Seal-Warden's Art Book

Brybnir Stone-Heart (+ some stuff idk)

So I've been sketching on and off for weeks on a picture of another one of my many TES:V OCs because I was filling up some sketchbook pages by turning old sketches into full pieces.
Anywhoo, this is Brybnir Hrokison/Stone-Heart, a Kruziik Nord who keeps an inn and tavern in the tiny settlement town of Óstberg. He frequently tells the Talos-related story from which the settlement and his inn got their names to visitors, though his version is often corrected by the resident Talos priest, Sinilfr, who claims some of the 'facts' can't be verified. Brybnir continues to tell the same version time and time again though, and there's no real animosity between the innkeep and the priest.

Also I included a one-shot I wrote randomly because I had the idea, but due to the image glitch you'll have to scroll a little. :/

Kilgrae Hold Guard Reader
(Y/N = Your Name, Y/R = Your Race)

The day had been long and dragging. Amidst the duties you had as a guard of Kilgrae Hold, there was little reprieve from your post or the bandits that sometimes stalked the roads of your circuit.
Luckily today your duties had you assigned to Óstberg, the little cliffside village just north of the city. Ah the beautiful grey skies over the cliffs that skirted the edge of the Sea of Ghosts...it may have been the smallest of the Hold villages, but it was your favorite.

But today was not a day in which you had been joyously fawning over the majesty of Kyne's creation -- today you were tired and soaked from the rain, marching your circuit until another guard would take your place.

You leaned against the statue of Talos that stood in the center of the village, watching the firelight flicker in the windows of the Cliff Shout Inn, a lantern swaying from the doorpost; you were already beginning to entertain plans for the rest of your evening, mainly getting out of the rain. A sprinkle wasn't bad, but Skyrim has always been chilly enough as it is without a damp cuirass weighing on your form.
You saw Brother Sinilfr at a distance and hailed the old man over the sound of the drumming rainfall.

"Talos be with you!" you called; he came over to you with a nod.

"May Talos bless you, child," he answered, "How long have you been out here in this wet?"

He looked up at the dark grey sky, the rain splashing against his face and robes. You tapped a finger against your helmet, trying to recall.

"It feels like it's been forever, sometime this morning," you replied, "But the guard changes at nightfall, Welkynd will come to take over for me soon."

"Hm," the elderly priest nodded, "You can turn in at the Cliff Shout once he arrives, Brybnir hung a lantern for you."

You looked back at the lantern hanging by the inn's front door. That was for you? So Brybnir had seen you walking around out here, you were glad, and grateful, to say the very least.

"What a relief..." you replied, flicking rain out of your eyes, "How about you? Headed home or to the inn?"

"Home, I've prayers to say before I rest," the priest turned towards his house, "Farewell, child. Divines guard you."

"Thank you-!" you sneezed out, waving.

You had just started wondering when Welkynd would arrive to take over for you when you saw the Altmer sprinting up the road, his cowl fluttering behind him as he splashed through the mud.

"Hail, Y/N!" he panted as he came to a stop, leaning on the statue to catch his breath, "So very sorry for my delay, my Y/R friend! I was doing...things."

"Uh-huh, spying on the Convent, more specifically Alyson-?" you sneezed again, shaking your head as your ears rung.

"...Not to change the subject from your calling me out, but you should definitely get inside," Welkynd said, "I am here now, after all!"

You nodded, waving goodbye to your fellow guard and heading towards the lamplight-- which blew out with a sudden gust before you laid a muddy boot on the inn's wooden steps.

"Huh, just my luck..." you muttered to yourself.

Sluggishly, you plodded up and reached for the door, only for it to swing open. Brybnir grabbed both the lantern and you, pulling you inside and setting the lantern on a table.

"Y/N! By Kyne, you're freezing!" the Nord exclaimed, "Soaked past everything and straight to the skin!"

He sat you down in a seat by the fire and you pulled off your helmet, sniffing back another sneeze.

"What can I get for you?" he asked, ducking into another room.

"Anything warm..." you called back, watching the flames dance and flicker, "And a room, I'm not walking or riding back in this weather...

He came back out with a quilt and quickly unfolded it, tucking it around you. You pulled the thick blanket tightly around yourself and mumbled a quick 'thank you' through your shivers.

"Kick off your boots, you'll warm faster if your feet aren't so damp,"

You nodded and pushed off the fur boots, he smiled at you warmly before fetching something for you to eat and drink. He brought you a mug and some apple dumplings, setting them on the table beside you. You covered up your face again as another sneeze escaped.

"Fresh dumplings and some spiced ale, good for warding off the cold," he chuckled, "Sounds like you need it, too."

You felt warm inside already, despite the shivering, you smiled back as you wriggled out of your cocoon, reaching for the food and drink.

"How much do I owe, Bry?" you asked, lifting the mug and taking a long, slow sip.

He gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze, "Y/N, don't worry yourself about it, aye? We'll sort it out tomorrow."

You hummed in response, reaching for a dumpling. He sat down in another chair nearby with his own mug, leaning against the table and watching the flames flickering. You both sat in silence with the rain drumming against the roof and walls of the inn, only broken by your occasional sniffle.

"Gods, I'm glad I'm not Welkynd," you spoke up, "he's got the shift until much later."

"He's got places to duck into, he'll be alright," Brybnir assured you, glancing away from the fire, "Besides, the rain will let up soon."

"How do you know?"

"Ah, I just do. It's already dying down," he set his mug down and stood, "I'll get a room ready for you."

You leaned back in your chair and closed your eyes, listening to the Nord's footsteps on the wooden floor grow quieter as he walked away. The fire crackled and you felt at ease. Being a guard wasn't always an easy job, but at least there were people in your life made it worthwhile, knowing you were keeping them safe gave the job meaning.
You didn't open your eyes when Brybnir returned, enjoying the cozy warmth of the quilt and the fire that dried the dampness of your clothes.

"Y/N? You asleep?" he whispered.

He paused a moment to wait for a response, but were too tired and lazy give him one, still, you struggled to keep yourself from grinning.
He scooped you up out of the chair as carefully as possible, still bundled up comfortably with your legs dangling over his arm. You nestled into the warmth of both the quilt and Brybnir, drowsiness keeping your eyes closed and your thoughts blurred into a soft buzz. The large man chuckled and gave you an affectionate little squeeze before setting you down in the bed he'd prepared.

"I knew you were still awake," he spoke, his voice soft and warm.

"I didn't want to get up and walk," you mumbled back, smiling slightly.

"Aye," he patted your forehead, his hand comfortably warm against your cool skin, "Get some sleep, Y/N. I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Thanks, Bry..."

You yawned and slowly drifted off to sleep, listening to the muffled sounds of Brybnir getting ready to turn in himself for the night in another room.

The rain had finally stopped.