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(Note: To differentiate them, I think I’m going to start calling beast shouts, “Beast calls.”) Hey, it’s Destana. It’s Day 12 of this month of preparation for the Thalmor. It was morning, and I’d stayed up all night going through the ceremony to become a shaman of the forsworn. I also learned a few new teleport spells from the senior shamans, and got a noticeable increase to my magicka recovery just from the ceremony. I feel like since I came to Skyrim I’d been doing my best to smooth over the rough bits, you know? I’d really taken a liking to this land. I’d spent a lot of time and energy protecting it, and had become a person of some renown in the process. But I feel like every so often I come across something that could be described as a pustule. I poke at it, and it ruptures, and the rot just spills out. The Prison system here had been one of these. I’d escaped and murdered the Jailer in cold blood (literally… cold, in the sea of ghosts). The vampires’ secret nature gave way to a relationship with the holds that was ultimately going to strengthen Skyrim. The gray quarter was now livable. Skyrim had many more people and places to live. That day what started as a project to help with the war, the forsworn, became a cause for me to champion. That morning, instead of being tired, I was wired. I returned to Badycia, the leader of the shamans, looking for more work. She gave me a few jobs, but I’m going to gloss over two of them as they’re not especially important or interesting. 1. So cut it in half The first was a dispute between two women in Vulkos’ camp. Badycia said shamans are the wisdom of the reachmen, so they often act as judges. Each woman said the other woman’s baby died during childbirth and she was trying to steal hers. Vulkos said, “How about a trial by combat? Let the gods decide.” “I could just cut it in half,” I said, “Both women get half a baby.” “Okay,” they both said. “Wait, no! You’re supposed to… okay, trial by combat. Fuck it,” I said, throwing up my hands. 2. Wolf Mother The next job was in a camp with a woman named Genserie. When I got there, she told me the wolf pack in the area was weak and dying out. Sigorn wanted them dead, but I happen to know wolves are a keystone species. When wolves die out, their prey reproduce out of control, eat all the flora and decimate the natural world. (That’s from reading a lot of books over those ten years!) “So, what’s the deal with them? Are they not reproducing or something?” I asked. “No… well, they’re trying,” Genserie replied. We walked over to the wolves’ stomping ground to find a woman having sex with four gray wolves. She was imperial, and surprisingly clean. “Well, there’s your problem,” I said, “Wolves and humans can’t reproduce.” “She thinks she’s a wolf,” Genserie whispered, “I think the females wandered out of the area because she just fucks them all day long.” “I am a wolf!” She said. “Romula Sena. You are not a wolf,” Genserie said. “Of course I am,” she replied, “Why else would I be fucking these wolves? My mate Aki and I are going to have wolf pups soon.” “Well, that’s weird. What do we do?” I asked. “Maybe… if we showed her humans can have sex with wolves?” Genserie replied. “Well, don’t look at me,” I said, “I don’t plan on doing that again.” “I guess it’s up to me then, I’m going in,” Genserie said. When she was done, Genserie told her we had quite a few animals in the forgotten valley. Romula asked if she could come and join our tribe, and left the wolves of the plains to do wolf things. So now the Marses has an Imperial. We took her to Armin, and he was accepting of the situation. A woman who can make the beasts happy… guess that’s positive. 3. New Sibyl The third job is a little more involved, but still fairly short. It was only late morning at this time, and Armin told me he had an idea that would benefit our cause. Seeing as how there are a lot of Forsworn living in Markarth and the towns in the Reach, he heard things. Turns out, there’s a whole information network here. Anyway, he’d heard the High Priestess at the Dibellan Temple had died recently and they were searching for a new Sibyl. He wanted me to go talk to the sisters first, and once I had her, we were going to bring her into our influence. I teleported to Markarth, and while I was in Volkihar Castle I got a couple comments about me being mortal and therefore worthless. Serana said she didn’t like werewolves, and I was the exception. I sighed, thinking I was probably going to go back to vampirism sooner than expected, especially since the vamps would barely give me the time of day at the moment. At Markarth, it seemed like I had been expected. Oh yeah! This was that job they sent for me for. I approached the acting mother, Hamal, and after some anger she said, “The ceremony you so rudely interrupted was the Exalted Protocol of the Dibellan Sibyl. Through this we are able to hone in on the next Sibyl to the north in a small village pressed against the stone. We believe the place in our vision is Karthwasten.” On the way out, a sister spoke to me, “After your mission, are you interested in joining the sisterhood, on a trial basis?” “Uhh… maybe. I don’t have a lot of free time. What do I need to do?” I asked. “Oh, I know who you are. You’d be doing things for us in your off time. I’ve heard a lot of stories that you are quite skilled,” she smirked, then she said, “The Temple is closed, for now, but I could definitely use some help with the collection of donations. With the dragons and the war, the Thalmor, the forsworn, and everything…these are uncertain times. You’re out there, leading the people. I ask that if you do this, you remind people of love and beauty.” “Yeah, but more specifically?” “Take this wreath. Collect donations wearing only this upon your head, let your beauty inspire their gold to flow,” she winked. I smiled, “I… think I can do this.” I went back to Armin, “I infiltrated the sisterhood. It was easy. They sent me to find the Sybil.” “Good. Our men in Karthwasten picked her up. She’ll be in the Broken Tower redoubt. I’m going to send you to ‘rescue’ her. Instead of bringing her back to the Temple of Dibella, bring her to Karthspire. We’ll have a ritual ready.” I nodded, and teleported to Broken Tower Redoubt. I flew to the top level of the tower, and spoke to their Briarheart, “I’m here for the Sybil. Armin sent me to take her to a ritual with our shamans.” The man was named Sigorn. He growled, “Well, if it’s for the shamans, I can’t argue. But I still want her ass. What’s the ritual?” “Not sure on the details. You’re free to show up and see if you can ‘help out.’ It’s at Karthspire,” I said. “Fair. I’ll see you there,” he replied, "No. One more thing.” He put up his fists, putting away his weapons. Then he said loudly, “There’s no way you’re going to take this girl! She’s mine! You’ve been hiding amongst the forsworn this whole time!” He took a wide swing at me, missing horribly. I could tell this was a ploy at this point. “Please, help me!” The girl shouted from within the cage. She was blindfolded. “Oh, by the old gods!” He shouted, then he fell on the ground, making it sound like I’d just beaten him. I walked over and picked the lock on the cell, and grabbed the girl’s hand, still tied, “Let’s go!” “What’s your name?” I asked. “Fjotra. Thank you for saving me!” She yelled as she ran after me, tripping over things. I grabbed her and threw her over my shoulder, taking flight as I walked outside. “The Sisterhood of Dibella sent me to save you. You’re going to be the next Sibyl,” I said. “Really?” She asked, “Why is it so windy? Can you take the blindfold off?” “No, we’re flying. I don’t want you to shriek and fall out of my grip when I take it off. We’ll land in a few minutes,” I replied. I flew her to Karthspire, where Drana, a Hagraven and a few others had set up a platform and a ritual. A wolf, a troll and a few shamans and forsworn were gathered around. “Okay, are we safe? Can I take off the blindfold now?” Fjotra asked. I may have felt bad, since this was against her will and without her knowledge, but it would generally benefit both the sisters AND the forsworn. Drana stepped forward and took the girl’s hands, unbinding them. Then she put her hands on her head, and the girl sat down. “She will be… receptive,” Drana said. “Could you teach me that?” I asked. “Easily. I could do it right now, if you have the talent,” Drana replied. It only took a good ten minutes, but she showed me a few arousal-control spells. Then Drana and the others started to gather energy to start the ritual, creating the same effect as during my shaman ceremony. Drana took off the blindfold and Fjotra was glassy-eyed and receptive. “First, we need a man for the ritual,” Drana said, “Which one of you guards wants the honor? Which is more high-ranking?” Sigorn leapt off his horse and sprinted up the hill. Damn he wanted this girl bad. I mean, she was probably 18 and was very pretty. “Mine!” He shouted, “I’m the leader of the Broken Tower Redoubt. Not a chief, but higher than these guys.” “Very well,” Drana said. Sigorn smirked, rubbing his hands together. He entered her from behind, depositing his load several moments later. “She had formed the bond with a man of the Forsworn. Next,” Drana continued, “The girl will form a bond with our wolf spirit.” I looked at the seemingly normal wolf, and he winked at me. Was it the same one as mine? I smiled back. He mounted her and did the same. Whether this would give the new Sibyl powers of nature on top of the Dibellan powers she would soon get, I wasn’t sure. “What’s the troll for?” I asked. “Stop asking questions girl, I’m getting to that!” Drana cleared her throat, “I don’t want to spoil this for you or give you an unnecessary advantage over the others, but as part of the trial you will do next, you will form a bond with a troll. Trolls are bestial, yes, but they are in tune with nature. They have a line stretching back to the dawn era.” “So, you’re fast-tracking her through the shaman process?” “Basically, yes,” Drana replied. While she had her fun with the troll, Drana engaged with one of the other Forsworn guards. As the last part of the ritual, she cut Kalydi and cast a spell with the sister’s blood on the new Sibyl. “Now, take her to the sisters. Say nothing of this. I will report to Armin. In the future, you keep an eye on the Sibyl. She will be a sleeper in the sisterhood for us, and will follow your commands without question,” Drana explained. We dressed her in a gray robe, and I teleported (through Volk) to Markarth. I walked her into the temple, and she seemed normal. Hamal was just at the entrance to the inner sanctum. She looked me up and down, still in my Forsworn clothes, “Interesting choice of clothes.” “It’s a disguise!” I replied. “This woman saved me from the forsworn,” Fjotra said, “She says you want me to be the next Sibyl?” “Oh, gods! You found her!” Hamal said excitedly, “Bless you! Come with me, girl. I will begin your training.” She turned back to me before they walked out, “You’ve truly earned the Blessing of Dibella. Prostrate yourself before her altar and you will receive her blessing.” They walked away, and I did what she said. I could feel the warmth of Dibella shroud me. Goes to show you that Aedra aren’t actually as choosy as everybody thinks about who they give their blessings to. Really, the only difference between them and the Daedra is the Aedra helped/consented to the creation of mortals and Nirn, and the Daedra didn’t. Of course, like Sanguine, you can enjoy the fruits of somebody else’s labor. I snuck in the back after a few minutes to find Hamal giving Fjotra her first lesson – she was going down on her. 4. Final Exam I returned to the Sacred Tree, and it was only noon. I was making great time today. “So what’s next?” I asked Badycia. “You have one more test to take. This will be designed to test everything you’ve learned so far and the ability to use the powers you received this morning. I sent you out on those jobs because all the others taking this test have years of service under their belts, they’ve proven their ability to deal with complex problems. I needed to see you in action, and let me say you did well.” “You hear about our Sibyl yet?” “Oh, of course. I’m glad you pulled it off,” Badycia replied, “Follow me.” She walked me up the hill on the far side of the tree that’d I’d never had any reason to go up before. At the top of the path was the ancient door of a nord ruin. “Give me all of your possessions. You don’t need them here. Remember our ways as you traverse the ruin,” Badycia said, then smiled at me, “Before you go, I want you to know I actually sincerely hope you pass this. I have a good idea of who you are.” “Oh really?” I asked, already undressing and piling my stuff on the ground, “Who do you think I am?” “The Dragonborn. Everyone respects you. Tell me, what is your purpose here?” “I want the Forsworn to be able to live their lives how they want. And I want there to be peace between the Nords and the Forsworn. Each side might need to give up some of what they want, but together, we can be even stronger than we can imagine.” “What makes you think the Forsworn would assent to this? You know we took Markarth and held it for two years during the Great War, right? Markarth is our city, and we took it back while the Nords and the Empire were distracted.” “Because I think I have a solution that will satisfy everyone,” I finished getting naked, “Also, the Aldmeri Dominion hold most of the continent now, and in two weeks they’re coming for us. Would you rather be an ally of another race of mankind that can look at you and see you as human, or under the boot of a race of people who think humans are inferior and want to crush all of us under their heels?” “You make a solid argument. But, do you know how the Nords got Markarth back?” She asked. “No…” I replied, “It’s like a footnote in most books, the Markarth Incident.” “When you get out of there, I’ll tell you all about it,” Badycia said, “For now I want your mind to be on this task. Remember everything we’ve taught you.” I turned, and opened the door. Inside the first room was huge and open. Two skeevers were threatening a hunter. How’d she get in? I followed the light up to a hole in the overhead, about fifty feet up. “Help me!” She yelled. I immediately casted Bound Bow and loaded an arrow. Then I tilted my head. I walked forward slowly, then called, “KAKE!” The skeevers turned to me, still looking ugly, but docile. “I don’t know what you did, stranger, but thanks!” She pulled out a sword and stabbed one of the skeevers through the head. Red energy started to envelop her, “What’s…. happening?!” She vanished. I blinked. Okay, well, now I understand the rules, I guess. If you kill any of the beasts, you get got. Whether the woman was dead, or just forcibly ejected from the ruin, I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t about to find out. I walked forward and found a cozy campfire still burning. Apparently owned by the interloping hunter. I looked through her stuff and took what was valuable. But with no pockets… I just laid the gold back down. A wolf was standing at the edge of the firelight, growling. I readied my beast voice, but realized they had cooldowns too. I quickly dodged as he lunged at me, then shouted, “KAAN!” Using my dragon voice to supplement my beast voice. The wolf sat down and I petted him on the head. I told him to stay (since Kyne’s Peace has a limited duration) and continued on. Next, I encountered two spiders, which I used my beast call on and told them to stay (so they don’t kill anything that attacks me later). Then, I found a troll in a room with four levers and a shut portcullis. Realizing Kyne’s Peace wouldn’t work on him and my power was still recovering from the beast voice (the specific call is named Mating Call), I casted invisibility on myself and waited for him to move around as I pulled all four levers, recasting it as necessary. I continued on, crossing a river and finding a rock bridge with another troll. In turning the corner, he was only about ten feet from me now, but he didn’t move to attack. I looked at this one more closely. He had a lot of wrinkles and this one had gray hair. He seemed to hobble a little as he walked. This Old Troll walked up to me calmly. He reached out his hand. I grabbed it, and he gently held my hand. I smiled at him. Maybe, as I had earlier suspected, Trolls and Giants weren’t brainless, just hostile because of years of aggression between our kinds. The troll’s dick started to get erect and he smiled at me. But he wasn’t aggressive. Drana did say this was part of the test. I sighed, “Well, I’ve fucked stranger things. I know what you want.” I moved to the other side of the bridge and he followed, then I got on all fours and presented myself to him. He entered me and fucked me pretty soundly. He also picked me up and hugfucked me. When we were done, I felt like… all this ‘forming bonds’ with beasts and beast-like creatures was causing my beast hide and beast calls to grow stronger. I think I was working out in my head how to give beasts basic commands. I bid the Old Troll goodbye, telling him to stay, and continued on. The next cave had a sheer pit in front of me. Like… a fifteen-foot-wide chasm. With magic I could probably get across. But how were the others supposed to do this? I stretched out my foot and felt it touch stone. “Ha!” I shouted as I stepped out onto the invisible land bridge, “The old leap of faith.” I walked across to the next cave, which had some form of advanced Spriggan in it. She spoke, “I am the Keeper Spriggan, the blessed of Kyraneth. Apprentice. Your will, wits and wisdom have been tested. Now, your knowledge.” “I’m ready,” I smiled. I had a lot of that. I wasn’t a mage for no reason. “How many colors can natural wolves have in all the lands of Nirn?” She asked. “Three,” I replied. “Good. Next question: wolf, snail, troll, frog. Which of these are hermaphroditic?” I blinked, “Wow, testing textbook smarts.” “Hmm.. I’ve never seen a female troll. But they have penises, so maybe they’re rare, like Giantesses,” I thought for a second, “Only the snail.” “Excellent,” the Spriggan replied. Then she smirked, “What is the difference between respiration and fermentation metabolism?” “Respiration is how we breathe. Fermentation huh?” I scratched my head, “Well, that’s how we make beer, which is done by microbes. I guess, fermentation is how microbes respirate?” “That is … acceptable,” the Spriggan replied. Then she blasted me with green light. When I opened my eyes, I was in a cave with an ancient spriggan and three Menthirs (teleportation stones). “Destana!” Katalia shouted and hugged me. “What’s this?” I asked. “Looks like you passed. We’re waiting for everybody to come through, then we’re all going to touch our Menthirs. Each Menthir is attuned to a different type of shamanism. After you touch them, you’ll be transported out of here and be given a gift. So, which type will you choose?” There were three women before me, one trying to become each type. Katalia chose to be a Koldun shaman, specializing in life manipulation and curses. Moira (the girl who put my heart back in) wanted to be a Hagraven. Ethrane, who I hadn’t done much with, was choosing to be a Primal shaman, who were friends of the spriggans and focused on healing. I chose that one. We touched our stones, and were teleported. I made nice with the Spriggans in the spriggan cave, and then I went back to Badycia, who didn’t have anything else for me yet, other than congratulations. “So what is the deal with Markarth? Am I going to be angry?” “Probably,” Badycia said, “You’re about to marry Ulfric Stormcloak, aren’t you? Well, you are a shaman, either way. So I’ll tell you this and do what you will with it. During the Great War, the Empire pulled back its forces to deal with the Thalmor. When the Forsworn took back the Reach, we drove out Jarl Hrolfdir. Keep that in mind when I tell you this: he went to Ulfric Stormcloak for help. Two years later, when they retook the Reach, they killed everyone. Not just the Forsworn. But also, the Nords who didn’t actively help retake the city. Men, women, and children. Our king, Madanach, was taken prisoner. To this day, an old man, he still remains in Cidhna Mine.” I could feel my eyebrows twitching, “Yeah, but we ousted Hrolfdir.” “Yeah, because he didn’t uphold his bargain with Ulfric. Weak man didn’t stand by Talos worship. With the Silver-Bloods, things have changed a little. On the surface, they claim they want to rid the Reach of the Forsworn, but fighting against us has actually lessened. I think the Silver-Bloods either give a shit about us, or they want to stay in power and are using Madanach as a hostage. Either way, something fishy is going on,” Badycia replied. I huffed, clenching my fists, “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. First, I’m going to have a talk with my fiancée. Then I’m going to figure out what the hell’s going on in Markarth.” Badycia smirked, “Good luck, shaman.” I teleported to V, then to Windhelm, which put me at the gates. As I walked the streets in my forsworn garb, people just seemed confused seeing ‘those people’ so far from the Reach. In the plaza with the Talos statue, Fenrir turned, “Mom!” He blinked, “Could you put a shirt on?” “Sorry, son. I’m on a mission right now,” I said. He followed me just inside. “Hi mom!” Runa was sitting at the dinner table with Aventus, thanes and other officials, Ulfric standing at the other end of the hall talking to organizers. He turned, “My darling! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t ~” He started, but I reached him and slapped him across the face. He turned back to me, annoyed look on his face, “What was that for?” “There’s more where that came from,” I asked, “Ever heard of the Markarth Incident?” “That was a long time ago…” he said, “Another Jarl came to me, asking for help.” “What you did to those people… it was barbaric!” I said, “Did you really kill everyone?” I reached back my hand to slap him again, and he caught my hand at the wrist. “We stormed the city and took it back. That was it. When things were secure, I handed it off to Hrolfdir. What he did after that, I don’t know,” Ulfric said flatly. By this time the Jarl’s Hall had become silent, all eyes on us. “Well then, Hrolfdir is on my list when we’re declared King and Queen. Since he’s not even a Jarl anymore. You know, I meant what I said. I want the Forsworn to have their own hold, their own seat on the council. Now I’m considering if I should give them Markarth. Pray to the gods they don’t do to the Nords there what you guys did to them!” I snatched my hand back. “So does that mean you still want to marry me?” He asked. “Yes!” I yelled at him, “FUS!” I blew him onto his butt, sitting on the stairs to his throne. Then he shouted back at me, “FUS!” “Wanna get in a shouting match with me?” Ulfric growled. “No,” I said angrily, “Because I’d win, and I like you. Mostly.” I turned and walked out, “Hi Runa. See you the day after tomorrow.” “Wow, she was mad,” Jorleif said. “Yeah,” Ulfric stood, “She looked good in that Forsworn getup though. I know a lot of them go topless. On her, it really works.” “Geez,” Runa said to Fenrir, by the door. “Yeah, imagine the two of them actually yelling at each other,” Fenrir shook his head, “They’d probably level the building.”