bopdog111: Frisk laid down a plot hole here.
Ulrich362: True, she's a Blade... but how is that possible after the Great War?
bopdog111: We're about to find out.
Ulrich362: True, they do have quite the trip to talk about it. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own Undertale, or the Elder Scrolls series but we own the OCs!
Right now the group are in a small village of Ivarstead. A village that's the entrance to the 7000 steps to High Hrothgar for the Greaybeards. During the way Frisk had explained to them all about what happened about the Blades, and a request for Jin.
Earlier before...
Frisk had just revealed she's a Blade, and kneeled before Jin who wonders if she really is a group of the disbanded organization of the Emperor of Tamriel's Bodyguards.
Asgore and Toriel both looked shocked hearing that.
"Frisk... you're a Blade? But how?" Toriel asked nervously.
Frisk softly rose up before turning to her adoptive parents, "I'm sorry I kept this from you... But from the Great War, the Civil War, and the Thalmor, I just wanted to get away from it."
"I understand." Asgore reassured her. "Still, to think that a Blade of all people would be the one to free us. I never would have dreamed it would be possible."
"SIRE WHO ARE THE BLADES?" Papyrus asked confused over what's going on.
"A group of trained soldiers loyal to the Dragonborn, and the group that killed more of us than any other Human." Asgore answered.
"Sadly yes." Frisk confirmed looking down, "Our traditions, and history go way back. I don't have a library or bookshelf handy for all those books but we used to be the Akaviri Dragonguard, dedicated Dragon Hunters to slay dragons, and serve the Dragonborn the greatest Dragon Slayer of all. We did this cause he holds the Dragon Soul, and Tiber Septim, the first Septim Emperor of the Septim Dynasty was the greatest Dragonborn at the time. As a reward for our victory with him he gifted the Dragonguard his armor, and they made a shrine around it where Tiber Septim would gain the Blessing of Akatosh the Chief Divine Deity. But it had been cursed a while back then where the first Grandmaster sealed it leaving it to rot for years."
"And your family is a part of that?" Asriel asked shocked.
Frisk nodded a bit explaining, "It started with the Oblivion Crisis." She looked at Jin who asked, "Do you know what happened at that time?"
"From what I read, the Oblivion Crisis was a large invasion to Tamriel in Cyrodill where the Daedra invaded after assassinating Uriel Septim, and his heirs to put out the Dragonfires so that Mehrunes Dagon can cross over to Tamriel itself to rule it. They were stopped by the Thalmor." Jin answered at that.
Frisk made a disgusted look, "The Thalmor weren't the ones that stopped the Daedra..."
"The Blades were?" Chara asked.
"In a sense. My Great-Great-Great Grandfather, who was known as the Hero of Kvatch, was the one who stopped the Oblivion Crisis." As she kept talking they walked together, "He became involved when he was released from prison following an attempt to keep Emperor Uriel Septim safe but failed, and he brought the main treasure to the Cyrodillic Empire to the Blades' hands: the Amulet of Kings."
"What is the Amulet of Kings?" Undyne asked curiously.
Frisk at that explained, "It is a Amulet made only for the Septim Emperors. It had been created by Akatosh from his blood as a way to safeguard the mortal realm from the Daedric Princes as a gift to Saint Alessia for aiding him. Only members of the Septim Familyline can wear it, otherwise it slips off. As long as they are true to the Dragon Blood, the Dragonfires will burn to protect the world from the Daedra. The Daedra after assassinating Uriel Septim stole the Amulet, and used it to snuff out the Dragonfires. Although my Grandfather succeeded in reclaiming it, they weren't able to keep the Dragonfires going in time by making Uriel's son, Martin, an Emperor in time resulting in Mehrunes Dagon to enter Tamriel in his true form."
She then closed her eyes explaining, "But my Grandfather wouldn't give up. He entered the Oblivion Gates, and from inside into the Deadlands, Dagon's plane of Oblivion, he figured out a way to close them, and rescue the Mortal Realm. It lead to spawning a large gate for him to find, and take the Amulet, and from protecting Martin, and saving Kvatch he was recruited into the Blades. But despite all that happened Mehrunes Dagon entered Tamriel. In a last ditch effort to stop them, Martin sacrificed himself, and the Amulet which not only destroyed it but formed himself into an Avatar of Akatosh where it fought Dagon, and banished him from Tamriel forever, ending the Oblivion Crisis but the Septim Dynasty was extinct, and the Amulet of Kings was lost forever."
"what happened to your great-great-great grandfather after that?" Sans inquired.
"He lived. He kept on going, but he... disappeared." Frisk answered.
"What do you mean disappeared?" Asriel asked.
"Last I heard, he went to investigate a strange door leading to somewhere... But never returned." Frisk answered at that. She looked down, "From what I learned, whoever enters were driven mad when they came out."
Toriel frowned before hugging her. "I'm sorry Frisk."
She hugged her back at this. Jin hating the spoil the moment asked, "So..." They looked before he then asked, "After the Oblivion Crisis, and your Grandfather's disappearance, what happened to the Blades?"
Frisk looked down before answering, "We continued to safeguard the Emperors. After the Septim Dynasty perished, Cyrodill was in chaos from the aftermath of the Oblivion Crisis but Titus Mede captured the city with only 1000 men, and was crowned Emperor. From there Morrowind resigned from being an Imperial Province, and Valenwood fell to a Thalmor coup forming the third Aldmeri Dominion. A century passed before it happened... The Great War."
She closed her eyes as a tear ran down her eye, "It was a heavy time for me, and my family... 4 years passed, and the Blades made a fatal mistake which greatly reduced there numbers. My family were some of the only survivors since the Mede Dynasty did not hold the Dragon Blood. Then IT happened..."
"WHAT IS IT?" Papyrus asked nervously.
"The White-Gold Condordat." She answered with a heavy heart. "In order to prevent the Imperial Province, and Cyrodill itself from being destroyed, Titus Mede signed a treaty. It ended the Great War but it had disastrous consequences. For one part, Talos Worship is banned. The Blades' Patron Deity was Talos who was Tiber Septim himself when he became a Deity, and turning our backs on him is the worst offense a Blade can do."
She then clenched her fists, "Then... Then... It... It forced... It forced the Blades to officially disband. The Blades had so much history toward Tamriel, and the Thalmor want to eliminate it for Elven Supremacy." She grinded her teeth as frustrated tears rolled down, "And it also, made the Thalmor Agents free reign over Skyrim, to hunt down, and kill or torture Talos Worshippers. They don't believe Talos is a God as he is mortal. Hammerfell refused to listen where Titus Mede dropped them as a Imperial Province, and made the Aldmeri Dominion fit to a standstill becoming independant."
She then lessened her fists looking down sadly, "It then began the chaos Skyrim is experiencing. Talos was their most respected Deity, and upon the White-Cold Condordat banning his Worship, it greatly angered the Nords, who declared the Empire as Traitors to Tamriel. Ulfric then murdered the High King, Torygg, to take the crown of High King which sparked the Civil War for Skyrim between the Imperial Empire, and the Stormcloak Rebellion. I was young when this happened, and wondered why so many people had to die, and why so many people are under oppression from the Thalmor, and why me, and my family are being hunted down."
Frisk sighed at this. "We been under the Thalmor's radar for years, evading, and fighting them wherever we they. We recently settled in Skyrim after our main stronghold Cloud Ruler Temple was destroyed from the conflict. We settled down in Helgan, but the Thalmor we're making there advance, and I ran away to get out from this. I want to get away from all this mindless bloodshed, this oppression by the Thalmor, and this war, all of it! I thought, I could end it with death in Mt. Ebott..."
She looked over to the monsters, royalty family that she had met that gave her hope for the future. She said with a family, "But then I met you all... And it gave me the hope, and determination, that we can stop the Thalmor, and there rule one day."
The monsters all looked stunned hearing that. She turned to Jin who kept a straight face but is outraged, and disgusted, "So Jin... Since I'm a Blade, and since you hold the Dragon Blood, I must serve you as part of my oath... And now what I'm gonna ask, is my next change of pace."
Taking a breath she bowed. "Can you please train me to fight? Please?"
That surprised everyone not more so then Jin who was surprised from hearing that.
"Huh, punk you aren't a fighter." Undyne told her. "You tried to hit me with everything you had and couldn't muster any desire to hurt me... leave the fighting to us."
"...I realized I needed to fight too." Frisk said looking down, "All I can do is defend which lasts only for so long. I want to fight, and rescue Tamirel from the Thalmor, and whatever these Dragons can mean. The world needs the Blades, and the Dragonborn to be safe from the Dragon Threat. And right now, only I'm able to fight them since I don't know where the others are."
Jin looked at her before turning to Asgore, and Toriel, "You both are her guardians. Do you have any objections?"
"If you're training my child, the rest of us are staying with you both." Toriel told him.
"If that's the only condition, I don't have any problems." Jin answered before turning to Asgore, "What about you?"
Asgore frowned before nodding. "Go ahead."
Jin turned to Frisk before saying, "Alright, I'll train you to fight. But let me make thing clear." She paid attention as he told her, "I'll not sugarcoat anything, and won't be nice to you, giving every ounce of your results a moderate evaluation, and grade based on how you do. If you truly want to fight then prove it, by pushing yourself pass your limits, and enduring everything you can take. Or you can just give up, and stand back, watching silently. Do you understand this?"
She gulped before she nodded, "Sir yes sir!"
"And another thing, I'm not a Soldier anymore so don't refer to me as sir." Jin told her which made her nod.
So this begins Frisk's training period.
Present Time...
Now in Ivarstead to rest, and conserve there energy before climbing up, Jin readied the training scenario. Taking two wooden swords he obtained from Bleak Falls Barrow, or whatever else, he threw one to Frisk who caught it as he explained, "First let us take a look at your forte, and see how you can do right now. Don't hold your strength, give it all to me, and don't be concerned about my health, right here I'M your enemy. Got it?"
"Y-Yeah." Frisk nodded grabbing the handle with two hands to ready herself while Jin only holds it with one hand, and places 1 arm behind his back while the others watched silently worried for Frisk.
"I don't like this." Asriel frowned. "Frisk never attacked anybody... she's too kind to fight."
"I know." Chara agreed. "But... we all know how much DETERMINATION Frisk has, if she puts her mind to something... she won't stop until she does it."
They stand for a while staring. Then she let out a call charging forward readying her swing only for Jin to backup avoiding which she stumbled, "Too much force in the swing." She turned to strike but Jin swipe with his wooden sword knocking it out of her hands, and grabbed her hand with his free hand as she looked startled, "Weak grip, and sloppy." He threw her to the ground as she shake her head looking up at him, "Your forte is bad. Really. Your technique is overall imbalanced, and have a mild grip on your weapon that's bound to be out of your hands at times scenario. Learn to conserve your strength, and have a more focused grip."
"Y-Yes." Frisk nodded getting up walking, and taking the wooden sword back turning to Jin again before charging forward swinging. Jin dodged like before but Frisk this time spin her body in the opposite direction to strike which Jin saw coming, and blocked with his wooden sword before quickly disarming Frisk startling her, and grabbed the collar of her shirt lifting her up as she struggled.
"You can learn, but still leave a lot to be desired." Jin stated before dropping her looking at her before pointing, "Pick up your weapon."
She stared before walking over grabbing it again turning over to him again.
"He's tough, but he knows what he's talking about." Undyne admitted.
That made Asriel gave a confused look to her, "What do you mean?"
"He's not taking it easy on Frisk even though she's never fought before... but he's smart." Undyne answered. "That's the same kind of training I gave the Royal Guard."
Frisk takes the sword readying before charging swinging again which he blocked before moving to disarm which she pulled back before then only to be caught off guard with a hard punch to the gut which made coughed collapsing to her knees wrapping her arms around her stomach coughing a bit.
"HUMAN FRISK!" Papyrus cried before raising his arm as blue bones suddenly surrounded Jin.
"No!" Undyne told him placing a hand on his arm, "Lower them down Paps."
Papyrus looked confused before frowning as the bones sank back into the ground.
"Opponents use weapons, most of the time but when they see an opening they will use either a spell, or their hands to strike." Jin gave another piece of advice to Frisk who looked up with 1 pained eye, "Fighting an opponent will also involve being on a hard lookout of your surroundings. You will gain a sense for danger, but now you need to make that your own such as make your fear your own."
"My... my fear my own?"
"Fear is one of the instances that causes you to stop fighting, and not move. The only way to prevent that is too conquer it by channeling, and controlling it, and forming it into a strength. Same with anger, if you control your anger, and be calm, and focused you can be formed into a skilled fighter." Jin answered to her.
Frisk while coughing a little slowly stood back up in pain before healing herself, and take the sword again readying herself again as Jin readied his wooden sword again.
Later that night...
Frisk was laying on the bed provided by the inn with Toriel healing her of the many bruises, and cuts Frisk received from Jin from her training.
"Are you ok my child?" Toriel asked her. "We're going to start the climb tomorrow after we eat."
"maybe you could fight with magic like us kid, Undyne did get you those books after all." Sans pointed out from the doorway.
"I know... but I don't want to be dead weight, and just use magic... I want to make sure I can fight well even if it means getting up close." Frisk admitted as she sat up from Toriel healing her. "I want to fight like how a Blade intends even if it means going in close. Want to make sure, I can be strong as strong as my Grandfather was before he disappeared, and maybe solve the mystery why he vanished."
"I understand my child, try and get some rest." Toriel whispered softly.
She nodded with a smile getting in bed softly going to sleep with Chara, and Asriel with her as they walked out.
Asgore, and Jin with the Argonian drinking some Mead, and the others sleeping for the night were waiting at some chairs in front of the fire before they noticed them. The former asked them, "How is she?"
"Resting with Asriel and Chara." Toriel nodded. "Her injuries weren't very bad at least."
"She done well for her first time. She needs a lot of work but overall her technique is decent for a first day." Jin said to the four, "With time she can be a strong warrior. I don't know about being a trained Blade, but I do know she can look after herself in mixed scenarios. I'd still keep an eye on her though."
"Of course we will, Frisk's our friend." Undyne mentioned.
"By the way, I had been looking through that bag she had." Jin started up to them, "And I saw the most peculiar armor, I seen. If it belonged to her family, it be best for her to have it on, but it's too big for her to fit. So do any you perhaps know how to shrink things?"
"Shrinking magic, no, but what do you mean peculiar?" Asgore asked him.
"Looked to be something predating the Cyrodillac Empire." Jin went to the bag pulling out the armor laying it down for them to see, "And also looks really familiar."
It looked to be made of gold, and silver around it with the shoulder plates being curved up with the symbol for Skyrim at the belt, and plated armor at the arms.
Undyne's eyes widened only to pause. "It's stained with blood."
"Probably from all the battles that it had experienced. Must've been Blades Armor worn by her Grandfather." Jin guessed at what kind of armor it is, "A rather important looking kind of thing showing a symbol for office."
"Maybe we can ask her as we climb the mountain." Toriel suggested. "What do you plan on doing once we reach the top?"
"Figure out what they know about the Dragons, and what it means to be a Dragonborn." Jin answered to her at that. "Along with it, is seeing how Frisk can adapt to her surroundings cause the climb up will be tedious, and freezing."
"Then we should all get some sleep, we have a long climb." Asgore mentioned thoughtfully.
"Quite quite. But still Frisk should use this armor, but it's too big." Jin said to them looking down at the armor.
"I can ask Aphys if she, and Mettaton can try shrinking it before we head off." Undyne suggested.
He nodded as they head off to bed.
The next day...
Everyone was readying waking up, and eating to be ready for their climb up. The road to High Hrothgar would be a perilous journey but they will succeed together hoping for answers from the Greybeard's insights. For a bit of fun poking Jin dared Asriel to drink some ale, and as expected he spat it out yelling it's nasty which made Jin, Asgore, and several other men laugh which Toriel gave out a small giggle.
When they finished they were ready to head out only for Mettaton to beep.
"Me... Mettaton?" Alphys asked seeing that. "What is it?"
"The shrinking has succeeded Alphys. It's all ready for Darling Frisk to wear now!" Mettaton explained to her.
"Oh, that's great news." Alphys smiled.
"What do you mean?" Frisk asked confused at this.
Mettaton pulled out a small cube, and dig in pulling something out (Which Jin still can't believe such a thing existed) which was the armor now shrunk to fit her. Chara, and Asriel both looked stunned seeing the armor from how it looks.
"That, wow... it's amazing." Asriel said in awe seeing it.
"Yeah, you're right Azzy." Chara agreed.
Frisk froze in shock staring at it. "You... you shrunk it down?"
"Jin said, it be best for you to have it on for your Grandfather's sake." Toriel explained to her.
Frisk stared before saying, "That's... the armor of Tiber Septim himself."
Everyone looked stunned hearing that.
"Did you say... this is Tiber Septim's armor?" Asgore asked her.
"Yeah." Frisk nodded staring at it, "The blood on it is Tiber Septim's own blood when he fought before the Cyrodillic Empire was formed. My Grandfather recovered it for his blood since it was a God's Blood for the Portal to the Realm he needed to go in for the Amulet of Kings. When we went into hiding my family was given the armor to protect it from whatever the Thalmor are planning to do with it. Otherside from the Amulet of Kings, it's the most prized artifact Talos has, so the Thalmor would want to have it to destroy it, or what else."
Jin stared at this before placing a hand on her shoulder, "Well we thought this is armor of the Blades during the Oblivion Crisis or your Grandfather's own armor. Well still since there aren't any other armors, it be best for you to wear it yourself since we're charging into hostile territory. Be best to defend yourself, and have some on you."
She stared at him before looking at the Armor having mixed emotions. One part feels honored to wearing something that Talos himself wore, and happiness to have such a responsibility, but a part is hesitant cause she felt to be dishonoring Talos since the Armor hasn't been worn in centuries, and is disrespectful toward the Mortal God.
So overall she gulped, and nodded, "I... understand. I will wear it for me to defend myself."
"Good girl. Put that on, and let's be off."
Nodding understanding she softly takes the armor from Mettaton, and walked off for some privacy to wear the armor. Jin turned to the others, "The Armor of Tiber Septim himself... No wonder it was familiar, who've thunked it?"
"If it's that old... what if it breaks?" Asriel asked nervously.
"It looked to be well kept despite what she said." Jin said to him before saying, "It's better then no defense at all. Besides this is Tiber Septim we're talking about, for all we know it might be really strong armor that kept for even this long."
"If it breaks we'll get Frisk something better." Chara smiled. "Nothing's going to hurt our sister Azzy."
He nodded at that with a smile.
Soon Frisk walked back as they looked over.
She has her old clothes in her arms but is wearing the armor that has gold gloves with chainmail on them, and plated armored boots that also has chain mail on them with some plated armor covering some exposed spots as she stand there for them to see.
"Looks good on you punk." Undyne smiled.
"Might need a helmet but looking well protected." Jin said as Toriel softly takes Frisk's clothes putting it in the bag.
Frisk only blushed before asking, "This doesn't make me look like a guy does it?"
"No, you look like a girl to me... a girl wearing bloodstained armor of a god, but a girl." Chara answered with a shrug.
"Oh here."
Frisk was handed a Katana, and a Dagger.
"Dagger's only for defense. And even though you need work on your sword arm that Akaviri Katana will do you well." Jin said to her as she pulled out the blade just a bit to see it examining the blade before putting it back, and nodded strapping them on. With that done he asked everyone, "So is everyone ready for the climb?"
They all nodded at that. With that they all walked together to a bridge were they see two people talking with one holding a bag.
"On your way up the 7,000 Steps again, Klimmek?"
"Not today. I'm just not ready to make the climb to High Hrothgar. The path isn't safe."
"Aren't the Greybeards expecting some supplies?"
"Honestly, I'm not certain. I've yet to be allowed into the monastery. Perhaps one day."
One guy walked off as the one holding the bag looked up before sighing turning only to notice the group, "Passing through on your way to High Hrothgar? About to make a delivery up there myself."
"We heard, supplies?" Toriel asked. "We could carry them for you."
"What kind of supplies?" Jin asked Klimmek.
"Mostly food supplies like dried fish and salted meats; you know, things that keep fresh for a long time. The Greybeards tend not to get out much, if you catch my meaning." Klimmek said with a shrug.
"Do you get something in exchange?"
"Well, it's kind of an understanding between us. I mean, it just wouldn't feel right to charge them for a bit of preserved food. Trouble is, my legs aren't what they used to be and climbing the 7,000 Steps takes its toll." Klimmek sighed looking down.
"DON'T WORRY HUMAN, THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL CARRY THEM FOR YOU!" Papyrus grinned picking up the bag.
Klimmek blinked not seeming to mind Papyrus being a skeleton but about what he said. "Really? That would be kind of you. At the top of the steps you'll see the offering chest. Just leave the bag inside and you're done."
"Anything we should know about?" Jin asked him.
"Well, there's the occasional wolf pack or stray, but that's all I've ever had to deal with. Shouldn't be a problem for the likes of you all. Other than that, watch your footing. In these wintry conditions, the stairs can be treacherous." Klimmek answered to him.
"Your telling me. Wet steps on ice can be really slippery, and you break a bone or worse." Jin agreed nodding before saying to them, "Well let's be off."
"Be careful up there." Klimmek waved to them as they head on up.
They made the climb being careful of each other passing by goats, and other things while finding shrines, and stairs along the way. They encountered a wolf pack which like what Klimmek said wasn't a problem as they continued up. Frisk was shivering a bit from the armor being ice cold from this as she tried a vain attempt to warm up by wrapping her arms around her.
Seeing that Asriel created a small flame in his hands and walked with her only for them to hear something roar. Jin stopped raising his hand making them stopped.
"W-W-Was that a dragon?" Alphys asked nervously.
"No... something that is just as much deadly as a dragon on the ground." Jin with narrowed eyes looked over seeing a humanoid monster with white fur, and three eyes eating meat of a bone raw. "A fucking Frost Troll."
Seeing it Asgore summoned his trident as Undyne formed a spear.
"I thought he said, it was only Wolves." Asriel said nervously.
"He probably never encountered a Troll when he makes the climbs." Mettaton mentioned why exactly.
"Either way Trolls are a force to be reckoned with." Jin drew his sword readying.
Sensing something the Troll turned over seeing them before it roared jumping up, and down before charging forward to attack which Jin readied some fire before calling, "Firebolt!"
He fired the spell as the Troll jumped to the side to avoid.
"Trolls are weak against Fire cause of there fat!" Frisk informed Asgore.
Nodding he launched several fireballs at the Frost Troll. The troll tried avoiding against it but got hit couple of times before swinging it's arms to attack which they avoid dodging a bit at this before moving to attack which the Troll dodged itself while avoiding some attacks from Undyne's spears, and Asgore's Trident along with Jin's sword attacks. Soon the Troll tackled Jin down, and readied to attack.
At this Frisk ran forward.
"Frisk be careful!" Toriel cried seeing
"I will!" Frisk called pulling out both blades.
Hearing her the Troll turned only to receive a dagger in a eye making it roar in agony before Frisk swiped her blade in it's gut which wasn't a very deep cut but really did damaged it a bit. The Troll swung an arm which hit Frisk causing her to cry out landing on the ground with the katana landing beside her with the armor absorbing most of the damage.
With the Troll distracted Jin moved up, and before the troll can react Jin decapitated it as it collapsed dead.
"Frisk!" Asriel cried running to her. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah... the Armor managed to protect me a bit but still hurt." Frisk answered with a small wince.
Jin sighed handing Frisk back her weapons walking over, "Well you managed to distract it with your dagger. But your sword arm needs more force cause if that strike was brought to it's full swung it would've dealt more damage to it's stomach."
Frisk nodded taking them as she healed before Jin walked over trimming off some of the Troll's fat off which confused everyone but Frisk.
"mind explaining that one?" Sans inquired.
"Alchemy purposes for making Potions." Jin explained before saying, "Come on still got a ways to go."
With that they continued their trek. Soon they arrived at a stone monastery.
"This... wow, it's incredible." Alphys whispered seeing it.
"So this is High Hrothgar." Undyne said also in awe.
Seeing a chest at the entrance Asgore suggested, "That must be the offering chest Klimmek said about."
"Go on Azzy." Frisk smiled to Asriel handing him the supplies bag.
He took the bag before putting in the chest. "You carried those all this way Papyrus? It was really heavy."
"WELL I HAD TO GET STRONG BY EATING LOTS OF SPAGHETTI!" Papyrus grinned at that.
Frisk giggled at this before Jin shook his head from never hearing about Spaghetti as they went in. They looked around amazed by the design of the place before they noticed a elder human wearing a gray robe having a beard walking over as Jin approached looking at him.
The elder man said with a smile, "So... a Dragonborn appears, at this moment in the turning of an age."
"We're answering your summons." Jin explained to him.
"So I see." the man sees the crowd as three more elders walked over before he then stated, "We will see if you truly have the gift. Show us, Dragonborn. Let us taste of your Voice."
Jin blinked at that before asking, "Are you sure about that?"
"Do not be afraid. Your Shout will not harm us." the elder man reassured.
Jin slowly nodded before taking a breath concentrating to remember how to do it back at the Watchtower. When he found it he opened his eyes calling, "FUS!"
The shout was evident at that pushing the elder man so slightly. At that he looked at Jin, and said, "Dragonborn. It is you. Welcome to High Hrothgar."
"So who are you?"
"I am Master Arngeir. I speak for the Greybeards." the elder man answered bowing before then asking, "Now tell me, Dragonborn, why have you come here?"
"We're answering your summons, Master." Jin answered a bit confused why he would ask that type of question.
"We are honored to welcome a Dragonborn to High Hrothgar. We will do our best to teach you how to use your gift in fulfillment of your destiny." Arngeir said with a slight bow down.
"You train the Dragonborn?" Asgore asked with a hint of anger in his tone.
"He is not the first. There have been many of the Dragon Blood since Akatosh first bestowed that gift upon mortalkind." Arngeir answered at that mainly focused on the Argonian before telling Jin, "Whether you are the only Dragonborn of this age... that is not ours to know. You are the only one that has been revealed thus far. That is all I can say."
"So what is my destiny?" Jin asked curiously.
"That is for you to discover. We can show you the Way, but not your destination." Arngeir answered at that.
"Thank you." Jin bowed respectfully. "I appreciate this."
"You have shown that you are Dragonborn. You have the inborn gift. But do you have the discipline and temperament to follow the path laid out for you? That remains to be seen." Arngeir said to him which made Jin frowned before he gestured over where Jin walks to the middle of the room where Arngeir continues his lecture, "Without training, you have already taken the first steps towards projecting your Voice into a Thu'um, a Shout. Now let us see if you are willing and able to learn. When you Shout, you speak in the language of dragons. Thus, your Dragon Blood gives you an inborn ability to learn Words of Power. All Shouts are made up of three Words of Power. As you master each Word, your Shout will become progressively stronger."
Turning over to another elder, Arngeir said to Jin, "Master Einarth will now teach you "Ro," the second word in Unrelenting Force. Ro means "Balance" in the dragon tongue. Combine it with Fus - "Force" - to focus your Thu'um more sharply."
Einarth walked over saying, "Ro." At that something formed on the ground in front of him evident to everyone which was glowing words.
Asgore frowned seeing that. Jin walked over before getting advanced knowledge, and the word vanished. Arngeir smiled at this, "You learn a new word like a master... you truly do have the gift. But learning a Word of Power is only the first step... you must unlock its meaning through constant practice in order to use it in a Shout. Well, that is how the rest of us learn Shouts. As Dragonborn, you can absorb a slain dragon's life force and knowledge directly."
"Well that explains that Dragon turning into a skeleton, and me doing the Shout easily." Jin remarked looking at his hands.
"As part of your initiation, Master Einarth will allow you to tap into his understanding of "Ro."" From there Einrath meditated as energy similar to a dragon's soul came from him to Jin who absorbed it gaining understanding to use the next word.
"Now let us see how quickly you can master your new Thu'um." Arngeir said they walked back for them to view, "Use your Unrelenting Force shout to strike the targets as they appear."
One stepped forward, "FIIK LOH SAH!"
At that a specter appeared in the middle. Jin closed his eyes to focus before calling, "FUS RO!" At that the shout struck the specter which pushed it back more then it pushed Arngeir back as it vanished.
Arngeir nodded in approval directing, "Well done. Again."
A second stepped forward, "FIIK LOH SAH!"
The same specter appeared as he focused more before calling, "FUS RO!" It gave the same effect as before vanishing which Arngeir smiled before saying, "You learn quickly. Once more."
Finally Einrath stepped forward, "FIIK LOH SAH!"
A third appeared which didn't take Jin 2 seconds to focus again, "FUS RO!" The third specter was hit vanishing at this as Arngeir smiled to Jin, "Impressive. Your Thu'um is precise. You show great promise, Dragonborn." He then directed to the third Greybeard, "We will perform your next trial in the courtyard. Follow Master Borri."
The Greybeards all turned to walk to the Courtyard with them which Jin reached to follow only to turn noticing Asgore's displeased look, "What's wrong with you?"
"These people trained the Dragonborn... the same Dragonborn that slaughtered so many of my friends and fellow monsters." Asgore told him with a frown.
Frisk at that told Asgore, "But Goat Dad... they probably stopped helping them like that. This feels like a peaceful area, so they won't do any killing or anything like that."
He sighed. "It isn't that... it's their ignorance of what their teachings can lead to. The lives it can take away."
"Well I'm not those people." Jin said to him before saying, "I fight only for defending rather then destroying."
With that in mind they continued their trek up entering the courtyard where Arngeir said to Jin, "We will now see how you learn a completely new Shout. Master Borri will teach you "Wuld," which means "Whirlwind.""
"Wuld." Borri already said the word.
Jin walked before gaining knowledge as the word vanished. Seeing this Arngeir said to him, "Approach Master Borri and he will gift you his knowledge of "Wuld.""
Borri meditated giving his understanding to Jin who absorbed it looking at his hand before Arngeir directed, "Now we will see how quickly you can master a new shout." Turning over a Greybeard opened a gate as he told Jin, "Master Wulfgar will demonstrate Whirlwind Sprint. Then it will be your turn."
They looked before Wulfgar called, "WULD!" He quickly got through the gate before it closed.
"WOW, THAT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE!" Papyrus admitted.
"Now it is your turn. Stand next to me. Master Borri will open the gate. Use your Whirlwind Sprint to pass through before it closes." Arngeir told Jin who nodded.
He walked up to Arngeir readying as a Greybeard called, "Bex!"
The gate opened as Jin breathed to focus before calling, "WULD!" He passed through the gate successfully at this before it closed. Arngeir seeing this nodded with a smile, "Your quick mastery of a new Thu'um is... astonishing. I'd heard the stories of the abilities of Dragonborn, but to see it for myself..."
"I don't know how I do it. It just happens." Jin admitted to him walking over.
"You were given this gift by the gods for a reason. It is up to you to figure out how best to use it." Arngeir wisely said to him at that, "You are now ready for your last trial. Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder, from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustengrav. Remain true to the Way of the Voice, and you will return."
"Hang up before we go we have some questions here." Jin said to him.
"Of course, there is no rush for you to retrieve the horn. So please don't hold back what you want to ask. We won't hesitate to answer." Arngeir said at this while the three Greybeards stand beside him.
"Why are the dragons returning? Does it have something to do with me?" Jin asked probably the most important question.
"No doubt. The appearance of a Dragonborn at this time is not an accident." Arngeir answered at that before explaining, "Your destiny is surely bound up with the return of the dragons. You should focus on honing your Voice, and soon your path will be made clear."
Jin nodded hearing that.
"What does it mean to be "Dragonborn"?"
"Dragons have the inborn ability to learn and project their Voice. Dragons also are able to absorb the power of their slain brethren. A few mortals are born with similar abilities - whether a gift or a curse has been a matter of debate down through the centuries. What you have already learned in a few days took even the most gifted of us years to achieve. Some believe that Dragonborn are sent into the world by the gods, at times of great need. We will speak more of that later, when you are ready." Arnegir answered at that.
"There are only four of you?" Jin asked noticing the numbers are too low.
Arngeir said to him, "Five. Our leader, Paarthurnax, lives alone on the peak of the Throat of the World. When your Voice can open the path, you will know you are ready to speak to him."
Hearing the name 'Paarthurnax' made Frisk froze.
"Frisk?" Asriel asked seeing that. "What's wrong?"
"Paarthurnax... That's the name of a dragon." Frisk answered in shock.
Chara's eyes widened before she frowned. "Frisk, you're not thinking of doing anything reckless are you?"
Before Frisk can answer the Greybeards upon finally noticing the company of monsters, and the girl wearing Tiber Septim's armor Atrngeir asked demandingly, "Where did you get that?" They looked before he yelled, "Answer me!"
"My-My family had been trusted with it." Frisk said flinching.
Seeing that the monsters moved between him and Frisk to defend her as Asgore and Undyne summoned their weapons, Sans eye started glowing blue, Papyrus looked ready to defend his friend, and Toriel's hands started glowing with fire magic.
Arngeir wisely stepped back before realizing what Frisk meant, "The Blades! Of course. They specialize in meddling in matters they barely understand. Their reckless arrogance knows no bounds." Turning to Jin he said with anger, "They have always sought to turn the Dragonborn from the path of wisdom. Have you learned nothing from us? Would you simply be a tool in the hands of the Blades, to be used for their own purposes?"
Jin frowned before saying, "She's helping me out, I'm no-one's puppet definitely not her's!"
"No, no, of course not. Forgive me Dragonborn, I have been intemperate with you." Arngeir calmed down at that before warning him, "But heed my warning - the Blades may say they serve the Dragonborn, but they do not. They never have."
"Well that's kinda true..." Frisk softly admitted at that, "I mean we stood by Tiber Septim's side after we aided him in a big battle, and promised to serve anyone wielding Dragon Blood as he is the mortal representative of Talos."
"As you can see we are in odds between us, and the Blades. Take heed over what they offer you Dragonborn, the Blades may say things but they don't understand the gravity of the situation." Arngeir said to Jin which really offend the monster party, Chara, and Asriel due to him not knowing what kind of a person Frisk is.
"Are you joking?" Chara questioned angrily as she glared at Arngeir.
"Frisk isn't that kind of person, and she's not trying to manipulate anyone... if anyone's doing that it's you people up here!" Asriel shouted. "You sit on this mountain and yell for people to come up and listen to what you say without question like they're your puppets."
Feeling hands on there shoulders they looked over seeing Frisk was looking down with shadows over her eyes.
"Frisk?" Asriel asked seeing that.
"Let me talk to him." Frisk told them both.
Hearing that they both nodded but Asriel gave her a hug before stepping back. Frisk walked up before looking up at Arngeir with a stare which surprised him, "Master Arngeir, I understand that my family, and my organization is at odds with the Greybeards due to events ranging from killing, to other things. But I tell you honestly we are NOT turning him away from your teachings. If anything I support the Greybeard's 'Way of the Voice' cause it involves being peaceful, and you help teach Jin to use the Thu'um for peaceful things. But if he wants to fight, that's something you can't change, he will need to change it himself either to help or kill others."
She then closed her eyes, "And what you say is true. We Blades only serve whoever wields the Dragon Soul starting with Tiber Septim who's armor I am wearing. But Jin right now holds the Dragon Blood so it's also true that we do serve him too despite him not being a Septim. Whatever kind of issues we both have, I don't know, but I do know we can't let hatred for each other keep us splintered. Right now, Jin needs both help of the Blades, and the Greybeards. Otherside from the Dragons, there are the Thalmor."
Seeing his confused look she explained, "The Aldmeri Dominion, formed from the Great War. The Blades made the mistake of attacking them resulting in there numbers dwindling. But from the Great War's end also came the disbandment of the Blades by force. I'm one of the last surviving members who still holds on to what they do. But the Thalmor succeed in Elven Supremacy by possibly the dragons, then they will come here themselves, and try to have the Way of the Voice for themselves."
Arngeir looked shocked at this as she nodded, "They don't care who or what you are, or what kind of importance you have, they'll change, destroy, or take what you have, and convert it into something for their image. They don't respect Talos, the Patron Deity of the Blades, and our arrogance during the Great War costed us greatly. We can learn from our mistakes, and help others, which is something you probably don't know. I'm not like my predecessors. I will help others including Jin, and stop the Dragons, and the Thalmor no matter the reason. And you should too. If the Thalmor can change, or nearly drive the Blades into extinction, they can also do that to the Greybeards... And they also stole the credit my Grandfather done to stop the Oblivion Crisis."
Seeing him starting to look contemplating she bowed, "But don't take my word for it... I am just a kid, but I believe that both the Greybeards, and the Blades should be allies to each other, instead of relieving old scars. Right here, right now we are all in danger from the dragons, and the Thalmor together. Now it's time to stand together, and not allow either of them to succeed. Rules can change, even at the direst of need, and that involves whatever conflict we have with each other. So please, let us put aside the scars that kept us apart for so long... We need to stand together, and put an end to the Dragon Menace, and the Thalmor's oppression for Elven Supremacy, and put things right again. If we don't not only will the Blades be extinct, the Greybeards being the Thalmor's tools, but also the world will be destroyed by the Dragons if the Thalmor haven't conquered it first. Please think about it."
After finishing up she turned walking back to the monsters. Asgore, and Toriel gently hugged her at that. She hugged them back as they turned over to Arngeir who looked deep in thought before softly telling Jin, "I'm sorry, I... I need some time to process her words Dragonborn... Your trust is well placed in them, as evident." Jin nodded before he then said, "Go, bring back the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Then we will discuss more."
"Right." Jin nodded before turning and walking off with Frisk, Chara, and the monsters.
"Your pretty good at words." Jin admitted to Frisk.
She blushed in embarrassment, "W-Well... I haven't fought a monster underground, and managed to talk to them all to stop fighting."
"OF COURSE, BECAUSE YOU ARE TRULY GREAT HUMAN FRISK!" Papyrus grinned.
"Well, hopefully someone can help her learn to defend herself just in case." Undyne mentioned looking at Jin. "I can lend a hand too with her training."
"Indeed." Jin answered at that, "If she truly wants to stop the Thalmor, and the Dragon Menace I will aid her. She has a lot to learn but she has the right idea."
"... What about me and Chara?" Asriel asked suddenly.
"You both sure about that?" Jin asked them. He knows Asriel had strong abilities when he absorbed the SOULs but doesn't have them anymore, and Chara... she can be deadly when she wants too.
"We can fight, but we can always learn to be better... plus Frisk is our sister, we're not letting her go through with this alone." Chara answered.
"Y-You both don't have too-" Frisk tried to change their mind not wanting them in danger.
"Frisk, we're doing this with you." Asriel told her.
Jin at that looked over before telling them both, "If that is the case, I will apply the same warning I gave Frisk to you both. I'll not sugarcoat things, and be nice. Do you two understand? If you truly want to fight, then prove it."
The two of them nodded in understanding.
"Right." Asriel nodded.
Once they arrived them waited only for them to notice Jin walking over holding in his arms what looks like two sets of leather armor.
"Is that for us?" Chara inquired.
"Yes, made from the belts of the wolves." Jin answered at that handing it to them, "Put them on, and be ready."
Nodding the two of them walked off to put in the armor. Once they walked back here Frisk smiled to them, "Oh you both look like pretend Knights. That Leather looks like cardboard boxes."
Chara rolled her eyes with a smile as Asriel blushed slightly.
"What's first?" he asked Jin.
While confused on 'cardboard boxes' Jin doesn't ask before saying, "Well first is for you both to make sure about the armor your wearing. Leather is not as strong as her's..." He taps his knuckles on Frisk's armor a bit before saying, "But it can take several ounces of force, or some element power, but be aware against sharp things that can easily pierce through Leather."
"That makes sense." Chara nodded.
"Next what are your preferred type of fighting, what do you two think makes your fighting style strong?" Jin asked.
"Well… I was able to use two swords." Asriel admitted.
"I should be good with a dagger." Chara answered.
"Sounds simple enough." Jin said before saying to Asriel first, "Unlike one handed fighting, dual handed allows for a more aggressively outlook on fighting allowing you to cover more distance that your shield arm can't do, and gives you a more focused sense of danger all around you. The main problem is that since there is no shield, it can leave your other side just as exposed as the side you hold your sword on, and have a bit of trouble figuring senses."
Asriel nodded hearing that.
Turning to Chara for her insight Jin told her, "Wielding a dagger for weaponry usually meant you have a stronger weapon, and daggers are kept as emergencies for defense as you use a Bow, and Arrows, or magic to fight. A dagger is fast, and easy to carry, and can bring down an enemy by itself if you hit the right part. But the problem is that the dagger is in fact like a knife, doesn't have much of a long blade, can't be used for blocking, and can also be broken if the blade's not thick enough. It's more of an assassin, or hunter kind of weapon but still good for regular warriors to have in case of emergencies."
"You'd be surprised what I can do with just a dagger." Chara told him.
"Show me that." With that Jin threw Asriel two wooden swords, and gave Chara a smaller version to work as a dagger before taking a wooden sword himself in the same stance he done with Frisk, "Right now, I'm examining your forte for me to see what I'm working with. Right now, I'M your enemy, come at me like you mean to kill me."
Asriel and Chara both got into their positions to get started but Jin noticed they exchanged a quick glance before moving perfectly in sync. Jin seeing this moved his sword to his side readying for whatever blocking or dodging he'll be doing. Asriel swung one sword towards his guard before using the other to strike at his open side while Chara shifted her grip on her dagger and waited to see how Jin would react to get the right moment to strike.
Jin at that leaned back far enough for Asriel's swords to miss before Jin quickly shifted his body kicking Asriel at the gut to push him back. Asriel grunted only for Chara to take the opportunity and 'Slash' Jin's leg before it hit the ground after his kick. Jin looked surprised but focused again turning over to swing his wooden sword over at Chara. She quickly blocked with the dagger as Asriel recovered and took advantage of Jin's focus on Chara to strike his sword and try to disarm him. Jin as if sensing turned over calling, "FUS!"
The Thu'um caught Asriel by surprise pushing him back but not as hard as earlier. With Asriel distracted Jin shift his body catching Chara's arm with his wooden sword before kneeling Asriel's gut.
"Azzy!" Chara cried only for Jin to feel something in his side.
Feeling that Jin turned over. Chara had managed to press her dagger into his side, a lethal blow if the dagger had been real. Jin softly chuckled at that, "Well well... you have experience if nothing else... Might actually make me start putting in just a bit of effort."
Asriel chuckled at that while Chara smiled.
"But despite that, you both are needed to take some other things into account. Your enemies will use magic, or in some cases the Thu'um like that Dragur from Bleak Falls Barrow had done so you need some defenses against it." Jin said to them, and Frisk, "We will stay here in Ivarstead until you three are able to show yourselves as effective fighters. With the progress we're making probably close to a week at best. But under my tutelage you three WILL learn, and will be pushing yourselves passed your limits. Do you three understand clearly?"
The three of them nodded.
"Good. And while then we should also get some training ourselves." Jin said turning to Asgore, Papyrus, Sans, Undyne, and Mettaton, "I'll learn some new tricks, and they'll get a glimpse of how the people here fight, and improve better. What you say?"
"Just be careful not to hurt them." Toriel warned him.
"I can't promise that, but I will say I won't bring them in critical condition." Jin told her.
Toriel frowned but nodded.
"Alright let's begin." Jin readied as they readied back before charging in at all.
bopdog111: Well we learned a lot.
Ulrich362: True, we did.
bopdog111: For all those Skyrim Players, Delphine made two critical mistakes to the Blades. That is to where she tried to make a point about the Greybeards that if Tiber Septim listened to them he wouldn't have formed the Empire which was incorrect. Then she also refused to help the Dragonborn unless Paarthurnax is killed which was a violation of her oath as confirmed by Jauffre who pointed out, "The Blades are sworn to the service of the Emperor, as the mortal representative of the Dragon Blood of the divine Talos", and the with Dragonborn being that she was violating what it meant to be a Blade if Paarthurnax is left alone. Good intentions she may have, but a Blade she is not acting like.
Ulrich362: Exactly. So what's next for our group?
bopdog111: Well otherside from heading to Ustengrav they will also do some of the side quests as listed since they are in no rush for the moment.
Ulrich362: Sounds good to me, see you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!