The Sliver Seal
A voyage to the outer islands of the Sea of Ghosts was not what the captain had in mind when he offered his services but, he was a man of his word. The days were spent in nervous preparation of an uncertain future. Aden sharpening his blades, repairing armor. Helga weaving another net to repay the old mariner that was kind enough not to ask for payment. Faelen, restless as any child, spent his time climbing the rigging; wooden sword in hand, swiping at the imaginary pirates as the captain played along, shouting orders, as if he were addressing a crew of seasoned sailors. “To arms! Man the rails!” “Now they're on the other side.” “Now the other, mustn't let'm aboard”! The crow hopping back and fourth on the rail in a near panic from the commotion, held to station only by the tether affixed to his leg. When Faelen did finally settle down he would polish and admire his newest bobble, the silver ring that the captain had given him. There was nothing special about the ring apart from the shine that it now exhibited thanks to Faelen. Each day grew longer, each night colder. What would they find on the coast of this far off island? Aden tried not to think that they were hiding. Azura knew best.
Azura, always watching; very interested in the events she sets into motion. She was not alone in this venture. She had taken council with other gods concerning this matter. The threat that Tamriel faced was not at hand yet. It was more distant than the opening of the gates. Even further off than the red mountain claiming the Island of Vvardenfell. The balance of the higher plains was not to be taken lightly and those that were supplanted long ago were not reserved to watch idle.
Several days had past since last seeing land at Dagon Fel. Finally the captain sighted the point of land that he dreaded. A cape he had never rounded. It was the farthest he had ever been from Vvardenfell. He new that once past, they should steer southeast toward the Telvanni Isles. Strange and terrible were the rumors of them, but he knew that they possessed the furthest coast of the Sea of Ghosts.
Reaching the cape they turned. By nightfall the sea was churning, as Kyne's breath swept across the open water. The ship rose and fell amongst the waves with such force that it was difficult for them hold on. Aden clinging on to his wife and son. The captain clenching the tiller. Water crashed over the deck and washed several boxes and sacks over board. “Better the sacks than us”, the captain thought to himself. The storm continued to worsen; then Aden saw something that frighten him to his core. The captain reached over and cut loose the tether that secured his only companion. The crow sprang up and with a screeching cry was over the waves and out of sight. Aden lock eyes with the captain, his face expressing his regret. Another waved crashed down hard. The deck splintering with the sound of a mirror cracking. The ship rolled onto it's side. Cargo spilled into the sea as the ship capsized.
In the water Aden still had a hand on Helga and Faelen. Struggling to stay afloat debris swashing all around them. The waves brought down on them broken boxes and timber from the ship's hull. Aden was struck in the head and sank carrying Faelen with him. Helga panicked reaching for them. She felt a hand grab her shoulder and pull hard. The captain had found a large piece of debris and managed to tie himself and her to it. They weathered the rest of the storm bobbing, eventually washing ashore.
In the dizzying blackness Aden and Faelen found themselves. All fear was gone, only a sense of searching. Out of the darkness came a voice, strong and demanding. “Aden GrayOwl, I have called for you and young Faelen. Find your way to me. Seek the gates of Sovngarde.”
Helga awoke in a frenzied panic. “Where are they!” she screamed.“You must calm down” the nurse maid said. Speaking in a quite tone. She went on to explain how Helga and the old man were found on the shore and brought in out of the storm. “I am sorry” she said “no one else has been found.” After several weeks of searching Helga decided to leave. She could not face returning home to Khuul so she contacted her uncle who was a former Skyrim military officer to stay with him near lake Arrius, north of Cheydinhal. Suffering from grief, she developed delusions and had visions of great wars. Never giving up hope that Aden and Faelen survived somehow. She scribbled notes, poems and letters to then both. Finishing each one with a silver seal that matched the dragon on Faelen's ring. She lived out her remaining days a Isolated recluse in her small cabin in the woods.
As history's events unfolded all over Tamriel, Aden and Faelen searched through the void for the gates of Sovngarde. The Murder of Uriel Septim VII, Red Mountain erupting and the invasion of the Aldmeri army came to pass. The plan set forth by Shor and Azura fell into place.
Aden and Faelen find themselves at the gates of the most revered place in Nord faith, Sovngarde. “You have arrived.” His Voice boomed “Long have you search for this place, my brave Nords. Nerevarine, you return to take your place in these halls.” The proud and powerful Nord warrior, awed by his presence knelt silently his arm around Faelen, more to offer assurance than protection. Shor continued; “ Though only mere moments to this realm. much time has past in your homeland. Great threats have come and gone. Many sacrifices have been made. And now you are called upon to make your own. “The time has come for you're awakening. Aden GrayOwl, Stand and enter though the gate; return to your forefathers. Faelen, your journey is just begun. Fear not, for you will earn you place here. Your destiny lies in the land of your ancestors. I return you to the mortal plain with only your ring to remind you of your past."
The battle for the Imperial city now just over. The army swept every street, hall and tunnel looking for the remaining enemy. Roliand, a Blade, on a quest for an informant instead finds a young boy, cold and obviously in shock, hiding in the corner of a small shop. He asked the boy's name with no response. He gathered the boy and covered him with a robe. Carrying him out of the shop, a soldier tells Roliand that the informant was found dead. Roliand returned to his camp, bringing the boy to Siri, a nurse in the service of the emperor. After many months of work, cleaning and rebuilding the city. Siri and Roliand decided to adopt the boy and name him Hoki. The White-Gold Concordat being signed the Blades are disbanded. A decision that Roliand found treasonous not only for his sake but for the junior members that had just started their careers and fought bravely. Roliand and Siri retired to Burma.
In Burma Roliand finds work as a smith and Siri tends to Hoki. The next several years the Burma locals grow to mistrust the empire and several groups are hard at work against it. Roliand and Siri send Hoki to Cheydinhal to study. There Hoki finds the strange writings of a woman tucked away in the far corner of the library. Reading them he becomes obsessed with the letters and poems that tell of great battles and events that seem all to similar to the history he is learning at the university. Even more intriguing are the letters telling of her son and husband. Aden's bravery, Faelen's gray hair and a ring Faelen adored. A ring that is identical to his own? The letters are sealed with the same dragon head crest described in the letters and on his own ring. Not remembering anything before Roliand found him he had been searching for something, anything of his past. By the time he finished his studies he was convinced that somehow he was related to this woman's story. Keeping these writing secret he returned to Burma. He tells Roliand and Siri that he has found out his family story and that his name is Faelen GrayOwl. Faelen spends the next few years working as an accountant and historian. Roliand becomes more boisterous about his feelings toward the emperor. Faelen, concerned for his father followed him one night into the wilderness north of the city. There he found that Roliand had been involved with trading weapons and information to anti-imperial groups from Skyrim. The meeting was raided by troops. Faelen was captured and brought to Skyrim to be beheaded as an example of the punishment that befalls traitors!
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