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]

Darkness Eternal: The verdict is out, and Mercer must die. Now the question is can it be done. We shall see.

It is quite the accomplishment for Jak, one that he definitely isn't ready for, despite Brynjolf thinking so, considering he has only been with the guild for a couple months now. It is a shame that his mother passed before Jak achieving such a grand goal, even though she probably wouldn't have approved, it still would have made him happy knowing he would have been making good money for her.

Jak isn't particularly a religious man, he doesn't care much about the gods or Daedra so he was more than willing to take the oath since it meant stopping Mercer.


Acadian: I'm glad you are enjoying it. Buffy can live vicariously through Jak then since she is a good person and would never stoop to thievery.

The three of them do make a good pair, they couldn't have made it through to confront Mercer if one of them was missing.

And hahahaha I had to throw that little tid bit in there because I always thought the Falmer were like Gollum.

Chapter 16

The three of them entered the room where they found Mercer on a giant statue grabbing one of the Eyes of the Falmer. "He hasn't noticed us, Brynjolf guard the door." Karliah said to which he agreed and stated nothing would be getting by him. Just then Mercer jumped down and said he knew they would show up soon, he then used the Skeleton Key to emit some kind of blast causing the platform Jak was standing on to break and the ceiling to break causing water to begin filling the room.

"When Brynjolf brought you to me I felt a shift in the wind and knew it would only be a matter of time before I had to get rid of you. But at least I got some wealth out of you."

"Give me the key, Mercer!" Jak yelled.

Mercer laughed, "You think you can beat me? How about this, if you beat me I'll give you the key. Then you can take me in and bring me before the Guild and Nocturnal for my crimes... but when YOU lose I'll be sure to display your body for Nocturnal and all the Guild to see."

"I will not lose!" Jak drew his sword and Mercer shot a strange aura at Brynjolf. Mercer turned invisible and so Jak took this opportunity to get to higher ground to get a better vantage point and get away from the floor where the water was rising. "I can't stop myself!" Brynjolf yelled as he began to attack Karliah, and she parried his blows, "Please forgive me, lass!" Jak wanted to help Karliah but there was nothing he could do to get back up to her and she couldn't escape as Brynjolf had her cornered. Mercer then showed himself and charged, Jak swung at him when he saw an opening and tried to avoid Mercer's blades as best he could. When he got a hit on Mercer he would disappear and then reappear and charge again. Mercer was fast, but with the Nightingale armor Jak's reflexes were enhanced making it easier for him to dodge. Mercer reappeared once again and was able slice Jak on his side barely breaking through his armor, Jak fought the pain and took the opporunity to stab Mercer in his side making him fall to his knees for a second. "How do you like the chill of your own blade Mercer?" Jak shouted as the blade Chillrend he found in Mercer's house took its effect on him. Like before Mercer turned invisible, but this time Jak could see a slight distortion in the area where Mercer was not completely invisible so he ran after him up towards the top of the statue. He swung his sword killing Mercer from behind and he watched as he reappeared and his corpse fell to the floor of the room.

Mercer's spell on Brynjolf wore off and the ceiling finally gave out and the room quickly began filling with water. Jak dove into the water and looted Mercer of everything he had on his possession, but most importantly the Skeleton Key. Karliah said they needed to get out of there quickly, but when Brynjolf tried the door it was blocked from the other side. The three of them tried there best to stay above the water and were losing hope as the water was nearly at the top of the cave when suddenly a rock fell from the ceiling revealing an exit. They swam to the exit and walked through the cave the exit lead to.

"I can't believe it, twenty-five years of exile and just like that it is done." Brynjolf patted her on the shoulder, "Now all that's left is to return the Skeleton Key to the Twilight Sepulcher."

"Aye, but I need to get back to the Guild, we don't need the place to go into panic." Brynjolf said.

"Well what are we waiting for, lets return the Key." Jak spoke up

"It isn't that simple I'm afraid. When the key was stolen we lost our entry to the inner sanctum of the Sepulcher, the only way back in is through the Pilgrim's Pass. And I'm afraid I can't go with you... after my failure to protect the Key I don't think I can face Nocturnal."

"Fine I guess I'll return the Key myself, how hard can it really be?"

"I feel bad for making you undergo this task alone, so I want you to have this." She handed Jak her bow, "I have used this bow most of my life, but you deserve it."

They left the cave and found themselves at Lake Yorgrim near Windhelm.

Jak, Brynjolf, and Karliah made their way back to Windhelm and hired a carriage to Riften. Brynjolf returned to the Guild, Karliah to the Nightingale Hall, and Jak headed to the Twilight Sepulcher in Falkreath Hold following Karliah's instructions, and eventually he found the temple in a secluded cave in the mountains . He entered and was approached by a ghost of a Nightingale, he soon found out that the Nightingale was none other than Gallus. He told Jak he would have to face the tests to get to the inner sanctum, there he would have to return the Skeleton Key.

Jak continued on to face his first test, it was a room with the exit at the bottom of the staircase, but he needed to find the button to activate the gate. He found the button and opened the gate, but was then attacked from the shadows by a Nightingale Sentinel who believed Jak was intruding on the Sepulcher, it was a difficult fight as it was like fighting invisible shadows, but Jak won in the end. Upon continuing, Jak faced his second test, it was a room in almost complete darkness, but with several areas with basins lighting them, he knew to avoid the light as he saw a corpse, and being a thief he knew the shadows were his ally not the light. He eventually made it through the second test and came to the third one, a room with a statue of Nocturnal and a dead bandit. It looked as he was supposed to leave an offering, but Jak knew it couldn't be that simple and thought to himself, What is the only thing Nocturnal would want? Darkness. He then found two chains that put out the fires leaving the room in darkness, this opened the doorway and he continued further into the Twilight Sepulcher Inner Sanctum.

He finally made it to the Inner Sanctum and came to a dead end with nothing but a well so he jumped down. After a few moments the well disappeared and Jak fell into the inner sanctum. In the middle of the room was the Ebonmere, the portal between Evergloam and Tamriel, Jak kneeled down and placed the Skeleton Key and backed away. The Ebonmere opened and Nocturnal appeared within a shroud of crows, she addressed Jak and told him she was pleased with his efforts even if they were part of his deal. Nocturnal gave Jak her blessing and returned to Evergloam. Karliah then entered the inner sanctum through the portal connecting the Inner Sanctum and Nightingale Hall and Jak approached her.

"Nocturnal seemed pleased with you." Karliah stated, but Jak didn't agree. "Believe me, if she was displeased with you we wouldn't be having this conversation." Karliah then went on to explain how Jak could select one of three powers given to Nighingales and so he chose the Agent of Strife. After choosing his power Gallus appeared, much to Karliah's surprise and the two began to talk. They said their goodbyes and Gallus walked to the Ebonmere and entered Evergloam to become one with the shadows.

Jak and Karliah left the Twilight Sepulcher, Jak returned to Riften to talk to Brynjolf. He told him what happened and that they now had Nocturnal's favor once again, Brynjolf was happy to hear it and thanked Jak for all he had done for the Guild and said he saw a bright future for the Guild.