The Call of the Wind, Children of Kyne, Volume I Options

[Kane]

I just finished up the long volume II of this series, so I thought I'd start posting them both here. This entry is one of my first real stabs at writing out a tale and one of only a couple I ever finished. The dialogue is a little stilted and the chapters are short (needed more practice) so it isn't a long read. If you are interested in reading it, I hope you enjoy! (PS, I'm too lazy to proofread this one and I wrote in 2018, so if there are any spelling or grammar errors, I apologize in advance!)



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Prologue

The morning dew lay gleaming on the lush, green undergrowth of Cyrodiil’s Great Forest as the morning sun shined through the branches of its lofty trees. Deep in the heart of the woodlands, sat a small clearing and at its center lie a large rock, covered in silky green moss. Here upon this stone, sat an impressively large brown hawk - it looked far out of place among the other birds of the province, but it was not without purpose. Sitting as still as the unmoving stone beneath it, a wanderer could have mistaken it for a small statue to some long forgotten god.
Nestling its head into her wing feathers, she waited impassively for her prey. Soon thereafter, a crashing could be heard in the forests nearby. Quite suddenly, a pale, sickly looking Colovian emerged from the dense brush and scampered right through the clearing without so much as a glance at the large hawk.

Craning her neck, she listened for the pursuer she was expecting.

And sure enough, the gentle footsteps of a practiced stalker could be heard approaching the clearing, following the rampant destruction of the woodland left in the wake of the panicked, clumsy runner. The hawk lifted her head and waited for this new, but nonetheless expected visitor.

Ah, I see this predator is much too clever to wander into a forest clearing. The professional that he is knows to avoid such a thing, as it is ripe for ambush. Perhaps a little encouragement is needed…

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The mercenary did not like what he saw ahead. Peering through the bramble, he intensely surveyed the clearing, looking for any sign of an ambush. The vampire he pursued had thus far been crashing through the forest like an ogre, but that may have been a ruse. Vampires, he had always thought, were usually much cleverer than this oaf was.

Hesitating outside the clearing was wasting time, but his instincts were kicked into overdrive as he approached it. Long ago he learned to trust those instincts, and many times they had been the difference between life and death. So there he sat, eyes darting around the forest opening, searching intently for signs of danger.

Quite suddenly, the once calm morning changed as a brisk northern wind began to flow through the woods, rustling the treetops and bringing a slight chill to the air. Our mercenary barely noticed the change in clime, until he heard the whispers on the wind. Startled, he relaxed his eyes, and instead strained his ears to the wind, where he swore a voice had whispered to him. The breeze fluttered once more, and this time he was positive…his name was carried gently on the wind.

Kirin...approach my child. Follow your instincts…and my voice…

Standing up nervously, he shouldered his composite bow, and walked boldly into the clearing. To his utter surprise, the hawk he’d mistaken for a statue hewn above the boulder stretched its impressive wings, and spoke to him with an undoubtedly feminine voice.

“It is time for you to return home, my child. Skyrim awaits you, and your destiny has come. Left behind will be your days of mercenary work and feeble pleasures. They matter not now, and only what you accomplish next will be of any consequence.”

This was unexpected, and temporarily froze Kirin, as a million thoughts raced through his mind. He settled on only one, though.

“And if I refuse?”

“It will matter not. The aspect of destiny is inescapable, and utterly final. Try as you might, it will simply catch up to you later, at a time when you may have less choice in its subtleties. Heed my words, and I promise you will not regret the choice to follow them.”

Kirin pondered on her words once more, and quickly realized what he was dealing with. One should not refuse the finality of the divines… He removed his helmet, and knelt on the grass before the large northern hawk.

“Lady Kyne, I see the wisdom in your words, and I pledge myself and my service to you.”

“Very well, young Kirin. Your time in Cyrodiil is at an end. Return to your fellow brothers and sisters of Skyrim, and your true journey shall begin in earnest.”

She then spread her wings once more, and took to the skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.

This post has been edited by Kane: Dec 10 2024, 03:08 PM

[Kane]

Prophecy Unfurled

The Hall of Valor was massive and filled with the merriment of song and drink. Countless heroes of old roamed the mead hall of Shor in the warrior’s bliss. Barrels of the finest mead lines the walls and every table was laden with a never-ending supply of sumptuous food. Across the room from where Kirin entered sat the empty throne of Shor, nestled amongst the honored dead that Kyne’s husband normall feasted with.

As Kirin stepped down the stairs from the hall entrance, and her of old armored in the ancient irons of a long forgotten age greeted him warmly.


"Welcome, Dragonborn! Our door has stood empty since Alduin first set his soul-snare here. I am Ysgramor, first leader of the five hundred. By Shor's command we sheathed our blades and ventured not the vale's dark mist. But three await your word to loose their fury upon the perilous foe. Gormlaith the fearless, glad-hearted in battle; Hakon the valiant, heavy-handed warrior; Felldir the Old, far-seeing and grim.”

Ysgramor took his leave of Kirin and wandered off in search of more mead. The Dragonborn crossed the hall and knelt before the throne of Shor in honor and prayed for his help with the upcoming battle. Rising to his feet a few moments later, he turned to see the three warriors of which he learned Dragonrend from a few weeks prior. They stood in wait for him and in anticipation of what was to come.

He moved toward them and Gormlaith spoke first.

“At long last! Alduin’s doom is now ours to seal – just speak the word and with high hearts we’ll haste forth to smite the worm wherever he lurks!”

“Hold comrades,” interrupted Felldir. “Let us counsel take before battle is blindly joined. Alduin’s mist is more than a snare – its shadowy gloom is his shield and cloak.”

“Felldir speaks wisdom,” replied Hakon. “The World-Eater, coward, fears you, Dragonborn. We must drive away his mist, Shouting together, and then unsheathe our blades in desperate battle with our black-winged foe.”

“To battle my friends!” yelled Gormlaith. “The fields will echo with the clamor of war, our wills undaunted!”

Kirin nodded but did not follow them just yet.

“I must eat and drink something before we rush to our fate. My journey here has been long and perilous. I would rest for a few moments.”

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An hour later Kirin arose from the food laden table and joined the fell warriors near the exit from Shor’s lofty hall.

“It is time, mighty heroes of old. Let us seek out Alduin and engage the worm in battle.”

With a might rallying cry that echoed throughout the Hall of Valor the four proud warriors surged out of the door and across the whalebone bridge. At the other side, Tsun wished them will in their goal as they ran past him and out onto the open field of battle.

They lined up on the grass below and Shouted in unison at the encompassing fogs spread throughout the realm.

LOK VAH KOOR

Alduin’s mist dissipated for a time, but far off in the distance his mighty Thu’um breathed it once more back into the fabled lands of Sovngarde as the powerful words echoed throughout. Kirin and his companions cleared it two more times before the World-Eater gave in and met them in his wrath.

“The endless wait gives way to battle!” said Gormlaith. “Alduin’s doom, his death or ours!”

The great black dragon swooped in from on high as bolides streamed down from the sky and crashed around them in fiery explosions. Sword at the ready, Kirin danced around the impacts carefully as he waited for Alduin to glide over them in a hover. Gormlaith, Felldir, and Hakon meanwhile loosed countless arrows at their foe and Shouted their own words of power in any attempt to weaken the beast. The opportunity finally presented itself to Kirin as Alduin came to stop above them. The Dragnborn crippled him with Dragonrend immediately, bringing down the dragon to the field of battle.

In rushed the warriors alongside Kirin as they hacked, slashed, and thrusted away at his heavily armored hide. For hours the battle waged on as the Nords dueled with Alduin’s full might beneath the forever starry sky of Sovngarde. This time though, Alduin was outmatch among the Dragonborn and his ancient enemies as they slowly whittled down his energy.
Nearby, Tsun watched in bewilderment at the incredible amount of power that clashed on the grass before him. Thu’ums rent the air like lightning in a storm as gouts of flame and frost rippled through the realm. Beneath his very feet the ground shook under the might of the battle waged outside of Shor’s Hall. Even he had to be midful of the meteors crashing to earth around all who were foolish enough to stand in watch.

Gormlaith, Hakon, and Felldir held their own in the perilous fight with the World-Eater, but they themselves were in awe of the speed and fury with which the Dragonborn assailed his destined foe with. Even after long hours of battle with Alduin his deadly sword of bone flashed as if a blur while he danced deftly around the dragon landing blow after blow and piercing his hide time and time again.

But he could not keep up the furious onslaught forever and his strength did begin to wane, but not before Alduin’s. With one final shout of Dragonrend, the worm crashed to the earth with a roar. Without hesitation, Kirin boldly dashed up to him, leapt upon the great spiked head of his foe and plunged his sword one final time with a force that pierced Alduin’s hardened scales and buried itself within the World-Eater’s skull.

Kirn leapt down to the ground as the mighty dragon began to thrash about in agony, Shouting into the skies in the desperate throes of death.

“Zu’u unslaad! Zu’u nis oblaan!”

A glow began to encompass the huge black body of Alduin and built up within until the scales, flesh, and bone of Akatosh’s firstborn were cast off in fiery implosion. The black soul beneath continued to writhe in defeat as Alduin’s life force rushed skyward in a blinding column of light before the World-Eater completely disintegrated in one final massive blast that shook even the realm of Shor.

Kirin rose to his feet and walked out onto the grass where his sword lay among the remains of his fabled enemy. Sheathing it in the scabbard at his waist, he turned to face the warriors of old that helped him in his mighty deed. They sang his praise and honored the Dragonborn for finally vanquishing their ancient foe and promised many songs in his honor within the Hall of Valor.
Now that the battle ended, Tsun approached him from his post to offer his respects.

"That was a mighty deed! The doom of Alduin encompassed at last, and cleansed is Sovngarde of his evil snare. They will sing of this battle in Shor's hall forever. But your fate lies elsewhere. When you have completed your count of days, I may welcome you again, with glad friendship, and bid you join the blessed feasting. When you are ready to rejoin the living, just bid me so, and I will send you back."

“I am ready, Tsun,” said Kirin. “My body is weary from the battle and I long to see my love.”

“Very well. Return now to Nirn, with this rich boon from Shor, my lord: a Shout to bring a hero from Sovngarde in your hour of need.”

NAHL DAAL VUS

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When Kirin’s vision steadied upon his return to Skyrim, he found himself at the peak of the Throat of the World, where countless dragons sat atop the rocky spires and circled the mountaintop. None of them were hostile towards the Dragonborn, but seemed to be lamenting for the World-Eater. Their Shouts echoed through the air and all across the lands far below.

One by one they took to the sky until only Paarthurnax remained on his perch above the shrine.

"So, it is done. Alduin dilon. The Eldest is no more, he who came before all others, and has always been."

“Alduin brought this upon himself,” replied Kirin.

"Indeed. Alduin wahlaan daanii. His doom was written when he claimed for himself the lordship that properly belongs to Bormahu - our father Akatosh. Rok funta koraav. Perhaps now you have some insight into the forces that shape the vennesetiid... the currents of Time. But I forget myself. Krosis. So los mid fahdon. Melancholy is an easy trap for a dovah to fall into. You have won a mighty victory. Sahrot krongrah- one that will echo through all the ages of this world for those who have eyes to see. Savor your triumph, Dovahkiin. This is not the last of what you will write upon the currents of Time."

Paarthurnax then took to the sky and spoke to Kirin once more.

"Goraan! I feel younger than I have in many an age. Many of the dovah are now scattered across Keizaal. Without Alduin's lordship, they may yet bow to the vahzen... rightness of my Thu'um. But willing or no, they will hear it! Fare thee well, Dovahkiin!"

He began to circle the skies with the other dragons before they all filtered off one, leaving Odahviing alone to speak with Kirin. The dragon wished Paarthurnax well in his new quest, and honored Kirin’s mastery of the Thu’um, promising to help if called upon. Once he too left, Kirin began his descent down the mountain to High Hrothgar.

Exhausted from the perilous fight and subsequent climb down, he shoved his way through the door and into the monastery wanting only to lie down in a bed. Instead a figure rushed at him and pinned him to the wall in an embrace that took the wind out of him.

Lydia said nothing as she squeezed Kirin with tears running gently down her face. He returned the hug earnestly and idly ran his fingers through her hair.

“I’m ok, Lydia,” he reassured her. “Just very tired from the ordeal. Come…let’s go find a bed.”