A/N: Glad to have received such an informative review from Keytchtee. I don't know if you bother to read the new chapters seeing you intend on skipping this story after the first few, but I would like to say thanks for giving me tips on how to actually play games immersively for what it is instead of doing everything to make way for fun stuff. For those of you wondering why there wasn't an update yesterday, it was because I needed a small break. It isn't as bad as writer's block, but my fingers were getting stiff. Also, for those of you expecting this story to crossover with Pokémon, I may or may not do it so don't get your hopes up too high. And I will certainly change the title to something more appropriate if I decide to do it. 8 more views to 2100! Glad that my storytelling skills are better than my video making skill. Anyway, if you want to read the story, it is down below, I am just going to reply to the review between this and the disclaimer.
Review reply: Thanks for that well structured review. As for the fact that I choose to let my characters join as many factions as possible in these kinds of games, well I haven't been really playing online RPGs for so long that I forget how to play in an immersive way. Anyway, I will begin to consider some of your points. There is still like a few more events in the story that needs to go on, and some might involve fallouts that she created for herself back in the events of Skyrim. As for names, I am currently using a name generator but I will consider looking more into UESP's lore names when it is time to add more non-human/Breton OCs/cover names (I think Nords and Imperials are fine with modern names, mostly). As the story is at right now, I will just consider that the people are still awed since it is like, what? 1 week since she became the Empress? As the story goes on though, her behaviour will certainly start to change the perspective of the people, like how those who feel strongly against the Thalmor will start to question her inactivity or her constant act of whining behind closed doors.
I will have to dig deeper into the lore or this might become a full blown fantasy fast. Anyway, thanks again for the tips.
If you are reading this chapter, Keytchee (or those who are of similar mind to Keytchee), I want to add some afterthoughts I had after I sent you the PM; didn't want to unintentionally spam you. This character that I am using is totally based off of my own character in game. So, to put it simply, This is usually how I behaved inside the game and this fic is basically going to develop into a more 'if the game character got out of the fantasy game world and into the real world with realistic NPC reactions' type of story. About the all factions and daedric lord thing, that is basically how I play my single player games my own way. Though since the game shows no repercussions, and that this is a more 'ripping the main character out and placing it into the real lore world', things will soon happen; that I can do. Also, I may have hinted that this isn't going to be a full blown real interactions being NPCs thing as there are some of TES V: Skyrim's game elements in this story as well as some minor breaking of the fourth wall. I know fourth wall breaking isn't suppose to happen, but I find it hard to tell a story centring around a protagonist from the game without some form of outside knowledge on the protagonist's part.
All characters, place settings and other items belong to their respective copyright holders, Bethesda Games Studios/Bethesda Softworks LLC./ZeniMax Media Inc.. Characters that does not appear in the original content of The Elder Scrolls (OC, or original character) that bears, but not limited to, a name similar to other popular story character names and/or character behaviour and attitude are purely coincidental.
Chapter 13: Looking to spy?
"Your Majesty! What is it that you need?" Lydia's voice sounded from behind the closed door.
"Come in and close the door," Janice said.
"Who is this?!" Lydia and the housecarls shouted as they drew their swords upon seeing the black scaled Argonian.
"Excuse me!" Derkeethus said as he tries to squeeze past the group.
"Wait! Don't attack, she is Alice, the pet dragon? I transformed her into an Argonian. Beehaz is her form's name." Janice quickly said as she puts her hands out, stepping in front of the black Argonian.
"You can transform people?" Lydia asked, not knowing that Janice could do such a thing.
"How about I show you…" Janice said mystically as she transforms Lydia into a chair, the same chair that she was so fond of.
"What?!" The others yelled in surprise.
"I don't really know why you like this chair so much, Lydia. It is just a wooden chair." Janice said as she sat down on the once human chair.
"Get off me!" Lydia screamed, slightly muffled by Janice sitting on her.
"You believe me now? Just get inside the room and shut the door quick." Janice said hurriedly while moving Lydia into the room.
"Yes!" The others said as they got in and shut the door after Derkeethus came into the room.
"Hello, my... master," Beehaz started, not liking that she have to address Janice as her 'master', even just for the sake of covering her apparent death. "Wants you and me to spy on the Thalmor for her, either assuming undercover work or by sneaking. She transforms me into an Argonian so that I may do the work."
"Spy on the Thalmor? I want to do that!" Calder quickly shouted, excited that he gets see what those High Elves were up to and because he hated them with a passion.
"Calm down Calder, I know you hate the Thalmor. Just listen to what I have to say first." Janice told the overly ecstatic man.
"I will go to. Seeing those Thalmor marching up and down Understone Keep really infuriates me." Aegis, Janice's Markarth housecarl, offered.
"I will go with Calder!" Jordis exclaimed out of the blue before Janice could continue.
"Umm, what?" Janice asked in surprise. Meanwhile, Beehaz and Derkeethus has retreated to the chairs in the room, minding their own business. "I thought you-"
"I DON'T NEED A WOMAN ON MY JOURNEY!" Calder yelled furiously at Jordis, interrupting what Janice was about to say.
"And yet the person who saved everyone's collectively ass from Alduin is standing in front of you, as a woman... and Khajiit." Jordis said to the angry Nord.
"Right… Sorry…" Calder said, head bent down in defeat. "But why do you want to turn on your Thalmor 'Overlords'?" Calder said after he recovered.
"Let's be honest, I only side with the Imperials because they are more calculated than Ulfric, who is fueled more through emotions than planning." Jordis and Janice said together. "What?" Jordis and Janice said together again.
"You both have the same motivations?" Iona asked.
"I guess so, and because Ulfric is a big racist towards the minorities." Janice answered.
"Iona should go! She was a former (note 1) Thieves Guild member! I bet she is good at sneaking!" Lydia sounded from where she was placed.
"Exactly how good are you, Iona?" Janice asked the former member.
"Let's have a practical demonstration…" Iona said mischieviously as she started to sneak.
"Where did she go?" Derkeethus asked, "I'm not liking this one bit."
Iona managed to slip off Calder's, Jordis' and Aegis' gauntlets before standing up and saying, "I think something is missing from your uniforms, don't you think?"
"Good Iona, if you want, I can send you into Valenwood, or maybe even Alinor. You possess very good skills in sneaking." Janice congratulated the former thief.
"Give that back!" Calder said as he snatched his gauntlets from Iona.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Iona humbly said as she gave back the gauntlets to their owners. "But will you be alright if you have only Lydia to protect you?"
"Ahem…" Derkeethus cleared his throat to make himself known as a worthy 'guard'.
"You needed protection from a Dwemer spider automaton, don't bother." Beehaz rubbed it in.
"I hate you." Derkeethus spat at the other Argonian.
"Right... Anyway, I only trust the five of you for this mission." Janice said.
"And if we get caught?" Calder asked.
"We disavow all knowledge and say that you acted on your own, so it is important that you never get yourselves caught." Janice replied. "So, if all emotional outbursts are over and that I have finished explaining most of it, what will it be?"
"Hmm… Dangerous missions that will help the secret war effort, or staying back to train the remaining troops?" The housecarls wondered aloud.
"Some of us are not well trained in stealth." Lydia pointed out.
"That can be fixed easily, just like how I taught Beehaz, or Alice if you prefer, how to walk and impart some skill knowledge in a brief thirty minutes." Janice said. "But first, who will go?"
"Like I said, I will!" Calder, Jordis, Iona and Aegis said as they stepped up.
"Lydia?" Janice asked.
"I will stay here and train the troops, Cocceius really need to find some more good trainers as I can't possibly train them all." Lydia the chair said. "Will you turn me back, Your Majesty?"
"Sure, sure, I forgot about it, sorry." Janice said as Lydia gained back her form.
"Take off that helmet, Beehaz, I want to take a good look at who I will be working with." Calder asked the black scaled Argonian.
Taking off the helmet, Beehaz revealed her spiky horned scalp with spiky brows to match. Her face was entirely black, no war paint or make-up whatsoever. While her eye sockets were typical of an Argonian, the eyes were still the same as Alduin's.
"You look good, better than most of the Argonians working at the docks, anyway." Calder commented.
"Is that suppose to be a compliment or an insult?" Janice, Derkeethus and Beehaz asked angrily in unison.
"I - I mean, you look fearsome!" Calder said, trying to defend himself.
"Hmph." Derkeethus huffed.
"To each their own." Janice sighed. "Alright, time to learn stuff quickly, prepare yourselves."
"What are you do- That is cool, now I know how to sneak properly!" Jordis said as she feel the knowledge going into her mind.
"Just don't go killing innocents, alright? That includes you, Beehaz." Janice said, emphasizing on Alduin's nature to cause havoc and destruction.
"A wild card, eh? I like that." Aegis praised.
A knock was heard before Beehaz could respond. "Your Majesty, someone by the name of Aela from The Companions wants to meet you! She is in the Throne Room." A servant's voice was heard.
"I will be there by noon!" Janice called out.
"I will tell her to wait," the servant replied.
"I'm more of an assassin." Beehaz said as the servant's footsteps faded.
"Good that you are making friends fast, now how do I justify all of you being gone?" Janice wondered the last part aloud.
"Just tell the public that you have sent us on dangerous missions to retrieve some artifact for you. Afterall, we are technically the highest ranking militants in the army." Iona suggested.
"Great idea, though they will question if you don't come back with something of value, something other than intelligence of course." Janice rebutted.
"Well, we can always steal some valuable looking thing the Thalmor have. If they don't have it, then we can say that the mission intelligence is false." Iona said.
"Good plan, just how do you hide the fact that the Thalmor won't recognise it though?" Janice asked through the obvious crack in Iona's plan.
"Right, I forgot they have spies inside this city." Iona realized. "How about you give us some items to display when we come back?"
"Good, I can spare some weapons and armour." Janice said as she walked over to where her weapon racks and closets are.
"Just show the crowds these items when you feel like returning triumphantly." Janice said as she handed each of them a weapon she had created herself.
"What about the pet dragon?" Lydia asked Janice, almost forgetting the fact that Beehaz was Alice, or at least Alduin's cover name.
"Right! I got a big hole in my plan, just great!" Janice groaned.
"I can do it!" A voice suddenly called from under the bed.
Vex?! Shit…, Janice nearly blurted out in surprise as she recognised the voice.
"Hello, Your Majesty." Vex said as she crawled out from under the bed. For some reason, she is not wearing her usual Thieves Guild Guildmaster's armour set, but a simple elven light armour set.
"WHO ARE YOU?" The housecarls said as they immediately drew their swords.
"Nobody, I am a mercenary." Vex said defensively.
"How did you get in here?" Janice asked to cover herself.
"The security was rather lax for such a place. At least, for my skill in infiltrating." Vex said calmly, knowing that Janice would not order her to be killed.
"Wait, I know you…" Iona started. "You are Vex from the Thieves Guild, aren't you?! What are you doing here?"
"Fancy meeting you here Iona, it is good to see you alive after you got caught in that unfortunate accident. I quit after Delvin kept perving on me, that old man was so close to raping me, though I will never let it happen, of course. I just quit for safety reasons. I am a mercenary for hire now." Vex calmly said as Iona lowered her sword.
"What are you doing? She could be lying!" Aegis yelled angrily at Iona.
"No, no Thieves Guild member ever lies to one another, even if they quit." Iona and Vex said together.
"So, your name is Vex? You claim to be a mercenary? Why are you here in my chambers then?" Janice asked as if she met Vex for the first time.
"I wanted adventure, not just kill lame trolls for some petty nuance in gold amount from jobs, Your Majesty." Vex told Janice, quite keen to gain Janice's trust by not blatantly blowing her own cover.
"Right, but that still does not explain why you want to meet me in my chambers." Janice demanded.
"I thought it would be a good resumé, seeing how I can sneak all the way here without alerting any guards." Vex replied. Nocturnal bless me for coming at the right time. She thought.
"You proved your point, stand down!" Janice ordered the housecarls.
"So, what is your plan?" Vex asked, eyeing Beehaz's armour.
"Beehaz, go into the bathroom and change out of the armour, you aren't going anywhere after all." Janice said to the Argonian.
"And I was just about to have fun slaying Thalmor agents again…" Beehaz sighed softly as she went into the bathroom.
"I will give you what Beehaz was wearing to help with your sneaking abilities, Vex. As for weapons, you will have to source them yourself." Janice told Vex. "Since you are not working within the army, I guess I don't have to give you a fake 'artifact'. Just make sure you don't get caught sneaking in and out of this palace."
"Understood!" Vex saluted before taking the armour from Beehaz who had covered herself with a towel.
Donning the Dragonscale armour set, she exclaimed in surprise, "wow, I feel incredibly powerful now, Your Majesty. Anyway, where do you want to send me?"
"Just go scope out what Elenwen is doing in the Thalmor Embassy in Skyrim. I will pay you well." Janice said, knowing that Vex loves bountiful rewards.
"Certainly, Your Majesty." Vex said as she walked to the door.
"May Nocturnal bless you." Vex and Janice mouthed as Vex snuck out.
"What was that?" Derkeethus asked as he saw Janice's lips move.
"What was what?" Janice asked, her face not betraying that she was lying.
"I saw your lips move!" Derkeethus quickly retaliated.
"Must be your imagination." Janice told Derkeethus. "You are seated too far away to notice any lip movement."
"These pair of eyes does not betray me, I am a skilled archer!" Derkeethus shouted in anger. "I have trained to spot tiny things like that!"
"I just mouthed 'good luck', okay?" Janice quickly said, hoping to disperse the situation.
"Oh, alright then." Derkeethus said as he slumped back into his chair. "Sorry for that."
"Nevermind, I have more important matters to deal with." Janice told Derkeethus.
"Can you turn me back? I don't like having to hold on to this towel for so long." Beehaz said.
"Sure. Jordis, Calder, you go spy on the Thalmor embassy here in this city. Iona, go to Valenwood to see what it is like inside the Dominion and Aegis, go to High Rock's own Thalmor embassy." Janice ordered as Beehaz transforms back into Alduin, the towel covering her body as she got on all fours.
"The Bretons? I am not sure if I can even enter High Rock without them killing me after the Markarth Incident seeing that I am a Nord." Aegis tried to reason.
"I don't think they will attack you since the Forsworn are just an extremist group operating in The Reach." Janice said. "Besides, with your new knowledge in sneaking, I am sure that you can quickly dodge combat if you see a group that you can't take on."
"I see. Let's go then!" Aegis pumped the air with a fist.
"Formalities must be observed, I need to properly announce that you are leaving for some dangerous missions rather than you guys disappearing out of nowhere." Janice said to the overly excited Nord.
"Alright, we will take our leave, call for us when you are ready." Jordis said, the group making for the door.
"Oh look, it is almost noon already." Janice said when the door closes, glancing at the imaginary clock she always had with her.
"How do you always tell the time so accurately?" Alduin asked, the towel left unattended from where she wriggled out from.
"It will be hard to explain, seeing that you aren't the main character of a game." Janice said emotionlessly.
"Main character of a what?" Derkeethus and Alduin exclaimed in shock.
"Nevermind, I have a meeting with one of my guild members from Skyrim." Janice said as she exited the room.
"What does she mean by 'game' and that she is the main character of such 'game'?" Derkeethus asked no one in particular. "Is this linked to that 'Voice' she was always talking about?"
"Beats me. Anyway, I will be where I always am, you know where to find me." Alduin said as she walked out.
[Throne Room, 12 noon.]
Before entering the Throne Room, some servants helped her don her usual cloak and the crown, for she can't afford to look sloppy when meeting her subjects in the Throne Room.
"Ah, Aela, it is a pleasure meeting you here. What do you want to discuss about?" Janice said as she took her throne.
"Your Majesty, or Harbinger if I may be so bold." Aela started, immediately having knelt down in respect when she saw Janice entering. "The Companions needs a new Harbinger. The ramble is going out of control. Normally a new Harbinger would be chosen when the last one dies, but we need a new, more engaged leader to keep things under control, fast. I wish to request your wisdom in selecting a new one."
"I should have guessed this would happen," Janice mumbled. "Alright, who among the Circle had shown strength and honour in combat since I was last there? Wait, why are you here alone? Shouldn't you be here with Vilkas and Farkas?"
"They are waiting outside," Aela said. "I rec-"
"Good, let's see how you three perform in the Arena. Winner takes the title." Janice quickly said, interrupting Aela's suggestion.
"Harbinger, it isn't only about the strength, but the honour too. A square off in the Arena doesn't prove anything. I was going to suggest that Vilkas take the title since he shows more wisdom than either of us, and he shows the qualities of a good Harbinger of old." Alea rebutted politely. "Besides, I know that I don't deserve such an honour since I prefer to hunt stealthy."
"Alright, bring them in!" Janice called out to the Companion.
"Right away," Aela said with a tone of informality, not bothering herself with her tone of voice since Janice wouldn't have minded.
"So, Aela nominates Vilkas to be the new Harbinger. What is your opinion, Farkas?" Janice asked.
"I'm with my brother," Farkas said immediately.
"So you will vote for your brother?" Janice asked.
"Yes," Farkas spoke again, feeling a little uncomfortable with the guards around. Ever since Janice convinced Vilkas and Farkas to drop the werewolf 'curse', he became really nervous around large groups of soldiers.
"What is your thoughts on this Vilkas?" Janice asked, not wanting to unnerve the younger sibling any more than was necessary.
"I will be honoured to hold the title of Harbinger." Vilkas said with a knight kneeling gesture.
"Alright, it is done." Janice said, trusting that Vilkas will uphold his duties more than she ever could. "But, since I am not dead, what kind of ceremony had to be performed?"
"Nothing, just like how Kodlak bestowed the title upon you, you just have to appoint a new Harbinger. There is no need for ceremonies, though a celebration in Jorrvaskr is always held to welcome the new Harbinger. Care to join, ex-Harbinger?" Aela said invitingly.
"Maybe… No, no I can't, at least not anymore. My duties here is more important," Janice said. "But, a toast now wouldn't hurt. Bring me, and our fine guests here, a mug of mead each."
"Right away, Your Majesty." The steward said.
"To the new Harbinger!" The group toasted when the steward arrived with four mugs full of mead.
"We will be taking our leave, you know where to find us if you need some threat vanquished." Vilkas said as he finished his mead.
"Certainly, goodbye," Janice waved as she went for lunch.
[After lunch]
"Is it possible to resurrect the Mages Guild? Maybe get rid of the Synod and the College of Whispers?" Janice asked Cocceius who is sitting with her in the empty Elder Council chamber.
"Why do you want to do that?" Cocceius asked.
"Can I trust you not to tell anyone, especially the Thalmor?" Janice asked.
"Of course, I have no trust in those High Elves. Emperor Titus Mede II was trying to find a way to bring about the destruction of the Third Aldmeri Dominion before he got assassinated. If this is about that, you can trust me that I will not tell anyone, even with my life on the line." Cocceius replied.
"Good, I need the Mages Guild to train mages, specifically in the Destruction magic school for the war effort." Janice replied. "With the former guild split, it is hard for new apprentices to choose and enter."
"I don't think they will be willing to agree to such terms. They were always feuding with each other, even within this very hall. They wanted to gain the Council's favour it seems, though we are still on the fence between who to pick." Cocceius rebutted.
"So was the College of Winterhold," Janice started. "As I was working there, well, more like solving their problems with a certain Thalmor agent, I met a Synod researcher in Mzualft. I believe his name was Paratus."
"Paratus, he was suppose to come back with a Star Map of Tamriel. We haven't heard from him since the crystal thing the Synod asked us for funds came back for repairs." Cocceius said in surprise that Janice saw him. "What happened afterwards, after you met him?"
"He was killed as I left, by a Falmer I missed when rescuing him." Janice lied; in fact, she killed the mage right after she learns about the whereabouts of the Staff of Magnus. She didn't want to let him come to Cyrodiil to report that the College of Winterhold was holding the Eye of Magnus at that time.
"Poor man. Well, we have wasted our resources on another failed project yet again." Cocceius sighed.
"If it makes you feel any better, at least I have the Staff of Magnus with me." Janice said.
"You have WHAT?!" Cocceius exclaimed in utter shock, nearly hurting himself as he jumped up from the chair, knees nearly scraping against the stone table.
Deciding to let it go a little further, Janice brought out three golden yellow scrolls and said, "and I have three Elder Scrolls too. I have kept them close to me in case I needed to use them, though I guess I should return them to the Moth Priests now."
"I need to take a walk outside…" Cocceius said, panting, wiping a sweaty brow as he regained his composure.
"Would you show me the way to the Moth Priest library first?" Janice asked.
"Just go up one level and turn left (Note 2), Your Majesty." Cocceius instructed.
"Great, see you." Janice said as she made for the library.
A/N: So Janice formally left the Companions and she is looking to rebuild the Mages Guild for the future war effort. Vex quit after Delvin kept perving on her and has joined Janice to spy on the Thalmor. Things are start to heat up and Janice only had been on the throne formally for four days, which is actually a little too fast if you compare it with actual empires in the past, but whatever.
1. I don't know if you can actually quit seeing that, aside from the Nightingales, the members are not bound in any form.
2. I never explored the Imperial Palace beyond the Elder Council conference room in TES IV: Oblivion, so this is just a general direction. I didn't make it through the Thieves Guild questline because I didn't want my infamy so high that I can't wear the Crusader armour set from the Knights of the Nine DLC.