Delirium - A Skyrim Story

Act I Chapter I - The Call of Blood

Chapter I

"I sought knowledge to escape mortality, but in the end, it was the deepest prison. Madness does not bargain - it consumes." - Battle-Mage Alistair - 4E 180

"I saw myself, adorned in a purple and orange regalia, holding a key, a circlet of light that would rest on my head." The boy would write in a small journal, his fingers shook as he dropped his charcoal stick on the floor. He let out a sigh as he leaned back on the bed made of wood and hay, a luxury especially for a farm boy, he slowly started to get up as the day began to start. The clucks of the chickens were an indicator of a new day drawing near. (A sunrise)

The boy quietly grabbed his charcoal stick and journal and he rested it on the nearby drawer, it seemed that he would write about his dreams, somehow his recent dream took a toll on him, he developed a curiosity. The boy put on his boots and put on his tunic before he headed outside, the day was already humid, it was the 15th of Last Seed so it was at the sunny season. The boy shaded his eyes as he left his home. It was shared by Mralki the owner of Frostfruit Inn, and Mralki's son Erik the Slayer.

The boy worked as a farmer and storage man for the Inn, it was enough to give him money for tools and food, he was starting to become independent for a boy that was only 17. He began to tend to the farm and even protect the chickens from the wolves. His days would always be planting, ploughing and during the end of the day - manage the storage of the Inn, making sure there is enough mead and ingredients for food.

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The boy sighed as he finished ploughing dirt, his brother Erik came up to him and gave him a hard pat on the back;

"You seem to be tired, brother" He let out a laugh, Erik wearing iron armor all day surprised the boy. The boy wiped his sweat, put down the tool and he looked at Erik "Yeah, I want the day to end sooner" --- Erik adjusted the boy's tunic and gestured with his head to go into the Inn "Come, let us have a drink."

Erik took the boy with a hand on his shoulder and entered the Inn, greeting their father -- With a light shout, Erik called out "Father, Thorian looks as parched as a sundried Draugr." -- Thorian...Thorian was the boy's name, with his facial features and name it was obvious the boy was a Breton, just without a gift in magic...

Mralki looked at the two boys and walked toward them, sitting Thorian down "Boy, you shouldn't be out there working hard, honestly you would fit better than me in owning this tavern." -- The boy let out a small sigh and shook his head "I would rather make money doing hard work." He joked and let out a small smirk. With that Erik and Mralki laughed hysterically and Mralki patted Thorian's shoulder "You have a good sense of humour...But here, you need it." He went to the counter and grabbed Thorian a mug of water -- Taking it with both hands, Thorian downed the water in a second, puzzling Mralki. With that his father said "Something is bothering you..."

Thorian nodded slowly, hesitating to recount the dream to them, but he knew if he kept it a secret, it will be impossible to get the answer; "I had a dream, I was sitting on a throne, dressed in a purple regalia, holding a beautiful circlet...I seemed to be in a realm, not from here...At least that is what I saw..." He added "On my forehead was writing, it said "Lord of Madness" in Daedric Script." He would think it was just a dream, but maybe it was a call or even a vision.

With the retelling of Thorian's story, it made Mralki remember something, without commenting he looked straight into Thorian's eyes and said just two words "Follow me". The man stood up with Thorian following him, meanwhile Erik just shrugged it off thinking it was just a mere dream. Mralki went into the basement were the storage would be held and tried to frantically find something. Thorian looked rather confused but he waited as he looked around the storage room.

"Here it is..." Mralki pulled out a scroll containing words from Alistair, a high class battle-mage that ended up travelling to Skyrim, vanishing without a trace. "This is a scroll containing clues and writings from Alistair, a well known mage that just vanished...But the final words of the scroll indicate that he had dealings with the Daedric Prince, Sheogorath..." Thorian scratched his head confused -- "You mean...The Sheogorath?" With that Mralki nods

Mralki added "You both seem to be connected...By blood." Thorian looked down at the scroll he took from Mralki and looked at him "My...Real father..." -- Mralki smiled and nodded whilst putting both hands on Thorian's shoulders "You find him, and your heritage as a Breton will be revealed, you will unlock more knowledge than you will ever receive here." -- Thorian nodded with optimism, such a young boy and leaving before Erik whom deserves to leave. "I will come back for you." Thorian gave Mralki a hug and Mralki commented; "Make your home proud." And with that the boy went back to Erik to describe what his plans are.

Thorian said to his brother "You sure you don't want to come with me?" --- Erik smiled and nodded "I am sure someone will convince father to let me adventure, but I am more useful here for now, maybe if Lokir comes back he can take back the job you have done."

With that Thorian nodded and smiled, going home and putting on armor of iron so that he can be protected, who knows what is going to be out there...Bandits, Giants and Trolls...Even Forsworn." He took his travelling lantern, and his bag, an iron sword and finally the scroll that Mralki had given him.

"Oops, I won't forget this." He looked and grabbed his journal and charcoal stick he had left on the drawer top. He went back out and sniffed the fresh air, waving and saying his goodbyes to the farm people and his family, and began heading North-West to Karthwasten. He began drawing on his journal to map out where he goes so that he won't be lost.

A new adventure begins, a calling of blood that his potential father once spread just to meddle with madness.