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: Eventful indeed. Yeah one of the things I tried to do when coming up with his story was basically make it be what happens in the game is what happens in his story and then write how he reacts to it.

He did get lucky he wasn't a snack for them, of course he had no idea what they were talking about, he didn't even connect the dots that they were vampires.


Darkness Eternal: I'm glad you like them.

She did in fact just burn her hand, although when originally written it was planned to be setting up her having a disease. I changed it.

Yes I wanted to show the time period in which Jak's story takes place and it does coincide with the main quest time period, however Jak has no plans to do the main quest. He is in fact seeing things, he had one too many drinks and saw what he wanted to see. Although fun fact, Arissa was actually there when playing the game because when she is dismissed that is where she hangs out.

Indeed he was lucky he was fighting an initiate. Had it been a skilled assassin lets just say Jak's story would have been done and over with .

Chapter 13

After the effects of the healing potion wore off, Jak left the General Goods store and got back on his horse. He left Falkreath and made his way back up the passage that cut through the mountain, he rode into the Rift where a storm had come in, the rain pelted his face as he rode along, and he thought about stopping to find shelter but instead decided to press on. As he traveled along the road he came across a fellow thief who gave him a gift and told him to keep his eyes on the lookout, and then he ran away to find his next target. The storm did not let up the whole way, but eventually Jak made it back to Riften, he rode around the city to the other side to stable his horse. He was just glad he did not have to ride in the rain anymore as he entered the city, but as he walked he noticed guards standing outside of his home.

"What's going on here? Why are you outside my house?" Jak asked as he approached the guards.

"We have your house under guard, your mother has fallen ill and we believe foul play was involved, possibly even the Dark Brotherhood. She was found lying on the floor earlier today with a suspicious bottle we suspect had poison in it.... I'm sorry to be telling you this." Jak's heart sank in his chest.

"Move!" He pushed the guards aside and ran into the house where he found his mother lying on the bed with Fina next to her.

As he stepped into the room Fina stood up, she explained how she heard a loud noise as she walked by the house in the morning and when she went in she found his mother lying on the floor convulsing. She then said that his mother had gotten worse and grown weaker since the morning.

"Hey mom, how are you doing?" He grabbed her hand as she slowly turned her head to face him, "You're going to be okay."

She coughed, "Jak... I-I need to tell you something..."

"No, you can tell me when you are better. You need to rest."

"No, you listen to me... I love you, I always have and always will..."

"I know you do, mom." Her eyes started to slowly close, "No no no, mom stay with me, okay."

"Jak.... I... I'm not...." She let out her last breath as Jak and Fina could only stand by watch. He stared as he took in what just happened.

"She's gone." Jak let go off her hand and slowly sat down on the floor as he stared at his mother, until he couldn't hold it in anymore and began to cry.

"Oh Jak. I'm so sorry." Fina leaned down and tried to console him.

Fina eventually calmed Jak down and alerted the guards of Lanier's death. The guards went to the temple where they got Maramal; he came to the house and gave his prayers for Lanier, the guards then came in and removed the body where it was taken to the cemetery to be buried. Jak and Fina watched as they dug the hole and carefully placed Lanier's coffin into the ground, by now morning had come and everyone but Jak and Fina had left. Jak gave one last goodbye to his mother.

"I'm sorry about your loss, lad?"

"Brynjolf? What are you doing here?"

"Could you give us a moment?" Brynjolf said to Fina, she looked at Jak who nodded so she walked back towards the Temple of the Mara,"We heard about what happened and I wanted to see you, lad. It's a tough situation losing ones parents, I know how you feel."

"Thanks, Brynjolf."

"No problem... but I also wanted to tell you that Mercer has finished coming up with a plan, and he asked to see you. Chances are you are leaving for Snow Veil Sanctum, I wish you didn't have to, but it is for the safety of the Guild. We need to put a stop to Karliah."

"I'll go talk to Mercer, I need to get out of Riften for a little bit anyways." Jak responded with a melancholy tone.

"Alright then. Good luck, lad." Brynjolf turned and began walking away, "Thank you, Brynjolf." Jak said and Brynjolf nodded his head then returned to the Guild through the secret entrance.

Jak found Fina near the stairs leading up to the Temple of Mara and told her how he needed to leave Riften. She objected saying she did not like the idea of him leaving in his current mental state, but he assured her that it was for the best and that it would help him grieve. Fina reluctantly agreed. He asked her to watch his home while he was gone and then they parted ways as he went to speak with Mercer.

"Good you're here. I'm sorry about your mother, but we need to move fast if we want to keep the Guild safe, you can grieve for your mother today and leave first thing tomorrow morning. I will meet you at Snow Veil Sanctum, there we will find Karliah and kill her."

"I'm ready to leave now."

"No, your head won't be in it all the way and you will only be dead weight. I need you to be ready physically and mentally. Go rest and grieve and meet me at Snow Veil Sanctum." Mercer took Jak's map and marked the location.

Jak then left Mercer and went into the Ragged Flagon to turn in his jobs. Delvin gave Jak his condolences and told him he could pass on the jobs he had available, and so Jak went Vex. Even she gave her condolences and congratulated him on how well he had been doing. It made Jak feel better knowing he essentially had another family with the Thieves Guild, so after selling a few things to Tonilia he left.

He returned home, much to Fina's pleasure as she wanted him to rest some, and then Jak left the next morning. His journey was uneventful to Windhelm, after passing the city he came across a shrine to Arkay where he had to wonder where the worshipers had gone. Eventually he arrived Snow Veil Sanctum and found a camp nearby with a dead horse, Jak could only assume it belonged to Karliah and that Mercer had already arrived and killed it. As he continued past the camp he found Mercer outside of the ruins, he explained how he knew Karliah was still in the ruin and that he made sure she would not be escaping by killing her horse. He then ordered Jak to lead, much to his surprise, but Jak didn't want to question Mercer's orders. When they came to the entrance it was sealed shut and Mercer bragged about how a person just needed to have a little know how and a lot of skill to open these doors, he then picked the lock and the two entered.

As they walked down the stairs into the first room Mercer complained about the smell, and Jak tried to hide his fear as he didn't know what to expect since he had never been in a nordic ruin before.