POV: None

This is the land of Tamriel, specifically, Skyrim, a beautiful land and home of the Nords, but this is not the story of a Nord, instead, this is the story of an Imperial from Cyrodiil.

POV: ???

All I could hear were the sounds of a wagons wheels hitting the cobble path that I naturally assumed were below us, it sounded like this cart was the end of a caravan. I started to open my eyes, I saw two nords to my right, one of whom was gagged and wood elf in front of me.

Me: “Ugggggh, my head.”

Nord #1: “Finally, you're awake.”

Me: “Who are you guy? Why are we here?”

Nord #1: “I am Ralof, and this is Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak of Winterhold, the True High King of Skyrim.”

Wood elf: “If that’s Ulfric Stormcloak, that that must mean we’re to be executed”

Me: “Dammit I just woke up. Who are you?”

Wood elf: “I am Lokir, of Rorikstead.”

Ralof: “A Nord’s last thoughts should be of home.”

Me: “I don't even remember what my name is, much less my home.”

Lokir: “Then we don’t deserve to be here, all I wanted to do was cross the border.”

Ralof: “Quiet horse thief.”

I heard Lokir name off the Divines as we pulled into the city. I saw a boy be told to enter his home, he doesn’t need to see a slaughter. A few seconds later our cart came to a stop.

Me: “End of the line folks.”

Two Imperial soldiers gathered us in groups calling each of us off by name. They seemed to take honor in the fact that they had Ulfric Stormcloak in line for execution. Lokir ran for the exit but was shot down where he stood. I was left as the only one to not be called.

Soldier: “Wait, you there. Who are you?”

Me: “My, My name is Maximus. Yeah, Maximus. I couldn't remember my name until just now.”

Soldier: “What should we do legate, he's not on the list.”

Me: “Let me walk?”

Legate: “Off with his head anyway.”

Me: “Dammit.”

Soldier: “I’m sorry, we'll make sure your remains make it to Cyrodiil.”

I then joined the other stormcloaks as I awaited my turn on the chopping block.  A priestess started giving a sermon when an stormcloak prisoner interrupted her and knelt before the chopping block, apparently the process was taking too long. After the executioner chopped his head off I was up next. As I was forced to my knees and my head was forced on to the chopping block, I saw a black mass approach and land atop a tower in front us. It let out a loud roar causing stars to fall from the sky. I managed to get up and run to the tower across the street, finding out that the stormcloaks had taken the tower for refuge.

Ralof: “Jarl Ulfric, what is going on?”

Ulfric: “Dragons lad. The dragons have returned. This means the end of the era is near.”

Ralof: “We need to escape Helgen if we're to witness the end of this.”

Me: “Unbind my wrappings and I may be able to help you.”

They seemed to ignore my statement, instead I went up the stairs to find a knife to cut myself free. About halfway up the stairs I saw two Stormcloak soldiers draw their iron battle axes to attack, when suddenly the wall caved in as a dragon's head popped through and ate the other stormcloak who wasn't smashed by the wall.

Me: *Well, I think I found a way out. Geronimo*

As I jumped outside I saw the dragon breath fire at the hole where I jumped out. I rolled as I landed on the ground in front of me.

Me: I’m glad I got out of there when I had the chance. Wonder if those Stormcloaks made it out. It looks like the way out of this town is by that dragon.

I jumped down a hole in the house I was in and saw the dragon land in front of a child. I ran to block the kid off from the dragon.

Soldier: “Prisoner! Over here with the boy! Quick!”

Me: “Come on kid!”

I pushed the kid behind a wall as the dragon’s breath licked around the corner of the wall. After a second of this, the dragon flew away, temporarily.

Soldier: “Gunnar, watch the boy, prisoner, with me!”

Me: “I have a name here!”

Soldier: “Stick to the wall.”

Me: “What?”

As I said that a dragon’s claw landed in the dirt in front of me and I shoved my back against the wall and waited for the claw to leave. After it left the soldier and I ran out and we saw who I assume is his commanding officer. He told us to leave and get out of the town. We ran towards a fort, and I followed him through the door. Once we got inside, he started to speak.

Soldier: “You said your name was Maximus, right? I’m sorry I didn’t use it earlier, I’m Hadvar if that helps.”

Me: “Well Hadvar, I would appreciate it if you would undo my bindings. Maybe we could get out of here.”

Hadvar: “Of course, I think there may be some weapons around here somewhere. Looking for anything specific?”

Me: “I’ll take a sword and shield, I don’t care much for the weight.”

Hadvar: “Just look around, I’m sure you’ll find something.”

I looked in some chests, and found some hide armor, 10 lockpicks, and an iron sword, but no bow or arrows, not even a book was in that room. I then looked out of the corner of my eye and spotted a door that seemed almost out of place.

Me: “Hadvar, you know what’s behind that door?”

Hadvar: “No, I’ve only been stationed here a few days, I haven’t fully explored this place, doubt I will anymore.”

I walked ned to the door and attempted to open it, only to find it locked. I knelt down and grabbed the lockpicks and started to unlock the door. After using five lockpick I unlocked the door. On the inside I found a small room filled with chests and bookshelves. In the back there was a safe underneath a mannequin wearing iron armor with a strange shield. Looking on the bookshelves, there were tons of spell tomes, in each of the different schools.

Me: [looking through the Spell Tomes] “Healing, that will be useful.”

I then proceeded to read each spell tome I thought would be useful before moving on the the chests that dotted the room. In the first chest I looked in I found a steel sword, and a couple dozen steel arrows. In the second I found an ornate sword it looked to be made of a unique type of steel. And in a third chest there were potions.

Me: “Nice sword, this will come in handy, I’ll have to use this. Now, what’s in the safe?”

I looked at the safe and it looked like it had a novice lock, similar with the door. After unlocking it, I saw a smaller safe, barely big enough to fit. After unlocking the advanced lock on the small safe, I saw a lockbox, closed with a master lock.

Me: “Somebody doesn’t want us getting in. I’ll see if there’s something around to get me into this lockbox. I’ll at least take this armor.”

As I took off the armor, a key fell out, talk about luck. I placed on the armor and equipped the weapons I had already found. I hid the steel dagger in my left boot, placed the shield in my left hand and the unique sword was on my side. As I looked at the shield I noticed that it was made from the same material as the sword. I then walked to the lockbox and used the key to unlock the lockbox. Inside was a note and a ring. I looked at the ring, it was made of what looked like steel, but also made of silver, I could see the colors of the two metals intertwine. In the center of the ring, there was a light blue gemstone, surrounded by a red energy. I placed the ring on my finger with the gem pointing out. I then read the note.

Me: “It seems that you’ve found what I wanted you to get, those weapons will help you on your journey that you are about to undertake. That sword was hand crafted and enchanted to steal the health of any foe you come across, the shield will allow certain magical attacks to be absorbed and redirected to your sword. That ring is special, it will increase your luck, all of your skills become stronger in half the time, and there is a chance, that when you health get below 5% your health, magicka, and stamina are doubled. I know that you currently have no idea what any of this means, and in time, you will in time. May the divines guide you on your journey. You’ll know who I am in due time.”

Hadvar: “Nice find, but we really should get out of here.”

Me: “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

We then walked farther into the building we were in after a moment we reached a closed gate, on the other side there were two stormcloaks, both of whom wielded what looked like iron war axes.

Hadvar: “Stormcloaks, let’s see if we can reason with them.”

Me: [draws sword] “I doubt that.”

As Hadvar opened the gate, the two stormcloak drew their war axes and charged us. Hadvar used his shield to block the first war axe as I charged and cut the head off of the stormcloak that attacked me, killing him instantly. I then pulled out my steel dagger and threw it at the other stormcloak, hitting him in the head with the handle. This caused him to turn his attention towards me. I charged at him and when he lifted his war axe, I then blocked his attack before instinctively slashed diagonally into the torso of the stormcloak.

Me: “Told you they wouldn’t listen.”

Hadvar: “Either way, we need to leave. I think the torturers dungeon is up ahead. I don’t like visiting him, but there may be an escape route.”

Me: “Let’s get this over with. The sooner we leave, the faster we can get a report to an official.”

Hadvar: “That would have to be Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun.”

Me: “Alright, I’ll leave that to you. I’ll have to find a place to lay low and work.”

Hadvar: “My uncle owns a forge in Riverwood, I’m sure he will help you. You saved my hide back there, I can’t thank you enough.”

Me: “You could listen every once in a while. I told you they wouldn’t talk. You hear that?”

As I asked the question I crouched down, drew my sword and prepared to fight. I then heard shouting come from the room we were nearing and a bolt of lightning came from the room. Hadvar ran in drawing his sword and I rolled behind him and spotted two stormcloaks fighting two men dressed in Imperial armor. I charged at the stormcloak closest to me, I slashed him in the knee, causing him to stumble allowing the bigger of the two Imperials to decapitate him. While I helped take down the first stormcloak, Hadvar had dug his sword in the torso of the other. I stopped crouching and spoke to the imperials, learning that the larger of the two was the assistant and the smaller was the torturer.

Me: “Come on, we need to get out of here.”

Hadvar: “Mindartis is correct, we need to leave, there’s a dragon attacking.”

Torturer: “You leave, I am needed here.”

Assistant: “I’ll go, I need to see my family.”

Hadvar: “Then let us go, we don’t know what is up ahead.”

We then ran through the dungeon, we didn’t come across any stormcloaks and the shaking had stopped, as if the attack were over. We walked out to a small cave, but as we stepped through, the cave started to rumble, causing rocks to fall on the assistant.

Hadvar: “Damn, we can’t go back now. We’ll have to inform the family.”

Me: “Yeah, but we don’t know who that is.”

After a moment of prayer for the fallen companion, we left to head for the exit. Deeper in the cave, there was a sleeping bear. I decided to sneak past it, not knowing if I could take on on at the time. After sneaking past the bear, we found the exit of the cave.

Me: “Sweet sunlight!”

Hadvar: “Yes, we are ready to leave, shall we head to Riverwood?”

Me: “Hide, the dragon’s coming by!”

After a second, a loud roar could be heard for miles. Hadvar and I hid behind a rock and watched as a large black dragon flew past not only us, but away to the north.

Hadvar: “We need to tell people, quick.”

Me: “Yeah, where’s Riverwood?”

Hadvar: “Follow me.”