#wizard of helgen

[dapperdragon-ao3]

The river provided a serene note to the music of the wildlife. Our footsteps carried us rhythmically across the crystal-clear water and farther down the road, scuffing the dirt and startling rabbits out of their hiding places, and Finch grunted while he fought against his own forehead.

“The damn brrstr is annoying,” he huffed, both of his hands holding apparently nothing on either side of his face. “I’m not supposed to wear it for more than a few hours. You ask me, it’s not fair that it’s both bolted to my skull and irritating to wear--should either be able to take it off or it doesn’t give my forehead rugburn, not neither.”

“Is that the portal?” I asked. “The thing that sent you back in time?”

“It’s not-” he paused. “It’s more complicated than that, but you know I can’t explain it.” With an exasperated sigh, he dropped his arms. “Next I’ll get hand-cramps from holding the vpmytpaartd, as if I could bloody well put them down.”

“Sounds like you need to take your mind off of it. Let’s talk about something that we can both talk about.”

“I can tell you about your future, if you like.”

“No--something normal.”

Finch sighed. “My normal and yours are worlds apart, mate. I doubt I could say a single comprehensible word about it.”

“It can’t be that different. How much time lies between us?”

“An insurmountable number,” said Finch with certainty. “And it’s chiefly technology, you see—that’s round about the stuff I can’t talk about. The—ah—time stream doesn’t want you to know about vpzqiyrtd, innit? An invention like that would change the whole world fundamentally. Even if I could explain to you how to invent it.”

I tried again. “Even so, there must be something. Tell me about your family.”

“Alright, I can give it a shot. So--I live with my sister, Francie. We’ve inherited our gran’s place in the city and figured we could work out how not to fight for a few seconds a day if it comes with a free place to live. She works at a flower store, and she’s always coming home with poor little dying critters they can’t sell. She’s named them all, I cannae keep track of them. They get underfoot, you know, which is a feat and a half when it comes to plants. I had to clear out two square meter just for the space to qasudlutoz, moving pots around and the like. The fact I haven’t heard her come home is about as damning as the fact I haven’t trampled a single poor sod in roaming around here, even now I’ve gone back to using the kpudyovl. And that that’s not made me nauseated is a gift horse I’m not bringing to the frmyody anytime soon. What, do you not have frmyodyd here?”

Trying to bring the conversation back to his family, I asked, “I understand if you can’t be specific, but where do you-”

A wolf’s angry bark cut me off, producing a yelp from Finch; instinctively I whirled around and drew my sword. When the giant black canine lunged, teeth bared, I swung and caught it across the neck. Blood spilled across the ill-maintained cobblestones and the beast’s momentum threw it across my feet.

The thing hadn’t had a chance to touch me. Somehow, that made it more jarring than any of the other battles I’d been in recently.

“Oh, that’s good,” said Finch, in a higher register than before. “I apertrfyjrfoggoviayu--made the world easier on you, remember? I’ll wager that’s why he went down so quick, given you’re still arbrapmr. Scared the shite out of me, I’ve never actually qasurfdlutozpmbt before--damn, I will not get used to saying those words. I’m sorry, DB, I’m a wee bit wigged out right now, just give me a sec.”

He said the last with one hand outstretched toward me, and the way he turned away to get his bearings while staring out at the river, I’d have thought he was the one who’d almost been mauled by a wolf.

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

horny and embarrassed? ok i'll bite. the first time i saw a cock was when i installed the skyrim romance mod. my family had just gotten a computer that could run it and i liked the sound of a mod that added a romanceable companion in it, so i just installed the mod and requirements without looking.

i went through helgen without paying attention because i'd played it so many times on xbox. i get to the torturer's chamber and immediately run over to the cage with the dead mage and undressed him completely because i wanted his gear. i go to walk away. i pause. i go back and look again. the elf had his cock out.

i was in a skype call at the time and my friend just heard me go "oh my god, there's a penis in my game". i was maybe, 15?? i kept playing but always tried to avoid taking the armour off of bodies. the scenes where bishop wants to bone were incredibly terrifying for me, i just wanted him to put his clothes back on before my mum wheeled over and saw.

only recently as a full adult have i modded nudity into skyrim (semi-intentionally this time, I didn't realise that body/skin replacers often come with an underwear version). a joyful glitch was what me and friends referred to as "the cock wizards" because it's mages who spawn in with only a wizard hat on their head and nothing else, running straight at me with violence in their eyes and their nether regions dangling free.

As funny as this turns out to be in the end, of freaking course it was all Bishop's fault.

[dragoninatrenchcoat]

Works in Progress

Prompt: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Tagged by @critterkeeper01! Thanks for the tag, and I hope you know what you signed up for!

Here are my WIPs (blame critterkeeper for the long post)

Weight in Coal

Curse of the Crown's Blessing

::crow

Thorn and the Agis

Wizard of Helgen

AI Lucas

AI Jo

Copy of 14 1x21, (WIP) The Night in Question: Sylvia Blake

15 1x22, (UNS) The Last Death of Henry Morgan

16 1x22, (UNS) The Last Death of Henry Morgan: Finale

mike hanson's very very very very very very long day

Immortal British Doctors

Watson Time Travel

My Friend the Ghost

Castle Nowhere

Imperfections on Cloud Tower

Impressions

The city at the end of the bridge

iphone

Stop! Go

Sunrise

Not Vampyr (needs structure)

Illness of the Earth

SHORT Strange Traveler

NOT SAO - DIFFERENT DGMMO

the MPC

Darkscape

Deathsman

when want to kill is less than can kill. iykyk

Fictionalism

Ghost Detective rambling

shell

vulpix incuwta

Evermore ripoff but better

I Hartley know her lmaooo I'm so funny

dissolved

These are all the things that I still have hopes for, regardless of how high those hopes are, haha. I left out a MUCH longer list of things I have zero intention of working on in the future...

Tag AS MANY PEOPLE as I have WIPs? Sorry that's not possible. Instead I'll tag @amielbjacobs @smileytiger28 @ashekirk @ectojester and YOU (if you see this and want to do it) (tagging everyone who sees this should count to my total right?)

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

Since you do play skyrim, I do have to ask you now who your favourite companion/extra carrying space person is, what guild you like the best, your preferred home, and the funniest glitch you’ve come across.

I’m sorry, I’m contractually obliged as someone who made an eldrich pact in order to find the non porn or dragon age crossover Skyrim fics.

Hmm okay

1. Vilkas, probably, because he looks like my husband and has a sexy voice and is a hot werewolf. However, I don't always use followers, because I like having full control of my sneaking and controlling them is a faff.

My husband is also playing atm, though, and his answer is Brelyna Maryon (is that her name?) She's the absolutely useless wizard in Winterhold - he turned up and she asked him to help with some spells and he said yes, and then her spells were useless. Terrible. The effect of one? His vision went green for a bit. He was immediately charmed, and took her with him. Worst mage in the game. Not even a good idea for him to take her, because they're both dark elf mages, too - but Steff was like "This woman can't do a single thing and I am delighted. She's coming with me."

2. Guild is difficult. I do like the Thieves Guild, but you're absolutely entrenched in the pocket of Maven Black-Briar, and I passionately and wholeheartedly loathe her. I wish I could just throw her corpse into Riften canal.

So maybe Companions. I think they're the only ones I don't have major objections to, plus they're hot werewolves. Always a bonus.

3. Preferred home is Breezehome for my daughter, because one of the first things I do in every single playthrough is adopt Sofie. It goes:

Escape Helgen

Go to Riverwood, get that claw back (get the Dragonstone and loads of sellable shit at the same time)

Go to Whiterun and talk to the Jarl

Kill the dragon

Become Thane and buy Breezehome

Kit out Breezehome with a child's bedroom

IMMEDIATELY run to Windhelm

Burst in through the city gates

Punch anyone in the way

Find Sofie and buy all of her flowers to make her smile

Listen to her devastating tale of woe

Ask her if she wants me to adopt her

Cry when she calls me Mama

Send her to Breezehome because Whiterun is the safest place in all of Skyrim for a child when considering dragons, civil wars, and Assorted Skyrim Assholes

Decide what the hell I'm now going to do with the game

I really like building houses too, though, which is how I now have Big Naked Dad in my garden. Amazingly, it's happened in Windstad Manor rather than Lakeview; I once tried to move Sofie into the latter but NEVER AGAIN

Uh, special shout outs to the prettiest homes, though, Vlindrel Hall is fucking gorgeous (like fuck will I ever let Sofie near Markarth tho) and the one in Solitude, love that one.

4. One of the guards in Riften in my current game keeps sitting on an invisible chair and eating in the middle of the street, outside the pub. Every time I see him he looks like he's doing some squats and having a picnic. Very charming.

[stormcloudzz]

DAR'RASHA - OC Intro

General Info

Name: Dar'rasha Nickname: Rasha Age: 23+ Birthday: 15th of Evening Star Sign: The Serpent Pronouns: He/They Race: Khajiit (Cathay-raht) Height: 6'5" Class: Stealth Archer Occupation: Dragonborn Factions: Thieves Guild / Dark Brotherhood Orientation: Bisexual

ToyHouse: Dar'rasha on Toyhouse Ao3 Series: Fan Fics Moodboard: Pinterest Playlist: Spotify Source Media: Skyrim

---

Dar'rasha is my khajiit Dragonborn characters for the game Skyrim, though I often refer to them as Rasha and so do their friends and family.

They were born and raised in a traveling caravan within Skyrim - a small but happy community. He didn't have any biological siblings, but there was one other cub within the caravan and the two considered each other as siblings, given that they were raised together. When they were around 9 years old, the caravan was attacked by a group of bandit Nords who claimed that Skyrim should only be for the Nords. Rasha doesn't remember much from the attack, just the flames from the caravans burning due to several lanterns being knocked over in all the chaos. He remembers the cries from his family as he ran away from the carnage, hiding away as he watched from a distance, unable to do anything. Once everything was over, they stared at the ruins of their old life, not knowing what else to do but to try and find somewhere to stay. About a year passed and they had turned to stealing and pick pocketing to get by. It was one such evening when Rasha tried to pick the pocket of a red headed Nord in Riften, trying to get enough coin to buy a warm meal that night. The Nord caught them in the act though, but didn't turn him into the guards, but rather introduced himself as Brynjolf to the cub, and offered to let them join the thieves guild, promising plenty of coin if he helped out the guild. Rasha agreed and soon joined the guild. Years passed and they soon adopted the prefix 'Dar', although they still often went by Rasha when around friends and such.

When they were about 23 the guild planned a heist on Bruma, where they heard of old and very valuable artifacts being kept there. The guild made their way to Darkwater Crossing, where they were suddenly caught up in an Imperial ambush meant for the Stormcloaks who were also there. As everyone in the guild were trying to escape during the chaos, Dar'rasha got a deep gash to their right shoulder from a sword, catching them off guard, allowing the Imperials to capture them as they got knocked out from the hilt of a sword. They woke up in a carriage, and were taken to Helgen, when a large black dragon attacked, letting them slip away and escape during the chaos and confusion. Almost a week later, they found out that they were dragonborn when they accidentally absorbed the soul of a dragon that they had helped kill in Whiterun.

Art

The last two images were drawn by @wizard-nishkii

They're dating Lucien, Inigo and Miraak. I call them the Dovaang. Rasha, Lucien and Inigo are all dating each other, while Rasha is the only one dating Miraak. We stan healthy poly relationships here.

[dunmercatadventures]

Entry 16: Fridas, 29th Last Seed, 4E201

So much happened today, Khajiit may never forget it. We were able to get to Jarl Balgruuf, and told him what Faendel and I saw at Helgen. Apparently he had already been hearing rumors of such things, and this was the final push for the Dunmer woman by his side, a “housecarl” called Irileth, to request they send protection to Riverwood. He thanked us for our service, and then asked we help his court wizard. I’ve long wanted an opportunity to learn a new spell other than simple flames and frost, and so I agreed with the hopes of learning from him. Turns out, he wanted a stone map... thing... I took from the undead by the magic wall in the Barrow. Saved this one from another dreadful trip. But just as the man Farengar gave Morkhaj-ko a spell book for conjuring flame atronachs, a guard ran in yelling about a dragon that attacked the western watch tower. Because Faendel and I have the most experience with dragons by technicality, we had to go along with the guards that were sent to check on the situation. No sooner had we arrived that the dragon returned. It wasn’t as... visually terrifying as the one that flew from Helgen’s ruins, but it was still a horrifying ordeal facing it. The beast taunted us in a strange language, one I almost understood, while we tried desperately to launch arrow and spell alike at it. I ran out of crossbow bolts, and I’m not sure if or when I’ll find any more... This one managed to land the final blows when the dragon was too weak to stay aloft, plunging her blade straight through the eye. Its final words were “Dovahkiin? No...!” as its body fell. And then it burned. Before our very eyes, the scales began to glow and fall away like embers, and some strange force leapt from it to me. And suddenly I remembered the glowing symbols on the wall in the barrow, and realized they were a word. Fus. Force. The guards say I must be a “dragonborn”, a figure of Nordic myth, with powers like the Septim Emperors. Khajiit has trouble believing them, but... one of them asked me to speak in the dragon tongue, and I whispered the word I had learned. He was flung back onto the ground, and everyone looked at me in awe and terror. I helped the man up, and he said “this confirms it, there’s nothing else you could be.” We’re bandaging our wounds now, and we’ll be heading back to Dragonsreach soon.

[blossom-adventures]

Jaina!

Under the read more is more information about Jaina, her family and her history

Portraits of Jaina done by LavenderElf and Sneaksandsweets

DOB: 17th Hearthfire 4E165

DOB: 17th Hearthfire 4E165

Gender: Female

Race: Nord/Dunmer

Appearance: Jaina is 5foot 10inches with long black hair that she keeps in a bun or braid, she has reddish-brown eyes and there is a slight point to her ears because of her half-elf blood

Occupation: Dragonborn & Companion

Factions: College of Winterhold, Companions, Thieves Guild & Stormcloaks

Jaina and her twin brother - Tal’theran - were born in Tel Mithryn to a Nord mother and Dunmer father (her father died 2 months before she was born). When her mother - Helena - had recovered from the birth she returned to her family home in Whiterun, where the 3 of them lived with Helena’s cousin, Jarl Balgruuf. When Jaina was 3 her mother remarried an Imperial called Xander Tullius (who is the younger brother to the Military Governor of Skyrim, Jasper Tullius) Helena and Xander had 4 daughters and adopted an Altmer boy who was living at Honorhall.

When Jaina was 17 she went to the College of Winterhold and spent nearly 2 years there before joining the Companions, where she remained, as well as doing a couple of odd jobs for the Thieves Guild, until she was captured at Darkwater Crossing and took to Helgen for execution.

While in the Companions she became a werewolf, something she didn’t want but had no control over her fate, as time went on she became used to it, although she is very reluctant to change into her form, she finds it harder to control her temper because of her Lycanthropy too.

Her siblings are (with their partners):

Brother - Tal’theran - married to a Nord called Cathryn

Sister - Talia - in a relationship with Ralof

Sister - Cassandra - in a relationship with Brynjolf

Sister - Ellandra - in a relationship with Vilkas

Sister - Madeline - in a relationship with Farkas

Adopted Brother - Haldir - in a relationship with a fellow high elf called Ellinora

When she is training with the companions she get trained the most by Skjor, who takes her under his wing, the pair became very close and he sees her almost as a daughter to him, she’s fine with that, with her biological father dying before she was born she finds comfort in paternal relationships, she has a similar relationship with her stepfather and her mother’s cousin

Her biological father was a Dunmer called Tal’theran (of whom Jaina’s twin brother is named after) who worked as a mercenary for most of his early life, meeting and becoming very good friends with fellow mercenary Teldryn Sero, while adventuring across Morrowind he met and befriended the Telvanni wizard, Neloth, doing several jobs for him, little is know of his history, the only people who know it are Teldryn and Neloth themselves. Tal and Teldryn travelled to Skyrim several times, doing jobs for Jarls and Kings due to their reputation. While in Whiterun he met and fell in love with Helena, cousin to the young Jarl Balgruuf, the couple married and settled in Tel Mithryn. While Helena was carrying his twin children, Tal did more jobs to make sure his growing family were never without money, while on a job with Teldryn they were ambushed by people from his past, despite their combined skill, Tal was killed and Teldryn was badly injured. Teldryn - despite his injuries - managed to get Tal back to Tel Mithryn, where he was buried.

When Jaina was a student at the College of Winterhold she spent some time studying at Windhelm with the Court Mage there, while she was living at the palace Ulfric Stormcloak returned from Markarth, the pair didn’t have the best of starts, with the new Jarl insulting her skills with a sword. After nearly 18 years the pair meet again, in Helgen. Once Jaina becomes Dragonborn they meet again and this begins their friendship and eventual romance.

Art done by Sneaksandsweets

She’s a Spell-sword, using her inherent magical abilities (from her father) specialising in fire and healing magic, her many years with the Companions have made her incredibly skilled with both one and two handed weapons, she wears light armour because she finds leather armour far easier to move around in compared to things like steel

Jaina is a skilled alchemist and healer as well as a talented smith, she spends her free time reading, she studied history at the college of Winterhold and has a small understanding of ancient Nordic

Her most frequently used shouts are Fire Breath and Summon Durnehviir, using the old Dragon as a way of travelling across the country as well as making a good friend out of him, she often summons him for a conversation if she needs to talk to someone

[ralofofriverwoods]

Everyone go get helgen reborn btw. They give you a house that has a full labyrinthian style mask holder for all of your dragon priest masks, as well as a full 1/3 of the place dedicated to displaying weapons and shields and stuff on the walls. Also there’s a mushroom cave with a bunch of options for getting models of different creatures in the basement, like a sort of museum exhibit. Literally the best player home I’ve ever seen

Also it’s a tower. Perfect for wizards

[choilacanth]

While many sketches are still in WIP purgatory, have something on Darra’s magic and work with the College of Winterhold and Neloth

For most of her life as a young Dunmer adult, she never thought it was an ability worth pursuing as she didn’t think of herself as particularly talented, and thought it would be better to work near her aging parents. 

In the 30 years before Helgen, she used magic primarily for utility (keep hot drinks hot! calm down that horse! freshen up that face! banish foul odors! family planning!) and to keep herself safe on the roads with simple destruction and illusion spells. 

After Helgen, she pops over to the College of Winterhold then balks at how cold it is and how expensive rooms and books are, so she drops out and applies to be a field researcher of whatever topic some faculty is interested in to fund her books. She primarily reports to Arniel Gane, who lets her do whatever as long as she brings him Dwemer parts, and when she is not in the College she spends some time each week pondering an orb for Wizard Zoom purposes. [1] 

Darra slowly advances in multiple branches of magic, save for Restoration, which she loses a lot of access to because of how the dragon souls interfered with her own magicka channels. In place of healing and ward spells, she can staunch wounds and armor herself with Alteration, as well as cast an Alteration-based shield rather than a ward. Darra’s main offense consists of blasts of fire and ice spears, both of which become forceful enough to punch through dragonhide. She also develops several clever techniques, such as casting Ironflesh then Whirlwind Sprinting into larger enemies, also creating exploding steam clouds from moisture on her skin. 

Eventually, Urag-gro Shub has a job for her, to retrieve a rare tome in Solstheim, and she jumps at the opportunity to skip town for a while, having been consistently harangued by dragons and prophecies [2]. Archmage Savos Aren suggests she use her trip to build some rapport with Telvanni Master Wizard Neloth for cross-cultural exchange[3].

In Solstheim, meeting Teldryn Sero (again, for the first time in 30 years) proves very useful, as he is surprisingly decent in healing both of them. (”How did you last this long without it, serjo?”) Also against his advice, Darra takes on all kinds of odd jobs for Neloth in his ash research to gain access to his past notes on Dwemer ruins and other topics. 

There are many, many, many topics, but the Telvanni are quite paranoid about their work and Neloth finds the College has little to offer him. (And they even send this nobody? Seriously, mages these days...) Though unpleasant for both Darra and Teldryn, working with Neloth proves somewhat fruitful after bothering him enough times, and she becomes his apprentice’s apprentice and opens Neloth’s library of Second and Third Era spells that have since been outlawed. She thinks she got a good deal, having received some rare antique tomes and a Black Book, but Neloth really paid her with the old fluff he uses to prop the door open. Teldryn makes her negotiate their actual payment in gold on top of the books.

Darra eventually learns to levitate, jump, slow fall, and other crazy Morrowind spells. Eventually. [4] 

She brings home the books and her other findings on ash guardians and Dwemer devices to the Winterhold faculty, who shake their heads at all this material they can’t use due to the number of OSHA violations they would have to report. She can keep the books, though, they just look the other way. 

Her studies get more serious after she returns to Skyrim and resolves to fulfill the Dragonborn prophecy, but she does get sidetracked by some strange phenomenon from the Saarthal excavation...

Footnotes

[1] When having research meetings using the scrying orbs, Darra’s image is always shaky because she’s talking on a carriage or on horseback. Drevis Neloren is always late to the meetings and always has technical problems or a cat meowing in the background and knocking his orb over. Archmage Savos Aren falls asleep.

[2] Inigo also gets employed full-time by the Dawnguard, so while Darra is happy for him, she decides she has to keep busy and take care of herself unless she changes her mind and goes vampire hunting with him. 

[3] the Archmage suggests this after being turned down by all the other Dunmer, namely Brelyna Maryon and Drevis Neloren, who both declined a trip to Tel Mithryn for various sensible reasons. 

Brelyna: “I'm incredibly sorry, the family situation is awkward.” 

Drevis: “I have to decline, I have a very important experiment to monitor. All the time. I must take measurements. Myself. Send Salvi, she doesn’t mind field work.” 

[4] Teldryn does not do crazy Morrowind magic, possibly except Water Walking and Slowfall. He vividly remembers the day he decided that he saw enough fractured tibias when the kids his age were all trying to jump-levitate to the temple rooftop. 

[letters-from-ethas]

Currently writing this after giving the Dragonstone to Balgruuf's court wizard.

A dragon attacked a nearby guard tower. A soldier that was lucky enough to escape made it back to Whiterun to warn the Jarl. Is it the same dragon that attacked Helgen? Or is there more than one of these beasts flying around?

Whatever the case, Balgruuf is sending a detachment of soldiers to the tower to take the dragon on. I will be joining them, and will update afterwards. If I survive. Gods I hope I do.

[diabeticlady]

Skyrim Stuff Part 4!

Okay this is going to be a long one. There is a gap in time between entries, mostly due to me just wanting to play the game instead of writing. I have spent HUNDREDS of hours in this world, and like most others not a lot of that time was spent with the main quest. So, going through that magic once again with a completely different mindset (aka, being in the mind of my character and not in the mind of well... me) had me hooked for quite a bit! I know that Skyrim is a flawed game and that Bethesda is an even more flawed company but I can not express just how magical their games can be. And I hope that by retelling the game's events in this way still captures the magic. Anyways, here is the first few parts of my Dragonborn's hero's journey. Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

The gap between entries was not due to the drunken shenanigans from the 19th, but instead due to the gravity of the situation I have been thrust into. The trip to Helgen was by all accounts a simple and easy one. What I found there was a terrible tragedy, charred corpses littering what was once a town center. An eerie and terrible sight to witness. But nonetheless, I pulled through and found a journal that chronicled the events leading up to it. It was an attack by a dragon. A terrible beast that I had thought was long since gone, killed hundreds of years ago. But I could see it before my eyes, recognizing it from the Imperial emblem. It appears I have arrived to Skyrim during an interesting time. A terrible and tragic time too. The journal spoke of a cave nearby, one that I hastily moved to. I found a survivor, a member of the Empire. He spoke of what occurred, and his recount of the events matched what was said in the journal. I helped the man out of the cave, ensuring his safety during a short trek to Riverwood. He is likely still there, nursing his wounds.

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

With the man unable to do much other than rest, it was myself that was given the task of heading to Whiterun to inform the Jarl. I made my way there as quick as I could, entering the Jarl's chambers with haste. I know my father would be disappointed in me with my lack of etiquette to the Jarl but with the threat of colossus beasts being nearby to civilization, I could not waste time with the common formalities taught to me. That would come later. I explained what I had seen, and the Jarl believed me. Having seen the great beast flying overhead, they understood that I spoke of the truth. A short argument occurred, relating to the current war going on inside of Skyrim. Whiterun seeks to be neutral, it seems. Nonetheless, the slab of stone I found in that crypt (which I have now learned is named Bleak Falls Barrow) was of importance, the court wizard requesting it. Not being one to deny those with much more magical influence than myself, I hastily handed it over, hoping that it would prove to be useful to what the Jarl needed.

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

The peace did not last long. There was not enough time for the Jarl to assemble troops as a dragon was reported just outside of Whiterun! I see myself as a brave noblewoman, trained in both the martial and magical arts, but the concept of fighting a dragon filled me with an unending dread. How were we supposed to slay such a beast? And with only a small host of guards and the personal Housecarl of Jarl Balgruuf the Greater at my side, I feared for the worst. The Nord people are warriors, that I know. And the Dunmer had managed to become a highly trusted advisor for a reason, but even then. This was a Dragon we were talking about. Beasts of myth. I silently prayed to the Divine Mother, hoping that the fight would not be a slaughter. That the brave men and women alongside me would come back home. After a rousing speech from the Housecarl, we left the city walls and hunted the dragon.

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

We did not need to travel far, as its destruction was swiftly shown to us all. A destroyed tower, and terrified guards. It broke my heart hearing a Nord be afraid. I had always viewed the people of Skyrim as being much simpler than those of High Rock. I would come to be mistaken, instead finding a whole host of traditions, and respected parts of their culture. They are a proud race, that much is clear. I wish to learn so much more about them. Anyways, the fight with the dragon had my heart pounding against my chest. It made me question myself about what I tend to fight. Bandits and undead are simple, easy. Even daedra tend to bend when the will of Stendarr comes into play. But a dragon? A child of Akatosh himself? That was not something that could feel fear from the Gods that watch over me and bless my body. I had to rely completely on myself and those that took up arms against the beast. As it flew overhead, hundreds of arrows (and tens of my own bolts) pierced the Dragon. The guards of Whiterun were quite adept archers, nailing shot after shot on it. Even then, the fire breath that came from the Dragon easily killed dozens of the guard, a battle that was not easily won. But despite that, we still managed to ground it. The Nords' bravery showed itself once again, clashing with the beast using sword and shield. I myself joined into the skirmish, attempting to slash at the beast at the parts of it that were unarmored. I do not know how long it lasted, but it was myself that landed the final blow. Slitting its throat with my claymore. I do not know what compelled me to attempt such a maneuver. Those that attacked the beast from its front found a terrible fate through fire or through its bite.

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

The rush of victory was unlike anything else I had felt. Normally my reward for a battle well fought was the feeling of the Divines smiling on me. Instead I found people smiling upon me, cheering. We had managed to kill a dragon, a feat that no one else could claim. Not for hundreds of years. I had thought that would be the end of it, that we had dealt with the problem just like that. But instead I found myself sorely mistaken as I felt a rush of energy and power being pushed inside of me. The exact same way I felt when I absorbed the ancient magic from off of the wall. The guards looked at me with their mouth agape, in a state of shock. I had no clue what was happening to me. I would have likely still not known what was going on until one of the Nord guards spoke about me being a "Dragonborn". Just like Tiber Septim. I was shocked at such an exclamation. The idea of such a thing was surely preposterous. But when I was asked to prove it, I was able to use magic with my voice. That was apparently proof enough. Somehow, I have the blood of dragons. As if that was not a big enough revelation, a voice boomed in the sky, the "Greybeards" according to the Nords. Other people that can use magic with just their voice. The Jarl confirmed this, telling me that I must go to High Hrothgar to meet with these "Greybeards".

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

With all this new information, on top of the Jarl naming me the "Thane of Whiterun", I am left overwhelmed. I had brought this journal with me to keep track of the things I encountered and as a safe space to store my adventures, so that my mother, father and my friends could read about what I had done in Skyrim. But with the title of "Dragonborn" thrust upon me, I believe this journal should serve a new purpose. An autobiography. A recount of my tale. I did not expect for this journey to Skyrim to end up with me joining the ranks of The Eternal Champion, The Hero of Daggerfall, The Nerevarine, and The Hero of Kvatch. I wonder if the Divines are the reason why I chose to explore Skyrim, instead of Hammerfell, Valenwood, the Summerset Isles, or any other place in Tamriel. I have a sudden weight of responsibility pushed onto me. If I am to have my name etched into the Elder Scrolls themselves, then I must earn it.

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

For the sake of this making the readability of this journal-turned-autobiography easier, I might as well explain who I am. I am Lady Summer of House Whittington, loyal to House Barynia. While I hold no land yet, I am first in line to inherit Castle Whittington and the surrounding area. I have been trained as a mage in both the Schools of Restoration and Alteration. I have received training as a knight too. I was born under The Lady, on the 29th of Hearthfire. I worship three of the Nine Divines separately, Mara, Stendarr and Dibella. 

Last Seed, 21st, 4E 201

Now that I have finished journaling the events of the previous day, I am currently headed towards High Hrothgar, to meet with these "Greybeards". I took a carriage to Ivarstead, a village close by to High Hrothgar. There is a clear path set up. A blessing from the Divines, as I would hate to have to climb my way up. On the way up it became clear to me that the journey was spiritual to the Nord people. Little shrines were made here and there, and I came across a couple people praying to them or reading what they had to say. I, on the other hand, was not so lucky to enjoy a simple hike up the mountain. Wolves and trolls attempted to make the journey difficult but with the help of my new companion, Lydia, they were all easily dispatched. The woman gifted to me (I hope that she at least agreed to this arrangement) by the Jarl of Whiterun has been nothing but useful thus far. Adventuring alone was never quite my style! (Addendum: Looking at my previous post and realizing that I am having my character talk about modded content without ever explaining what that modded content is. So, here is the names of all the content mods that I have in my load order.) Legacy of the Dragonborn Missives Headhunter - Bounties Redone Dungeons - Revisited (this is why Bleak Falls Barrow was big enough to have places be unexplored during my first romp through it) Hammet's Dungeon Pack 1 Hammet's Dungeon Pack 2 Beyond Skyrim - Bruma Vigilant (all the Dark Souls stuff makes me SO excited) Glenmoril (manages to get me even more excited with Bloodborne content, though no Unslaad for now because it hasn't immediately gripped me, might check it out after this post) LC_Build Your Noble House (couldn't resist, esp with how I made Summer as a Noble) Destroy the Thieves Guild (playing as a Lawful Good OC so this should be expected, as should-) Dark Brotherhood Rising Revengeance (-this mod! Can't have petty thugs and assassins in MY Skyrim!) House of Horrors - Quest Expansion (JaySerpa my beloved...) The Only Cure - Quest Expansion

[dapperdragon-ao3]

“Ralof, this might sound strange, but do you see this Nord here?” I indicated the quasi-madman.

Ralof glanced back. “Aye,” he answered, and turned to the gate again. “Damn. No way to open this from our side.”

“This is bizarre,” the Nord muttered. “I wish I could pqrmyjrvpmdpar. Pqrmyjrvpmdpar,” he repeated, the same nonsense sounds as before, and he shook his head as though shaking himself out of a dream. “Pqrmyjr- I need the vpzqiyrt. What the hell?”

For the first time since before meteors rained from the sky and a dragon destroyed the city and burned innocent citizens to unidentifiable husks, the Nord looked frightened. His hand hovered by his neck as though to massage the nonsense out of his tongue.

“Soldiers, keep moving!” called a familiar voice. The captain who’d sentenced me to death, just as the strange Nord had predicted; she came running down the hall beyond the gate.

“It’s the Imperials,” Ralof hissed. “Take cover!”

His words came too late, however. The captain spotted us while a soldier opened the cage. “It’s the escaped prisoners!”

The door opened and everyone drew their weapons.

Fear and panic drove me into the fight; while the other three combatants were seasoned soldiers, I was little more than a refugee. My skills lied in running, begging, and pretending to be less desperate than I was. But I had no other choice, and I primarily focused on keeping the sharp part of my weapon between me and the sharp parts of their weapons.

Then they were dead, and Ralof and I weren’t. It felt like a miracle.

“Maybe one of these Imperials had the key,” Ralof sighed. He put away his weapon and began to search the bodies.

“I can’t get it off,” said the strange Nord. He held his hands beside his face, and there was panic in his voice. “I can’t take it off. I can’t take it off. Hello? Hello!” He stood with his eyes shut, and shouted those last words, reaching out blindly with one hand. “Hello, is anyone home? Damn, I can’t find my walls.”

He was mad after all.

“Calm down,” I tried, approaching him. I felt responsible for him, partly because I was apparently the only person who could hear him, but chiefly just because he, Ralof, and I were stuck in the same predicament and needed to stay together. I sheathed my weapon and spread my hands wide. “Calm down, now. Listen to my voice.”

He looked at me suddenly, true fear in his eyes. He looked around himself and outstretched both arms, and inched forward as though feeling around in the dark.

Ralof said, “Here we are, found a key. Let’s see if it opens that door.”

“What’s your name?” I asked the madman.

“Finch,” he answered, still hunting for something.

“Finch, the fighting’s over. We’re safe. Take a deep breath.”

“It’s not that, Dragonborn--the jyvbrrst is stuck- the jyvbr- damn it, what’s happening to me? Can anyone hear me? Hello!”

I stepped forward and held him by the shoulders. He let out a yelp at the contact and stared at me with the purest expression of shock.

“Take a deep breath, Finch. Breathe in.”

He inhaled.

“Breathe out.”

He exhaled.

“We need to go. Follow me and Ralof.”

Finch whispered, “This isn’t real. You’re not real.”

“This is real. Come with me.” I pulled him by the wrist, and he stumbled with me to where Ralof had unlocked the door.

[3xm-draconic]

Bloodline of the Last Dragon.

Season 1/Episode 3: Whiterun.

The Riverwood Trader looked like it had been robbed…and from the argument between the store owner Lucan and his sister Camilla it sounded like they had been.

Despite Lucan’s misfortune he still had some things left to sell, some traveling rations, a torch or two and even better a spell book.

Last night Mattilda had read and memorized the tome she had taken from the skeleton mage in the cage back in Helgen, it was a tome of oakflesh, a spell of magical armor, a very useful spell to have since she couldn’t wear physical armor as a mage, it would be too cumbersome.

Amongst the tomes she could buy there were only 2, both were in bad condition but still legible, an illusion tome of clairvoyance and rather unique one a conjuration tome of conjure fire atronach.

That was a very rare and supposed to be a very expensive tome, why he was selling it for only 70 gold was beyond her, perhaps it was because he had it in such poor condition?

The atronach spell was also a little advanced for her, but she would never master it if she never tried it.

After picking some things up from the trader, she stopped by Alvor to buy a few whetstones off him. She knew the wisdom in keeping a knife on hand in case she ran out of magicka to use in a fight, nobody expects to get shanked by a wizard.

Hadvar wished her luck and again thanked her for helping him escape “you should go to Solitude and join the Empire, you can help us put the land back together and fight back against the Thalmor” he told her as the headed to the bridge out of Riverwood “and I hope you make it into the college, you’d make a fine battle mage” he smiled.

The road to Whiterun was beautiful, the tundra stretched out for miles in large flowery meadows and rocky scrub brush, the scent of tundra cotton and lavender in bloom was strong on the wind, butterflies dancing in the air as she saw the magnificent City of Whiterun com into view.

She passed the roaring river full of jumping salmon, a meadery that smelled divinely of honey and lavender, “ooh this must be this Honningbrew place, mmm I might stop by and get myself another bottle of that stuff” she hummed.

She passed by a few farms when suddenly the ground shook like an earthquake...

Up ahead Mattilda saw a sight to behold, a group of warriors fighting a Giant!

Mattilda saw them go at the creature ferociously, the giant swinging its great bone club left and right.

But then it switched its attention to the poor farmers who were trying to escape from the battle, Mattilda felt a rush of adrenaline and fear take hold as she charged forward and shoved the farmer out of the way of the giant’s rampage.

It came around again and swung at her, nearly tossing her into a stone, she retaliated and shot a jet of flames right at its face blinding it, Mattilda then got behind it and slashed at the tendons in its heels causing it to topple over. The final blow came not from her but from an arrow loosed by a tall auburn haired woman that shot it’s way past Matti’s shoulder and into the giant’s brian.

“You are pretty strong, you should come to Jorrvaskr and be a Companion” a strong warrior with dark hair said to Mattilda as he helped her up “a companion?”, “we are a group of warriors who honorably protect Skyrim,” the red haired woman said “and it would be nice to have a mage around, magic is as much a useful skill as a blade is” she turned to Mattilda “name’s Aela the Huntress”.

“It’s nice to meet you Aela, I’am Mattilda Viddarson” she waved “hey if you don’t mind me asking have you seen a Khajiit caravan with an elf man pass by here?”, Aela paused “yes I have, sadly they just left, why do you know them?”, “I know the man they brought with them, he’s my father” Mattilda answered.

Passing by the sables Matti heard a strange conversation, “by Ysmir it’s true, a jester funny suit and all, the fool had a coffin in a cart with a broken wheel, I’d like to see him laugh his way out of that one! Hahahaha”.

“A jester in Skyrim? There hasn't been a merryman here in over 100 years” Mattilda thought to herself as she approached the gate “still if he’s in trouble maybe I should help him out after I find my father, poor fellow must be having a rough time in skyrim”.

A guard approached Mattilda with his sword drawn “city’s closed with the dragons about, official business only”, “I’a, from Helgen and Riverwood seeks aid”, “Riverwood is in danger too? Come on in then but we’ll be keeping an eye on you” he grumbled.

The city of Whiterun was bustling and very open, the way the city flowed and was constructed felt like the grassy plains outside the walls, breezy open and free.

Mattilda hurriedly looked for Dragonsreach but also for the temple of Kynareth.

“Do you get to the cloud district very often, oh what am I saying of course you don’t” a rather snooty man scoffed at Mattilda as he asked around for directions, she glared at him as he walked away “jackass” she quietly mumbled.

She wandered around and found a courtyard area with a wilting dead tree in the middle. She looked around and up the grand steps was Dragonsreach…but just aways to her left was…

“THE TEMPLE!” she excitedly cried, she rushed forward but was stopped by a priest.

“Visiting hours are closed, you must come back tomorrow” he sighed, “wait, please, just tell me if a man by the name of Markus Viddarson is in there” Mattilda pleadingly looked at the priest, he looked at her “Viddarson? You wouldn’t happen to be Mattilda would you?” the priest pondered, “yes, yesI am!” she squeaked, “your father is alright but in serious condition, he will need a lot of time to heal and a lot of rest, don’t worry he is in good hands” the priest nodded.

Matilda sighed and felt a wave of relief wash over her, her father was safe…but for how long? And healing would be expensive, she would need to start doing work in order to pay for his treatments.

But there were other matters to attend to now, she needed to help Gurder and Alvor now by warning Balgruf.

Inside the esteemed halls of Dragonsreach Mattilda saw hanging above the Jarl’s throne was the skull of a massive dragon, as she approached the Jarl a dunmer woman took out her swords and threatened her. “What is the meaning of this interruption?”, “I’am a survivor of Helgen and I have come from Riverwood, they seek the Jarl’s aid, they are defenseless against a dragon, “your a survivor? Well that explains how you got in, come on then the Jarl will want to speak to you personally”.

Mattilda spoke with Jarl Balgruf and the man was horrified by her story and he immediately sent out a troop of soldiers to Riverwood, “but there is a more personal matter I could use your help with, come let’s meet Farengar my court wizard, he’s been looking into these accounts of dragon sightings”.

Farengar looked Mattilda up and down “ah a fellow mage, yes you could help me, I need someone to go into Bleak Falls Barrow and retrieve the dragonstone”, Mattilda tilted her head “dragonstone what’s that?”, “yes the dragonstone, it’s a map of dragon burial grounds, now off with you!” Farengar huffed.

Mattilda saw that it was getting dark so she headed over to the tavern, The Bannered Mare, she wanted a nice warm bed…but that would cost money.

Matti instead made her way back to the area with the dead tree and slept on the benches there…she needed to save every septim for her father.

.

.

[littleghoulghost]

18th of Last Seed

I’ve delivered the axe to Jarl Balgruuf, but the man is refusing to act until the dragon threat is solved. What makes him think I can solve it? I am but one man. Sure, I escaped Helgen with the Stormcloaks when the black dragon attacked, but that does not mean I am some sort of expert. Dragons died out a millennia ago; the only experts on dragons may be the Greybeards, but even then it is only where the thu’um is concerned. The Jarl is making me help find some sort of dragonstone for his court wizard, it’s said to be held within Bleakfalls Barrow. Let’s hope it doesn’t kill me.

[the-dragonthief-passages]

17th of Last Seed, 4E 201

My name is Peri Ereling. I am a Breton from High Rock, of the stuck up House Ereling. I just escaped from being executed at Helgen, where a dragon attacked and burnt down the whole city. That's karmic if you ask me. With the help of Hadvar, I was able to escape into the watchtower, retrieve weapons and armor, and escape through the secret cave tunnels to just a few miles south of the town called Riverwood. We met up with his uncle Alvor there, and filled him in on what just happened.

After giving us some supplies, Alvor sent me out to get Jarl Balgruuf for help. I got to Whiterun just before sunset. Not even ten seconds after I had the Jarl in my sights, his housecarl Irileth interrogated me for barging in, as if there wasn't an overgrown lizard with wings that could breathe fire in the mountains.

All I had to do was say "Helgen" and she let me talked to him. He gave me some armor as some weird praise, then immediately asked me to help him with his next problem: the court wizard, Farengar Secret-Fire, needs someone to go into Bleak Falls Barrow - the actual barrow I just saw the dragon fly past - to get some hunk of rock called the Dragonstone. Somehow this tablet will help him figure out why dragons are popping out of the storybooks into the real world.

I left Dragonsreach to head for the inn, but I couldn't help but notice a Redguard couple arguing near the dead-looking tree in the Wind District. Amren found out where the thieves who took his old man's sword have hidden, and Saffir thinks its a suicide mission. I offered to get it, because even if I can't get paid for it, surely there's something else he could do for me in return.

Now I'm here in the Bannered Mare, eating some chicken with cheese and a bottle of Honningbrew Mead while I write in this journal. If I'm about to be a part of this freakshow, I might as well write down what happens so my name doesn't get lost in the history books. This thing could be valuable if this whole ordeal gets as big as I think it will.

I'd rather be known for this than for being part of some high-and-mighty family of ingrates. They can all rot in Oblivion for all I care. They don't give a damn about me, just whatever I can do to "continue the revered legacy of House Ereling." I would throw up right now if I ever had to say that again.

Tomorrow, I'll sell my dead weight and head back to Riverwood to figure out the fastest way to the barrow. Hadvar will probably be off to Solitude by then, wherever the fuck that is. He mentioned the Empire could use someone like me. Imagine the wild irony of the Breton they tried to execute being the one to win their stupid war.

Something tells me things are only going to get wilder from here.

[juniperberries-canisroot]

Alternative Starts

*Inspired by the mod of the same name

**I can't mod my console

I altered the canon quite a bit and made some of my characters have stories that started before the actual game does. However I wanted Helgen & Alduin's return to act as a starting point since that's what the game does. Also cause I mis-interpreted the beginning the very first time I played it years ago and didn't realize the big scary dragon at the start was Alduin who got thrown throu time.

Chantilly Leice had a Dark BrotherHood contract to kill some dude who lived in Helgen. She was sneaking around as the execution takes place. Due to Alduin attacking she never got to fulfill her contract. I mean, Sithis got his soul since almost everyone dies at Helgen.

Ginseng Thorn-Summons was part of the Imperial army and was there when it all went down. However she is called by her actual name, Ginseng Blom-Bjerke. She goes throu Helgen keep with the Imperial dude and escapes, similar to what we do. She goes to WhiteRun to tell the Jarl of the news.

Leif Hartvig-Brand's story is pretty similar to what we get in game, got caught in an ambush near DarkLight tower. However he wasn't tryin to cross the border as Ralof says. Leif went out one night hunting and when he came back, he found his village near DarkLight Tower, set in flames by the Thalmor. Someone in the village snitched and told the Thalmor they have Talos worshippers. Leif tried to save his fiancée and her kids but they couldn't be saved, it was already too late for them. He got caught in the Thalmor attack and tried to run off. After a brief fight with a Thalmor wizard he gets injured, knocked out and wakes up on the cart. He ends up seeing the same wizard in Helgen, who is very recognizable by his unique face scars, not given to him by Leif, the wizard already had them.

Braun was captured in an Imperial Legion led ambush after the IL found out about the illegal fighting ring. He and some other fighters were captured and sent to Helgen for execution.

Desdemona is a traveler and happened to be in Helgen at the time of the execution. She escaped throu her own means. She travels to WhiteRun since it's nearby and while talking to Farengar Secret-Fire she mentions she saw a dragon while at Helgen. This prompts him to tell her to go tell the Jarl, which she does.

Electra was doing a job for a client that involved gettin into Helgen. Since it was heavily guarded she took out a stray Thalmor that was wandering around the city wall, dragged them off and stole their clothes so she could enter. She's an Altmer so the other Thalmor didn't think twice. She was having a drink at the bar when the wagon of prisoners shows up and she went to go watch. Then everything happened, she escaped on her own and went to WhiteRun to tell the dude 'yeah sorry a dragon burned down the entire village I didn't get your stupid generic family heirloom that looks no different from an iron sword'.

I may change Vanta Iris' story cause I'm not really happy with it. But for now she was wrongly accused of selling skooma within a holds walls. It doesn't help that she's a Khajiit. She wasn't part of a caravan but that doesn't mean the people are any less racist. They thought she was part of a caravan and was doing their 'illegal business' inside city walls. She is an alchemist and she was just selling someone a medicine to help them. The worse part is, that person asked her to make the medicine and they never got it cause she was arrested as their meeting was going on. She was shuffled throu the prison systems, got falsely accused of more crimes since some people saw a Khajiit as an easy scape-goat for their own crimes, and that all built up to her being executed. She escapes Helgen on her own and does not go to WhiteRun afterwards. Not right after Helgen anyway.

Melka's story is completely different from all my other DragonBorns, in the sense that they're not a character I play as and they don't follow the story of the game. I plan on writing them out as a villain, sort of like Miraak who was a DragonBorn. Except Melka is very much alive and not stuck in a Daedric Princes' realm. I just included them cause they are a DragonBorn.