Name: Engar Heart-Song
Race: Nord
Age: 27
Back Story: Engar Heart-Song was born in Riften to two wandering bards, Lorenz and Eiruki. Though they lived humbly, it wasn't long before Lorenz and Eiruki realized that the money earned by two minstrels was not enough to support a family. Though the two parents hated to do it, they began to steal just to meet ends meet, and Engar helped them. While at the Jarl's palace, for example, Lorenz and Eiruki would attract attention by singing, and young Engar would steal trinkets lying around. A gold necklace here, an amethyst ring there, a jeweled goblet here.
When Engar was six years old, Lorenz took up a job offer from an old friend. In exchange for shelter, food, and pay, the Heart-Songs, including Engar, became servants for the wealthy Liore family in Imperial City.
Lorenz and Eiruki became the family bards, naturally, but Engar, though musically talented, was too young and inexperienced. Instead, he became the personal servant of the Liore family's only child, Sorex, who was seven years old. Sorex and Engar hit it off right away, becoming the best of friends.
Engar was always Sorex's servant, though any outsider would think the two to be brothers. They were home-schooled by private tutors together, as Sorex would refuse to learn without Engar. They explored the Imperial City's labyrinth of a sewer system together, fostering a love for adventure in both of them. They even slept in the same room as each other.
As the years passed, conditions deteriorated around Imperial City. It seemed that everyone was falling on hard times, even the Liore family. Poverty was the highest it had been for 20 years. One day, when the eleven-year-old Engar saw a pair of starving children moaning in an alley, he couldn't stand it anymore. He slipped into a nearby house and looted the larder. He gave the food the the grateful children and walked away, happy. He wasn't seen, either, or so he thought.
That night, Sorex asked a question while they were playing in their room.
"Engar, was it you this morning that broke into the Rienus house and stole the food?" Sorex asked suddenly. Engar was taken by surprise, and began stuttering a response.
"I, um, I-" Engar began nervously. Engar was scared. Sorex was his friend, but he was bound to be in trouble if anyone else saw him. Sorex put on a toothy grin.
"Relax! I thought that was really nice of you," Sorex ran his hand through Engar's chocolate brown hair in a ruffling, brotherly way and continued playing. This was the first of several times they would take from the rich, including themselves, and give to the poor, the sick, and the starving.
Once more, the years passed, and they went through their teenage years like any two wealthy children, other than the constant thievery. Their methods grew more advanced as the years passed. They became two of the youngest members of the Cyrodiil Thieves Guild. Sorex matured into handsome Imperial, tan and lean, with windswept jet black hair, as was the style. Engar, even though he had lived under the hot sun of Cyrodiil for ten years, still had relatively pale skin. At 18, when Sorex decided to join the Imperial Legion, Engar followed him without hesitation.
For a year or two, they garrisoned forts and patrolled roads, eliminating a group of bandits here and there along the way. Then, a job of a lifetime came. Urfing the Unending had been the scourge of southern Skyrim for the greater part of a decade. He regularly pillaged towns and was known to completely obliterate smaller settlements. At last, he and his bandit gang's base had been located in the mountains, near a wide plain. Riften, Whiterun, Windhelm, and Falkreath spared as many troops and guards as they could, and the battle began.
Sorex was part of the main fighting infantry. Engar was part of a light-armored troop meant to support as archers and healers. Blood was spilled and nearly a hundred bodies fell on the battlefield that day. In the end, three were left standing, Sorex, Engar, and Urfing himself. Arrows pointed out of Urfing's body at all angles and countless wounds painted his body red, but he still fought valiantly. At last, Sorex ended Urfing the Unending, and collapsed a second later.
"Sorex!" Engar shouted as he sprinted across the battlefield. Engar had his fair share of wounds from the battle as well, but none of it mattered to him then. He crouched down and turned Sorex onto his back.
"So many wounds. So much blood," Engar's hands were shaking as he examined the body, working quickly, pouring healing potion over as many injuries as he could, and sewing up others as he went. There were too many, and there wasn't enough time. He couldn't lose Sorex.
"Did I ever tell you how beautiful Skyrim was? I wish we could’ve grown up here, rather than Imperial City,” Sorex smiled, taking in the sights around him. Then, a soft rain began, falling progressively faster and harder by the minute. Engar became even more worried, working more frantically than ever. Sorex ran his hand smoothly through Engar’s long hair, as he had hundreds of times before.
"Don’t worry, Engar. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now," Sorex gave a small laugh, wincing as he did so.
"Don't move or talk! You'll only accelerate the bleeding!" Engar said, as he focused on healing Sorex. As moments passed, Engar came to realize his efforts were in vain, but he kept trying to convince himself that it turn out all right.
"I hope I end up in Sovngarde or wherever you end up, Engar," Sorex whispered, at peace, with a feeling of satisfaction as his voice began to fade. Engar had run out of potions to use, and there was no more use in sewing up wounds. He held Sorex, trying his best to put on a comforting smile as tears streamed down his face.
"You would deserve it. You took down Urfing the Unending. You've saved countless lives, Sorex," Engar spoke softly to his lifetime friend. With the last of his strength, Sorex lifted himself and embraced Engar.
"You saved mine, Engar, and in more ways than one," Sorex let himself down, looking up at his companion, his partner.
"If we had a hundred years, I don't think I could show you the gratitude you deserve from me. I’ll wait for you on the other side, dear friend, but, please, take your time in going there. I’ll see you later, Engar." And, as his eyes closed, so went Sorex Liore.
Engar bent over his friend’s body, crying, for what might have been minutes, hours, or days. When he was done, Engar found a nearby patch of flowers, burying Sorex there. Sorex would have liked this spot, Engar thought. It was by the forest and the mountain, surrounded by flowers and the beauty of Skyrim. Engar found a large, smooth rock nearby, carving an equally smooth "Sorex Liore" into it, and placed it on the grave.
After Engar reported the battle to the Jarl of Whiterun, Balgruuf the Greater, he left the Imperial Legion. He traveled to the Bards College in Solitude and took up his parent’s trade, training the voice that Sorex loved hearing. After graduating, he traveled with his friend Talsgar the Wanderer around Skyrim, singing and making the roads merry. He adventured on the side, following up on possibilities of loot whenever he heard rumors about this or that cave or bandit den or Dwemer ruin. While stopping in cities, Engar fell in a routine, stealing from obviously wealthy houses, and anonymously giving at least half to those that needed it. Engar kept up his knowledge in those years, reading every book he could get.
After five years on the road, Engar settled in his hometown of Riften. It didn't take long for the Thieves Guild to notice his talents and put them to use for the Guild. While on his first job, Engar witnessed Alduin’s destruction of Helgen. He helped the Imperial soldiers evacuate the survivors before fleeing into the keep with Hadvar. After graciously accepting dinner and a night’s stay from Hadvar’s family, Engar felt obligated to report to Jarl Balgruuf and help in any way he could before he returned to Riften. This is where a new chapter in Engar’s life began…
Timeline: (Only read after the backstory)
-Born: Born in Riften to two bards, who love him dearly
-Age 3: Helps his parents steal to make ends meet
-Age 6: The Heart-Song family moves to Imperial City and become servants for the wealthy Liore family (Engar becomes the personal servant of Sorex, who is one year older than Engar)
-Age 11: Engar steals to help someone else for the first time. Sorex and Engar start stealing from the wealthy (including themselves) to help the poor. They become part of the Cyrodiil Thieves Guild.
-Age 18: Sorex and Engar enlist in the Imperial Legion
-Age 20: Sorex and Engar, with other guards, battle against the infamous bandit chief Urfing the Unending and his bandit gang. Sorex, Engar, and Urfing are the last three standing. Sorex defeats Urfing and collapses. Despite Engar’s attempts to heal him, Sorex dies in Engar’s arms. Engar reports the battle, quits the Imperial Legion, and goes to learn at the Bards College.
-Age 22: Engar graduates from the Bards College and travels around Skyrim with his friend, Talsgar the Wanderer. During this time, Engar begins adventuring into various caves and hideouts for loot and begins thieving again. He vows not to kill unless there is no other solution to a problem. As he travels around Skyrim, Engar starts to make different friends and build connections within cities.
-Age 27: Engar settles down in Riften, his hometown, and joins the Skyrim Thieves Guild. He sees Alduin’s attack on Helgen while on his first job for the Guild. He helps the survivors, escapes with Hadvar, and feels obligated to tell Jarl Balgruuf. (This is where he becomes Dragonborn and so forth)