Power Corrupts: Companions (ch.33) (Patreon)

Whiterun was more impressive on the inside than it was on the outside, yet it almost resembles what it looked like in the game. There was a clear main road that led to a central plaza, which in turn led to the keep. From where I stood at the gate, I could see the Skyforge that peeked over the tops of houses. Not to mention that the home of the Companions wasn't a Viking inspired longhouse -- it would classify as its own keep if the hints of walls were anything to go by. 

However, that was where the similarities ended. Flanking the main road was densely packed buildings crammed together to make use of every inch of space. Several side roads branched off, which were also flanked by more wood buildings. Each building was clearly Viking inspired, but they looked squished to make more room. The roads were surprisingly full, with stalls set up wherever they could fit. 

Looking at it… all I could think was fire hazard. 

"You said it was your first time in Whiterun?" Farkas asked as he noticed me taking everything in. More than a few people looked at me right back. 7'6 really was too big, wasn't it? Looking at the buildings, I was going to have to bend over to enter most of them. Maybe I should tone it down in the next world I visit? 

"It is. It's more packed than I thought it'd be," I admitted, following as Aela and Rita led us through the streets. The streets were busy, but nothing compared to Orario during a rush hour. What's more, the thin crowd parted for us, recognizing Aela and Farkas. 

"Hm. That's because it's the easiest city to get to, so most milk drinkers end up staying here. But Koldak says that it didn't used to be this bad. Bunch of Nords started coming home to Skyrim after the empire lost the war with the elves," Farkas said with a shake of his head. "But honest work is getting hard to come by, so most end up as bandits." 

"Which means more work for us -- the Companions!" Rita enthusiastically added. 

That, I nodded to. "I've noticed. I live at Helgen, and I cleared out two major gangs-" I started, only for Aela to glance over her shoulder to give me a sharp look. 

"The ones in some mine and another band that had taken over an old fort?" She questioned, earning a blink from me before I nodded. I guess those were official quests or something? 

"Yeah? Sorry, did I take someone's job? The garrison didn't mention anything about a quest being put up, and I did it to earn the right to own land," I explained. 

"You did, but that's the nature of the job. Skjor and I should have been quicker to claim it." Aela dismissed the issue with a shrug of her shoulders while Farkas let out an amused huff. 

"Better finding out now than after you've made the trip," he commented, earning an agreeing huff from Aela. 

“Very true,” she admitted, looking at me again. Her eyes, now that I was paying attention, were an unusual color: a golden yellow with a hint of green. A hint at her werewolf nature? And now that I thought about it, I didn’t notice the tells that the NPCs commented about in the game. Neither Farkas or Aela smelled like a wet dog or anything like that. “Did you clear it alone?”

“No. Some of the garrison at Helgen helped out. There were only about fifty of them though, and they were pretty spread out throughout the fort,” I explained. I hadn’t meant to humblebrag, but I didn’t miss the look Aela sent Farkas. It was more...I had a different standard to be considered a challenge now. I was a level 2, or 28. I was firmly in superhuman territory and fifty baseline humans weren’t an issue anymore. It was hardly an issue before I leveled up in Danmachi. 

“I suppose I should ask if you took any other jobs near Helgen?” Farkas asked, sounding faintly amused. I feel like there was a joke I wasn’t getting. 

I nodded before I listed off the jobs I took care of. Which was all of them, except for the giant spiders. Mostly because they were giant spiders, it was comparatively a low priority, and they were giant spiders. I hated normal spiders as they were.

“Well, if you’re going to live in Helgen, it sounds like we might as well leave any jobs in that area to you,” Farkas stated with a laugh as we continued through the streets. I flashed a grin at the man as my gaze swept across the crowd again. It was kinda difficult to tell what race people were with a glance, but the Nords were obviously Nords when you knew what to look for. 

Pale skin, fair hair, and judging by how common it was, a strong jawline was a racial feature. There were a lot of them, unsurprisingly, and it was enough to convince me that it was the right choice to go with the Nord race.

“I don’t want to step on any toes,” I admitted. I was too new and even if I was stronger than most, that didn’t mean I was stronger than everyone. Not yet, at any rate. 

“Eh, don’t worry about stuff like that. Sure, some might kick up a fuss, but it’s not like there’s a shortage of work. And if they’re complaining about having to walk to a job then they don’t belong in the Companions,” Farkas dismissed the issue with a careless shrug of his shoulders.

With that, the conversation lapsed as we entered the market square. It couldn’t look more different than it did in the game. There were at least a dozen shops facing the sizable square and even more stalls advertising their wares. My gaze lingered on the shop I did recognize -- Arcadia's Cauldron, an alchemy shop. As good of a place as any to start dabbling in alchemy. 

I knew very little about it, all things considered. Mostly because alchemy became completely irrelevant very early on because anything it could do, magic and enchantments could do better. I recalled some potion ingredients, but I’m guessing that there would be more to it. Still, it would be a good start. 

I made a mental note to stop by before we turned, heading up a set of stairs that led to the next district. A pair of guards nodded to us, and I got the impression that it wouldn’t have been so easy to walk by them if I didn’t have some Companions with me. And given that the Wind district was considerably nicer than the one below, I’m guessing that guess was right on the mark. 

Whereas down below, the houses and shops were so tightly packed together practically every building was touching, the Wind district had an actual layout and spaces between each house. I would be hard-pressed to call all of them nice, especially compared to the one I built under Hestia’s directions, but it was certainly a step up. 

Looking to my right, I saw Jorrvaskr, the home of the Companions. Most of it was blocked from view by a large stone wall that was manned by several warriors that weren’t basic guards from the look of it. The only thing I could clearly see was the Skyforge, which seemed to look over the entirety of the city. Which was fitting. 

“That's the home of the Companions," Aela informed me, drawing my attention back to her. "Are you planning on trying to join?" she asked. That was a good question, now that I think about it. 

I didn’t plan to originally, but… at the same time, I had plenty to gain just by joining them. The Skyforge was more than just a fancy forge like it was in the game. That forge was here since before there were people. There was something special about it, and Skyforge steel would certainly be an upgrade from what I’m using right now. 

The only issue was that I didn’t really see any benefit from becoming a werewolf. Anything that form could do, I could do better. If anything, if things went as I planned, then I would be significantly weaker in that form. But… I could always just not use it. Or get rid of it when I get the chance. Or… hmm…

“Yeah, I think so,” I told them as we continued our way towards the Cloud district. My gaze glossed over a small prayer area with a guy shouting in front of a Talos statue. Honestly, that was impressive. I was about six months before the start of canon, meaning that he stood there every day, shouting about the glory of Talos, for at least that long before the Dragonborn came. 

“Figured. It’s not as easy as you think it’s going to be but...eh, if what we saw is anything to go by, you’ll fit in well enough.” Farkas said with a nod to himself, a gesture that Aela copied. Rita rolled her eyes so hard that they nearly fell out of her head. 

“What’s with that reaction? I nearly died twice to get in and he gets welcomed with open arms?” She questioned, but her tone was more joking than actually bitter. She flashed me to show that there were no hard feelings, which was a relief. 

“He’s taller,” Aela teased, shooting the newest recruit a smirk. Rita sent Aela the Skyrim equivalent of the bird, but I stopped paying attention once we stepped into the Cloud district and…

You know what? 

Nazem had a reason to be a total douchebag. The Cloud district was smaller, set up on a small bluff with more guards marking the entrance. It looked like a painting out of a fantasy novel -- there were three mansions, each set up some distance away from each other, with the keep dominating them all. The stone path leading up was well maintained, the grass trimmed, bushes of flowers, and a gently flowing stream that flowed downward.

In a word? It was picturesque.  

I numbly followed as they led me to the keep. My gaze lingered on a mansion, some kind of emblem marking the flags that marked who it belonged to. At that moment, I came to a decision. Helgen was nice, but that didn’t mean we had to stay there forever, even without the possibility it was going to be reduced to a ruin. It could be a summer home, or whatever. 

The Hestia familia had fuck off levels of money. I wanted everyone to know that we had fuck off levels of money and when our familia grew, those with sticky fingers would know to fuck off. 

On that note, I made yet another mental note to deal with the Thieves Guild in Riften. 

Marching up the steps, the doors were pushed open to reveal an impressive keep. The open area was massive, the ceiling was extremely high, almost pointlessly so, with another set of steps blocking my vision. Walking up them revealed a feasting room with richly decorated tables flanking a long fire pit that led up to the throne. 

A man lazily sat in his throne, speaking to a robed man and a woman with dark skin. My gaze met the man sitting down, his blonde eyebrows climbing high towards the golden circlet infused with diamonds and rubies he wore. He was a handsome man, I noticed. Most of his face was covered by a blonde beard, but his high cheekbones hinted at a handsome face without it. They matched well with his blue eyes, his fine clothes, and the fact that he looked like he bathed regularly. 

“I take it that the giant has been taken care of?” Jarl Balgruuf the Greater asked, suddenly looking far more attentive as he straightened in his chair. The shift in his attention brought the attention of the other two to us. 

Irileth turned around first, a hand nearing her weapon in a way that appeared casual. She wore leather armor, revealing a fair bit of her dark skin. She was the first elf that I had seen so far -- charcoal black skin made her red hair and blood-red eyes stand out that much more. Standing next to her was a cloaked man, his hood up so that I could only see a bit of his face. 

Farengar Secret-Fire. The man that could help me along my personal quest for power. 

“It is done, Jarl Balgruuf," Aela announced, coming to a stop. "There was some damage to the housing, and there's a mess to clean up, but it was contained to a small area with the help of him," she continued, gesturing at me. I took that as a sign to step forward. 

"I had wondered who you were," Jarl Balguuf admitted. "I recognize most of the Companions at a glance, but I would think I would recognize you even if you were fresh blood." 

"He helped take down the giant-" Aela started only for Farkas to pitch in. 

"He took it down in three swings and each one took something off," Farkas supplied. "Leg, arm, then head." 

"Yes," Aela confirmed with a nod. "As such, honor demands that he be compensated. He is welcome to my share of the promised reward." 

"And mine. Barely swung at the thing. Getting paid for a walk outside the gates doesn't sit well with me," Farkas echoed. Both of them looked at Rita, who I stole a glance at. She gave me a careless shrug. 

"I'm saving up for some better armor," she told me in a tone that said I was shit out of luck. 

"An unusual request, but if you feel that he is deserving, then I won’t question your judgment,” Jarl Balguuf remarked before he nodded to me. “If you aren’t fresh blood for the Companions, then what brings you to my realm, stranger?”

“My name is Jericho,” I introduced myself first. “I came for a few reasons but the most important one is that I’ve found myself the owner of the Embershard Mine just outside of Helgen, after clearing it of bandits. I...well, I cleared out the rooster of work most people do to earn the right to own property, so there’s a surplus of people needing work, most of which are working at the mine. We’ll have more iron to sell, and I was hoping to find buyers for it here.”

“And,” I quickly continued as the Jarl cocked an eyebrow at me, looking faintly surprised at my reason. “We’ve found evidence of other veins around Helgen. I’m hoping to earn the right to mine up whatever ore is there.”

Jarl Balguuf nodded, looking thoughtful. “An interesting prospect...but you haven’t been in Skyrim long, have you lad?” He asked, a small smile tugging at his lips. I got the distinct feeling I just made an ass out of myself, but I had no idea how. 

Well, there’s no shame in admitting it now. “I am. My family arrived in Skyrim about a week ago,” I explained. That seemed to catch his attention, judging by his nod. 

“The most common practice is to ask for a loan from me to set up the enterprise and until you’ve paid off the loan, I would be given favorable trade deals in addition to regular payments,” then his smile grew a fraction. “Or, should you be unable to pay, the ownership of the mine would default to me.” And then it clicked. 

“Oh.” I just confessed to accidentally stealing ownership of Embershard Mine from the Jarl to the Jarl. I...really hope I didn’t have to fight my way out of here. That would make things plenty awkward down the line. 

“Heh. How did you get the deed?” Jarl Balguuf asked, sounding more amused than anything. I heard Rita failing to hide a chuckle and I could only imagine that Aela and Farkas were exchanging amused looks behind me. 

“I heard about how the bandits took over the mine and approached Torbgar about clearing them out for a price. I...now that I think about it, I guess he thought I worked for you. He shoved the deed into my face in exchange for letting him go, and...well, I had no reason to refuse. I had already planned to clear out the bandits anyway and gaining a stable source of income was just icing on the cake,” I explained somewhat awkwardly. 

Irileth narrowed her eyes at me, telling me that she found the entire situation far less amusing than the Jarl. Farengar looked like he couldn’t wait for the conversation to end. 

“Hm. I suppose you were right Irileth. Some gambles don’t pay off,” he commented to his housecarl before he refocused on me. His gaze was heavy and judging, mulling over some question that only he knew before he nodded to himself. “On the condition that you take over Torbgar debts for the mine, Embarshard Mine will be yours,” he offered, and that was a lot better than trying to put me in jail for accidentally stealing from him. 

“How large is the debt?” I asked cautiously, hating that word. I had plenty of money, so I could pay it off easily enough, but the idea of being in debt didn’t sit well with me. Too many bad memories related to it and, worse, it hadn’t been my choice to be in that situation. 

“Provided you would want to put the reward for the giant towards it, I’ll round it out at ten thousand septems,” he answered. Though he didn’t mention if he was rounding up or down, I thought that didn’t sound so bad. A drop in the bucket, really. 

“Thank you, I would like to do just that,” I said with a nod of my head. The Jarl nodded firmly in response. 

“I’ll have my steward draw up the appropriate documents to make it binding. In the meantime, you said you have other reasons to come to Whiterun?” Jarl Balguuf asked, prompting me to fish out the necklaces that I had looted off of the bandit. For the first time, Farengar looked interested. 

“Enchantments?” He asked, his voice...maybe it was a little early to judge since he only spoke one word, but his voice could best be described as condescending. “Where did you get those?”

“From the bandits in Embershard Mine. I tried to get them checked out by a local trader to see what they did, but-” I started, only to be cut off by Farengar as if I had said the stupidest thing he had heard this week. 

“Of course they couldn’t,” he said, making a quick trip down the stairs and all but snatched the necklaces out of my hands. I let him, mostly because I was still harboring hope I could learn a thing or three about enchanting from him, but that hope was starting to dwindle. “Nords wouldn’t know magic even when it hits them in the face,” he muttered scornfully, paying no mind to the irritated grunt from Farkas. 

I was more interested in him looking over the necklaces. “The guy that wore them broke his arms when he took a swing at me with an axe,” I added, just in case it would help. Farengar nodded to himself. 

“Hardly surprising. Both of these carry a minor fortify strength enchantment. Unless you’re used to fighting with enchantments, breaking bones is the most common outcome,” he mused to himself before he looked up at me with narrowed eyes. I barely paid attention because now that I knew what they were, I was far more interested in them. 

“Huh. I guess I’ll keep one to use and break the other one down-” I started, trying to drop a hint that I was interested in learning enchanting. To my surprise, I got a bite. 

“Hmph. You think it's that easy to learn enchanting?” He questioned with a huff and a shake of his head. “Just wave your hands at an enchanting table, throw a soul gem at it and imbue an artifact with metaphysical properties?” Well…

“If there’s more to it, then I’d be happy to learn,” I remarked. That got his attention. I could practically see him swallow a remark when he saw that I was serious. He frowned at me for a moment, then he nodded to himself. 

“Do you really think it would be that simple for me to teach you anything about magic?” He questioned but the fact that he was considering it spoke volumes. Especially considering that all I had to do was show a hint of interest. 

Luckily, that brought me to the last reason why I was here. “I’m willing to do what it takes to learn. Another reason why I came to Whiterun was for work. I’m sure a court mage could find a use for a warrior willing to go where others won’t in exchange for lessons,” I offered with a slight grin. I could practically see the interest in his eyes. 

“A court mage would,” he agreed with a sharp nod. “Come find me whenever you’re done with the Companions,” Farengar ordered easily, expecting me to obey. And with that, he spun on his heel and walked away from me. 

My gaze flickered to Jarl Balguuf, who simply nodded. That served as a dismissal, prompting the three of us to bow sharply before walking away. 

…  

There were more Companions than I recall there being, I noted as I was led inside the large building. The longhouse was massive, a staged floor to serve several levels of feasting with the top floor being the ground floor. The floors were made of stone, the wood walls and ceiling looked weathered, ancient, but strong. More noticeably, there were dozens of people eating and more filtering in from outside. 

But...I wasn’t surprised. Not really. Skyrim was a heavily martial culture, so an ancient group like the Companions were probably the Skyrim equivalent of rockstars. If anything, it made no sense that their numbers were so small in the game. 

“Let’s go find Kodlak,” Aela decided, her gaze sweeping over the high table to see it empty. Her eyes lingered on a man with a shaved head who looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He wore blackface paint underneath his eyes, one of which was blind. And I didn’t fail to notice how his one eye lingered on Aela in return. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to catch up with Skjor? It’s been a whole hour since-” Farkas was cut off by Aela punching him in the arm hard enough that he stumbled a step. He didn’t seem to mind as he chuckled to himself. “Kodlak is probably watching the new blood spar outside. You know how it is with him.”

Aela muttered a few choice words at him before she nodded. She glanced at me, “follow me and don’t touch anything,” she warned. I nodded and she led me to the otherside of the building. I looked around the place, to the high ceilings, to the iron chandeliers, but most importantly, to the trophies. 

They were slapped all over the walls. Stuffed heads of all kinds of animals from bears, to sea creatures, to falmer. And as I gazed over the hall, more people took notice of me. The people that ate at the table, nearly all of them Nords with the few exceptions being either Redguards, Imperials and one singular orc, made no secret that they were sizing me up. 

I met their gazes evenly, having done this song and dance before. Show no fear, don’t back down, but don’t escalate. 

More often than not, they looked away. They turned back to their food and drink, chatting back and forth amongst themselves about my appearance. Thankfully, before long, Aela was pushing open the back door to reveal a training area. 

A dozen people sparred with one another with swords and shields, axes, maces and everything else. Some were clearly doing better than others, others were sporting minor injuries, but in all… it looked very different than Ryuu’s sparring sessions with me. And very, very different than my sessions with Tiona. 

Overlooking them were two men. It was obvious who Kodlak was. Much like Balgruuf, he carried himself with a certain air of gravitas. His grayed out mane of hair was pulled back out of his face, a well trimmed beard dipped towards his chest. Other than his hair and a few wrinkles gathering at his eyes, he carried himself like a younger man. Especially considering that he wore full plate armor as naturally as most people wore clothes.

Standing next to him was a younger man with dark hair and a five o’clock shadow. A large two handed sword was strapped to his back, similar to my own. He wore armor like Kodlak. Both men were fairly tall -- Kodlak was around six foot while the man standing next to him was 6’2, but both of them were eye level with my chest. 

Both of them seemed to pick up on our approach. I hadn’t thought about it earlier, but did being a werewolf enhance the base form’s sense of smell? Something to look into. 

“You’re back already, and you’ve brought a guest,” Kodlak remarked, looking up at me. Judging by the faintly amused expression on his face, it wasn’t something he had to do often. Especially considering how people in Skyrim were proving to be shorter than the average back in Danmachi. 

“A potential recruit,” Aela informed, standing to the side. “He helped with the giant, and killed it with ease.”

“My name's Jericho,” I introduced myself, watching them size me up much like I had done to them a moment ago. 

“Well met, Jericho,” Kodlak stated. “You look the part of a warrior. That’s fine armor that you wear,” he continued, his eyes lingering on the Hestia Armor that covered my arm. Though, I couldn’t tell if it was because of how much it stood out or if he suspected it was better than an ordinary piece of armor. “What brings you to the Companions?”

So far, honesty hasn't screwed me yet. Well, not countinge with the Jarl, but I didn’t count that because it worked in my favor. “Work and to learn,” I told him. The other man made a faintly surprised face at that before he schooled his expression. “I’m stronger and faster then anyone you’ll ever meet without any enchantments or potions, but my skills are lacking. I’m inexperienced in that regard. I’m confident that I can kill just about anything, but it’ll be sloppy.”

“Heh.” The other man let out a chuckle, and now that I think about it, by process of elimination, he was probably Vilkas. 

Kodlak let out a chuckle as well, “lad, this is where you tell us your great deeds and why we’d be fools to not take you.”

I shrugged, “I’d rather be honest.” I had learned my lessons in Danmachi. I wasn’t going to go out pouring my every secret to everyone on the streets, but I was going to avoid hiding things if I could. 

“How old are you, lad?” Kodlak asked suddenly. 

“I turned nineteen a couple months ago,” I answered. Farkas sputtered, muttering a curse underneath his breath. I’m guessing that he was assuming that I had some growth spurts left. 

“Hm. Well, I suppose there hasn’t been much time for you to build your legend,” he commented, his gaze sliding over to Aela and Farkas. “Would you be proud to call him a Companion?” Kodlak asked, making their attention shift to me. 

“I can’t speak of his character, but I would trust his sword arm. And any man willing to admit a fault and seeks to improve it should be rewarded. I believe he deserves a chance,” Aela stated and I tried not to shift at the praise. All I did was kill a giant and made some small talk with them. I know giants were meant to be tough, but…

“Same here. Seems like a decent enough sort. I say give him a chance,” Farkas stated with a small shrug of his shoulders. 

Kodlak glanced at Vilkas, who shrugged. “I haven’t seen him fight or know his character, but I trust their word. If he’s lying then we’ll find out soon enough.” Huh. I guess being 7’6, decked out in heavy armor and built like a brickshit house had its advantages when dealing with warriors. He was supposed to kick up a fuss if it was the Dragonborn joining. 

“But, first, let me see what you can do. You claim to wear no enchantments?” Vilkas asked, earning a nod from me. Even still, his eyes slid over to the Hestia Armor. Which was fair, I guess. 

“It has magical properties, but nothing to do with combat. I can take off my armor, if that’ll help?” I offered, feeling oddly excited at the prospect of actually learning how to fight. With Ryuu and Ais, there was no time to actually teach me anything. What they did was show me how to exploit openings and got me used to fighting against faster people. So, for the most part, I just got the crap kicked out of me until I could sorta fight back for a limited amount of time against level 2s. 

It seemed my willingness to prove I wasn't lying prevented them from calling me out. Vilkas nodded, heading to the ring while I began to take off my armor with practiced ease. Hephusteus really was the best. Heavy plate armor was meant to take somewhere around an hour to put on or take off, but with a few straps and then minutes later, I was standing in my normal clothes. 

But, given that they could be enchanted too, I shrugged off my shirt as well, and it was only after it was off did Aela stop me from taking off my pants. "Any enchantment that could be placed on cloth won't help you in a fight. We'll take your word that you have none on your clothes," she commented. I didn't fail to notice how her eyes roamed my exposed torso. 

"No scars," Vilkas noted as I grabbed my sword and stood across from him. The clearing grew quieter as most paused their bouts to watch ours. 

"No one's managed to give me one," I shot back, raising my sword. 

"We'll have to work on that then," he returned before he lunged. His two-handed sword darted forward, a testing strike towards my chest. And, with that single movement, I knew he was a better fighter than me. It was in the small tells that I was learning to recognize. 

His footing was better, his lunge was smooth, his balance was perfect. I could see it and I barely knew what I was doing. I just hacked and slashed or gave my enemies openings, accepted the damage to deliver a fatal counter in return. He was better than me in skill in every single way. 

But it didn't matter. With the Hand-Eye Coordination perk, I could easily follow the destination of the blade. With my experience fighting Ryuu, who was a level 3, or a 4 when she wasn't kicking my ass, Vilkas might as well have been moving in slow motion. And with my skills being so high...his skill with the blade simply didn't matter. 

I batted the blade to the side effortlessly, mine moving in a blur that knocked it to the side hard enough that it nearly flung out of his hands. Vilkas' eyes widened as he retreated a half step, recovering swiftly. In that moment it took him to settle back into his stance, I could have taken his head off. 

"Hm," he grunted before he dove back in. His greatsword flashed towards me, aiming for the holes in my simple defense. Again, I was struck by just how much better he was than me when I effortlessly deflected one blow, but now that he was expecting it, he pressed on with a swipe at my legs. Only to find that my blade materialized in its path with a flick of my wrist. 

It was actually annoying, in a way. He was a master trainer in two-handers, and before I had leveled up, he would have been a challenge. Even after the training trip. I could see it so clearly in my mind, but...I was far beyond the realms of normal humans. It wasn't even a contest. 

"Hmph," Vilkas grunted, attacking my weaknesses, his sword moving in a blur to a normal eye. I shifted my sword, blocking and deflecting the blows, stopping them in their tracks with ease. His sword skirted along the edge, angling inward to stab me with the tip, but I flicked my wrist to send the sword wildly off course. My feet didn't move, only my arms did, and that was all it took to prevent him from coming even close. 

After a short minute of trying to break through my defense, Vilkas lowered his weapon. "You're right. You are awful with a sword," he remarked but he followed it with a sharp nod to me. "But that doesn't mean a thing when I can't touch you. I would need to drink a Draught of Warrior to have a chance." 

"He didn't drink any potions," Aela offered. "If he had, then they would have worn off during his talk with the Jarl." 

I glanced at her in time to see Kodlak nodding, "Aye, I think I've seen enough. Vilkas, can you teach him?" 

"I can. It'll be different than most, but so long as his head isn't on his shoulders for decoration, I can teach him." Vilkas confirmed, and a knot of tension released from between my shoulder blades that I didn't know was there until it was gone. I didn't want to stay at my current skill level but it would be a lie to say that I hadn't been afraid that I would be stuck at it. 

"Good. Jericho, you have proven your strength at arms, but there is more to being a Companion than skill or strength. To join our numbers in truth, I give you three tasks. To learn what it is to be a Companion, to learn how to obey, and to complete a quest to prove that you can lead. Aela, Farkas -- you brought him here so it will be your responsibility." Koldak spoke, his voice was level but it carried. 

"As you say, Harbinger," Aela and Farkas agreed as one. 

"It will be done," I told him with a nod. 

Now began the true Skyrim experience. 

Fetch quests. 

… 

"Jericho is probably at Whiterun by now," Hestia murmured to herself as her fingers ghosted along the edge of several books that were rapidly filling up a bookcase. Despite Lili's insistence that they spend money frugally, books continued to appear one by one on the shelves. Her newest child really was adorable. And she was developing a rather fierce reputation as a haggler. 

Hestia let out a quiet sigh, missing him already. The house felt so big and lonely without him. She had enjoyed the week he was here, building the home that they now lived in, even when he was cursing up a storm. Because he was here. 

"Lili is home," Lili announced her presence, drawing Hestia's attention to her. Lili carried a small sculpture in her hands. A serpentine dragon with wings on his back that swallowed the tip of a sword pointed upwards. The shrine of Akatosh. “Lili found the shrine you asked for. What does Lady Hestia need with it?”

Hestia gave Lili a wide smile, “I just need to have a chat with Akatosh where he can easily hear me.” The books underplayed how weakened the Nine Divines were. In the past week, she had been trying to get in contact with the Aedra, wanting to speak with them before she spoke to any other Daedra. Only there was silence from them as the Dedra became increasingly annoying. At least some of them were. Others decided to back off, which made Hestia like them that much more.

Lili nodded, accepting the answer with ease, unaware of the implications of their situation. Just as Jericho was unaware. Hestia decided against telling either of them -- for starters, as the god of this familia, this task fell to her and her alone. Secondly, as much as she loved both Jericho and Lili, and she loved them to the point that her heart felt like it could burst at times…

They were mortals and she was a god. This was a godly matter that would be settled by gods. 

“Thank you for bringing it to me,” Hestia said, jumping up to take the shrine but Lili stubbornly refused to let her carry it. “Did it cost a lot?” 

“No. The merchant said that every household should have a shrine to at least one of the Divine gods, so he gave it to us,” Lili answered. And while she didn’t lie, Hestia sensed that she wasn’t telling the whole truth. Still, Hestia didn’t press the issue, knowing that Lili was simply trying to underplay how she had savagely chewed into a merchant until he gave the shrine away for free. “Where would you want Lili to put it?” She asked before Hestia pointed to a shelf that Jericho had built. 

After the shrine was in place, she felt a presence press against her arcanum. They would finally be able to talk. Hestia placed a nice blue vase next to the shrine that was filled with a lovely bouquet of flowers that Jericho had left her before he went off adventuring. Honestly, knowing Jericho, he was going to be neck deep in trouble in no time. 

But he was a level 2. Or 28, going by his weird system. Hestia was confident that even if he did find himself in trouble, he would be able to get out of it just as easily. Even still, Hestia would be a liar if she said she wasn’t worried. Just a little. Or a whole lot. 

Hestia shook her head, dismissing the thoughts. Right now wasn’t the time for worries.

Hestia turned to Lili, “I’m going to go take a quick nap.” She informed and earned a dutiful nod from Lili. Lili was small, but she was still a seasoned adventurer. With her here, Hestia didn’t have to worry about anyone breaking into the house. Which was a fear that she never thought she’d have until the Soma familia had walked down the steps to her and Jericho’s room after they had nearly murdered Lili. 

With that taken care of Hestia went into her room and jumped into the too large bed that was far too empty for her, and closed her eyes.  

When she opened them, she stood before a dragon in a white void that seemed to stretch on for eternity in every direction. Hestia felt unrestrained power wash over her, but when she compared it to her own arcanum or Nocturnal's, it was clear that the head of the pantheon and the most powerful deity in this realm was greatly weakened by the creation of Nirn. 

Akatosh stood before her, a golden dragon with scales that looked like they were made of molten gold, the dragonflesh that could be seen between the scales looked to be fire. Yet, there was no heat. Akatosh was large and imposing, his wings could probably cover Helgen and his mouth could swallow three of Jericho in a single bite. 

Yet as imposing as he was, his body language spoke a different story. His massive head rested on his claw, his snout pointed in her direction so she could gaze into his large golden eyes with a slit pupil at eye level. Well, as much as he could manage. His large body rested on his hunches, his large serpentine tail curled around himself, much like a cat. 

“Your presence is most unexpected, Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Architecture.” Akatosh spoke, his voice was deep and powerful, yet surprisingly gentle. 

“Thank you for seeing me, Akatosh, God of Time,” Hestia returned with a small smile.

“You wish to speak of the Aedra’s… plight,” he spoke with certainty. And, Hestia guessed that he would know that. He was a god of time, after all. Hestia wasn’t sure how much he had been weakened, but the fact that neither he, nor any of the other Aedra, hadn’t contacted her in the same manner as the Daedra had worried her. 

“I do,” she confirmed with a small nod. “I might have given Nocturnal the idea to copy what the gods in my realm did. It might be some time until she does it, but… I suspect she’s going to try it eventually.” Hestia stated with a small sigh. 

“She already has,” Akatosh informed. Hestia blinked her eyes as the scene around them changed. Now they stood in some kind of dungeon that looked lived in by a single person. A short woman, though still taller than Hestia, her skin was a dark gray and her eyes were a vibrant violet. Yet, in the low light of a small flame that she stared into, those violet orbs were filled with a profound sadness. 

“Is this how you wish to spend out the rest of your years?” A sharp voice remarked in the darkness, making the woman spring to her feet, daggers appearing in her hands. In the corner that she looked into, Nocturnal stepped out of the shadow, dressed in some kind of form fitting leather armor, but it...looked like it was made of shadows, almost. Hestia didn’t know how else to describe it. 

“Who…” The woman started before her eyes widened. Apparently she recognized Nocturnal because she dropped to her knee. “I- My lady, I-”

“Are living in squalor, in the middle of nowhere, no closer to vengeance nor reclaiming my key after twenty-five years,” Nocturnal rebuked, making the other woman flinch. But, tellingly, she offered no argument. She simply lowered her head in defeat. 

“No, my lady. I am no closer,” she agreed with quiet grief. 

Nocturnal looked down at her for a moment, and despite her cold expression, there was compassion in her eyes. “Strip yourself bare, Karliah, and lay on your stomach. Things… are going to be a bit different from now on. I believe a task like this deserves a personal touch.” 

With that, the scene faded so that they were standing back in the white void. 

“You have changed things greatly during a time of great upheaval,” Akatosh spoke, but Hestia couldn’t tell if he was admonishing her or not. “More so than the mortal known as Jericho. He was but a pebble dropped in a lake. Your actions are a boulder.”

That was...fair. “But, you allowed it,” Hestia returned. “You maintain the barrier that prevents the Daedra from entering this plane. Nocturnal couldn’t have done it so quickly unless you allowed it.” 

“I did,” Akatosh admitted without hesitation. “Nocturnal has suppressed her arcanum, turning herself into but a mortal. Her realm, the Everglow, has been left empty for the first time in history. Something...that was unforeseen,” he paused, his voice not giving her any hint on what he thought about that.

His actions were more telling, though. The fact that Nocturnal was here, in the mortal world, told Hestia that Akatosh allowed it because he thought it was a good thing. 

“The others will follow,” Hestia warned. “Once they see the appeal. I’d rather spend a single year living as a mortal than a million as a god in Heaven.”

Akatosh was silent for a moment. “Nocturnal is a test. Since the creation of Nirn, the Daedra have been more powerful than us. We hold the most influence in Nirn, only because the Daedra have a passing interest in mortal affairs. For their own amusement, more often than not. Nocturnal is one of the few that cares for those that offer her their prayers.”

“I wish to see if her influence grows or suffers now that she is a mortal,” Akatosh continued. “Is it better to leave the Daedra unchecked and let the people of Nirn suffer their occasional interest, or to allow them to restrain their arcanum and interact with them directly?”

Unfortunately, Hestia knew the answer. Akatosh was the god of time, so he likely knew it as well, but...in the past few months, Hestia understood mortals better than she ever had spending thousands of years watching over them. Akatosh thought like a god and she thought as a mortal. 

“Their influence will grow until it overtakes yours,” Hestia told him. “Mortals will always follow someone that they can see and interact with over a guiding hand.” There was a moment of silence at her declaration, which told Hestia that he already knew that. And that probably meant that he knew what she was about to offer. 

Because, in the end, she had set this in motion. Whether it was a good thing or a bad thing remained to be seen, but it fell to her to take responsibility for her actions. Even if it was only a single conversation. 

“I’m a guest in this realm, but if I was here for the creation for Nirn, I would have helped in its creation,” Hestia spoke gently. “For the foreseeable future, this place will be my home and I want to help make things better. Jericho wants to make this place safe for me and Lili, and I want to make it safe for them.”

Hestia had prepared herself for what she spoke next, so there was no hesitation. “I was not here to offer my arcanum to create Mundus, but I am here to offer it to make it a better place. So all of the Aedra stand on equal footing with me, I will divide my arcanum between all of you. With it, you can be more than spirits haunting the world you crafted. You can walk among the mortals, just as the Daedra and I do, and lead them to a better tomorrow.”

Her words seemed to echo in the great nothing that surrounded them. Akatosh looked at her, his gaze weighty, yet gentle.

“Your arcanum is not something to offer lightly. As you said, you are a guest in this realm. Do you truly wish to give such a gift to strangers?” Akatosh questioned her, earning a firm nod in response. This wasn’t something that she offered lightly. It was a decision she spent a great deal of thought on. 

“My arcanum… it’s useless,” Hestia explained. “I can’t use it out of fear that the gods of my realm will find their way here. Should they, then the mortal world will be abandoned by the gods entirely as they flood here in search of entertainment.” It really was shameful to admit that and know it was the truth. “Instead, I wish to do something useful with it. I want to help you and the mortals. I want to make a place where Jericho… doesn't feel like he has to be invincible to protect me and Lili.” 

Akatosh was silent for another moment. “Before we accept such a gift… I must inform you that your timing is poor.”

“Alduin,” Hestia guessed with a nod. “He’s coming… but… why…” Hestia trailed off, not sure how to ask the question. Or if she wanted the answer. 

Akatosh let out a breath that sounded suspiciously like a sigh. A long, exhausted sigh of a god carrying the weight of the future on his shoulders. 

“Alduin...is a question that I asked myself long ago. Mundus is a place of immense suffering. Not all of it is because of Daedra meddling, but it's inherent to how it was created. Many ages ago, I asked myself if such a place… was deserving of existence. If we should not start over anew and create a better world.” Akatosh spoke, his voice very quiet for such a large dragon. 

“The mortals delayed, but the question will soon be answered.”

Hestia smiled, “It will.” She agreed before the white world around them shifted so they stood at the top of a bluff with a really big forge at the top. It offered them a lovely view of a sprawling city beneath. Jericho stood, wearing normal clothes except for Hestia’s Armor on his left arm. He accepted a shield from an old man, a grin on his face before he walked away. 

“Did they seriously send Aela away so I would have to walk further to deliver her shield?” Jericho muttered to himself as he shook his head, amused while he walked down the many steps. 

Hestia’s heart soared to see her lover healthy and whole. She turned to Akatosh, a confident smile at her lips. “He will answer your question,” Hestia told him with certainty. 

Akatosh watched Jericho for a moment, “perhaps.” He allowed, offering no other thought on her lover’s success or failure. 

“Knowing the risks, do you still wish to offer your gift?” Akatosh questioned, and, again, she gave him a firm nod. 

“I do.”

As soon as she spoke the words, the world around them shifted yet again. This time, people materialized around them. Eight others. A woman with hair so blonde it looked like gold, wearing nothing but a slip of silk. An elderly man carrying a scale. Another man wearing armor with a naked sword in one hand that saw heavy use…

These were the Nine Divines, the pantheon of this world. 

Hestia cupped her hands and summoned her arcanum, her godly aura washing over them as light gathered in her palms. For a moment, Hestia stared at the essence of her godhood. Then she divided it into nine parts, the large orb of light becoming nine smaller orbs before they drifted over to the Aedra. 

A gift that she gave freely, but also one that she could take back just as easily. Hestia had learned the price for placing too much faith in her kin. She offered a hand in trust first, and now it was up to them to prove that they were worthy of it. 

One by one, her arcanum entered them and each time Hestia felt her power diminish. Her smile never wavered because her power that she had never needed empowered the weakened Aedra. Their power swelled, their presence growing until all those that stood around her were her equals. They basked in their renewed strength as Hestia lowered her hands, feeling nothing by joy and satisfaction. 

Akatosh gazed into her eyes. Hestia could feel the gratitude he felt without him having to say a word. 

“We are forever in your debt, Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Architecture. With this selfless gift, we welcome you to this world.” Akatosh spoke before something surprising happened. The dragon faded away, shifting to an elderly man with salt and pepper hair, a handsome face and kind golden eyes. 

“As the head of this pantheon...I wish to welcome you to our number as the Tenth Divine,” he spoke, his voice soothing but powerful. 

There was only one thing she could say to that. 

“Thanks for having me!”