Alright I have been writing this fan fiction for several weeks now in my spare time.It is a background to my in game character for ESO as well as my guild. This is going to be much longer as it will lead up to the release of the game. I am planning at least twenty five to thirty chapters. But I am curious as to what others will think of my little tale here. so Ive decided I will post three chapters at a time. please if you have any suggestions or corrections please give your input so i can improve on it and my love for writing. mind you this is my first fan fic Ive actually posted. hope you enjoy it

Chapter one: A humble beginning.

I always hated the sound of snow being crushed under the hoof of a horse. Something about it always made me cringe yet day after day it’s all I hear for hours on end and the squeaking of the rigid old wagon wheel. You may be wondering why this has any relevance to who I am or who the Drage Centurions are and I assure you in due time you will see the reason for why I started our tale like this, why I would start the tale of my proud band of warriors with a distant childhood memory of mine. I am Lamky Dukain son of Codony Dukain I am the lord of the mighty Drage Centurions. It is my hope that the mention of my clan brings a prideful warmth into your heart that our actions in my time have helped future generations feel the pride and fierce loyalty for the Ebonheart Pact that I and my companions feel for our banner. The year is 2E 585 we are two years into this cursed conflict that ravages my beautiful homeland of Cyrodiil I now sit on the eve of a battle which I am sure is to be my last I have heard nothing but Orc war drums echoing in the forest the Daggerfall forces can’t be more than several hundred yards away. I look upon my men, my brothers I see hardened men who have given life and love for the Ebonheart pact and are more than willing to give blood as well. As this may be my last night breathing the crisp air of Nirn I feel it is necessary to let our story be known, so that even if we perish this night it will not be the last time the words Drage Centurions is spoken among the tongues of man and Mer. To tell the story of my clan we must begin at the start, my start 37 winters ago.

I was never told much of my birth only that it happened on a warm summer’s eve and a grand celebration was underway and the Divines decided it was my time to enter this world. I was born to my dearest mother Carellia she was a smaller tan skinned women with caring dark eyes and a smile that could brighten the day of any who crossed her path, my father was known as Codony he was a surly man who hailed north of our village of Bruma from the great land of Skyrim, the fatherland. He had a stern face with a scar running from his chin to his briast, he had deep intense eyes as dark and fearsome as the Sea of Ghosts itself. He was a war ravaged man with plenty of scars not all of which could be seen on his flesh however. I was raised fairly my mother taught me skills that most would scoff at a boy doing such as cooking, sewing and other household duties. I was also taught the skills any Northman would need to know by my father. He took me on the hunt with him and taught me the way of the blacksmith, how to tame the flames and bend iron to my whim. I always thought of myself as a well-rounded boy never got too arrogant and brash but always had enough pride to knock any milk drinker to the ground who insulted me or my kin. I never talked too much to the other children of the village but I did have one dear friend who was very close to me Arenac Bronzeback and short fiery headed boy who had a thirst for adventure and a flame in his belly that would dwarf the bravery of the fiercest Orc. He and I enjoyed several grand years of friendship. On the anniversary of my 14^th year my father decided I was old enough to make the semiyearly trip to the Imperial City. It was a simple trip but a rite of passage for all the young men of our village. My comrade Arenac had made the trip once before the previous year and regaled me with tales of its magnificence saying it was the most beautiful, mystical place in all of Tamriel, walls higher than the mightiest of trees in Valenwood, streets packed with all sorts of strange and fascinating peoples dark skinned men wrapped in dusty rags with menacing curved swords. All manner of Elves the golden skinned ones who hailed from the mystical summerset isles along with ones that had him more scared than an imp flying amongst dragons. Red eyed Elves with skin as dark as ash and a voice just as rough. The most fascinating was his tale of beasts who walked and spoke as men or Mer would. Some resembled sabercats while others were said to have scales like a dragon from the tales of the old war. I had never been more excited and freighted in all my life to set out on this fantastic journey. My father packed the wagon and wrapped his blade to his back with leather straps. I looked out towards the city and saw the tower that had puzzled me all my short life. I was finally going to become a man and see more than my village which I had grown ever so tired of. We were off my father and I along with a dozen or so other men from my village all of whom had their own cart of goods to barter with at the capitol. We hiked steadily but slowly for the majority of the day before making camp in the ruins of a strange building with architecture likes of which I have never seen. As I sat there that night I rolled restlessly around in my bedroll not being able to sleep due to the excitement that I would be at the gates of the grand city soon the next day. I decided to explore these ruins that intrigued me so. I slipped out from under the pelts that kept me warm and went onward down crumbling path towards a gap in the stone work. I peered into the ruins and saw nothing but darkness I reached into my satchel and retrieved a torch and a vile of fluid my father had given to me. Doing as he had showed me several years before I wrapped a cloth around the end of the wooden torch and poured some of the liquid on the end, I then used my dagger to scraqe along the stone floor of the building to create just enough spark to ignite the torch. I quickly proceeded down into the dark. The smell of the campfire and mead slowly drifted away as my nostrils were filled with the stench of rust and decay. I felt uneasy entering these damp ruins but something kept me moving forward. I soon saw a distant glow around a bend ahead in the halls of this strange place I could see a strange fungus growing from the cracks in the walls it appeared to be a strange type of mushroom likes of which I had never seen before I dared not touch it for fear of what toxins could be inside the strange organism. I turned the bend and was in awe of the massive surprisingly well lit chamber ahead of me. Looking upward I noticed it the light was emanating from strange glowing crystals on large pillars. My amazement was quickly interrupted by the chilling sound of someone…or something choking and coughing violently. I quickly pulled my dagger from its sheath and peered into the direction of the blood chilling sound. I saw nothing at first, then the odor came I nearly revisited my super from earlier that night. Choking back vomit from the stench my eyes began to water I quickly wiped away the tears and focused back into the direction of the horror before me. It began to come into the light it appeared a man to me but this beast did not move like a man, strides stiff like one whom had been frozen solid but limbs had a certain strange twisted gnarl to them. I shouted out to the creature “Who are you?!” there was no response just the strange grunts it had been making since it appeared. I franticly thought of how to stop this unknown assailant I glanced down and found a dislodged stone the size of egg I quickly picked it up and hurdled it toward the creature it flew across the chamber and cracked against its head. I cringed at the sound of it. Sounded not of hitting a skull more like the crackle of crushing a bug beneath your feet. I shouted again towards the beast in anger “I ASK AGAIN WHO ARE YOU!? WHY IN THE NAME OF AKATOSH ARE YOU DOWN HERE?!” this time the beast stopped and I heard a high pitch purr begin to rise from its throat as if it had been angered deeply by the mention of Akatoshs name. the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I felt a sudden gut wrenching fear, the beast came into view at last this was no man at least not anymore its flesh was rotted and putrid it wore ragged old cloth and a rusted briastplate with arrows protruding from it, the hands had little to no flesh left just bloody twisted talons formed from its own bone, its eyes were none existing just black holes with dried blood around them. I was paralyzed in fear never in my life had I seen such a demonic creature my legs shook in fear as the beast sniffed the air and though it had no eyes in glared directly at me snarling with black ooze falling from its jaw. It opened its mouth wider that any man could its jaw dislocating and let out a loud shrill that was like daggers in the ear drum it began sprinting towards me with such speed and ferocity that one would not expect from such a fragile rotting corpse. I turned and began to run as if a Dremora was at my tail and as far as I was concerned that’s what it was I sprinted vigorously down the twisted hallways fearing what horrid things this monster had in store for me I screamed my father’s name franticly praying that he would hear me turning the corners and skipping 3, 4, 5 steps at a time in my haste to escape suddenly stone beneath me split I looked down in horror as a rotting hand wrapped its fingers around my ankle I slashed them off the hand the housed them and saw in disgust as it bled a dark black liquid in place of blood I began to run again hearing behind me more stone crumble and break and even more shrieks and other horrid noises began to echo in the halls of this gods forsaken place I could see moon light and hear the clang of axe and swords and the hollers of the men above I was nearly there I was almost out of my own plane of oblivion when suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my leg I fell with a hard thud to the stone and turned to see one of the beasts this one appeared to have once been a female digging her claws into my leg I screamed out in pain and tried to push the beast off me I could hear the rest quickly approaching me I prepared for the end and hoped I would make it to Sovngarde. Suddenly I felt a cold liquid splash onto my face I opened my eyes and saw the foul beast was missing its bloody head I was disgusted but relived at the same time glancing above me I saw my father his sword gleaming in the light of my torch which had fallen to the ground. “Get him up and back to camp!” my father barked at the others. A large bald man hoisted me over his shoulder and began running back to camp my last sight before leaving the entrance to that hell was my father along with 5 other men form a shield wall blocking off the exit and preparing to face the horde that was to come. I was thrust down to the ground and rolled on my stomach as one of the elderly men in our company began mixing some awful smelling tonic before I knew what happened he coated his fingers with the paste and thrust a handful into my would it stung more that the beasts talons ripping my leg in the first place. He quickly bandaged my leg and drew his blade and ran to the entrance with the rest of the men. I lay there in shock wondering what just happened to me as I heard a familiar voice my dear friend Arenac “ya bloody fool! What in the oblivion were you thinking?” He slapped me upside the head and proceeded to hug me all in the same strange angry relieved motion. I hopped up to my feet after he released my and started back to the tunnel “where do you think you are headed?” asked Arenac I blocked him out all I could think is that those men could be dying and it would be my fault I couldn’t stand ideally by as my kinsmen were slaughtered I head down the path yet again and saw in amazement, the battle had move outside there were dozens of the creatures corpses strewn about the grass and the seemed to be piled in the entryway of the ruin to my astonishment not one of my comrades had fallen they were still in a shielded formation with my father at the point hacking and slashing away at the foul demons his blade pierced a monsters briast as its dark blood poured from the wound drenching the grass in that filthy gunk it let out one last shriek before falling to the ground. It seemed it was over. All the beasts had been slain aside from a few that were quickly dispatched. My father looked up and saw me standing there shaking in fear and pain. He put his sword away and threw his shield to the ground and came walking briskly towards me I surly thought to feel his knuckles brush my face I braced for the hit. I did not receive the strike as I expected instead the warm embrace of his arms I was shocked surly I was to be punished for I had put the entire party at risk. “F…Father I... I’m sorry I was just” “No! don’t say anything boy all that matters is that you are alive, by the eight I was so freighted I lost you!” he tightened his embrace around me and I felt his tears begin to drop onto the top of my head. I held him tight and began to weep myself, never have I felt such relief in my life I had thought myself to die in that tomb but yet here I stand alive and well. “Come boy it’s about time for us to get on the trail the sun rises.”

We started on the trail several hours later after packing up the wagons and scavenging what would could from the undead we had slain hours before. I looked down at one of the creatures and pondered what dark sorcery could have spawned such foul beasts I decided it was none of my concern besides I should be happy escaping with my life. We ventured further into the beautiful countryside and into the Great forest. Its beauty was grander than anything I had ever seen in my short life. We traveled down the trail for several hours we passed another party of travelers and traded some pelts and pottery for food and drink. As they began to depart my father noticed a small blade sticking out from a bed roll on their cart. “How much for the sword?’ asked father, “oh this rusted old thing? You wouldn’t want this old thing it could hardly break skin,” barked a grizzly old Breton “I didn’t ask if it was sharp you daft fetcher I asked its price” “alright no need to get angry Nord let’s say…12 gold and the two pheasants you have on ya cart there.” The Breton said with a grin revealing rotted teeth. “Fine take it” my father threw him the pheasants and a small pouch of coins. We proceeded down the road as I looked at my father puzzled why he would spend what little gold he had on a blade in such poor condition he stared at the sword with such fascination and wonder it baffled me. I decided to pay it no mind his business was his own and I was far too excited to see the capitol to worry about rusty blades. The beauty and glamor of the forest soon faded the deeper we delved in we came across a raided caravan the horse’s heads had been cleaved off and there blood coated the damp forest floor. A young Bosmer male had been pinned to the side of his cart by dozens of arrows, at the time my mind could not comprehend why such cruelty had befallen this Elf I for surly one well-placed Arrow could have slain him…I now realize how wretched Man and Mer can be to one another. The men decided we should scavenge what we could from the carts and move on. As I went around the cart I saw a horrid sight that scarred my young mind beyond measure a elven girl not much older than I was strung up with rope between two trees her body dangled above a mosey patch her skin was a sharp pale in contrast to the tan skin most wood elves had. Her arms had carvings all across them strange symbols I had once seen on a dark elf coat of arms my father had brought back from the war years before. I soon realized the markings did not stop on the girl’s flesh her throat had been torn open and her blood had been spread on the nearby trees the blood splatters formed the same dark letters that had been carved into her body. “By the Eight!! Do these gods forsaken cultists know no decency?!” snarled Vorkag, another Nord from our village who was one of my father’s comrades from the war. “How can we be sure it was the cultists who did this? What proof do we have?” asked Arenac. “Are you daft boy?! That’s the dark tongue that’s carved in her flesh, those filthy reachmen worship the Daedra, the dark ones!” Now I had heard of the Daedra before as a child but never had I been told that some people actually worshiped them they were the dark gods the stories we were told as children to behave, legends from a long forgotten time and nothing more yet here was this girl defiled and murdered by these apparent worshipers of them. I had noticed something off about my father at this point where as all the other men were obviously deeply troubled about this my father was not shaken or troubled in the least he simply held his blade tightly and stared at the corpse dangling from the trees. “Well it wouldn’t be decent of us to leave these folk like this. Cut that poor lass down and let’s make sure these poor bastards get to their afterlife.” Ordered Vorkag. We gathered the corpses of the Bosmer caravan and dug them several graves and put them to rest. We moved on shortly after and the trip was silent. This journey was turning out to be far more disturbing than I intended. First I stumbled across a crypt of undead now we had seen some strange sacrifice. Surely no more misfortune will befall us on this journey I thought….I was wrong ever so wrong.

Chapter two: Fractured foundations.

It was Morndas…a bright crisp morning the birds were singing and the air was clear. It was a welcome change to the wretched few days I had experienced previously. I unwound the bandage on my leg to check on the wound I had received two days earlier to my surprise it was not inflamed in fact the wound was all but healed all that remained were three scars running down my leg from the knee to ankle. I was puzzled as to how the cuts had healed so quickly. I decided I should seek out the elderly man who had healed me that night. I searched our camp till I saw him slumped over a shovel at the sight where we had buried the Bosmer. “Excuse me sir…I just wanted to thank you for healing my leg after the attack the other day.” I said with a slight shakiness to my voice. “Lamky is it?” the old man said with a stern tone “uh yes sir I am Lamky I apologize I didn’t catch your name sir?” the old man turned his head revealing a withered tattooed face with a blind left eye. “The names Soule me lad, Soule Stirling.” He reached out and put his hand on my shoulder with a firm grip. “I remember you when you were just a wee lad.” “I’m sorry but you know me?” I replied surprised. “Well you wouldn’t remember me much I reckon but I’ve been watching over you for years my boy.” He said with a wink. I didn’t know whether I should feel safe or frightened that this old man whom had been a stranger till now had known me for years. “Why have you been watching over me?!” I said in a brash tone. “Oye lad don’t get yer pants in a bunch I’m a friend of yer grandfathers.” “My grandfather? I never knew the man.” I said puzzled. Before I could ask him any more I heard my father yell from up the hill “LAMKY! GET YER [censored] UP HERE!” “Alright lad head on up” said Soule giving me a nudge towards the cart. We were nearly at the Imperial city I could see the white gold tower drawing nearer and nearer I could barely contain my excitement I ran to Arenac. “We are almost THERE! By the eight I can’t believe it I wonder what it’s like do you think we’ll see any of the beast folk you told me about?! Do ye th-“Arenac interrupted me “Damn man calm yourself you’ll see in a few hours no need to get all hot and bothered about it.”. We drew closer to a winding dirt road out of the woods I ran ahead I couldn’t stand it I had to see the city. I got out of the brush and the sight nearly took the life out of me it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. A luscious green valley with quaint villages dotting the land and in the center….there it was surrounded by a bay as blue as sapphire. It was far more glorious than I ever could have dreamed of I felt a sudden warmth inside me. A pride filled me like never before like I was part of something greater. I was a proud citizen of the Reman Empire not just some peasant boy from a little village. The feeling of pride in my heart was beyond anything else I had felt I turned back to the caravan to see my father smiling at me as if he knew what I was feeling like he too had once felt the pride for our home as I feel now. I merely sat there looking at him then back to the city…the world I was about to discover. We reached the main bridge into the city it was far larger than it appeared at a distance there were dozens of other caravans passing in and out of the city full of strange and exotic people. “COMPANY MARCH!” shouted a booming voice from deep within the crowd ahead of me. I soon heard the clang of armor and hundreds of feet marching in unison the ground itself began to shake with every step, the crowd ahead began to part and I saw them. The imperial soldiers marching, their armor gleaming in the sunlight all of them held spears aloft they marched with such unity and strength and at the head of the unit was a man who I now know as Legate Arventius Spade the most renowned legate of our generation. I watched them in amazement as they pushed through the crowds every detail of them fascinated me every ridge on their armor the hilt of their swords. In my amazement I had not realized that I was the only one who had not moved to the side of the road to allow them to pass and they were not slowing down. My father quickly grabbed me by the back of my tunic and yanked me to the side of the road. Legate Spade rode by upon his white steed followed by at least one hundred troops they passed and the crowds came back as if nothing happened. My heart pounded with the power of a stampede I had such a rush. “FATHER DID YOU SEE THEM?” I screamed excitedly. “Yes lad they were hard to miss.” He said with a chuckle. “Have you ever seen anything like that?! It was amazing BY THE EIGHT WHY ARE ALL OF YOU SO DULL FACED THEY WERE AMAZING!!” I looked around and everyone had a solemn look on their faces. Soule put a hand on my back and whispered to me “Lad…soldiers don’t randomly march by the dozens through the streets for show…they be heading somewhere.” I realized what a fool I had been many of those men would not come back. We reached the city gates and I felt even deeper shame when I saw the weeping wives and children of the troops who had just departed. I would not dare bring my eye to meet theirs. I tried to not think about what a milk drinking dunce I had made of myself back there. We reached the gate and an imperial troop stopped us.” Good day sir simple security check of the wagon and goods and you can head inside.” My father nodded in agreement as the troop beckoned two more soldiers to check our wagon. They rummaged through our cart and the different chests and sacks inside it one of them looked under the wagon. They gave a nod of assurance back to their commanding officer. He jotted something down in his logbook “alright sir everything checks out you are clear to enter the city, long live the empire.” “Err yah long live the empire.” My father muttered back to the guard. The giant gates opened ahead of us and we entered the city a plethora of new sights and smells barraged my senses brightly colored tapestry’s adorned small shops being run by the lizard men Arenac spoke of before. There was and elderly Altemer mage performing magic for a group of children gathered around him. A smell passed by my nostrils that smelt of the feasts of Sovngarde I looked toward the location of this divine smell and saw a shop built into the stone of the city walls above it was a sign that read “ Tastes of Evermore” father had said to stick near the cart but I couldn’t help it. I had eaten nothing but stale bread and roasted pheasant for the past week, I needed something to curb my hunger. I approached the stall and felt a rush of heat as I saw a lamb roasting over a gargantuan flame. My mouth watered at the sight of it I quickly scampered up to the store. A middle aged Breton women greeted me cheerfully “Why ello ello my little scruffy friend! What takes your fancy today?” she asked with a slight squeak to her voice. As I pondered what I wanted to eat…and why she had referred to me as scruffy when I suddenly heard a loud voice from the back. MIRIAM! I NEED MORE GARLIC AND A SPRIG OF ROSEMARY!” a massive Orc with a large beard and a little chef’s hat that was far too small for such a large person came into view. “ALRIGHT YA BIG OAF!” barked back Miriam “hold on one moment ma dear.’ She scuttled back towards a spice cabinet fetched the Orc his desired ingredients and came back to me. “Sorry about that dearie that’s just meh husband Forgaal, now what can I get ye?” “Well…whatever I can get for this…” I pulled out a small pouch with only 2 gold pieces in it I also gave her a small wooden dragon I had carved on the way here. She gave me a pitiful look and turned back toward her husband. She whispered something in his ear that I could not hear over the crowds behind me and the roar of the flames. The Orc took of his hat and scratched his head as he looked back towards me. He nodded his head in agreement as he flayed a chuck of meat off the Lamb and put it on a small stone dish which he handed to his wife she put a slice of fresh bread and a cluster of Juniper berries on the plate and put it in front of me on the counter. I pulled up a stool and began to tear into the lamb. As I inhaled the food in front of me she poured me a glass of crimson liquid. “What’s that shhtuff?’ I said with a mouthful of bread. “Oh this is Shein my dear it aint exactly a Breton drink but it will wet your whistle just fine dearie.” She handed me the cup and I took a swig it was bitter at first but had a smooth after taste. I enjoyed the first hot meal I’ve had since the night before our departure. “Excuse me mam could I eh…have a bit more?” I said tapping my fork against the now empty cup. She gave me a wide smile “why of course dearie have as much as you like.” She poured me another glass…and another…and another. After I finished my plate and Mara knows how many pints of my new favorite drink I stumbled off the barstool. “*Hiccup* t-thank you furr the meal miss.” I slurred as I stumbled off into the market. “Come back any time lovely!” she shouted as I made my way back into the crowd. By the eight what had I done I had gone and got myself drunk in a place full of strange sights even when sober. After several hours of stumbling about town knocking into merchant stalls and falling down a…well…several flights of stairs I saw my father’s stand he had set up. My father was too preoccupied with selling his goods to be bothered with me. I walked behind the cart threw a pelt to the ground and fell face first on it. I awoke the next day sweating like a boar stuck in a dragon’s belly. It was early the city was still asleep. I felt sickly I hurried away from the cart and found a barrel on the side of the road seeing no alternative I introduced the unfortunate produce in the barrel to yesterday’s dinner. I stumbled back dazed and thought of nothing but the putrid taste that now resided in my mouth. And of course what would cleanse the pallet better than my new favorite drink, Shein. I made my way back to the shop excitedly, the flame was quiet and no one seemed to be there. I hollered into the shop “Hello? Miriam? It’s Lamky the boy from yesterday?” I heard nothing I glanced over and noticed that the door was cracked open. I decided it would do no harm to take a peek inside I silently slipped inside and inspected the kitchen. No one was around. I found the bottles of Shein I thought of simply slipping a few in my satchel and being on my way but decided against that course of action. I was no thief my mother would have my hide if I did such a thing. I decided to find Miriam and simply ask her for a few bottles for the road. I saw a staircase leading upstairs I creped my way up the stone stairs and came to a fork in the hallway. I was about to head left when something caught my attention from the right a dim glow under a wooden door and muffled sounds coming from it. I slowly approached the door to investigate. As I got closer I heard that the sounds were someone moaning.” What if Miriam is in trouble?” I thought to myself for all I know she was being murdered in there and by the eight this women would not die if I had anything to say about it! I pulled my dagger from my satchel, unsheathed it and put my ear to the door. “ahhhh Dibella preserve me!!” That was Miriam’s voice! She is praying to the gods to save her! I took a few steps back and sprinted at the door. “BY YSMIR UNHAND HER!!” I shouted as I burst into the room. However the situation in the room was not as I painted in my mind. I was eye to eye with a very surprised Forgaal who looked just as terrified as I must have. “BRAWWW BY THE EIGHT BOY?!” he shouted pulling the blankets over Miriam and him. “Oh I uhh I apologize I didn’t know why I errr... I’ll be um... Going now ughhh!” I hurried and ran out of the room as quickly as possible jumped down the stairs and headed for my father’s stall. As I arrived back to the spot my father was packing up the wagon. “Father are we done already?” I asked confused. “Aye boy we are all done here sold the last of the wares last night.” He flung his sword onto his back and patted the horse’s rump. And just like that it was over. The magical place I had looked forward to was gone we made our way out of town before the roster ever started the day. I was still feeling woozy from the night before so I climbed into the carts newfound space for the journey home. I soon discovered a bag with a strange golden emblem on it. I untied the top and discovered to my surprise eight whole bottles of Shein! Miriam must have followed me back to the cart in my drunken state and slipped the gift in as I slept. I couldn’t understand why this women had been so kind to me but I felt at ease. The rest of the day passed without much incident but everyone in the caravan seemed in brighter spirits than before. They had full coin pouches and many seemed to have new goods to bring back home. I had decided now would be a great time to continue my conversation with Soule. I climbed off the cart and made my way to the rear of the party wear he always stayed. He saw me walking towards him and smiled, he then beckoned for me to join him. “ahhh so he returns to old Soule for more questions. “ he said with a certain arrogance about him. “You said you knew my grandfather…how and why have you not come to me before?” His smile slowly faded “boy there are certain things that are best left unsaid.” “WHAT?! You can’t just claim to know me, know my family and then say you can’t tell me! I started to get off his wagon when he grabbed me by the arm. “Wait lad…alright I will tell you but what I say will be between us GOT IT?!” I nodded and went silent. “I’ve been employed to the Dukain family since I was twenty. Your grandfather hired me on as his steward back when your family lived up in Skyrim.” “Wait my father said we have been in Bruma for generations.” “ahhh did he now?...interesting well that’s a lie sorry to say. Your grandfather was a very powerful man in Skyrim. He was a thane of the Haafingar hold, of Solitude.” “A thane? That’s impossible my father would have said somet-““Damn it boy if you interrupt me again I will make you walk back to Bruma!” “…sorry…continue.” “Any way your grandfather was also a mighty war hero he fought off the reach men for years. He was a Nord that Shor himself would have envied. Now in his battles against the reach men he made many enemies both from battle and because of the political strife that war causes. He rose from a mere mercenary to a Thane! This is no small feat mind you. Well he got married and settled down in Solitude with a young bard girl. The wars followed him into his peaceful life however and that’s where I came in well… me and about a dozen other soldiers of fortune. He had built an estate right outside the city gates at this time and nearly had his own army. Well one day I was on patrol on the outer wall of the estate when I heard a slight crackle from the bushes. In an instant the man next to me was a pile of ash I saw lighting flying from the tree line. I ducked behind the wall and readied an arrow I stood up and saw a flash of light I felt a hot searing pain and tumbled back off the wall. I was unconscious for some time but when I awoke I saw dozens of reach men swarming the estate butchering the servants and mercenary’s alike. I could barely move I had a searing hot pain in my chest I lifted my chainmail and saw I had this ugly bastard added to Me.” he lifted his shirt and revealed a scar on his right briast. “That’s what happens when ya get in a fight with a mage lad.” He said with a snicker. “Well I lay there watching as everyone was dying around me and I couldn’t do a damn thing then I saw him. Barjack Oaksload the leader of the reach men. A hulking man you would think him to be an albino Orc. But this man was far to cruel to be an Orc he slaughtered villages down to the last child he [censored] and pillaged even outside the reach, he expanded them. Molded them into something twisted. The noble goal of his predecessors like the Red eagle to keep his people free were gone all he wanted was to taste the blood of any and all who opposed him. Your grandfather had fought him on several occasions before and even took the head of his only son. That monster had sent assassins after your grandfather for years but this was different it was a full on assault nothing held back. The captain of the mercenary group I worked for was brought before Barjack. He yelled out for your grandfather to come out but was met with only silence. He grasped my captain by the head and twisted and pulled at his head until it eventually ripped loose of his neck. He had torn the head off a man with his bare hands…never had I felt such fear that day. After that I suppose your grandfather had enough. He walked out into the courtyard proudly. He proudly wore his plated armor and had a cloak around him of the solitude coat of arms. At that moment I realized I was in the presence of a true hero like one of the old tales. He stood unafraid against two dozen reach men. They all rushed him blindly screaming like beasts before the first one could lift his axe your grandfather had thrust his blade into his throat and from the moment his blade was unsheathed there was nothing but death ahead of him. The reach men never stood a chance he tore them apart like a troll does to cattle. Limbs and entrails fell to the cold ground that night until Barjack was the only one left. Your grandfather was not free of wounds however. His left hand was cleaved off and he took many blows to his torso from blade and magic alike. To this day I have never seen a man with such ferocity and power in combat. Barjack showed his true colors that night and rather than fight him head on he cast a bolt of lightning into his chest it pierced his heart and turned the point where it struck his armor to its molten raw form. He fell to his knees and in his last act of defiance cast frost magic from his hands which formed into a spear that rammed its way into Barjacks twisted heart. I’m not sure how but the filth managed to run away into the darkness from whence he came. Shortly after your grandfather fell on his back I could hear shallow breaths coming from his mouth, I saw the steam rise from his wound then he just lay there in silence… eventually the entire night was silent the screams slowly faded, some managed to crawl out of the estate grounds into the wilderness. Amazing how one can experience a few moments of chaos and then nothing but the sound of his own heartbeat. I crawled over to him and realized he still drew breath as shallow as it may be. His last request was to get his wife to safety who was with child, your father. I managed to get up and make my way to the cellar wear she was hiding. We left the estate and headed for Solitude. Little did I know but the Jarl feared that your grandfather would soon replace him due to his popularity with the people. The Jarl had been paid off by Barjack and tried to execute us on site. Two guards drew on me and I was forced to kill them. After that there was no way we could stay in Haafingar so I stole a carriage and we made our way to Whiterun. We decided it best to stay there for the time being but I suppose that your grandmother couldn’t bear being in Skyrim anymore so she fled to Cyrodill. She settled down and raised your father best she could…but I’m sure you know the rest ey lad?” I was shocked I couldn’t tell if this man was serious or if he was a mad old fool. But something in his eyes told me that he was no liar. “Why? Why would you do this for my family? You were just a mercenary.” I asked Soule. “Well…I have done a lot of bad in my life and I felt if I could preserve this great man’s bloodline maybe the divines will feel it fitting to look upon me more fondly.” he said with a sad chuckle. It was all so much to take in at such a young age. I bid him farewell and returned to my family’s cart. We made camp that night and I still couldn’t get the thoughts out of my head. Why had my father kept this from me? I dared not confront him until we were back home so I decided to drop it until then.

Chapter three: Dark Revelations

It had been four long weeks since our journey to the Imperial City and still I had not brought myself to confront my father about what Soule had told me. I was wandering the outskirts of town aimlessly I could barely handle how dull life was now since the journey. Colors seemed less vibrant and food tasted like ash. Nothing excited me anymore noting except my own nightmares it is strange I know but it was true. I have flashbacks to the ruin and the undead that nearly tore my flesh from my bones. At the time I had never been more scared and utterly terrified but with the passing of time I grew to crave the rush it gave me. I began to seek out the feeling I had experienced there. At first it was small things, jumping over my father’s forge and climbing from roof to roof. I got some thrill but not enough. I decided on day I was going to head out of town in search of this new addiction of mine. I gathered a few supplies a short iron sword, my bow with twelve arrows, rope, several torches, and a bushel of apples. I had only made it several miles out of town when I saw a caravan coming towards me. I thought nothing of it at first until I noticed the strange trappings of the folk who marched besides the caravan. A golden clad Dunnmer but his armor was unlike anything I had seen before it seemed almost made of bone they had strange creatures beside them they floated above ground and emitted an odd blue glow from their underside. I had seen several dark elves on my trip to the capitol but never had I interacted with any of them. Due to the current situation and my inexperience dealing with the ash skinned folk I decided it best to try to pass by unnoticed. As I was pulling my hood over me a loud booming noise came from the hills nearby, war drums of a bandit party. I turned to see a dozen men dressed in furs and crude armors sprinting through the tree line at the caravan. A tall Dunnmer who was at the head of the caravan turned and saw the oncoming assailants he quickly drew his blade and simultaneously arcane flames swirled about his free hand the flame formed into and orb and he hurled it towards an oncoming bandit the ball crashed into him with the impact of an earthquake the man’s body hurdled backwards with immense speed, the flame burrowed into his chest as he flew through the air his back smashed against a tree with a loud crack as his spine shattered. The Dunnmer charged forward blade at the ready followed by three of his similarly armored comrades. His blade ripped into the flesh of the bandits with ease the first to cross his blade with the elf lost his arm before he could land a blow. The next two were just as unfortunate as he took the leg off one and in the same motion flung his blade upwards cleaving into the face of the next man. The battle was so swiftly ended I could barely believe it happened. The Dunnmer quickly tore apart the rest of the band of marauders. One still tried to escape the dark skinned devils however his efforts were in vain he crawled away franticly as the large elf drew near to him. He turned and tried to plead for his life but the dark elf had already made up his mind he lifted him from the ground, his fingers wrapped around the man’s throat his grip tightened and the man began to writhe and struggle. His hand began to emit an orange glow around his neck flames began to seer the flesh off him. His struggles were in utter vain. After several seconds of screams the bandit fell to the ground his entire head burnt to a dark crisp revealing his skull. A faint deranged last breath escaped his scorched throat before the elf rammed his sword into the man neck. Suddenly one of them shouted and startled me. They were pointing towards me and began running in my direction. In an attempt to avoid the fate that had befallen the bandits before me I threw my blade to the ground and put my hands in the air. “Make one move and your dead Nord!” snarled one of them behind his helmet. He put a blade to my throat as another kicked me to my knees. The leader of them approached me slowly peeling burnt flesh from gauntlet.” Well well well what do we have here? A boy your age shouldn’t be in the wilderness alone. Who are you?!” “I am Lamky Dukain of Bruma. I am a simple traveler I mean you no harm.” The elf removed his helmet reviling a large burn scar on the left side of his face. His eye was covered in strange bronze patch with a ruby in the center. “I am Bradas Othril of house Dres. It’s a pleasure to meet you Lamky Dukain.” The warriors sheathed their blades simultaneously and one pulled me to my feet. “Now boy you are in luck as it turns out we are on our way to Bruma to sell our wares. I’m sure your kin will appreciate us returning you safe and sound to them would they not?” said Othril with a sly smile. Before I could reply to him I felt a sudden sharp pain on the back of my head. I awoke with a rusty iron shackles around my neck and wrists. I looked around and noticed I was in a large cage surrounded by others who seemed to be in the same predicament as I. “what in oblivion just happened?! Where am I?!” I shouted in anger. “Easy now welp no need to get to excited now hahaha!” I turned and saw a Dunnmer sitting on a tree stump across from our cage. I was filled with such rage I jumped to my feet “YOU FILTHY GREYBACK BASTARD LET ME OUT!” “Well now this is an interesting turn of events, the little fool who was stupid enough to surrender suddenly has a back bone.” I felt a rush of heat in me and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. “I’ll tell you what you red eyed [censored] you let me out of this cage and I won’t rip your throat out.” The elf’s face suddenly went from one of amusemant to one of anger. “Boy you aren’t worth the effort of slitting your throat. Besides I wouldn’t want to damage the merchandise.” Merchandise? It hit me they were slavers I had heard tales of the Dunnmer slave trade. I looked around and noticed that there was only several guards posted around the camp I was held in.” Wait where are the rest of you?” the guard grew a sneer on his face and began walking towards the cage. “They are just down the road a peace about to collect a hefty amount of new cattle from your home town.” The guard unsheathed his blade and began to run it against the bars of my cage. “ that’s right ye grimy bastards your pens are goanna get a little more cozy pretty soon assuming Othril doesn’t burn the entire town down this time.” I fell to my knees, my arms began to shake uncontrollably. Tears began to rush down my face not of fear for my own life but the thought that my family could be dead by now. “You spineless DOG! WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE I WILL KILL YOU ELF! YOUR HEAD WILL BE ON A PIKE!! DO YOU HEAR ME GREYBACK!” the elf slowly walked away paying no mind to my threats. I tried for hours to break out of my cage to no avail. I passed out from exhaustion for the next few hours. I awoke to the sound of rustling in the tree line. I peered into the darkness but saw nothing. The guard from earlier had returned to his stump. Which he was now slumped over with empty bottles beside him. As I stood I saw more movement in the trees. Suddenly I heard the hiss of arrows flood the camp. The guard stumbled awake when a cry of pain was heard from across the camp he turned towards the tree line as several arrows ripped into his torso. He fell to the ground with a thud as dozens of imperial troops burst from the tree line. The swiftly killed all the guards and rushed towards our cages. “Alright everyone gather in the center of camp do not straw away until the area is clear!” barked an imperial trooper who had opened my cage. Through the chaos of all the prisoners being released I looked up and saw him atop his horse. Arventius Spade the legate from the imperial city. “Everyone please remain calm the legion has arrived to help you.” Bellowed out Arventius. I rushed towards him franticly. “SIR THE ELVES THEY ARE HEADING TOWARDS BRUMA!” “Slow down boy this is just a small party there is no way they can take Bruma single handedly.” “They are! A guard said it to my face! They are about to attack!” Before he could reply we heard an echoing boom. We turned and saw smoke rising from the direction of my home.” By the eight you may be right boy! Men the slavers are attacking Bruma! Mount up!” “Wait take me with you! My family is there!” he put his helmet on and turned towards me. “No stay here boy we will return when the slavers are taken care of.” He rode off leaving behind a handful of troops to protect us. The woods had filled with smoke and ash. And the glow of flames rose from Bruma. I couldn’t sit back as my home was attacked I slipped past the troops and began sprinting with all my might back towards home. I rushed through the woods barley able to breath from all the smoke the trees were burning around me and all sorts of creatures ran past me to avoid the flames that were spreading. I came out of the brush and saw in horror half of Bruma was engulfed in flames and there were corpses of the town guard strewn about the front gate. I picked up an imperial sword from one of the fallen guards and rushed into town. I saw an imperial troop locking blades with one of the slavers. I ran up behind the elf and trust my blade under his arm. Time seemed to stop as I watched his blood spurt from his body. My breathing intensified and I felt a rush of adrenaline and I began to twist my blade deeper into his side. He fell to his knees as I pulled the blade from him. He turned and looked into my eyes. Before he could plead for his life I cleaved my blade into his neck. Blood sprayed onto my face and I felt an empowerment I had never felt before. I had killed someone and I knew I shouldn’t but I liked it. I rushed deeper into town the heat was so intense I could barely stand it. Several imperial battle mages were using frost magic to dispel the flames across the road from me. I rushed towards my house and saw it was untouched by the flames. My father was fighting alongside several town guards. He took a vicious swing with his claymore and sliced the legs out from under an approaching Dunnmer. I was so relieved to see he was still alive. “FATHER!” I yelled out as I ran towards him. He turned towards me his face covered in blood. “LAMKY GET OUT OF HERE!” Suddenly Othril emerged from the smoke behind my father. He raised his hand and lightning flew from his finger tips and turned the two guards behind my father to ash. He turned and saw the dark elf charging another blast of magic and he charged him with his blade aloft. A volley of flame left his hands and struck my father in the chest, he flew back and crashed into the rubble of a crumbling building behind him. I gripped my sword tightly and began to rush the mage. With every step I saw a day of my life flash by. I saw my mother’s smile. I remembered the smell of spring. I realized all the good in my life and it made me hate this Mer even more. I let out a cry of hatred as I raised my sword to strike him. He flung an orb of flame at my feet and I was thrust violently into the air. I twirled and felt burning hot gravel penetrate my skin. I fell to the cold ground with a thud. Time slowed down, the sound of clanging metal and screams of pain faded away. All I could hear was my own heartbeat. I saw Othril approach me. He drew his blade. “Well boy I was not expecting you to show up. I suppose that means the dammed imperials must have attacked my camp. No matter we will have the rest of your kin in shackles before the nights out and be across the border before the empire knows what happened.” He twirled his blade with a sick smile and placed it on my gut.” Looks like you’ll get to Sovngarde boy.” He slowly shoved his blade into my stomach I felt every inch of his cold blade inside me I tried to gasp for air but the pain so intense my breath left me. My life flashed before me. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Was I really dying? He pulled out the blade abruptly before he could run me all the way through and turned. I looked towards his line of sight and saw Legate Spade standing there a blade in one hand and frost magic in his other. He let loose an ice spike towards the elf who created a wall of flame to deflect it. The two rushed each other and locked blades. They dueled for what seemed like hours the elf’s fire diminished by spades frost and vice versa. Two spell swords equal in skill in a duel. It was a sight I will never forget. Spade soon gained the upper hand though. The mage took a swing at spade who rolled back sending a burst of ice towards Othrils legs. His feet were stuck to the ground by the encasemant of frost legate spade then threw his sword to the ground and lunged towards Othril. He tackled him to the ground but his legs however stayed frozen in place. They snapped at the shin and the bone protruded out from his flesh. The elf let out an ungodly cry of pain as he fell to the ground. Spade removed his helmet and began to smash it into the elf’s face every hit more blood gushed from his nose and mouth an indent began to appear on his face his cries became more muffled as his skull shattered and his face became more and more disfigured . The bronze metallic eye patch he had shattered and bent into his eye socket further. He began to plead with spade to spare his life between the blows to his face each of which disfigured him more. Spade threw his now bent and bloodied helmet to the ground and got off the disfigured elf. He moved towards me and placed his hand over my wound.” Don’t worry boy you’re going to be just fine.” He said with a sigh of relief. His hand began to emit a golden glow and I felt a warm soothing feeling over the puncture. I looked down as he removed his hand and my wound was gone through some arcane intervention. He helped me to my feet. I looked towards my home and it was nothing but rubble at this point. A burnt out husk. The ground was littered with the corpses of everyone I’ve ever loved or known. My dear friend Arenac was laying in the dirt his entrails strewn about the ground. Two imperial troops pulled my father’s burnt corpse from the rubble of the building he crashed into. I saw my mother slumped over my father’s forge with three arrows protruding from her back. Never in a thousand years did I think this could happen. My thoughts turned to the Mer who caused all this Othril. I looked towards him his legs broken and face destroyed was trying to crawl from the battle. I started towards him my heart full of rage my blood was boiling. I smashed my boot on his already mangled legs. He screamed like a stuck pig. “GUAHHHH BY THE GODS PLEASE DON’T KILL ME I SURRENDER!” “You surrender? What of my family?! What of their please for mercy what of my whole damned village!” Spade approached from behind and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Boy we need to get back to the imperial city and report this are you coming with us? I can offer you something better than this.” “What did you have in mind?” “Help us to protect these lands and prevent something like this from ever happening again. Join the legion.” I thought about it and nodded in agreement after all what other choice did I have. Legate Spade picked up his sword from the dirt and handed it to me. “Finish that peace of filth. Send him to Aetherius.” I grasped his blade tightly moved over to the elf and grabbed him by his greasy hair and hacked at his neck till his head flung loose in my hands. I threw his head to the ground and turned to Spade. “Well….what now?” I asked. “Now? Well boy now you are a legionnaire.”