Please, have a seat - and listen closely

• Posted by Witschas November 5, 2011 - 720 views

  I don't quite understand how it has come to this. All my life I never thought I'd aspire to anything more than being a beggar and common thief. My first 20 years as an inhabitant of Nirn never promised more. But I suppose fate wanted it differently, when that mere child reached for Ulfgar's pocket. He was so blunt in his movements and lacked the delicate touch of a real pickpocket, and it was really no wonder that even Ulfgar, may he rest in peace, noticed something closing in on his precious money. He instantly hit the boy, who stumbled backwards from the blow. Apparently that wasn't enough for Ulfgar. He leaped forward with intent of murder in his eyes. I still don't know why I decided to act in that very moment. Maybe I could see my own reflection in the boy? Perhaps. My heart wouldn't accept that a poor boy was murdered as punishment for an obvious act of desperation? Likely. No matter the reason I jumped to the boy's rescue and tackled Ulfgar with all my strength - mind you Ulfgar is big, even for a Nord! - and the kid managed to make a run for it.

  Ulfgar didn't take this too well, as he immediately unsheathed his sword and swung it at me, going for the kill. I managed to evade the first slash, nimble as I am, and realized that this was not a fight I could win unarmed. Now, I'd never actually held a weapon before that. Unless you consider a blunt dinner knife a weapon that is. Still I reached for a sword on display by the blacksmith located right next to this unusual brawl. In the very last second I managed to parry another slash from Ulfgar's sword, and as an act of instinct I quickly lunged forward and pierced the heart of my enemy. A terrifying mix of feelings roared inside of me. On the one hand I was absolutely horrified knowing that I had killed a man, as I saw Ulgar's eyes grow dim as he exhaled for the last time. On the other hand I had never experienced a feeling as marvelous as when I handled that sword. From where this skill with a sword origin I do not know, but from that moment I realized that this was my call.

  The joy was short-lived though. You don't just kill a man in broad daylight. Especially when the man is a Nord in his native Skyrim and you are an Imperial lowlife without money, fame or even a name to call himself. Especially not given the circumstances that a civil war is brewing with a rebellion against the Imperial army. Long story short I was sentenced to death in a trial that didn't care much for the selfless act of saving a young soul.

  You may wonder - why am I telling you this? What am I trying to say exactly? Please, have a seat, and listen closely. For this is the tale of a man who has seen more than most. This is the tale of how destiny revealed my identity - as Dovahkiin.