Chapter 1

Darkness is all that surrounds me. I can't tell how long I've been here, time seems incalculable in this void. Yet I know that this will not last forever. That eventually I'll wake up, taking my first breaths in a new world. As I wait I start to feel something. It's small at first, but I can feel a tingling sensation where my hands should be. The sensation travels up my arms and as it does the tingling turns to pain. To the point where if I had a mouth I'd be screaming. The pain starts traveling up my legs and with it comes feeling, then pain.

As the sensations travel up my torso a terrible stomach ache threatens to overwhelm me. Then my lungs, they burned and itched. The itching and burning pain in my lungs was by far the worst. Unfortunately I was to be proven wrong, for once it reached my heart, I wanted to just end it all. Even though I knew that this would be over soon, I wanted to give up.

Nearly my whole body was enveloped in pain. I knew that it was nearly over but for some reason the process began to slow. I cursed in all manner of ways, I said anything I could to the cause of my suffering. Surely they could have made the process easier, yet they chose to make it as painful as possible. The pain, for continuing to call it a sensation in spite of this pain would be ridiculous, finally made its way to my eyes and if my arms were not bound by some unseen force I would have tore them out. It felt as if tiny needles were constantly being stuck into my eyes.

Thankfully the pain made it to my head. Once I was completely enveloped I felt a cooling sensation wash over my entire body. I had thought that my brain would be the next to suffer, but thankfully I seemed to have been spared such torture. All the pain that wracked my body eased and I relaxed my body that I could now feel.

As I was enjoying the loosening of my muscles and ease of my breathing I realized that I could breathe. That I could feel my muscles. Not only that, I could feel a cold breeze on my face. Yet it wasn't cold, it felt cold in the sense that my brain registered it as cold, yet my body didn't feel uncomfortable in the slightest. In fact my body felt in harmony with this cold air.

I tentatively opened my eyes and I couldn't help the sudden intake of air. I sat against a tree looking over a vast forest covered in snow. There was hardly any light yet I could make out the seemingly endless sea of dark, ominous trees. They seemed to come alive as they gently swayed in the wind. The branches appeared as dark clawed hands reaching out in all directions, ready to grab at anything that dared enter their domain. Thick snowflakes fell from the dark clouds above and seemed to cover everything. There was hardly a spot that wasn't touched by this otherworldly phenomenon.

A haunting breeze echoed all around me. In the distance I could hear the faint howling of wolves adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The wind was strong, it whipped my hair all over the place and lashed out randomly as if it had a mind of its own. It kicked up snow lying peacefully on the ground and sent them into the seeming chaotic maelstrom in the skies above.

Looking at this picturesque yet haunting scene felt right. In any other circumstance I would feel scared and shivering uncontrollably. I would feel lost and helpless, like a newborn fawn left alone in the cold and dark, without the protection of a mother to provide warmth and sustenance. Yet on a physical level, no, on a spiritual level, to the very core of my being, I felt at home.

I stood to my feet and almost lost my balance because of the unfamiliarity of my own body. Yet as the feeling of vertigo assailed me, nearly sending me to my knees, a large and powerful body leaned into me, lending me it's strength. Looking down at the figure I saw black wiry long hair. The body of this beast was unlike anything I had ever seen, I could feel the strong corded muscle underneath the unusual fur of the beast. Not only that but despite the fact that nearly all my weight was being supported by this creature I felt assured that it would not let me fall. That it would continue to hold me up even if the earth was to split beneath our feet.

I looked to the head of this creature and a pair of seemingly cold ice blue eyes peered back into my own. Those eyes were unlike any I had ever seen from something that wasn't human. An unnerving intelligence laid in those icy blue eyes, they held me, not allowing me to break from it's gaze. Seeking, scouring my very soul, for what I could not tell. Yet in those eyes I recognized uncertainty, curiosity, hunger and a myriad of other emotions. I knew on an instinctual level that if I made the wrong move, this powerful beast would drop me and lunge for my throat.

In the corner of my eye, I could see a dark silhouette that stood tall. A familiar pair of emerald green eyes that seemed to glow, watched my every movement. Ready to pounce at a moment's notice. I knew despite my inability to clearly make out the figure that it closely resembled the beast currently holding me up. The wind seemed to still, the snow hung in the air. Even the trees ceased their swaying, as if the entire world held its breath in the face of this world altering moment. With a calm I never knew I was capable of, I spoke in an unfamiliar tongue.

"Heskiili"

In that moment the world seemed to release the breath it held and all was back to how it should be. The figure bounded over to me barking all the while. I looked down and I could see recognition in the eyes of the beast holding me up. I couldn't recognize them at first, they seemed so real and frightening in person, but after coming to my senses I realized who these two were. Looking into the eyes of the beast holding me up I spoke in a familiar tone, in another unfamiliar language.

"It's good to see you, Floki."

With a happy yet deep bark of recognition the beast below me eased its body, content to allow me to rest against her for as long as I needed. I stood to my feet with more confidence and rubbed the head of the beast at my side.

"Thank you Floki, such a good girl."

As I rubbed Floki's head the other beast stood at my other side.

"You too Sceolang."

As I rubbed the heads of the two I could see their tails wagging furiously. As if becoming aware of her unseemly behavior, Floki abruptly ceased her tail wagging and stood at my side scanning the area for any threats. Sceolang, ever the playful one, just enjoyed the attention.

"Alright Sceolang, form up."

As I spoke he quickly went to my right, opposite to Floki and began scanning the surroundings with the same predatory acumen of his mate. As the two beasts did their duty I took stock of my situation. It seems the transmigration was a success. I am in the body of my Skyrim game character. Looking down at my body I could see the nordic carved armor I wore. I couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of the situation. Here I was, in the body of a character I designed in a video game. I took in a deep breath of air and enjoyed the feeling of my lungs expanding without any pain. I missed this feeling, it had been so long since my lungs felt this good.

I heard Floki and Sceolang growl and I quickly looked in the direction they were facing. From the tree line four figures emerged. They were unrecognizable at first but as they got closer I was able to make them out. What I saw brought a smile to my face. I raised my hand and waved them over while clicking my tongue, causing the two beasts to relax.

Soon the four stood before me and I eyed them each up and down. The first was Svenn, Svenn the gentle, he was the tallest of the lot, standing at seven feet two inches, he struck an imposing figure with his tall but muscular physique. He had blonde hair that had the beginnings of gray that hung loosely around his face and down to his shoulders. A full beard that nearly covered his mouth lay neatly braided with all manner of trinkets entwined throughout. His eyes resembled that of a wild beast with their amber hew. It was as if looking into the eyes of a wild dog, always challenging and seeking for a fight. He wore a set of nordic carved armor and held a stalhrim battle-axe in his grip. The axe looked otherworldly, the bearded ends were made of a magical blue translucent ice.

The next figure was Aela, Aela the huntress, she was the shortest standing at six feet tall. She had an amazonian physique that gave the appearance of a lithe but powerful wolf. She had a mane of reddish auburn hair tied in a ponytail. Forest green eyes that appeared to see everything peered back into my questing gaze. She too wore a set of ancient Nord armor that left much exposed skin. Yet despite the cold air she didn't seem bothered at all by it, neither did Svenn. She had a stalhrim bow in her grip with a quiver at her back and a pair of daggers at either hip.

Next was Ivar, Ivar the boneless, he is a young boy no older than seventeen. Six feet seven inches tall with a slim physique. Blonde hair in an intricate braid with a patchy beard. His eyes are a sapphire blue filled with curiosity and wonder. Unlike the others, he wore dark blue robes, the robes of a Wiseman. He does carry a stalhrim dagger at his waist however. Yet in his hands he holds the staff of a dragon priest.

Last but not least was Gunner, Gunner half beard, seven feet tall with blonde hair that hung loosely and icy blue eyes that could freeze you on sight. He has a nasty looking scar from his chin to his left cheek that gives him a permanent sneer. The half of his face with the scar is hairless, hence the name half beard. He wears a set of nordic carved armor and has a stalhrim sword in his right hand and a war axe in the other.

After eyeing the four up I nodded my head in approval, this was my group, my team, my family. I had designed them myself and created their own backstory to add some flavor to my playthrough and I was glad that they were here.

"What's going on cousin, where are we?" Ivar asked, he would be the first to ask questions.

"I'm not sure, What do you remember last?" I responded.

"We had defeated that dragon priest and had activated the portal to enter Sovngarde." Ivar replied.

"Yes, that was a good fight. Those draugr were tough, worthy warriors. I see why they were kept as guardians. I would have loved to fight them when they were living though. Not that the outcome would have been any different, I would have made them taste the smile of my axe regardless, hahahaha." Gentle boasted with his grating voice and booming laugh.

"Don't underestimate them Gentle, we fought as a team. Alone, I'm not sure the odds would be in your favor." Aela added causing Gentle to glare at the smaller woman.

"Are you saying that I, Svenn the gentle, would have lost!" Gentle had turned to face Aela, he loomed over her, as if trying to intimidate her.

"Only a fool would think they could have taken on all those draugr alone. You would not have fared well alone, that is what I'm saying." Aela replied.

"So you are calling me a fool! Is that what you are saying!" Gentle wasn't backing down and seemed ready to fight. He was always looking for a fight, especially with the famed huntress.

"Enough! Calm down Gentle, we have serious matters to attend to." I cut into the argument, Gentle was loyal, but he had to be watched or he'd end up fighting anything that looked at him wrong. Growling petulantly, Gentle turned away from Aela.

"Now, where were you, Ivar?" I continued, gesturing at Ivar to continue.

"Oh, well, after activating the portal, we jumped in and ended up here."

"But where is here? This doesn't look like Sovngarde to me." Gentle asked impatiently.

"And how would you know what Sovngarde looked like? Last time I checked you had to be dead to enter." Aela mockingly replied, causing Gentle to face her, no doubt with a retort on his lips.

"I said enough. Go on boy." I said, hiding my smile as best I could.

"I don't believe this to be sovngarde. The magic here is, weak, it's almost nonexistent in fact. I can't say for certain but I think we have been sent somewhere else. There is meant to be a fog covering the place. I don't even hear Alduin in the sky, surely he would have known of our arrival. But if not Sovngarde then where? This isn't Skyrim, I don't think we are even on Nirn."

"I feel the same, the portal must have sent us to a new land. Unfortunately this means that we most likely won't be able to return. This will likely be permanent." I said, trying to steer them in a preferred direction.

"I wouldn't go so far as that cousin, how are you so sure that we won't be able to return?"

"Let's just say I have a feeling. Now, why don't we look for civilization. We can decide what action to take from there."

They all nodded in agreement and I turned to grab my stalhrim greatsword. It lay against the tree and as I picked it up I felt a rightness. Looking around for any other gear I couldn't find anything else so I turned to face the others.

Walking up to them I got a gauge for my own height. I must have been about six feet nine inches tall. I didn't have a mirror so I couldn't see my own face but I knew instinctively how old I was, I am nineteen years old.

"Let's get moving, Aela, lead the way." I said with an arm outstretched. Aela is an excellent ranger so in a forest she is the best equipped to lead us.

"On it." She replied and took point as we followed in formation. Floki and Sceolang at my side as usual. I have taken my first steps in this new world and I must admit, I'm excited. Lookout world, the Dragonborn comes.