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: Again I am really sorry for the length, I kind of got more than 3/4 through it with the pictures and was like this is just too long but there is no going back now. The rest will all be shorter than the last one.

But yes Jak has been a busy thief, he has been to Windhelm and Solitude, so it's been a busy couple weeks for him as a new thief, but it's good for his learning experience. And yes now with his horse he can save some coin on carriage rides haha.

Darkness Eternal: Hahaha I am glad you liked him being upfront about his armor, but he is still lying to both his mother and Fina, neither of them know Brynjolf is part of the Thieves Guild. So while Jak is telling the truth that he got it from Brynjolf, he didn't tell them he is working for the Thieves Guild now, he is still lying because a lie of omission is still a lie.

No doubt, trouble will find Jak... and it may lead to a greater destiny.

Chapter 4

Jak ran to the back of the house, weapon drawn, ready for anything. He rounded the corner and found Fina on her hands and knees.

"Fina!" He carefully stepped into the room, "Are you all right? What happened?" He sheathed his dagger and helped her up.

"I'm fine. I just noticed that this wardrobe had a false back and when I tried to open it I slipped and fell in here."

"My heart stopped for a second, I thought the worse had happened. Why are you alone? Where's Marcurio?"

Jak got his answer when Marcurio came around the the corner spells ready but put them away once he saw the two of them. Jak, irritated, turned around and pushed Marcurio.

"Where the hell were you? Why weren't you watching her?"

"I was upstairs looking for clues!" Marcurio quickly replied.

"You should have been with Fina. For all you know the murderer could have been in there, and he could have killed her!"

"Jak, stop!" Fina came out of the room and got between him and Marcurio, "He was upstairs because I told him to look up there for clues."

"And what if the killer was in there waiting?He could have caught you off guard and killed you. Marcurio should have thought of that and stayed with you instead!"

"I can take care of myself." Fina rebutted, "In fact, I know how to use a blade better than both of you so there is no need to worry about me being in danger. And there is no reason for you to get angry at Marc when he was just listening to what I told him to do. I mean you're acting like I am useless, Jak."

"That's not it all, I am just trying to make sure you are safe. You are my best friend Fina, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Well, I'm glad you are worried about my safety Jak, I really do appreciate that... But you have been overprotective of me this whole trip and you don't need to be that way. We were investigating this murder just fine without you... I don't want you to get in the way of us investigating because you're worried about me or fighting with Marc.... maybe you should go." She glared at Jak, and he stood there for a moment.

"Fine.. But don't ever ask me to join you again. Enjoy each other's company." Jak turned and walked out of the house.

Jak was furious as he walked through Windhelm, and rather than stay the night in the inn he just paid the carriage to go back to Riften. Once he arrrived in Riften he went straight to the guild and turned his job in to Vex. He left without taking another job, much to Vex and Delvin's disapproval, but instead of working a job he wanted to get a drink. Jak went to the Bee and Barb and drank for the rest of the day trying not to think about Fina, but even after all his drinking and attempts to forget he still could not help but think about her safety.

Jak woke dazed from his drinking antics the night before confused as to how he got into the cistern of the guild. Looking around, he rubbed his face before getting up and checking in with Delvin and Vex. He was feeling overconfident now after successfully completing several jobs and wanted to test his skills by taking two jobs at once, so he talked to Delvin who gave him a numbers job in Solitude. After he got the job from Delvin he got some advice from him on how to sneak around better and then he went to Vex who gave him a sweep job in Windhelm. He was not excited to go back to Windhelm, especially after what happened with Fina, but he had also just gone there two times previously so Jak figured he would start with Solitude.

Walking through the cistern Jak noticed some of the other members nodding their head at him, so he took the time to meet them since he had not done so the last couple times he had been in the cistern. First, Jak met Cynric Endell, Rune, and Thrynn, who all congratulated Jak on his accomplishments so far and said if he needed anything just ask, they then went about their business and started talking about how Thrynn used to be a bandit. Moving on, Jak also met Vipir, who everyone referred to as Vipir the Fleet, and he congratulated Jak as well and told him if he needed pickpocket training to come see him. Knowing that he had guild mates that could help hone his skills made Jak a little more comfortable about future jobs, and so he moved on and found the last guild mate.

"Hello, there, I'm..."

"Jak. Pleased to meet you." The wood elf cut him off, "I'm Niruin, everyone has been talking about your success so far, it's astounding to say the least, keep it up. Oh, and if you ever need help with your archery skills I am happy to assist you."

Niruin shook Jak's hand then turned around to lay in his bed, so Jak left the cistern. With both jobs in progress, he wasted no time getting to his horse and saddling up for his long journey to Solitude, with a few stops along the way in Falkreath and Rorikstead Jak arrived in Solitude around mid day. Seeing as he could not pull of his numbers job while Angeline's Aromatics was open Jak headed to the Winking Skeever, and listened to the bard as she sang and played her instruments and smiled any time she looked at him. Night had fallen and with it Jak left the Winking Skeever and made his way towards Angeline's Aromatics. Guards patrolled the streets with torches so he hid until they walked by and then sneaked to the door of the shop and picked the lock. Once inside, Jak noticed an array of potions and ingredients; this was an opportunity he could not pass up, so he robbed the shop of all it's merchandise. Jak then quietly made his way up the stairs and found the book he needed to forge the numbers in. As quick as he went in, Jak was just as quickly getting out without any problems. He left Solitude and stopped by to see his caravan of Khajiit friends where he shared his success so far with the guild. After a quick chat Jak left the caravan and got back on his horse to make his way to Windhelm.

The journey was easy, and took a couple days with a stop in Whiterun along the way. Once in Windhlem, Jak felt a certain anguish towards the city after what had happened last time, and so he made his way through the city with hardly an upwards glance until he found the house he needed to rob. Of course, with it still late in the afternoon Jak had to wait, so he went to the Genesis Cornerclub since he had not been there yet, and once the time was right he made his way back to the Shatter-Shield home. He picked the lock, which seemed easier than other locks to Jak's surprise and made his way inside. It was a beautiful home, obviously of a rich family, so Jak had no qualms with robbing the place. He found the first item he needed to acquire in the bedroom to the left, it was challenging since one of the owners was sleeping the room, but it was nothing Jak couldn't handle. The second item was on top of a bookshelf, therefore making it trickier, but Jak carefully climbed on one of the shelves and grabbed the item from the top before stepping down quietly. Jak knew the third item had to be upstairs and so he made his way up there only to find a surprise...A woman was in the room immediately at the top of the stairs, and Jak's heart skipped a beat as he slid to the side to get behind the wall. His heart was pounding, not sure if she had seen him or heard him and so Jak quickly looked around the corner and found that she had not seen him, but noticed she was stealing the very item he needed to return to Vex. He thought fast and figured he would stop her by the front door and get the item back, as it would be too risky trying to get it in the room with the owner sleeping.


Jak waited downstairs and never heard her coming, but as soon as she walked around the corner he stepped forward.

"I need that golden candlestick..." Jak whispered trying to look intimidating. The woman quickly turned, surprised by Jak, and put her hand on the hilt of her blade.




Author's Note: Sorry that the Windhlem murder didn't end how you were expecting. I had planned to have something interesting happen when I was writing the story two years ago, but I was in the middle of moving back to school so I just decided to rush it and have Fina and Jak have a falling out and thus end Jak's involvement in that quest. Sorry if you were expecting some grand thing like the killer had Fina trapped and was about to kill her or something. But it opened up new doors when I continued Jak's story.