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Disclaimer: The first half is mostly vanilla. The second half goes to some pretty dark places, thus the NSFL tag. Fenrir at the helm. The Thalmor are here and we’re at war. Though the remaining sensible Imperials are helping, we’re losing. We lost Riften, Falkreath and Helgen. It seems like they’ve got a presence in Morthal, as well. No fighting, just swept through in the night. I got up early and experimented with moving troops around on the map a bit before General Sialius, Commander Balfhe, King Ulfric and Listener Runa walked in. Made me feel like just a guy until Sialius said, “Hail Prince. What do you have here?” “It all depends on what they do,” I replied, “I hope that even without mom the Forsworn are in this.” “This is not a bad idea, Fenrir,” Balfhe said. “I have more targets for assassination, if the Brotherhood is in,” Sjard poked his head in. Runa nodded and started, “Gotta find~ “Sir!” A nord courier ran in the room, out of breath, handing Balfhe and Sialius a piece of parchment. My heart sank. I knew what was coming. Balfhe read, “A large force of Thalmor are forming in the Reach. They’re massing to attack Markarth!” “Dammit!” Ulfric said, “I bet they’re going to sweep north through Solitude next. If they control the port, we’ve lost!” “Runa, Fenrir, take whatever you’ve got and go to Markarth!” “Damn. Where are Damien and Serana?” I growled. Runa shook her head, saying to me, “No time. I’m going to use the tunnel to Highreach and get backup from Hrolf Witch-Slayer in Solitude.” “Right. I’m going to Druadach to get Madanach’s guys,” I said. We both passed through Highreach and stepped out near Solitude. Runa told Shirley to head to Markarth. “Take Shadowmere!” Runa yelled as she ran into the city. The black steed’s hooves beat as fast as they could. I leapt from his back and headed into Druadach Redoubt. The cave was dank, but huge and well-lit with torches and a red sacred tree. I happened upon Borkul immediately, surrounded by a group of rough-and-tumble Forsworn warriors. “Hey! I know you! How’s your mom?” “Not great. I know you guys don’t get the news up here. The Thalmor took Riften, Falkreath, Helgen and Morthal.” “By the damned spirits, kid!” Uraacen shouted from the cave. “I can bet where they’re going next,” Borkul said, “C’mon guys, gear up!” They hastily threw on their weapons and armor and headed out on a group of horses that couldn’t keep up with Shadowmere. “Hard to believe we were breaking out of this place a couple weeks ago and now we’re defending it,” a woman said. “Yeah well, the big D set up our king in Markarth and gave us rights. Better this than the Thalmor,” Borkul shouted over the hoof sounds. “Who are you?” I asked. “I’m Ralya. Are you related to Destana?” She asked. “I’m her son.” “Wow, how old is she?” Ralya asked. “Almost thirty,” I replied, “It’s a long story.” She smirked while she was thinking about mom. Gods, how many hearts has my mother captured now? I shook my head. We stampeded up to Markarth’s gates and dismounted. The guards looked like they were on edge at our presence, but Runa calmed them. “Damn Forsworn! Here to kick us while we’re down?” One of them shouted. “We’re here to defend your sorry asses!” Borkul chuckled. “Back off, we need all the help we can get,” Runa said from the group of Solitude soldiers massing to the side. Benna was wading in the nearby river, looking forlorn. I’m not really a giant speaker, but I walked over to the edge, “Hey, where did Bol and the Mammoth go?” She growled a little, then she picked me up, raising me up high so I could see down the hills where the Thalmor were gathering. I pursed my lips, “Those fucking bastards.” “What?” Runa asked. I shook my head. At the Thalmor camp was a slain Mammoth. They’d already chopped him up for meat. “The Giant was the one who saw them first,” one of the soldiers said, “He and the Mammoth were patrolling the area. They got the pet, but I haven’t seen the master.” I met eyes with Benna, “We need to give these guys hell.” Runa and I walked into the city with Shirley, leaving the combined forces to get ready. I ran into Markarth’s map room to find Madanach standing on the map, pointing out strategic points with his toes. He looked over to me, “I heard the news, kids. Sorry ‘bout your mom.” Hlofgahr the Brave (the guy from Riften’s failed defense) piped up from the corner, “The Dominion are here! We’d better get down to the front lines!” Madanach jumped down from the table. “You’re coming too?” Runa asked, “Usually the Jarl stays put while the battle is going on.” “Maybe that’s why we’ve been losing! C’mon! I’m going to defend this city with my life!” And with that everybody scrambled out, being joined by guards scrambling to the gate. One of the guards put his hand on Runa’s forearm as we passed, accosting her across the stream by the gates. “You remind me of someone,” the guard said, “But there’s no way. Do you have a younger sister?” Runa tilted her head, “Are you H.K?” “Harod of Kozanset,” he replied. She pulled out a gold-colored helm and handed it to him, “Here. I borrowed this a few years ago.” “What the… There’s no way…you’ve got to be messing with me. You were that stick? You had to have been a girl and now you look full-grown,” he looked down at her chest without thinking. Runa smirked a little, “In Cyrodiil, several years passed. Thank you for your act of kindness. I hope you make it through this day.” He took off his Stormcloak helm, revealing a Redguard. He stepped up to her, “Gods, you got tall.” Runa pulled him up out of the stream, showing their height was nearly even, then kissed him on the cheek. “That’s for luck,” she smiled. I was watching this display, and I smiled. Maybe there was hope here. We walked out the gates and Borkul grabbed Madanach in a bear hug, “My King! My Jarl!” Madanach chuckled as the Forsworn all piled on. “Everyone!” Madanach shouted, “It would warm Destana’s heart to see us working together! Markarth has the heart of both the Nords and the Reachmen! Do not let them breach the walls! Do not let her sacrifice be in vain! For the Reach! For Skyrim!” Stormcloaks, Imperials and Reachman alike raised weapons and shouted. I turned to Runa, “Does he think mom’s dead?” “I mean, she might be,” Runa replied. “Don’t say that…” I said back. “They’re coming!” Hlofgahr shouted. Large firebombs or meteors or fireballs started to rain down on our gathering area and the soldiers scattered. Forming up, the Forsworn behind Madanach and Borkul; the Solitude Stormcloaks and Imperials behind Runa and Shirley, and the other Stormcloaks behind me. We charged. The other fighters crested the hill just below the first barricade and I got up on the walls. I knew this would expose me, but I figured I was going to make the largest difference before they knew what I was packing. I took out the Dwemer Cheiroballista and loaded took aim. Runa charged into the fray. A swarm of bolts pelted the back lines of the Thalmor forces, and as they turned to me, aiming their most powerful magics, I heard the thundering roar of, “FUS-RO!” The second word! She’d been working on that one! Runa knocked a whole gaggle of them from horses and forestalled the casters blasting me from the walls. I ducked behind some debris, reloading, and letting a second volley fly. I must’ve taken out a dozen archers and casters before they started blasting me with fire. A massive form interposed itself between me and the blasts, tanking the damage meant for me. “Benna!” The giantess roared, pulling a boulder she’d carried and lobbed it into the crowd. But for all our decimation of their forces, more of them were pouring from the road down the hill. We were pushed back. “How did they move so many troops here without us noticing?” Runa asked as she rounded the corner. “I have no idea!” I said back, now fighting with axe and shield against auxiliaries. They kept pushing and eventually we were back against the walls. Men were falling left and right, and the skies opened up, coating the ground with blood and mud. “Godsdammit! Defend the gates!” Hlofgahr shouted. Madanach shouted, “Archers on the wall, fire! Defend the switches!” I ran up into the walls and positioned myself between the few still-living archers and switches, using my crossbow to mow down countless Thalmor from the murder holes. Shirley and Borkul came with me and fended the Thalmor now getting dangerously close to my back. “For the Reach!” A briarheart fought and died in a swarm of Thalmor. “Just how many men do they have to throw at us?!” Borkul said as he cut a Wood elf’s skull in half. “We might need to retreat!” Shirley said back. Then it happened – a Khajiit assassin clubbed me in the back of the head as I was reloading. He reached down and threw the switch. Borkul took off his head and Shirley stabbed him through the chest, but it was already done. Thalmor had already poured through the gates, breaching the wall. I fell unconscious. Markarth became a scramble of chaos. With all the new Reachmen living in the city, many more Thalmor died that day. When I woke up, I was in a dark, stone hallway. Runa was sitting beside me. Madanach casted a light spell, illuminating the area. “We carried you here,” Borkul nodded to Shirley. “Dammit. This is not going well,” I groaned from the ground, “Where are we? Is us five all who made it?” “The Markarth Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary,” Runa replied, “There’s a secret hatch in the Warrens and one in the stream flowing through the city. Madanach suggested the mine, but I knew they’d eventually look there. But this place is secret.” “Curse the Damn Thalmor. I finally get to live in my city again like a normal man and they take it,” Madanach growled, “I want to go out there! My people are dying!” “You know I’m not going to let you do that,” Borkul said. “Yeah, we’re already two (or three) Jarls down,” I said, “They’ll execute you if they find you.” Runa said, “We’d do best to get the hell out of here and regroup.” “If we had hid in the Dwemer escape tunnel from Cidhna mine we could be traveling the vast complex beneath the city and get out of here,” Madanach said. Borkul chuckled out loud, a good hearty chuckle. “What’s so funny?” I asked. “If any of the Forsworn survived, they’re probably going to be taken to Cidhna Mine to work!” Borkul laughed again, “The godsdamned irony!” “I’d wager the Thalmor are going to convert it back into slave labor, but for any non-Thalmor,” Madanach said, “So what’s the plan?” “We can wait until Nightfall and use the back tunnel. It leads to the stream, which we can follow to the outside of the city,” Runa said. So, we waited there for a hew hours, contemplating our lives and our next move. I know what you may be thinking, that it might be very hard for us to slip out, but we came out of the back tunnel and found only one patrol of two Thalmor. Between the five of us, and getting the drop on them, they didn’t make a sound. We each leapt from the edge and landed in the pond Benna had been wading through earlier. Speaking of Benna, among the corpses I didn’t see hers – and that would have been noticeable. So I hoped she got out of there. We all traveled north and retired to Highreach and we found Hrolf, Sialius and Balfhe there. “What the hell happened?” General Sialius asked. “There are just too many of them,” I replied, “I don’t know how they got that many troops to Falkreath from the border in hours, then to Markarth in just a couple days…. WITHOUT us fucking noticing!” “Gods,” Balfhe said, “Some kind of teleportation? Some kind of magic?” “Not teleportation,” a voice said, and we turned. Before us was a haggard and bloodied man, his staff broken into two pieces. He took off his mask, and his eyes were black holes like a Daedra. “Damien… what happened to you?” I asked. He said, “Time magic.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is… Destana. “Now, just what are you doing?” I heard a familiar voice, but hanging there in the dark, chained up, blood and dirt covering my body… I either couldn’t or didn’t want to open my eyes. “You know you could really use a bath.” “The service around here is terrible,” I said back. Then I laughed, slumping against the chains. “What are they doing to you? You’ve lost your fire,” the voice said. “Oh, you know, torture. Draining my blood. For three months now. I must be going crazy. I’m even hearing voices. Of course, you know that, because you’re one of them.” “I’m not in your head. Open your eyes you rube!” He said. I blinked, trying to clear whatever had been in my eyes that was making my face sticky. “I can’t see very well right now. I’ll have to get back to you. Tell my assistant to find a place in my schedule,” I chuckled again. Apparently, my laughing was enough to wake a nearby guard, who walked over to me. “Who are you talking to?” He asked. “Just the voices in my head,” I replied. He sighed as he walked away, “Fuckin’ looney.” “He’s right,” the voice whispered, “If you opened your damn eyes, you’d see it’s the image of your Ex-husband trying to help you even though he is dangerously low in his ability to influence Nirn!” My eyes shot open, and there he was. “I must be crazy,” I said, “I’ve barely seen you in ages.” “Look, I don’t have a lot of time,” Sanguine said, “You hang in there. I’m going to tell the kid where you are. But when they storm in here, you be ready.” And his image vanished as Orthar passed through it. He grabbed my boob again – like he did every time. But this time he twisted my nipple. “Ow! What are you, twelve?” I asked. “Just making sure you’re awake. Do you even remember all the fun things we’ve been doing? What we’ve discovered?” Orthar asked. “Gods, no. But I’m sure you’re going to remind me,” I groaned. “No, I’m going to tell my boss on the council what we’ve been doing here. But that’s later. For now, a courier finally arrived with this hefty stack of rituals from my contacts.” “What are do they do?” I asked. “Well, this whole time we’ve been probing into the universe next door. Come to find out the denizens are a lot different than ours. I’m going to make first contact with them, offering you as our diplomat,” Orthar had started drawing a ritual circle under me during this time. “I hate to tell you this, but I’m not exactly the one to sing your praises,” I said. “Oh, you misunderstand,” Orthar continued drawing the circle in meticulous detail, “These denizens don’t speak as far as I know. They’re not like your friends from the other spheres. I got a glimpse into this universe, and it’s filled with horrors.” “So why probe into this place?” I asked, starting to get nervous. “Well, the council feels that while your energy is finite and you will eventually be used up, having an entire universe to draw from will allow us to do anything we want. We could conquer this whole world. Just think about the amazing things we can do. You’re so tough, I believe you may be one of the few mortals in this realm who could handle first contact with them,” Orthar smiled, then he slashed my wrist again, letting my blood fall into the circle. He raised his hands, channeling some kind of long cast spell. The floor started to change – it looked the same, but the consistency was like jelly. I felt queasy, my feet battling with the strange malleability of the stone. Orthar took several steps back and turned a knob on the dwemer battery he’d been using to gather the energy of my blood. And just from being on in the presence of this reaction, it started to fill with power. I held myself up by the chains on my wrists causing me to bleed more. Orthar casted a restoration spell, closing my wounds, “We wouldn’t want you to die. Now, get ready to greet your new friends.” And tendrils reached out from the jelly-like facsimile of the floor. One of them gripped my neck, many others shredding the chains like ribbons from my body. My brain thought I was free for a few seconds, but then half a dozen more tendrils leapt out of the floor. They grasped at my arms, my legs, my waist, one of them cushioned my back as another one slid across my unprotected crotch. “Oh! No! NO!” I screamed, “You are not going to sit and watch this happen to me, you sick piece… of….” “The Estrus Beast,” Orthar started to read his notes in a journal before he started adding to them, “Fosters sexual receptivity in normal mortals of this plane. It also excretes a highly toxic paralytic poison. We’ve done some small tests with other subjects, but they died instantly. You are one of a kind, Dragonborn.” I went slack as the thing forced a meaty tentacle into my vagina, sliding back and forth like it was fucking me. “You may be asking yourself how things like this exist. You see,” Orthar started, but a tentacle flew in his direction, and it was rebuffed by the circle’s shielding effect. He cleared his throat, “Everything in their world is either tentacles or pods to put the tentacles. The Estrus eat each other. So it has two things it can consider you – are you food or a potential sex partner?” I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t make a sound. My vocal chords were paralyzed. Project 12_02-22-2022_17-1-20-789.mp4 Orthar continued writing in his notebook as the thing fucked me. Eventually it finished, shooting a hot, sticky load of… something into me. It touched the barrier a couple more times, then it descended back into the goop of the floor. The magic circle dissipated and I was dumped onto the cold, hard stone, fighting to breathe but barely able to. I twitched as I lay there, helpless. “Don’t worry about having monster babies or anything. The Estrus’ biology is not compatible with yours. You’ll pass it harmlessly in a few minutes. I’m sure you’re familiar with how semen flows out after sex – I know all about you,” Orthar said. In a blinding fit of rage and powerlessness I started to weep, still unable to move my limbs. “Oh, by the gods,” Orthar bent down next to me, “It seems I have finally broken you, Destana Dragonborn. You’ve certainly lasted longer than anybody else. I do believe I shall celebrate. Guards!” Several Thalmor came in with new chains and devices. One of them readied a new gag – not as good as the old one, and they got the chains ready. One of them – a red-haired woman, put her fingers up inside me and tested it with some sort of alchemical bottle. “Clear, sir,” she said. “Thank you,” Orthar stripped off his robes (but not the hood, strangely) and slid his dick inside me. He started to thrust and laid there, limp. It was at this moment that I realized the creature had pushed the crystal out. I could feel my magicka was nearly full now. My body was broken, and my spirit nearly there. With one more bout of rage, I started to channel a spell, even with Orthar violating me. “Wait what is she~” the female guard started, but she was cut off by a massive blast of cold to her face. The four guards in front of me drew their weapons, but two of them exploded in shards of ice and frozen body parts within seconds. Orthar put his hand around my neck and squeezed. His other hand jabbed me in the side, paralyzing me. I fell limp again. “Perhaps~” He continued to thrust as my spell fizzled, “I spoke too soon.” “By the gods!” One of the still-living guards shouted, “She killed three people instantly and wounded half a dozen more in the next hallway! We should chain her back up NOW!” “No. See, I’m rather pissed now. After I finish~” Orthar groaned, emptying his balls in me. FUCK! I could’ve been draining him! He dumped me on the floor, and started redrawing the magic circle, “You see, I’m feeling vindictive now. Get me more magicka batteries. We’re going to see just how long you can last, Dragonborn!” In just under a minute the circle was drawn again and six guards were now in the room, curious as to what was going on. Orthar opened the goopy gate again, and I could feel the tears streaming down my cheeks as the thing entered our world again. This time it was a different beast. Only four tentacles, but the base inched its way in, looking like a pink flytrap. Various appendages like cilia grabbed my body, while two of the tentacles spread my legs wide. This time several of the short tentacles inserted themselves into my ass, my pussy, rubbed against my crotch, folding and feeling where it could get a hold to implant its seed. I kicked and screamed until the thing's paralytic took hold again and then I went limp - powerless. "Ugh," one of the she-elves could barely hold back her puke and left the room, but the men seemed to be stroking themselves to the perversion. All the while Orthar was laughing, filling his batteries one after another. This one dumped me on the floor like the last, and the process continued. Orthar had one of the other Thalmor wizards take a turn (after I was tested) and fucked me raw. Then he summoned a third Estrus, and a fourth, letting his men have turns with me. When finally all his batteries were full, Orthar looked down on me and smiled, "You belong to me now. Your only purpose is to charge these, that will fuel our weapons, that will allow us to roll our war machine across all of Nirn." I made no response, as I'm pretty sure at this point I was in a catatonic state. He chuckled, and started to walk away. Orthar turned the corner, and I couldn't see what he could see, but he was taken aback by whatever it was. "What are you fools doing?" He shouted, "Get back to your posts!" Did the creatures have this effect on people? I could hear the sounds of distant moaning of men and women, but my brain just would not concentrate on what was happening. I felt the floor begin to undulate again and I felt like I was going to weep. Not again... The tendril grabbed my arm and I braced myself for the horror, but instead... it wiped my hand in the blood, then it rubbed my hand vigorously across the magic circle. And the creature emerged again. It let me go, and formed its huge body into a tube as it wormed its way through the small opening in the circle It'd made for itself. The Estrus scurried off. Seconds later, I heard screams. I laid there for what seemed like hours as several more of the creatures did the same, wriggling through the narrow channel made by my arm. I rolled over. I crawled across the circle (that was no bane to me, only the Estrus creatures) and when I was able to drag my body around the corner, I found an elven woman locked in a pink pod like the one I'd been in earlier - only shaped more like a long tulip. Another one was grabbed by the first Estrus type I'd been grabbed by, and another by the large pod. The hallway was filled with screams for nearly a minute, then they were mostly corpses, falling limp, including the men. But one voice rang out over the squelching. "Please! Help me!" Orthar was being grabbed by the first Estrus type that was all tentacles. He was the last to be grabbed, and thus the last to be alive. I stood, and walked over to him, smugly silent as he screamed again. The tentacles tore into his asshole. "Why the fuck would I do that?" I asked, "You tortured me for months. And finally you're getting some of your own medicine. I hope you die a painful death!" I limped out of there and opened the door to the outside. It was daytime, and I'd forgotten that the place was crawling with guards outside too. I hadn't found my things amongst the chests in the fortress, only a prisoner's dirty garb and a few melee weapons. I gritted my teeth, and even though I was feeling weak from all the horror downstairs, I drew a dagger and sword and yelled, "C'mon!" The four Thalmor rushed me, and I evaded and slashed for a solid couple minutes. I figured more reinforcements would come, but then I noticed in the distance - this fort was being attacked by Bandits at this very moment. "Skyrim belongs to the Nords!" One of the bandits yelled. It seemed even the common rabble were fighting against the Thalmor. The bandits and Thalmor surface guards tore through each other - causing mutually assured destruction. The combat spilled over into my fight, the two sides killing each other. I slashed out at every person there. When all was said and done, one Thalmor remained. And like one last goddamn stick in my eye, he got the drop on me. I was exhausted - not having slept a good sleep in months now. He choked me out, and I passed out. He may have realized he was the last Thalmor left here. He may have been influenced by the Estrus' aura of sexual perversion. All I know is I woke up with his dick in my mouth and my hands tied again. Seconds later he was cumming on my face. I looked up. "That's how we treat women where we come from," he chuckled. I was looking behind him. A giant club came down on him, exploding him into a frosty, bloody mess. I started to beast call at him, but the Frost Giant nodded at me and walked away. The... spirits? I was left standing there, alone. I dropped to my knees in the frosty cold, letting myself weep for real this time. I realized the Estrus may be coming any minute and I sprinted the fuck out of there. And just a bowshot away, I found them. "By the gods!" Serana shouted, Damien by her side. "Please! Teleport away! Now! Let's get out of here!" I screamed, grabbing at his robes. We appeared in Highreach. Serana carried me, naked, to the hot springs. I gripped her and she sat down with me in her arms, still clothed. I put my head on her chest, shivering, and fell asleep.

(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.”

Hey, it’s Destana. Last time I joined the Forsworn. My goal here is to make peace with the Reachmen and put an end to this neverending war. My ulterior motive to trying to make the Forsworn a full part of Skyrim is having them to help us fight the Thalmor in the coming invasion. It’s day 10 of 14 (til my wedding with Ulfric) and of 30ish (until the time imbalance corrects itself and the Thalmor attack). I woke up again, after having gotten my last tattoo from a Forsworn tattoo lady, about 10 am. I threw on my Forsworn gear to make myself feel like part of the group, then found Katalia near the Sacred Tree. “How’s the flesh?” She joked. “Well, it’s no beef,” I smiled, “And I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in human form. Usually I’m in a frenzy.” She didn’t seem to pay much attention to that statement when she said, “Well, now you’re a Marses tribe member. Welcome, sister! Armin’s our leader. You should talk to him about work.” “You know some shaman spells, right?” I asked. “Yeah. I know most the basics. I’m just waiting for the shaman test to advance to full shaman. You’re a mage, right?” “How could you tell?” I asked. “I dunno. Just a feeling, I guess. The fact that you said you knew unlocking, and teleportation,” she smiled excitedly, “I wonder if you’re good enough that you could take the test with me? I’ll show you Spriggan Spray. It’s the basic spell of Primal and Koldun. And, well… bugs are fascinating, so it was my first spell.” She took the time to teach it to me, as it seemed most Forsworn didn’t learn their art from books, but word of mouth, and I learned to conjure little bugs to annoy and poison targets. It was no elemental bolt, but it was a building block to understanding their way of spellcasting. “You’re a natural. Oh, and I can show you the most basic teleportation spells. The only two I know,” she said, then she showed me how to teleport to the Sacred Tree we were standing at, and the stone she’d ported to earlier. Then she gave me a Mehir fragment, “This makes it possible without much training.” I was pretty happy. If I could teleport to most the holds, and eventually all the Forsworn sacred sites, I could zip around to any battle anytime. A man named Brenus (who’d bothered me on the way in) also bothered me on the way out, “Hey cutie, wanna sleep in my tent tonight?” I sighed, “I barely know you dude. Step off.” “Sorry. Maybe next time,” Brenus said. He seemed sad. And you know I’m quite the busybody/solver of problems. “Hey guy, you seem lonely.” “Well, I am. My wife died and now I don’t have anybody. You seem so exotic. I figured you miss every target you don’t shoot.” “I like your attitude! I’m not looking for any more committed relationships though. Would you like me to try and set you up with someone?” “Really? That’d be great!” Brenus replied. My bear friend was just sleeping on a random table, so I told him to stand guard and went off to find Armin. I used the Mehir (you don’t need to use the spell if you just touch them) and walked back to the camp where I’d found him originally, encountering a group of Adventurers and an Ogre. The adventurers attacked me. Seeing a forsworn alone seemed like easy pickings, I imagined, but they didn’t know what they were dealing with. I snagged a set of Dragonbone Claws from one of the guys, and decided it went with my look more than a knightly sword, for now. I’d started making a point of picking up a lot more stray armor I found on my many assailants so I could hand them off to the Stormcloaks/Standing Army, or use the High Alchemy spell and transmute them into gold for myself. This was my first encounter with an Ogre since they’d started crossing the border from Cyrodiil, and they reminded me of Giants in level of strength. Once I found Armin, I said, “You wanted to see me once I settled in, right, Chief?” “Yes. You might’ve joined a tribe, but I want to see if you’re a useless stomach to feed,” Armin replied. I could swear he was sneering, but his mask entirely covered up his face, “We’re going on a hunt. Follow me. This is your chance to prove to me what you’ve got.” He took me and a group of young warriors down a bunch of winding paths, finally ending up at a small version of the Sacred Tree overlooking a farm house. “Everyone’s here? Alright, open your ears. We’re here to see if you’re useless stomachs,” Armin said. Orell patted his belly, “Stomachs are always useful!” “He means useless, like you’re a worthless mouth to fee, dumbass,” Styr said. Yngride added, “I’m ready! They invade our lands and profane our sacred places. This time, we’re the hunters.” Styr sneered, “You talk big. But you’ll give them some of your ginger cunt, just like this Redguard over here.” Yngride growled, “You still dream about me, don’t you? Touch me and I’ll make your cock into a necklace.” Armin waved his Glass Greatsword, “Shut up! You see those stupid Nords, near our sacred tree? They’re our prey. I warned them about defiling it. Not they’re going to pay with their lives. This path is their only exit.” There was a farmer, his wife, and his daughter. Having some sort of lunch around the sacred tree, maybe? I ran forward with the others. It wasn’t always really my way to kill without what I thought were good reasons, though I had killed people for less. I will admit, I threw out a FUS and knocked the farmer off the cliff, but he only bounced once before he hit the water. The wife was slaughtered by the rest of them – hey, I did my best. And when I walked back over, Armin had cornered the daughter and was waiting for us. “What should we do, recruits?” Orell said, “We should have fun with her before we kill her.” “Of course, you would say that,” Yngride said, “We should just kill her.” Styr said, “How about we let her go? She can spread the word that we’re not putting up with this shit anymore. Carry it back to Markarth.” “What do you think?” Armin turned to me. “I like Styr’s idea,” I said. “A brave choice. Alright. You guys did a good job. I’ll be back at the Sicambres village. See ya!” Armin sheathed his sword and casually walked away. “That was kinda easy,” Styr said, “Anybody up for any more action?” “Eh, I have plans,” Yngride said, “Hey Destana, want to help me with something?” “What do you need?” I asked, always usually ready to help (when it’s convenient). “This Breton guy got me into bed and stole everything I own.” I shrugged. It was a worthy cause. We ran down a road and she said, “Alright. According to what I heard, he goes to the inn near here every night. When he’s done, he’ll be stumbling down this way.” “How long is that?” I asked. “About four hours,” Yngride said. I pursed my lips, “I’ll be right back.” I flew up and looked around a bit, and I found another group of adventurers. These didn’t attack me. They hailed me from the air. “Excuse me, flying woman. Are you an adventurer like us?” Their leader was wearing plate and looked like some kind of knight. “Yeah, I’ve been running with the forsworn lately, but I could say I am,” I said. “Care to join us for a quick cave crawl? Shouldn’t be more than an hour. We can storm through there, there’s supposed to be treasure, and a heinous monster at the end. What do you say?” “Sure, why not,” I smiled. Here were four of them, and we did storm through there. Mostly spiders and rando creatures. Nothing too impressive. The last cave of the complex was a downward spiral path with a skylight and a few men were camped out at the bottom. “And now we slay the foul beasts!” The leader shouted, and charged. “Wait, those look like they’re just some escaped prisoners…” I said, but he didn’t listen. Him and his group charged forward without hesitation. It actually reminded me of when I was new to Skyrim and pretty downtrodden. “No! Please!” One of the men shouted, “Stay back!” “These men look defenseless!” I shouted down. “Nonsense!” The lead man slashed into the prisoner with his greatsword. “Hey! Stop!” I said, getting angry. I drew my bow and aimed at the group, wondering what was going on. The first man fell from his blows, but the second and third weren’t going down without a fight. They both transformed into werewolves. “Face the wrath of the Silver Hand, beasts!” I pursed my lips again. I immediately crouched and let loose an arrow, sticking one of these Silver Hand chumps in the back and he fell into the water below, dead. The leader and his right hand continued to engage the WW’s while the one in back ran up the spiral to engage me. I backed up and when he reached my level I gave him an Unrelenting Force, which sent him fifty feet down, spraying his brains on the rock. The two-on-two was pretty evenly matched, until I plugged the other guy with an arrow in the back of the head. The second were fell, then the leader and the last clashed climactically. “This is vile betrayal!” The SH guy shouted. I took aim, peppering him with arrows. Finally, he went down. The werewolf charged up the ramp at me. I quickly spent a dragon soul on Kyne’s Peace and when he got up to my level I shouted, “KAAN!” But he kept coming. Of course, it only worked on true animals. “Whoa there!” I shouted, “I’m not your enemy! I shot those Silver Hand jerks down.” “You were working with them!” He growled. Then he lunged, knocking me against a wall. I crumpled, and he was charging at me. I shouted again, but this time, it was a garbled KAAN, that sounded more like, “KAKE!” The were seemed taken aback by that, and he stopped charging. He breathed deeply, growling, but calmer. “Hey, I didn’t know those guys were Silver Hand. I hate those guys. As soon as I found out, I shot them in the back. You seem like a reasonable group of werewolves who decided to remove themselves from society to prevent losing control. Let me tell you something. I’m a werewolf too. I found peace in feeding on bad humans. With a calm soul, you can develop the power to overcome the transformation and live a normal life.” He growled again, “How… do you … do this…?” “When you calm down and revert forms, you should go to Whiterun. Go to Jorrvaskr. Ask for Aela, Farkas or Vilkas. Tell them Destana Stormblade sent you after you were attacked by the Silver Hand. Ask them how to control the form. Tell them your story.” I put my hand on his shoulder, and he wrapped his beastly arms around me and wept, “It’s been so long since… anybody but my brothers showed me compassion. I want to live in normal society again.” “You can,” I said. Then he shifted back into his human form. “Will you be okay?” I asked. “Yes. I can make it to Whiterun,” he replied. When I came out of the cave, it was a little past dark. As I was running back over to Yngride’s hiding spot, I realized I definitely had a shout that was not Thu’um. It was something of my own making. Like a different dialect of the dragon language, perhaps tied to the natural world. And the first one I had could befriend beasts and feral creatures. I would need to test this more. I approached Yngride to find her fending off a bear and found my opportunity. “KAKE!” I shouted, and the bear laid down on the ground. I petted him. “Where the hell have you been?” She asked. “You’re not even… freaked out or impressed by what I just did?” I asked. “No, most our shamans have spells to befriend animals. Somebody told me you were training to be a shaman.” “That wasn’t a sp~” I started, but Yngride interrupted me. “There they come! They’re early!” She leapt off the outcropping we had been waiting on and tackled the man off his horse. He had two friends, and they were easily dispatched by me and my newest bear friend while she wrestled with him on the ground. Suddenly the man screamed and I heard the sound of a dagger cutting flesh. “Well, I’m satisfied,” she held up his balls triumphantly. The man was screaming bloody murder, and my bear clawed him in the face, killing him. “Here. Take this bow. You’ll not find a better one in the Reach,” she threw me a forsworn bow. As I tested it, I realized it had an extremely heavy strength pull and was one of the best bows I’d ever seen, even outstripping the Nerevarine’s Bow in craftsmanship. “WOW!” I shouted, “Where the hell did you get this? This thing is insane!” “Long story. I guess, my father was a master bowmaker and made my brother and I these bows. My brother died a few years back,” she replied. “I feel like I don’t deserve this. Godsdamn this is a good bow,” I said. “See? I knew you’d appreciate it, because I’ve seen you using that fancy magic bow,” she replied, “Put it to good use, slaying our enemies.” It was just then that I think the scales tipped quite a bit. Let me explain. As I readied my teleport to get back to the Sacred Tree and sleep, I thought about the Forsworn. Here they were, a brutal people who knew what they believed in. But I joined them for my own purposes and they’d taken me in, and finding me to be useful, they’d taught me powerful magic, given me the best of what they had, and were ready to teach me more. And there was none of the racial purity bullshit I saw some places. The exact thing I was fighting – the Skyrim belongs to the Nords, was already not in the Reachmen. They weren’t just Bretons. Some of them were Nords. I would later learn there were some Imperials amongst their ranks. And now, one Redguard. I may have been the Dragonborn, a Stormcloak, a Mage, a Thief, a Vampire (once and future), a Werewolf, a Companion, and a warrior of some renown, but I was most definitely a Forsworn. I told the bear to go back to the wild and thanked him with some meat. When I teleported back and said hello to Badycia, I asked her if she knew anybody who would be right for the creeper who approached me earlier and she gave me a list of women who were free. See? Brutal, but helpful. The same woman who had me eat human flesh was now matchmaking. “So, what do I need to do to become a shaman?” I asked her finally. “I was wondering when you’d ask,” she said, “I see the fire in you. I have several tests, which you’d better do quick if you want to catchup with my daughter. First, I will test your knowledge of plants. Bring me all the plants on this list.” She handed me a list of ten plants. I dumped out my pack and had eight of them lying around. The other two was a quick teleport away. “Damn, you continue to impress me,” Badycia said, “Next, I’ll test your wisdom. Go to the Old Hroldan Inn and find Katalia’s cousin. You can’t miss her. They call her Red.” I used the Menhir and went there straightaway. It was late into the night, but I was fairly hooked at this point. I looked over and found a young woman wearing a red hood, “Are you Red?” “Yes, that’s what they call me. My entire family was killed by a werewolf, and now he’s stalking me. Please, can you kill it?” She asked. Uh-oh. There’s no way that guy from earlier… I flew out to the place she told me about. I snuck up on him, and he was just sitting there by a campfire… in werewolf form. “Excuse me,” I said from the air, knowing he couldn’t do much to me from up here, “Kill any people recently?” “No. I mean, yes. I did kill a werewolf recently. He was a blood-thirsty beast. And he got me. Now, I’m like this. Fortunately, I’m a Marses and we have a spiritual tradition surrounding werewolves. I already know how to control this form.” “Red sent me,” I said, “She thinks you killed them.” “No, no. She thinks he killed me too, probably, because I disappeared when he attacked. I just didn’t want to alarm her. My name’s Braith, by the way. Red is my fiancée. She’s a Reachman, but she doesn’t live with the Forsworn, so she doesn’t know.” “Is that common?” I asked. “Yes, a lot of the Forsworn have extended family in Markarth, Karthwasten, Salvius Farm…” “That’s crazy. It’s like cousins fighting over a piece of land,” I mused, “Anyway, what can do I do help?” “If you arrange a meeting, I would be most appreciative.” I went and gave Red the place and time, and then reported back to Badycia. “Great show of wisdom. If you’d killed him, I’d have known you weren’t cut out to be a shaman,” Badycia smiled at me. “Do you know everything that’s going on in the Reach?” I asked. “I have eyes everywhere,” she smirked, “Ready for more?” “Sure. Shoot.” “You impress. Next, I will test your wit. One of my friends needs help, and I think you’re the right person. Talk to Vulkos. She’s at an outpost near Dragon Bridge.” This time I teleported to Volkihar castle and had a midnight meal with Serana. She reacted very positively to my Forsworn clothes, “Wow. You look like a snack.” I told her that drinking my blood was liable to turn her into a werewolf, so she backed off and she drank blood and I ate some of the flesh laid out for us. After that I ported to Solitude and flew down to Dragon Bridge. Vulkos was at a camp overlooking the town. It was more like two tents. “I know, I know, it’s a small camp. You’re the new one, right? Let me introduce myself. I’m Vulkos. A Marses tribe. I’m a shaman and a Briarheart.” “I thought only men were usually Briarhearts,” I shrugged. “Well, I used to be a man,” she replied, “Namira granted me thus, after I removed the offending parts. My problem is, being a Briarheart is interfering with my ability to be a shaman. I need a new heart to replace my old one.” “Where … can I get a human heart. Okay, that’s not as much of an issue. Where can I get somebody to put a heart in your chest?” “Ascula can help you, but she’ll ask for a price. And don’t let her trick you,” Vulkos replied, “Bring it to Bluff Snake Redoubt.” I traveled across the plains, meeting a group of poachers killing Wooly Rhinos (and not even using the meat!), and I befriended a Rhino and killed them. When I reached the ruined tower Ascula had her outpost near, a dragon attacked. My rhino buddy helped kill the dragon. I walked up the spiral stairs and into the tower to find a few women in hagraven’s clothes, and an old Hagraven. Ascula was a gray-haired but still vital woman. “Hi, I’m here to ask for help for Vulkos.” “So, she decided she wanted to stay a woman, huh?” Ascula asked, “Interesting. Did you know Drana and I were the ones who made her a Briarheart, when she was a he?” She pondered for a moment, then said, “Ah yes, she sent you to find a new heart, didn’t she? There’s a cost…” She laughed under her breath a bit ominously. “What do you need?” I asked. “There’s a giant in the plains over yonder that’s been annoying us,” she replied, “I want his balls for a fertility potion.” I sighed, but accepted. I flew out of there, spotting the giant immediately. Now, giants were hostile, but they weren’t egregious monsters like some of the other things in the world. Kinda like dragons – I felt like they could be reasoned with. Of course, there was no asking for a creature’s balls. I did decide I would at least try and be diplomatic and try an experiment. I hovered toward him and shouted, “KAKE!” And he turned around. He scratched his head, then he smiled a little at me. I think… it worked. I lowered my elevation a little, and he reached out with his giant hand and grabbed my ankle. He held me for a few seconds, then petted me on the head. “Umm… hi, big guy,” I said. “Chu – ka,” he responded. Which, I didn’t speak giant. I wondered if they had a functional language or if it was just grunts. He hugged me with one of his arms. This guy was a gentle giant. I’d definitely seen their pastoral ways with the Mammoths. Gods, I definitely did not want to do what that pre-Hagraven had asked me to do. The Giant held me around the waist with one hand, and slid another up my leg, feeling the smooth skin. “Alright, getting a little bit too friendly there,” I said, then he slid his hand up my fur skirt and lightly grazed my pussy. “Oh!” I gasped, and he gently kept rubbing me. I struggled to get out of his grasp, but he held me tight. Then he kissed me on the forehead. Oddly, he was being very loving and gentle. I wasn’t sure if there was a concept of consent in giant culture. I’d only ever seen one female giant; they were definitely rare. Maybe they just mated without courtship because meeting a female was so rare. He lowered me down, grabbing his giant dick, and rubbed it back and forth against the entrance to my vagina, like I was riding a horse. I moaned a little. It felt really good, of course. But Talos’ ghost it was huge! Only days before I’d been impaled on a cock that rivaled demigods and this was only… a little bit bigger. Looked standard for a giant. I felt myself going over the edge, then shaking to an orgasm. This giant was in this to impress. He set me down gently, his cock just right over my head when we stood next to each other and stretching out just bigger than my forearm. He made no aggressive action, and I acquiesced. If I was going to do what I’d been asked to do, I guess the least I could do was allow him to get full use out of his balls before I took them. I licked gently up and down the monstrous shaft, swirling my tongue around the head. There was no way I could fit it into my mouth, but I managed to get the head in there. He picked me up by the waist again, this time working his cock’s head between my lips and just barely slipping inside me. When I winced a little, he pulled out, flipped me upside down and licked me until I came again. I used my tongue on him while he did. When he was ready, he sat me down and shot a river of cum on my head and shoulders. He then laid down, spent. With a heavy heart, I stabbed the giant through the heart, and he didn’t seem to fight back against me. I didn’t know a lot about giants, nor this one specifically, but it seemed like he wanted to die, a look of satisfaction on his face as he closed his eyes for good. I couldn’t fathom the sadness of a giant, but at least I gave him some release beforehand. I cut off his balls and returned them to Ascula. Her and Drana and one of the guardsmen were having a three-way when I got back. She said, “You put on a very good show. Put the balls in the bowl over there.” When they got finished, she continued, “I have several good hearts… just let me get it out of the chest here.” She pricked me with something, and everything went dark. I awoke to her screaming, “So beautiful, so precious! Giving your own heart!” “What the fuck?” I yelled as I got up off the table, a hole in my chest, “You crazy bitch! You took my fucking heart out!?” “Don’t be upset… you have a flower,” she cackled, then said several phrases that sounded like nonsense. Another woman tapped me on the shoulder and I nearly slugged her. “Sorry about her. She likes making jokes at others’ expense. I’m Moira,” she said. “And all of you just stood around while she did this?” I asked, then I grabbed my still-beating heart from the table. “I’m sorry. But I can help you. I know how to do this operation too. Come with me to Karthspire,” she said. I sighed, knowing this was the only way out of this situation. I peered down at the Briarheart as it pulsed my blood through my body like a regular heart. Moira and I traveled to Karthspire. At this time, it was well into the morning, and I’d forgotten to sleep, eat and generally take care of myself again after being a vampire for several months. I ate while we traveled. “Phage,” Moira said as we approached the forge. “What do you want?” She asked, hammering away at a sword. “Could you spare a heart for Vulkos?” Moira asked. Phage sighed, “For you, sure.” She finally looked at me, then sighed again, “Gods I hate Ascula. Sometimes I wish we could push out the Hagravens and their apprentices. No offense, Moira.” “None taken.” “But we do need them to make Briarhearts. Don’t you ever become like one of them, you hear?” Phage said. Then she quenched her sword. She turned to a chest, and pulled a heart out of a vat. “Best get to Bluff Snake Redoubt,” Moira said. I flew, carrying her, and she requested I teach her that spell sometime. Vulkos waved as she saw us, then looked at me. Flatly, she said, “So Ascula got to you, didn’t she?” “Look, can you just put my heart back in?” I asked, not sure what long-term effects this would have on my body. I mean, I wasn’t even sure how this was fucking possible. Medical science be damned. At the very least I didn’t want to be this way because a nimble thief could just pickpocket my heart out of my chest. Moira put me under and fixed both of us, and when I was fully restored, Vulkos said to me, “That is a wonder. You should bring Moira to Badycia. You saw what she did here. I think she’s ready to be a full shaman just like you and Katalia!” I shrugged, “You know, Moira, you’re pretty weird if you want to be a Hagraven someday.” “I know. I’m pretty messed up wanting to take people’s hearts out of their chests and tinker with their insides,” she smirked, “But yeah, we can be trials buddies.” I nodded, “Well, I guess I would trust you to ‘do no harm’ if I ever needed cardiac surgery again.” I teleported us to the Sacred Tree. “Vulkos has her heart back, and… so do I,” I said. “Ohhh,” Badycia said, “Well, never trust a Hagraven. Or a soon-to-be Hagraven. But you definitely passed the trial of wits and you’re in one piece. I need a moment with Moira here. Talk to Thusnelda about your final trial. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to be a shaman!” I was pretty tired at that point, it only being about noon but I hadn’t slept the night before. But I figured I could at least go talk to Thusnelda before I slept. “Hi. Badycia told me to talk to you about the last trial,” I said. “Of course. I will test your appetite for bonding.” “…bonding?” I asked, not sure what that meant. “Yes. Lot of rituals are carnal. We become bonded when we have sex. Not just with each other, but with spirits. Tell me, what do you know about animal love?” She asked. “Well… not a lot,” I replied timidly, “The closest I got was with werewolves.” “So you do have a little experience,” she said. Then she looked me up and down for a minute, “I think you will have the will when the time arises. That’s all. You pass.” I blinked, “Oh, well, okay.” I walked back over to Badycia, “She said I’m ready.” “Well, good. You made it to the next stage. I’m proud of you. Come back at sundown. Moira, Katalia, you, and a few others will all be taking part in the ritual.” I went and slept in the Young Cave and got up just before the sun went down. When I returned to the tree, only the people I knew were sitting there. I sat in the circle with the others around the tree, and a few more filed in. It was all deadly silent, no talking at all. A red-haired man and a mohawked woman played a flute and lute, and all the shaman women surrounded us, channeling powers of the spirits in a slow trickle. I think for the first time I noticed there were no male shamans. Men were mostly warriors, briarhearts or even werewolves if they chose that path. Woman could also be warriors or werewolves, but didn’t traditionally become briarhearts. But they could also become shamans. It took hours… but around midnight, ghostly blue wolves dotted the edge of my vision. Each wolf chose a woman sitting around the circle and approached her. As if they knew exactly what to do, each woman laid back or got on all fours and invited the wolf. Of course, they knew, they’d been raised in this culture that I was only a few days into. My wolf sat down next to me, and as if sensing my trepidation, put his head under my hand. I pet him, and he smiled a doggy smile. “You know… this is all symbolic. Ceremonial,” the wolf’s mouth didn’t move, but I heard the growling voice in my head. I blinked. “Yes, I can speak. You may be surprised but I can see the beast blood spirit in you,” the wolf said. I looked over to the other women, now getting fucked by wolf spirits, “That doesn’t look very symbolic.” “I mean, sex feels good for all creatures. Your shamans connect with us in this way. Perhaps you can hear me because you’re special. Not everyone can. They communicate with us with their bodies.” “Does that mean I don’t have to…” “Oh, no. It’s also a transfer of power. If you want to be a shaman, you still do,” he panted like a dog too hot. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” I curled my lip. “No, no. You already have a much stronger connection to the spirits than you realize,” he said back. “You mean…?” “Yes, your beast voice. Your beast hide,” he continued to pant, “It is rare, even among the Forsworn. Your kind calls you the Untamed. It is possible becoming a werewolf unlocked this power that always lay dormant in you.” “I am just a perfect Mary Sue, aren’t I?” I sighed, “Okay. I’ll bite.” I bent over, accepting him as the others were nearing their end. And, I mean, it felt like a penis. A sentient being was having sex with me. So I guess it wasn’t a lot different than a werewolf, or that giant. This is what you call a slippery slope. When I came, we came together, and he released his power into me. It was like when I killed a dragon, but not as thundering and distinct. But I felt a transfer of power, a blessing. And just like that, I was a shaman of the lowest level. I waited a few hours and returned to the Sacred Tree. Badycia already had another job for me.

Destana again. Things are heating up. Last time I freed the companions from their curse. Time to check the old list. List: - Tour of the holds. - Get Stronger. (Forever ongoing) - Get the Forsworn. Better Nord than Thalmor. - Marry Ulfric, become Queen and him High King, unify Skyrim. Wedding date is 6 days (it’s day 8). - Study the Eye of Magnus. (Damien). - Ready the holds for war. (Fenrir and Ulfric). - Go to Cyrodiil and either: Try to get the Empire to ally with us or ensure they don't help the Thalmor. - Go to Elswyer, Hammerfell and High Rock to ask for aid. Wow! I am not making much progress at this. Last time I was just walking into the common bunk room after taking a nap. “Alright, you lost the bet. Now take your clothes off,” it was Njada, and she was talking to Ria. Wow, the girl really does not know how to be personable. Athis, the Dunmer new blood, was just laying in his bed, watching this unfold. He’d lost a fistfight to her when I joined, and now Ria had also lost one. I’d heard about her bets – the only way she ever gets action because she can’t be bothered to learn how to talk to people. Ria sighed, undressing, and Njada strapped on a device and penetrated her from behind. I watched, my eyes shifting over to Athis as he took off his hunter’s mail bottom. “Dude!” I said, looking at him. “Oh, I didn’t notice you there, or you, Athis,” Njada said, “You can watch if you want, I guess. Not that I can stop you - Harbinger!” Ria groaned as she was thrust into, “Oh, Vilkas told us already.” “Yeah, it’s big news and all, but have any of you guys seen Athis over here?” I asked. They all turned their heads. “Yeah, that’s just Athis. He’s huge,” Ria said. I walked over to him as he got up on his knees in bed, still messing with it. I got in close to look at it. “This thing is bigger than my forearm,” I said. It was thick, and long. “Probably the biggest dick I’ve seen on a man or mer,” I said. “Want to touch it?” He smiled. “Athis,” I said, “Of course I do.” I put my hand on it, wrapping both hands around it and stroking it as he continued to watch the two girls go at it. I watched too and was getting very aroused. I kissed it. He slapped it against my face a little, and I tried to put it in my mouth, but was unable. “I’ve had a giant demigod’s cock in my mouth, and this is legitimately giving me trouble,” I said. Athis smiled, “I can help you.” He grabbed a handful of my hair and slid it into my mouth, then fucked my face a little. He pulled it out, picking me up, then he moved me to the rug and got on top of me, fucking my face more. When I needed to come up for breath, he bent me over and slid inside me. By the time, the girls were done and everyone was watching us. Torvar showed up and Ria had sex with him while they watched us. Torvar took a turn with me when they were done, and Athis and Torvar both finished on my chest and face. Then we all collapsed in beds, sleeping for a few hours. Later in the evening (after washing), I walked out to the yard, finding Ria and Njada. I approached Njada again, “You know, you’d make more friends if you used more honeyed words.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Njada asked, “Also, your tits are out. What are you wearing?” I replied, “The about half the forsworn women are topless. I cobbled together forsworn clothes. The next thing on my list is to try and make peace with them.” Ria added, “Honeyed words are when you’re nice to someone. Or maybe even do things for them, to try and get them to like you.” “You can do things for people to get them to like you?” Njada asked, “Why the hell would I do that, when I could do things for myself instead?” “Well, I dunno, to make friends, I guess,” Ria said, “You don’t have to be so hard all the time.” “It’s good to be hard though. Like Aela. Someday I’m going to be a strong as her,” Njada said. “How’s this for hard?” I asked, and put up my hands, “C’mon. I bet you can’t beat me in a fistfight. If you win, you get to do whatever you want with me. For a whole day. And if I win… you will do whatever I want for a whole day!” Njada scowled at me, then she slowly smiled, “You’re on.” I am surprised she thought she could take me. Of course, I’m not physically strong. But I am tough. I feel like my skin is even tougher since I became a werewolf, even outside of the form. And I regenerate now. This was obviously not very fair. We went blow for blow for a while, but every bruise she made on me healed during the course of the battle. After a while she was badly worn and ragged, and I was in top shape. She fell to one knee. “Talos! How are you do damn durable!? Even with your tits swinging around I feel like you haven’t taken a scratch!” “That’s accurate,” I said, then helped her up. “So, what are you gonna do with me?” She asked. “We’ll start tomorrow morning. And here’s your task. I’ll make sure the Circle enforces it,” I smirked, looking over to Farkas, who’d been hanging out by the archery targets this whole time, “For one full day, you have to be nice, accommodating, and helpful to everyone in Jorrvaskr. All the Companions, the help, and everyone who comes to us for missions. If you’ve assigned a mission tomorrow, carry it out on your own time.” Ria and Farkas laughed out loud, and Njada growled, “That’s even worse!” She walked inside. “Make sure she does it, alright?” I told Farkas. “Where are you going?” He asked. “Well, I do have two more things I want to do here today, then I’m going to the Reach.” “What two things?” Ria asked. “Well, first, Vilkas. But then I’m going to take you out on one more hunt,” I said to Ria. “Oh! I’m happy!” Ria cheered, “Aela gave me a job earlier to go take care of a bear problem in Iverstead.” “Alright,” I said, “Get ready. I’ll be back in an hour or so.” I went and found Vilkas, who’d been waiting in his room. For me? Not sure. He looked up from what he was doing. “Reading a book?” I asked, “What is that?” He put the book away. “The Lusty Argonian…” I started. “Okay,” he cut me off, “I’m a little inexperienced. And it’s been a while.” “It’s okay. I’ve dealt with all kinds.” I was slow and deliberate. It took a little longer than I thought, but it was a good experience. He even got a little rough near the end. When we were done, I laid next to him in his tiny bed. “Is what they’re saying true? That you made your rounds through the Companions?” “Yeah, I mean, I do that,” I said, “I live a life of hedonism. I’m like the female version of a lady-killer. But I can kill anyone. Also, I could probably kill anyone for real.” “I’m not sure where that metaphor went,” Vilkas replied, “Big difference between you and a man doing this – don’t you worry about getting pregnant?” My eyes got big, and I got speechless. “Did you not realize…?” “No, no, shut up,” I said, “Fuck. Did you finish inside me?” “Well, yeah, you seemed not to care,” he replied. “I’m not a vampire anymore. I am officially able to be impregnated again,” I said. Then I smiled, “Don’t worry. It’s not your fault. I just need to be more careful again.” “You know the reason why it’s been so long?” “Why’s that?” “I used to be sweet on a girl from here,” Vilkas said, “She was supposed to meet me one night, and I found her, torn to shreds.” “Are you worried you did it?” “No, it was some other feral beast-blood. But I wondered if I became desperate, if I would do something like that.” “So you closed yourself off,” I said. Strangely, a little bit later he asked me to transform and give him head. Now that is ultimate trust. And doesn't sound like a good time at all. I went and bought pregnancy tests and termination potions before I met up with Ria. I took a test and it was bitter. Good. Deciding it was getting late in the evening, I used flight and grabbed Ria to travel to Iverstead. This was the fastest way of travel besides teleportation. You can fit so many quests in a single day with teleport/flight! “I bought along camping gear,” Ria said in flight. “Why’s that?” “Incase, you know, you can’t help yourself,” she replied. I snickered and we set down by the Inn right after nightfall, “Going to be a long night.” “Isn’t it always with you?” Ria smirked. I found her quickly, “Temba Wide-Arm. We’re the Companions, we’re here to help you with your bear problems.” “I’m so glad to see you. This has to be the worst place in Skyrim to have a mill. If I didn’t have everything invested here, I’d up and move. Sure, if you want to help me, would you mind bringing me their pelts? There’s a little something extra in it for you if you can get good quality ones,” Temba said. “Extra? Like extra gold?” Ria asked. “No, I’m offering your leader here sex,” Temba replied. I blinked. I thought I’d gotten that impression. Geez, I’d had a lot of sex today. I almost wanted to say no, but I didn’t. “I’ve heard about you. People like to trade bawdy rumors. Also,” she looked down at my ‘Forsworn’ outfit, which still had my tits out, “I mean, those are nice.” “Well, if people are trading such rumors, do you worry about your reputation? You seem a respectable woman,” I asked. She smirked, “I’ll fit you like a glove, if that’s your aim. I haven’t had any in months. Really, you’d be doing me another service.” She walked into the Inn. “I can’t believe you!” Ria said, a little shocked, but still smiling. “Hey, she came to me this time,” I threw up my hands. “I thought it was just the Companions, I didn’t know it was all of Skyrim!” She laughed, “Do women often throw themselves at you? How do you do it?” “My reputation is doing this. Usually, it takes at least a little work. Would you like to learn how to ply woman (and men)?” She blinked, “Yes, please. But let’s kill bears first. At least I know how to do that.” Not much to report. We killed bears for an hour or two, then came back. Temba was very appreciative. We went out back in the cool moonlit air and I tribbed her. Ria watched. “You, my dear, are the best,” Temba said, “Come by anytime. Well, my business is falling apart, so back to work.” “So, what now?” Ria said after she left. “Now we find someone for you to fuck,” I said, and dragged her to the Inn. We got a midnight meal and scoped out the babes and hunks. I asked her a few times and she was choosy in picking out who she was attracted to. “Her,” she nodded to Lynly Star-Sung, the bard. And I understand why. She had an amazing body, a beautiful face, and freckles. We walked over to her. Ria stood awkwardly behind me. “Anything exciting going on around here?” I asked. “Never,” she smiled at me, “You’re going to be bored to death if you stay here.” “Nothing you’d like to do?” I asked, thinking it would lead her in the right direction. At the same time, I pulled Ria out to stand next to me. “Well…” Lynly trailed off, “I’d like to go inside the barrow someday.” I blinked, “Well, that’s certainly a want, I guess. Dangerous though.” “Yeah, but it fills my heart with excitement,” Lynly whispered to me, “The dead walk. Make me feel… I dunno…alive.” “Well, my friend and I are members of the Companions. We can make the barrow safe for you.” “Oh, I’d certainly give you a small token of my affection,” Lynly smiled. I nodded, and we walked back over to our table, “Okay, well, we’re in, I guess. Just need to kill some draugr.” “I dunno. That didn’t sound like she wanted them killed…” “Bards are strange,” I said, “I know quite a few. And I guess I’m an amateur bard myself.” Though I hadn’t taken out my lute in ages. “Yeah, real strange,” Ria said. “Excuse me, look who’s talking! You remember what happened the first time we went on a hunt, don’t you?” She smiled, “No comment.” We made our way in, fought our way through a few dozen corpse bags. There was only one decent challenge group at the end, but I did what I do. I was just sheathing my weapons when another casket started to crack open. I sighed, taking my sword back out. “Wait…” Ria said, and she started to stealth. The Draugr was a Deathlord, and he paced around like, ‘Where did all my friends go?’ Ria crept closer. I didn’t like where this was going. “What are you doing?” I whispered harshly, half a dozen steps behind her. “Well, maybe the way the bard was talking got me curious,” she whispered back. “What the… you better not!” I whispered loudly again, “Just how do you propose to do that anyway? It’s not like you can sweet talk the dead!!” “I’m going to improvise, like you taught me,” Ria replied. She looked back at the deathlord and he’d turned. He looked at her for a second, then he started making a guttural noise neither of us could understand. “What if they retain fragments of their life and just want somebody to interact with?” Ria asked. “I mean, if you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, I think most living Nords in Skyrim don’t have any qualms about doing whatever they want with your body, regardless if you consent or not.” “Well, what if I do?” “Ugh, what the hell is wrong with you?” I asked. “See?” Ria asked, “He hasn’t attacked us yet. I think he understands us.” He made an angrier guttural noise, though he still hadn’t made move to attack us. Then Ria bent down and said the magic words in a seductive and sultry tone, “Enough…I cannot best you…” Like some sort of ancient code or magic phrase, it seemed to signal what she was trying to do. The draugr sheathed his sword and walked calmly towards her. He started to pull off the bottom part of his armor. She slid off hers, revealing chains she’d slapped on her wrists and neck, choking her a little. “Gods, you are so strange,” I said, holding the sword in front of me. Again, it was like watching a freak show. I couldn’t look away as the creature took out his withered old dick, probably hundreds of years old. Ria laid back on the stone floor and let him enter her. He let out more growls as he started thrusting. “So… um… how’s it feel?” I asked, “Like sand in your vagina?” “It’s like a piece of jerky,” she moaned, “But not that bad.” I…just couldn’t look away. I watched for several minutes until both of them were nearing their natural climax. Do… draugr still have cum? I had no idea, and it wouldn’t make sense for them to have it. He groaned, and she moaned loudly, and I pulled him out of her with my offhand and slit his throat. She was still laying down, her snatch pulsating with the orgasm. When it subsided, she got up and said, “What’d you do that for?” “I mean, I dunno. Maybe because he was probably going to eat you afterwards. Or come for me maybe. And I’m not into this,” I said. I grabbed the Word Wall for Kyne’s Peace, and the treasure in the back which I split, but I felt as dejected as anything. We walked back to the Inn. “So, we cleared out the Barrow Den,” I said. “You okay? You seem down,” Lynly said. “I’m just peachy,” I replied, “The real hero here is Ria. I mostly got in her way. Damn, I mean, I’m pretty useless in a fight. I’m more of an admin bitch than anything. You should give all your praises to her. She’s the promising new recruit that’s going places.” “Well, even so, thank you very much. I think I will be in the Crypt in an hour, if she wanted to be there to make totally sure I am safe,” Lynly winked. I walked over to Ria and said flatly, “She wants to fuck you in the Barrow. Meet in an hour.” “Hmm.. okay,” Ria smirked and went to order a drink. “Hey, Lynly, question,” I said, “Do you have another reason for wanting to go in there, other than morbid curiosity?” “I suppose I better come clean. My brother and I were in hiding because of something I said. A bounty hunter. And my brother already got killed and I fled here. I figured the Barrow is the most secure place, especially if people think there are draugr there.” I shrugged, and said to Ria, “I’ll meet you back in Whiterun. Gonna take a bath, and a nap, then head to the Reach. Tell me how it went in the morning.” I traveled back and noticed it was almost dawn. I took a nap, then got up to a dragon attack… Talos fucking Kynesgrove! I terminated it with extreme prejudice and didn’t bother preventing the Dragon Kill Orgy. Curious, I walked around and found it. Three women lined up in front of a lucky and attractive elf man I didn’t know. Abigail the random maid, Carlotta Valentia (didn’t realize how attractive she was) and Lynly! And Ria was perched on the man’s back as he fucked them all. I walked over behind Ria, “So, seems like everything went okay?” “She decided to come live here in Whiterun, with me!” “Sounds like love at first sight to me,” I said, now feeling a little bit better about the whole experience, “You keep her safe and everything will be okay. My work here is done, I guess.” I walked away, still listening to the moans as they played in the street. I flipped through my quest log for a few minutes over breakfast at the Bannered Mare. I did have that investigation about the Forsworn, but I figured I would save that for later. “Let’s see… Mudcrabs… Forgotten City… Kill a Bandit Leader… Retrieve a Drum for the Bard’s College…” I flipped hard towards the back and found something. “I wrote this down at least a year ago,” I read through it. Apparently, the East Empire Company is hiring people to kill Forsworn. Just, straight up kill them. Maybe this is adding to the general animosity between the Reach peoples. I thought back to all my interactions with the EE people, and none of them did I like. I remember I killed a bunch of them for a Thieves’ Guild job, killing one of their leaders in the process. And one time a random mercenary came to kill me from them, so, they’re on my shit-list. I shut the book with a loud slam. I’d always felt like the Forsworn got the short end. They may or may not be cannibals, or whatever. But technically so am I (as are all the Circle), so I guess we do have some common ground to start on. I got up and headed toward Riverwood, also not far from Whiterun, and found the agent of the EE there, Zenoby Iniatus. I threw on a random set of armor the Silver Hand were wearing, Dragonbone Armor. Don’t want to give my intentions away. She approached me immediately (I guess I have that adventurer look). “Hey you look capable. I need mercenaries to deal with some Forsworn that are living near a place we’ve set up shop. 250 gold a say. Interested?” She asked. “Sure,” I said. “East of the Old Hroldan Inn, at a place called Hanging Tree, meet with Shae there,” Zenoby nodded to me, and I left. I headed over to heavy overcast and found a bunch of mercenaries surrounding a group of Forsworn women. I approached the woman who seemed in charge, Shae. “Hey, I’m the person Zenoby hired. You Shae? What’s going on?” “Yes, I’m Shae. Why don’t you join us? We’re about to torment these fucking savages. We were sent here to kill them, so why not?” “You’re just…gonna torture them?” I asked. I already didn’t like this. “Yeah, and kill them. After all, it’s no fun to rape a corpse,” Shae chuckled, and the men in the group laughed with her. Then she said, “Get in line if you want some.” She turned around and shouted to the men, “Looks like we have one more for the fun!” “Rape, huh?” I sighed almost like a growl and pulled out my sword. Before I could step forward, one of the men shouted, “Wha~bam!” And I dropped to the ground. “Better watch yourself sister. That hot Redguard back there was about to stab you,” he said, “But I’ve got the best paralyze staff money can buy. Got this thing custom from the bounty hunters.” I was laying there, unable to move. “Thanks, Ariovistus!” She said. He stepped up to me and put his boot on my neck, “So looks like you don’t know how to follow orders. What kind of a mercenary are you? Some kind of coward? A forsworn spy?” “I’ll … have… no part of this you… son of a,” just as my voice was coming back, he slammed his gauntleted fist on my forehead, and everything went black. The East Empire Company went from nuisance straight to Hated in my mind. When I woke up, I was naked in a prison. I can’t really tell you the number of times this has happened to me now – three perhaps? I stood and a short (Nord? Breton? Forsworn?) pale girl with short dirty blond dreds was standing opposite me, fiddling with the door. “Hey, do you know where we are? Not any prison I’ve seen before… looks like the inside of a Fort. And who’re you?” I asked as I stood. “You’re finally awake…” She started, and I reached for my sword, but it wasn’t there. I sighed. “We’re in a prison. They tossed you in here a few hours ago,” she said, “They said something about raping us before sending our heads to Markarth. But you won’t need to worry about that.” “Why? Got a plan?” I asked. “No, because I’m going to rip your eyes from their sockets and feed them to you, murderer!” “Hold on, hold on. Whoa. What makes you think I’m anything like them? Standing up to them got me blind-sided and thrown in here. “Why should I trust you? Everybody treats us the same. Nords, Bretons, Elves. You’re just like all the rest. Burning our homes, destroying our land, hunting us down! Explain to me why I shouldn’t attack, right now.” “You seem to be low on friends right now. Not only do I hate the East Empire Company now, but I want to help the Forsworn. That’s why I came here. To stop their operation,” I explained. “Alright… maybe…” She seemed to calm down a little, “Fine. We’ll work together for now. Let’s see if we can find a way out of here before the guards come back. She turned to mess with the lock, “Oh yeah, I’m Katalia.” “Destana,” I said, “You know, I can open locks with magic. Even if I don’t have my lockpicks, I’m a mage too.” “Done!” She proclaimed, and the door swung open. “Oh wow,” I said, “Impressive.” “I can also open locks with magic,” she replied, “I’m a shaman (in training). We Forsworn can tap into primal magic. Old magic. Not that I think you know anything about that.” “No…” I said, “But I love learning new things.” “Only Forsworn can learn such things. To do otherwise is forbidden,” Katalia popped open the door quietly, “We worship at the sacred places, the powerful plant and animal spirits.” “Well, what if I wanted to join you? Call it an alliance.” “You want to join my tribe?” She asked, “Oh, but let’s get out of here first.” She walked over to the chest across the room and opened it. Our stuff! She slipped on a feathered, leathered forsworn armor and I slipped on my Zalisleather for now. She looked around for an exit while I dressed, then she rushed over to some boxes. “A piece of a sacred Menthir!” She cheered, “We’re lucky they brought this back here! Probably wanted to sell it.” “What is that?” I asked as I looked at the small rock with green lines tracing across it. “A sacred rock. We use them as teleport nodes,” she explained, “And I think… yes!” She grabbed my hands, and we vanished. Now, I could’ve teleported out of there earlier, but I wanted this girl to get out too. And course, now I could see where this was all going. We appeared by a much larger version of the rock, and a group of forsworn turned to us. “Katalia, you’re safe!” A man said. They turned to me, drawing their weapons. “Wait, she’s alright,” Katalia said, “She helped me get out.” The man nodded, “I am Gleba. Thank you for helping Katalia. But I need to know you’re on our side. Bring me two Markarth Guards’ shields.” We were just a stone’s throw away from Markarth now, and I raised an eyebrow. He probably wanted me to kill to guards, but he hadn’t said that. I walked up to the guards’ equipment station near the front of the city, “Hey, would you mind if I took two guard shields?” “Oh, hey, you’re the Dragonborn, aren’t you? Aren’t you getting married to Ulfric in a few days?” “Why yes I am,” I said, “Thank you for asking.” “So you’re going to be queen soon, aren’t you?” “Yes I am.” “Could you… could you give me an autograph? Not everybody appreciates all the stuff you’ve done in Skyrim, but I do! I’m your biggest fan! Even if you are a Redguard, I think you’ll make a wonderful queen.” I smiled, “Where do you want it?” He took off his helmet, and I signed in the crown, above where his head would rub on it. When he put his helm back on, I asked, “So could I have those shields?” “No deal,” he said, stonefaced. A few seconds later, he laughed. He handed me two. I returned to Gleba and now it was nighttime, “Here you go.” “Well, okay then. It’s a good start,” he replied, “Now a harder task!” “Katalia,” I whispered, “Will doing these jobs actually get me anything?” “Oh, he’s one of the chiefs. He can put in a good word with Armin, the high chief,” Katalia whispered back. “Next I need you to capture a Dibellan Sister,” Gleba said. “Okay. Why though?” I asked. “The Forsworn worship the old gods, not Dibella. And we have personal reasons to capture this woman. She kills Reachmen in secret. She travels around defiling our sacred trees and stones. Bring her to me. If you do that, I will present you to our leaders.” “Alright, be right back,” I casted Flight and flew off, finding a yellow-robed woman just a bit later, “Hey, are you a sister of Dibella?” I touched down. “Yes, child, I am Kalydi. What can I do for you? Would you like the goddesses’ blessing?” “Why, yes. I would. Would you mind coming with me? I also have some friends who have need of your talents,” I replied. She nodded, and I snatched her and flew back to Gleba, “Here you go.” “You work for these savages?” She exclaimed. “Yes, and now, I think, you work for them as well,” I said. “Very good. I think it’s time you meet our leaders,” Gleba said, “But I’m going to blindfold you both.” A while later the blindfolds were taken off us. “Armin. Hello. I bring to you this woman, who wants to be Forsworn, and the Dibellan bitch who’s been defiling our sites,” he turned a bit, “Katalia! I told you to go home!” “Sorry, I needed to report too,” she replied. “Aye, she did,” Armin said, scratching his chin. His face was mostly obscured by an elk mask, but he looked pretty tough. He continued, “So you’ve brought me a girl and a Dibellan slut. Gifts for the gods, perhaps?” “She helped me escape,” Katalia said, “She wants to be one of us. I think she is interested in our magic.” “And! She captured this Dibellan sister on my orders!” Gleba said. “Hmm… good work… you. Katalia, bring the Dibellan to your mother. She’ll know what to do,” Chief Armin replied, “Bring her too, but I need to talk to her first.” He turned to me, “Since Katalia and Gleba vouch for you, I’ll let you pass. Go see the girl’s mother. But don’t forget, we are very different people to you, and even to the Nords. You may not be able to stomach such things we do every day.” We walked back to the stone and Katalia casted another spell. In a flash, we were in a different place, with a different stone. “Where’d we go?” I asked. “This is our secret, hidden place. The Lost Valley. I transported us here,” she explained. “Oh gods!” The Dibellan priest yelled. “Oh, quit your whining,” I stared, but then I heard a bear roaring. I turned to see a Lost Valley Forsworn shaman summoning a fire cloak with his pet bear! “Wait!” Katalia shouted, but he wasn’t listening. He knocked over the priestess and immediately came for me in some form of bloodlust. Perhaps he was mad with some form of power or drug? The bear leapt on top of me and I shouted the first thing I could think of, in Thu’um. Unfortunately, it was not anything intelligible. The bear backed off, and seemed to be calmed. Did I just use Kyne’s Peace? At any rate, the bear wasn’t attacking, and now the shaman was attacking Katalia. The bear turned on him protecting Katalia. I took out my sword and dagger and impaled him when he turned his back to me. I looked over at the bear, my weapons still out. He sat down calmly. “What… did you do?” Katalia asked. “I think I used a shout? Maybe?” “That was no shout,” Priestess Kalydi said, “It did not thunder. What you did… was something else… But I don’t believe it was normal magic either.” “At any rate, the bear seems friendly,” Katalia petted him. “Why’d that dude attack us anyway?” I asked. “The tribe that calls themselves the Lost Valley Forsworn are fanatics. As if none of the rest of us who live here… the Sicambre, the Marses, and the others aren’t ‘Lost Valley’ people as well. They’re the ones who keep smashing themselves again and again against your gates. They’ll kill anyone who isn’t forsworn, regardless of the consequences.” “Well, I’d better become forsworn quickly then,” I replied. As we walked away, the bear followed me. Katalia smiled, “Up ahead is one of our most sacred places.” As we came in sight of it, I was in awe. A great tree, ringed in purple light. Several forsworn women without chest covers were standing around it, and one of them, gray haired, came over to us. “Mother,” Katalia said, “I want you to meet Destana. She helped me escape, and she wants to learn our ways.” A woman named Ethrane said, “Who is she? She looked interesting…” “Katalia. I’m glad you’re okay. They said everyone else died from your group. I feared the worst.” “Destana, this is my mother, Badycia,” Katalia said, then she turned back to her mom, “Armin and Gleba already tested her and allowed her to come here. Also, they brought you a gift.” She motioned to the priestess. “I see,” Badycia said, “If they vouch for her, then I’ll give her a chance.” “I’ll be in the Young Cave,” Katalia said, and walked away. “Greetings stranger,” Badycia said to me, “Thanks for saving my daughter.” “I don’t know that saved is the right word. She gives me too much credit,” I replied, “I came here because I’m interested in your people. I want to learn more. I feel like the Nords don’t give you the respect you deserve. Maybe someday we can reach peace.” “You, or anyone can become a Forsworn. We are of many peoples. I doubt very much the Nords or the Bretons want peace with us. But I will give you a chance to learn from us. First, the gods demand blood. We will sacrifice this priestess.” “No, please… have mercy,” Priestess Kalydi pleaded. “You’re guilty of defiling our sacred places and killing our people. Why shouldn’t we kill you?” Badycia started to scowl at the woman. “A wise man once told me… vengeance brings a cycle of destruction that leaves everyone dead,” I said, “It’s just like the Forsworn and other reach peoples. They kill you, you kill them. Over and over forever.” “Compassion for your foes is not a virtue, but a weakness. She would not do the same for us if our roles were reversed,” Badycia said. “This world is cruel but we can choose not to be,” I said. “The gods are cruel, and we are at war,” Badycia replied, then she scowled at me, “I did not allow you here to debate.” “I brought your daughter home safely,” I replied. “Alright. But she can’t go free. What would you ask of me?” Badycia asked. “How about instead of a swift death, many years of servitude? Bound to be more painful,” I asked, “This woman is part of the problem, so now let her help you. Whether she likes it or not.” “You bargain for her life with your own blood. I can grant you this, if you supply blood for my rituals,” Badycia replied. “Done. It’s pretty potent. Oh, and probably shouldn’t drink it or anything,” I said. She cut me on my leg and drained a bowl of blood. When she went to bandage me, the wound had already closed. I smirked at her. “This one has layers yet,” she put the bowl aside, “Now, you will choose which tribe you join. It’ll determine the style of sorcery you learn. Later, you will pick which path you take. Whether you wish to become a true shaman, a briarheart, or a hagraven in the end.” She continued, “As for the tribes, Marses use blood and flesh in their magic. Sicambres use plant and blood mixtures.” “Marses, I guess,” I said, acknowledging that I already ate a lot of human meat. She handed me a piece of human meat soaked in blood. “Enjoy the gift of the gods, sister.” I ate of it, and felt a little funny, but nothing major. And then she said, “That’s only the first step. You have three tests to perform before you can be a full shaman. If you’re good, you’ll be able to be one when my daughter does, at the next ritual. For now, rest. You’ve been out all night. And then go talk to Armin. I made you an initiate of the shamantic arts. He will initiate you into the tribe itself – if you have the mettle.” I nodded to her. Heady stuff. I went to the ‘Young’s Cave’ as they called it, my bear friend still following, and laid down in a small hut, sleeping naked. When I awoke, a couple forsworn were laying with me. “Shhh..” She said, “I see you already have a lot of ink on your body. Would you like to add one of ours to your collection?” I nodded, “Sure. Not the face though.” “I see. How about your left breast? I could do a spiral like the trail on a mountain. For the power of nature, a man surmounting it.” I shrugged, “Seems fine.” Her friend handed her the small needle and she grabbed my tit as the first woman started hammering the impressions in. “You’ll have to tell me all about these. What do they represent?” She asked as she worked. “Well…” I thought, “The axes on my stomach are from my time with the Stormcloaks. The tally marks were forcibly given to me by Bandits. The circle and star on my right leg is a magic symbol, I got because I’m a mage. The trail down my left side that goes form my shoulder down my leg is a dragon, I got because I am a dragonborn. The rose on my butt is from my first husband. He gave me that himself – the Sanguine Rose. The symbol on my back is my own design, a sign that symbolizes no matter what I become, I will overcome every obstacle. The roses on my right arm and back are really just garnish to round out the set.” “And now you have a symbol of the forsworn on your left breast, aligning you with the power of nature.” I blinked, “You’re done?” “Yes. Usually, my subjects squirm a little more. Especially something like a boob. I figured I’d mess it up. You’re a good subject,” the woman said. “Hey, um… this is going to sound weird, but I have a request.” “Hit me as hard as you can in the stomach. Just, punch me,” I said. “Okay,” her helper woman said, and slammed her fist into my gut. She pulled back her hand, flopping her wrist around in pain, “Ow!” “I barely felt that,” I said. Was it werewolfism, or WW plus being a dragonborn that was producing these strange results in my body? That shout from before, and now skin as hard as iron below the surface, but… I fondled my breast…. Still enjoyably soft. Hmm… New Mods Added:

It's Destana. Time for me to get back in the saddle. Runa's caught up with her leaving Skyrim and she has more to tell, but that'll have to wait. Last time, Runa and I joined the Companions (as a favor to Ysgramor) and I'm pretending I'm not who I am so they can actually test me and make me a little stronger. It was 4 weeks until the invasion, minus three days and I was making good time so far. Let's see... I just became an official member of the Companions. As I understand it, to advance in the Companions, I needed to do a job or two for them. So that night, after getting molested by Etrienne (I got her name wrong last time) and subsequently killing her and listening to Runa talk for a couple hours about herself, I went into Farkas' room and poked him til he woke up. "What?" He spat. "Got any more jobs for me?" I asked. "Blast it, woman, are you coming on to me again?" "No, no no. For real, are there any more people who need beating up or anything? Preferably somebody who is difficult to beat up this time." "Shor's Bones, I need to sleep. Check on my dresser," he turned over. I picked up a missive. Vulwulf Snow-Shod, a resident of Riften, had been kidnapped by Forsworn. Luckily, the Forsworn are not unified and this will would most likely not effect my planned attempt at peace with them later on. I poked Runa, laying in her bed, "I hope you got some sleep today. Wanna go questing?" She sighed, "Sure. Sounds good." I decided that since it was in the same general area, I would go to the Thalmor Prison and save Thorald Graymane while I was out. The Prison was north of Solitude in the mountains and it took us the rest of the night to get through the difficult terrain. In the morning, we got within sight and both stealthed (Gods, I love Runa's ability to stealth along with me, unlike SOME people). And the Thalmor drew their weapons. "Dang," I whispered. But they started aiming their bows at the sky, and shooting arrows. "A dragon," Runa whispered back, "No, two dragons!" "I have never been so happy for a dragon attack," I smiled. As they ran around the walls and shot arrows at them, we snuck up behind them and stabbed them in their backs. Once we'd taken out most of the Thalmor, we walked in the front door, leaving the rest to keep the dragons busy. Avulstein mentioned the option of peacefully negotiating with the Thalmor for his brother's release. But I had a better idea: complete and utter annihilation of them so they can't bolster the Thalmor invasion in a few weeks. We made our way forward, sniping them as we went (Runa had a hunting bow and was okay with it at this point, still not her primary attack mode). Then when the Thalmor got wise, and alerted their brethren, they came in force. Runa took point with her heavy armor and toughness while I continued to snipe them and Unrelenting Blast them away from overwhelming her. About that time a dragon soul started to flow into me. Alright. The battle continues outside. We eventually eradicated them and let Thorvald out. He grabbed a woodcutter's axe, expecting a fight, but there were no Thalmor left. Not too bad. When we got back outside, I suddenly remembered there were dragons. But all the Thalmor were dead in a heap beside a set of dragon bones. The other dragon attacked us, and a group of reinforcement Thalmor with green elven armor and claws (upgrades!) engaged, but the crossfire and the three of us meant they got dead. Thorvald gave me a message to give to his mother, and that he was going into hiding. Apparently, he'd also heard about the news of an invasion from his jailors. We traveled south to a tower connected to a set of caves in the mountain, which was where Vulwulf was being held. Three Forsworn guards. Two in the tower, one guarding the bridge to the caves. I smiled, ready to test out new and old skills. I took careful aim with my bow, and aimed for the tiny dot on the bridge. Seconds later she was falling from her perch, dead. We snuck up to the tower and found there were locked grates that could only be opened from the inside. I imagined there was some convoluted way of getting to the top, but I knew what I needed to do instead. "Hold here for a minute," I said. Instead of relying on dumb rope arrows, I casted my Flight spell. Thank you Serana. I hovered to the top of the tower, and seeing one milling about at the highest level, I dropped onto her, stabbing her through the neck. Then I walked down the stairs and pulled the chain, opening the way for Runa. The last guard turned stupidly, finding my form invisible via me hot-swapping to my bow, and Runa walked up on her and bisected her. EASY. We walked back up the stairs and found the topmost door to be barred from the other side. We went through the middle door, and found a Hagraven in a cage. She said, "Pretty, pretty flesh... let Melka out!" "Who put you in there?" Runa asked. "Petra. Evil Petra put me here stole my tower. Hate her, chew her bones! Let me out, kind meat. You're a pretty Breton, correct?" "What? Neither of us are Breton," I replied. "Oh, yes. You all look the same," Melka said. "What do we get?" I asked. "Ah, I have a pretty staff. We wring her neck together. Take my prize staff. I just want my tower back," she replied. I pulled the chain. "Mom! She's a Hagraven," Runa said, "Can we trust her?" "Meh, probably not. But haven't had a lot of bad experiences with their kind... yet," I said. She took the lead. In the next room she pulled the middle lever, opening the correct passage and not blasting us with fire, "Press only middle! Clever trick, yes? Nobody ever thinks of middle." We fought our way through a few forsworn, but with Melka blasting with spells and me with arrows it was pretty easy. I got the drop on Petra and backstabbed her. Then I pulled a chain to let Vuwulf out and I looted the place. She tried to offer me her staff. I shrugged, "I don't really need it. We'll be going now." "Thank you, pretty Bre~ humans. I tell my friends not to eat you," Melka said. We let the man go back to Riften and we headed back to Whiterun. It was afternoon when I walked up to Fralia Graymane, "Thorald is safe." "Oh, thank you! Where is he?" "He told me he was going to lie low until after the invasion. He said, suffer the winter's cold wind," I said. "For it bears aloft summer's seeds," Fralia said, back, "That's my boy. Thank you. Here, I was going to give this to Thorald, but you take it." She handed me a sword, and I figured they're rich, so I threw it in my pack. I walked up to Vilkas, "I rescued Vulwulf." "So I hear. You've brought honor to us. You're taking to this like a pro. Destana... that sounds familiar," Vilkas replied. "Uhh... does anybody have anything else for me right now?" I asked. "Skjor said it was time to take the next step," Vilkas said. At that moment, Skjor was walking down the perpendicular hallway and I turned and charged over. "What did you need, Skjor?" I asked. "Both of you, meet me tonight at the Underforge. You've proven your worth. What I have to tell you is not for everyone to hear," Skjor said, "It's at the base of the Skyforge." I pursed my lips as he walked away. "That's ominous," Runa said. Then she yawned. "Alright, alright, we can take a nap. We can even have a mother-daughter cuddle like we did in the old days!" I chuckled. "Weirdo," Runa smiled. "Am I embarrassing you??" I laughed even harder. We took in a meal (me blood, her food) and slept until about 10. When we approached the Underforge, Skjor was waiting. He pressed a rock on the formation and said, "Jorrvaskr is the oldest building in Whiterun. The Skyforge was here long before it was. The Underforge taps an ancient magic that is older than men or elves. That's why Skyforge steel can only be made here." As the door opened, it revealed a dark passageway with a great bowl. "What is this?" I asked. Skjor walked inside, the stone sliding back behind us, "We bring you here to make you stronger, new blood." A werewolf was standing in the corner, eyeing us warily. It cut its wrist, a small stream of blood at the bottom of the bowl. This one had breasts, so by process of elimination I determined it must be... I waved, "Hi Aela." "Wait, you're a werewolf?" Runa asked. "They're... all werewolves." "All who? The companions?" "No, just the circle," I said, "Try to keep up." "Yes, this is Aela. She's agreed to be your forebear," Skjor said, "We do this in secret because Kodlak is too busy trying to throw away this great gift we've been granted. He thinks we've been cursed, but we've been blessed. How can something that gives us this kind of prowess be a curse? So we take matters into our own hands." Runa looked skeptical. Finally, she spoke, "Getting this out of the way, my mom will probably accept. I don't know if she has a thirst for power, or just morbid curiosity.... I swear the only way they convinced her to take her 'destiny' as a dragonborn seriously was the amount of power shouts gave her." "You're the dragonborn?" Aela spoke, and her voice was deep and gravely. "Yeah, well, you caught me, I guess," I said. "I... don't want to be a werewolf," Runa said, "I am not into transforming who I am for power or curiosity." "Nobody's forcing you," Skjor said, "But we're offering you a seat in the circle as well. But you must be of the same blood as us to join. We must be blood brothers and sisters. That is how it has been since Ysgramor, even without Hircene's blessing." "What a beautiful technicality," I said, "My question is - we've been in this organization for like four days, and you're already offering us seats at your council?" "Well, I admit this is complicated. A lot of the rookies have only been with us for a matter of months. Turns out when you have a whole faction of werewolves and the Silver Hand finds out, they tend to kill your people indiscriminately." "So you need some powerful people to help you get rid of them," I said. "Not only that, Kodlak is not long for this world. We don't just need more members; we need more members of the circle. We need more strong members. Also, I knew who you were from the get-go. I was amazed you wanted to join, but I knew you'd be a good fit for the Circle if you were serious." I sighed, "That's exactly what I didn't want when I joined here. Tell me, though, do you know what I am?" "Other than the Dragonborn?" Aela asked. "You're a vampire," Skjor said. "You are perceptive," I smiled. "She is the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, and a very skilled assassin," Skjor continued. Runa nodded, "He's good." "I am many things," I said, "Did Vidnar tell you where I went when I rode that dragon?" "Well, he was pretty drunk, but he told me you rode it to Sovngarde. I figured he was pulling my leg," Skjor replied. "Wanna know who I met?" "Who?" "Ysgramor. He asked me to look in on the organization. I think he thought a poison seeped into the Companions. And I gotta tell you, this is probably what he was talking about," I pointed to the blood in the bowl. "Should I be insulted by this?" Aela asked. "Oh, make no mistake. I'm not the one to take the moral high ground. The girl was very much right - curiosity certainly hasn't killed me yet, but it's come damn close. A pact with Hircine may be a little better than a pact with Molag Bal. Or, you know, that time I married Sanguine and had a child with him. I have no qualms against this, but it doesn't seem like a very 'Companions' thing to do." "You... married...?" Skjor started. But then I continued, "I am going to accept your gift. Just... give me like an hour." "Well... okay," Skjor said as we walked out. Runa shrugged, "Are you sure you want to do this? What happens when vampirism and werewolf~ism clash in your body?" "From what I've read, making me a werewolf will just cure me of vampirism, and vice versa. So I can turn myself back at any time. You almost sounded like you look down on me in there," I said. "No. You do you, mom. It's just not my way of doing things," Runa replied, "I'm going to bed." I nodded. I loaded up 'Teleport Volkihar Castle,' and cast it. I hit the telepad down to the common area and walked into the banquet hall. Serana was sitting at the table with some of the New Way vampires. "Hey!" I shouted. "I missed you!" Serana said, blood dribbling from her mouth. The vampire sitting next to her got up to make room for me. "Hey, I need to talk to you about something," I said. She tilted her head, "Sounds troubling. What's on your mind?" "Well, I joined the Companions because Ysgramor asked me to. They want to turn me into a werewolf," I said. She raised her eyebrows, "Are you thinking of becoming one?" "Well... you know me and new experiences. I just want to know that if I do, you will still be with me. And if I need you to, you can change me back," I said. She stared at me for a minute, mostly studying my eyes I think, then she smiled, "Of course. Just don't... rip me in half or anything. Werewolves are known for being savage." "No way." "You know what's funny?" She asked. "What's that?" "When I met you, you were a vampire. I've never seen your natural eye color. You know what, this might actually be good," she smiled. "They're gray. Nearly white or silver. Sometimes in the sun they look golden-ish. Not burning and glowing like this, but like a human's," I replied. "I bet they're beautiful. I can't wait to see them," Serana smiled. "Damn, you really know how to make me not scared to try this. I was a little bit," I said. Serana stared at me for another minute, "Can I talk to you about something now?" "Of course." "You remember when you first met me?" "Yeah." "Did you ever ask why you were so calm when you saw me? Most humans attack vampires on sight. And I saw you do that... so many times, even as a vampire. I was like any other vampire in that cave. Maybe a bit more attractive, but you get the point." "Well, yeah, because you saw me before I got the drop on you," I smirked, "And you were friendly. There are a few vampires who are actually friendly. I'll give anybody a chance if they actually talk to me first. You know about my plan with the forsworn, right?" "You were calm, because I casted a 'Calm' effect on you," she sighed, "Look, you were the first person I saw after being locked up for thousands of years... and you were armed to the teeth! I wasn't exactly mind controlling you, but I did mess with your head. Deceiving you without your consent. In that moment, I was just like my family. Seriously not 'New Way,' material. I manipulated you." "You didn't need to," I shrugged, "But I'm not mad about it." "Really?" "I'm not leaving you or anything. I'm not exactly an Aedra myself. And I have no regrets." "But everything we've done together has been for me. Have you ever thought about that?" "I tend to think I get something out of this deal," I smiled, pulling her up against me, "It's ironic that an undead vampire can shine so much light on my life." I swear she started to tear up, and I smiled, "None of that. I have a couple people waiting for me in a dark cave. I need to go." I kissed her, hopped the portal to the tower and hopped in the one to Whiterun, which put me at the front gate. I ran back to the yard next to the Skyforge. That'd taken about 15 minutes. Skjor was sitting at the bench in the yard. "Ready?" He asked. "Sorry," I said, "Five more minutes." I built a small fire with a cooking pot, and dumped out about 40 potions of blood, and 20 pieces of human meat I'd harvested. "Don't worry about what this stuff is," I said. I proceeded to chug all 40 potions. Then I cooked all the human meat into more blood potions, and drank them as well. "Hey, um... if you're going to watch this, you have to promise not to call the guards or whatever," I said to Skjor. "I'm not sure what I'm agreeing to, but okay." I was starting to think at this point he wanted to see. "Have you ever seen a Volkihar Vampire transform?" I asked. "No..." He said. I concentrated, and transformed. "What... the fuck!" He said, "Vampires can do that?!" "No. Most of them can't. Only like five of them I know of," I said. I funneled the lifeblood power to my Vampire Lord form, then I reverted to my human form, "Alright." We went back to the Skyforge. "Hey, um, before I do this, am I going to uncontrollably transform?" "Most likely," Skjor said, "You might be more in control than a normal person your first time. I suggest finding your way out of the city, or find a hiding place and wait it out. I can come track you down in an hour or two when it wears off." "An hour... or two?" I sighed. I drank the blood, and I blacked out. When I came to, I was in the yard. My heart was racing, muscles pulsing. I felt powerful, with the claws, jaws and hunger of a wolf, and my strength was multiplied. I got down on all fours, thinking, ‘Must get away from city…’ Over and over. Luckily, it was night, and the only guard I saw had his back to me. I charged out through the front gate. From there, it’s a blur until I woke up, some distance away in the wilderness. I was naked, and Aela was standing over me. “Whew, how was my first time?” I asked her. “Anything like your former power?” She asked. “Similar, but different.” “You gave us even more trouble than Farkas did at his first turning. You’re strong,” Aela said, “You got a taste of the power. The more you transform, the more foes you slay and feed upon, the stronger you become.” “Sounds a lot like my old form, in fact, but it was much stronger in magic. From what I’ve seen, werewolf is a lot stronger in melee,” I said, “But instead of feeding on blood, you feed on flesh, which I used to be able to get blood from.” “The transformation doesn’t last long, though. The blood of your foes extends the time. Just be careful where you do it. Some cowards in this land can’t stand the sight of the glory before them.” I took a minute and thought about what I knew from Vampire Lord form. It’s a magic transformation, and when you go into it your gear is shunted into an extradimensional space and spring back onto your person when you return to your form. Sometimes I was able to conjure clothes for myself in VL, sometimes I didn’t bother. This is similar to the ability I’d heard some Eldergleam Druids use when they transform into animals. I could only imagine werewolf worked the same way. I looked down, and remembered I was naked. Maybe I would need to work on that. On the other hand… “Gods, are you always so hot when you transform? I feel like my skin is burning. I’m actually glad I’m naked right now,” I said. “Would you like help taking care of it?” Aela asked. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Sex helps,” she said, “Hircine smiles on us.” I nodded, and she laid me down on the cold ground, strapped on a device and got me off using it like a man. It did help. When I got up, I made several more observations. “Ah, gods. I’m hungry. I’m thirsty,” I said. She handed me a waterskin and said, “I almost envy you. That first time is the most… intense.” All at once I experienced the crushing weight of mortality. I was a little tired. I could feel cold. But then again… it was like a filter had been lifted off my senses. It was like the last few months as a vampire I’d been feeling desire, pleasure and existence like I was seeing it through a dim mirror. And it had been so long, and so subtle at the time I’d forgotten what it all felt like. Was it better or worse? I wasn’t sure. More time was required. “We should go. Skjor went up ahead to a Silver Hand outpost.” We walked forward and found a barely-guarded outpost. But it was still night, I guess. I shot a guy with a bow, and Aela killed a woman with her maul. “Hmm… think I’ll give this new form a test drive,” I said. I transformed and fed on the two corpses at my feet. Then we walked in the building. In the first room, I killed a guy and fed, and found us stuck at a set of bars. “Cowards, barring our progress,” Aela said. I looked around for the chain for a few minutes. Finally found it, then charged through the fort for some action. And let me tell you – werewolf form is physically powerful. I could strongly swing my claws and launch people, or I could pounce on people and pretty much instantly rip them apart. I was having fun. We fought our way to the end, to a room full of Silver Hand and a man Aela called, ‘The Skinner.’ I ran over to him and instantly bisected him. I cackled a deep laugh and proceeded to rip apart the rest of them then fed. Skjor was on the dais, dead from his wounds. Aela came over and hugged me. She laid me down and did things to me in werewolf form with the same device she had before. I mean, it felt good so I didn’t resist. “Thanks. I needed that,” she said. At about that time, I reverted to human form, getting the re-dressing correct this time. Then she walked to the dais. She sighed, “The bastards somehow managed to get Skjor. He was the strongest among us, but they swarmed him. Looks like he took out half a dozen, but their arrows got him.” Aela covered him and had a moment of silence, “Now I can see why he wanted you to join. Clearly you are strong. You picked those guys apart. The beast blood is as tied to our human form’s physical strength as our general spiritual strength. Please, leave me to bury him. I’ll see you back at Jorrvaskr. Soon, the Silver Hand will tremble at our sight.” I left, but I decided I would do one more thing before I returned. It was about dawn, and I walked over to the road to call Arvak. Before I did though, a group of Goblins attacked me on the road. I, of course, seeing more fuel for my beast form, transformed and fed. Then I was attacked by Dawnguard. Man, these guys just don’t know when to quit. Not even a vampire anymore, but I killed them too. Anyway, how I decided I would get back to Whiterun was by flying. I had a wild hair and threw on some fur clothes and flew around a little bit to clear my head. Also, to feel the cold and wind in my hair and really remember what it was like to be a living creature. I accepted I probably would become a vampire again someday to artificially extend my lifespan and youth, but I figured I would enjoy this while I could. You know what new thing I learned? It is much MUCH easier to kill dragons while you can fly. I have no problems using a bow while flying, and I can chase dragons over any obstacle when I can fly. Also, the night sky is beautiful without obstruction. At the end of day six, I returned to Jorrvaskr and slept. Because I have to sleep now. Ugh. But I guess feeding in werewolf form makes me not hungry.

Disclaimer: this is that entry I warned you about. I tried to keep it tame. Hey, it's Destana. I was going to let Runa talk a little bit and catch us up more on her dealings with the Dark Brotherhood, and what she's been doing in Bruma, but... maybe next time. I was finishing my tour of the holds to inform them of Alduin's death, and now to tell them about the barrier falling... and to plan a strategy. Here is my off the cuff to-do list: - Finish my tour of the holds. Windhelm, Falkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar, Winterhold, Solitude, Riften, Markarth, Whiterun. - Get Stronger. Alduin was a challenge, and I know I always have room for improvement. Also, if I'm going to embrace being a dragonborn, I could seek out more shouts. - Get the Forsworn. Do they really want Thalmor ruling over these lands? Can't be better than the Nords. The Markarth Jarl said he would be open to a treaty with them. And we could definitely use Mammoths and Giants against the Thalmor war machine. - Marry Ulfric, become Queen and him High King, unify Skyrim. The wedding date it set for two weeks. - Study the Eye of Magnus. (Damien is working on this one). - Ready the holds for war. (Fenrir and Ulfric are working on this). These last few are far down the list (if I have time): - Go to Cyrodiil and either: Try to get the Empire to ally with us or ensure they don't help the Thalmor. - Go to Elswyer and disrupt the Thalmor there. - Go to Hammerfell and ask for aid. We are united in our hatred of the Empire, and the Thalmor. After all, a Redguard Queen of Skyrim has to get me something, right? - Go to High Rock and ask them. Can't hurt, right? Whiterun was my last hold, and by this time it was late afternoon. It'd only been about 12 hours since I started. What a difference being able to teleport makes! When I went to Dragonreach, not expecting who to find, I found nobody sitting on the throne. Olfina told me Vidnar was getting a head start drinking himself to an early grave with the companions, so I figured we could go there. Runa was still with me (we finally got Averna to go back to the Sanctuary to check up on things). As we walked in, a lot of fresh warriors were milling around, a woman sweeping. Vidnar was sitting in the corner with a tankard of ale. In the firepit area, a nord woman and a dunmer started brawling. Me, being quite the rough cutthroat myself, didn't think a lot of this, but the companions surrounded them and started cheering. I walked over to Vidnar, "So, hey, is this normal around here?" "Of course. It's a warrior's guild," Vidnar replied, "Hey! I was starting to wonder if you were coming back after you rode that dragon off Dragonreach. And the dragon attacks have not stopped. We got one earlier today! "Yeah it was blue. I killed it on the way in." "What's the word?" "Well, I killed Alduin," I said, "The dragons that are left are fighting to determine who is the next king." "This seems like... not an improvement," Vidnar said. "Well, I've thrown my support behind Paarthurnax, who is the dragon that taught me (and Tiber Septim, I might add) the Way of the Voice. After he brings the other dragons under his will, they should subside. Until then, I'm going to continue to steer them away from the holds." "Thank you for that, Dragonborn," Vidnar smiled. "That's not all. The Thalmor are planning an invasion, just like I was talking about," I said. We'd kept watching this fist-fight across the hall as we waited. "How much time do we have?" He sighed, like an old man who'd just sat down after a long, long life of warfare who was not ready to stand up again. "A month. Ulfric should be gathering his forces." "Good. I'll tell Balgruuf," he said, "Tell me, did you come here just to talk to me?" "Hmm," I thought, still staring at the fight, "To be honest, I wonder if the companions have any knowledge of battle I have yet to learn. I can defeat legions of normal men, but gods and giants are a different story. Also, you heard Odahviing say I was going to Sovngarde, right?" Vidnar turned to me, "Yes, but I wagered it was a jest." "No jest," I said, "I met Ysgramor, Jurgen Windcaller, and Tsun (who I now know is a demigod). Point is, during my stay there Ysgramor asked me if I would look in on the Companions. I think he thought something was wrong with the guild. But he also said I could help beef myself a little bit. Even with all there is behind me, I can still improve." Vidnar looked at me again, not sure if I was joking or just insane. He finally said, "You should speak with Kodlak if you want to join." Runa smirked, "Hey, so, I think I want to join too. This looks like my kinda guild." "You're more of a pure warrior than I ever was," I nodded to her, and whispered, "Go ahead, Listener." We walked around for a while, until we found Kodlak sitting at a table outside his room, sharing a drink with Vilkas (who I only knew because I heard them talking as I approached). I folded my arms, "Who are the companions?" Kodlak looked at me for a few seconds. I think he took my reasons for asking immediately, and seemed like a cunning old man. Playing along, he said, "The difference between a noble band of warriors and a ragged bunch of assassins is as thin as a razor's edge." "Kodlak Whitemane. I think I want to join the companions," I said, then I motioned to Runa, "Her too." Of course he knew me. We talked at the moot. But he was caught off guard by this. He finally said, "You have great strength of spirit. We will test you, in the ways we have done for hundreds of years." "Of course," I said, not wanting to get in by my notoriety alone and really wanting to be tested, "What are your tests?" Vilkas turned to him, "Is that wise, master? I've never heard of this woman." I blinked. I'm pretty sure Vilkas did not actually know who I was. "Last I checked, Vilkas, I am nobody's master. And sometimes the famous come to us," Kodlak stated, looking at me as he said so, then turning back to Vilkas as he continued, "Sometimes men and women come here to seek their fame. It makes no difference." I thought the point was obvious, but Vilkas seemed rather dense. "I've only heard rumors," Kodlak said, "How good are you in battle, actually?" How to answer that, I pondered, "Pretty good." "I want to see. Vilkas, take them out in the yard and see what they can do," he said. We walked outside and I elected not to use shouts or magic. Just brawn. He pulled out a sword and shield, and I opted for sword and dagger. We fought for a few minutes, him using tactics akin to mine. We both advanced and contracted as our opponent moved. At the end, we were both sweaty, and neither of us had taken much damage. "Alright," Vilkas said, "You're pretty good." "You're not so bad," I said. He drank a stamina potion and got back out his weapons, "Your turn." Runa drew the Moonlight Greatsword and swung, banging against his shield a couple times. After a little bit of this turtling and dodging he did with me, I could tell Runa was getting frustrated. "The hell with this," she said, "FUS!" Vilkas fell to one knee. "KRII!" She let out a thundering whisper like a serpent's strike. She swung her blade, knocking the shield from his hand, then brought her blade above his head. "Whoa!" I shouted, both like calming a stampeding horse and being generally shocked. "I thought assassins were supposed to be calm and controlled," I said. "I wasn't going to kill him," Runa said, "I just got annoyed at his fighting style." "Yeah, when did you learn to shout?" I asked. "It's been five years, mom. I've had a lot of time to practice. I learned Marked for Death from the Word Wall at the old Sanctuary and Unrelenting Force from watching you. But I only know the first word, and only those two," she explained as she helped Vilkas up. I quickly sifted through my word wall knowledge and directed one of my stockpiled dragon souls to Marked for Death. It seemed pretty useful. "Impressive. Are you the dragonborn?" Vilkas asked Runa. I slapped my forehead. "No," Runa said, "She's~" I shushed her. "We both just know some shouts is all. I'm surprised you don't know any," I said. Vilkas chuckled, maybe feeling a bit more humble, "Well, you passed. Would you do me a favor and take my sword to Eorlund?" "Sure," I said. This game of being an apprentice again wasn't going to last very long, but I would play a little bit. I walked up to Eorlund at the skyforge and handed him the sword, "Vilkas asked me to give this to you." "Hey, I'm the Companions' smith. That's nice of you to do. Just don't get pushed around too much. Everybody's their own man in the Companions. There've been no true leaders since Ysgramor." "What about Kodlak? I thought Harbinger meant leader," I asked. "He's sort of an advisor of the whole group. But hey, since you're such a nice person, would you mind doing something for me?" He asked. "Sure." He handed me a shield, "Please, take this to Aela. She's one of the circle, just like Skjor, Farkas, Vilkas and Kodlak." "Not a big deal," I said. This time I handed it to Runa. We found her hanging about in her room, getting ready for bed. Skjor was sitting at her table. "Ah! The new whelps," she said, then she turned to Runa as she handed her the shield, "I heard you gave Vilkas quite the walloping." She turned to me again, "You think you could take him in a real fight?" "Maybe. But I don't care for boasting," I said flatly, though without powers, I was beginning to wonder. "A woman who lets her actions speak louder than words. I like this one," she nodded to Skjor, then yelled, "Farkas!" "Yes?" He appeared from the next room, a little dejected, like she'd interrupted him from something. "Can you show these whelps where the whelps sleep?" He sighed, "Sure." As he walked, he said, "The quarters are up here, just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired. Here you are. Looks like the others are eager to meet you." Before he walked away, I said, "So, got any stray missions for us to take care of? I know it's just after sunset, but I'm not really tired." "Hmm. Sure," he pulled a letter out of his pocket, "I was saving this one for the morning, but if you can take care of it, that's a load off my back. This letter is from someone inside Whiterun. Needing some muscle. Just get out there, look tough, show the milk drinkers who's boss. No more than that. I won't want to hear about a killing, understand?" I looked at Runa, "A little different than our usual style, but sure." I followed the letter's directions, and wound up in Dragonreach prison. There was a door at the bottom that was locked (which I easily picked) that led into a backroom, which led behind a counter in a sewer 'establishment,' I would call it. This might have been some kind of underground brothel, because there were people just fucking. I assumed at this point Runa was a little less embarrassed about such things, but she just didn't react, so I walked up to the guy at the counter. "Hey, um. I'm from the Companions. I've been sent to resolve a dispute." The man immediately ran around the iron bars at the counter and growled at me, "You can't scare me into submission!" I raised an eyebrow. I wasn't even trying to intimidate him yet. The patrons and whores started to cheer, 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' He raised his fists and I ducked under a punch, "Well, okay, guess we're doing this." "Put up your dukes!" The man swung a couple more times, then I punched him in the jaw. He grabbed his chin in pain, then he put up his hands again, "No way you can do that a second~" I punched him in the nose, causing it to spurt blood. "C'mon, who taught you how to fight!?" He raised his hands again. I gotta admit, I'm not that physically strong, but this was comical. He took another swing, I dodged and slammed my knee into his stomach, my elbow into the back of his head. I grabbed him around the body and suplexed him. He got up, face bloody as hell. "No," I said flatly. He put up his hands again. "Are you serious?" Runa snickered, "Are we taking bets? I'd like to put two hundred septims on the big one." "The big one?" I asked, currently degenerating into just punching him in the side repeatedly. "I think he's shorter than you," Runa laughed again. When I looked at her, a little annoyed, she waved nonchalantly. "Tag in!" I shouted, slapping my hand on hers. She looked confused, but the man seemed to be on board. He shouted, "I will punch anybody!" And started taking swings at her, which she blocked. Runa pursed her lips. Years of using increasingly larger greatswords had gifted my girl with much bigger muscles than me. When he threw another punch, she grabbed his arm and lifted him over her head. "Stop it before I break you over my knee," Runa said in a cold voice. I covered my mouth, not able to contain myself in laughter. "Fine! Fine! I'll take care of whatever you want!" He shouted. I handed him the note and he started to read, but Runa dropped him like a sack of potatoes. As we walked out the front door (which was hidden) somebody called to us, saying we could make a lot of money working down there. Though as brawlers or whores, I wasn't sure. "I doubt that!" I shouted back. We started to walk back to Jorrvaskr. "I'm glad you're having fun," Runa said flatly. "Oh, c'mon. This is fun! It's training!" I said, "I assume the jobs will get harder." A vampire wench was standing outside the crypt and handed me something. She winked, seeing what I was, and said, "You look thirsty." It was a chunk of human flesh and a blood potion, with a note attached that had the details of the girl's meat. Orphan died in a storm. I put them in my pack. I mean, with my Vampire Lord experience I was able to cook human meat into blood, so that wasn't as strange as it could have been to a regular person. But that was still...weird. When we got back to Jorrvaskr, it was nearly midnight and many of the Companions were in the great hall, feasting. "We took care of the problem," I said to Farkas. "Good. Skjor said when you get done, he wanted to speak with you for the next test. I don't like making him angry, you better hop to," Farkas replied. I walked over to Skjor, "You wanted to see me?" "The time has come for your real test. A scholar came to us last week, telling us about another fragment of Wuuthrad. He seemed like a fool, but if it is true, than we'd be damned fools not to seek it out. For this it'll just be you and Farkas as your shield-brother. He'll be grading you. Do well and you'll be counted among the Companions. You," Skjor looked at Runa, "Get some sleep. I have a task for you in the morning." Why did he not tell me to sleep? Was he... one of the sensitive ones? "Some of us don't have normal human limitations, like sleep. Runa, right?" "Yes," she said. "Don't worry, your mother will be back in the morning." "I'm past worrying about her." "Destana Stormblade," Skjor continued. So this one knew exactly who and what I was, "Carry yourself with honor." Perhaps, they were willing to accept someone of unusual character in their numbers? I looked over, but Farkas had disappeared. I checked his room, and he was getting his gear together. "So you're going to be my 'shield-brother' huh?" "So I'm told," he replied, "Meet you outside." Runa and I walked over to the long common room before the common bunkroom and I said, "Alright, I'll see you in the morning." She nodded and went into the room. I turned to find a woman scowling at me. "What's up?" I said, unaffected. "Nothing." Her name was Njata, I remembered. "My, it's a pleasure to meet such a capable warrior," I said sarcastically. "I'm still trying to figure out why Skjor let you in in the first place," Njata said. "Well, why did you join?" I asked. "So I wouldn't have to answer stupid questions from idiots." I shook my head, "Okay then." Then I walked out. Farkas and I traveled to Dustman's Cairn, only a stone's throw away, it still being in the middle of the night. The place was crawling with draugr. I did my usual thing - stealth, but the first room had four draugr, who all immediately saw Farkas and attacked, so we were drawn into a battle. These were strong draugr too - not the mid level ones who spam Unrelenting Force, but the high-level ones who use magic cloaks and magic weapons, and are tough! Let the training begin, I smiled. I fought one in melee while Farkas fought another. I blew the other two back into the room with a full FUS RO DAH! When the first two fell, Farkas tanked while I picked them off with a bow. "Hmm," Farkas said, "You're pretty good with shouts." "And stealth, if SOMEONE would hang back a little bit," I said, "Though I don't know if that constitutes honorable to you guys." "Noted," he said. We continued on, fighting hard draugr. I found a chest and tried to open it, only to have my first encounter with a mimic! It sprouted legs and big teeth and bit at us. Fortunately, it wasn't as hard as I'd heard (not even as hard as the draugr in this ruin). Recently, these dudes had started popping up in ruins, though there was no record of them existing before recently. Either secret, or caused by the Dragon Break. We continued until we reached an old Nord sacrifice altar. "See if you can find a way to open the bars," Farkas pointed toward the door leading further in. I walked into an alcove, ransacked a treasure chest (being careful this time) and found a lever to open the door. I pulled it, and it did! But it shut me in the alcove room. Farkas hurried over and looked through the new portcullis that'd trapped me in, "Now look what you've gotten yourself into. No worries. Sit tight and I'll find the release." He looked in the opened door, but while he was, several armored men came out of nearby hiding places. "Farkas!" I yelled. "You guys from the Silver Hand?" He growled. "Killing you will make for an excellent story!" One of them said. "Sure he's one of them?" Another one asked. The first one responded, "He's wearing the armor, so he's a Companion. Either way, he's outnumbered." "Yeah, I am. I didn't want to have to use this," Farkas said. And his voice turned into a roar. He grew fur and got taller, his muscles bulging and his arms elongating into claws. I must say, I'd never seen a werewolf transform before. He ripped them limb from limb in such a gruesome fashion that I swear some of the blood splattered through the bars and got on me. Werewolf Farkas ran off and then the portcullis opened. He approached, back in his human form. "So, hey. What was that?" I asked, knowing full well what it was. "It's a blessing given to come of us. We can be like wild beasts." "So is this some kind of werewolf cult? Are you going to make me a werewolf now?" "Oh, no. Only the circle have the beast blood. Prove your honor to be a companion. Eyes on the prey, not the horizon," Farkas replied. I stood there thinking for a moment as I looted what had originally been bodies. Did Skjor know what I was, or had he been referring to himself and his folk? In the back of my mind, also, I could feel a strange sensation. When he transformed, it was like a general aura. A hot, powerful... something... I was more curious than I was willing to admit at that moment. "We should keep moving. Still got the draugr to worry about," Farkas snapped me out of my stupor, and we continued on. From there, more Silver Hand continued to harrow our footsteps, though they also fought the draugr as we did. It was like they were seeking Wuuthrad as well. I guess they are also a warrior guild but focused on a specific purpose. We fought our way to the end, and finally came to a small hall, and a throne room. As I peered around, I counted. The walls were lined with coffins, three thrones in the back and one in the front, each with a powerful draugr sleeping. If all these dudes woke up at once, this would be trouble. "Hey, um, can you transform at will?" I whispered, wondering if he would during this fight. "I don't want to talk about it." "Well, what then?" I asked. "Do you... um.. like skeever liver?" He asked awkwardly. "Umm... what?" "If you're looking to talk, talk with my brother, Vilkas. Here's all you need to know. I'm a werewolf. Blood runs hot. The beast blood is fearsome and dangerous, but bad for the soul." I thought about if whether VL or WW was worse, then I spat, "So I heard transforming makes you want sex. Is that true?" "Um... I prefer to handle such things on my own," he replied, even more awkwardly. "So, do you need to use your hand or something? Does it distract you when you're trying to fight?" I asked curiously. "What do... huh? We should not be talking about this right now. We have draugr to kill!" I paused, wondering if Ysgramor wanted me to cure these guys. Werewolves were definitely not what he had in mind when he started the Companions. But, of course.... I could satisfy my curiosity too. "Let me make this easy. Do you find me attractive? I could help you," I said. He shook his head, "My mind is clouded with thoughts of the hunt. You should back down, before you get hurt." "The hunt. That's one thing to call it," I said, "We're in for a big fight. I just need to know you're with me in there." "Of course, shield-sister." I still wasn't sure how Farkas would take me transforming into a Vampire Lord, so I decided a cunning strategy was in order rather than raw power. I aimed my bow and shot the sleeping draugr on the single throne in his head, then again in the neck, killing him. And the masses started to wake up. Farkas charged in to engage. I inwardly sighed, knowing that would trigger everything at once. I pulled out fire arrows and aimed at the left throne, shooting him in the head and setting him ablaze. I was still hidden, and the coffins to the left and right were breaking open now, charging at Farkas. As the stepped in front of the door I shouted, "FUS - RO - DAH!" And blew them into the room. The left throned draugr wasn't dead, and in fact, blew Farkas off his feat with Unrelenting Force. "TIID!" I shouted, Slowing time, and charged through the horde, to the back of the room. I ran left to the stairs to get a vantage point from which I could rain death, but then I turned to the back of the room, absorbing the word wall. The second word of fire breath is 'Inferno,' I smiled. Several of them knew where I was now and charged up past the lords to me, to which I responded, "YOL - TOOR!" Blasting them with fire breath. I engaged the Nerevarine's Bow and went invisible, raining arrows down on the mook-level draugr. I turned my head, and realized at the top of the stairs was the entrance to another burial chamber and several more powerful draugr had entered the room. This was going okay - but just barely - and now it was going to go badly. "Why don't you transform?" I yelled. "I can't use it so close together!" He yelled back, cleaving through draugr. "Great!" I said, still not wanting to transform myself. One of the new draugr summoned an Ancient Frost Atronach, and casted a frost cloak. I used a mix of Slow Time, Marked for Death and Unrelenting Force, as well as hit-and-run, and the battle dragged on for a long while. Two of the mid-level draugr stunned me while the high level guys laid into me. Finally, Farkas was backed into a corner and he realized he was ready to go again. He roared into his wolf form, and proceeded to rip the few remaining draugr before him to shreds. He walked up behind the last two- high level guys now threatening my life, and ripped the first one's torso in two. Then he pounced on the second, ripping him limb-from-limb, saving my dark ass. As I sat there, looking up at him, his fevered breaths were like growls of a wild beast. A deep, almost demonic voice sounded from his throat, "You said you wanted to help me out, right. Do you still?" I could feel myself shaking, whether in fear or anticipation. I nodded, slightly, and he picked me up, carrying me over to the altar in front of the word wall. I fell to my knees, and he grabbed the back of my head, forcing that giant dick that'd just been hanging, into my mouth. Of course, it didn't get very far, but he forced it in for a minute until I couldn't take it anymore and I pulled back off. He closed his eyes... and his fur turned back into skin. "You ... have a lot of self-control," I said. "Still interested?" He asked. "Oh yes," I said, and I laid down, but it seemed like he still wanted to continue what he was doing before. I put my legs up, and he leaned his weight on them and forced himself back into my mouth. This time... much smaller and more manageable, but still rough. He didn't stop there, though. When he pulled out, he laid his head on the altar as he pushed the fragment of Wuuthrad out of the way - landing next to our packs. I climbed on top of him and slid onto him. I finished us both quickly, knowing there might be more draugr waiting for us. We laid there for a few minutes, with our heads against the small plate Wuuthrad's fragment was laying on. "We should talk about this," I said. "The... sex?" He asked. "Nah. Sex is like water to me. Have a little every day and you'll be healthy," I said, "About the companions being werewolves." "What about it? You don't need to worry. We won't force you into being one. And we won't harm you when we transform. All of us have a lot of control," Farkas said. "That's a whole can of worms for another day," I said, "Have you... ever had sex in that form before?" "Okay, okay. I get it. You're curious. Maybe we can talk about this again later. We need to get back, for now," he said. I figured as much. We picked up the fragment and headed out. It was sunrise. Farkas yawned, "Man, I'm going to take a big nap when we get back." So werewolves do need sleep. So Skjor maybe might indeed know what I am that doesn't need sleep. We got back to Jorrvaskr and Farkas told me to check back in a little bit. I walked out back and found Runa, training with some of the other recruits. Ria, who'd been working on a training dummy nearby, turned to me, "Hey newbie, wanna go on a hunt together?" "Uh, sure." "How about now?" "I'm waiting for them to figure out if I made it in or not," I said, "Runa, wanna come?" "Nah, I have my test in a couple hours," she said. "Okay Ria, let's go," I replied. I followed her to the common bunkroom and she got her stuff. While she packed she said, "There's supposed to be a bear roaming the plains nearby. Not really sure what that's about, but it's close, so I figure we can have you back soon." I realized at that moment she looked a lot like Njata, they could be sisters, but she was the polar opposite when it came to temperament. We set out onto the plains. As I passed by the broken-down watchtower, it reminded me of the first time I killed a dragon. A few guards passed by while I reminisced. THIS was that watchtower. I could even hear the roars like it was only yesterday. Oh, wait, those are real roars! A dragon swooped down, and the guards engaged it. I joined, with Ria helping out. As I chased the thing around, I heard the trumpeting of a Mammoth. I turned to find a party of giants and mammoths approaching, which immiediately charged for the guards. Sighing, I pulled out fire arrows and used Slow Time to fill the first mammoth with arrows. By this time the guards had finished the dragon, and were helping with the mammoths. One guard got launched by a giant, to which I used full-power Unrelenting Force and launched him into the air, breaking his legs as he came down. Then, I got shot. I turned... to find... dawnguard. "ARRRRRGHHHH!" I shouted, "Leave me alone!" The five dawnguard went down easily, then I turned to find the guards fighting the final mammoth, and I helped them. I healed them. I turned to find Ria had already walked off toward the bears' zone. I looked over the plain, and found several men waiting there. Hired thugs. They were waiting. Like they were waiting their turn to attack me. "Shor's Bones, guys. Do you really want to fight me? I mean, how long have you been standing there?" "Only a couple minutes. Oh, are you the target? We're here to teach you a lesson!" "What lesson is that? That a dragon, three mammoths, two giants, five dawnguard and before that... SEVENTEEN powerful Draugr (at once) were not enough to stop me, but you will be? That would certainly be an unexpected lesson." They started to slash at me, but they could barely even hurt me. "You know what? Here's a lesson," I stepped closer and kind-of looked upward, "FUS - RO - DAH!" And they all launched vertically into the air. I walked toward where I'd seen Ria heading. She was standing outside a dilapidated shack with no roof. "So what's this bear business? I honestly am not sure now a regular predator could survive in a plain with so many apex predators and human hunters," I said, exasperated. "He's inside, but he actually seems friendly. I think he's trapped," Ria said, "Makes me wonder the validity of my tips." "So, wanna free him?" I asked. "Well, I just had an idea pop into my head," Ria bit her lip. "I don't know if I like where this is going." "I hope you won't think I'm crazy, but I was just thinking that since this bear seems friendly... could I possibly have sex with it." "Are you sure? This is a wild animal with no self control, no concept of how small you are. That seems very dangerous," I said. "Nah, it'll be fine. Would you do me the favor of spotting me? You know, keep me safe." "I can't believe I'm doing this," I sighed, "Okay. Fine. Fine." "Thanks, well, here I go," Ria said. She walked in, and the bear was friendly, almost seemed domesticated. (This is where I was wondering what if this was just a random sentient bear, via magic or otherwise, who had a naked woman approaching him and he was just playing dumb and letting it happen). She played with his giant bear penis for a minute, then rubbed his belly until he rolled over on his back. Then she climbed on top of him and slowly worked her way onto his massive girth. I was fairly disgusted by this, but it was like a freak show. I just couldn't look away. They finished after a few minutes, with much yelling and roaring. She slipped her hide armor back on. "So... how do you feel? You ok?" I asked. "Well, it felt amazing. That was a new experience. Large. Much better than Torvar." "Yeah... that was something else alright," I said, then I walked over and broke off some of the boards from the side door. The bear walked out the newly bigger hole, disappearing into the wild. "Let's.... get back to Jorrvaskr," I said. "Thank you for keeping me safe," Ria said. I decided I wanted to stop by the rich part of town for some light burglary, to clean my mind of all the things I'd seen and done in the past 24 hours. I decided I might play a joke on Vidnar, so I picked the lock on the Graymane house. I heard people talking upstairs, though I didn't really know any of them. When I slipped into the room on the left, a man saw me immediately. "Hey! What are you doing in here? I bet the Battleborns sent you!" This was Avulstein Graymane. "Nope. Just a garden variety robbergirl. But I know Vidnar, I was just playing a prank on him," I smiled at him, "Why so tense?" "Well, it's my brother, Thorvald. They had him locked away, and if they find me here, I'll disappear too! I'm not going to let that happen." "What can I do to help you?" I felt like helping this guy might cleanse my soul a little. "Those damned Battleborns, they know something. Bunch of Imperial-lovers. They're hiding it. You're a burglar, right? Maybe if you could find proof in their house?" "Eh, sure. Robbery for good," I said, "I'll be back." I walked over to the Battleborn Manor, stealthily, and picked the lock. I expected the house to be empty because it was the afternoon, though I was wrong. I crept into the room immediately to my left and found a woman sleeping in the bed, and a man, standing and just staring at himself in Imperial Armor. What a weirdo. I walked upstairs and found a man milling about in iron armor. I engaged invisibility from my bow and searched his things, coming up with nothing special. I walked around for a few minutes, finally realizing there was an office off the first bedroom I'd checked. But that man was standing right in my way. I engaged invisibility and jumped over the bed in what would've been full view. Then I slipped into the back room and got a writ that says Thorvald is in a Thalmor prison from General Tullius! Wow! That dude has been in prison for years! And these bastards have known and not told the Graymanes. I walked out of the office, seeing the weird dude still admiring himself in Imperial armor and I decided against killing him in cold blood. But I did take out a blackjack (that I have almost never ever used) and clubbed him in the back of the head, knocking him out. The woman in the bed started to get up, but I engaged my invisibility again. She looked around and didn't see the man laying just past the foot of the bed. Then she went back to sleep. I stepped up and pickpocketed her. Then, since I was thirsty, I drank some blood. I left, and returned the writ to Avulstein, "I know where your brother is, but you're not going to like it." I showed him the writ. "That means..." He got a dark look. "He's probably dead. But if not, I can go check it out for you." "I can get a group of men together and storm that place," he said. "I think... I'd like to take care of this." "Are you saying you're going to stealthily break him out or find evidence of his death peacefully?" "No, I'm beyond peace with the Thalmor. I just don't want you guys to see how I murder the lot of them," I said. I walked out of there. But really, I wasn't planning on doing it just yet. It was definitely now on my list (because, who needs another Thalmor prison from which they can draw soldiers when they invade?) And sidebar, how many goddamned Thalmor prisons are they hiding in Skyrim? I know of three or four so far, do I hear five?? When I approached Jorrvaskr, Farkas was waiting at the front door and said, "Where have you been? They're waiting in the yard." Not wanting to answer where I'd been, I said, "Okay. Let's go then." The circle was lined up in the yard. Kodlak started as I approached, "Brother and sisters of the circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This woman has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valor. Farkas, would you fight beside this woman?" "I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us," Farkas said. "Would you raise your sword in her honor?" "It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes." "And would you raise a mug in her name?" Kodlak asked. "I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in her stories." Kodlak nodded, "Then the judgment of this circle is complete. Her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, that the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call." And the circle shouted, "Let it be so!" They then called Runa over and performed her ceremony the same way. "You're part of us now, girls," Kodlak said to us, "Hopefully you won't disappoint." I nodded, then the group dispersed. It was nearly nightfall again at this time (gods, this was a long ass day) and I decided I was actually going to sleep after a drink at the Bannered Mare. About midnight I returned to find the yard dead silent, and a finger tapped my shoulder. I turned to find Esmeralda, that vampire wench who'd given me the blood and a note. "I wanted to give you a gift," she said. Another gift? What a strange woman. She raised her hand and cast a green-tinted spell on me. I fell, paralyzed. "Mmmmff," I struggled against not being able to feel anything. "From all the 'feral' vampires out there that don't see your 'New Way' as a good way," she ripped my armor off. Pulling her own clothes from her, it revealed a strap-on. She plunged it deep into my ass, and I was limp, unable to resist. Then she thrusted, cupping her hand over my mouth to stifle the already paralyzed screams. She did this for about five minutes, using her free hand to recast paralysis on me over and over, while the fake cock rubbing against her brought her to orgasm. Then, dropping me in a heap, she walked away casually. I was seeing red when I came to. I was through being fucked with, both literally and metaphorically. I engaged my newish senses that let me know where all the nearby beings were. Then I followed. When I found her, she was walking into the crypt. I wondered if she thought I was going to just take this. She obviously didn't know me at all. I snuck in behind her and as soon as I saw her, like a shadow I got up behind her and put my fingers around her throat. "Funny story," I said, "I had an experience when I came to Skyrim where a bunch of guys raped me a bunch of times. The guy who started it had a paralysis spell like yours. Want to know where he is now?" "Where?" She asked. "Somewhere in the Sea of Ghosts. But I don't think I'm going to make killing you as elaborate as killing him. In my dealings as a Volkihar Vampire, I've developed a lot of 'extra' powers. One of them is that I can bite vampires and make them my thralls. I can also drain vampires and take their power. Before that though, did you think you were going to just get away with that? Did you at least have a backup plan?" She shook her head stupidly. Maybe she's used to getting what she wants because she's a vampire. I bit into her neck and drained her life. Before I finished, with my free hand I cast a frost spell on her, and when she was wavering over the precipice of life, her body started to freeze. Then, I punched a hole through her chest, which caused her to shatter into a million pieces. Her head was all that remained.