Hello everyone. Hopefully, it isn't too much trouble if I joined too. Krimrisvik gave me the okay. To make things a bit easier for you all, I think that I'll join in down the road instead of at the inn. Well, here's my profile.
「AXEL ALT-EISEN」
"The cost of knowledge is less than the price of ignorance . . ."
» NAME Axel Alt-Eisen
» ALIAS - - -
» AGE 20
» BIRTH DATE 2nd of Sun's Height
» BIRTH PLACE Riverwood, Skyrim
» BIRTH SIGN The Lover
» ORIGIN Redguard
» CLASS Sura
Suras are Asura Monks who have graduated the initial phase of the Asura Monks’ Path. Suras are those who have realized that their spirit is unsatisfied. Their body, mind and soul are out of tune and unperfected. However, this realization is what allows them to surpass their own physical, mental and spiritual limitations. Once this happens, they become a Sura. Suras use no weapons however they are far from defenseless. Their skill in martial arts is extraordinary. With their relentless training and constant meditation, they have essentially turned their own body into a deadly weapon. They are also capable of healing injuries sustained by themselves or their allies, whether it is through the use of potions or with Restoration magic. Just as they can instill life in others, they can easily take it away with their lethal strikes. Even with their power, Suras strive to be peaceful and kind. However, if pushed into a battle, they become merciless, ruthless and know no mercy. Fighting a Sura is extremely dangerous. Many claim that they wield power from the Gods themselves. If you aren’t careful, the last thing you’ll see are the Gates to Oblivion.
» GENDER Male
» HEIGHT 5'5
» WEIGHT 130 pounds
» LATERALITY Left-Handed
» SEXUALITY Heterosexual . . . mostly
» MARTIAL STATUS Single
» HEALTH Well
» AFFILIATION Asura Monks
The Asura Monks are a group of monks who are scattered all over Tamriel though they are most focused in Cyrodill and Skyrim. They are a peaceful people, spending most of their time meditating, learning more about Nirn and practicing martial arts. Even though they stress peace and harmony, the Asura Monks are extremely skilled martial artists and their kindness and reluctance to fight should not be mistaken for weakness. The Asura Monks openly accept anyone who wishes to join and the group has bi-annual meetings that take place in Cyrodill.
» AFFLICTIONS None
» RELIGION Eight Divines
» PATRON DEITIES Mara and Kynareth
「APPEARANCE」
» HAIR Black, short and wiry, sometimes shaved bald
» EYE COLOR Dark Brown
» SKIN COLOR Dark Brown
» BUILD Average
» SCARS None
» PHYSICAL — Being a Redguard, Axel has dark-brown skin. His eyes are the same color and are the easiest way of finding out how Axel is feeling. He may try to hide his true emotions in some cases but one good look in his eyes spells out the truth. In a way, people can read Axel like an open book. He doesn’t like admitting it though. Short, black, curly wiry hair covers the lad’s scalp. Usually, it’s kept low, not falling past his ears . If Axel lets his hair grow it, it’ll grow out into a miniature, wiry afro. His facial features are roughly proportional with one another, save for his ears which are a bit large for his head. Standing at five foot five inches and weighing at one hundred thirty pounds, Axel is much shorter than other Redguard males his age. In fact, he’s just shorter than most people period. His stature isn’t much to boast about either. Now, Axel’s not a twig but he isn’t Hercules either. Average would be the best word to describe his physique. His chest, torso, arms and legs have slight amounts of muscle in them. Strength wise, Axel’s actually pretty strong for his size and that’s what allows for his unarmed strikes to dish out respectable damage. Axel’s relatively quick and agile. He’s physically conditioned and can run for extended periods of time. The young adult’s physique tends to make others underestimate him. In some cases, that could be a deadly mistake for them.
» ATTIRE [CASUAL] — Axel likes to wear simple clothing. Most of the time, he’ll cycle between a variety of colored, cotton long-sleeved shirts ranging from green, brown, red and orange and then wear a pair of black pants along with them. He tends to roll up his sleeves, just so that they won’t get in the way with what’s he doing. For footwear, Axel favors a pair of sturdy, black walking boots, ones that are able to be used on all terrains. Axel’s almost never seen without a pair of dwarven goggles perched on the top of his head. He usually doesn’t wear them over his eyes unless he’s working with volatile alchemy reagents or dealing with a smithing forge. You could say that they are the kid’s trade-mark accessory and he takes great pride in them. In his casual clothing, Axel typically doesn’t carry his Ebony gauntlets with him. However, if need be, he’ll take them along with him while he goes about his daily business. You can never be too prepared, especially in a place like Skyrim.
「PERSONALITY」
» POSITIVE TRAITS Intelligent, humble, focused, mature, likable, kind, peaceful
» NEGATIVE TRAITS Insecure, awkward, quiet, distant, anxious, naïve, skeptical
» LIKES Alchemy, books, martial arts, meditating, sweet rolls, fresh fruit juice, dwemer technology
» DISLIKES Swords ( or any sharp weapon ), magic, arrogance, alcohol, smoke, politics, being underestimated, extreme cold
» FEARS Jye, Argonians, khajiit, caves, getting lost, failure, daedra, vampires, werewolves
» ASPIRATIONS Become tamriel's greatest alchemist, perfect his martial art and fulfill the Monk’s Way, open his own martial arts school, see the world, recreate dwemer technology, strengthen his mind, body and spirit
» QUIRKS sweats profusely when scared
Axel is a down-to-earth guy. He is practical and unpretentious and doesn’t put on airs to flaunt his abilities or possessions. It’s for this reason that Axel is a very easy person to talk to and befriend. You don’t need to impress him in any way in order for him to like you. All he asks is that you be yourself. Now, that goes without saying that he can’t stand arrogant, corrupt or evil folk. They don’t click well with him. Even so, he has the restraint to not outright lash out at them. In fact, it takes quite a bit for Axel to get angry. He doesn’t have a temper but once he does get angry or upset, it takes a bit of time for him to finally cool off.
The kid has a good head on his shoulders. He’s intelligent and crafty and tends to pick up on things quickly. Not to say that he’s an absolute genius but he’s definitely smart by intellectual standards. Axel loves to learn and puts a great deal of time into refining and sharpening his mind. If he doesn’t have his nose buried in a book, he’s either glued to his alchemy lab concocting all sorts of elixirs and poisons, tethered to the nearest forge working on perfecting his smithing, or training relentlessly to further develop his martial arts. Axel does have obsessive tendencies, often so absorbed by what he’s doing that he forgets to do basic things like eat ( he’ll miss his lunch time by a few hours or so ). Plus, the Redguard male doesn’t really know what it means to relax or have “fun”. Fun to him isn’t hanging out with friends or having a good drink at the bar but rather stumbling upon a new type of potion or smithing a piece of ancient Dwarven weaponry. He’s stiff and a bit awkward around others. Axel has good manners and etiquette and that’s his saving grace whenever he interacts with someone else. He tries to use slang and talk about popular trends in order to come off as being cool and cultured. Sadly, he fails miserably at it. This leads him to become insecure about himself, sometimes doubting that he’ll ever be able to relate to others on a personal or friendly level. Even so, it’s hard not to like the boy’s dorky and likable nature.
Although he’s naturally curious and wishes to explore and travel, Axel can’t help but be afraid of the unknown. Skyrim is a dangerous place, riddled with strife and adversity. One wrong move could easily spell your death. However, this hasn’t completely stopped Axel from pursuing his desire to travel. What it has done is made him apprehensive of traveling far without being completely confident in his ability to defend himself. After some rigorous training and self-coaxing, the lad has finally built up the courage and confidence to be able to travel the roads on his own if he needs to. He’d much rather ride a carriage or travel in a group than only by himself.
「COMBAT DIAGNOSTIC」
» FIGHTING STYLE – Axel fights completely unarmed, using nothing but his martial arts to defend himself. He’s horrible with weapons and even worse with magic. As such, he has decided to focus on martial arts as his sole means of combat. Given his small stature and slightly timid demeanor, it is easy for others to grossly underestimate Axel’s fighting ability. However, that alone is a horrific mistake, for many soon find that Axel is not the cowardly weakling that they make him out to be and that in reality, he is an extremely capable combatant. He fights using a pair of heavy gauntlets, both to protect his hands and lower arms against weapons and to add to the amount of damage his strikes can do. He favors punches and elbows to kicks and knees. If Axel doesn’t want to hurt his opponent badly, he swaps his gauntlets out for a sturdy pair of leather gloves. Axel is very comfortable with fighting armed opponents, whether they are armed with weapons or magic. After much experimentation, Axel has found a way of using Destruction spell scrolls in order to enhance the strength of his blows. By using a scroll and keeping the spell in his grasp, Axel can strike a target and release the magical energy in his hand upon impact. The result is that his strike becomes enhanced with the magic he held, effectively turning it into a much more powerful strike. The effects added to his blows differ for each of the three Destruction elements ( effects are listed below ). Axel also uses his masterful alchemy to heal injuries sustained by himself and his allies as well as special droughts that can severely boost his or an ally’s fighting ability. Whether Axel is wearing his gauntlets or leather gloves, he is able to deal serious damage with his strikes. He has effectively turned his own body into a deadly weapon. If you happen to fight him, do not underestimate him. Fight smart, stay diligent and do not let his small stature and quiet demeanor fool you. If you don’t, you're basically asking for your ass to get handed to you.
ELEMENTAL FIST EFFECTS
「Fire 」- Axel’s blows become amplified greatly in power. By using the innate destructive abilities of Fire Destruction magic, Axel is able to put that much more power behind his punches, making it to where he can actually punch through stone if he manages to land a good hit. Metals, including heavy armor, cannot be completely punctured however they can be dented, allowing Axel to even damage those who are clad completely in heavy armor. In general, Axel’s punches are able to knock opponents backwards a few meters and give them anywhere to moderate to severe burns depending on the strength of the blow. Typically, Axel uses fire spells whenever he wants to land a powerful hit or if he needs enough power in order to breach an opponent’s defenses, whether it is their guard, their armor or a barrier erected to defend them. Plus, fire-enhanced strikes do a hefty amount of damage to opponents weak against fire.
「Frost 」- Frost magic deals with draining stamina and freezing foes in their tracks and the same principles are applied to Axel’s blows. If Axel lands a hit, he is capable of slowing down his opponent and even freezing the stricken area in a thin layer of ice. Usually, those stricken by a frost-enhanced punch will suddenly feel oddly fatigued and if any part of their body becomes trapped in ice, it becomes generally unusable until the layer of ice is broken or melted. Axel typically uses frost-infused strikes whenever he’s dealing with a melee-oriented opponent, especially those who stress speed and quickness. Plus, they work very well on opponents who are weak to frost elemental damage.
「Shock 」- Shock spells heighten the speed of Axel’s strikes, allowing him to launch attacks twice as fast as usual. For example, Axel can throw two punches in the time that it takes for him to throw one. Even though the speed of the blows is increased, the power behind them is still roughly the same. Foes stricken by shock-enhanced blows are at risk of receiving moderate to severe electrical burns, depending on the severity of the attack. Shock-enhanced punches are best when used against quick opponents or if Axel wants to catch an opponent off-guard with speedy blows, not to mention shock-enhanced strikes work wonders against enemies who are weak to shock elemental damage.
» ATTRIBUTES
» Health – Denotes vitality and the amount of damage able to be taken.
» Magicka – Denotes amount of magicka and the magical capacity to cast spells.
» Stamina – Denotes amount of physical energy and the ability to perform strenuous activities.
» Strength – Denotes physical strength and the ability to deal damage with melee attacks and block melee attacks.
» Endurance – Denotes physical toughness, the ability to withstand pain, illness, and fatigue.
» Agility – Denotes balance, coordination, reflex, speed, and steadiness in combat.
» Intelligence – Denotes ability to learn, reason, plan, solve problems, strategize, ability to comprehend complex ideas and general mental capability.
» Will – Denotes magical strength, the general ability to cast spells and magicka regeneration.
» Spirit – Denotes mental toughness, willpower and the ability to keep fighting past fatigue, injuries and one’s own limitations.
Health ■■■■■■■□□□
Magicka ■□□□□□□□□□
Stamina ■■■■■■■■□□
Strength ■■■■■■■□□□
Endurance ■■■■■■■■□□
Agility ■■■■■■■■□□
Intelligence ■■■■■■■■■■
Will ■□□□□□□□□□
Spirit ■■■■■■■■■■
» SKILLS
Master
» Alchemy – Being the son of two proficient apothecaries and spellswords, Axel was introduced to alchemy when he was seven years old. His parents have taught him much of what he knows now but of course, Axel has learned and discovered things on his own. He’s a natural at alchemy and he has made an astounding amount of progress in the time that he has been practicing it. As soon as he hit twenty years old, he became a master alchemist and he can produce nearly any potion or poison out there. His potions are so potent that he can heal wounds that would normally be impossible to treat and save people who are literally at the brink of death while his poisons can cause even the most resistant individuals to succumb to its effects.
Expert
» Hand to Hand – The Asura Monks are known for their extreme skill in martial arts, so much to where they are literally considered by many to be walking weapons of war. After going through their intense training regime, Axel's skill in unarmed combat allows him to fight on equal terms with armed opponents, whether they are armed with weapons or magic. Even with his bare hands, he’s able to deliver devastating strikes, enough to knock out opponents or even kill them. He can also evade and block attacks effectively and can even disarm opponents if given the chance. Those who ever battle Axel quickly realize that the kid's startling prowess in martial arts is unmistakable.
» Smithing – With his slight obsession of Dwemer technology, it was only a matter of time before Axel decided to take up blacksmithing. At first, his weapons and armor weren’t the greatest and it took quite a bit of time and discipline before he finally was able to produce battle-worthy weapons and armor. While he was learning alchemy, Axel frequently visited the local blacksmith in order to learn more about the trade. Axel can smith a wide range of weapons and armor and can improve upon and repair pieces of armaments. He eventually wishes to be able to smith himself the finest crossbow and armor possible but he knows that it’ll be plenty of years before that dream becomes a reality.
Adept
» Heavy Armor – Having armor is great and all but it doesn’t do much if you don’t know how to use it. After enlisting the help of a potent Heavy Armor user ( and several back-breaking training sessions later ), Axel has gotten to the point where he is able to move effectively in heavy armor without hindering his movements while still fully utilizing the protection his set of heavy armor grants him. The Monks of the Way have put Axel through extensive training on how to utilize heavy armor gauntlets in order to add additional power behind his strikes, allowing Axel to do that much more damage with his punches.
» Speech – Speechcraft is somewhat of an overlooked art not pursued by many. While Axel is no bard, his love of books has caused him to pick up plenty about communicating with others. Although he won’t be intimidating anyone any time soon, he is able to negotiate with others and can act as a mediator between two opposing parties. Plus, his friendly nature lead others to be more inclined to do what he asks. This is the reason why he has been able to get good deals from local merchants without going completely broke.
» Block – While melee weapons and shields aren’t exactly Axel’s forte, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know how to defend against attacks. The Monks of the Way have taught Axel how to defend himself against attacks, whether they are unarmed strikes or attacks with a weapon. If Axel wears his gauntlets, the Onyx Hands, he is able to block attacks from both bladed and blunt weapons using the gauntlets themselves. Even so, he’d rather evade an attack rather than blocking it if possible.
Apprentice
» Archery [Crossbows] – Due to having no experience in using one-handed and two-handed weapons and having no proficiency in any sort of magic at all, archery was the sole weapon skill that Axel strove to learn. He learned how to shoot a bow in his younger years and can use them alongside crossbows. However, Axel favors the crossbow over the bow since they are much easier to operate and there is a greater selection of ammunition to choose from. Also, the crossbow was a staple invention of the Dwemer and Axel made sure to learn the crossbow’s construction and usage.
» Sneak – If you asked Axel what the key of sneaking was, he’d say “. . . Don’t get caught?” It’s a decent answer to say the least and Axel can be sneaky if he needs to. His smaller stature helps, making him a bit harder to spot and he knows how to move quietly and not make noise ( most of the time ). Don’t expect him to sneak through an entire bandit fort and take out every single bandit without being seen.
Novice
» Lockpicking | Pickpocketing – Axel’s no thief. He’s a lousy pickpocket and can’t be bothered fiddling with locks. For him to successfully pickpocket someone, they’d have to be completely unconscious with nobody else in a fifty meter area of them. Oh and if you want him to lockpick a chest or a door, just be ready for him to break plenty of your lockpicks.
» One-Handed | Two-Handed – Armed combat was never Axel’s forte. Despite constant efforts to improve his use of melee weaponry, he has barely got any better at using them. If he has to use a melee weapon, one-handed weapons are his best bet. Two-handed weapons are far too heavy and clunky for Axel to use. Plus, it’s almost comical watching him trying to swing a sword that’s bigger than he is.
» Light Armor – Using light armor effectively requires both constant conditioning and dedication. While Axel is physically conditioned and could learn to use light armor if he wanted to, he instead chose heavy armor due to its better protection. To him, using light armor is too risky since it doesn't offer as much protection as heavy armor.
» All Magic Schools – Although both of his parents are mages, Axel has no proficiency in magic. His complete ineptitude with magic is viewed as a disability to some. This has caused Axel to become slightly jealous of mages or anyone who has talent in the magical arts. While he has still has no prowess or ability to learn and use magic, he hasn't let that dampen his confidence too much.
» GEAR
» Onyx Hands [Flawless] [Pugilist]
Axel's signature gauntlets. The Onyx Hands are a pair of Ebony gauntlets that the Monks of the Way gave Axel after he completed his initial training and was thus deemed fit to begin traveling. At first glance, they look like an ordinary pair of Ebony gauntlets but they are anything but that. First of all, the gloves' craftsmanship is astounding, putting these gloves in a league of their own when it comes to effectiveness. Also, the gloves have been enhanced with a special effect, one that essentially boosts the power of the wearer's unarmed strikes by a startling degree. Coupled with his martial arts, Axel is capable of dealing potentially lethal strikes with these pair of gloves. Also, Axel can use his gauntlets to defend against both bladed and blunt weapons with no damage caused to his hands underneath. Axel typically wears these gloves along with his set of custom Ebony armor.
» Customized Ebony Armor
Axel’s set of armor is just like any set of Ebony Armor save for a few modifications. Since ebony is an expensive ore, Axel took another approach to crafting Ebony Armor to compensate for its high cost. Instead of wearing full ebony mail, Axel instead wears a tough vest made out of ebony ore. Underneath, he wears a short-sleeved chainmail shirt. The sleeves stop at the middle of his forearms. Other than that, the leggings, gloves and boots are just like any other piece of ebony armor, with the leggings consisting of a sturdy set of pants with greaves protecting the shins and knees. Axel doesn't wear a helmet, instead preferring to keep his Dwemer goggles on his head. While this set of armor isn't as protective as standard Ebony armor, it does allow for more mobility whilst still being able to effectively protect Axel from all sorts of weaponry and blows.
» Potions [Assorted]
Axel carries a variety of potions and poisons on him. Being a master alchemist, his potions and poisons are extremely potent. His potions range from healing potions to boosting potions while his poisons vary in effect and intensity. Typically, the more potent a potion or poison is, the fewer he has of it. Listed below are the amounts of potions and poisons Axel usually has with him at a time.
» Healing Potions [5]
» Fortifying Potions [3]
» Poisons [3]
» Spell Scrolls [Assorted]
In order to circumvent his inability to use magic, Axel uses spell scrolls in order to cast spells during battle. Spell scrolls can be used by anyone no matter how skilled or unskilled they are in magic and thus they are an invaluable tool to use during combat situations. Plus, they fit exceptionally well with Axel’s usage of potions. The only types of scrolls that Axel carries are Destruction and Alternation scrolls. Conjuration, Illusion and Restoration scrolls are far too volatile for Axel to use, mostly due to him not having the ability to effectively control the magical energy in his grasp. Axel uses his Alteration Scrolls in order to bolster his defenses while he uses his Destruction scrolls to add magical power behind his punches. These scrolls are small and easy to carry. Listed below are the amounts of scrolls that Axel typically has on him at a time.
» Fireball [5]
» Ice Storm [5]
» Chain Lightning [5]
» Ironflesh [3]
「RELATIONS」
» Thalmor [ENEMIES] – Axel has a sharp dislike for the Thalmor. They seek to rule all of Tamriel under a single government where elves hold all positions of power. They are elven supremacists who do nothing more than oppress and harass those who are not of Altmer blood. Plus, they claimed false responsibility for closing the Oblivion Gates when it was truly Martin Septim who sacrificed himself to close the gates and ultimately save the world. In all, Axel believes the Thalmor to be the true threat to Skyrim and wishes that both the Imperials and the Stormcloaks would combine their efforts to stop them instead of fighting each other. Other than that, Axel just tries to avoid dealing with the Thalmor whenever possible. Although he does not worship Talos, he still feels that the Thalmor’s presence doesn’t do anyone any sort of good.
» Imperial Legion [NEUTRAL] – Honestly, Axel tries to avoid taking sides in terms of the Civil War. However, he sides more with the Imperials than the Stormcloaks. Most of the distaste for the Empire comes from their peace treaty with the Thalmor. However, that very peace treaty is one of the only things that is stopping the Thalmor from overtaking Skyrim. Plus, even Imperials themselves know that the Thalmor are the true evil and not the Stormcloaks. Axel hopes that the conflict between the two opposing forces can be resolved with something other than violence and that both sides combine their efforts into taking down the Thalmor.
» Stormcloaks [DISLIKES] – Being a Redguard, Axel has faced his fair share of racial discrimination from Stormcloak supporters. Even so, he knows that not all of them are xenophobic and heated racists. Some genuinely care for Skyrim’s well-being and her people, regardless of race. Axel doesn’t necessarily hate the Stormcloaks but he doesn’t support them either. Again, he believes that the Stormcloaks should work together with the Imperials in order to eliminate the Thalmor from Tamriel.
» Falmer [NEUTRAL] – It is sad how the Falmer came to be. The Dwemer were responsible for their enslavement and their grotesque transformation into the blind beasts they are known as today. Though Axel is extremely interested in the Dwemer’s technology, he can’t help but think that they were terrible for what they did to the Falmer. It’s a definite tragedy and Axel only hopes something can be done before the Falmer take to more drastic measures in their plan for complete domination of the surface world.
» Forsworn [DISLIKES] – After educating himself about the Markarth Incident, Axel has slightly changed his opinion about the Forsworn. Before, he viewed them as a group of bloodthirsty savages but now, he sees the reasoning behind their constant attacks against the people of the Reach. Still, he wishes that they could find a much more peaceful alternative to settling their differences with the local Nords. Axel still does his best to avoid dealing with them altogether though.
» The Thieves Guild [DISLIKES] – To be blunt, Axel doesn’t like the Thieves’ Guild one bit. They are nothing more than heartless, greedy thugs and they are the main reason why Riften is such a corrupt and dangerous place. He understands that some people have to resort to stealing in order to stay alive. However, those who do it out of greed and malice are rabble. The problem with the Thieves Guild is that the amount of influence they have and rooting out their power will be extremely difficult. Still, it’s not like Axel wouldn’t at least try to stop them.
» The Companions [LIKES] – Axel respects the Companions. They are a close-knit family with good intentions despite their public image being a group of savage brutes. Of course, Axel isn’t aware of the organization’s well-guarded secrets. He has actually expressed an interest of joining the Companions. However, he has been hesitant to try and join due to fear of rejection.
» Mages College [NEUTRAL] – Having been blamed by many for the cause of the Great Collapse, it’s not surprising that a majority of Skyrim’s residents are skeptical of the College and of mages in general. Axel isn’t entirely sure if the College is to blame for Winterhold’s past destruction however he doesn’t hold any sort of hatred for the College or its mages.
» The Dark Brotherhood [DISLIKES] – Axel doesn’t know too much about the Dark Brotherhood, other than the fact that they are a shadowy group of assassins who carry out a countless amount of assassination contracts. They are merciless, twisted killers who take joy in ending the lives of others. Axel has absolutely no interest in joining them whatsoever. He tends to avoid anything that remotely deals with the Dark Brotherhood. After all, he doesn’t want trained assassins sent after him.
「HISTORY」
Axel was born on the 2nd of Sun’s Height in Riverwood. Being the son of two proficient spell-swords and apothecaries, it seemed only a matter of time before Axel would take up his parents’ art. However, that would soon prove not to be the case. Riverwood was quiet and peaceful enough, a suitable place to raise a child. Like any other kid, Axel had few worries in the world, aside from wondering if he would get his favorite sweet roll every day. His parents decided to introduce him to alchemy at a young age, both of them being town apothecaries. They cared for Riverwood’s inhabitants and would often travel in order to treat those who were in need but could not make the journey to visit them. At first, they taught their son some of the basics and left it at that. However, they soon came to found out that their son was picking up new concepts extremely quickly. He was even going so far as to discover new alchemy recipes on his own and modifying existing recipes in order to make them that much more effective. While his parents saw this as amazing, Axel remained humble. In his eyes, anybody could do it, all they needed was dedication and determination. Axel wasn’t too much of the social type, instead wanting to keep to his books and potions. He played with the other kids from time to time but if he had a choice, he kept to himself. He did so with good reason though. One particular child, an Argonian named Jye, was quite popular with the other children. He served as the kids’ “leader” and many of the village’s children aspired to be just like him. Everyone except Axel, that is. To Jye, Axel was the perfect target for bullying and teasing. He was quiet, weak, short, a dork and just a little milk-drinker. As such, Jye took every opportunity he could to bully and harass Axel. From name-calling to roughing him up, Jye gave Axel every reason to avoid being around the other children.
Once he turned fourteen, Axel’s parents decided to introduce him to weaponry and magic. With Skyrim being as dangerous as it was, it was never too early to teach someone how to defend themselves. Since both of Axel’s parents were spellswords, the two of them wanted Axel to take up their fighting style as well. However, they were met with a surprise. Axel was absolutely horrible with melee weapons and he had no sort of talent with magic whatsoever. This soon raised a question. Was their son’s only saving grace was his brilliant mind? Of course, they didn’t treat Axel any different. They loved him, no matter who he was. However, Axel’s morale took a big blow. He couldn’t help but be a bit distraught, knowing that the other children were already showing promise with their skills, especially Jye. By that time, Jye had already gotten a firm grasp of swordplay and had even managed to learn his fire spell, one that allowed him to generate a stream of fire from his hands. Of course, it wasn’t long before Jye found out about Axel’s incompetence with combat and magic. After finding out, Jye truly believed that Axel has no sort of power nor talent, aside from whipping up potions and his bullying and teasing increased in frequency and became much more malicious.
Even with this constant abuse from Jye and the other village children, Axel didn’t give up on his goals. There had to be SOME fighting style that he would be able to learn, even if he had almost exhausted all of his choices. Dismayed, the Redguard wandered a little way outside of the village one day, crossing the bridge that was on the same path to Whiterun. Instead of going to Whiterun, he wandered a bit off the path, making his way along the other side of the river across from Riverwood. After a couple of minutes, the lad stumbled upon a group of monks who had established a camp near the base of Bleak Falls Barrow, directly east of South Brittlesand Pass. Some of them were meditating, while others engaged in stimulating conversation. However, what caught Axel’s attention were the remaining monks participating in martial art training, whether it be learning new forms or techniques or actively sparring. Axel was so captivated by the monks’ amazing martial art skill that he vaguely noticed that one of the monks had approached him. He was a middle-aged Altmer, with grey shoulder-length hair and pale golden eyes. He was surprisingly built and muscular, despite Altmer being known for their slender builds. He was also very kind, a trait that’s somewhat uncharacteristic of the Altmer. The High Elf chuckled. “Well, hello there. Just out enjoying nature, I presume?” he asked. Axel’s lips quivered, searching for an answer. “Y-Yes sir. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” At that time, the Altmer took a step forward and placed a golden hand on the Redguard’s shoulder.
“Oh, you are not intruding one bit! Do not worry, child.”
Axel managed to crack a soft smile but a frown soon slipped across his face.
“Is something troubling you, child?”
“I just . . . I just feel like I can’t do anything. I’m constantly made fun of since I’m such a little . . . milkdrink. No matter how much I try, I just can’t learn to fight or use magic. But . . . But I do want to learn how to fight. I need some way to defend myself if I want to go traveling someday. I feel like . . . I feel like I’m not making my parents proud either. The only thing I can do is . . . just make potions.”
The High Elf thought for a brief moment before finally answering.
“I'm very sorry to hear your troubles. However, do not let others' words discourage you. The fact that you can make potions at such a young age is astounding in itself. Also, you don't have to learn how to use weapons or magic to be able to defend yourself. Why, sometimes the simplest means of defense is the most effective! Hmm. I would like to help you in any way I can, that is, if you do not mind."
Axel's acceptance was near instant. After hastily and gracefully accepting the Altmer's offer, Axel spent the majority of the day observing the interesting group. He soon found out they were part of an order of monks known as the Asura Monks. The Asura Monks were mainly nomadic and could be found in nearly every part of Tamriel. They were a peaceful bunch, striving to learn more about Nirn and to strengthen themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. Axel was so amazed by the Asura Monks that he promptly told his mother and father about them and their offer to have him as a prime student. Much to Axel's surprise, his parents agreed and even attended his lessons from time to time. Along with keeping up with his studies with his parents and the monks, Axel remained extremely diligent to his martial arts training and the monks were surprised to see how quickly Axel was learning, especially from someone who claimed that they had no hopes of learning how to fight.
Maybe he was a fighter after all.
At sixteen years old, Axel had become an expert alchemist and managed to learn all of the Asura Monks' martial art fundamentals, beginner techniques and some intermediate techniques. Still, his skill with bows wasn’t exactly up to par with other archers. Although he was still young and had much to learn, Axel strove to refine his martial arts to the point where it’ll be at the level of his alchemy. Considering his expertise with potions, that much was a lofty goal. That had to be something that he could do though. Also, after hearing about the Dwemer from the monks, a sudden interest about the Dwemer and their technology sparked inside the young Redguard. As such, Axel decided to take up blacksmithing so that he would be able to manufacture brilliant pieces of weaponry and armor on his own, especially those utilized by the Dwemer. Besides, blacksmithing would be a useful skill to have once Axel started traveling. He saw it like alchemy except he was dealing with metals instead of alchemy reagents. Axel’s father was a respectable blacksmith. After hearing his son’s sudden interest in blacksmithing, he decided to show him the ropes by taking him frequently to the town’s forge. It would seem as though it’d only be a matter of time before Axel would become a skilled smith as well.
On Axel’s twentieth birthday, Axel’s persistent studying and practice allowed him to become a master alchemist. There was almost no potion he couldn’t brew and he could take the most common ingredients and brew them into a potent elixir. Also, he managed to graduate the initial phase of the Asura Monks' Way, earning him the title of Sura. With six years of intense training under his belt, his skill in martial arts was unmistakeable and he had reached the point where he could effectively defend himself in a fight if need be. Also, Axel had learned how to smith and create a variety of weapons and armor using a wide range of different metals. Still, Axel wished to accomplish more.
He hadn’t traveled much at all.
Jye had left the village three years earlier than Axel to travel and see the world. The furthest he had been from home was going to Whiterun to run errands for his parents. Other than that, he was only able to envision what the other parts of Skyrim looked like from the mountains of books he had read. There was so much more to learn and to see other than the small and remote village of Riverwood. However, there was still much more danger and strife outside the humble village as well. Axel knew that he could get mauled by beasts, mobbed and robbed by bandits and ultimately perish out in the unforgiving wilderness.
. . . But to Axel, it was worth the risk.
