A/N: Alright, second chapter of many. I'm going to take my sole reviewer's advice and try to change the dialogue a bit instead of copy-pasting the stuff from the game. Events will still happen, of course, but I'm going to make a promise right now- the only character who will get their lines taken directly from the game is Paarthurnax (Oh, it's not like his existence is a spoiler). Everyone else, I write them how I want. Let's get started!
With a final slash, the Imperial torturer's head rolled to the floor, another victim of Impa's Giant Blade. She and Ralof had fled to the caves below the keep to escape the dragon, and were making their way through the torture chamber. Impa looked around and scoffed. She had never been fond of torture or the people who performed it, which was why she'd always discouraged its use in Hyrule. If she needed information, she knew how to intimidate without actually harming someone physically. She shook her head- that was something to reflect on later. Taking off further into the caves and cutting down more soldiers, Impa began to notice an increasing number of cobwebs in the area.
"Excuse me, Ralof, was it?"
"Yes, what?
"Why are there so many webs around here?"
"Oh, no… Frostbite Spiders. There must be a nest ahead."
"What's a Frostbite Spider?" Impa asked herself as she continued on- and stopped dead in the entrance to the next open area. She had her answer- inside the cave were multiple very large and very hairy spiders, each coming up to about her knees. They were not only tall, they were wide as well- not Skulltula size, but pretty close. And apparently they were more aggressive than Skulltulas as well, evidenced by the three that were skittering in her direction. Not willing to let them get close, Impa swapped her blade for her naginata and flung it in the spider's direction, igniting it on impact and causing a small explosion which sent the spiders flying in different directions.
"Good thinking there, those things have a pretty nasty venom."
"Can we just move on now, even just looking at their corpses is freaking me out. Not to mention there may be more."
"If there were more, they'd have dropped on us by now. But you're right, we should be moving. Dragon's still up there, and I have no desire to learn if he can cause a cave-in this deep down."
Shouldering her spear, Impa led the way into the next cave. Sneaking past a bear and following the tunnels eventually led them to daylight. After watching the dragon soar off, Ralof thanked Impa and gave her a map of Skyrim. He also suggested she stop in the town just down the path, Riverwood. She would be able to get supplies there. Thanking him for his help, Impa headed down the path ahead of him. She was absorbed in thought as she strode down the path, studying the map she'd been given. This Skyrim was huge, and while she was quite intrigued about the land and its people, she also wished to return home. She'd have to make finding a way to do that a priority. As she wondered how Zelda and Link were faring back home, a voice cut through the silence of the road and gave her quite the jump scare.
"You picked a bad time to get lost, friend…"
Impa turned toward the voice to see a man in furs with a scarred face coming at her with a sword. Impa avoided his strike and flipped backwards, drawing her naginata and taking her stance. "What do you want with me?"
"Isn't it obvious? I want your coin and your things! Now hold still so I can kill you and take your stuff!" the bandit roared as he came at her again. Impa deflected his strike, kicked his sword from his hand, and impaled him through the stomach with her naginata as he attempted to draw a dagger. The bandit looked down in shock at the spear in his torso when he heard Impa whisper one single word.
"Fool."
It was the last thing he heard before Impa yanked her bloody spear out of his chest and cleaved his head from his shoulders in a single, fluid motion. Impa sighed in exasperation and sat down on the side of the road to clean her weapon. After that was done, she continued towards Riverwood, arriving in about a half hour. She met up with Ralof and also met his sister Gerdur. As she and Ralof shared what happened at Helgen, the honorary leader of Riverwood began to look increasingly worried.
"A dragon?! We'd be completely defenseless against that. Listen, Impa, I first want to say that I can't thank you enough for helping Ralof escape safely. But I need you to go to Whiterun and inform the Jarl of this matter. Ask if he can send down troops to guard the town. We will need it."
"I would go myself, but as a known Stormcloak, I would likely be arrested when I set foot in the city." Ralof stated.
"Very well. I'll go. But first, what exactly is a Jarl and what do they do? Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard the term back home in Hyrule."
Gerdur gave Impa a quick synopsis on the city governors of Skyrim (as well as a few confused looks), allowed her to take some supplies and insisted on Impa taking some gold along as well. After wandering into the local shop and learning of a theft that had taken place, Impa set out for Whiterun. The journey wasn't very long, especially owing to her agility that allowed her to shortcut down the hillside. It did mean she had to cut down a few wolves, but nothing she couldn't handle. What she saw a few miles out though, shocked her. Three people- a woman and two men, to be precise- were attacking a gargantuan humanoid thing with a club even larger than Impa's body. Shaking off the initial shock, Impa drew her Giant Blade and charged in to assist. The giant swung its club with an earthshaking impact that sent the other warriors flying just as Impa leaped forward and slashed, leaving a large cut across the beast's chest. It bellowed in pain and stumbled back, only to be hit by an arrow from one of the other warriors. The woman of the group charged forward, sword in hand. With a feral cry, she cut deep into the giant's leg. Roaring in pain, the beast lifted its club to crush the woman, only to find its arm missing at the elbow, courtesy of one of the men, who wielded a large two-handed straight sword. The other man, wielding a similar weapon, though appearing to be more skilled with it, followed through with the other arm. As the giant staggered and fell on its back, Impa leaped into the air, concentrating the water magic she used with her Giant Blade. A globe of water formed above the giant and burst, proceeding to form into a multitude of water daggers, which rained down on the giant, ending its suffering. Landing and letting out a breath, Impa turned to the trio of warriors, who were sheathing their weapons and approaching her. The woman spoke first.
"Impressive work, stranger. You're quite the fighter. We could use people like you."
"And who exactly are you all? I'd like to know that before I take that suggestion into further consideration." Impa said
One of the men spoke up. "We are members of the Companions, a group of warriors and hunters stationed in the mead hall Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. My name's Vilkas. The woman's Aela, and this is my brother Farkas. Our guild is dedicated to adventure, kinship, and helping the people of Skyrim when possible."
"Thank you, Vilkas. As I was saying, on behalf of the Companions I'd like to extend an invitation to Jorrvaskr and to join the Companions to you, if you are interested, of course. It would also help if we knew your name."
"My name is Impa. I'd gladly consider taking you up on that offer, but at the moment I have somewhat more pressing business in Whiterun."
"Take your time, it doesn't matter. You're only late to Jorrvaskr when you're dead."
Nodding, Impa took her leave of the group and continued to the walled city. After being momentarily stopped, she was able to make her way to Dragonsreach, where Jarl Balgruff the Greater resided. She talked over the problem in Riverwood and soon found herself wrapped up in a task for him and his court wizard to find a stone tablet in a place called Bleak Falls Barrow. And that was where she found herself now, stepping through the doorway and taking cover as she heard two bandits speaking about the theft in Riverwood. Perfect. She could kill two birds with one stone. Impa began forming an attack plan in her head. This would be a piece of cake.
A/N: And that's chapter 2! Hopefully I'm doing better. We've escaped Helgen, met the primary members of the Companions, met Balgruff (He'll get to talk later, I promise), and next time, we storm Bleak Falls Barrow! What awaits Impa within the dank recesses of the ancient tomb? If you've played the game, you know what. If you haven't, then you'll find out next time! Also, is it just me, or are these chapters all longer than the other stuff I've written? Also, in terms of DLC implementation, I have actually begun the primary quest for Dragonborn, so I will incorporate that when the main quest has been completed. Still no word on Dawnguard, though. See you next time!