Skyrim(c) Bethesda.
Forgotten Paladin, Chapter VII: Peace Council II and Potema.
She's forgotten how many times she's read this chapter. Eleven? Twelve? It explained how there were four hundred and fifty Paladins by the time of the Great War.
Chapter IV: How to become a Paladin.
Not everyone knows how someone who is not blood related can become a Paladin. According to one of them, there is a certain Trail you must take to prove you are worthy to them first. Then, if you pass, you will be given the location to where you go to prove yourself to Arkay.
I shall start with the Paladin's Trail before moving on to Arkay's. First, you will meet with several at their chosen location. They will test your faith, kindness, morality and resistance to alcohol, this to make sure you don't give out the location of their many bases. One of the Paladins will then challenge you to a fight; this depends on what weapon you are using at the time. Last, your senses will be trained for they will be needed on Arkay's Trial. If you pass, you will be told where to go. I was unable to get a name.
Unto Arkay's test, this is supposed to be more difficult. It is said the moment you reach this place, you will feel very disconnected from the world, such as one would feel at High Hrothgar. Instead of there being the usual quest in a dungeon for a trail, and according to the Paladin whom I asked, you are 'killed' on arrival to a specific place. It is here that Arkay shall speak to you, and you answer various questions, usually of a moral nature. If you pass, you are teleported back to the meeting place from before and welcomed in the Order. If you fail, your memory is wiped of the locations, but you still remember what you tried to join and why you failed. However, you can improve yourself and try again, but only once. And if you pass that time, your memory will, of course, be given back.
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They're gathered at the round table, ready to begin. She's fidgeting with her tunic, trying to figure out a last minute plan, or reworking the one she has. Her steps to her chair are measured. The cold stone greets her, keeps her slightly grounded, as she sits. "General Tullius, Jarl Ulfric, this council has been called by the Dragonborn, so that she may deal with the Dragon menace. Hopefully, we may achieve an every lasting peace."
Arngeir would have continued if Ulfric hadn't interrupted. "You insult us by bringing that Elf here?" he hisses. "Ulfric, you can't pick whom I bring to this council." Tullius calmly comments. He sets her gaze on her. "You called this council. What's your decision?" Rubbing the sides her forehead, she looks at Ulfric. "I'm sorry, but she must stay. Don't give me that look. I assure you, both of us rather be somewhere else than forced to look at each other. And just remember what's at stake here." He simply levels a glare at her direction before speaking, "Fine. Then we want control of Marakath."
Elisif's jaw drops. "General, you can't seriously hand over Marakath to that traitor!" Tullius's shoulders slump in annoyance. "Jarl Elisif, I will handle this. Ulfric, you really can't expect us to hand over Marakath that easily?" Kaylee feels everyone's gaze on her again. Riften or Dawnstar? Riften would give the Imperials access to Cyrodiil and Dawnstar would give them another port. She rests her chin on her right hand. "Riften." Tullius nods and Ulfric scowls, mostly toward her. She looks fixedly at him. "Come off your high horse Jarl Ulfric. I wouldn't side with you." A part of her knows why she sides with the Empire, but another part knows it's for a different reason. She's not sure if she will like the reason. "By Arkay, kissing Elenwen sounds like a better idea." Several people muffle their laughter while Elenwen grimaces.
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The delegation parts with Balgruuf and Kaylee at Whiterun. "So, kissing Elenwen sounds like a better idea?" She levels a glare in response. "Let's go capture a dragon." She huffs as Balgruuf attempts, and fails, to hold back his laughter.
"You do have a way of calling this dragon, yeah?" is the question asked the moment they enter Dragonsreach. "Yes." The guards have already prepared the trap, now all is left for her to give the signal. "OD AH VIING!" There is a moment a silence before the flapping of wings is heard along aside a roar. "Dragonborn, I hear your call!" Arrows are flung from their bows but most miss. "Be careful not to kill him, we need him alive!" Sucking a breath, she waits. I need him in a specific place before I use Dragonrend. Her left hand reaches out and heals the downed guard next to her whom murmurs thanks.
"JOOR ZAH FRUL!" Shouting has become almost natural to her now. Everyone moves back as Odahviing lands and inches towards them, jaw snapping. "Now!" The trap falls and locks Odahviing into the place. Now they can get a better look at him. He's is red with a white underbelly. He eyes her carefully. "You want to know where Alduin has gone, hm?" "That's right, where is he?"
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A nervous, frightful week has passed. All of Skyrim, even Tamriel, waits, and there are reports of dragons heading towards the Throat of the World. The Dragonborn has not been heard from, and many fear she has perished.
It would have been a quiet night if commotion had not been heard. A soldier barges into Castle Dour. "General Tullius, General Tullius!" Heads look towards the door. "Sir, something has happened. There's noise coming from the Throat of the World!" A warm air greets them the moment the walk out. People have gathered outside, listening. "ALDUIN MAHLAAN! SAHROT THUR QAHARAAN. ALDUIN MAHLAAN!" The air is tense. Grips everyone in fear, fear that Alduin has triumphed. "Zu'ui Dovahkiin! Zu'ui thu'um los mul!" There is a feminine ring to it and cheering and laughter erupts in the streets.
A guard nearby comments that Alduin is defeated, the Dragonborn has won. The civil war can start again. The air returns into a warm, cheerful air, signals the mood of Solitude. The morning comes and rumors of the Dragonborn appearing at Ivarstead spread.
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Cheering erupts when Kaylee walks into the Winking Skeever the next day. "Hail Dragonborn!" She is given friendly, warm smiles and pats on the back. "Drinks on me." she yells while moving towards the bar. More cheering erupts. Scooting a stool next the bar, she asks if the barkeep about anyone looking for help. "Aye, some lad went to the Court. Muttered something about Wolf skull cave. Given the history of the cave, you should probably check it out." Downing the last her mead, she nods and hands him a bag of septims. "Here, this cover the tab." The barkeep's eyes nearly widen as he looks in. "Milady, there must be five thousand septims in here! I can't accept that!" She smiles. "Keep it. I have a fair amount." He stutters out thanks.
The Blue Palace beckons to her, warm and inviting. Nodding towards the guard, she makes her way in. The most unusual sight greets her when she finishes climbing the steps. Not only is Jarl's Elisif's usual court there, General Tullius and Legate Rikke are present as well. A male Nord stands in front of them. "I swear to you, unusual lights are coming from that cave!" The wizard shakes her at him. "From my associates have told me, there is nothing happening."
She snorts out a laugh, causing everyone to look towards her. "If I were you, mage, I wouldn't assume that. Especially if it has something to do with Wolfskull cave, given its history." The steward nods slowly. "She's right. I suppose we shouldn't." Elisif eyes her. "Will you check the cave, Dragonborn?" Smiling at the Jarl she nods. "Well then, it's settled. The Dragonborn will scout the cave and report back." "Aye, and if nothing is there, then I should be back within the hour."
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"Potema, we summon you!" Her heart almost runs into her mouth. No, they were trying to summon her. "Yes, yes! Summon me back to this realm, mortals!" Swinging blindly, her mind is only focused on thing. Stop the ritual. She kills everything her path. Potema's laugh echoes in her head. You will not win, Paladin. I will see to that. Her body feels weak suddenly but this does not stop her. "It has been a while since I have faced one of you. Your grandfather would have made a wonderful servant. So will you, Dragonborn." Shaking her head she pushes forward, not caring if she is injured or not.
"Wait, something is wrong. There is an intruder!" Bounding up the stair she decapitates one of the ritual members. "Paladin! Kill her!" Dodging a swing, she Shouts, "FUS RO DAH!" The force of the Shout sends the male off the side of the tower. A necromancer stabs her with a steel dagger. Her body slows, it's been poisoned. She grunts, and cow kicks him in the neck, killing him. Three left. One tries to sneak on her but the adrenaline pumping through her blood allows her to hear him. She bashes him twice with her shield before slashing his neck with it. Two.
Ha, ha, ha. I know how to pick my future servants! Hearing Potema's voice again allows her to be caught off guard by the second to last nerco. He head-butts her, forcing her to the ground. "Master," he cries. "I caught her!" The older woman, who heads the ritual, nods in approval. "Tie her so we may continue." When the pressure on her chest releases, she springs up and thrusts her sword through his head. "You will not take me! YOL TOOR SHUL!" Fire launches out her mouth once more, strikes the woman and burns her. Tired, she never notices a purple light fly through cracks in the cave.
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The look on the mage's face is priceless as she tells them what transpired. Falk, the steward, murmurs out, "Potema?" Ignoring the pain in her side, she wheezes out, "Aye. Potema." The housecarl to Elisif snarls at the court wizard. "And you tried tell telling us there was nothing wrong with the cave." An argument ensures between the two. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tries to block out the pain. The world sways as her start eyes roll into the back her head, and she passes out. Cries ring out, and someone catches her before she hits the ground. She hears a male voice call to her, but she doesn't know who.
The healer presses a wet, warm rag to Kaylee's forehead. Gathered around her body are Elisif, Falk, Rikke and Tullius. "How is she?" Elisif asks aloud, worry apparent in her voice. "She's steady, my Jarl. I won't be surprised if she wakes any moment now." The water swishes as the cloth is dropped in and out. "Ah, she seems to be waking now." There is one blink, two blinks before her pale blue eyes greets them permanently. "What? Where I am?" The healer chuckles as he drapes the cloth over her forehead. "You are in the Temple of the Eight, my child. You passed out the Blue Palace." She groans out, "Sorry, Jarl Elisif."
The Jarl shakes her head. "Don't be. Once you have rested, come back to the Palace to receive your reward." Falk pats her leg before following behind Elisif. Rikke crosses her arms. "You should have seen a healer before you returned to court." Shaking her head as best as Kaylee could, she responses. "No, I couldn't. Not if they were trying to resurrect Potema." Her gazes lands on Tullius, whom speaks for the first time. "Rikke is correct, Kaylee. Then again, so are you. Now, once more get some rest, and after you have received you reward from Jarl Elisif -" "Come see you to join the Legion like I said I would." She interrupts. "Aye, I was going to after this mess." Rikke pats her shoulder before the two leave her with the healer. "So, you stopped Potema again, eh?" Nodding she closes her eyes, falls asleep again.