"Before you enter Tamriel," Vidar started, pacing in front of the eluvian now situated in the basement of Skyhold, "let us cover the ground rules again."

A chorus of groans from the Inquisitor and her party met the statement. All were bundled in heavier outerwear, prepared for Skyrim weather. Sera rolled her eyes. "We got it already, we going or not?"

Vidar crossed his arms. "Tamriel is as, if not more, dangerous as your world. We need to ensure you understand a few things." He looked at his sister. "Did we discuss daedra enough?"

"Only about five dozen times." Dorian remarked, huffing. "We're well aware of their dangers. I believe our official phrase for it was 'just say no to daedra'."

Sera shuddered. "They're just creepy, powerful demons. Those ones in particular you told us about...they're not gods. Can't , the lot of them."

Vidar cleared her throat, sounding annoyed as he stared stonily at the group. "We're going over it again, so just be patient. If you find a bitemark on you, two pricks about an inch apart on the skin, and can't remember how you got it, what do you do?"

"Take a cure disease potion." the group chorused dully. Tanya nodded.

"Exactly! Because if you don't...?"

"We can become vampires, those wretched vermin you told us about," Vivienne spoke up, looking disgusted, "and before you say it, if we encounter any, we're to take the potion preemptively, in every case. None of us will slack on this matter, because none of us want to become such a creature."

Cassandra sighed gratefully. "We are blessed by the Maker to not have such creatures here. I shudder at the thought of being bitten by one of those."

Sera recoiled, having forgotten about them. She whimpered. "Ah... batty, creepy, blood-sucking cannibals of the night who can make you into a batty, creepy, blood-sucking cannibal of the night! Scarier than demons! Fucking bats." The rogue looked at the mirror nervously. "We're not...we won't be running out too much at night, right?"

Tanya and Vidar shared a look. Vidar shrugged. "We'll try not to, but many vampires are merely made uncomfortable by the sun, and don't die immediately from it. You're somewhat safer during the day, but not completely immune to them."

Sera squealed, shrinking back. "Not helping! Freaking...pissy...shit vampires!

"They're leeches. We can handle leeches." Bull reassured. "Besides, Tanya taught the other mages how to use those undead deflecting sunlight spells. We're good. You're actually probably gonna wanna stay with a mage in this case."

Finding a trusted mage much safer than the threat of a vampire, Sera quickly moved closer to Dorian. The mage laughed. "Don't worry, I can protect you. As can Vivienne and Solas."

Cole frowned. "Not all of them are bad. Some are just people who don't want to hurt and feed on animals or bad people like bandits instead. Some didn't want this to happen to them at all. Body cold, heart stopped, the sun hurts, everything's so clear, oh no, no, Arkay, no, why did you allow this to happen? I'm a monster, I...I don't want to hurt people. I don't want to be a monster. I miss the sun. Warm blood pooling in my mouth, it's so good, this is wrong, but it's so good...help." he murmured sadly. "They're not all evil."

Vivienne scoffed. "Regardless of their circumstances, we must treat all vampires as threats. Do not take pity on them, demon."

Solas scowled at her. "You would say the same for all spirits, enchanter. We will be cautious, but Cole is right. If we encounter one that does not attack and means us no harm, we would be the monsters for murder. Like Vidar, a werewolf," he said, looking towards the Dragonborn's brother. Vidar sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "he is no danger to us. Why should we assume that all are out for our blood?"

The Legionnaire cleared her throat. "Anyways, moving on to daedra. If you ever encounter daedra or any being that seems suspicious or offers you power or a reward of any sort that seems too good to be true, you say no. If you encounter an animal that doesn't normally talk that is talking, go the other way. Don't talk shit about them, don't talk about them, don't do anything to draw their attention."

Tanya looked to Cole tiredly. "No doubt you'll say something about how not all are evil. They aren't, not all."

"The Strong-Steel clan does not worship the daedra," Vidar continued, "but we respect them and try not to provoke them, because stasis cannot exist without change. Azura is the Daedric Prince we respect the most, and have even paid her tribute, before, for watching over one of our own, the Nerevarine, during the Blight in Morrowind. In case you can't remember the tale, the Nerevarine was a dunmer who was found on the doorstep of the parents of the Hero of Kvatch. They took him in, and he was an older brother to her. Meridia and Azura are generally good, but their wrath is painful and swift.

Sheogorath has only favored us because the Hero of Kvatch, our ancestor, put him in power as the successor to the Madgod instead of herself. At the time, he was a khajiit fleeing Tamriel who befriended her." He hesitated. "He has seemingly remained grateful, but that's another story. Sheogorath largely views mortals as his playthings, and you should be wary."

Tanya sighed, taking a breath. Iron Bull shifted, grumbling to himself, trying not to look frightened. The idea of a god of madness rattled him, and the very possibility of encountering him...

"Regardless," the Dragonborn continued, "a great many are dangerous and have ill will for non-daedra. I don't know how they'll react to you all, being neither aedra nor daedra, but caution is strongly advised. Moving on...if you see a werewolf, no offense, Vidar, and they manage to scratch you or bite you, what do you..."

"Cure disease potion." All of them chorused again, just as dully as before. Several looks went to Vidar, who wanted to disappear from sight. It was mortifying enough they found out before entering Tamriel. He would never hear the end of it if the other Companions were to hear of this. Vidar grunted.

"Very good. Let's move on, please." he urged, turning red. The Inquisitor smiled at him.

"Don't be so embarrassed. We know you're okay."

"Yeah!" Bull agreed, chortling. "If we encounter one, we'll just throw you at them. Be the alpha wolf, Vid!"

Vidar sighed loudly, regretting everything that had led up to this moment. Tanya cleared her throat. "Next, let's reaffirm that you can't mention the Nine Divines. Act like there's Eight in public, especially when a Thalmor agent is nearby. More than half of you worship this Maker of yours, anyways. You shouldn't need to worry too much about bringing them up."

"I thought the Strong-Steels worshiped these Nine Divines?" Cassandra asked, befuddled. "Why have they not fought against this inane law?"

"Two reasons," Vidar clarified, "one, others have and were executed, and two, we cannot face the Thalmor to oppose the White-Gold Concordat, not while the Empire's busy fighting the Stormcloaks in Skyrim. One day, there will be a war, and the Strong-Steels will be on the front lines." His expression hardened. "Mark my words. Talos worship will be allowed, and we can freely praise his name."

"For now, it's simply wiser to keep that private." Tanya added, giving her brother a look, wishing he would calm down. "Anyways, before we go in, Bull, put on that magic amulet we had made at the college for you," she ordered, "qunari don't exist in our world, and the people will probably think you're a daedra with the horns."

Bull grumbled, pulled it from his pocket, and hesitated. "Do I have to?"

"Look, if you want them to freak out and attack you on sight, be my guest." Vidar retorted. Bull eyed it with distaste and slipped it on. His appearance changed to that of an dunmer, skin a dark gray, with loose, long black hair. He cursed under his breath.

"Why this?" he demanded. Tanya exhaled, exasperated.

"We had to bribe a dunmer to lend us a lock of his hair to use in enchanting the amulet. We had to use a base, and he was volunteering for some gold. Remember, if anyone asks, you're a dunmer who's from Blacklight. Now, then," she said, turning to the others, "you all remember your aliases if anyone asks? Vivienne?"

"Redguard raised by Bretons, from Daggerfall." the mage replied calmly.

"Sera?"

"Elfy elf?" Sera teased. She scowled at the annoyed look cast at her from the others. "No fun. Fine, high elf, but I say piss it to the Dominion of Elfy Elves."

"Solas?"

"Wood elf, from Southpoint."

"Dorian?"

"Imperial, from Skingrad."

"Cassandra?"

"An Imperial from the Imperial City."

"Thom?"

"Nord, from Dawnstar."

"Varric?"

"A Nord with dwarfism from Cheydinhal." Varric chuckled. "Gotta admire that creativity. I still think it's weird that dwarves don't exist as a race, and that it's just people who are born really short. Amazing."

"We had the dwemer, but they were actually elves, and disappeared several millennia ago." Tanya replied. "Now, then, Cole?"

"She comes with the races, wanting them to be safe and not attract more company. Not sure if it's going to work, but it has to, she wants us to be safe." He smiled. "Breton, from Stormhaven."

"Excellent! And finally, you, Inquisitor?"

Dawn grinned. "A Breton, from Wayrest."

"Fantastic, we're ready to go." Tanya announced, much to the relief of the others. Vidar grinned.

"Brace yourselves, you're in for a very cold world out there. Welcome to Skyrim."

Quick summary of blah-blah-blah:

1. don't touch the vampires
2. don't touch the daedra
3. don't touch the werewolves
4. don't provoke the Thalmor

4. The Hero of Kvatch, Antonia (Toni) Strong-Steel came from a middle class, mixed-race family. She trained to be a knight for Bruma and went on to be the Hero of Kvatch, and would have married Martin, if he did not perish.

She passed on the title of Madgod to a khajiit she befriended who was fleeing to the Isles, and returned home to Tamriel to become the Divine Crusader. She was favored by the people of Kvatch to take over as their Countess following the death of their former Count, who died with no living heirs. She started efforts to rebuild their city and the Strong-Steels have ruled County Kvatch ever since.

Neither Tanya nor Vidar have interest in taking over its rule, but their younger sister Carlotta has a keen interest in politics. She may show up in later chapters.

5. The Nerevarine is a dunmer that was the adopted brother of Toni, who she looked up to as a role model. His whereabouts will be revealed in following chapters.