As I slowly opened my eyes I could feel the difference in the air. It was heavier, colder and so very old. Without putting on a shirt I moved from the captains quarters to the top deck. The cold arctic air barely registering to my Nord blood as I looked over the massive ice sheet aside the Dev Aveza.
"Well then, looks like this old girl is faster than I thought." I smack the hand rail as I say this looking across the land. From where I am I can tell this is an ice sheet similar to the one north of Winterhold where the old wizard Septimus Signus toiled away in madness trying to open that Dwemer Box of his.
After a time of looking about I saw what looked to be smoke rising from the west.
"Strang…"
I moved to the front of the ship in order to get a somewhat better look. And yes clearly there was smoke rising into the sky. That alone was strange but based on the stories of Atmora it was unsurprising. I took that as my first location to investigate. But first? Food.
Climbing back down to the living quarters of the Dev Aveza I began to move to the furnace only to be greeted by a red fox sitting politely at the bar. For a moment I thought It was my daughter Brynhild's childhood pet. But that thing had been gone for years. While I was in thought, the fox spoke.
.
"What are you waiting for man? You have a guest get me a drink! Warmed mead if you have it." the fox spoke in a voice deep and powerful unfitting of the small fox. It took me a moment to recover from the shock of such a request and only a second after that for me to realize what was happening and who this was.
"Of course sir, but unfortunately all of the Blackbriar Reserve has run dry and we have been unable to get more in due to the fact we are currently on course for Atmora."
As The Fox laughed at that as I placed a kettle over the fire opening a bottle of mead pouring it in so it would warm.
"I'm glad you being alone for so long hasn't killed your sense of humor my boy." The Fox said, licking his lips in anticipation as the smell of the warm mead filled the cabin.
"Of course Lord Shor, it has been the only thing keeping me warm after all. I suppose you're here to tell me to turn back and return to Skyrim?"
Turing I was greeted not by the Fox but a man wearing a Fox on his head. He was thin yet fit, a bare face handsome with eyes full of mischief. He smiled sadly for a moment.
"Nay me friend, I've come to firstly apologize for not meeting you in person in the halls of Sovngarde when you slayed the world eater. And for your current predicament." I raise an eyebrow at that, placing a mug in front of him.
"And what might that predicament be my lord? Last I checked I came this way on my own. To learn the ways of the Atmorans and to find out why they left for Tamriel." I take a bit out of one of the few apples left on the ship.
"For one, you're not on Atmora or even Nirn.'' When he said this I stopped mid bite and looked at him. He had no trace of the joking look from before. I place the apple down and take his mug and fill it with the now steaming alcohol. I myself get a smaller cup filling it as well. I place his mug down in front of him while I stand on the other side of the bar.
"Explain that for me then." I'm fully aware that the man sitting before me was the God of Men but he was still making quite the claim. He scratches the back of his head before taking a large swig of the warmed mead.
"Auri-El made a deal with the gods of this land. One Lord of Light and the Seven who are One. This land is doomed and the magic here is weak. The men vile and dirty, only caring about themselves and their station. Beasts shaved their hair more than men." He turns from me at that.
"After all you've done for him and the other divines he still just throws you away with no regard for you or the ones around you." he spits on the floor and takes another swig. "I tried, you know, to convince Auri-El to send anyone else. But you were available, he said and people will have already written you off for dead."
I look at him for a moment longer before bringing my own cup to my mouth, the warmed honey wine relaxing me.
"And what is this deal then?" he looks at me for a moment.
"When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt." The two of us turn to be greeted by a red robbed man governed from head to toe in said robes making it impossible to see his face. Shor gets up swiftly and his face contorts in rage.
"It was agreed that I would be the one to tell him!" the great trickster yelled. The red robed man looked at him.
"You are sitting here wasting his time. He must begin his search soon."
A tense silence followed afterwards.
"That's great and all, but I'd still like an answer to my question." The two men looked at me.
"Allow me to introduce myself I am known as-"
"I don't care who you are. You claim that my time is short so just answer the question." I could not see his face but I could hear the chuckles of Shor to my left.
"So be it." The red man walked to me until he was face to face with me… well face to chest.
"You are to find the Prince that was promised and ensure that he is able to stop the long night come again. Until you have found him you will wonder these lands regardless of age or injury." At that I bring my hand to his throat. And just as quick my hand is engulfed in a burning pain. Nothing in comparison to dragonfire however. So I bring him close so my face and his are only inches apart.
"If you think for a single moment that I am going to accept such a stipulation you truly know nothing of my people." as I tighten my grip the bastard falls right through my hand in a pail of embers only to reappear a few feet away.
"Death is a reward. For a life of Honor and Glory to live forever on in song and Sovngarde. You think you may simply rob me of that and I'd just accept it?"
With a flick of my wrist my arms were covered in an icy fog both to cool my hand as well as put out this so-called "Lord of Light".
We stood there tense for a moment. Shor uncaring to whatever personal slight I had taken continued to drink from his mug having refilled it during my tirade. And the Fire Man just stood there as well studying me before he let out a tired sigh.
"Worry not Dragon of the North. You will not be bound to this land for centuries to come, only four to five decades at most. As long as your life would have been should you have not ventured away from home."
While I did not like the thought of being away for so long the fury that burned within me slowly began to fade. I lowered my hands dispelling the frost magic.
"So what, you have the gift of prophecy? Then why must it be I to train this lad? Why does he not quest and adventure as all doom driven heros do? Just ensure he goes with a man with a good head on his shoulders."
The Man of Fire just motioned towards me.
"I walked into that one."
Shor spoke up then.
"They need you because you're blooded already. You've saved Tanriel from at least three cataclysmic events nearly single handedly. There are few across the planes that are that qualified for this sort of thing."
The God of the Dead made sense. I was not one for boasting, I never have been. But, when Shor himself tells you that you're a hero. Well who am I to refuse.
With a sigh I ask.
"Where am I to start?"
After a long conversation with the two gods I was once more left to my own devices. My food ate. My mead drunk. And once more I was alone.
I was now standing in the lower level of the ship by the crew quarters standing in front of my armor. Bleached white Dragonbone reinforced with an Ebony alloy in order to strengthen it. After all even if Dragonbone was strong for its weight, bone made poor armor. The armor itself was standard fair for the armor that I made and distributed across Skyrim. Some were gifts to friends like Jarl Balgruuf and Jarl Brunwulf. But the helm was modeled after the ancient nordic great helms worn by the draugr. Although I did add a chain veil to better protect my face. Draped across its back is a massive cave bear pelt simple in its design but probably the most functional.
But the more important part of my equipment was my blade. It was a massive Stalhrim Greatsword by the name of Glacier. I had found it in the ruins of an accent battlefield in the Jerall Mountains on one of my ventures with Mjoll in our youth. And as Grimsever was to her Glacier was to me. Even if I had the opportunity to replace it with a blade of ebony or Dragonbone I never found the need to. The blade never dulled or chipped and its natural affinity for ice enchantments had only grown with its time deep in the frozen mountains of the south. Bringing the weapon to bare I brought it close to my face and in the cold sharpened ice I saw my reflection.
Tired old eyes that lacked the excitement of youth. Wrinkles beginning to form on the edges of my eyes and if I could see my mouth i'm sure I'd see them there too. My hair was long and graying. The uncontrollable mane of brown now dull and my beard thick with just as much grey as my head. Placing the sword down I gave myself a good once over. I'd always been tall standing even with many Altmer and towing over most of my smaller companions. I was large too. While I was strong I lacked the well defined muscular of the statues of the gods and in the dreams of maidens instead I was build for purpose. A lifetime of killing, smithing, drinking and repeating had taken its toil. My skin was covered in scars as well. Wild animals claw marks, magic burns, and blade and tooth covered me. I was fortunate to have all of my parts and to have lived as long as I have.
Reminiscing to myself I failed to noticed the hollow thuds until they were right above me. It seems that the smoke I had seen had seen me as well. I was after all just sitting in open ocean and if Lord Shor had spoken truth then I had not been here last night.
With the practiced hand I quickly placed my armor on using the first two words of slow time to make sure I got it on in time. Once I had my armor on and I felt the shock wave of my Thu'um shake the ship I heard yells from above. Fastening my clock to my back and holding Glacier by the middle of its blade (sheathed of course) I moved to the ladder and went up to greet my guests.
When I reached the top of the ladder I quickly pushed up with all my might to that the trespassers on my ship would see me. I was not one to hide after all. What I had not expected what the surprised fuck and thud behind me. Ignoring him however I turned to look at the wold be pirates. Covered in thick fur that reminded me of the Skaal of Solstheim but lacking… something. They were a ragtag group of mostly men with the occasional women all of them dirty with crude weapons of stone a few with old rusted iron.
"And who might you be to board a ship without its captains permission?" I say bring forth the authority of leading thousands of men.
For a time they are silent before one of the men who is cleaner then the rest steps forward.
"I am Rudd of the Icy Shore southerner. And you should be thankful we haven't run you through yet and taken this nice ship of yours." The others with there leader clearly established took a more threatening stance a quick tally revealed there was about eight of them. As I am about to respond I feel something hit against my side followed shortly by the sound of metal on the ships deck. All of us paused as I looked down at the rusty iron dagger tip that had attempted to pierce my side.
Turning around I see a young boy likely not even twenty looking at me in fear his dagger even shorter then before. I look at him for a moment look back to the others. I punch him clear across the face making him stumble to the rails of the port side holding his nose. As he looks down to his bloody hand I grab him by his collar and hold him over the artic water. He understandably he started to panic. The man Rudd then yelled out.
"Tudd!" Really? Rudd and Tudd? Those names just screamed "falsified history of Skyrim written by some Bretton in Anvil."
"Now, let's have us a talk before poor Tudd lives up to his namesake hmm? Wet furs are hell to swim in." They all hesitated and looked to the dagger tip once more. It was clear to me that that alone would have scared anyone. But the speed at which there ally was dispatched was what was worse. For his credit though Tudd did struggle a fair amount.
"What do you want southerner." Rudd finally spoke. I smiled under my veil. These people could be reasonable.
"For reasons of my own I need to head to a castle known as Winterfell. Do any of you have a map or know the way." They all looked at one another.
"Why the fuck would we know the way to some southern castle?" Rudd spat out at me clearly uncomfortable. I'll give him that.
"So is that a no then?" They all stood still for a moment. "Then why are you on my ship. Surely you have an answer for that." Nothing.
"Fine." And I begin to drop the poor boy who at this point had probably pissed himself and he yelled.
"We was gonna take the boat an use it to raid the isle of the bear!" I smile to myself and I pull up the bloody nosed boy close to my face where I could smell his rancid breath.
"And where might that be?" He then shakily pointed behind me where off in the distance in the fog of early morning still lingered a Island came to view.
"Your honesty is appreciated." For a second he had a hopeful look in his eyes before he seized up as an ice spike red with blood exploded from his head killing him instantly.
"Now to deal with the rest of you raiding scum." Tossing the corpse overboard.
Moving quickly I unsheathe Glacier with my freehand throwing ot to the side before cutting down the first man cleaving down his shoulder and stopping halfway through his chest. With a grunt of effort I ripped the blade back up catching one of the men who tried to get behind me making him stumble back but taking no damage. With my blade free I reached out and grabbed one of the women by the hair throwing her at her Fellowes before throwing down a rune invisible to the naked eye for paralysis. Turing from it I immediately hear it go off and I count three thuds after the fact. Down to four a much more manageable number. Now that they've lost the first round they are far more cautious. They all had a distinct fear in there eyes as well. I know that the magic us weak here but I could still feel it. It would simply take longer for me to recover my magicka. I took a moment to let the sea birds caw to make them uneasy before I let lose another of my favorites.
"Wuld!" The first word of Whirlwind Sprint was often one of my greatest tools moving quicker then the blink of an eye with all of the my momentum was more then enough to cleave a man in full plate in two if I hit them right. But these poor fools who wore only furs to keep warm? With a single flourish I cleaved the first man ahead of me following through to cut of the man named Rudd's arm off leaving him a screaming mess as well as confused to the frozen stump and the ice slowly crawling up his arm. Down to two.
I stand up straight and look at the remainder holding my massive blade in one hand lazily as its tip rests on the deck. The two left a man and a women and quivering. I lift may hand up and say "bang". They both drop there weapons and run to the little dingy that they had used to board my ship. The panicked "faster! Faster! Before that warlock turns us to ice too!" Made me chuckle. It was unfortunate that I did not want my presence known just quite yet. So I walked to the side if the ship and channeled my magic once more. This time I threw out a fireball that swiftly set the boat to embers and killing the poor fools who tried to flee.
I turned back to those left alive on my deck. Rudd looked on in fear as what left of his arm had now frozen over and now crawled up his neck tears in his eyes while the one I had paralyzed laid stone solid unable to move. I get down to Rudd.
He looks deep into my eyes I know not what he saw but he began to whimper.
"What would you have done to the crew if I had not been here? Answer honestly and ill put you out of your misery."
Shakily he began to speak. "We would have taken them up and claimed the women as s-spear wives and killed the m-men."
Translation we would kill the men and rape the women. I let out a single grunt of acknowledgment before I severed his head from his chest his body freezing over in moments. Once fully frozen I kicked the body so that it shattered. I know that will be a bitch to clean later but it felt good. Looking to the remaining men I decided to skip the pageantry. Walking over to them I simple slit there throats with Glacier before tossing them overboard. Looking to the deck I realized how much of a mess it was. Looking to the massive blimp that was on the top of the ship I realized that it had been out the entire time.
"Well that might be the reason that they came after me as well." moving to the wheel of the ship I began to turn it to the so called "Island of the Bear". Hopefully they will be far more receiving of guests then dear Rudd and Tudd.
So that's another chapter done! This is honestly more fun then I thought it would be. The only thing of note is that one of the Guest reviews pointed out that Skyrim would not be able to beat the Thalmor alone. Which is true the Nords no matter how fierce of warriors would never be able to hold off against Altmer mages Bosmer archers (case that one time the wild hunt killed a High King) and just a bunch of Khajiit doing… something I know they do martial arts but I doubt that an entire army of them would be monks as that is just a bunch of dumbass cats with no shields. But I think that was from a misunderstanding of this passage from chapter 1.
"With the defeat of the Stormcloak rebels and the exile of their leader Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak things had progressed slowly in the favor of the empire. With my assistance we were able to educate the populace of Skyrim (subtilty mind you) of the true crimes of the Thalmor and how the empire was doing everything it could to prepare for an offensive unifying Skyrim and her people under the imperial flag once more."
What I meant to convey is that through to power of propaganda (and publishing the journals you can find in the embassy) Ymir as well as his connections within the empire were able to basically able to educate the whole of Skyrim that the empire wasn't the ones at fault for the White-Gold Concodent.
But aside from that please feel free to leave a review if you have any feedback you'd like to give i'm always happy to get some constructive criticism and before you say formatting I know I suck at it.