Kansas
State of Kansas
For the past few weeks, I have been working procrastinating on a crossover fanfiction between two of my favorite video games. Yes, I know crossovers are lorebreaking for the Elder Scrolls universe, but clearly, that's not my biggest concern. Enough of my rambling, here's the first couple of chapters. I'll probably end up posting a few other chapters later. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy this 
Out of nowhere, slimy tentacles and disembodied eyes began to materialize around the Khajiit, though it was unexpected, Ja'vassa kept his composure as he realized it was the Daedric Lord he called master; Hermaeus Mora himself. It was a bit surprising that Ja'vassa would be contacted before he even left town, though he figured it had to be important. After several moments of the disturbing materialization, the Daedra had spoken. "Come closer, my Champion... bask in my presence." He spoke in a disembodied, metallic sounding voice. "I've got a new task for you, one I believe you'll find comparable to your skills. Return to the Summit of Apocrypha where you defeated Miraak and the path shall be revealed. Complete this task for me and you will be richly rewarded, Dragonborn..." As quickly as the Prince appeared, it had disappeared, leaving Ja'vassa confused, but curious at what his new task would be.
Fortunately for him, he already had his things ready and all that was left was reading the Black Book he kept hidden in the Manor. After reading the book, he had been transported to the tower where that fateful battle with the First Dragonborn occured, though that ordeal was long behind him and now it was time to focus on the new task. Moments after dropping into Apocrypha, his Master had shown up. "What is it that you need me to do, my Lord?" Ja'vassa asked, keeping his usual monotonous, serious tone. Usually, Hermaeus Mora's work often led the Khajiit into exciting, but dangerous adventures; the life risking ventures with amazing rewards... the first encounter led him to visiting his first Dwemer ruin in the pursuit of the Falmer Blood and more importantly, the Elder Scroll. Eventually, that expedition in Blackreach not only rewarded him with an Elder Scroll, but with the Oghma Infinium as well. Months later, Ja'vassa found himself on Solstheim, again in the presence of the Daedric Prince of Fate and Knowledge, that time in pursuit of the First Dragonborn.
"As you are no doubt aware, the planes of Oblivion are infinite.. Mundus is infinite.. Aetherius is infinite. Not many are aware that more hide beyond these realms, though difficult to access, it is not completely impossible. Being an immortal Prince has its perks and I've had plenty of time to figure out how to access it." Hermaeus Mora started; while the Dragonborn was an incredibly intelligent Khajiit, the stuff being explained to him was effectively flying over his head. He mostly, or at least he assumes he understands the realms of Mundus, Oblivion, and Aetherius, but this was new. Despite his lack of understanding as to what was being said, he nodded anyways, interested in this realm beyond Aetherius. "I will be sending you to this realm, I cannot tell you what you'll find, but I can assure you that you'll arrive there alive. You are to go and collect any form of knowledge you can find... books, scrolls, journals, anything you can find. Study it and return it to Apocrypha through the Daedric servant you obtain prior to Miraak's defeat. Do this for me and I shall see to it that you're richly rewarded."
Thinking about it for a moment, Ja'vassa weighed his potential options. It usually isn't a good idea to argue with a Daedric Prince, especially in their own realm. If Miraak was to be an example, arguments or rebellions would likely end in a painful death. There was also the idea of him leaving behind every single person he's ever known; his fellow mages in the College of Winterhold, his Family in the Dark Brotherhood, his Volkihar Vampires, and the many others he's formed bonds with. The fact that his Lord hadn't a clue about what waited for him was a bit alarming, but that was likely the least of his concerns. On the upside, this new world would likely be more accepting of his kind, and maybe he'd be able to start over. Since losing his little sister all those years ago, Ja'vassa has gone down a less than favorable path, with his connections to the Dark Brotherhood, Clan Volkihar, and the Thieves Guild putting a huge stain on his reputation. This new world might give him what he needs to start fresh, to be the hero his sister would want him to be. Not to mention, his curiosity was getting the better of him; it wasn't everyday someone got to explore beyond Oblivion and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slide away. Weighing his options, thinking of the risks involved and the potential rewards that come with it, Ja'vassa nodded in confirmation. "I'll.. I'll do it." He said, wondering if he made a mistake with that. His response seemed to have been favorable with his Master as a strange, violet portal had slowly opened up.
"Prepare yourself for whatever awaits on the other side. When I deem your progress satisfactory, I will bring you back to Apocrypha." And with that, the Khajiit had cautiously entered the portal, his left hand resting on the handle of one of his axes. As he entered the portal, a brilliant flash of light enveloped him and rather than dropping him in some terrifying realm like he had expected, rather he landed in what appeared to be an expansive desert. Once the light disappeared, he looked around curiously; "It's almost like I landed in Hammerfell, but.." He muttered, though his attention was stolen by what appeared to be an army approaching from the north; all clad in blue and to the south, a number of what he could only assume to be mages dressed in red. "Stormcloaks? Imperials...? Is this just an alternative Tamriel?" He asked himself, deciding to hang back to see just what would happen.
"Just... just leave me alone!" The girl shouted, cowering from the man chasing her. Their sudden appearance seemed to have disrupted the skirmish between the red and blue armies. The elderly man's eyes widened after she yelled, "Oy! Quit with the yelling! Giving away our position would be bad, no?" He said, seemingly concerned with both armies at this point.
"Hey! Leave her be!" The leader of the northern army shouted, aiming a strange looking sword his way. "Ah, there she is.. consider this punishment for fleeing!" The red leader shouted in return. It seemed this was enough to convince which army the Khajiit should support, though he would remain behind just to see what would happen. After their sudden appearance and the brief timeout, the battle would resume; sword and spell clashed with much ferocity from both sides, it seemed the girl was slowly growing used to the man as he was genuinely trying to protect her. What was more surprising was the fact that the girl was able to transform into a dragon; it didn't seem that she really needed any help, but even with all that power, they were doomed to fall back. Without help from the other army, they were slowly being overwhelmed. The mercenary's sword had been knocked away while the girl had been separated from him, growing exhausted from the seemingly endless battle. She had been cornered by a pair of mages, both preparing lightning spells in the hopes of incapacitating her.
Before they could fire off the magic, Ja'vassa had made himself known to both sides. "Wuld... Nah Kest!" He shouted, using the Whirlwind Sprint to grab and move the dragon to safety, staring at the would-be attackers from behind his mask. The girl in his arms looked more surprised than afraid, as did the warriors watching the spectacle. "Who in the blazes are you?" The blue haired prince asked, staring in confusion. "I'll explain later, just worry about getting rid of the red guys!" Ja'vassa shouted in return, setting the girl back down. "You stay close to me... you should do the same." He said to the mercenary. In one hand, he wielded his signature war axe and in the other, had an Icy Spear spell at the ready. Once the confusion and surprise of yet another newcomer had died down, the battle resumed, but this time it was going in the favor of the prince's army. Ja'vassa's combination of speed, magic, and his shouts proved to be too much for the opposing army.
Trading magical attack for magical attack, and physical blow for physical blow, the opposing army would slowly be whittled down to just the leader and a few grunts. "Damn you.. this.. this wasn't supposed to turn out like this." Chalard growled, glaring at the Khajiit and the Prince. "Prince Chrom and this... stranger. My army may fall here, but soon you will suffer at the hands of Grima." He added, making a fruitless attempt to fight Ja'vassa's unplanned allies; this as one would expect turned out poorly for him. Being outnumbered nearly three to one, him and the remaining were quickly cut down, and those who chose not to fight have since fled from the battlefield. After what seemed to be an eternity, the battle between the two armies had finally come to an end, much to the relief of many of the combatants.
As one would expect, some introductions were needed. The girl had approached Ja'vassa smiling slightly. "Thank you for saving me.." She said to him before turning to the mercenary. "And.. thanks for helping me back there, I'm sorry for being so rude to you."
Ja'vassa shrugged, "Don't mention, I wasn't about to sit back and watch a child get hurt like that." He responded, soon being cut off by the girl. "I'm not as young as you might think.." She said, a slight giggle escaping her lips; though her statement was met with a confused look. "My people age pretty well, I'm probably around a thousand years old, but look! No wrinkles."
"I.. see. It seems I'll have plenty to learn here." Once again, Ja'vassa had been cut off again, this time by the leader of his unplanned allies. "You're quite the warrior, friend. I'm not sure where you came from, but.. I've never seen anyone with skills like yours. If you hadn't shown up, we might've lost this battle. Thank you." He said, extending his hand out to him. "My name is Chrom, leader of the Shepherds. Mind if we get yours?"
The Khajiit nodded, shaking his hand before he'd remove the mask to reveal his feline-features to a surprised Prince. "I am Ja'vassa, a wanderer from Tamriel." His own introduction only led to more confusion. Before he'd respond to the Khajiit, Chrom had turned to one of his allies. "Robin.. have you ever heard of that place?" He asked, whispering slightly. This question was met by a shake of the head, "No.. I haven't. Judging by his appearance, I'd assume maybe he's a Taguel like Panne?" Robin suggested, though it was clear he was rather confused. "I don't intend to offend you, but we've never heard of Tamriel before." He said to Ja'vassa, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward manner.
A soft laugh escaped the Dragonborn's lips as he listened to the pair, "I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it, Tamriel is beyond this realm. It's the land of my birth and depending on how my task here goes, it'll likely be the land of my death too." He explained, though before either the prince or tactician could respond, he had been met with an all too suspicious gaze. "Are you here to bring home to Ylisse or her people?" A tall, blue armored fellow asked, keeping a lance in hand. "What exactly is this task of yours?" Depending on Ja'vassa's answer, it seemed the knight was ready to strike.
This suspicion from the knight received a glare from the Dragonborn. "I assure you, I have no interest in harming anyone. I've been sent to do some studies of this world for my Lord. I cannot say for sure what his intentions are, but I simply intend to do as I was tasked. I do not know if he'll bring me back tomorrow or in a thousand years." This explanation seemed to be sufficient for the knight as he lowered his lance and stepped back. Chrom would be the next to speak up. "I apologize for Frederick.. he's a bit protective of the group, he means well, but he take some getting used to." He said, grinning as Frederick rolled his eyes, though the knight did nothing to argue that.
Now that the lovely conversation was over, Chrom had changed the subject. "Alright, while my tactician and I begin planning our next move, why don't you three join my sister for dinner at our camp?" He suggested, "After we're done, I'd like to extend an invitation to the three of you to officially join the Shepherds." He added, giving them a slight bow before heading off with Robin and Frederick. Nodding in response, Ja'vassa would join Lissa and the others, hoping to see what the rest of the group was like before he'd made his decision. In his mind, there were plenty of positives and negatives to joining them. On one hand, perhaps joining a militia would make it easier for him to do the research of his Lord, not to mention it might be useful to make some allies for as long as he's there. On the other hand, he's never been one to take orders from anyone beyond the Daedric Princes he worships; this being the reason he's not yet joined the Stormcloaks or Imperials. There's also the case of his less than savory past; if that came to light, there's no telling what might happen to him. The Khajiit wasn't worried about them killing him or arresting him, he was more than positive he could take on the entire army without a problem, but, he was hoping to start over and turn over a new leaf. Decisions, decisions... he wasn't sure what to do. For now, he'd focus on trying to get to know the others of the militia.
Chapter 3 - Forging New Bonds
Later that evening, Ja'vassa was still pondering the decision, though realizing that just sulking and hiding wouldn't make a decision any easier for him, so he decided to join a few others at the campfire to try and get to know his potential allies. Finding an empty spot, he was quick to settle into his seat with Nowi and Stahl joining him soon after. "Hey! I heard you were the one who saved Nowi and helped stop the Plegians." Stahl said, pausing to take a bite of his bread. "Since the battle, I've heard nothing but good things about you... I'm Stahl, by the way." He added, reaching a hand out to shake. Returning the handshake, Ja'vassa shrugged slightly. "Strange, your allies barely know me and I'm already being treated like a hero.. I didn't do much beyond saving a little girl." He sighed, though before he could say much more, the group had been interrupted by the arrival of Chrom and Robin.
"Have you three come to a decision yet?" The tactician asked, receiving confirmations from Nowi and Gregor, though Ja'vassa was a bit slower to respond. The options still flew through his head, before he could come to his decision, he had discovered the manakete leaning on him ever so slightly. He didn't know if she was just tired or if she was wanting him to stay, but it seemed to be enough to convince him. "I'll.. I'll stay, though just keep in mind that my services aren't cheap. You'll get great results, of course." The Khajiit nodded, receiving a satisfied grin from the prince and tactician. "I wasn't expecting it to be cheap, though I can assure you that your price will be matched." Chrom confirmed, taking a seat across from Stahl, Nowi, and Ja'vassa. "Tomorrow... tomorrow will be an important day for the war effort. As most of you are aware, Lady Emmeryn has been taken as Plegia's prisoner. I'm almost certain they're planning to execute her. With help from the Feroxis, we'll be able to march in and rescue her, but we'll need to be quick and try to keep our mistakes to a minimum." He explained, receiving nods from the group around him. "For you, Ja'vassa, I'm not sure what you did back there when you rescued Nowi, but I believe that'll come in handy for us."
The Khajiit nodded again, "The Thu'um has its perks.. Battle Fury, Whirlwind Sprint, and Disarm should prove useful for the upcoming battle." He responded, rubbing his chin. "Until the battle comes, I'll see if I can't make up potions.. or some poisons for us to use in battle." After he finished the sentence, Nowi had perked up again, though she still leaned against him. "What kind of potions do you make, Java?" She asked, stifling a surprised reaction from the Khajiit; the question wasn't what got him, rather the nickname. He wasn't offended, it's just... wasn't something he's heard in a long time. After staring at the dragon girl for a few moments, he had shaken his head. "I make all kinds... health, stamina, disease curing. Though, I'm not sure if I'll be able to replenish my current stock of ingredients.. I doubt our worlds share too much in common." Ja'vassa explained, "The potions taste terrible, but their effectiveness makes up for it." This received a laugh from Robin.
"Oh, don't worry about that. We're used to terrible tasting medicines.. the elixirs and vulenaries we use are awful." He assured him, laughing a bit more. "You should see the face Chrom makes when he uses them, you'd think someone had just handed him rotten bear meat." He added jokingly, though the prince seemed to be a bit red in the face; Nowi and Stahl on the other hand found themselves giggling at what Robin said. Before the situation could get anymore awkward, the prince had risen from his seat. "Well... we've got a long day tomorrow, so I'd recommend everyone get a full night's sleep. We'll leave first thing after breakfast." Chrom said, bidding his farewell before retreating to his tent. Robin and Stahl followed suit, though Nowi remained behind for a moment. "I'm glad you're staying with us, Java.. I hope we'll be able to become good friends." She spoke in a soft, obviously tired tone, though she didn't want to leave his warmth yet, finding a bit of comfort in his soft fur.
The surprise of the nickname caught him off guard yet again, though he was quick to shake it off. "Try not to get too attached, there's no guarantee I'll be here tomorrow... but.. until I'm called back, I hope we'll become close friends too." Ja'vassa sighed; he didn't want to get himself attached to this bunch, but he found it difficult not to. Though he was Dragonborn, he never really found himself being accepted by too many groups. The Thieves Guild welcomed him with open arms, but that's purely due to his race; Khajiit are seen as excellent thieves due to their natural stealth and agility, but he was never truly accepted. He was just there to make them gold, lots of it. The College of Winterhold and Dark Brotherhood were faily accepting of him too, the mages didn't put much stock into his race and they seemed to value the research he's done; the assassins of the Brotherhood have shown much respect for his skill and ferocity in battle. There were also the Greybeards who have seemed to be pleased with the path he's taken; it may not be clean, but it's clear he's trying to stay on the right path. Beyond that select few, the unfortunate luck of having both the blood of a vampire and that of a Khajiit, he was bound to be an outcast.
Though he doesn't want to attach himself to Nowi or Chrom or anyone else in the Shepherds, it's difficult not to. They've welcomed him with open arms, without regard to his race or past. Peering over his shoulder, he had found that Nowi had since fallen asleep; a peaceful smile gracing her face. 'This.. this was just like when I reunited with Armani... I was attached to her immediately, and now... it seems Nowi has a similar effect..' Ja'vassa sighed, though he hadn't moved a muscle, not wanting to disturb her. 'I'll protect you with my life, friend.. I've lost enough.. I can't lose anyone else.' Snapping himself out of his mind, he had subtly thrown a small bear pelt over Nowi, trying his best not to disturb her. Unable to fall asleep himself, he had found himself watching the flickering flames of the campfire, just trying to process everything that had happened so far. A new world, a new war, new friends... it was almost too much for him to process. He hadn't intended to get attached to this new world, but it seemed it was inevitable. Perhaps it's what Hermaeus Mora planned all along; maybe after years of hard work and dedication, the Daedric Lord rewarded him with this new life or maybe he'll eventually wake up and discover this was nothing more than a bizarre dream; he didn't mind either outcome, but if it was the latter, he had no interest in waking up.
As they traveled, the Plegians had begun their preparations for the execution of Emmeryn; standing at the edge of a precarious cliff, a warrior standing just a few feet behind her. "Good people of Plegia! Warriors, citizens, soldiers, welcome to a most glorious day! Many of us remember the atrocities of this witch's father... how his army, the supposedly peaceful and righteous Ylisseans stormed across our borders and slaughtered our people by the thousands. It's by this reversal of fortunes that we'll be able to exact our vengeance." The Mad King spoke in a triumphant, victorious sounding tone. Turning to the brigand brandishing the axe, he grinned. "Executioner, if you would be so... kind?" He watched in surprise as another axe flew in, seemingly out of nowhere. Though he was momentarily confused by the sudden attack, that look of shock was replaced with a dastardly grin as he noticed the source of the attacks. "Oh-ho. How disgustingly noble of you, young prince. You're just in time to watch your darling sister become nothing more than a graceful splatter on the ground." He taunted, grinning at the increasingly frustrated Chrom.
"Dammit.. to arms, everyone! Deal with the soldiers first, then we'll take out the Mad King!" The Prince ordered, raising his legendary sword. The determined looks, the desperate orders, all of it seemed to amuse the King more than frighten him. "Soldiers, give these Ylissean pups nowhere to run, show them a massacre worthy of the prince's legendary father! Let their blood decorate the sands!" He ordered, sitting back and watching from the safety of the fortress walls. The Exalt watched quietly from her perch, that peaceful, but lost expression never once changing as the battle had begun. Chrom and Robin split up, leading two different groups in the hopes of breaking up the opposing army. Chrom led a group consisting of Frederick, Lissa, Gregor, Sully, Stahl, and Ricken while Robin led another group consisting of Ja'vassa, Nowi, Lon'qu, Sumia, Cordelia, and Miriel.
Early on, the battle went along pretty smoothly. Ja'vassa led the charge with his own fancy footwork, though admittedly, fighting on sand like this wasn't a strong suit of his. He was used to fighting on the frozen soil of Skyrim, or the barren landscape of Solstheim, so he was a bit out of his element in this new world, but nonetheless was able to do plenty of damage with his powerful magic, though with the harsh desert sun, he quickly found himself becoming exhausted. His stamina won't regenerate and his magicka was limited, but that didn't stop him from trying his best to keep with everyone. "Ja'vassa! Pull back for now, we don't need you pushing yourself too hard. Stand back and support us!" Robin suggested, fending off a wyvern rider. Normally, the Khajiit's pride would've had him refusing to back down, but the tactician was right. Had he continued fighting, it could've put him in a bad position. Taking a few steps back, Ja'vassa kept a Thunderbolt spell in one hand and a Healing Hands in another, in an attempt to further support the group, he decided to employ a shout. "Robin! Make sure you and the others are ready. Battle Fury will strengthen your weapons, but only for a short while." The Dragonborn informed him, receiving a nod from the white haired man.
"Mid... vur shaan!" Ja'vassa shouted, unleashing a strange blast of energy that would envelop his allies. With their attacks being sped up, the Ylisseans were doing remarkably well, quickly cutting down those who would oppose them. Soon, they were able to break through the frontline. Before getting too much further, they had found themselves unknowingly allied with an incredible woman; she swung her axe with a mixture of unparalleled grace and brutality. Chrom looked towards her with a mixture of fear and surprise; he wasn't sure if she was just in the battle for the sake of bloody murder or if she was trying to help the Shepherds, but nonetheless, this prompted the prince to approach. "Hold, friend! I don't know where you came from, but I grateful for the help." He greeted, wearing his friendliest smile.
"Ah! Prince Chrom! Thank the heavens you're alive!" The 'woman' said, wearing a joyful smile. This received a blank stare from the prince. "You know of me?" He questioned, receiving a quick nod from the newcomer.
"Of course I do, all Ylissean clergy are. Of course, our meeting isn't why I was sent here.. my comrades and I came out here to stop the execution, but it seems we were too late." An exhausted sigh escaped the warrior's lips. Chrom shook his head, "You're not too late, cleric.. we're getting close to the Mad King. But, we could use such--" He was interrupted by the 'cleric'. "Man, sire.. man of the cloth." He reminded him, receiving a blank stare from the prince. "Let's try not to dwell on it, we've got more important matters to attend to." He added, pointing towards Robin's group who were slowly chipping away at the Plegian army. Nodding at the monk, Chrom had resumed his own assault, his group soon reuniting with the others.
What seemed to be a futile effort at first was slowly turning into what could become a critical victory for the Ylisseans, the Plegians were being slain one by one, some fled before they could be cut down. They were soon at the front door of the Plegian fortress, but they would be stopped by a reluctant dark mage; "You there! You fight for the enemy, yet you're reluctant to attack. How come?" Chrom asked, keeping his blade at the ready. The mage looked to the prince with a bit of indifference, "Death comes to us all, though I don't believe in inviting it early for a cause I don't believe in. Long live the king and all, but I want to keep on living too." She replied, shrugging slightly. "I do have a bit of a rebellious side.. and some could say a bit of a dark side too."
The prince was hesitant at first, "Perhaps you'd be willing to rebel and join us?" He asked, receiving a surprised look from the dark mage. "You would allow me to join even through we were just enemies? Even if this was just a ploy to plunge a dagger into your back?" She asked, entertaining the option. "I'm.. I'm trying to learn from the Exalt. She'd trust you, so I will as well. With or without you, I have to watch my back anyways, so one more isn't an issue." Chrom shrugged, though this received a slow nod from the woman. "That's not the answer I expected, but... you may consider me an ally for now." She replied, soon joining the Ylisseans in the fight.
Their new allies, their determination, Ja'vassa supports, all of this proved to be overwhelming for the opposing army. This led them to finally meeting with the general stationed here. "Milord, you and Robin should focus on their general, let the rest of us hold the others off." Frederick suggested, having just come out of another battle. The prince and tactician shared a brief glance, nodding. "Right, you better not fail Frederick!" Chrom responded, engaging the general in battle. He fought up close, though his sword was at a disadvantage, fortunately for him, Robin was providing ample support with a mixture of Elfire and Arcthunder, being a fairly overwhelming combination.
After delivering the final blow, Chrom grinned. "Robin! That's our cue, I'm giving the signal!" He shouted, with a group of pegasus riders rushing in, providing some support to Chrom's group. That dastardly grin plastered on the Mad King's face had been replaced with a surprised, almost frustrated expression. "What? Where'd they come from?" He growled, clenching his fist. "That damned tactician doesn't play fair!" Slamming his fist on the wall, he turned to his sultry attendant who wore a sly, almost seductive smile. "Yes, but... neither do I." The smile turned into a smirk as she opened a strange box, a horde of undead soldiers surrounding the newly arrived pegasus riders. This elicited a surprised reaction from not only the Shepherds, but from the Mad King himself, though this surprised reaction turned into two very different appearances. Chrom's group quickly transitioned to a frustrated, defeated look. All of their struggles at that point were for naught as the undead effortlessly slain the fliers, knocking them one by one. "No! Phila!" Chrom cried out, watching as she and her mount plummeted to the ground. The sudden reversal of fortunes caused Gangrel to cackle, that dastardly grin returning. "By the gods.. did an army of the undead just appear out of the blue to fight for me? Oh, it seems the gods themselves favor me!" He said in between those snarling cackles of his.
"No.. I.. no.." Robin clenched his teeth, becoming increasingly frustrated at this unfortunate situation. All the planning, all the bloodshed, everything that had happened. "Now, it seems we'll have to come to an agreement, no? Unless you want your sister to become a new practice dummy for my soldier, I'd recommend you lay down your weapons and perhaps throw the Fire Emblem in my direction, then maybe I'll consider sparing your sister." The King's demands forced Chrom to freeze in place, his sword twitching in his hands. "I..." Before he could say anything else, Gangrel interrupted. "I will not ask a second time. Give me the Fire Emblem, lay down your weapons, and surrender. I will not hesitate to have my archers resume the execution. What is it, little prince? Will you surrender the Fire Emblem or will you be the one responsible for the death of your sister?"
The shaking of his sword arm only became more apparent, "I... I..." He bit his lip, looking towards Robin and his younger sister. "You can't listen to him, he.. he'll just kill her anyways!" LIssa reminded him, though this received a frustrated, defeated sigh. "I know, but..." Chrom wanted nothing more than to just scream, but he decided not to. "Alright, alright! I.. I know you won't approve of this, sis, and maybe the Emblem would've helped us in the future, but.. we need you, Emm.. Ylisse needs you." He turned to the rest of his army. "Everyone... lay down your weapons. Gangrel, you---"
A shout from Emmeryn effectively shut Chrom down. "Gangrel, is there no hope that you might listen to reason?" She asked, her tone remaining surprisingly calm despite her current situation. "You mean more of your pitiful voice? I think not, I want nothing more than watch your demise, unless someone wants to hand me the Fire Emblem immediately!" The Mad King bellowed, his archers training their arrows on the Exalt. Biting his lip, Chrom had reached for the Fire Emblem, though he had intended to give up the Emblem, Emmeryn interrupted once again. "Chrom... I appreciate the thought, but.. I know what must be done." That peaceful, calm look transformed into a determined look. Chrom's eyes widened, Lissa's eyes began filling with tears, silence filled the desert air, with the only sound coming from anywhere was the wind gently blowing. "Emm.. what are you?" Chrom muttered, forcing his own tears back.
"People of Plegia, heed my words... What has this war won besides sorrow and pain inside and outside your own borders? I know what Ylisse did cannot be forgiven, but I plead for you to release your hatred and vengeance, help me forge in a new era of peace and prosperity! See how just even one selfless act has the power to change the world, as I'm demonstrating here!" Emmeryn said, approaching the edge of the cliff, Chrom's eyes widened as he came to realize what was about to happen. "Emm... no, you can't.. you can't do this!" He shouted, but this held no impact on her.
"Was I wrong? They remain in silence.." Emmeryn sighed softly, that determined face transitioning into a peaceful smile. "So be it.. Chrom, it's time you took my place.." She paused, folding her hands as she leaned forward, allowing herself to fall from the cliff, her eyes closed as she accepted her fate. 'Chrom.. Lissa.. know that I loved you...' Was the last thought to roll through her mind before she ultimately hit the ground, her life fading from her almost immediately. Despite his best efforts, Chrom failed to get to her. The crowd, the Shepherds, the Plegian soldiers, and even King Gangrel stood in stunned silence, at least until the Mad King burst into laughter. "Even in death, the once exalted Emmeryn just exudes grace! I've seen many fall, but that was the finest I've seen. I'll be sure to put her up for display, so all can see her Grace in all her glory." He cackled, this received an enraged shout from Chrom. "You.. you die today, Gangrel!" He shouted, grabbing Falchion with nothing but rage and despair shining in his eyes.
Before he was able to do anything stupid, Basilio and Flavia showed up. "Come on, boy! We need to get out of here!" Basilio shouted, grabbing the prince's arm. Rather than complying, Chrom was reluctant and struggled to stay, "B-but.. her... her body! I-I have to recover it!" He argued, struggling against the Khan's grip. "No! We don't need anyone else dying today! Robin! Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid!" He ordered, with the white haired tactician nodding, helping the Khan drag the broken prince away from the scene.
"Hold, Ylisseans! I come not to fight you, but to offer mercy! Lay down your weapons and I vow to protect you the best I can!" The Plegian general offered, his tone sounding sincere, though like one would expect, the Shepherds chose otherwise. "How can we believe you after what that barbarian you call a king did?" Frederick retorted, pointing his lance towards his enemy. "Your anger is justified, Ylisseans, but remember that Lady Emmeryn wouldn't want this to come to bloodshed!" Mustafa reminded them, though his intentions were good, the very mention of the Exalt's name caused the prince's blood to boil. "Shut up! After all that your damn king has done, you have no right to utter her name!" Chrom cried out, his voice seething with anger. "I think I'll take my chance with a sword in hand!" Amidst the anguish he felt, there was a new determination in him, one built from a mix of sorrow, justice, and vengeance.
The cry from Chrom triggered an outcry of support from his troops, many of them shouting out similar retorts to the Plegian general. Now that Mustafa realized he would not be able to persuade them one way or another, he knew that it would come down to bloodshed. "Very well! I'll see to it that I give you a quick and honorable end. If you wish to leave here with your lives, then you must win them!" He bellowed, slamming the head of his axe to the ground, signaling the start of the battle. Though the battle at the Plegia castle courtyard was merely hours ago, the Shepherds were ready and raring for more, eager to get back at the ones that have caused nothing but pain and destruction, inside and outside of their borders. With Chrom and Robin leading the charge, Plegians and the scurrying thieves were cut down without a second thought. Blood splattered on the ground, mixing in with the muddied grounds; sword against sword, spell against spell, it was a ferocious battle, one with much anger on both sides.
Though the battle with the Plegian was brief and bloody, it felt as it went on for an eternity. Fortunately, thanks to the morale and the strength of Chrom's army, they had proven themselves to be the superior unit and with the fall of the opposing general, they were finally able to make it to the carriages that Khan Basilio promised. "Soldiers, meet Olivia.. she'll be getting us out of this hellhole." He said, grinning as he approached the timid dancer. "Khan Basilio! I'm so relieved to see you and the others... but, I'm afraid we won't be alone for long if we don't leave now. Countless Plegians are no doubt in pursuit." Olivia suggested, motioning for the carriages. Seeing as the girl was no doubt correct about that, the Ylisseans and Feroxis climbed aboard, soon heading off for Castle Ferox.
At the Castle, there were no celebrations or parties among the soldiers, an air of sorrow and failure surrounded them. "All the bloodshed.. all the sleepless nights.. all for nothing." Robin spoke in a soft tone, holding back a few sobs. In the background, Lissa could be heard holding her own sobs back, clearly devastated at the loss of someone so dear to her. Chrom looked towards his sister, then to his tactician. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Robin.. your plan was flawless as usual, I was the one that failed.. I was.. I was just so powerless.." The prince said, his lips quivering slightly. With some slight hesitation, Robin spoke up again. "So was I.. alone and powerless, just many of the soldiers gathered here. You were the one that brought us together, you were the one that led the charge.. don't give up Emmeryn's ideals." He pleaded, though this only brought more worries from Chrom.
"What if I can't? What if I'm not worthy to lead? What if I drag you and the others down with me?" Chrom asked, though this seemed to receive a bit of an annoyed response from the Khajiit. "Dammit, Chrom.. I'm tired of this. I know what just happened is hard on you, but there isn't time to mourn, not yet at least." Ja'vassa started, his tone sounding a little more serious. Nowi grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him, though this was fruitless as the Khajiit just yanked it away. "I've been where you are.. I lost my sister years ago, it hurt.. but, it made me who I am. She didn't want me wallowing in self pity and I know your sister wouldn't want the same from you. There will be plenty of time for mourning after the battle is over, but for as long as the Mad King is out there, this war will never end. If our leader starts faltering from his path, so will the rest of the army.. and I assure you, that'll turn out poorly for your kingdom." He paused, sighing softly. "Like the tactician said, look at the people you've brought with you. Slaves, farmers, mercenaries, even Plegian soldiers. You brought us under one goal, that says a lot about you. Emmeryn sacrificed herself because she believes in you, just as the rest of us do. You are worthy, Chrom. Don't let this stop you, if you do, then you might as well return to your castle. Don't let her faith or our faith be for naught. We put our trust in you, don't make us look stupid for doing so"
Though the Dragonborn's words were harsh, it seemed to be enough to work on the prince. Chrom was silent, he looked to see the various people among the Shepherds. Ja'vassa was right.. people of every background were there, all in support of the Ylissean cause. "You're.. you're right.. I'm sorry. We've got some work to do. Peace will not return to the realm until the Mad King has been defeated." He had a rather determined look as he spoke, realizing what has to be done. The Khajiit wore a proud grin, the other soldiers seemed determined. Sumia, the secret love interest of Chrom, had approached the prince. "Emmeryn would be proud of you, Captain. You've become strong.. and an amazing leader." She said, smiling brightly. "Now, let's get some rest and get ready for tomorrow." Agreeing to the suggestion, the warriors had made their way towards their beds, though rather than going straight to bed, Nowi had pulled Ja'vassa to the side, seemingly wanting to talk with him.
"Is everything alright, little one?" Ja'vassa asked, looking a bit confused. He was always happy to speak with the manakete, but this was unexpected. The girl nodded, "I just wanted to get to know you a little bit. Back there, you mentioned you lost your sister. Can I ask you about that? Or maybe we can just talk." She asked, watching as the Khajiit sat down nearby. Without much hesitation, she had taken a seat on his lap, leaning back to steal some of his warmth. Ja'vassa was quiet, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "My sister was killed almost 20 years ago..." He started, Nowi's gentle smile softening slightly. "I'm sorry, Java.. I hadn't intended to bring up bad memories.." She whimpered slightly.
He waved it off. "There's no point in moping over things you can't change. Her death.. her death was painful, but.. if it weren't for that, I doubt you and I would be talking now. It wasn't long after her death that I discovered I was Dragonborn, that I really began exploring Skyrim and other parts of Tamriel." He paused, looking down towards the girl. "You know, you kind of remind me of my sister.. at least in terms of your personality. You're just as energetic and as affectionate as she was.. and funnily enough, Java was what she used to call me." After he finished speaking, he had gently wrapped his arms around the manakete, keeping the gentle smile on his face. Nowi couldn't help but smile, nodding. "It's sad that she's gone, but I'm glad you're here with us. I'll be here if you ever need to talk.." She yawned slightly, soon finding herself asleep in the comfort of the Dragonborn's arms, that soft smile never leaving her face. Ja'vassa soon fell asleep with her, feeling at peace for the first time since he was in Elsweyr with his beloved Armani.
Chapter 1 - A Daedric Lord's Request
Like it would most any other morning, the sun had slowly risen over the ashen streets of Raven Rock. For the most part, the settlement was fairly quiet; with the exception of the Redoran Guard wandering the streets, it was silent. No one had yet left their homes or their beds in the Retching Netch Cornerclub, though in the Severin Manor not far from the center of town, the owner had been wide awake doing his usual studies. Ja'vassa, the Khajiiti Dragonborn famed for his skills as a mage and mercenary was preparing to do some field research on the island. His aim was to learn more about Miraak, his uprising, and to see if his uprising had anything to do with the way the other Dragon Priests treated their subjects. After gathering a few journals, along with stocking up his satchel with a number of potions, poisons, food, emergency clothes, soul gems, and a few coin purses; once everything was together, he would focus on getting dressed; throwing off his old robes and throwing his travel robes on along with his ebony gauntlets, boots, and of course, the mask of Nahkriin. Throwing the mask on along with his dual ebony war axes, he was about to head outside, though was interrupted by an unexpected force.
Out of nowhere, slimy tentacles and disembodied eyes began to materialize around the Khajiit, though it was unexpected, Ja'vassa kept his composure as he realized it was the Daedric Lord he called master; Hermaeus Mora himself. It was a bit surprising that Ja'vassa would be contacted before he even left town, though he figured it had to be important. After several moments of the disturbing materialization, the Daedra had spoken. "Come closer, my Champion... bask in my presence." He spoke in a disembodied, metallic sounding voice. "I've got a new task for you, one I believe you'll find comparable to your skills. Return to the Summit of Apocrypha where you defeated Miraak and the path shall be revealed. Complete this task for me and you will be richly rewarded, Dragonborn..." As quickly as the Prince appeared, it had disappeared, leaving Ja'vassa confused, but curious at what his new task would be.
Fortunately for him, he already had his things ready and all that was left was reading the Black Book he kept hidden in the Manor. After reading the book, he had been transported to the tower where that fateful battle with the First Dragonborn occured, though that ordeal was long behind him and now it was time to focus on the new task. Moments after dropping into Apocrypha, his Master had shown up. "What is it that you need me to do, my Lord?" Ja'vassa asked, keeping his usual monotonous, serious tone. Usually, Hermaeus Mora's work often led the Khajiit into exciting, but dangerous adventures; the life risking ventures with amazing rewards... the first encounter led him to visiting his first Dwemer ruin in the pursuit of the Falmer Blood and more importantly, the Elder Scroll. Eventually, that expedition in Blackreach not only rewarded him with an Elder Scroll, but with the Oghma Infinium as well. Months later, Ja'vassa found himself on Solstheim, again in the presence of the Daedric Prince of Fate and Knowledge, that time in pursuit of the First Dragonborn.
"As you are no doubt aware, the planes of Oblivion are infinite.. Mundus is infinite.. Aetherius is infinite. Not many are aware that more hide beyond these realms, though difficult to access, it is not completely impossible. Being an immortal Prince has its perks and I've had plenty of time to figure out how to access it." Hermaeus Mora started; while the Dragonborn was an incredibly intelligent Khajiit, the stuff being explained to him was effectively flying over his head. He mostly, or at least he assumes he understands the realms of Mundus, Oblivion, and Aetherius, but this was new. Despite his lack of understanding as to what was being said, he nodded anyways, interested in this realm beyond Aetherius. "I will be sending you to this realm, I cannot tell you what you'll find, but I can assure you that you'll arrive there alive. You are to go and collect any form of knowledge you can find... books, scrolls, journals, anything you can find. Study it and return it to Apocrypha through the Daedric servant you obtain prior to Miraak's defeat. Do this for me and I shall see to it that you're richly rewarded."
Thinking about it for a moment, Ja'vassa weighed his potential options. It usually isn't a good idea to argue with a Daedric Prince, especially in their own realm. If Miraak was to be an example, arguments or rebellions would likely end in a painful death. There was also the idea of him leaving behind every single person he's ever known; his fellow mages in the College of Winterhold, his Family in the Dark Brotherhood, his Volkihar Vampires, and the many others he's formed bonds with. The fact that his Lord hadn't a clue about what waited for him was a bit alarming, but that was likely the least of his concerns. On the upside, this new world would likely be more accepting of his kind, and maybe he'd be able to start over. Since losing his little sister all those years ago, Ja'vassa has gone down a less than favorable path, with his connections to the Dark Brotherhood, Clan Volkihar, and the Thieves Guild putting a huge stain on his reputation. This new world might give him what he needs to start fresh, to be the hero his sister would want him to be. Not to mention, his curiosity was getting the better of him; it wasn't everyday someone got to explore beyond Oblivion and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slide away. Weighing his options, thinking of the risks involved and the potential rewards that come with it, Ja'vassa nodded in confirmation. "I'll.. I'll do it." He said, wondering if he made a mistake with that. His response seemed to have been favorable with his Master as a strange, violet portal had slowly opened up.
"Prepare yourself for whatever awaits on the other side. When I deem your progress satisfactory, I will bring you back to Apocrypha." And with that, the Khajiit had cautiously entered the portal, his left hand resting on the handle of one of his axes. As he entered the portal, a brilliant flash of light enveloped him and rather than dropping him in some terrifying realm like he had expected, rather he landed in what appeared to be an expansive desert. Once the light disappeared, he looked around curiously; "It's almost like I landed in Hammerfell, but.." He muttered, though his attention was stolen by what appeared to be an army approaching from the north; all clad in blue and to the south, a number of what he could only assume to be mages dressed in red. "Stormcloaks? Imperials...? Is this just an alternative Tamriel?" He asked himself, deciding to hang back to see just what would happen.
Chapter 2 - The Shepherds
Just a couple hundred feet from where the Khajiit landed, he had watched as the two sides approached. Unable to hear from afar, it appeared to him they were discussing a bit of strategy, or at least that was what it seemed before the red clad army had attacked. Normally, Ja'vassa would jump in without thinking; he was never officially a part of the Stormcloaks, though since his sister passed, he always seemed to align himself with them whenever he encountered their skirmishes with the Imperial Soldiers. Since he didn't know which side was the 'right' side and which one wasn't, he pressed himself against a small, broken down structure; his outfit providing for perfect camouflage. He was perfectly content with watching the skirmish, but that was until he noticed a strange pair running into the scene. A young girl and elderly man; from what he could see, the girl seemed absolutely terrified of everyone around her.
"Just... just leave me alone!" The girl shouted, cowering from the man chasing her. Their sudden appearance seemed to have disrupted the skirmish between the red and blue armies. The elderly man's eyes widened after she yelled, "Oy! Quit with the yelling! Giving away our position would be bad, no?" He said, seemingly concerned with both armies at this point.
"Hey! Leave her be!" The leader of the northern army shouted, aiming a strange looking sword his way. "Ah, there she is.. consider this punishment for fleeing!" The red leader shouted in return. It seemed this was enough to convince which army the Khajiit should support, though he would remain behind just to see what would happen. After their sudden appearance and the brief timeout, the battle would resume; sword and spell clashed with much ferocity from both sides, it seemed the girl was slowly growing used to the man as he was genuinely trying to protect her. What was more surprising was the fact that the girl was able to transform into a dragon; it didn't seem that she really needed any help, but even with all that power, they were doomed to fall back. Without help from the other army, they were slowly being overwhelmed. The mercenary's sword had been knocked away while the girl had been separated from him, growing exhausted from the seemingly endless battle. She had been cornered by a pair of mages, both preparing lightning spells in the hopes of incapacitating her.
Before they could fire off the magic, Ja'vassa had made himself known to both sides. "Wuld... Nah Kest!" He shouted, using the Whirlwind Sprint to grab and move the dragon to safety, staring at the would-be attackers from behind his mask. The girl in his arms looked more surprised than afraid, as did the warriors watching the spectacle. "Who in the blazes are you?" The blue haired prince asked, staring in confusion. "I'll explain later, just worry about getting rid of the red guys!" Ja'vassa shouted in return, setting the girl back down. "You stay close to me... you should do the same." He said to the mercenary. In one hand, he wielded his signature war axe and in the other, had an Icy Spear spell at the ready. Once the confusion and surprise of yet another newcomer had died down, the battle resumed, but this time it was going in the favor of the prince's army. Ja'vassa's combination of speed, magic, and his shouts proved to be too much for the opposing army.
Trading magical attack for magical attack, and physical blow for physical blow, the opposing army would slowly be whittled down to just the leader and a few grunts. "Damn you.. this.. this wasn't supposed to turn out like this." Chalard growled, glaring at the Khajiit and the Prince. "Prince Chrom and this... stranger. My army may fall here, but soon you will suffer at the hands of Grima." He added, making a fruitless attempt to fight Ja'vassa's unplanned allies; this as one would expect turned out poorly for him. Being outnumbered nearly three to one, him and the remaining were quickly cut down, and those who chose not to fight have since fled from the battlefield. After what seemed to be an eternity, the battle between the two armies had finally come to an end, much to the relief of many of the combatants.
As one would expect, some introductions were needed. The girl had approached Ja'vassa smiling slightly. "Thank you for saving me.." She said to him before turning to the mercenary. "And.. thanks for helping me back there, I'm sorry for being so rude to you."
Ja'vassa shrugged, "Don't mention, I wasn't about to sit back and watch a child get hurt like that." He responded, soon being cut off by the girl. "I'm not as young as you might think.." She said, a slight giggle escaping her lips; though her statement was met with a confused look. "My people age pretty well, I'm probably around a thousand years old, but look! No wrinkles."
"I.. see. It seems I'll have plenty to learn here." Once again, Ja'vassa had been cut off again, this time by the leader of his unplanned allies. "You're quite the warrior, friend. I'm not sure where you came from, but.. I've never seen anyone with skills like yours. If you hadn't shown up, we might've lost this battle. Thank you." He said, extending his hand out to him. "My name is Chrom, leader of the Shepherds. Mind if we get yours?"
The Khajiit nodded, shaking his hand before he'd remove the mask to reveal his feline-features to a surprised Prince. "I am Ja'vassa, a wanderer from Tamriel." His own introduction only led to more confusion. Before he'd respond to the Khajiit, Chrom had turned to one of his allies. "Robin.. have you ever heard of that place?" He asked, whispering slightly. This question was met by a shake of the head, "No.. I haven't. Judging by his appearance, I'd assume maybe he's a Taguel like Panne?" Robin suggested, though it was clear he was rather confused. "I don't intend to offend you, but we've never heard of Tamriel before." He said to Ja'vassa, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward manner.
A soft laugh escaped the Dragonborn's lips as he listened to the pair, "I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it, Tamriel is beyond this realm. It's the land of my birth and depending on how my task here goes, it'll likely be the land of my death too." He explained, though before either the prince or tactician could respond, he had been met with an all too suspicious gaze. "Are you here to bring home to Ylisse or her people?" A tall, blue armored fellow asked, keeping a lance in hand. "What exactly is this task of yours?" Depending on Ja'vassa's answer, it seemed the knight was ready to strike.
This suspicion from the knight received a glare from the Dragonborn. "I assure you, I have no interest in harming anyone. I've been sent to do some studies of this world for my Lord. I cannot say for sure what his intentions are, but I simply intend to do as I was tasked. I do not know if he'll bring me back tomorrow or in a thousand years." This explanation seemed to be sufficient for the knight as he lowered his lance and stepped back. Chrom would be the next to speak up. "I apologize for Frederick.. he's a bit protective of the group, he means well, but he take some getting used to." He said, grinning as Frederick rolled his eyes, though the knight did nothing to argue that.
Now that the lovely conversation was over, Chrom had changed the subject. "Alright, while my tactician and I begin planning our next move, why don't you three join my sister for dinner at our camp?" He suggested, "After we're done, I'd like to extend an invitation to the three of you to officially join the Shepherds." He added, giving them a slight bow before heading off with Robin and Frederick. Nodding in response, Ja'vassa would join Lissa and the others, hoping to see what the rest of the group was like before he'd made his decision. In his mind, there were plenty of positives and negatives to joining them. On one hand, perhaps joining a militia would make it easier for him to do the research of his Lord, not to mention it might be useful to make some allies for as long as he's there. On the other hand, he's never been one to take orders from anyone beyond the Daedric Princes he worships; this being the reason he's not yet joined the Stormcloaks or Imperials. There's also the case of his less than savory past; if that came to light, there's no telling what might happen to him. The Khajiit wasn't worried about them killing him or arresting him, he was more than positive he could take on the entire army without a problem, but, he was hoping to start over and turn over a new leaf. Decisions, decisions... he wasn't sure what to do. For now, he'd focus on trying to get to know the others of the militia.
Chapter 3 - Forging New Bonds
"Have you three come to a decision yet?" The tactician asked, receiving confirmations from Nowi and Gregor, though Ja'vassa was a bit slower to respond. The options still flew through his head, before he could come to his decision, he had discovered the manakete leaning on him ever so slightly. He didn't know if she was just tired or if she was wanting him to stay, but it seemed to be enough to convince him. "I'll.. I'll stay, though just keep in mind that my services aren't cheap. You'll get great results, of course." The Khajiit nodded, receiving a satisfied grin from the prince and tactician. "I wasn't expecting it to be cheap, though I can assure you that your price will be matched." Chrom confirmed, taking a seat across from Stahl, Nowi, and Ja'vassa. "Tomorrow... tomorrow will be an important day for the war effort. As most of you are aware, Lady Emmeryn has been taken as Plegia's prisoner. I'm almost certain they're planning to execute her. With help from the Feroxis, we'll be able to march in and rescue her, but we'll need to be quick and try to keep our mistakes to a minimum." He explained, receiving nods from the group around him. "For you, Ja'vassa, I'm not sure what you did back there when you rescued Nowi, but I believe that'll come in handy for us."
The Khajiit nodded again, "The Thu'um has its perks.. Battle Fury, Whirlwind Sprint, and Disarm should prove useful for the upcoming battle." He responded, rubbing his chin. "Until the battle comes, I'll see if I can't make up potions.. or some poisons for us to use in battle." After he finished the sentence, Nowi had perked up again, though she still leaned against him. "What kind of potions do you make, Java?" She asked, stifling a surprised reaction from the Khajiit; the question wasn't what got him, rather the nickname. He wasn't offended, it's just... wasn't something he's heard in a long time. After staring at the dragon girl for a few moments, he had shaken his head. "I make all kinds... health, stamina, disease curing. Though, I'm not sure if I'll be able to replenish my current stock of ingredients.. I doubt our worlds share too much in common." Ja'vassa explained, "The potions taste terrible, but their effectiveness makes up for it." This received a laugh from Robin.
"Oh, don't worry about that. We're used to terrible tasting medicines.. the elixirs and vulenaries we use are awful." He assured him, laughing a bit more. "You should see the face Chrom makes when he uses them, you'd think someone had just handed him rotten bear meat." He added jokingly, though the prince seemed to be a bit red in the face; Nowi and Stahl on the other hand found themselves giggling at what Robin said. Before the situation could get anymore awkward, the prince had risen from his seat. "Well... we've got a long day tomorrow, so I'd recommend everyone get a full night's sleep. We'll leave first thing after breakfast." Chrom said, bidding his farewell before retreating to his tent. Robin and Stahl followed suit, though Nowi remained behind for a moment. "I'm glad you're staying with us, Java.. I hope we'll be able to become good friends." She spoke in a soft, obviously tired tone, though she didn't want to leave his warmth yet, finding a bit of comfort in his soft fur.
The surprise of the nickname caught him off guard yet again, though he was quick to shake it off. "Try not to get too attached, there's no guarantee I'll be here tomorrow... but.. until I'm called back, I hope we'll become close friends too." Ja'vassa sighed; he didn't want to get himself attached to this bunch, but he found it difficult not to. Though he was Dragonborn, he never really found himself being accepted by too many groups. The Thieves Guild welcomed him with open arms, but that's purely due to his race; Khajiit are seen as excellent thieves due to their natural stealth and agility, but he was never truly accepted. He was just there to make them gold, lots of it. The College of Winterhold and Dark Brotherhood were faily accepting of him too, the mages didn't put much stock into his race and they seemed to value the research he's done; the assassins of the Brotherhood have shown much respect for his skill and ferocity in battle. There were also the Greybeards who have seemed to be pleased with the path he's taken; it may not be clean, but it's clear he's trying to stay on the right path. Beyond that select few, the unfortunate luck of having both the blood of a vampire and that of a Khajiit, he was bound to be an outcast.
Though he doesn't want to attach himself to Nowi or Chrom or anyone else in the Shepherds, it's difficult not to. They've welcomed him with open arms, without regard to his race or past. Peering over his shoulder, he had found that Nowi had since fallen asleep; a peaceful smile gracing her face. 'This.. this was just like when I reunited with Armani... I was attached to her immediately, and now... it seems Nowi has a similar effect..' Ja'vassa sighed, though he hadn't moved a muscle, not wanting to disturb her. 'I'll protect you with my life, friend.. I've lost enough.. I can't lose anyone else.' Snapping himself out of his mind, he had subtly thrown a small bear pelt over Nowi, trying his best not to disturb her. Unable to fall asleep himself, he had found himself watching the flickering flames of the campfire, just trying to process everything that had happened so far. A new world, a new war, new friends... it was almost too much for him to process. He hadn't intended to get attached to this new world, but it seemed it was inevitable. Perhaps it's what Hermaeus Mora planned all along; maybe after years of hard work and dedication, the Daedric Lord rewarded him with this new life or maybe he'll eventually wake up and discover this was nothing more than a bizarre dream; he didn't mind either outcome, but if it was the latter, he had no interest in waking up.
Chapter 4 - Emmeryn
After a long and restless night for much of the Shepherds, the fateful day had finally arrived. Chrom was quick to fill them in on the plan he and Robin had devised, and now, it was time to put it into action. If the day was to go down in their favor, they needed to be quick and needed to ensure that every little detail goes just as planned. Once the group got breakfast in and ready for battle, they'd begin their march. Chrom and Robin led the group, aiming for the execution grounds. Desperation remained plastered on their face as they knew if they failed today, the Exalt of Ylisse, and perhaps more, would be lost.
As they traveled, the Plegians had begun their preparations for the execution of Emmeryn; standing at the edge of a precarious cliff, a warrior standing just a few feet behind her. "Good people of Plegia! Warriors, citizens, soldiers, welcome to a most glorious day! Many of us remember the atrocities of this witch's father... how his army, the supposedly peaceful and righteous Ylisseans stormed across our borders and slaughtered our people by the thousands. It's by this reversal of fortunes that we'll be able to exact our vengeance." The Mad King spoke in a triumphant, victorious sounding tone. Turning to the brigand brandishing the axe, he grinned. "Executioner, if you would be so... kind?" He watched in surprise as another axe flew in, seemingly out of nowhere. Though he was momentarily confused by the sudden attack, that look of shock was replaced with a dastardly grin as he noticed the source of the attacks. "Oh-ho. How disgustingly noble of you, young prince. You're just in time to watch your darling sister become nothing more than a graceful splatter on the ground." He taunted, grinning at the increasingly frustrated Chrom.
"Dammit.. to arms, everyone! Deal with the soldiers first, then we'll take out the Mad King!" The Prince ordered, raising his legendary sword. The determined looks, the desperate orders, all of it seemed to amuse the King more than frighten him. "Soldiers, give these Ylissean pups nowhere to run, show them a massacre worthy of the prince's legendary father! Let their blood decorate the sands!" He ordered, sitting back and watching from the safety of the fortress walls. The Exalt watched quietly from her perch, that peaceful, but lost expression never once changing as the battle had begun. Chrom and Robin split up, leading two different groups in the hopes of breaking up the opposing army. Chrom led a group consisting of Frederick, Lissa, Gregor, Sully, Stahl, and Ricken while Robin led another group consisting of Ja'vassa, Nowi, Lon'qu, Sumia, Cordelia, and Miriel.
Early on, the battle went along pretty smoothly. Ja'vassa led the charge with his own fancy footwork, though admittedly, fighting on sand like this wasn't a strong suit of his. He was used to fighting on the frozen soil of Skyrim, or the barren landscape of Solstheim, so he was a bit out of his element in this new world, but nonetheless was able to do plenty of damage with his powerful magic, though with the harsh desert sun, he quickly found himself becoming exhausted. His stamina won't regenerate and his magicka was limited, but that didn't stop him from trying his best to keep with everyone. "Ja'vassa! Pull back for now, we don't need you pushing yourself too hard. Stand back and support us!" Robin suggested, fending off a wyvern rider. Normally, the Khajiit's pride would've had him refusing to back down, but the tactician was right. Had he continued fighting, it could've put him in a bad position. Taking a few steps back, Ja'vassa kept a Thunderbolt spell in one hand and a Healing Hands in another, in an attempt to further support the group, he decided to employ a shout. "Robin! Make sure you and the others are ready. Battle Fury will strengthen your weapons, but only for a short while." The Dragonborn informed him, receiving a nod from the white haired man.
"Mid... vur shaan!" Ja'vassa shouted, unleashing a strange blast of energy that would envelop his allies. With their attacks being sped up, the Ylisseans were doing remarkably well, quickly cutting down those who would oppose them. Soon, they were able to break through the frontline. Before getting too much further, they had found themselves unknowingly allied with an incredible woman; she swung her axe with a mixture of unparalleled grace and brutality. Chrom looked towards her with a mixture of fear and surprise; he wasn't sure if she was just in the battle for the sake of bloody murder or if she was trying to help the Shepherds, but nonetheless, this prompted the prince to approach. "Hold, friend! I don't know where you came from, but I grateful for the help." He greeted, wearing his friendliest smile.
"Ah! Prince Chrom! Thank the heavens you're alive!" The 'woman' said, wearing a joyful smile. This received a blank stare from the prince. "You know of me?" He questioned, receiving a quick nod from the newcomer.
"Of course I do, all Ylissean clergy are. Of course, our meeting isn't why I was sent here.. my comrades and I came out here to stop the execution, but it seems we were too late." An exhausted sigh escaped the warrior's lips. Chrom shook his head, "You're not too late, cleric.. we're getting close to the Mad King. But, we could use such--" He was interrupted by the 'cleric'. "Man, sire.. man of the cloth." He reminded him, receiving a blank stare from the prince. "Let's try not to dwell on it, we've got more important matters to attend to." He added, pointing towards Robin's group who were slowly chipping away at the Plegian army. Nodding at the monk, Chrom had resumed his own assault, his group soon reuniting with the others.
What seemed to be a futile effort at first was slowly turning into what could become a critical victory for the Ylisseans, the Plegians were being slain one by one, some fled before they could be cut down. They were soon at the front door of the Plegian fortress, but they would be stopped by a reluctant dark mage; "You there! You fight for the enemy, yet you're reluctant to attack. How come?" Chrom asked, keeping his blade at the ready. The mage looked to the prince with a bit of indifference, "Death comes to us all, though I don't believe in inviting it early for a cause I don't believe in. Long live the king and all, but I want to keep on living too." She replied, shrugging slightly. "I do have a bit of a rebellious side.. and some could say a bit of a dark side too."
The prince was hesitant at first, "Perhaps you'd be willing to rebel and join us?" He asked, receiving a surprised look from the dark mage. "You would allow me to join even through we were just enemies? Even if this was just a ploy to plunge a dagger into your back?" She asked, entertaining the option. "I'm.. I'm trying to learn from the Exalt. She'd trust you, so I will as well. With or without you, I have to watch my back anyways, so one more isn't an issue." Chrom shrugged, though this received a slow nod from the woman. "That's not the answer I expected, but... you may consider me an ally for now." She replied, soon joining the Ylisseans in the fight.
Their new allies, their determination, Ja'vassa supports, all of this proved to be overwhelming for the opposing army. This led them to finally meeting with the general stationed here. "Milord, you and Robin should focus on their general, let the rest of us hold the others off." Frederick suggested, having just come out of another battle. The prince and tactician shared a brief glance, nodding. "Right, you better not fail Frederick!" Chrom responded, engaging the general in battle. He fought up close, though his sword was at a disadvantage, fortunately for him, Robin was providing ample support with a mixture of Elfire and Arcthunder, being a fairly overwhelming combination.
After delivering the final blow, Chrom grinned. "Robin! That's our cue, I'm giving the signal!" He shouted, with a group of pegasus riders rushing in, providing some support to Chrom's group. That dastardly grin plastered on the Mad King's face had been replaced with a surprised, almost frustrated expression. "What? Where'd they come from?" He growled, clenching his fist. "That damned tactician doesn't play fair!" Slamming his fist on the wall, he turned to his sultry attendant who wore a sly, almost seductive smile. "Yes, but... neither do I." The smile turned into a smirk as she opened a strange box, a horde of undead soldiers surrounding the newly arrived pegasus riders. This elicited a surprised reaction from not only the Shepherds, but from the Mad King himself, though this surprised reaction turned into two very different appearances. Chrom's group quickly transitioned to a frustrated, defeated look. All of their struggles at that point were for naught as the undead effortlessly slain the fliers, knocking them one by one. "No! Phila!" Chrom cried out, watching as she and her mount plummeted to the ground. The sudden reversal of fortunes caused Gangrel to cackle, that dastardly grin returning. "By the gods.. did an army of the undead just appear out of the blue to fight for me? Oh, it seems the gods themselves favor me!" He said in between those snarling cackles of his.
"No.. I.. no.." Robin clenched his teeth, becoming increasingly frustrated at this unfortunate situation. All the planning, all the bloodshed, everything that had happened. "Now, it seems we'll have to come to an agreement, no? Unless you want your sister to become a new practice dummy for my soldier, I'd recommend you lay down your weapons and perhaps throw the Fire Emblem in my direction, then maybe I'll consider sparing your sister." The King's demands forced Chrom to freeze in place, his sword twitching in his hands. "I..." Before he could say anything else, Gangrel interrupted. "I will not ask a second time. Give me the Fire Emblem, lay down your weapons, and surrender. I will not hesitate to have my archers resume the execution. What is it, little prince? Will you surrender the Fire Emblem or will you be the one responsible for the death of your sister?"
The shaking of his sword arm only became more apparent, "I... I..." He bit his lip, looking towards Robin and his younger sister. "You can't listen to him, he.. he'll just kill her anyways!" LIssa reminded him, though this received a frustrated, defeated sigh. "I know, but..." Chrom wanted nothing more than to just scream, but he decided not to. "Alright, alright! I.. I know you won't approve of this, sis, and maybe the Emblem would've helped us in the future, but.. we need you, Emm.. Ylisse needs you." He turned to the rest of his army. "Everyone... lay down your weapons. Gangrel, you---"
A shout from Emmeryn effectively shut Chrom down. "Gangrel, is there no hope that you might listen to reason?" She asked, her tone remaining surprisingly calm despite her current situation. "You mean more of your pitiful voice? I think not, I want nothing more than watch your demise, unless someone wants to hand me the Fire Emblem immediately!" The Mad King bellowed, his archers training their arrows on the Exalt. Biting his lip, Chrom had reached for the Fire Emblem, though he had intended to give up the Emblem, Emmeryn interrupted once again. "Chrom... I appreciate the thought, but.. I know what must be done." That peaceful, calm look transformed into a determined look. Chrom's eyes widened, Lissa's eyes began filling with tears, silence filled the desert air, with the only sound coming from anywhere was the wind gently blowing. "Emm.. what are you?" Chrom muttered, forcing his own tears back.
"People of Plegia, heed my words... What has this war won besides sorrow and pain inside and outside your own borders? I know what Ylisse did cannot be forgiven, but I plead for you to release your hatred and vengeance, help me forge in a new era of peace and prosperity! See how just even one selfless act has the power to change the world, as I'm demonstrating here!" Emmeryn said, approaching the edge of the cliff, Chrom's eyes widened as he came to realize what was about to happen. "Emm... no, you can't.. you can't do this!" He shouted, but this held no impact on her.
"Was I wrong? They remain in silence.." Emmeryn sighed softly, that determined face transitioning into a peaceful smile. "So be it.. Chrom, it's time you took my place.." She paused, folding her hands as she leaned forward, allowing herself to fall from the cliff, her eyes closed as she accepted her fate. 'Chrom.. Lissa.. know that I loved you...' Was the last thought to roll through her mind before she ultimately hit the ground, her life fading from her almost immediately. Despite his best efforts, Chrom failed to get to her. The crowd, the Shepherds, the Plegian soldiers, and even King Gangrel stood in stunned silence, at least until the Mad King burst into laughter. "Even in death, the once exalted Emmeryn just exudes grace! I've seen many fall, but that was the finest I've seen. I'll be sure to put her up for display, so all can see her Grace in all her glory." He cackled, this received an enraged shout from Chrom. "You.. you die today, Gangrel!" He shouted, grabbing Falchion with nothing but rage and despair shining in his eyes.
Before he was able to do anything stupid, Basilio and Flavia showed up. "Come on, boy! We need to get out of here!" Basilio shouted, grabbing the prince's arm. Rather than complying, Chrom was reluctant and struggled to stay, "B-but.. her... her body! I-I have to recover it!" He argued, struggling against the Khan's grip. "No! We don't need anyone else dying today! Robin! Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid!" He ordered, with the white haired tactician nodding, helping the Khan drag the broken prince away from the scene.
Chapter 5 - An Inspiring Sorrow
The Ylisseans ran and ran for what seemed like to be an eternity, they would get sidetracked by an unfortunately familiar foe. Even with what happened to Lady Emmeryn, it was clear that the Mad King wasn't about to give up the Fire Emblem, especially seeing that the group would most likely be demoralized after such a brutal loss. For the most part, Gangrel would be right. Chrom, Lissa, Robin, even Ja'vassa were still trying to process what had just transpired. Though, as a result of the incoming Plegian soldiers, they had little time to process it. "Dammit... we have carriages waiting for us.. but, it seems we'll have to deal with this bastards first.." Basilio snarled, grabbing his silver axe. The others readied themselves for battle; this one hit especially close to Ja'vassa. He knew all too well of the pain of losing someone dear to him; his own sister was robbed of him many years before he even discovered he was Dragonborn, so he wanted to do what he could to aid Chrom and Lissa in this.
"Hold, Ylisseans! I come not to fight you, but to offer mercy! Lay down your weapons and I vow to protect you the best I can!" The Plegian general offered, his tone sounding sincere, though like one would expect, the Shepherds chose otherwise. "How can we believe you after what that barbarian you call a king did?" Frederick retorted, pointing his lance towards his enemy. "Your anger is justified, Ylisseans, but remember that Lady Emmeryn wouldn't want this to come to bloodshed!" Mustafa reminded them, though his intentions were good, the very mention of the Exalt's name caused the prince's blood to boil. "Shut up! After all that your damn king has done, you have no right to utter her name!" Chrom cried out, his voice seething with anger. "I think I'll take my chance with a sword in hand!" Amidst the anguish he felt, there was a new determination in him, one built from a mix of sorrow, justice, and vengeance.
The cry from Chrom triggered an outcry of support from his troops, many of them shouting out similar retorts to the Plegian general. Now that Mustafa realized he would not be able to persuade them one way or another, he knew that it would come down to bloodshed. "Very well! I'll see to it that I give you a quick and honorable end. If you wish to leave here with your lives, then you must win them!" He bellowed, slamming the head of his axe to the ground, signaling the start of the battle. Though the battle at the Plegia castle courtyard was merely hours ago, the Shepherds were ready and raring for more, eager to get back at the ones that have caused nothing but pain and destruction, inside and outside of their borders. With Chrom and Robin leading the charge, Plegians and the scurrying thieves were cut down without a second thought. Blood splattered on the ground, mixing in with the muddied grounds; sword against sword, spell against spell, it was a ferocious battle, one with much anger on both sides.
Though the battle with the Plegian was brief and bloody, it felt as it went on for an eternity. Fortunately, thanks to the morale and the strength of Chrom's army, they had proven themselves to be the superior unit and with the fall of the opposing general, they were finally able to make it to the carriages that Khan Basilio promised. "Soldiers, meet Olivia.. she'll be getting us out of this hellhole." He said, grinning as he approached the timid dancer. "Khan Basilio! I'm so relieved to see you and the others... but, I'm afraid we won't be alone for long if we don't leave now. Countless Plegians are no doubt in pursuit." Olivia suggested, motioning for the carriages. Seeing as the girl was no doubt correct about that, the Ylisseans and Feroxis climbed aboard, soon heading off for Castle Ferox.
At the Castle, there were no celebrations or parties among the soldiers, an air of sorrow and failure surrounded them. "All the bloodshed.. all the sleepless nights.. all for nothing." Robin spoke in a soft tone, holding back a few sobs. In the background, Lissa could be heard holding her own sobs back, clearly devastated at the loss of someone so dear to her. Chrom looked towards his sister, then to his tactician. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Robin.. your plan was flawless as usual, I was the one that failed.. I was.. I was just so powerless.." The prince said, his lips quivering slightly. With some slight hesitation, Robin spoke up again. "So was I.. alone and powerless, just many of the soldiers gathered here. You were the one that brought us together, you were the one that led the charge.. don't give up Emmeryn's ideals." He pleaded, though this only brought more worries from Chrom.
"What if I can't? What if I'm not worthy to lead? What if I drag you and the others down with me?" Chrom asked, though this seemed to receive a bit of an annoyed response from the Khajiit. "Dammit, Chrom.. I'm tired of this. I know what just happened is hard on you, but there isn't time to mourn, not yet at least." Ja'vassa started, his tone sounding a little more serious. Nowi grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him, though this was fruitless as the Khajiit just yanked it away. "I've been where you are.. I lost my sister years ago, it hurt.. but, it made me who I am. She didn't want me wallowing in self pity and I know your sister wouldn't want the same from you. There will be plenty of time for mourning after the battle is over, but for as long as the Mad King is out there, this war will never end. If our leader starts faltering from his path, so will the rest of the army.. and I assure you, that'll turn out poorly for your kingdom." He paused, sighing softly. "Like the tactician said, look at the people you've brought with you. Slaves, farmers, mercenaries, even Plegian soldiers. You brought us under one goal, that says a lot about you. Emmeryn sacrificed herself because she believes in you, just as the rest of us do. You are worthy, Chrom. Don't let this stop you, if you do, then you might as well return to your castle. Don't let her faith or our faith be for naught. We put our trust in you, don't make us look stupid for doing so"
Though the Dragonborn's words were harsh, it seemed to be enough to work on the prince. Chrom was silent, he looked to see the various people among the Shepherds. Ja'vassa was right.. people of every background were there, all in support of the Ylissean cause. "You're.. you're right.. I'm sorry. We've got some work to do. Peace will not return to the realm until the Mad King has been defeated." He had a rather determined look as he spoke, realizing what has to be done. The Khajiit wore a proud grin, the other soldiers seemed determined. Sumia, the secret love interest of Chrom, had approached the prince. "Emmeryn would be proud of you, Captain. You've become strong.. and an amazing leader." She said, smiling brightly. "Now, let's get some rest and get ready for tomorrow." Agreeing to the suggestion, the warriors had made their way towards their beds, though rather than going straight to bed, Nowi had pulled Ja'vassa to the side, seemingly wanting to talk with him.
"Is everything alright, little one?" Ja'vassa asked, looking a bit confused. He was always happy to speak with the manakete, but this was unexpected. The girl nodded, "I just wanted to get to know you a little bit. Back there, you mentioned you lost your sister. Can I ask you about that? Or maybe we can just talk." She asked, watching as the Khajiit sat down nearby. Without much hesitation, she had taken a seat on his lap, leaning back to steal some of his warmth. Ja'vassa was quiet, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "My sister was killed almost 20 years ago..." He started, Nowi's gentle smile softening slightly. "I'm sorry, Java.. I hadn't intended to bring up bad memories.." She whimpered slightly.
He waved it off. "There's no point in moping over things you can't change. Her death.. her death was painful, but.. if it weren't for that, I doubt you and I would be talking now. It wasn't long after her death that I discovered I was Dragonborn, that I really began exploring Skyrim and other parts of Tamriel." He paused, looking down towards the girl. "You know, you kind of remind me of my sister.. at least in terms of your personality. You're just as energetic and as affectionate as she was.. and funnily enough, Java was what she used to call me." After he finished speaking, he had gently wrapped his arms around the manakete, keeping the gentle smile on his face. Nowi couldn't help but smile, nodding. "It's sad that she's gone, but I'm glad you're here with us. I'll be here if you ever need to talk.." She yawned slightly, soon finding herself asleep in the comfort of the Dragonborn's arms, that soft smile never leaving her face. Ja'vassa soon fell asleep with her, feeling at peace for the first time since he was in Elsweyr with his beloved Armani.