[[Welcome]]
You hear the wind around you and the clomping of horses as your eyes flutter open. A man, Ralof, sits across from you.
"Hey, you. You’re finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right?"
[[No.]]
[[What's it to you?]]You look towards the man at the end of the wagon, Lokir.
"Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn’t been looking for you, I could’ve stolen that horse and been half way to Hammerfell. You there. You and me — we shouldn't be here. It’s these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."
The man across from you scoffs.
"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now [[theif. ->Bound Captive]]"Ralof rolls his eyes.
"Well ya walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over [[there. ->Theif]]"Ralof shakes his head.
"You walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over [[there. ->Theif]]"The guard steering the wagon shouts, "Shut up back there!"
Lokir looks to the last person in the wagon, bound and gagged. "And what's wrong with him, huh?"
Ralof retorts, "Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King."
Lokir leans against the side of the wagon in suprise, "Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they’ve captured you…. Oh gods, where are they taking us?"
Ralof shakes his head. "I don’t know where we’re going, but Sovngarde [[awaits. ->The Final Wooded Stretch]]"Lokir panicks. "No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening."
Ralof looks towards Lokir. "Hey, what village are you from horse theif?"
Lokir retorts, "Why do you care?"
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home," Ralof says reassuringly.
"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me," Lokir prays.
[[->-> Helgen]]The wagon approaches the gates of a small town called Helgen. A short military general awaits the caravan with their soldiers.
Ralof scoffs quietly. "Look at him, General Tullius the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this.
This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe."
The wagon slows to a stop.
An Imperial Captain calls out, "Get these prisoners out of the carts. Move it!"
Lokir looks at you and Ralof nervously. "Why are we [[stopping? -> End of the Line]]"
Ralof scoffs, "Why do you think? End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us."
Lokir cries out, "No! Wait! We're not rebels!"
"Face your death with some courage, theif."
"You've got to tell them! We weren't with you! This is a mistake!" Lokir panicks.
The Imperial captain barks out. "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time."
A guard, Hadvar, calls out the list:
"Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm.
Ralof of Riverwood.
[[Lokir of Rorikstead]]."Lokir panicks. "No, I'm not a rebel. You can't do this!"
You watch as Lokir tenses, and his feet move like they have their own will.
The Imperial Captain shouts loudly, "''Halt!''"
Lokir bolts away, shouting behind him, "You're not going to kill me!"
"''Archers!''" The archers release their arrows on their captain's orders, striking Lokir down on the path ahead.
"Anyone else feel like running?" the captain asks angrily.
[[Yes.]] [[No...]]Really?
You want to run?
[[Yes]]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Yes.")'s length is 1)[Smart.]
Hadvar calls out. "Wait. You there. Step forward. Who are you?"
*What is your name?*
(input-box:2bind $name,"=======XXXXXX=======",1)
*Pick a race.*
(dropdown: bind $race, "Nord", "Altmer", "Khajiit")
[[--> ->The Chopping Block pt.1]]
Your loss.
You're struck down by arrows, and you ragdoll onto the cobblestones near Lokir.
[[go back. ->Lokir of Rorikstead]]
[[restart? -> Helgen]] (if:$race is "Nord")["You picked a bad time to come home to Skyrim, kinsman." Hadvar comments.](if:$race is "Altmer")[Y"ou’re not with the Thalmor Embassy, are you high elf? No, that can’t be right…." Hadvar trails off.](if:$race is "Khajiit")["You with one of the trade caravans, Khajiit? Your kind always seems to find trouble." Hadvar says.]
"Forget the list," the Imperial Captain barks. "$name goes to the block."
"By your orders, Captain..." Hadvar trails off, before looking towards you. (if:$race is "Nord")["I’m sorry. At least you’ll die here, in your homeland."
[[---> ->The Chopping Block pt.2]]](if:$race is "Altmer")["I’m sorry. We’ll make sure your remains are returned to the Summerset Isle."
[[---> ->The Chopping Block pt.2]]](if:$race is "Khajiit")["I’m sorry. We’ll make sure your remains are returned to Elsweyr."
[[---> ->The Chopping Block pt.2]]]General Tullius stands menacinly by the chopping block. "Ulfric Stormcloak. Some here in Helgen call you a hero. But a hero doesn’t use a power like the Voice to murder his king and usurp his throne."
Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak grunts, muffled by his gag.
The General retorts. "You started this war, plunged Twinerim into chaos, and now the Empire is going to put you down, and restore the peace."
As the general finishes, a roar is heard in the distance.
"What was that?" Hadvar asks.
"It's nothing. Carry on." The General Dismisses.
"Yes, General," The captain answers, "Give them their last rites [[priestess -> The Chopping Block pt.3]]."The priestess raises her palms to the sky, reciting, "As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the Eight Divines upon you, for you are the salt and earth of Nirn, our beloved…."
A soldier interrupts, marching himself to the chopping block. He sneers at the imperial soldiers roiling them for a fight. He kneels before the executioner, before his head is chopped off at the block.
His comrades shout in anger as his head falls.
(if:$race is "Nord")["Next, the Nord in the rags!" The Captain calls amid the noise.](if:$race is "Altmer")["Next, the high elf!" The Captain calls amid the noise.](if:$race is "Khajiit")["Next, the cat!" The Captain calls amid the noise.]
Another roar is heard in the distance, closer than last time.
Everyone looks to the skies. "There it is again. Did you hear that?" Hadvar asks quietly.
"I said, next prisoner!" The Imperial Captain, calls you again. This time annoyed.
Hadvar looks to you, "To the block, $name. Nice and [[easy -> Dragon!]]."Suddenly, a dragon appears landing atop the tower behind the chopping block.
The dragon roars, knocking a few people down as the sound rings through your ears. You are paralyzed with fear, staring at the dragon before you.
(if:$race is "Nord")[Ralof calls out to you, "Hey, kinsman. Get up! Come on, the gods won’t give us another chance! This way! Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?"](if:$race is "Altmer")[Ralof calls out to you, "Hey, high elf. Get up! Come on, the gods won’t give us another chance! This way! Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?"](if:$race is "Khajiit")[Ralof calls out to you, "Hey, khajiit. Get up! Come on, the gods won’t give us another chance! This way! Jarl Ulfric! What is that thing? Could the legends be true?"]
The Jarl turns to run calling back, "Legends don’t burn down villages. We need to move. [[Now -> To the Tower]]!"
"Up through the tower, let’s go!" Ralof shouts. You follow instinctively, yearning to escape the immediate battle. You start up the stairs eager to find a way to escape as the dragon bursts in.
Ralof calls to you as you stand on the stairs, "Get back!"
The dragon wastes no time, shooting a breath of fire through the rubble. You stumble back as it smolders and the dragon retreats eager to find easier prey. Ralof pushes past you finding the top of the tower. You follow wanting to know his plan.
"See the inn on the other side?" Rolof asks.
You nod.
"Jump through the roof and keep going! Go! We’ll follow when we can!"
You look back at him, and at the inn and sigh before [[jumping -> The Burning Inn]].
You follow Hadvar, running as you try to escape the raging dragon behind you.
"Hadvar! Into the keep, soldier, we’re leaving!"The General calls before he disappears into the keep as Rolof and other Stormcloaks catch up to you and Hadvar.
Hadvar spies Rolof as he calls out to you, "It’s you and me, prisoner. Stay close! Ralof! You damned traitor. Out of my way!"
"We’re escaping, Hadvar," Rolof retorts, "you’re not stopping us this time."
Hadvar grimaces, "Fine. I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde."
Both men run towards separate entrances into the keep. Calling out as you approach.
"You! Come on, into the keep!" [[Ralof]] calls.
"With me, prisoner. Let’s go!" [[Hadvar]] shouts.
*Who do you choose? Ralof, the Stormcloak or Hadvar, the Imperial?*You run towards Ralof into the keep. When you make it through the doors, Ralof cuts your hands free. The two of you stop for a moment and recoup.
"Looks like we’re the only ones who made it.That thing was a dragon. No doubt. Just like the children’s stories and the legends. The harbingers of the End Times. We better get moving." Rolof says, looking further into the keep. He begins moving, beckoning you to follow.
The two of you tear deeper and deeper through the keep, running fom the burning town outside in order to [[Escape]]. You run towards Hadvar into the keep. When you make it through the doors, the two of you stop for a moment and recoup.
"Looks like we're the onle ones who made it. Was that really a dragon? The brinfers of the End times?" He asks himself as he walks further into the room. He turns back towards you and cuts your hands free. "There you go. Take a look around, there should be plenty of gear to choose from. I'm going to see if I can find something for these burns."
You take a look around and collect some gear to protect yourself from the raging battle outside. You hear shouting past a gate door.
"Once your geared up, come this way!" Hadvar calls, unlocking the gate.
You jog towards him, eager to [[Escape]].You crash through the ceiling, making a rolling landing as you hit the boards of the smoldering. You run through the burning inn, breaking back out to the cobbled streets.
Hadvar eyes you as you emerge. "Still alive, prisoner? Keep close to me if you want to stay that way."
You nod, following closely behind him.
"Gunnar, take care of the boy. I have to find General Tullius and join the defense," Hadvar retorts.
"Gods guide you, Hadvar," Gunnar responds.
"Stay close to the wall $name." Hadvar shouts as the dragon lands on the wall above you. It breathes fire, singing the cobbles where you once were. Your lungs continue to burn as you run after Hadvar.
"Quickly, follow me!" he shouts as you run [[to the keep ->To The Keep]].You and (if:(history: where its name contains "Ralof")'s length is 1)[Ralof] (else:)[Hadvar] run through the keep, fighting foes along the way.
You make your way out with (if:(history: where its name contains "Ralof")'s length is 1)[Ralof] (else:)[Hadvar], emerging from a cave on the other side of the [[mountain ->Escape pt.2]].
The End of your free trial of Twinerim is up!
Thanks for playing!
*Bethesda please don't sue me.*"No way to know if anyone else made it out alive." (if:(history: where its name contains "Ralof")'s length is 1)[Ralof] (else:)[Hadvar] says. "We'd better clear out of here. Let's make our way Riverwood, we should be able to find help [[there. ->Riverwood]]."