The Unblessed

by ImmortalBlood

Atmora's civil war had erupted when the different Houses rebelled against the rule of High King Ulrarik the Usurper, an ambitious and capable commander that had over thrown the previous High King. He had grown mad with power and the other Houses, some loyal to his rebellion against the old rule, and some loyal to the previous High King, had joined forces to put him down. It was for this reason that Ysgramor had been sent south to find refuge for Atmora's populace as the land's winter grew even more bitter than the great war. Here, our people found the Snow Elves long before their demise and with false faces and words. Soon, they grew hateful of the race of man, as their kin had been in the Heartland and lands beyond the Western Reach.

The Night of Tears all but destroyed our dreams for a new home. When Ysgramor returned to Atmora, he had found that Ulrarik the Usurper had been driven into the far north of Atmora where he had fortified himself deep in his last frozen hold. Atmora was now at peace, although divided and the harsh winter becoming harsher still. With tales of the elves' betrayal, Ysgramor summoned many great warriors to sail once again to the south. Ysgramor and his Companions brought vengeance upon the elves' dispensing justice through strength and courage for their sins and gave Skyrim's people a future.

The lengthening Atmora Winter had iced over villages and towns and the people fled to Tamriel. Only the bitter winter, and the more bitter heart of High King Ulrarik "the Usurper" remained. He held up in his desolate fortress with his few loyal using dark magics to keep death at bay, yet not alive either. As the ice sheets grew over man's old continent, so did Ulrarik's strength until he reached the southern shores of Atmora. When our great King Ysgramor breathed his last he wished to be buried not within the depths of the great city of Whiterun which he founded, but instead on the northern shores with his gaze fixed on Atmora and rightfully so, for he knew the evil that hunted our ancestors. Ulrarik's vengeance and hatred would have no bounds.

Many years later, when the Dragon Priests were over thrown, some had kept the memory of Ulrarik and knew of his great power. They set sail to the shores of Atmora finding a land of eternal winter, desolate and empty of most life. Upon an icy throne, Ulrarik had waited for the Dragon Priests in his eternal undead patience that Lichdom had afforded him. There they bargained that if they were given an army of Ulrarik's Dread Walkers, men who's essence had been turned as undead as their king, who's blades made slaves of those they had slain, that they would rule in his name calling vengeance down upon Ysgramor's followers. With this agreement, the Dragon Priests and their Dread Walkers lead by Sorarik, Ulrarik's son, sailed south and reached Skyrim's northern shores, sailing down the White River and besieging Whiterun.

Any who sallied forth from the city walls and were slain by the Dread Walker's blade were would turn with hunger for their comrade's living flesh. For ninety days and ninety nights the city laid besieged until all of Skyrim's holds united to drive off their ancestor's nemesis. Outnumbered and encircled from all sides, the Dragon Priests attempted to flee. Sorarik bound their treacherous souls to his own gaining their Dragon Magic, and before the armies of Skyrim could descend upon him he used the Dragon Priests' power, their voices in his own throat, to entomb himself and his Dread Walkers deep under Skyrim's lands. There they waited, biding their time in undead sleep until they would once again rise up and do Ulrarik's bidding.

Many years would pass and through Skyrim's history of battle and glory, the story would be forgotten by all if not many. One who kept the memory of Ulrarik and his son, Sorarik, was the Jsashe, a self proclaimed Priestess of Lorkhan known as the "Witch-Queen of Whiterun." A series of misfortunes had befallen the city yet against all reason the people had exalted her as their ruler. It is rumored she has made a pact with Namira and Vaermina and with her new found power, has returned Sorarik and his Dread Walkers back upon Skyrim's lands. From Whiterun she commands a powerful enchantment over the Hold that those that die upon her lands, would continue to serve her in death. Little is known about the well being of the city or its populace, but those surrounding that could flee, had done so. Now the Witch Queen's horde of undead, dressed both in ancient vengeance and new ambition seek to further their power still and dispense the Lich King of Atmora, Ulrarik's, vengeance upon the living.

The Empire, facing a losing war against the newly reformed Aldmeri Dominion, with no grasp of Summerset or Valenwood, thrown out of Hammerfell, ignored in High Rock, stalled in Morrowind, and all but forgotten in Argonia and Elsweyr, has been unable to cope with this new threat from the north. Instead the holy orders, soldiers for hire, monster hunters and simple survivors, have banded together in the village of Riverwood. Flanked by both the Bleak Falls Barrow, and the Throat of the World, Riverwood made a perfect choke point to hold off Jsashe's undead horde. The few remaining of the Legion garrison have erected a wooden wall cutting off any movement toward the south. Even so the structure is witness to frequent raids. The lands to the north are made treacherous by both the living and the undead.

As the 5th Winter of the Fourth Era descends upon Skyrim, only you will be able to decide the fate of its people, and if they ever emerge to see another Spring...

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Welcome to all. I look forward very much to getting this story off of the ground. This world is full of horrors, not only ones that challenge the natural order of things, but horrors that challenge each individual's own personal ethics. In many situations the living may be just as dangerous as the dead. The lore of the "ImmortalBlood Timeline" may be a little thick but I encourage everyone who can give dedication to their writing, to interest themselves and continue enriching the already wonderful lore. Both old and new writers are encouraged to enrich and participate in http://www.videogamesartwork.com/sites/default/files/images/image/1373444808/skyrim_environment_riverwood_street_by_ray_lederer.jpg

My rules are fairly simple:

1. I don't require or much care for character sheets. I've often seen people spend days on their character sheets and only post a few times. Don't become obsessed with your sheet. The CS is more for you than anyone else. Don't detail every little thing on your CS, use the RP to do that. Once I see what people have joined, I will have a list for all the characters and a very short reference description beside the name.

2. Keep things within reason. I don't want to see thousand year old wizards, super amazing assassins that can kill whole armies by themselves while they sleep, and other non sense. Remember, magic truly seems magical when there is a heavy level of realism involved.

3. You don't have to post a novel each post. Be descriptive but there's no point over doing it. Beginners at writing learn how to be detailed, experts learn how to be efficient. I also don't want to see 2 people posting back and forth for pages and pages. Keep your posts relevant.

4. Your character will be part of the "Riverwood group." We'll see how the story develops. I welcome multiple characters.

5. Your characters may die. Deal with it in a mature manner. If you have a disagreement do it over PM, ask me to moderate if needed.

6. When joining please do so knowing that you'll be able to stay active. Don't join "just to see how it is" only to quit in a week and leave the rest of the writers hanging. We work hard to write some of this content, please be mindful of that.

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Character List:

ImmortalBlood

Jarl Rostof "The Wolf of Whiterun" Stormcaller: The nephew of the previous Jarl of Whiterun, he was actually born in Solitude but has lived much of his life in the city of his uncle. When Jsashe, the Witch Queen, took the city and put to death his uncle and his two sons, Rostof became the new Jarl. He now rules from Riverwood and defends the village with the Companions saving his strength for the right time to retake his city.

http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/arcana/1011_bloodreckoning.jpg In his youth Roderic was an ambitious young noble known for his drinking and womanizing. His journey for power earned him the curse of vampirism. After spending many decades walking the nights he wished to change his ways and sought help entering a monastery to be healed of his illness. From then on he sought only to rid the world of darkness.

http://www.theroundtablet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/thraben-heretic.jpg The Vigilants of Stendarr are a new holy order created right after the Oblivion Crisis the rid the world of Daedric corruption, the undead, werewolves, witches and the like. Aleria began her journey in Camlorn and upon hearing of the order's creation decided to join quickly rising through the ranks.

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/116/0/2/moorland_inquisitor_by_davepalumbo-d4xn63g.jpg An infamous hunter of vampires and werewolves, his journey has brought him to Riverwood where he seeks to purge Skyrim of its latest menace. Although dedicated to his task, his methods are often found to be questionable.

Alan of Daggerfall: A young but capable caster of the Mages Guild. He seeks to prove himself and gain fame against the undead horde. His ability to weave powerful spells is rivaled only by his arrogance.

Samantha: Young and impressionable, Samantha carries a troublesome affliction within her. She accompanies Alan as his apprentice doing his bidding in exchange for the mage's help.

Arzhel: A reachman recently captured north of Riverwood. He's being held in suspicion of heresy and hedge wizardry.

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