Prologue: The Death of Hidaken
Even if you finished up whatever adventure there was, there would always be bound more adventures ahead of you. Trust me, I know. ~From the foreword of Hidaken Caeraso, The Tales of the Dragonborn volume 1 of 33
The rain was heavy that day, and so was the mood of the many people that traveled to one location. They were a group of four, each wore a heavy cloak on them as they traveled onward through the sticky mud, and the chilling weather. The one who lead them was a Samuel, a Nord with shaved black hair on his scalp, however his face had medium size hair on his sides, over his lips, and on his chin. Underneath his cloak, was Imperial medium armor, to his right side was a blade made by high-quality steel, and his back carried his Imperial shield.
Following him was a female Nord, Glass armor covered her as a Glass blade, and a old Steel knife were on both sides of her waist. The lady had her brown hair tied up in a short ponytail as she looked up ahead to see the trees lessen, and her name was Sofie. Behind the two Nords was a female Khajiit by the name Khiani, her fur was light brown as her dark blue eyes were looking around their surroundings. Her body wore a familiar set of leather armor of pockets, with a bow on her back made of Dwarven material, and she was the youngest of the group.
Khiani looked back to see the last member of the group trailing behind them. "Hurry Hathius! It's thanks to that Daedric armor you're going so slow!" said the 29 year old.
The male Argonian merely scoffed at the Khajiit. "Say the ones who are wearing light armor, beside I thought you agreed with me that we should go the long way, and not travel with the rest of the others by carriage!" told the 33 year old male, before the feline could make a comeback, Samuel shouted at them all.
"Enough! We're almost there, I can see the Manor from here!" told Samuel as the Nord looked with his brown eyes toward the familiar Lakeview Manor, unlike the other two lands their father owns, Lakeview was meant to be a place of relaxation, and resting. Even though they were in Falkreach Hold, their father wanted to build a place to relax during his twilight years. But the sad truth was that not only was it a place to relax, it was a place where their father was going to die.
Soon the four could see the entire Manor, with it's small house for entrance, the main hall to welcomed any guest, a bedroom on the west wing, to allow any guest to rest their tired bones, a trophy room, where their father would drink his favorite Spiced Wine as he looked upon his many, many victories all around him. Thankfully the old cat managed to think of building a kitchen for anyone to enjoyed a meal, or maybe a few mead, especially Nord Mead.
Hathius looked up ahead to see the carriage already there. Which means we are the last ones here. Wonder who decided to visit after all? I know some of our family is here, but who else would see our father at all? thought the Argonian as they came before the entrance, however they noticed a familiar face before them.
Rayya looked the exact same as she did decades ago, ebony skin, Steel armor, and the twin Scimitars on her waist. Excepted for the fact that Rayya had a pair of fangs on her mouth, and red eyes. "Ah, hello there young ones. It's been a long time." said the vampire, Samuel scowled at her.
"Rayya, most of us are adults now, and have family of our owns, we aren't children anymore." he told her while Sofie and Khiani giggled, Hathius himself just sighed of fond memories.
Rayya chuckled as she replied. "Sorry, but I forgotten you're all grown, but you have to forgive me, after all I am a vampire now, and I see everyone young beside a few other vampires." Samuel rolled his eyes as he huffed a breath, Hathius asked a question.
"Is everyone here?" Rayya smile went away as she sighed, and shakes her head.
"Not everyone, just family and a few friends." she replied, the others nod their heads in sadness as they got the news. "It's best if you all get inside, they're waiting for you, beside my Thane has wanted to see you all for quite a while." she added as she opens the door for them. As they enter inside they removed their hooded cloaks, and place them on the rack to dry off. Khiani ears twitched as the gold rings that were connected to said ears heard the voices of their respective family members.
Hathius looked ahead as his hand scratched his blue-green scales on his cheek, Sofie moved to Hathius as she looked over his curved horns, the left one looked fine as always, however she gave a quick glance toward the broken right horn. Including a new scar on his muzzle from between his eyes to to edge of his snout, he ignored the dull pain of it as he entered first to see who came.
He wasn't surprised to not see his wife here, after all that Argonian merchant was taught to have a dislike toward Khajiits, a trait he never had considering what his father and mother were. Nor was he surprised or shocked that her side of the family wasn't here either, honestly he should of seen this coming and not bother telling her about his father being ill. But then again, if he didn't then she would of made a big deal out of it, and it would of gotten on his nerves.
Sigh as much as I love the damn woman, why couldn't she at least pretend she cared? This is my father after all. thought the heavy armor Argonian, thankfully the sounds of his twin children brought delight to him, knowing that at least his wife allowed the kids to see 'Grandpa Kitty' before his father wouldn't see them again. He looked to the light brown and dark brown Argonians of the age eight as they played tag with an Imperial girl of the age 10, and a Dunmer boy of the age 11.
However his attention turned to Sofie hugging and kissing her husband, an Imperial soldier of the ranking Tribune, and noticed Samuel hugging a Dunmer mage as they whisper to another. Khiani looked around as she lean on a chair as she spoke to her brother. "So, your semi-bigot wife ain't here to ruined our father last days of living?" she asked in a disdain tone, although she knew the answer, she still asked since she knew that she and her brother wife didn't get along.
Hathius snorted as he glance at her. "Where's your boy-toy who claimed that he could out-drink our old man in a drinking contest?" he asked.
"Told him that if he came here and ruined any decent moment I dump his ass, steal all his things, and leave him in a boat all the way to the those bigot High Elves. I swear he doesn't have a single tact in him, I'm just grateful that he took my threat serious." replied the Khajiit as she sat down, Hathius joined her.
"At least he's a good warrior, for a Nord." he said, Khiani giggled at that.
"Don't let dad hear you, our old man is the best warrior of them all." she told him as he chuckled, they looked upon the few friends in the Manor, those from the Companions, some familiar as Aela stood with Farkas, talking with some other Companion members. Some from the Thieves Guild as Brnjolf and Karliah talked to the new recruits, not to mention Enthir as they joked about something long ago in the past, Wizard Onmund chuckled from a joke Wizard Brelyna made about a certain Khajiit traveling the world as a master wizard.
A small girl spoke with a old Redguard, dress in red as they discuss privately with whispers of things that didn't concern the group. Some others came out of respect, despite not knowing their father well, a man who wished to be an adventure gotten his wish, and became quite well known across Skyrim. A old Dunmer woman who wore a robe as she converse with a old Orc woman about Daedra and such. And a few Khajiits as they remember the friendliness between the caravans and their father.
However before he could say another word, footsteps were heard coming down from the second floor. The retired Legate Rikke looked down with her gray hair, and wrinkle face. By her was her husband, Hadvar, the four playing children stopped as the conversations stopped going as Hadvar looked toward the four children of the owner of this Manor.
Soon enough the four of them went up to the old man as he spoke. "We talked with your father, and he refused to take any potions to extend his life, he said he wanted to see what would happen when he will be judged." Khiani failed to quieten her gasp as Hathius clenched his fist, Sofie began to have a look of pain, while Samuel tried to be braved as he spoke.
"H-How long?" he asked.
Thankfully a third voice enter the conversation as the being descend from the second floor. "A few hours. Almost everyone gotten a word from him." Everyone turned to see two woman coming down. One of them held a bag of sorts, her entire outfit was covered by her long cloak as her head was the only thing that could be seen. Her hair buns of black were on each side of her head, pale skin shown on her, and red eyes looked at them all.
A few of the mortals in the room froze, of course they couldn't helped it, after all it wasn't easy to ease the fears of having a vampire in the same room with you.
However the one who spoke was different from the other woman, she was a vampire for sure, but her hair was braided downward to her neck, instead of the cloak covering her, it was place back as colors of black and red were shown with a symbol of her 'family' was seen by all on the cloak itself. And those red eyes look at the four as they knew for a fact, that those eyes were filled with sadness of losing a true and great friend.
"You four are the only ones that haven't gone up to him yet, I think now is a good time, before..." said Serana as tears started to flow from her eyes, she turned away as she hugged her mother. The four given their sympathies as they slowly go up and enter into their fathers room, and saw him laying on the bed, writing down with a quill into a book as he paused and looked at them.
"Ah, my kids, so good to see your old man." joked the Khajiit named Hidaken.
Where there was once fur of a youthful snow leopard, there was now only gray and white fur. His blue eyes had a tired look on them, yet they held a joyous look on them as he sees his children. Underneath his right eye was three old lines that were once shown as a mystery to all, however now was not the time, nor the place to think about it as the owner of those old scars was slowly dying. No hair was on this Khajiit as there wasn't a beard, mustache, or even head hair on this old cat.
Where there was once fine clothing's on him from Radiant Raiment, now there was only a belted tunic on him, or at least on his upper body, his lower part was covered by the blankets up to his waist.
Around his neck was a old gift from Bynjolf, the amulet of Articulation, on his claws were two rings on each side of his first fingers. His left held the ring of Recovery and Renewal, while his right held the ring of Peerless Health and Nullification. While not having any hair didn't bother him, what did bother him, was when he seen his children looks of despair. So he merely put his book off to the side, opened his arms wide as he knew his grown children would want to ask question, and perhaps be coddle for old time sake's.
Khiani abandoned any sense of maturity as she went up to the one she called father and hugged his waist. "Tell me it isn't true Dada! Tell me it isn't true!" she wailed as she hugged the elder tightly, refusing to believe that he would denied a chance to live longer, Hidaken sighed as he started to gently rub his youngest head as he comforts her.
"It is true. But the reason is simple, it is not from the lack of money, nor the feeling of the potion being a failure, but the fact that I simply cannot keep going anymore." he told them in a gentle tone as he hadn't stop his petting. Samuel stepped up to his father right side behind Khiani.
"But why?" he asked as there was a disbelief look upon his face.
Hidaken sighed. "I'm simply too old, I've been going at this longer than I would of thought, I've seen terrible things, but I also seen beautiful sights that I couldn't see again. I can't outdo death forever, it's part of the natural cycle my children." told the father, yet when he said this there was a faint smile on his face, knowing that despite these long years, he wouldn't change a single bit of it, he had no regrets, well concerning himself that was. His biggest regret, was that he had to leave with his family and friends being so sad.
"Come my children, give your old father a hug, as we spent these last hours, together." he said as they all abandoned all forms of maturity and hugged together, tears came out as they throw away their pride as the patriarch of the Caeraso line would go on in the afterlife. Who knew how long they hugged and cried, but eventually he looked straight to a steel case, and in it the largest book he ever wrote, his personal diary.
"Now kids, I want you to do something." He said as he lets go of them, they sniffed and wipe their tears away as they looked at him. He turned to his right to open the end table and took a key. "This, is the key to my own journal over there, when I pass on, I want you to open the case, there you will see my will, and my point of view from my childhood, to of now. I want you to keep it, make copies of it if you have to, and remember that I will always be with you, if not as a ghost, at least my wisdom will be with you." he joked as he managed to get them to smile.
He coughed a bit as they came closer, Samuel gently pat his father back while Sofie grabbed some milk, and aided her father to drink the jug, Hathius took the key and opened the case, yet didn't took the book out of respect for his father, and Khiani hugged her father even tighter. Hidaken throat cleared as he went on. "And I wish for you to help me published my last book, Consider that I'm going to pass on, I want to get it done." he said.
"Anything else father?" asked Hathius, Hidaken nodded his head.
"Yes, in my will, there is a small list I need you four to do when I'm gone, I would of done it myself, except my body can't handle the travel anymore, so when you all have finish your grieving, please do it for me." he request to them, they all nodded their heads. He coughed a bit more as he laid down his head on the pillow, a sigh came out of him. "I hate being old, I really do." told the old Khajiit as the family spent the last remaining hours together.
***
It was in the morning that Hidaken Caeraso of the Caeraso family in Cryodiil, Dragonborn of Tamriel, former Harbinger of the Companions, Arch-mage of the College of Winterhold, Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, Guild Master of the Thieves Guild, Legate of the Imperial Armies, honorary noble of House Telvanni, former member of the Dawnguard, and known Thane of all the nine Holds, was dead. The guest in the Manor heard the wailing of Khiani as the four slept near their father, providing him comfort and companionship to the end.
There was grieving and tears that was shed for this Khajiit, however there was a matter of debate on how the body of the known figure would end up. The Companions wanted to burned his body at Skyforge in Whitrun, while Rikke thought he should return to his home back in the capital to be buried among his family, thankfully all matters laid to rest as Samuel opened his father large journal, and taken out the will as he read it out.
If you're reading this, then I'm dead. Honestly it's the only way you would be reading this will by now, considering I kept the key hidden and my will hidden in plain sight. So in terms of giving my things away, it's going to my kids, everything I owned is now theirs to keep and do whatever the Nines want them to do with it. I trust them to divide it fairly among each other, including the plots of land I owned as well, no sense of just letting the places go bad if there wasn't anyone living in it.
However there is an exception for the 'giving it all to my kids'. In fact it's two things, the wolf ring and the katana blade. I wanted the ring to be given to Aela, she knows what it is, the blade however...
I want it to be buried into the ground, and never be found again.
I don't want anyone touching it, for I had the 'pleasure' of holding a Daedra relic and trust me when I say this, it will screw you mind over. Buried it far, and away from anyone before it could get the chance to use someone to murder many.
Now onto the important parts, I want my kids to head to Breezehome in Whiterun and grab something for me. A Glenmoril witch head, I know, I know, how could anything survive these past decades? You would be surprise from the answer, if I was alive that is. Anyway, head to Ysgramor Tomb and you might need to fight off the ghosts there who want to see if you're worthy. And maybe some spiders, when you get to the large tomb with the fire pit in the middle, just dump off the head and kill the 'ghost' which will insure I won't be a bitch to Hircine and I might be able to get into Sovngarde.
As for how my body will be treated? Well just send it to the Companions, and send the remains in a urn, straight to my relatives or something, worst cast scenario is that my family in the capital rejects it and returns it to Skyrim. Or better yet, why not make a tomb for me with my remains? I know that probably won't happen, considering I'm not a Nord, but a Khajiit could dream. Still the best bet for everyone to be happy is having my body burn, and half of my ashes go to my kids, while the other half goes to the Companions.
That's all I have to say.
-Hidaken
While they all heard it, they became surprised, then shocked, and finally laughed a bit as Hidaken still try to make a joke, for their sake. "Well at least the old cat was trying to cheer us up." joked Bynjolf as the others nodded their heads.
"So, how are we going to do this?" asked Hathius.
***
It was decided that Hidaken would be cremated on a wooden pyre to burn the body on a stone floor, then the ashes would be collected and divided to two groups, the family and the Companions. Thankfully the kids didn't had to pay, considering that the Black-Briar family paid the entire funeral supplies.
The four children place their father on the wood with his eyes closed, his back laid on the burnable wood, and his hands together as he looks like he was sleeping. They placed oils of lavender on him, making him smell fresh as Samuel put a cowl on his father head, merely replying to his sister Sofie 'He might needed it for the weather'. Soon a priest of Arkay came up as she spoke, to the crowd of family and friends. "Today, is a day of sadness and of joy, a day where we are gather here for the lost of the mortal life of the Dragonborn, but we are also here to remember that he is off where all great heroes go to.
"We must remember all the deeds, good and bad, and know that they will decide on his fate." said the priest. She went on for a good hour until the crowd each said a word or two about Hidaken, finally after sometime as the sun sets on the afternoon the priest called out. "Who will bear the fire and set aflame of this one?" she asked, Khiani was held by her sister Sofie as the Khajiit freely grieve and shown her tears, Sofie tried to be the bigger sister, but the tears fall upon her face as well.
Hathius and Samuel looked at each other and nodded their heads. "We both will do it." said Samuel, however Khiani shook her head and walked up by them. "No, I think we should all do it, it's the least we could do for Dada, right bigger brother?" she asked to Samuel, he nodded his head as they each came to a corner of the pyre.
Hathius and Sofie took a flame spell in their hands, while Khiani and Samuel used torches as they set aflame of their father, and Serana merely sing a gentle song as the body of her greatest, and only true friend burned that day.
Thankfully a few bards aided Serana in the song, not only were they were here to given out their sorrows, but were here to say goodbye to a fellow bard, not to mention they were doing this for free.
"Goodbye Dada, may you be at peace, where ever you are at." said Khiani as the four kids hugged together, seeing their father body burned slowly into ashes.
***
"No! I want him!" told the Lord of Dominance, as the Daedra argued among themselves, the 13 Daedra stood in a circle as the prize in the center is none other than Hidaken himself, or more likely his soul, just laying on his side as he tapped his left claws. His expression was of an annoyance as he thought that the squabbling of these beings would be...entertaining.
"And I told you Molage Bal! he made a contract with me, therefore his soul is mine!" shouted Nocturnal, however the Lord of Hunt intervene.
"You forget, he drank the blood of a werewolf, so he is mine." said Hircine.
"But he makes wonderful cheese! He must come to the Shivering Isles with me, otherwise what would be the point in having a good cook?" asked Sheogorath, Mephala merely shook her head as she spoke. "You can keep this one, he hasn't been a good champion to me." she said as she left.
"Alright! Alright! I know how to fix this whole mess, whoever bid the most souls get to keep him!" announced Clavicus as the betting began.
"Five souls!" started Boethiah.
"Fifteen! I wish for him to be my order bringer!" shouted Peryite.
"Twenty! He will bring my light to all!" said Meridia, however Azura, Hermaeus, and Sanguine merely spoke in a hush tone as they discussed something.
"Hermaeus, his fate has been called upon from beyond the mortal realm, and our realms. You can see it plainly as I can." told Azura, the Keeper acknowledge with a growl.
"I wish it weren't not, but I cannot denied such a fact. As much as I love to keep my champion within my libraries, I know that he would be most useful...somewhere else." replied Hermaeus.
"What are you guys talking about? Wait you mean those self righteous deities are calling him? I thought he would stay here, after all he's a fun mortal to be around." said Sanguine.
"The strings around his fate stretches farther from beyond even our domains, beyond the Void itself. Which means he will be called upon, question is, who is calling him?" Azura said, Nocturnal noticed the three whispering as she came by them.
"What are you all talking about?" demanded Nocturnal.
"We are discussing the possibility of the mortal soul in our possession of being called upon, from beyond our realm." told Hermaues as Azura nodded her head, and Sanguine sighed of the possibility may happen. Nocturnal wouldn't have any of that.
"Are you kidding me? He owes me a due of servitude, he made a contract with me, and therefore he needs to fill it out before he goes anywhere." she said loudly as the other Daedra, including Hidaken heard about this. While the Daedra stopped their betting and argued, Hidaken began to ponder. Hmmm, seems like the Nine are thinking of sending me somewhere else, question is why? I'm dead, and my soul is up between the Daedra, so why are they so desperate for me to leave this place? thought the Khajiit, his answer however came not from the Daedra, but a familiar voice.
"Hello my sweet child, I have been looking for you, we've been looking for you." said the Night Mother, Hidaken looked surprised at the figure before him, the being was a woman, but she was dressed in a wedding outfit of black, her face covered with the veil of the night, while something was around her, and Hidaken knew what it was. He knew for a fact, that by the Night Mother was the Dread Lord himself, and Hidaken was glad the he couldn't see him, because he knew he would intimidated by Sithis.
"Now then my child, come there has been a change in motion." the Night Mother told him as the ball was opened, however the Daedra didn't take well to that.
"And what do you think your doing, with our soul?" demanded Molage, the other Daedra move toward the Mother as she gently grabbed Hidaken.
"If things were different, I would of taken him to the other children, however I am here for a simple reason. He is being called upon, from a realm untouched by us. A realm that is in need of a being like our child here." replied the Night Mother.
"Ah, so his fate has been called upon, may I ask who?" asked Azura.
"Someone who exceeds our own strength." told the Night Mother in a cryptic manner.
"But he is our champion, we need him in our domains." told Hircine, however before another argument broke out, Hidaken interrupted them as he cough, and soon spoke.
"Excuse me, but perhaps you all didn't heard what the Night Mother said, she said I was to be taken to a world that hasn't been touched by her, and that means it hasn't been touch by you all either." he said.
"Make your point mortal." told Boethiah as Hidaken sighed.
"My point is that this is a new opportunity for you all, a new realm, means possible new worshipers, and new worshipers means more souls." explain the old cat as they soon to realize the full extend of his words. He went on explaining. "So how about this? How about you let me go, temporary, and let me be sent onto this realm. Not only allowing me to do whatever I needed to do there, but also spread word of you guys as well." persuaded Hidaken.
Some of them were thoughtful by this, sure they may lose a soul, but they gained more souls in the long run. Question was, who was going to be mentioned?
"And what do you want in return Hidaken?" asked Nocturnal, while it may be true that the mortal may owe her a time of servitude, she knew a business deal when she could smell it. "I know you aren't doing this out of the goodness of your heart, otherwise you wouldn't be here." she added.
Hidaken chuckled to that. "True." He turned to the Night Mother. "Will I retain all my memories of my home?" he asked, she nodded her head as he turned back to the Daedra. "I may retain all my memories, but there is a slight chance my knowledge, my spells, and my abilities that I fought for may disappear. I don't want that to happen, so even though I may not have my weapons, armor, and all my possessions, I know for a fact that my knowledge and skills will benefit me. This is the deal.
"You will make sure I have my knowledge, skills, abilities, and spells. But in return I will not only bring your names into this realm, but I'll build the starting points of the cults of the Daedra, not to mention the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild." he said to them.
Boethiah scoffed at his offer. "No deal, I think I'll just take my artifact back and leave you to rot, so long."
"That fool doesn't realize the miss opportunity that is before us." told Molage as the other agreed to his words. "But I know you wished for more mortal, one of us could easily do this attempt you bargain with us, there must be more to your deal." said the Lord of Domination.
Hidaken sighed as he nodded his head. "Yes, even I know that there will be danger around me, I am old, not quite young and strong like I used to be. Which is why I'm asking for protection, because I'm no use to you all if I'm dead again, now am I?" asked Hidaken.
"You speak wisdom champion, after all, who would want a mortal that gets killed quickly before they do their assign goal?"Hermaues said as the others were being persuaded into this deal.
"You make a interesting proposal to me mortal, not many would have the courage, or the madness to ask us for protection in exchange for spreading our names. However I remember fondly of the days you struck others who were weaker to you with my mace...I shall watch over you, if you prove your worth to me." told Molage.
"Well I have too much to do to watch over you mortal, I am off to the Pits." announced Peryite as he left, Malacath however spoke to Hidaken.
"You should know better than ask protection from us mortal, why ask us to coddle you, when you should just face off your foes with your blade in hand?" ask the Lord of Spurn.
"Could a elder be able to fight off an group of warriors? Could he defeat them so easily with no strength in his arms? When I was young in my days you could scold me so, but you forgot Malacath, I am no young warrior anymore, I am beyond my age of fighting, and if I do fight in my position, I would merely hold off three until one of them strike a blade into my heart." told the Khajiit.
"Be at peace Malacath, he speaks the truth, he couldn't hunt a single elk in his old age, therefore we should consider that there might be another way to prove he is worthy of our protection and of our gifts." council Hircine.
"Hmph, very well. We will watch over you, but you must prove that your worth it." told Malacath, as the two talked away from the others, Azura moved toward Hidaken as she came by to him.
"I had always watched you Hidaken, and know I will still watch over you still, even without this deal, I would of watched over you in this new realm." told Azura. "Which is why I will bestow my Star to you, when you'll get there of course." she added as she disappears.
Nocturnal sighed. "Very well, I will give in to your request, but know this, when you leave the mortal realm once more, I will be there for you, and will await for your servitude." she said as she disappeared.
"I will remain netural for now mortal, perhaps my opinion may change whenever I feel like it." told Merdia as she too left, Clavicus Vile left, knowing that this isn't worth his time, however Hidaken heard the voice of Barbas in his ear.
"Don't worry, I'll handle Vile if he try any mischief with you." said the dog voice as Hidaken chuckled.
"Tell you what, get a good drink, and you're uncle will help you out." told Sanguine as he disappears.
"You know what? Just for kicks, I'll give you your pretties before you bit the dust little fellow! Hope we can have cheese together!" spoke the Daedric Prince of Madness as he disappears into a midst of cheese cows.
"I'll meet with you very soon my champion, there is much knowledge to be gained from this realm." added the Keeper of Knowledge as he left. Soon it was only Hidaken, Night Mother, and the Dread Lord in the area as she took out her hand.
"Come and take my hand, you will not remember anything of this discussion at all. But you will retained your memories of your mortal life, embrace my loving arms." she said as Hidaken fell into her arms as his mind began to fall into a deep, deep, slumber.
***
It wouldn't be for a few hours until the Guards picked up a call from the locals in Vanhoover, about a tall bipedal feline with two rings on his first claws, and a necklace around his throat. Not to mention the oddest reason it had a loincloths around it's waist.
