The King of the Dovah

"By the Nine there is nothing to do!" I shouted in frustration as I lounged in my chair.

It had been like this for weeks now. I would go have a decent quest only to come back home and wait for another quest to come my way. I didn't introduce myself did I? Well my name is Raddin and I am the Dragonborn! Yeah it's not as big of a deal as most people say it is trust me.

I was a Nord and a native of Skyrim hailing from a small village near the border. I was tall like most of my brethren standing at about six foot three with pale white skin with dirty blonde hair that I had cut to fell to the back of my neck and forest green eyes. Yet unlike most Nord's I wasn't a tower of muscle and actually had a pretty lean build but my muscles were much more defined. So I was a little different than most Nord's in appearance but it didn't bother me, I liked being unique.

Across from me one of my companions snorted in amusement making me glare at them. It was my underling/friend from the Dark Brotherhood Erane. After all the crap with Astrid and the Penetus Oculatus she was one of the newer initiate's that joined up. She was a fairly short Nord women with short dark amber hair, piercing blue eyes and a fairly pale complexion. Her curvy figure was defined nicely due to her form fitting Dark Brotherhood uniform.

In the beginning I thought of her as another assassin looking to strike it big with the Brotherhood but over time I found a respect for her. She took her contracts very seriously and her success rate was nearly as good as my own, which was flawless by the way. We went on a few contracts together and now we were as thick as thieves so to speak.

"Oh go to Oblivion Erane!" I shout at her in annoyance. We may be friends but she still annoys the hell out of me most of the time.

"Can you both please stop your childish antic's for more than a few minutes. Some of us are trying to work here." Said someone from behind me with annoyance clear in their tone.

Turning around I smile sheepishly and say, " sorry Aranea but you know how we are. So what you working on this time? Another new enchantment or are you studying those dwemer schematics again?"

After my quest for Azura and repairing the Daedra's artifact Aranea basically had nowhere to go as her whole life had been spent serving her matron. I couldn't just leave her alone up there so I took her with me and she has been a major boon to me. Her knowledge of the arcane arts far surpassed mine though I possessed more power than her. Later on she grew a fascination with dwemer technology and enchanting so when we weren't adventuring she was usually trying to either make a new enchantment or trying to replicate the dwemer's creations. So far she has managed to make some worker spider's that won't blow up in five minute's of use and was now working on dwarven sphere's.

The dark elf wore her traditional dark robes only now the hood was down and showed her dark red eyes and long black hair that she put into a long braid. She was still giving me an annoyed glare before finally relenting and letting a smile cross her face.

"I guess I should be used to your two's antic's by now. But if you really want to know I've been reading some dwarven scrolls and found something you may be interested in. It appears that there is a dwarven ruin not far from here hidden in a cave. I would bet a hundred septims that it hasn't been touched yet and is ripe for the taking if your up for it."

Now this was what I was waiting for! Finally after two whole days of just lounging about in Lakeview Manor I can finally get out and do something! I may even get some cool new souvenir's!

"Well what are we waiting for lass!? Pack your gear and let's get moving!" I say excitedly before running off in to the armory wing of my home hearing the two of them laugh at my excitement but I didn't care. It was time to have some fun!

Stepping into my armory I go and start to put on my favorite armor set. It was the symbol of my loyalty to the Daedric Prince Boethiah, her Ebony Mail. This armor was great for taking on most enemies due to the poison effect that activates during combat. While for the helmet I donned a simple ebony helm enchanted with water breathing. You won't believe how many times I nearly drowned when in a dungeon. The boot's and gauntlet's were ebony as well yet they were both enchanted to resist magicka.

After getting my chosen armor on I walked over to my weapons rack and think about what would fit this particular situation. Thinking about it for a few second's I eventually reach out and grab another Daedric artifact only this one was the blade of one of the better Prince's. It was the sword Dawnbreaker. After sheathing the blade I then reach out and grab a simple ebony shield enchanted with increasing my blocking ability.

My weapons and armor in place I walk out to see Erane and Aranea ready with their own hoods up and Erane carrying a small orchish dagger at her waist and an elven bow I had given her as a gift, with a quiver full of glass arrows on her back. Aranea only ever needed her magicka or so she says.

After a final check to make sure all of us have what we need we head outside where after passing through I turn and lock the door. Can never be too careful in a wild land like Skyrim after all. We pass by the stable's where I gently pet Shadowmere before passing by. Normally I would take my loyal steed and ride him to my destination but I just felt like walking for once and actually take in the sights. If I was lucky a group of bandits may attack!

Sadly no bandits had attacked and a little while later my friends and I found ourselves standing outside of the cave entrance that Aranea had spoken of. The cave was pitch black so Aranea had to cast a candlelight spell so we could all see as we went farther into the cave. For the first few meters or so we saw nothing but more cave and I was beginning to question the legitimacy of the dark elf's source. That was until we came across a dwemer elevator that from what I could see only went down. Did I mention it was also being guarded by two dwarven Centurions? Guess I should have mentioned that first.

Instantly upon our arrival the behemoth's activated and as they began to move the three of us burst into action. I drew Dawnbreaker and readied my shield, Erane melded into the shadow with her bow drawn and Aranea's hands flared with magicka ready to use frost and fire magicka. It was unfortunate that my Ebony Mail's effect was only effective against flesh and blood enemies.

I charged the Centurion on the right as Aranea fired a few ice spikes and firebolts over my head to collide against the machine's chest denting the metal but not piercing it. Erane meanwhile was keeping the other Centurion occupied by sending arrows into the giants joint's causing some damage but not enough to put it down.

Quickly I closed the distance on my opponent who upon seeing my approach brought it's hammer arm up and when I was close swiftly brought it down on my head. I leap forward and in-between the Centurions legs feeling the ground shake as the hammer hit. Getting to my feet I slash backwards striking the back of the Centurion's left leg making it drop to one knee. While it was down I leaped onto it's back and drive my sword into the exposed back of the neck instantly killing the machine as it fell forward laying flat on its front making it nothing more than a huge hunk of metal and parts.

Looking to see how my friends were doing I see That they had defeated the other Centurion as it had arrows protruding from it's neck and joints but what looks to have finished it was the giant icy spear that had pierced its head.

"Good work guys! Now let's head down into the ruins and loot some crap. Though I seriously hope there's a better challenge down there then these two rust bucket's." I say kicking the fallen behemoth to emphasize.

Aranea and Erane though spent the next few minute's taking what they could from the machine's such as a few soul gems and mechanical parts. After that though the three of us got on the elevator and I pulled the lever to make it move. Nothing happened for a second before with a sudden jerk the elevator began to move downwards.

I expected the ride to be nothing but a few minutes at most but ended up being an hour long trip. Why the hell did it take so long!? The three of us actually started a game of Daedra Bones just to pass the time. For those who don't know Daedra bones is when you roll a pair of dice with symbol's for the Aedra but with on side being a Daedra symbol. In order to win you must roll three symbols of Dibella on both dice, one Kynareth on each, and finally one Julianos on just one die all without getting the Daedra symbol on either die at any time or else you must start over.

"Damnit all to Oblivion!" Shouted Elane as she rolled the Daedra symbol again.

"My turn." I say before rolling the die and getting my third and final pair of Dibella leaving only for me to get my Julianos pair. Yet before Aranea could take her turn we had finally reached the bottom.

Getting up we all stretched to get rid of the stiffness before stepping off of the elevator. Now usually we would have ended up in a room with a door at the end or even just another hall that we would need to go down all the while avoiding traps and fighting dwarven machine's along with the occasional Falmer that may have made the place their home.

What we now stood in was nothing like that. We were instead inside a large room that stretched at least a hundred meters length wise and was about seventy meters wide. The ceiling was actually so high I couldn't even see it in the darkness! There were no doors, hatches or pathways anywhere around the room from what we could see but at the end of the hall sat a small pedestal with a floating sphere on top of it.

"Well this is pretty boring. Honestly I was expecting a huge fight to the death or some shit but no such luck. I think you gave this place too much credit Aranea." I say disappointedly as I started walking across the hall to get the orb and leave since there was nothing of interest here.

"No wait Raddin!" Shouted Aranea but it was already too late as I felt one of the plates I stepped on sink into the floor a bit.

I instantly hop back to the group and we all draw weapons wondering what kind of trap I had just activated. Our answer came soon after as a large circular hole in the middle of the cavern opened. We waited in angst for a moment before a large bronze claw clutched the edge of the pit before pulling the rest of the creature out. I don't know about my comrade's but I was in at what had just stepped out of the hole which closed soon after the beast had left it.

In front of us was a dwarven made dragon about the size of an Elder dragon. The things entire form was made of dwarven metal that even I had to admit was insanely well made and detailed. The things eyes were glowing bright blue as steam came from it's fanged maw. This was the first time I had ever seen such a creation and it looked more dangerous than an actual dragon if you could believe it. That must mean whatever that orb is must be very valuable to have a security measure like this. Plus this actually may be fun!

Thinking quickly I thought up a plan and said it to my companions. Aranea I need to to it that things joints with some frost spells to try and slow it down. Erane I need you to take out it's eyes with your arrows. This thing if anything like a real dragon was made to take a lot of hits and dish out a shit ton of damage so we need to be fast and strike it's vulnerable points. Now move!"

Following my plan to the letter Erane started firing at the Dwarven dragon's head aiming to take out it's eyes but the machine was moving it's head so the arrows just bounced off of it's metal hide. Aranea for her part was having much better luck with her frost spell as ice started forming on the dragon's joints making it slower and harder to move.

That was when I moved in to attack the beast up close with Dawnbreaker raised and my shield up. When I was close enough I changed up my approach by lowering my shield and changing my overhead swing into a side slash before using my dragon heritage in the form of a shout.

"WULD NAH KEST!"

In an instant I had reappeared behind the dragon with my blade outstretched while the beast behind me roared in anger. This was due to the large steaming gash left in it's side when I passed it. The machine tried to turn around and bit me but the freezing in it's joints by Aranea made it easy to avoid. The tail however wasn't so easy and I had barely had time to bring up my shield before the damn thing stuck and sent me flying across the ground leaving me a bit dazed but otherwise fine.

As I was getting to my feet I saw the large dent in my shield and knew it would take some serious work to repair it after this was all over. Another roar from the dragon brought my attention back just in time to see one of Erane's arrows hit home into one of its eyes. This proved to do more harm then good though as the beast glared at Erane with it's lone eye before unleashing a stream of fire towards her!

Using my Whirlwind Sprint shout once more I arrived in front of Erane with my shield raised to block the fire which was fortified by a ward spell from Aranea. The stream of fire lasted a good minute before finally dying off. Putting my shield down I see the thing is mostly melted and chuck the melted shield to the side and grip Dawnbreaker in my right hand as my left hand blazes with sparks.

I charge the giant once more while shooting Lightning Bolt spells. Aranea meanwhile was firing numerous Icy Spears that actually started to dent the things ridiculously strong hide. Erance had continued to fire arrows hitting the thing in all of it's joints making sparks fly as it started taking more damage.

Seeing my coming the dragon lashed out to bite me in half but I leaped over the strike and landed on it's head. The thing started to thrash around wildly to shake me off but I had long since mastered dragon riding and held fast. Brining my sword up I plunge Dawnbreaker down and into the beasts skull all the way to the hilt with the heat from the blade melting the metal. The dragon went completely rigged for a second before finally falling to the ground. I kept my blade in place though until the light in it's remaining eye died.

Pulling the blade out of the defeated machine I slide it into my scabbard and take off my helmet to wipe the sweat from my brow before replacing my helmet. Aranea and Erane approached me both lightly panting but I think I spoke for all of us when I say we were glad that we finally won. The bastard put up a great fight but nothing we couldn't handle.

"I take back what I said Aranea. This was SO not a waste of time." I say happily.

"Glad you think so. Now just grab the orb while I scavenge some parts from this machine and let's get back home. That fire singed my robes a bit." She said while gesturing the singed edges of her robes.

Shrugging I walk up to the pedestal at the end of the cavern and observe the sphere for a second. It looked dwemer made definitely but it was also somewhat unique. The sphere was made with dwarven metal sure but it was the glowing green runes that intrigued me. they looked similar to the Eye of Magnus but there were also some runes that were completely new. Shrugging it off for later I reach out and take the orb before depositing it in my satchel.

By that time Aranea and Erane had finished stripping the dwarven dragon leaving only it's skeleton and a few scrap's of it's hide Looking at the duo I see their satchel's a little bit fuller than before and they seemed to be struggling to carry them. Sighing to myself I take both of their satchels from them to carry myself but even with my natural Nord strength I struggled a bit at first before getting the hang of it. Damn now I wish I would have brought Shadowmere.

*a few hours later*

Here the three of us were again sitting at the dinning room table at my Lakeview Manor home. Only this time we were all staring intently at the orb we had acquired earlier from the dwarven ruins. We were all wondering what was so special about this thing that the dwemer had made a dwarven dragon to protect it. So far we couldn't come up with anything.

"Maybe it's some kind of key?" Suggested Erane.

"No I've seen and used dwemer keys before and this is nothing like a key. Plus those ruins are definitely Aedra in design so I doubt it would be as simple as a key." I said.

Aranea was quiet the whole time going through her notes on the dwemer but seemed to not be having any luck so far. I myself took a look at the ruins on the orb and found that some of them were out of line. Curiously I picked up the orb and tried twisting it. Surprisingly this worked and the orb's ruins began to glow once more. Feeling happy with myself I started to smile only to drop the orb as it grew unbearably hot in my hands.

Instead of dropping to the ground though the orb floated in mid air as the ruins on it began to glow even brighter to the point it was nearly blinding. If that wasn't enough the whole house began to shake as my various wall mounts and such started to fall from their perches while my companions and I fell down due to losing our balance.

The light from the orb grew more and more until all I could see was white, even with my eyes closed! I then heard a loud boom and suddenly I knew no more.