> Vigil Eternal > by A Man is No One > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > New Quest, New World > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skyrim, Throat of The World, 28th of Last Seed It was a cold day in Skyrim. But then again when isn't it cold. Everyone in all the nine holds was following their daily routine. The beggars were begging, the shopkeepers were keeping their shops, and the guards were guarding. But there stood one man, quietly waiting on a mountain. This man was known throughout all of Skyrim, he saved everyone who calls this province their home. But this man did not feel good, as one would after they have defeated a great evil. No, he knew that no matter what, it would never end... all the fighting, all the screaming, all the blood. He knew that the next world-ending crisis was just around the corner, and that he would be needed soon enough. And so he stood on the tallest mountain in all of Tamriel, watching, waiting. He was not alone however, for below him, standing on one of the ancient dragon tablets, was his friend and mentor, Paarthurnax. He was one of the oldest and wisest of the dragons. He helped the dragonborn to truly understand the way of the voice. Paarthurnax most likely knew the dragonborn better than anyone just from how much time he spent at the Throat of The World, talking to him. While all dragons have great knowledge of the voice Paarthurnax's understanding is far greater than most dragons'. And in the sky circling the peak was another of the dragonborn's allies, Odahviing. He helped him to defeat Alduin. And assisted in many battles after. He was also a good friend of the dragonborn. But unlike Paarthurnax, he connected to the dragonborn on a warrior's level. Make no mistake Paarthurnax was a warrior, but those days have long since past. The dragonborn spent most of his days at the peak of the Throat of the World. Either looking across the vast plains and hills of Skyrim, or meditating alone, or with Paarthurnax. He only leaves every few days to get more food, and drink from Ivarstead. But today he was in deep meditation on the very top of the mountain. He has been almost completely still for more that twelve hours. He was meditating on the Dragon Aspect shout. This shout was simple for dragons, but for anyone, even a dragonborn, it is incredibly challenging. Not only because the shout is not meant for mortals, but because they must know what it is like to be an actual dragon. His concentration was broken when he heard footsteps behind. He thought it was one of the Greybeards, but they haven't been to the summit in decades. He turned around and drew his sword, prepared for anything. What he didn't expect was to just see what looked like a normal Nord, except for the fact that he was dressed like the emperor. "Greetings Ru'mar." He said "I'm sure you are confused about who I am and why I am here." "Yes I am. Vir drey hi ofaal vok het? How did you get up here? Only those who have the voice can walk the path." Ru'mar said. The strange man was inching closer, and Ru'mar was ready to strike at a moments notice. "Oh I have my ways." He said mysteriously. "But first thing's first introductions. I am Akatosh chief deity of the nine divines. And as for why I'm here... I have a quest for you." "Vir dreh Zu'u mindok hi tinvaak vahzen? How do I know you speak the truth." Akatosh motioned for him to follow, which he did hesitantly. "And how would you like me to prove myself hmm? What would you like me to do? How about this?" As he finished, time seemed to slow all around them until it stopped completely. "By the nine it is true." Ru'mar said in complete bewilderment. "Then you truly are Akatosh. What is it you would ask of me. I am yours to command." He said as he sheathed his sword and bowed to the god. "Ahh yes your new task. I have something special in mind." He said as he disappeared from the peak down to where Paarthurnax was. The dragonborn slid down the slope after him. "Joor, druv lost hi bo daar revak staad? Mortal, why have you come to this sacred place?" Paarthurnax questioned the mysterious Nord who seemingly appeared out of thin air in front of him. "You are a dragon are you not, do you not recognize you creator when you see him?" Paarthurnax was confused by this until it made sense in his mind. But that was still very unnerving. "You are Akatosh then?" The Nord smiled and nodded. "Frolaaz ze y dii drog. Forgive me my lord. I did not know it was you." Paarthurnax said as he bowed his head in reverence of the god who created his kind. "It is quite alright Paarthurnax." Said the divine. "But my business here is with the dragonborn." After a great deal of sliding and a little falling the dragonborn had made his way down to Akatosh. "So Akatosh what is this quest you plan to send me on." "Yes, I almost forgot. Dragonborn I will send you somewhere that I feel will have a "situation" soon enough, and I feel they will need your help. Even if they don't know it yet. I cannot be more specific because this area is out of our reach... even mine." "Where is this place, is it somewhere in Tamriel?" Ru'mar asked. "As I said it is hazy, but you must trust me dragonborn." "I trust you. But if you don't even know where it is how can I get there?" "I did not say I didn't know where it is, I said it was hazy. I know it is there but I don't know where." "Well, Akatosh, if it is as urgent as you say I will go now. But there is still the problem of getting there." "Leave that part to me." He said as he waved his arm and a portal appeared in the distance. "And I recommend you take your ally with you, I sense you'll need him." He said motioning to Odahviing. "Yes my lord, it will be done." Ru'mar said. "Od-ah-viing!" When the dragon heard this he made his way down to the dragonborn. "Ahnok dovahkiin, vir vis Zu'u frey hi? Hello dragonborn how can I assist you?" He noticed the strange Nord. "Dovahkiin wo los daar? Who is this?" He said giving the stranger a questionable ning look. "Odahviing this is Akatosh chief deity of the nine divines." He said. "Hmm... interesting." The dragon said. Barely giving the god a second look. He doesn't give someone respect based on what he has heard about them, he respect the deeds that he has witnessed. And he was not one who believed in the gods. "What would you ask of me dovahkiin." "I need you to come with me through that portal." He said pointing to the portal in the distance. "Hmm... very well, rinik pruzah. I will go with you. I haven't questioned you before, I should not start now." He said as the Dragonborn fastened some saddlebags to the dragon’s waist. Odahviing hated when he would do this, he understood why he did it, when they would go on long adventures they would both need food and supplies, and in some places those were scarce, but he still found it very humiliating. After he was done with the saddlebags, packed with salted meats, cheese, some fruit, extra weapons and armor, just in case and his lute. He didn’t go to the bard’s college for nothing, and you’d be surprised how boring it can get out in the wilderness. "Paarthurnax, tell the greybeards I'm going on an adventure." The dragon nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Akatosh how will I know what this crisis is?" "Oh believe me you will know when it happens." He said and waved his goodbyes at him. "Alright, let us go." Odahviing took off and gave a loud roar. Even he was excited, flying around that mountain can get boring after awhile. And with one last look back they disappeared along with the portal. But before the divine went, he flashed a malicious grin, his eyes turned red and he was gone. Equestria, Ponyville, Winter Moon Celebration The town of Ponyville was teeming with life. More so than usual, one reason being it was the Winter Moon Celebration, the longest night of the year, and two Princess Luna was going to put on a meteor show for the occasion. Most ponies were in the fields waiting for the show to start. But there were eight making the final preparations. The Mane Six as well as Princess Luna and Celestia were trying to get everything ready for the show. There was to be a party after the show, and that was where most of the work had to be. The party was going to be fun, but setting up was more like chaos. If one were to enter the first thing they would notice would be that their ears were ringing from all the yelling, the next thing would be just how many things were moving at once, if something wasn't being moved it was moving. Until it all stopped with one word. "WAIT!!" The owner of the voice was none other than Princess Luna. Everyone froze. "I need to start the show NOW! You need to finish preparing the party." "Just a little more... and... DONE!" Shouted Pinkie Pie. "Well then follow me." Said Luna as she lead them out the door, and towards the impatient crowd. They reached the stage and suddenly all the talk amongst the crowd silenced. "Ladies and gentlecolts," Luna started "thank you all for coming to the celebration. Now without further ado we will begin the show." The crowd was deathly silent with anticipation. Just before Luna could start the show there was a thunderous roar. It was quickly realized that it didn't come from the crowd, but from the Everfree forest. Now it was even quieter than before as everyone slowly turned toward the menacing forest. At first it seemed completely still, until a great red dragon seemingly appeared out of nowhere above the forest. Everyone gasped, they had never seen a dragon quite like this. They then noticed it was heading downward, and they realized... it was crashing. It hit the ground with a thunderous boom. It was then all hell broke loose. Everyone started screaming and panicking. It was madness. "SILENCE!" Shouted Luna and almost like a switch everyone was frozen, out of fear if nothing else. "We will go into the forest and find this beast and discover what its intentions are. Element bearers, sister come with me." The princesses summoned their weapons and entered the forest. And so they set off, having no clue what events were just set in motion. Location: Unknown (not Skyrim) Ru'mar awoke with a start. The first thing he noticed was he was lying in the middle of a clearing in a forest, the second it was snowing with fresh layers being added to the existing ones, the third he couldn't find Odahviing. He remembered when they exited through the portal, they were heading down, Odahviing tried to pull up but there was no time, they crashed. He must have gotten separated from his ally in the crash. He was unsure how long he'd been out, but after he checked all his gear he heard voices. He was unsure how close they were but it didn't seem like they were shouting, so they must have been close. They sounded distinctly feminine. He was unsure if they would be friend or foe, so he chose the latter just to be safe. Gods know how many times he's run into bandits on the road. He decided to hide in some bushes on the edge of the clearing. "I wonder if the dragon's friendly." He heard a high pitched voice say. "Really Pinkie what are the chances of that being true?" He heard a different voice say, this one didn't sound so feminine. "Well you never know Rainbow." He heard "Pinkie" say. Once they entered the clearing he was completely baffled. They weren't like any race he had know of. They were roughly the average height of most Nords in Skyrim. Their legs bent at different angles like Khajiits' did. But two of them had wings, one had a horn, two had neither, and three had both. Two of the ones with both wings and a horn had swords which meant they were ready for a fight. And he would give them one. Once they walked past him he quietly exited the bushes he was hiding in, readied his shield, and drew his sword. The resulting sound attracted the creatures attention. They all slowly turned around and looked at him. Several of them visibly cowered at the sight of him, but dadric armor wasn't meant to look welcoming. The two larger ones drew their weapons. He noticed they had no armor. "Creature, lower your weapon and surrender, or we will be forced to attack!" The larger white one said. He was surprised that they spoke the common tongue, seeing as how they had never even been mentioned in any texts he has read. He got into a combat stance and prepared for a fight. He would have tried to reason with them, but he knew nothing about them, save they spoke the same language he did. They didn't seem to be much of a threat, but one rule of warfare he had learned the hard way was never underestimate your enemy. "Mul-qua-diiv!" As he said this he could feel his power increasing, he was stronger, and faster, he saw the aura form around him. He had taken on the aspect of a dragon. His opponents took notice of the change and took a defensive stance around the unarmed ones. He raised his shield in front of him and his sword behind and took an offensive stance. He was poised to strike. Luna, Celestia, and the Main Six were heading in the direction of the dragon, when they came to a clearing. They saw some of the trees tops were ripped off, it looked like the dragon crashed somewhere nearby. They were about to follow the trail when they heard the sound of a sword being drawn behind them. They turned around slowly and saw... a something. It looked like a pony in full armor, but the knees had only one joint, and it had a reptilian tail. The armor, sword, and shield it had were horrific to look at. They looked they were better at inspiring fear than protecting the wearer. "Creature, lower your weapon and surrender, or we will be forced to attack!" Yelled Celestia. "Mul-qua-diiv!" It shouted suddenly, as it did so a strange blue and orange aura formed around it that looked like dragon scales and horns. Celestial and Luna drew their swords and stood in front of the Mane Six. The creature held out it's shield, with it's sword behind it and started slowly moving towards them.