Whiterun. The now surged forwards through the rough terrain and forests that other horses would never have been able to travel. These horses were bred for strength and endurance, not speed like the horses that were ridden in the Alik'r Desert.

'This land is so peaceful, not once have we been attacked by dragons, bears, saber tooth cats, bandits, not even slaughterfish as we crossed the rivers. We have only encountered wolves and even then we only heard the howls off into the distance.' Hadvar thought as he noticed the lack of danger in the woods.

Nestled on top of a ridge overlooking a valley a river. So far there was nothing to be found, as they traveled through the light forest and tundra region. That was until another three hours of riding off into the distance a great wall surrounding a city with a large port, larger than that of Solitude. As they rode closer Hadvar pull out his telescope and could see a large banner flying in the hair of a man with a three pronged spear, with the tail of a fish. With the sun falling beneath the horizon it was time to set up camp.

Wooden spikes surrounded their camp with a bosmer archer in the tree, scanning and listening for any unwanted guests attempting to sneak upon them. A fire was built with stones covering the flames so unwanted guests would not be drawn in like moths to a flame. The howls of the wolves echoed, bouncing off the mountains. It seemed much like Skyrim, save for one difference, the night sky was rather plain. Gone where the Constellations of the Warrior, the Mage, or the Thief. The Aurora which would light the skies in a dazzling array of colors were absent.

To make things even worse there was only one moon in the sky, Secunda. Masser was nowhere to be seen since their arrival. It was as though it simply vanished.'Damn it Jod, I'm grateful you have managed to get us to safety, but where exactly is that. I don't recognize any part of the sky, there is a lack of mudcrabs, sabertooth cats, and no crazed mages or bandits. It's like we have been sent to a realm of a Daedric Prince, a peaceful paradise to get our guard down, only for us to be the toys for those prince's.' Hadvar thought to himself as his eyes grew heavy, the crackling of the fire became no more as he fell asleep.

Whether it was the sound of a man's gurgling scream of pain or the flash of a fireball lighting the dark forest that woke Hadvar from his slumber he did not know. All the same he awoke with his sword in his hand as his eyes adjusted themselves. Once they did he wish it was not so. Nearly fifty soldiers were marching up to their camp.

"Dreggs to me, help me with this boulder"! Jod screamed as he rammed into a boulder as tall and as wide as a man. It had to weigh as much as a horse as his muscles burned as it budged slowly. That was until Dreggs, that damned Orc who was as strong as a bear, and also ate like one, began to push the boulder with ease. Arrows and destruction spells flying between them as the archers and mages opened fire. The boulder was pushed off the hill as it began to pick up speed, tumbling straight into the column of men sprinting at them with swords and axes.

The boulder broke through their ranks as it killed or maimed any it touched. Those who have been able to run, did so as they sprinted through the forest in mad panic, other carried those who were injured.

As the Legionaries healed themselves with their minor wounds, the sun began to rise over the mountain and soon the results of the battlefield could be seen. Of the fifty that attack, only half of those numbers managed to flee. The bodies of the fallen had the same symbol of the city they could see from yesterday, a man with a fish body holding a three pronged spear. If the survivors came back with a larger garrison, they would not survive the battle. Thank the Divines that the horses were tied down, and none of them were injured as they were tied behind a cluster of trees. The march back to the fort would be of the essence, if they were to warn Legate Rikke of what was to come.

'Though I would rather stand my ground here and fight than to deal with Legate Rikke once she finds out how this scouting mission may have start a damned war.'

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The large castle ominously loomed over the fleet as they entered the harbor. Instead of preparing for the docking and dealing with the inhabitants of the city, Vilkas and Farkas had to deal with traders and their complaints of the lack of soldiers for their goods. Having to endure the complaints of Nazeem, Lucan, and Tonilia as they argued about their items moving to one another's pile. Of its not my skooma I swear. Farkas looks to Vilkas in desperation as they were at their wits end.

"Enough!" Vilkas roars in frustration and anger, the arguing traders falling silent like a dog in the face of an alpha wolf. "Now In case you have not noticed we are minutes away from landing and making contact with the people of this land. I intend for us to come to an agreement. If all goes well I'll make an accord with the Jarl of this city, and we can sell most of the supplies so it can be easily managed. Now be gone, we must be prepare for our landing." Vilkas replied as his eyes stared down at the three traders as they hurriedly ran out of the room as Farkas booming laugh echoed throughout the room.

"Did you see the way they fled in terror brother, it was beautiful." Farkas wheezed out, his body still shaking from his laughter. Vilkas grinned, though it fell apart as he sighed looking over the manifest list. The majority of the ship were the merchant ships, the list was actually a book. A book so heavy and large that Farkas found himself barely able to read the damned book, leaving Vilkas with the majority of the reading. The ships carried everything, from dozens of sacks of fresh vegetables and fruit and their seeds. To the heavy ores of all kinds in order to arm every man and woman for any wars to come. Iron and steel were found, including the rarer of kinds such as ebony, corundum, dwarven, and malachite. There was the livestock of chicken, cows, pigs, and goats.

The eight woolly mammoths and the last twenty giants were in a ship that was almost as large as the Vith Ah. It has been months since the last stop for the giants and mammoths to stretch their legs. Ingredients for alchemy and soul gems of all sizes. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other gems to sell into jewellry. The amount of wealth on the merchant ships would make for a great prize for pirates, thankfully there seemed to be no pirates around. At least none which would dare to tangle with the warships making the outer perimeter of the fleet.

The alarm towers rang out across the port and soldiers marched up to the docks. Shields and spears forming a wall blocking the gate towards the city. Vilkas and Farkas along with a small group of legionnaires and stormcloaks as their guard marched to the gate. The tense silence replaced the the sound of the busy port, until a man with a golden lion on his breastplate stepped forward.

"I am Ser Kevan Lannister, brother to Lord Tywin Lannister. Who are you, I do not recognize you flag. Are you a new mercenary group from Essos?" The knight asked, still in his prime.

" I am Vilkas, and this is my brother Farkas. We are from Tamriel, a land from the South West. We were separated from the rest of our party when that awful storm split us apart."

" We saw that storm pass by, we lost a few ships that were out at the open waters. It truly was a monster of a storm... how many men do you have with you?" Ser Kevan asked.

"Enough to defend ourselves. Though the majority of our citizens and soldiers were blown to the East. Our ships are primarily cargo ships carrying supplies and livestock. If we can use your fields to let our livestock graze, we can pay you with Septims." Vilkas responded as he threw to Kevan Lannister a small purse of around twenty septims. Kevan Lannister inspected the coins, noticing the quality of the gold was the same as the golden dragon. He grunted in agreement.

"We use Golden Dragons here in Westeros, though I am certain the Iron Bank of Braavos will be willing to exchange currency with you, if the king will allow you to settle on empty land." Ser Kevan answered letting it known their stop here would not be permanent. A tugging at his greaves however stopped his attention as he looked down to see his nephew. Already the age of nine he was the size of a boy half his age.

"Tyrion, by the seven what are you doing out of Casterly Rock. Does your father know you're here?" Kevan asked incredulously. Tyrion shook his head side to side as he looked down at his feet. Kevan sighed as he looked back at the new comers as one of the ships came as close to the beach without getting stuck. It was easily the largest ship with a deep hull, and a wide drawbridge in the front as the chain began lowering it to the sandy beach. The loud thuds of footprints echoed towards the dock, and something that should not have existed lumbered into the light.

"Uncle look, it's a giant!" Tyrion yelled in awe as he started to run towards the giant. Ser Kevan shock wore off as he sprinted after him, scooping up the small child before he end up on the wrong side of that club. The giant merely looked down at them in a curious way, then looked back at the ship. A hairy elephant racing down to the beach as he ran to the nearest tree, as seven more of these beasts began to devour trees while more giants looking after them.

'What is happening here, There are a small herd of hairy elephants from Essos eating all the trees, and men as tall as an inn. These creatures were merely stories I would tell Tyrion or Gerrion. I never would thought that they actually exist.' Kevan thought in awe as they began devouring trees in what felt like mere seconds.

The last of the giants disembarked from the ship, and while the other giants wore simple of fur, fur clothes and clubs made of wood and stone. ,this giant was wearing a full set of steel plate armor. A large steel shield taller than a man on horse back, and a mace still stained with blood. Tyrion and Kevan were once again frozen in place, looking at the largest warrior in Westeros, making the 'Mountain' look like a dwarf in comparison.

"Yes I to looked just like you when I first saw Grok for the first time in his new set of armor. Grok, How are you doing today?" Farkas asked as the giant peered down from his helmet. A deep grumble of some sort of language echoed from his helm. It was the sound of rocks tumbling down the cliffs as they fall into the sea. Grok proceed to lumber over to a hill, overlooking the Mammoths as they grazed.

"I must say Ser Vilkas, that this purse of gold is insufficient if you expect us to allows creatures of that size to graze upon our lands. I suppose it would be best if I escort you to my Brother." Ser Kevan said as he already saw five trees stripped of it's leaves and bark. H made a motion with his hand as the gate began to rise and the walk to Casterly Rock started. As the impenetrable castle drew closer they had to tilt their heads upwards as the nickname The Rock lived up to its expectations.

The sun began to sink below the horizon as they managed to hike up the mountain. Tyrion was lagging behind until Farkas carried him up his soldiers, the little child yelling in glee as he suddenly became taller than even his father, as Farkas and Vilkas stood a head taller than his Father. The second set of gates up the road, a monstrous lion head roaring in defiance and intimidation at them. They wondered, would Lord Tywin be the same?

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Hey guys sorry for the long wait. Back to college again and my Historiography class is killing me. 3-5 page essays due every week. ugh , at least it will help get my writing on point again. Anyway enough of but me, time to answer some reviews.

To Perseus 12: Thanks for the review, I promise the meeting between the Starks and Skyrim will meet.

To a mysterious Guest: Here you go man, sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoy it.

To FairyLightning: Hey thanks for the review, never heard of the Hist Tree until you mentioned it. Also I'll try to be a bit more descriptive in general.

Well that looks like I'm off to type up another chapter. Thanks you everyone for reviewing, following, and favoriting.