18+ The Dragon Slayers

After the fall of Alduin, the rogue dragons retreated into darkness and shadow. They obeyed the rules set out by the Dragonborn until he himself passed away, as they soon became legend again and forgotten for a short while. It was in the years after the War of the Scrolls, also known as the War of the Condemned, when peace had finally seemed to settle across the lands. Battles still raged on, but the Nords had won back their freedom and Skyrim, and all seemed well.

The races of Nirn were at their weakest when the dragons attacked, this time in unison and in great numbers beyond count. They struck down High Hrothgar first, ending the Graybeards and Paarthurnax in a devastating way. The Blades fought back, though their numbers dwindled against the menacing foes. Now led by the legendary dragon whom makes the Throat of the World his mantle and home, called Glaurung, the dragons scour the open lands and claim at will.

It is in this time when heroes must arise again...

THE FROST DRAGONS OF WINTERHOLD

Dalious Durendail, former Penitus Oculatus Agent and gladiator to the once famed Cyrodill arena, crouched near the fire to warm himself. His armor was made of steel and dragon scales, with a crest of encircled golden cobras at the chest plate. Underneath the armor he wore furs and leather to keep warmer in the devastating cold of the Winterhold. He and his crew were inside a cave to the northeast of Winterhold, trying to regain their strength for the impossible task they had before them.

Five frost dragons had taken over the city, which now was barren and empty, save for the College. The Mage's created a force field around their university and have been trapped within for many months now. Using their magic, they summoned a bird that flew to Dalious while he was sailing the northern seas, informing him of all that had transpired across Tamriel, as well as their current situation. They chose Dalious because he was once a famed hero, and the blades had already failed in their attempt. He and his men, mainly khajiit's and Nords, were the last hope.

"We're sailors and tradesmen now, how do you expect us to slay five dragons?" asked a worried khajiit named Rafur.

"I gave the chance to leave when we made port," Dalious reminded him. "You are still free to go."

"Free to go where? Go die in the cold!?" he cried. "And if that doesn't kill us, the dragon's surely will. We should go back to the sea, sail to Akavir where it is safer. There is no hope for Skyrim, or Tamriel."

"And when this land is completely taken, where will the dragons go? Akavir was once their home land, they would come again. From what the mage's have shown us, they want the world. They must all be destroyed."

"And we are the ones to do that? HA! Why?" Rafur laughed, though shuddered from the cold.

"Because we are all that is left," Dalious replied. "Rest friend, regain your strength. It will be needed."

A loud shriek could be heard from outside the cave, a call from one of the dragons. It sent shivers down the men's spines as they roasted some food over the fire.

Ardenelle understood the hopelessness the khajiit felt, though she tried her hardest to be brave and follow Dalious as all the others would. They had come a long way together through thick and thin, and she somehow grew to respect him. When she first met Dalious, he seemed to be a drunkard who could not stop looking at her breasts. Her views of him back then were that he was a lost fool, yet for some reason she stuck with him. All the stories she had heard the khajiit's tell of the man seemed to prove true, he was fearless and brave.

Following him for many years out at sea had become her life. She grew to love the waters, the skies aura at nightfall, travelling the many lands, and of course the crew. Some of her best companions were among the khajiit, and they all treated her with the respect she knew she deserved. It took awhile at the beginning to gain their trust, but once the bond was made it could not be broken.

Scrunched between two of the crew mates she shivered from the cold, staying close to the fire and using her mammoth skin as a tunic. The sounds of the dragons just outside the frozen cave made her nervous, but as long as she could keep her nerves in formation she knew she would be alright.

"He has a point," she told Dalious. Her lips were so cold she felt them stick together while she spoke. "How are we to defeat five dragons in this miserable cold? You...do have a plan?"

"Of course I have a plan," Dalious lied. All he ever knew was to fight, nothing more. His foolish ways he knew would get them all killed, it was a miracle in itself that he has survived this long to begin with. He survived as a Penitus Oculatus Agent working for the Emperor, he survived the many battles of the arena, he survived being homeless in the slums of Riften, and he survived the War of the Scrolls. Would dragon's be his end?

"The mages," he suddenly remembered. "There is power in magic, especially against the dragons. If we can free them from their bond in the college, we may be able to stop the flying beasts. Until then, regain strength and mind."

They ate in silence that night, and kept the fire ill lit until morning. He barely slept at all, but the fresh coolness of the morn woke him as if he had slept an eternity. This day they fought dragons.

The crew settled up and they set out into the cold of the Winterhold. The sun gave a slight warmness, but overall it remained chilly.

"By mid day we should reach town, be on your guard."

It seemed every day was a struggle to survive. Whether out at sea, or in the freezing cold, or even in the lush wilderness. There were many dangerous things in the world, but it was the few kind things that they fought for. Ardenelle began to think of happier times as they strode along the ice path, of her family long since gone. She remembered her pet dog Rufka and how happy she made her. If only she could go back in time and live there forever, if only.

As they reached closer to the town she noticed bodies, many of them, frozen in ice tombs standing upright. Some were so covered in ice that only their faces could barely be seen, and many she looked at had fear in their eyes. To be entrapped in ice for all eternity sent a shiver up her spine. They were obviously dead long ago, but to be put on display forever made her feel sick. They seemed to be the dragon's trophies of people who tried to flee, and it also told her that it was always cold in these parts of the land. Yet, in all the horror before her, there was a slight beauty to it. The sun glimmered majestically over the frozen people and the great walls of the town cast an enormous shadow that met the light in the middle.

"If that happens to me, kill me and bury me proper," she said aloud, to no one in particular. "...in one piece, if possible."

Cadus emerged from the frozen tomb, steam being exhaled from behind his helmet with each labored breath he took. He stumbled, having to hold onto a pillar to keep him upright as he struggled to regain his strength and senses. He was exhausted, he had finally emerged; alive, from the Nordic ruin following an expedition to cleanse it of the undead. His armor was battered and frosted over with blood, both his own, and the blackened bile from the Draugr.

He steadied himself as he stood, looking around him; it had been days since he had seen the surface and for a moment he forgot where he was. The tomb wasn't far from Winterhold, he knew that much; he also recalled the perilous journey through ice storms and blizzards it took to get this far. It was mid day, yet the sun was tucked behind a thick veil of bloated grey clouds. The trees around him were lifeless and dead, twisting towards the sky; trying to escape the snow and ice which covered the ground. In the distance, colossal mountains stood; a testament to Kynareth's might. With a deep breath, Cadus set out, on the road towards Winterhold.

Suddenly, a distant roar filled the air; it resounded all around him. Moving through the lifeless trees and mountains like a sigh. His eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around his sheathed sword.

Dragons.

He pressed himself against a stone column for cover, as a shadow fell upon the ground. He looked up, seeing the massive creature tear through the sky; letting out a triumphant roar, a signal of it's might and dominance. It glided above for but a second before it was gone, headed towards the direction of Winterhold.

When all was clear, Cadus stepped from the shade and moved towards the nearby town at a faster pace.

The snow crunched with each hastened step, the massive golden haired Nord doing a headlong sprint across the wild frozen valley of Winterhold. Despite his in born resistance to cold, Winterhold was still bitter to him, and he had to keep his blood pumping to stay warm. A part of him began to regret not taking the roads but he felt more alive when treading Skyrim's untamed territories. And with so many dragons appearing, it was probably safer. Getting clawed by a saber cat is easier to survive from than the breath of a dragon, and Skarin wanted to live a few more years on Nirn for now.

The resounding roar of the legendary beasts brought Skarin into dropping in the cold snow to better stay hidden, peaking from the corner of his eye as a black shadow slithered over the white frost around him, wings flapping a blistering wind over him beneath the boasting frost dragon. It didn't seem to see him, as it continued in it's flight towards the direction of winterhold. It sent a pit in Skarin's stomach, knowing those people must be in trouble already. He got up and continued his sprint, his breath heaving to take the thick cold air in, hoping out of the call of honor he would be able to offer his strength against the dragon.

((Sorry if I should have waited for Skarin to be accepted. I just wanted to post before the RP got too far ahead.))

The company lowered upon the dragon's voice, booming throughout the sky. Then it came into clear view over the trees, its' eyes dead set on them. Whatever cover they thought they had before, it was now blown. The red scaled beast swooped in quickly as Dalious and those around him dove to the ground, but Rafur was not so lucky. The khajiit was snagged into the creature's jaws and taken into the air, screaming along the way. Dalious looked up in awe as his companion was split in two, one half being consumed while the other dropping to the ice below.

Another dragon, of larger build and brown color, peaked over the treeline and roared loudly. Everyone broke off on their own in fear, and Dalious followed suit.

"Run to the college!" he yelled, and bolted off.

He could see the shadow of the beast widen under himself as he pressed on, inching closer in one fell swoop. The dragon unleashed a piercing frost breath from its' opened mouth, and three of Dalious' companions were encompassed in the ice sheet directly next to him. The blast was so strong it wavered his stepping, and he lost his balance falling to a sheet of ice that delved downward othe mountain where the town stood. He slid to the edge, toward the sharp rocks and lengthy fall below.

Pulling out his twin steel blades he stabbed them into the ice as he slid, and just before the edge they caught hard and stopped him from the fall. He heard screams of pain and agony as he scaled back up, one pivot at a time. When he reached the top he saw his men in the ice field, being encircled by two enormous dragons. They played with them before killing them, all of them. His crew, his companions, all dead.


(no need to wait, also, don't worry about order just post if you have something to post and feel free to move the story forward since I have no plans myself. My friend, Ardenelle, doesn't mind trust me)

Skarin just exited the mountain pass behind Winterhold, standing over the city as a doomed set of adventurers met their end. He drew a throwing axe, drawing it back for a mighty toss as his voice boomed a call to the Gods through the thick cold of Winterhold's air; "YSMIRRR!!!" the axe went flying, yet it could only chip against a scale just beneath the Dragon's chin.

The beast noticed, and with a growl pivoted towards the young Nord, it's jaws set wide to scoop him up. The nimble warrior spun to the side out of the damage path and took an upward swipe with his steel axe right into it's soft underside, managing to just injure the ancient beast.

The scream of the dragon above was ear piercing as she ran, not really knowing what to do or where to go. She ran the opposite way and headed through Winterhold, using the homes as a cover. She watched in horror as her friends were being torn to pieces out in the field, one by one. While one of the dragons seemed distracted near the trees, the other continued to attack her group. An anger grew inside of her.

She climbed one of the houses to the roof and pulled out her longbow, readying an arrow as she controlled her breathing. She was no crackshot, but she had plenty of time to practice and prepare out at sea, shooting random things far and close. She was quite good, even with moving targets, but these were dragons. She pulled the first of her steel arrows back, then aimed and pulled. Miss. She tried another, but the dragon was to cunning and fast as it swayed in the air from side to side. Another miss, hell the dragon didn't even notice her attempts as it tore yet another one of her friends down in a slaughtering feast.

She calmed her mind, relaxed. Looking up to the flag upon the tavern blowing in the wind, she noted how fast it was moving. The dragon was predictable, it moved in and toyed with its prey, then back up in a hover over the ice. She aimed and held still, waiting...then she released. The arrow shot through the air at an ark, and as the dragon hovered back into position it came down on it and pierced into its' mouth, striking deep into its lower gums. The beast shook its head from the impact, though not fatal, at least she gave it some pain.

As the dragon turned toward the source of the arrows, it lowered to the ground to recollect itself. It shook its head and focused on its mouth pain while Dalious ran toward it, unaware to the beast. He ran up an ice mound and dove off with both blades drawn, then stuck to the dragon's chest as it turned its neck away from him. The blades sunk in deep to their hilts, and as the dragon yelled, Dalious slid down from the lower neck to the gut. He kicked off with a leg and pulled his blades out, landing in the snow.

Blood oozed out as the dragon churned and turned in many ways, feeling the pain it was deserved. Arrows came flying by and continued to strike the beast, not only from Ardenelle but from other companions he could not yet see. They were hidden in the ice sheets, and it was a relief to Dalious some still lived.

"Bring it down! Bring it down!" he yelled, and the dragon lost balance.

It fell to a side, smashing hard and cracking the ice surrounding it. Its' guts hung out from the stomach as it stopped in movement, dead as dead can be. He heard khajiit cheering, though still could not see them from his position in a snow ditch. Dalious looked up and noted the other dragon focused on something in the treeline. And as this one died, its' voice must have called the others, because their voices boomed throughout the land; they were coming.

"Do not break for celebration!" he yelled and regained his stance, seeing the companions now. 2 khajiit's bowed upon his sight. "We've only angered the others, come!"

Skarin went down to the village, the mountain pass he just left would be certain death due to a perfectly narrow place to get hit by a dragon's Thu'um. He didn't know if the Dragon made it's turn to fly back towards him but he did know that it was hurt by the bit of blood he found splashed all over him. Then again, for all he knew it was his blood but he didn't have time to check himself for injuries.

He caught up with what was left of the party whom had already killed one of them. The Imperial seemed to be calling the shots.

"We've only angered the others, come!"

Hearing this, he decided the best chance he had were if he cooperated, turning to face where the other dragons were and noticed the one he injured, with a decent amount of blood dropping from the neck wound. Skarin hoped that this meant he got a lucky hit. If not...it would be one angry dragon by now.

Cadus trekked for a while longer, alone on a beaten and seldom trodden path which winded and curved through the Northernmost mountains of Tamriel. He stopped for a moment, as the echo of a roar filled the air. Then came the sounds of shouting and battle. He broke into a run as his heavy boots thudded against the stone road, eventually he came into a wide clearing which opened up into the distant town of Winterhold. Across the plain, dragons and people were engaged in combat.

He narrowed his eyes as he watched the dragons slaughter the much of the group in the initial sweeps. Several killed immediately as they would swoop down from the sky, unleashing a torrent of freezing wind and cold upon them; freezing them dead in their tracks. "Stendarr guide them." He muttered, from the way things were turning out it appeared the battle was going one way; and was quickly becoming a massacre.

Just as he had thought about turning back, a dragon let out a pained roar as it struggled to keep itself from hurtling to the ground. It hit the ice hard, skidding across it in a flurry of snow and leaving a streak of blood behind it before it went limp; dead. Cadus stood, impressed, there was hope yet for the group.

He flipped down his helmets visor and charged, sprinting across the ice flat towards the battle. He unsheathed his sword, holding it to the sky as he unfastened his shield from his back and strapped it to his forearm. A dragon took note of him charging, and swooped down to make a pass on him. Cadus scowled, readying himself as the dragon drew near; claws outstretched and ready to tear him to pieces.

In a flash, he swiped his sword in an overhand arc; slicing deep into the dragon's leg in a gust of blood. It roared in surprised pain as it fell from the sky and tumbled over into the ice. For a moment in lay there, breathing heavily in agony as it struggled to recollect it's bearings. Cadus stood, waiting for the beast; his sword dripping with blood which soaked into the snow beneath him.

The dragon growled, standing to face Cadus one on one. It bared it's teeth, it's eyes burning with hatred.

"Back to Oblivion, beast." Cadus said, the dragon roaring in response as they both charged.

The khajiits raised their bows at the sight of another, largely built, Nord. It seems they weren't the only travelers in the land, and all attention was to the dragons. Dalious waved a hand at his companions and they lowered their weapons. A bit of deja vu struck the Imperial, as the man resembled in both figure and stature one of the finest and bravest warriors he had ever the privilege to fight beside, but the again it could be coincidence since he found all Nords to be rather enormous men. It didn't matter, three dragons circled the skies above them.

"Hail, we are friends to the Nords," Dalious said and nodded. "And enemies to those creatures, I am Dalious Durendail and this is Mal Kel and Bomfur, brothers."

The khajiit's bowed in unison. Suddenly one of the dragon's swooned low a ways off, as if it were attacking another. It fell beyond his sight, but hknew they were not alone. He hoped an army of Blades was nearby, that would give them an advantage.

"We could use a man of your size," Dalious continued. He looked up on top of a hill just inside the treeline and noticed the many large boulders and tree stumps resting there. "You look strong enough to move boulders...I may have a plan, though I need a decoy."

Dalious turned and looked at the khajiits.

"Oh no, no, no, no," Mal Kel exclaimed, shaking his head.

"You would deny our captain, fool!" Bomfur spat back to his brother.

"Then you volunteer then..." Mal Kel replied.

"Oh, no...no, no...I volunteer for you!" Bomfur replied back.

"I'll be decoy," Dalious said. "Just stay on the high ground and provide cover."

They bowed and began to head to their positions upon the hill.

((You rock Solace.))

Skarin sneered at the cats until they lowered their bows. He seemed relieved to know that they were at least friends to the Nords. He addressed himself to the Imperial, even his booming voice seemed similar to the once great warrior; deep and commanding. "I am Skarin of Rorikstead. An honor to meet you all." He turned immediately after the introduction, knowing it wasn't the time of pleasantries as he shared an equal thirst for the blood of dragons.

He overheard Dalious suggesting the boulders and went towards them without stopping to hear his plan, instead calling back to him. "Just tell me what you need me to do." Skarin knew those dragons would be ready to kill them at any moment, and that they needed to be ready before then.

As the others went toward the treeline, Ardenelle swiftly strode through the damaged city until she reached the end. Running parallel to her company, she eventually came up on an armored warrior in a battle against a dragon. The dragon dove in but the knight took a first strike, and then stood firm for the next attack.

Ardenelle ducked behind a snow covered rock and nocked 3 arrows to her bow, getting them ready to fire at once if she could find an opening. She waited until the dragon turned its body completely toward the warrior, then released. All three struck its' scales doing little damage, but it was enough to turn its attention if only momentarily. After firing she immediately ducked down to the cold ice flooring beneath her heels, and hoped the beast hadn't noticed where she fired from. Though, she felt the presence of the armored man would help in her concealment.

As she hid she nocked yet another arrow, all while trying to keep her breath steady. It was cold enough to see the vapors of her breath, and she didn't want that giving her position away. She closed her eyes and calmed down, lowering her heart rate as she heard the dragon's roaring all around her.

Cadus readied himself as the Dragon reared it's head back and roared, it's fanged maw dripping with froth and blood as it let out it's deafening cry. The dragon took a step forward, it's eyes burning with hatred as the ice shifted and groaned beneath it's weight. Suddenly, a quick flurry of arrows was shot forth from a rocky outcropping not far off; the tips embedding themselves within the Dragon's scales. The Dovah growled in irritation, whipping it's head toward the rocks to find the source of the arrows.

"Face me!" Cadus bellowed, hoping to draw the Dragon's attention away from the hidden archer. The Dragon turned back to Cadus, growling with anger as it took a deep breath; then, with a deafening roar, let forth a torrent of ice breath.

Cadus immediately raised his shield and hunkered down as the wave of ice and sleet slammed into him. The air became freezing, his shield and armor starting to frost over with ice as he stood fast against the gale. He gritted his teeth as his limbs began to burn from frostbite. Than, the wind passed; the Dragon's breath exhausted as it waited impatiently to see what had become of Cadus.

He stood, causing the ice encasing his armor to crack and split as he raised up his sword. The Dragon roared angrily, dissatisfied with the fact that he was still alive. The beast prepared itself, then broke into a charge along the icy plain. It's maw open, ready to devour the warrior whole.

Cadus tensed, preparing himself for the battle.

As the Nord ran to position among the large boulders and trees, Dalious simply yelled one word.

"Smash!"

Now to distract them. He had not thought this out through enough, but there was little time as the two dragons overhead began to scout through the trees, trying to find them. Dalious climbed up the icy mountain pass, feeling the wind grow stronger with each step he took. He kept covered by moving from shrub to tree,avoiding staying out in the open. When he reached a flat surface he noticed a few horses hiding under a broken down shack, using it for shelter. They were his companies own, and must have retreated here when the dragons first came.

"Shh boy, be still."

Dalious calmed the first horse down as he approached, then quickly got onto it. He rode to the edge of the mountains and the horse heeled up, and one dragon noticed.

"You are a leaf in the wind."

As the lanky dragon moved forward toward them, Dalious forced the horse forward and over the slope. Somehow the animal stayed upright, as they slide down the pass at a quickened pace. Once they reached the bottom level ground the horse sped off with great endurance, and Dalious looked back to see the enormous teeth of the dragon just behind them.

"Ohh, bad idea!" he yelled. "Faster! Faster!!"

The horse jumped over fallen branches and stumps, but stayed on course. The dragon swooned down low to the ground as it glided, almost upon them. He could see arrows flying by, missing the dragon and almost hitting him, from the khajiits. Then the hill came where Skarin was, as Dalious chest began to beat heavily. The dragon opened its jaws to unleash its frost breath as it was only yards away.

"NOW!" the Imperial yelled.

Skarin shouldered into the boulder, the massive stone already somewhat loose with everything that had been happening, and thudded it's way down the hill and finding it's target onto the Dragon's back.

Dalious fell from horse as the boulder smacked into the dragon, bringing it down and pinning it to a large tree. It remained motionless.

"That worked too well," he said as he got up. "Well done."

The large boulder had dragon blood splattered all over it and Dalious knewthe beast was either dead, or shortly from it. The two khajiits came out from hiding and marvelled at the sight.

"So big!" one said.

"No match for us khajiits!" said he other proudly.

"Be more careful, you almost hit me with your arrows. You must lead moving targets, come. There is still one dragon among us..."

Bomfur slapped his brother khajiit and said, "Fool! You almost killed him!"