A Thief's Ascension, The story of Jak's life from small beginnings Options

[BretonBlood]

I am by no means a writer, in fact I am horrible but figured I'd post a story I wrote on the Bethesda Forums here. I fully expect to be picked apart for my bad writing, this was also written about 2 years ago. I also like to include pictures to somewhat show what is going on since it kind of helps take away some of the burden of creating the scene through writing.

Chapter 1

"Oh wait, aren't you going to eat something before you go to work?"

"I can't I slept in, sorry mom." Jak said as he quickly rushed out the door to head to the Riften Docks.

Once at the docks Jak got to work quickly with the daily chores he was assigned when he got the job. Luckily he had been doing it for so long that even starting late he could get his work done in time, and after a few hours he took a break to relax watching the lake. It was peaceful for awhile until...

"Hey Jak! What are you doing?" The young Breton came up from behind and sat down beside Jak.

"Hello, Fina..." She stretched her legs out across his lap. "Alright then... well I am on my break, I got all my stuff done and before I get back to work I wanted to relax over the lake."

"Oh, that sounds like fun, I mean I can't imagine working here is all that fun."

"It isn't bad, it can get boring but it pays okay. Plus I get to rest here every now and then and take in the view and fresh air."

"It is beautiful, isn't it? "

"So what are you doing here, Fina?"

"I don't have anything to do since I haven't gotten any jobs from the Jarl or anyone, so I decided I would come see you today."

"Lucky me." Jak smirked and Fina smacked his arm.

Jak eventually stood up and explained he had to get back to work, so Fina hugged him and said good bye. Once the sun began set Jak finished up his remaining work, and headed home where his mother cooked a meal while he recovered from another day of working for the Riften Fishery.

As usual Jak worked a long day at the Riften Fishery and decided to go to the Bee and Barb for an afternoon drink. He sat the bar drinking several mugs of mead trying to take the edge off.

"By the gods, Fina? Is that you?"

"Marc?"

"That's right. Wow it has been years, what are you doing in Riften?"

"I live here, in fact I just got back from a job the jarl gave me to go take care some smugglers. What about you?"

"I have been travelling Skyrim looking for potential patrons, and ended up here. It is great to see you, want to get a drink?"

"Umm, sure." Fina and Marcurio headed to the bar to order some mead when Fina noticed Jak sitting at the bar and walked up to him.

"Jak, how are you?" She stood beside him at the bar and Jak nodded his head as Marcurio walked up to the bar. "Marc, this is Jak... Jak this Marc, he is an old friend of mine."

Marcurio greeted Jak, but Jak gave a quick hand gesture and took another drink of his mead. "Jak are you drunk?" Fina asked.

"Not drunk enough." he replied.

"I'm going to change out of my armor. Marc watch him for me and make sure he doesn't get into trouble." Marcurio laughed and agreed to the request.

"She is great isn't she?" Marc gave a sigh, "It's been so long since I've seen her."

"Yeah, she is great..." Jak replied.

Marcurio leaned forward onto the bar, "So what's the story between you two? Are you?"

"We're just good friends." Jak explained.

"Oh. Interesting."

Marcurio began small talk with Jak and explained how he knew Fina from when they used to study magic in Cyrodiil when they were younger. Then he began to rant about how he was a master of the arcane and his skill in battle was unmatched. He also hinted that if Jak ever needed him he could be hired. Jak didn't pay much attention, he instead noticed the coin purse he had hanging from his belt. After a couple minutes Jak went to get up from the bar, but stumbled and Marcurio caught him before he fell.
"I think you have had enough to drink, at least until Fina gets back."

"Fine. Maybe you are right, I'll just go home now. Tell Fina I said bye." Jak made his way to the door, "Sucker." Jak smirked and put the coin purse in his pocket.

[BretonBlood]

Acadian: Thanks for the support, it means a lot. I'm glad you like Fina, she is from a mod I installed.

And lol I think the mead gave Jak a little liquid courage to be able to pull such a stunt.

Darkness Eternal: Thank you, I'm glad my first start wasn't horrible. I'm glad you like Fina as well, her hair is one of my favorite things about her.


Just a note. I should have mentioned this in my first post, but this story is going to be somewhat awkward because I am taking little mini-updates that I did for it on the Bethesda forums and turning them into chapters. It's kind of hard to do because there are certain spots I would like to stop but if I did the chapters would be too short or too long. So bare with me on that.

Chapter 2

After the events of the previous night, Jak decided to not go to work the next morning and instead took his mother shopping to let her get something nice. They circled the market and stopped at the stands then Jak would wait quietly to see if she found anything she liked.

"You know Jak you don't have to follow me. Feel free to look around yourself."

"Okay mom. I'll just go wait over there." Jak left the market and leaned on the wall while his mother continued to shop.

"Well, well what happened to you last night? I left and when I came back you were gone." Fina leaned against the wall.

"Sorry about that." Jak said guiltily, "So what did you do last night then?"

"I just stayed and drank with Marcurio. It was fun, but I went there to see what you were doing since your mom told me you were there."

"Again I'm sorry, but at least it sounds like you had fun."

"It's okay. Marcurio got pretty drunk himself and started asking about my personal life, and then he got so rowdy that he lost his coin purse and was furious. Luckily Brynjolf calmed him down and gave him some coin."

"Oh really, that's crazy..."

"He actually thought you took it, but I told him you were too drunk to have done that, plus I know you would never do such a thing."

"Yeah. That sounds about right... I was pretty gone last night." Jak happened to look across the market and notice Brynjolf giving him a strange look like he wanted to talk. "I'll see you around Fina."

Jak crossed the market to Brynjolf's stand where he was talking about his Falmer blood elixir, that sounded too good to be true.

"Come into a bit of coin lately?"

"I..uh.. I don't know what you're talking about." Jak got nervous

"Don't worry lad. I won't tell anyone, in fact I was impressed with your little heist last night. You have talent."

"Thanks, I just wanted the coin for my mom, she deserves it."

"Understandable. How would you like to put that talent to good use?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"I want you to break into Madesi's stand and steal his ring. Once you have it, I want you to plant the ring in Brand-Shei's pocket that way the guards think he stole it."

"Why are we doing this to him?" Jak had to ask.

"Someone has paid to have Brand-Shei taken out of the picture since he has been sniffing around, but we aren't the Dark Brotherhood we just want him to learn a lesson by sending him to jail. When you're ready I'll create a distraction and you can get the ring."

Jak agreed and Brynjolf created a distraction by yelling for everyone to gather around to see his new merchandise. His distraction worked as everyone gathered around his stand to listen and Jak took the opportunity to sneak his way to Madesi's stand and began to lockpick. After a few moments he unlocked the stand and jewelry box and took the ring. Jak then made his way to Brand-Shei and hid behind his stand and some boxes and very carefully placed the ring in his pocket. As soon as Jak came from behind Brand-Shei's stand Brynjolf ended his speech and everyone went on their way.


"It seems I chose the right man for the job. And here is your payment. I'm surprised our plan went off without a hitch."

"Why is that?"

"Bah. My organization has run into a bit of bad luck, but that's just how it goes. But there is more gold in it for you if you're interested? My organization runs in the Ragged Flagon down in the Ratway, meet me there and we'll see if you have what it takes."

"I can handle it. See you there."

Once Jak finished speaking with Brynjolf he noticed a guard at Brand-Shei's stand interrogating him about the ring. Brand-Shei swore he had never seen it before, but the guard wouldn't hear it and threatened to take him to the keep as a lifeless body if he didn't come quietly. After meeting with Brynjolf in the plaza Jak decided it would be best to wait until nighttime to head to the Ratway. So once nighttime arrived he prepared himself.

"I'm just going to go for a walk mom. I'll be back soon."

"Please be careful, Jak. Remember not to go down to the lower level."

Jak didn't take his mother's advice as he made his way across the city and down to the entrance of the Ratway. He entered and side and overheard talking in the distance, so Jak decided to sneak up the source of the talking and found two men talking by a fire. One mentioned going to check the entrance so Jak quickly backed up and hid in one of the side passageways near the entrance. As the man passed by Jak jumped him and threw him into the other passageway and the man pulled out his bow while Jak hacked at him with his sword. When the archer eventually fell to Jak's blade, Jak decided to loot his body, and to sneak past the other one seeing as he had Jak beat in size. Unfortunately, the first two were not the only inhabitants in the Ratway Jak found out. He came to a dead end as the drawbridge was not lowered and below him was a Khajiit taunting him, the Khajiit turned to find a way up, but Jak put an arrow into him before he could do it.

Jak jumped down and noticed a locked gate to his left, and using his skill with a lockpick he picked it and made his way into the Ragged Flagon. It was not what he was expecting, but figured it could be worse. As he made his way closer he overheard talking.

"Give it up Brynjolf, those days are over. You, Vex, Mercer, you're a dying breed."

"Dying breed, eh? Well what do you call that?" Brynjolf said as Jak entered into the center of the Flagon. Brynjolf looked at the others and then approached Jak.

"Well colored me impressed lad. I wasn't certain I'd ever see you again."

"Getting here was easy." Jak lied trying not to disappoint Brynjolf.

"Reliable and headstrong? You are turning out to be quite the prize. Now that your hear though, how would you like to take care of some deadbeats for me?"

"Who are my targets?"

"Bersi, Keerava, and Haelga. The debt here is secondary, the real message we want to get across is that the we aren't to be ignored. But remember no killing, it's bad for business, so keep your blade clean."

"Okay got it, I'll handle the debts."

"Good, and if you need any information on your targets I'll be here."

Jak listened to Brynjolf on what we had to say about each of the targets and then made his way out of the Ragged Flagon and back home. The next day Jak awoke and left his house and went to collect the debt from Haelga first. Jak tried asking Haelga if she was going to pay the debt, but she refused, so he took Brynjolf's advice and used her Dibella statue against her by threatening to throw it down the well. Haelga agreed to pay the debt and Jak moved on to the Bee and Barb to talk with Keerava. Instead of going to Keerava knowing she would refuse like Haelga Jak decided to talk to Talen-Jei, who while disagreed with Jak's actions did not want to see Keerava get hurt and told him to mention her family back in Morrowind. With this information Jak was able to get Keerava to pay her debt and he left the Bee and Barb to pay Bersi a visit.

"Bersi, you and I need to talk."

"No, I know why you are here and I have the money. Here take it and tell Brynjolf he won't have any more trouble from me."

With the last debt in his possession Jak headed back to the Ragged Flagon to give it to Brynjolf. Jak sat down at the table with Brynjolf and placed the debts on the table, Brynjolf took the debts and was pleased with Jak's work.

The debts were collected and Brynjolf was impressed, "All the debts collected and you kept your blade clean. Well done, we could use more like you in our outfit."

"Word on the street is that your outfit isn't doing do well."

"We are running into a bit of a rough patch, but how about you keep doing your jobs and earning coin and I'll worry about the rest."

"If there is more coin to be made, then sign me up."

"Alright then, how about you follow me and I'll show you what we are really about."

Brynjolf stood up from the table and started walking away so Jak followed. After opening a secret passage in a cupboard he lead Jak through a door, and into a cistern. He followed Brynjolf to the center where a man was standing, Brynjolf introduced Jak and the man began talking about how much praise Brynjolf had been giving Jak and how he expected him to make them coin. He then began talking about Jak proving his skills by going to an estate, but Brynjolf objected to no avail. After his little speech Brynjolf reminded the man, named Mercer, and he welcomed Jak to the Thieves Guild. Mercer headed back to his desk while the other two began heading back to the Ragged Flagon, but Jak stopped.

"Brynjolf, I'm worried I'm not going to be able to go to Goldenglow estate and get what Mercer wants. I just started this whole new life of larceny."

"Don't worry about, lad. You don't have to it just yet, go talk with Delvin and Vex, they know their way around this place and can give you extra jobs to hone your skills. They can also train you as well. Just do a couple jobs and when your comfortable come talk to me about Goldenglow. Oh and one last thing, talk to Tonilia about your new armor."

With his mind at peace Jak took Brynjolf's advice and returned to the Flagon to talk to Vex, Delvin, and Tonilia. Vex made it abundantly clear that Jak was not there to replace her and that he needed to do what she said. Jak was pretty sure she was just trying to take advantage of him since he was new, but didn't say anything out of respect for her. He also picked up a job from her to steal an object from someone's house in Solitude. Jak then made his way to a man sitting at a table.

"Are you Delvin?"

"That's right. And let me guess, Brynjolf just plucked you up off the street and dropped you into the thick of things without telling you which way is up. Am I right?"

"Yeah, sort of. I guess I could use some advice."

"See, now that's the attitude of someone who wants to get rich and live long enough to enjoy it. We're going to get along nicely. Just remember to get jobs from me or Vex to help the guild get back on its feet."

"What do you mean back on its feet?"

"Look at this place, it's falling apart. A few decades ago this place was as busy as the Imperial City. The others think I'm daft for saying this, but I think we've been cursed."

"Cursed? By what?"

"The hell if I know. All I know is we need to spit in this curse's face and turn things around down here. So if you ever want to help get the guild back to the way things were and make some coin, come see me for a job."

After finishing talking to Delvin Jak asked which one was Tonilia, and Delvin walked him over to her. She introduced herself as the guild fence, lookout, and the watcher of Delvin's back. After introducing himself and selling some things to her Jak received his armor and left to change. With his new armor Jak left the cistern through the secret entrance ready to begin his new life.