I'm back in the fan fiction thing again. Now that mid-terms have passed, I can redo my original fan fiction buried somewhere around here.

But I'm not going to dabble on about my personal life here. This first post is going to lay down some STUFF before I edit this into a full fledged chapter.

Firstly, Soren Snowe is going to be much like Riden, only more developed with a different back story. And this time, I'm going to follow the main quest line...a little bit. YAY FOR STUFF.

Secondly, I like feedback so please feed me back . But in all seriousness, there's no point in writing if people aren't going to read it and I won't get better that much if I don't know what to correct. So let's go.

Oh and no Bladesong. Sorry, it feels too forced, the quest line.

Chapter One, Re-entry into Cyrodiil

I awoke on my hammock. When I opened my eyes, the same sight greeted me as it had greeted for me every day for months. Just old wood and nails. I groaned and got up, my family blade, Lamina, neatly laid on the table.

It had been what? 5 months? That seemed about right. It's been 5 months on this god forsaken ship and over 2 years since I last saw my parents and all of my friends in the Sanctuary. Shipped out to the Summerset Isles...sure. Whatever that package was, it better have been worth it.

The boat stopped rocking on the waves and I heard the Captain yell, "We're at Anvil!"

As the words hit me, I felt a surge of excitement as I rushed out of lower decks onto the deck, hastily grabbing Lamina. The rotting wood and leaky lower decks were nothing as I kept running through the hallways, probably disturbing the other travelers.

When I opened the door, the harsh sunlight blinded me for a second. As I opened my eyes, the busy harbor of Anvil began to become visible. The docks were bustling with activity. Sailors leaving and coming back, drunken people staggering across the docks, and of course, the hundreds of people filing in and out of ships.

It was Cyrodiil. After two years, the sight of Cyrodiil was too much.

I let out a yell of excitement and rushed onto the docks. As I looked around, my father was there. But he seemed upset. As I approached him, I saw the Imperial Guard with him...or more specifically, holding him captive. The guards all pointed at my direction.

"Stop right there Soren!"

That was all I needed to sprint as fast as I could. I had a HUGE advantage over them though considering they were wearing bulky armor and all I had was just leather armor, not to mention that I was a Courier.

It was no wonder why the people were looking in our direction. I was causing quite a scene as I leaped from dock to dock and even climbed up a couple shacks. The training in the Dark Brotherhood really paid off.

After about 3 minutes of the chase, I started to go the other way to help my father escape. "Too fast for you?!" I taunted. As the Legion started to close in on me, I impaled Lamina in one of the Legionary's armor.

The silver sword sank into the guard's armor as the sword started to spark. The sudden surge of electricity coursed through the Legionary's body and he fell down, most likely dead.

"Ha!" I yelled taunting the Legionaries again. As I rounded the corner to where my father was, I was suddenly hit with the hilt end of one of the guard's swords. As I groaned on the harbor, the guards all dragged me up and held me by the arms. "Soren Snowe, you're under arrest for allying yourself with the Dark Brotherhood and murder of a Legionary."

My eyes widened. The Dark Brotherhood? I haven't heard that name in over two years. But in the back of my mind, I always thought the councilor who controlled the Imperial Legion always trusted the Brotherhood by the bribes my father gave him. Then realization hit me. Phillida, the idealistic dog.

"Captain Phillida! You mutt!" I yelled, hoping Phillida was close by to hear me. He probably didn't but that was the only thing I could manage to do now that I was held by the iron grip of the Imperial Watch. "Let Sithis roast your soul in the Void! Phillida, I'm coming for your HEAD!!"

The guards all laughed as they took my father away somewhere before a spiked shield came crashing down on my head. As the world started to go hazy, I could see my father activating his Hidden Blades, an invention of my great grandfather, and stabbing the two guards when they were far enough away. Although it did little good, the remaining guards rushed towards him as the people scattered, running into the ships and into the nearby Inn.

I tried to yell but nothing came out as the concussion started to take hold of me. Not even seeing the fate of my father, I collapsed on the warm wooden docks as the last sensation I felt before falling into a sort of serene unconsciousness was the Legionaries jerking me to my feet.

Zerker! Welcome back to fanfic! And a new story! Just off the ship and already Soren is up to his ears in Legion. Pretty nice hook you set here in this first episode.

Huge beginning Zerker !!!

Acadian used the right word...hook! Great start to this story.

Acadian - Thanks for the words! It feels good to be back in Fan fiction since I stopped in 2010 September.
mALX - Yep...oh and just something weird. Firefox counts Acadian a word but not mALX.

In Chapter Two, Soren meets the Emperor.

Chapter Two, Meet the Emperor

When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at cold gray rock. Panicking, I looked around the room I was in. Just gray rocks all over the place. On one end was a dimly lit area which upon closer inspection was an extremely small semi-circle window, barred off. There was also a wooden chair and table on the left end.

I sat down on the small chair and sighed. "I'm in prison..." The realization then hit me like the shield the Legionary used to hit me. "I'M IN PRISON!"

Panicking, I started to go for the cold steel bars in the entrance and tried to kick it over time and time again. The bars simply shook and didn't bend even one tiny bit. But the shaking made me kick the bars over and over again.

Soon, my legs were tired and I slumped down on the cold rocky floor as I started to go dizzy, either from fatigue or the realization that my life was over.

Then a voice from the cell directly across from me. "Oh an Imperial in the Imperial Prison? I guess they don't play favorites," An imprisoned Dunmer said. I just thought he was striking up a conversation. Surely somebody wouldn't taunt the only other person here. But he continued.

"Your own kinsmen think you're a piece of human trash. How sad. I bet the guards give you 'special' treatment before the end. Oh, that's right. You're going to die in here, Imperial! You're going to die!" He taunted as my heart stopped.

Was I really going to be executed? Then I realized what I did in the Anvil docks. I stabbed an Imperial Legionary. If they saw the body, which they probably did, it would be a death penalty. Then my mind turned to Zoe.

Zoe Midas. She was probably the only person not from the sanctuary I trusted. Back when I was a courier, Zoe saved my life more than once and I returned the favor several times over as well. She and I were symbiotic...but now even that would break.

The Dunmer continued. "Imperial criminal scum like you give the Empire a bad name, you see. You're an embarrassment. Best if you just... disappeared."

It would've normally made me lash out at him but the thought of losing my life in this...this hell hole was too great. The Dunmer stood silent as I heard footsteps. They were coming. It would be the end of my life. I felt like both crying and ambushing the guards.

But as the footsteps grew in volume, the guards started talking. I couldn't make out the entire conversation but it had something to do with somebody trying to escape other people. I hid in a small bed made of an assortment of hay, dirty cloth, and shirts of previous prisoners.

Somehow, the guards still noticed me. "What's this prisoner doing here? This cell is supposed to be vacant!" A female guard snapped. A male guard, obviously a lower rank, stuttered a bit as he responded, "A...a usual mix up with the Watch...I."

"Never mind, get this door open!"
At that point, I stepped out of my bed and stood in the middle of my cell as another male Imperial, this one with darker skin, unlocked the door. At first, without thinking, I wanted to dash to freedom but then I noticed their armor. Finely crafted armor with overlapping scales and a traditional Imperial Legion helmet, all painted metallic gray and gold trimmings.

It was the Blades. I had only heard stories of these elite soldiers but before that day in the cell, I had never seen one in person. The Blade members all went into my cell and that's when I realized that Dunmer was simply being malicious. The Blades all marched into my cell and told me to stand by the window.

I complied as the darker skinned Imperial walked towards me and pointed towards the spot I was standing on. "Stay put prisoner."
You don't have to ask me twice, especially since I have no weapons to attack with.

My assurance was even more confirmed when the Emperor himself came into my cell.

I think everybody's seen the Emperor. He wore long dark burgundy robes, reaching all the way to the floor of my cell. And around his neck, the crown jewel of the Empire, the Amulet of Kings. The Emperor came closer to me. "You...I've seen you..."

He came closer. "Let me see your face."
Although I should have told him my name or at least done something to acknowledge his presence, I could barely even more my legs. I was petrified with fear, not of dying but of the fact that the most famous man in all of Tamriel is standing in MY cell!

"It is you...you are the one from my dreams. Then the stars were right, this is the day. Gods give me strength."

I finally uttered out something. "What's going on?"

"Assassins attacked my sons and I'm next..." The Emperor replied. The first name that came to mind was the Dark Brotherhood. I quickly shook the name out of my head. Of course my family wouldn't do that. Why would they? The Morag Tong? Maybe....but they usually don't operate in Cyrodiil that much. Then who?

"My blades are leading me out of the city through a secret passageway. By chance, the entrance to that escape route leads through your cell."

At those words, I felt like leaping for joy. Just ONE day in the Imperial Prison...nay, probably a couple hours and the Emperor himself comes up to me and pretty much says "I'll help you escape!" That was so far, one of the best days ever.

The female blade hurriedly started to press on the wall and after a while, it slid down, opening up a massive sewage tunnel. "Please sir, we must keep moving."

The convoy with the Emperor, his three blades and I walked through the escape tunnel. I took a deep breath and walked into the darkness, wondering what might wait for me on the other side.

Nice internal dialogue where Soren paints us a clear picture of the mortal danger he perceives.

Excellent job projecting a little awe into meeting the Emperor of all Tamriel. So many times, this is treated rather casually rather than the big deal that it is.

I have only started reading fan fiction, and I got in on the ground floor with this one. I like reading what everone does with the opening cell scene. Great job at making it interesting enough to keep the hook set! Ready for more...

I agree with both comments above - you really drew the reader in by beginning the story before the jail cell, showing us a little background set the theme. Great Job !!!

Thank you all for those inspiring words. In this chapter, Soren goes through the most hated part of any game. The tutorial -_-. I made it as good as good as I could. But bear in mind if this isn't as good as my last two chapters. I'm pretty much forcing myself to finish this tutorial stage in less than 3 chapters.

Chapter 3, Tunnel Rats

I headed down through the secret passageway to see what lied on the other side. After a long walk through the darkness of the escape tunnel, there was a sound of somebody taking out a weapon. Scared that it might be one of the assassins or one of the Blades wanting to remove me, the weak link as of right now, I got up in a fighting stance.

In a blink of an eye, two strangely clothed masked people dropped down from nowhere. Both of them were wearing some sort of strange summoned armor and both of them rushed at the Emperor with maces. Before I could react, one of the Blades killed the one with the torch.

The moment the Blade's katana impacted, the armor dissipated into a glowing yellow mist before revealing a regular man wearing nothing but purplish red robes. He dropped the torch and I sprang to get it as a weapon.

The other one rushed, not after me or the Emperor, but the female Blade. Without thinking, I smacked the man with the burning end of the torch, setting his armor on fire. But he seemed to be on some kind of pain killer as he kept going, the fire extinguishing a couple seconds later.

I sighed and rushed to him and cast a weak touch fire spell. It seemed to stun him just a little bit and that was enough time for me to punch him straight in the face, knocking him out. Then the Blades, who seemingly did NOTHING for the entire fight finally came in and impaled the assassin.

My heart was beating as fast as ever. I had killed a couple people, mostly pirates and other annoyances that attacked me first but never had I fought against somebody with a real weapon with only my bare fists...and won. But that display of fighting prowess seemed to agitate the Blades, who were staring at me a couple times during our trek down the dark corridor. They seemed as paranoid as ever now. And why would they not? I just eliminated an assassin pretty much by myself and that would entail some sort of paranoia on how I could beat an assassin although they got through the Emperor's son's bodyguards.

Those thoughts were scattered when the Emperor examined the dead female Blade's body. "Captain Renault?"

One of the male Blades shook his head sadly. "She didn't make it sir. But we must keep moving."

Most would've honored the Blade but I needed a weapon fast. When the convoy moved up a little bit, I quickly snagged a steel sword and katana from her dead body before I caught up with the convoy. Trying to stay incognito after that, I simply held the torch and moved silently amongst the group.

Soon enough, we got to a gate and after a quick conversation between the Emperor and one of the Blades, they headed through the gate and the dark skinned one pointed to the spot I was standing. "You stay here prisoner, don't try and follow us," He said sternly.

I sighed and waited for them to leave. Then I tried to open the gate. The rusty iron gate wouldn't budge as I shook it for what seemed like an eternity. I slumped down on one of the walls, about ready to go back to my cell and get executed. But as I leaned on the wall, it felt strangely weak and sandy.

Curious and desperate, I kicked the wall with all my might and suddenly, the wall crumbled away, revealing a natural passageway, overgrown with moss and fungi. I wasn't really happy, heck I had to run around in a dark dank tunnel system, but it was better than getting executed and I HAD to take it.

I headed through the cavern and soon enough, I found the body of a Goblin shaman and on its waist was a key to what a sign on the door said, "Natural Caverns." When I opened the door with the key, the scene made me want to cringe.

Skulls of who knows what were hung all around and rats, not just regular rats but massive rats were all around. Thankfully, the rats were mostly docile except when I got too close. But what most interested me in this area was the sound of brawls coming off in the distance. Curious, I ran towards the linear pathway of the caverns, not caring if I stepped on any rats or not.

When I reached the end of my trek, bypassing the rats and then the zombies that roamed the area, what I saw almost made me throw up. I was no stranger to death but never had I killed brutally unless there was no other way. But the goblins that made their residence in these caverns were savages and nothing else.

Skulls of humans and goblins and what looked like mauled flesh decorated the main room of the cavern. not wanting to be the next victim of the goblin hoards, I carefully sneaked around the small pit of goblins, taking care not to kill any of them. From there, it was simple trek back to a door that lead back to the tunnel systems.

I opened the door and saw the Emperor and the two remaining Blades combating the assassins. Trying to help, I grabbed my steel sword I picked up early and headed to the battleground. The assassins, focused on fighting the Blades, was too distracted to notice I was there. In one slash, the assassin fighting the dark skinned Imperial was dead. But the other Blade was very unlucky as he fell like the female Blade from before, taking out the assassin with him.

The last remaining Blade headed towards me with his sword drawn after the fighting died down. "I'm going to kill him...he might be working with the assassins!"

As I drew my own sword, hoping that even without Lamina, I could fight a Blade, the Emperor intervened. "No, he is not one of them."

The Emperor looked at me and then asked, "Do you know the nine?"

I scoffed. "Yes...I do."

He then asked for my birth. "Evening's Dawn the 7th. I'm the sign of the Thief, why?"

The Emperor nodded and the convoy started to move again. Soon the last Blade placed me in a small square room with the Emperor. "Guard him with your life. I'll scout out for any more of those damn assassins."

I nodded and the Emperor solemnly took off his pendant, the Amulet of Kings and handed it to me. He looked at me with sad weary eyes and spoke in a very serious and foreboding voice. "My time is up. Take the Amulet of Kings and travel to Weynon Priory. There, give it to a man named Jauffre."

Then without me realizing it, an assassin popped out of a hole in the wall and stuck his blade in the Emperor's neck. Instinct then ran wild as I kicked him back, stunning the assassin and impaled him three times over with the steel blade.

The Blade came in and surveyed the scene. It looked as though both I or the assassin could've killed the Emperor but he went down on his knees and grasped his hand. "No...the Emperor is dead...we failed..." His eyes widened when he realized the Amulet of Kings was gone. "The Amulet, where's the Amulet of Kings?!"

I sighed and presented it to him. "The Emperor gave this to me to give to a man named Jauffre."

The Blade extended his hand. "Well it seemed the Emperor really did trust you after all. My name's Baurus."

I nodded and Baurus gestured towards another door and when I looked there, the creepy air coming from that area sent chills down my spine. There had to be goblins, the savage beasts...

Baurus didn't seem to notice as he went on. "There are rats and goblins down there. But from the looks of you, I say you're an experienced bard, am I right?"

"No. I'm just a simple courier for the Golden Horse services. The only reason I fight so good is because I kill bandits every time I do an inter-city delivery," I explained. Baurus nodded and he patted me on the back with cold steel gauntlets. "Well if you ever stop by the Imperial City, we should get a drink. I'll notify the Imperial Legion that you're free of charges."

I gave him a smile and looked down at the sewer system. The dark air started to suffocate me as I headed in, hoping for the best.

'Soren goes through the most hated part of any game. The tutorial -_-. I made it as good as good as I could. But bear in mind if this isn't as good as my last two chapters. I'm pretty much forcing myself to finish this tutorial stage in less than 3 chapters.'
You will recall that Destri Melarg once recommended that you not bad mouth your own work. Being humble is good, but be confident that it is your best effort. If you are not satisfied with it, then rework it until you are. There is no requirement that a fanfic character ever go near the Imperial Prison if it does not suit your purpose.

Now that said, I thought this was fine. You did a good job selecting what to tell, what to show, what to demonstrate via dialogue and what to leave out.

Now, I wonder what Soren's purpose will be for the Amulet of Kings he was just entrusted with? I still haven't completely figured him out yet.

I'll be editing this in a full post when I get back. So hi.

I have Acadian's back on this. He is dead on right. Be happy with what you are going to post, or wait until you are to do so. There is no pressure or deadline, and the happier you are with your work, the more likely that the readers will enjoy it too!

I also thought that the installment was fine. Keep up the good work

Zerker, it is such a personal work to write anything and put it out there for others to read - it is like we have given birth to the character and the story we are creating for our character (the story is a part of us, and that is personal).

We always worry that another may not like it. I don't think you need to worry, your story stands on its own merit.