The Elder Scrolls IV... And A Half

Chapter 4

The day had come. Goken's 18th birthday. His coming of age. Thaddeus knew this day was coming, but even know, he could hardly believe it was here. He walked into the training hall where Goken was practicing with the guards. He had just knocked one guard to the ground before quickly turning to block an incoming attack from the other guard.

Thaddeus called Goken over. "Good fight," Goken said to the guards before running over. Thaddeus watched him as he approached: he had grown so much. "Goken, my son. Today is your 18th birthday. Now that you have come of age, there is something important you must know about. Come with me."

Goken trailed behind Thaddeus cautiously. He didn't know what to expect. They walked through the guard's quarters and entered a perfectly empty room save for a purple rug and a few torches. "There's nothing here," Goken exclaimed. It was at this moment that Thaddeus walked over to a small pillar in the wall and pulled it. The wall began to open and a dark corridor was revealed. Goken was shocked. All these years and no one had ever told him this was here. "Come on," Thaddeus told him.

They followed the corridor before coming to a large room which resembled both a library and a study. Goken stared in awe all around the room. When he turned back to face his father, he had already sat down at a large desk. "Please, Goken, have a seat." Goken took the chair opposite his father, all the while staring at him with a concerned expression. His father looked up at him.

"Goken, you have heard of your ancestors, yes? The ones who carried your name before you?" Goken racked his brain trying to remember. "Yes," he finally said. "They were all great heroes who had saved Nirn. But the last Goken Dragonspyre died about 150 years ago, after the beginning of the Fourth Era." Thaddeus showed a proud smile for a second before it dropped again. "Good. Now, we Dragonspyres have lived as peaceful nobles since then. But 18 years ago, the Dragon God of Time Akatosh appeared to me in a dream. He told me that you were to play a pivotal role in determining the future of Nirn, and for this reason he ordered you to be named Goken."

Goken stared at him, half in disbelief. Thaddeus continued. "He also said that when you come of age, that I shall send you north to your ancestral homeland, the home of the Nords, Skyrim. This is where the first three Goken Dragonspyres were born and raised. The day has come. I must send you to Skyrim. I do not know what you will find, but I have faith in you." Goken looked down and thought long and hard. This was a lot of information to take in.

Eventually he looked back up at his father. "When do I leave?" he asked. His father frowned slightly. "Tonight. A carriage has been prepared that will take you to Bruma, but from there you must make your own way to the border."