He awoke in a tent. He could hear the faint sounds of insects chirping and buzzing, leaves rustling and other assorted sounds of nature.
But that wasn't right. Last night he had been in his house. Playing games and staying up too late watching anime. He shouldn't be in a tent. He shouldn't be outside. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and realized that wasn't the only thing that was different. His body.
He had always been thin, but this was a more athletic leanness. Like he had spent a long time hiking. His skin was pale as usual, but it was a more attractive pale. Almost like some idealized form of beauty. And his frame was almost feminine. So much so, he had to check his crotch. Yep, still there. Although it seemed as small as always. Though he'd have to check if he was a grower later. Right now he had other worries.
Like what the fuck was happening to him.
He got dressed in the simple cloth clothing he had in his tent, and exited it. Apparently, he had a whole camp set up. With a fireplace, cooking pot, and a trunk nearby. He also found a bow and arrows which he slung over his shoulders, and a dagger. This place was strange...but it looked somehow familer. Examing the trunk, revealed more arrows, some food, and a healing potion.
"A healing...potion? What on earth..." He said. Then he shook his head.
"No. Not on earth. I've clearly arrived someplace else. I'm in some kind of fantasy world." He said. Then he looked up and noticed in the distance, a city that had been burned to the ground.
Everything was beginning to click. That city was Helgin. This was...the game he played last night.
Skyrim. He was in Skyrim.
This was an Isekei. Some trapped in another world story. He'd read and watched and played many of them before. But never in all his life did he think it would happen to him. He was scared. Damn near petrified. And he had longed for this day hadn't he? But now...the possibilities were staggering. The first thing he needed to do was head someplace safe. Riverwood was closest. He had a map and some gold. He could spend the night in an inn if he was able to get there by evening. But then he would need to worry about getting more money...and that would probably mean danger.
This was during the civil war and the dragon revival. Everywhere would involve danger. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
He took a breath. He should look at the map. That might tell him more. He opened it up and it revealed all the common landmarks of Skyrim. The holds and major cities and towns. Howver it also revealed a place called "Druid's den" to the west.
That was...intriguing. He had created a druid character during the DND session he had yesterday. A Half-Elf Druid. He was intrigued by the notion of getting to live out life as such a figure. Was he a druid here? This person whose body he had inhabited? Or could he train to be such?
The thought enthralled him. He'd have to make for that place as soon as possible. The young man headed out, walking to where he knew Riverwood to be. As he did so, he noticed that he was moving differently then he was used to. And this was not all to do with adjustments to his body.
He was rolling his hips as he walked, swaying them femininely, sashying if you will. This baffled the young man particularly as to how, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move any other way. Now he never had a problem with effeminate men or homosexuals, in fact he was somewhat attracted to men himself, and usually one might expect someone to be placed in such a body to punish bigotry.
However He had no such bigotry, so perhaps it was just a coincidence. In any case, it was something else to get used to. And possibly a problem if anyone here had such bigotries.
He eventually stumbled upon some standing , Thief, Mage. But they looked quite different. There were runes on them instead.
The young man approached and touched one and in a flash his senses were overwhelmed as the world shifted.
He was looking at a character page. Seeing stats. His stats he realized. His top three were Wisdom, Intelligence and Charisma, his bottom stats were Dexterity, Endurance and Strength. His absolute bottom stat was strength while his top stat was Wisdom. His class was listed as druid. His race as Half Elf/Breton. His starting equipment though was missing a few things and had some things he hadn't seen either. Finally, his name was Yew Fey and he was level 1.
Despite feeling like he was in some sort of pop up menu, the young man was aware of his body, and holding the stone. He took his hand off and took a breath. That was the character sheet he concocted the other day, before he went into his DnD session yesterday. Though he didn't put the Breton bit. He supposed that was to convert things to Skyrim Lore.
Then the young man realized something with a start. Ever since he had seen his name on the character page, he had been thinking of himself as Yew Fey. In fact, he couldn't even remember his old name from his old life. Jonathan? Nathan? He just couldn't remember and all of the names he could recall didn't fit. Yew seemed to, despite him very well knowing it wasn't the name he had.
No sense in panicking, he thought, Yew will do for now. Still, he should have a list of cantrips and his character's backstory, but he didn't see any of that. So he decided to pick another pillar and see if there was any difference. He walked over to another at random and laid a hand on it.
Again a character sheet menu came into view. And yes, the cantrip list was there, exactly as he had chosen it. He had gone for an offensive build, which he was now kinda regretting. Sure his survival knowledge was pretty good, because of his druid class, but he very much was concerned about supplies when out in the field. He was already getting a bit hungry and thirsty, so he knew this wasn't an Isekei world that functioned exactly like in game. He was going to need to eat and drink. Still, he had a fairly good selection and the Druidcraft cantrip so he thought things could have been a lot worse.
His backstory was also as he remembered writing it. Well, mostly. In this world, he had apparently been born to petty nobility in High Rock. He was trained in many of the courtly arts, before finding a druidic mentor and studying under her. However, this information was detached from him. Yew had no memories of this happening.
Again Yew took his hand from the stone and went to the third. Apparently, he had been born under the sign of the Mage and had a number of skills accumulated in his life. Again he removed his hand and decided to take a lunch break. He plopped down on the grass and began eating a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese and an apple. He could taste, which was good. He'd seen plenty of Isekei's where that wasn't a thing. So it seemed like he was in a different reality, rather than having entered the "reality" of the game.
He got up and continued following the river to Riverwood. It was around thirty minutes after lunch when he heard noises. The crack of twigs. The sound of something breathing. Almost instinctually, he grabbed his bow and nocked an arrow. He'd never done such in his life but it felt near second nature to him. He surveyed the area and found a couple of staving, mangy looking wolves. He felt a bit of sympathy. These poor animals were fighting for their lives and quite clearly losing.
But the way they were snarling meant this could only be resolved one way.
He sent an arrow flying into the head of one, killing it in a single blow. Yew immediately backstepped as he nocked another arrow, but all the wolves were coming at him. He sent another flying in a panic and caught one on the front leg, knocking it to the ground. One wolf knocked him to the ground with a tackle and began biting deep into his shoulder. Pain shot through Yew's body as blood gushed from his wound.
Yew was able to maneuver his hand to his dagger and plunged it to into the wolfs neck. It let out a gurgle and collapsed. But another one was on Yew even as he pushed himself to his knees. This one caught him in the neck and Yew struggled and stabbed the creature's belly again and again before it let go. Yew grabbed his neck trying to staunch the flow of blood. Panic. His vision was growing red. What to do? What to do?
Health Potion. Health potion of course. He fumbled in his pack, finally pulling out the bottle and quaffed it. It tasted terrible. Worse then he would have thought but he got it down, and felt the wound in his neck stop bleeding, and then a pleasant tingle as it stitched itself up. The wound in his shoulder, however, was still there. Hurting like a bitch.
"By the Eight! Are you alright?" Said a female voice. She was wearing brown robes that actually seemed tailored to her body.
"Yeah...I-I'm ok. Could use treatment for my shoulder but..." Yew practically flinched at the sound of his own voice. It was completely different to his old voice.
"Wow...your kind of..." She trailed off and she looked like she was near blushing.
"Sorry. I shouldn't be- look I can help you. See?" She said, putting her hands above his wound. He felt a very similar tingling to when he drank the potion and his shoulder healed completely.
He still felt kinda weak though.
"Thanks. I appreciate that." Yew said. Then he gave her a closer look. She really was pretty. He felt a familiar stirring. At least some things hadn't changed.
She looked like a nord and she had a cherubs face. She was curvy, and Kale had the desire to see what those robes were hiding.
"What's your name gorgoues?" Yew said. His flirtatious behavior came to him instinctively, despite never being much of a flirt in his old life.
"Gr-Greta. I'm a healing mage. Because of the war...my services are more in need than ever." Greta said.
"I see. Greta huh? That's a pretty name. Fitting too." Yew said.
"Thanks. What's your name?" Greta said.
"Yew. Yew Fey." Yew said. She paled.
"H-Huh. I-I see. Y-Yew Fey. It's good to meet you." She said and gave a stiff bow.
"What's with the formality. I should be bowing to you, after all you did sorta rescue me." Yew said, looking at the corpse of the wolf at her feet. Seems like she bashed' the creatures head in, with her mace.
"Ha Ha. Yeah I suppose I did." She laughed sheepishly, and suddenly she didn't look quite as scared.
Yew got up on slightly unsteady feet.
"Oh! Are you ok? It can take some time to regain your energy." Greta said.
"Ha. I'm fine. See?" Yew said, regaining his balance.
"I do. Still, I should make sure you make it to Riverwood. Come follow me." Greta said, turning around.
"It would be my pleasure." Yew said, following after her. The view was quite nice.
Riverwood was much the same as in the game, though with all the glory of having the graphics of reality. However, he did notice a strange tower in the middle of town and a couple of additional houses. Still, Yew didn't ask many questions, instead just following Greta into the inn.
"Welcome travelers, to the Sleeping Giant inn. Name's Orgnar. Come in, take a load off, get some food and drink and rest for the evening." Orgnar said.
"Your sales pitch is pretty aggressive. But I appreciate the hospitality." Yew said. He found a nearby table and sat down, Greta following close behind.
"I want seared salmon, a sweet roll and some mead." Yew said, after Orgnar came to take their orders.
"I..well, I'll have the same." Greta said. Orgnar nodded and went to prepare the meal.
"So what's your story." Yew said to Greta.
"Huh?" She said.
"I know you're a healing mage, wandering from place to place because of the war right? But I'd like to know a bit more about you." Yew said.
"Well...I trained at Winterhold college for a couple of years. I also spent some time worshipping Kynreath in Whiterun. But once the war broke out I couldn't stay on the sidelines as people died. I wanted to help as many people survive as possible, until this awful war ends." Greta said.
"I see." Yew said with a nod. "That's quite admirable."
"What about you? What's your backstory." Greta said.
"I originally hail from High Rock. Born to a petty noble family, I pursued training under a druidess. I've come to Skyrim to continue my training and observe the events happening here." Yew said.
"I see...High Rock huh." Greta said, her face fell and again she looked a bit...afraid.
"Is that so surprising?" Yew asked.
"N-no. Of course not it's just..." Greta said. Then she shook her head.
"I-it's nothing." Greta said. Yew gave her a look. She wasn't telling him something. But then he shrugged. She didn't seem the sort to try and betray or manipulate him.
"Ok then." Yew said with a nod. They ate their supper and listened to the bard play. He was pretty good. It would be nice to have a bard accompany him places. Though from what he knew of Sven, he was a bit of a bastard. There was a Bard's college in Skyrim wasn't there? Perhaps he could recruit a student there.
"Well...it's been a lovely evening. But I should probably retire to my room for the night." Greta said.
"Ok then. I'll join you in a few minutes." Yew said. He wanted to take another look at his map, and maybe look through his pack. He had grabbed it but hadn't even gone through it.
"J-join me? I-In my room?" Greta said, she was blushing pretty heavily.
"Yeah. Why not?" Yew said.
"B-because! W-We barely know one another." Greta said.
"You saved my life. That's all I need to know." Yew said.
"B-but..." Greta said.
"This is a dangerous world Greta. One should embrace pleasure when they can." Yew said leaning over closer to Greta. She was clearly flustered.
"I-I'm sorry...I can't!" Greta said. Yew sat back in his chair.
"That's perfectly fine Greta." Yew said. Greta blinked.
"It is?" Greta said.
"Of course it is." Yew said. Greta's eyes narrowed. He wasn't throwing a tantrum or even acting hurt or rejected. He seemed completely confident and composed.
"I just...wasn't expecting-" Greta said.
"Myself to act decently? I can take no as an answer Greta darling. I won't force you. Or flirt if that's not what you want." Yew said.
"R-Really?" Greta was impressed.
"That would be against my code. And against basic decency." Yew said. They sat in silence for a few moments then Greta wished him a good night and headed to her room.
Delphine approached Yew as he looked over his map yet again.
"I overheard your conversation." Delphine said.
"Oh?" Yew said.
"Yes. You won't get high praise for me for being the bare minuim of decent." Delphine said.
"I wasn't expecting any." Yew said.
"...But I can give you praise for being kind to her. Greta's been through a lot, and men, even men who once had been decent, turn into monsters during war." Delphine said.
"I see." Yew said.
"So I won't slap you over the head for hitting on her, or for leering at her backside. That's the reward you get for making her smile." Delphine said. Willow grinned a bit.
"Thank you kindly." Yew said, and Delphine went off and Yew looked again at his map.
He noticed a few strange things. 1: The map labeled several locations other than cities and towns as important. The College of Winterhold. The Temple of Kyraenth in Whiterun. The Temple of Dibella. The barracks at Solitude. And one unnamed location to the northeast that looked to be in the middle of wilderness.
2: When he placed a finger at certain locations, he got vague feelings. A sense of dread at Windhelm. A sense of anticipation for Solitude. A sense of regret at Markarth. A sense of anxiety at Riften. They faded fast but they were definitely there.
3. Turning it over and examining it in the candlelight revealed bizzare runes. Runes that he understood at once. They said the following: Resolve the Civil War. Find the Dovakiin. Don't Forget.
He had...apparently set out on some sort of journey to end the civil war and to find the Dovakiin. Which meant he wasn't the Dovakiin. Yew wasn't quite sure what to think about that. At the one hand that meant he wouldn't have to save the world by himself. Carry that burden. On the other hand that meant the fate of this new world rested on someone, he didn't even know.
Yew bought a room and headed inside. There he decided to open his pack. Within was a Druidic grimoire, a journal, some rations, a few herbs and soul gems.
Yew checked out the Grimoire first. He felt a rush of energy as his fingers touched it. He opened it and looked at a variety of spells recorded in it. However half of it was blank. To Yew it felt like...spells were missing. Still looking at this text taught him how to prepare and use spells. Yew felt...ready. Ready for this strange, dangerous world.
Then he grabbed his journal and read it. The first entry explained how he was leaving High Rock for Skyrim, because of the desperate need to end the Civil War. The next entries described his journey to the Druid's Den, where an old hermit druid lived. Yew had apparently spent some time with him, but eventually, he died. Yew then headed out to try and find the Dovahkiin, because he believed dragons were returning. He set up a camp nearby, and then the dragon attacked.
It felt surreal to be reading something he wrote, the man whose body he inhabited wrote, but that he could not recall. More importantly, he had plunged into a fantasy epic. A story about magic and war and survival and politics and heroes and villains.
And he was fucking terrified.
But there was also something else, a joy and excitement beyond that of which he had ever experienced. Finally, he felt like he was apart of something special. Finally, he could embark on a grand adventure. Finally, he could try and prove his skills and intelligence.
Finally, he could make a world a better place. It wasn't his world, but it was something.