Bleak Falls Barrow

Morndas 18th Day of the Last Seed

Figgin awoke in the bed of Ralof around 6:34 on Morndas. He wanted to get an early start to the day. He had no idea what he would do. He had little money since those damn Imperials stole it at Helgen. He decided to go into the town and sell off what loot he could. Ralof told him to see either Alvor the Blacksmith or Lucien at the Riverwood Trader. They would eat a hearty breakfast of goat cheese, carrots and rabbit meat. Figgin took some supplies from Gerdur and was on his way. Again, Ralof urged Figgin to join the Stormcloak Rebellion and again, Figgin scoffed at the idea. Ralof said if he were to change his mind, go to Windhelm and join up.

Gerdur grabbed Figgin on his way out and asked him to go to Whiterun and tell the Jarl that the dragon form Helgen is on its way to Riverwood. She pleaded with him and he reluctantly agreed. Figgin left Gerdur's and headed to the blacksmiths forge to sell some of his loot. On the way he met a Bosmer named Faendal. They got to talking and Faendal asked Figgin for a favor. He fancied the affection of one Camilla Valerius, brother of Lucian Valerius at the Riverwood Trader. Problem was, Sven the local Bard does as well. He needed some leverage against Sven and asked if Figgin would deliver  a letter to Camilla from Sven that Faendal wrote. Figgin was happy to meet a non-human and especially a fellow elf, even though it was a little Bosmer, in Skyrim and since Sven was obviously a Nord, Figgin agreed to deliver it. He was on his way to the Trader anyhow, what did he care?

Figgin made his way to Alvor and sold off some armor and weapons then headed to the Trader. He did not like Alvor too much something seemed very odd about him. Figgin entered the trader to hear Camilla and Lucian arguing about some claw or something. Figgin approached Lucian and sold some things and bought some new Magic spells of Frostbite and Fury. He asked Lucian what was the this claw business and he told him that a couple days ago and stole a precious artifact and they fled to Bleak Falls Barrow. Figgin saw this impressive Temple upon exiting Helgen. Figgin agreed to go and try to retrieve the claw for a small fee. How tough could a couple Bandits be? Lucian was more than grateful to accept this offer. He pointed Figgin to Camilla to direct him to Bleak Falls.

Camilla told Figgin where the Temple was and how to get there and before he left Figgin gave her the letter that Faendal gave her and told her it was from Sven. She was mortified and swore never to talk to Sven again.

Figgin met up with Faendal at 10:30 and gave him the news about Camilla and Sven. Faendal was elated and gave Figgin 25 gold pieces. Figgin asked for Faendal to accompany him to Bleak Falls Barrow to retrieve the Claw. He agreed.  The two set off for Bleak Falls Barrow.

Upon their ascent to Bleak Falls Barrow, they happened upon 3 Imperial guards that were escorting a Stormcloak prisoner to Whiterun. Figgin and Faendal snuck up on the rocks and unleashed arrows on the filthy Imperials and then array of Flames. The torched Imperials stood no chance as Figgin looted them and freed the prisoner and gave him some armor and weapons to be on his way.

They continued to Bleak Falls Barrow and came upon a watch tower inhabited by 3 bandits. The two elves picked them apart with their bows and continued on to Bleak Falls Barrow. They reached Bleak Falls and were encountered by 3 more Bandits out front and made quick archery work of them as well as the 2 left inside to do the cooking. They moved swiftly through the dungeon picking off bandits with their bows until they came to a giant room that was full of cobwebs.

They slowly entered the room only to be surprised by a giant Frost Spider. Both elves quickly took positions in the other room and fired arrows and flames at the spider until it finally yielded. The fangs of the spider did penetrate Figgin's leg and he quickly had to use some magic to heal the wound. An art he learned from an Argonian in when he lived in the Cheydinhal sanctuary before his father's murder. In the spider's web was a man. He told Figgin that he had the claw and if he cut him down, he would give Figgin the claw. Figgin did so and the bandit took off running. Figgin chased him down and drove his blade deep into his neck and retrieved the claw.

The pair of elves snuck past the tombs of the sleeping ancient Draugr, careful not to wake them as they are furious warriors especially in packs. They were not always successful. They made their way to a door that was locked and seemed to need a key that looked similar to the claw that Figgin held. Not wanting to go back through the draugr tombs, they decided to use the claw to open the door and pressed on.

They came upon an ancient word wall that glowed with white swirling winds as Figgin approached it. The wall seemed to talk to Figgin and he started to speak in tongues. He did not quite understand it. With all this commotion a draugr overlord awoke and busted out of the coffin behind them. He shouted like a dragon, knocking Figgin and Faendal back a few feet. They regained composure and slaughtered the overlord and made it out of the Temple in one piece and with some nice loot. They made it back to Riverwood at 1:29 am Tirdas. They sold most of the loot to Lucian and gave him the claw. Lucian gave Figgin 400 gold pieces that he kept to himself. They decided to sleep at the Trader that night.

List of notable items in the loot:

1. Ancient Nord Battle Axe of Cold- sold to Lucian
2. Iron Mace of Fatigue- Figgin kept
3. Amulet of Kynareth- Figgin kept
4. Ancient Nord Axe of Shock- Sold to Lucian

Figgin is now level 4 and has upgraded to 2/5 overdraw bow.

Awakening

Figgin awakes to the sound of horse hooves and clanking armor. His head is pounding and his eyesight is blurry. The constant yapping and whining of the pathetic Nord across from him is gnawing at the pit of his gut.

"We aren’t supposed to be here!" the whimper keeps crying.
"Shut up you fool. Show some shred of manhood" Figgin thought to himself.

The Nord in the front was named Ralof and he was trying to bring Figgin up to speed now that he had awakened. Something about a civil war and Stormcloaks vs Imperials. Figgin could care less, he hated both races, in fact he hated all humans. Can you really blame him after what they did to his family? All Figgin could think of was how the hell he got in the back of this cart and why is he tied up. The last memory had can recall was seeing the far off mountains of Skyrim as he approached the boarder and then a band of Imperials asking him what his business was in Skyrim. His refusal to answer was not taken too well as after that his world went dark and he awoke in this cart with Sister Sally Horse thief crying like the sister he never had a chance to know.

Figgin's eyesight was finally back to normal and he could see they were the mountains surrounded by trees. "Ahh, Skyrim at last." Figgin thought, "I made it." However, not in the manner he had envisioned it. His quest to find the man that sold his father out led him to this mountainous hellhole and he thought it would be a cakewalk. It was about this time that thoughts of Clavius last words entered his head and not only his ears for the first time. "Be careful of the roads in Skyrim. It is a different country there. Different rules and different people. Our kind is not so liked by others." Figgin felt like kicking himself if for the fact his hands being tied would surely end up falling off the cart and being trampled by the horses trailing. Figgin wondered where they were, what day is it?

"This is Helgen." Ralof said and some other blabbering about a girl he knew or something, Figgin tuned him out after Helgen and did not care anymore of the day.

The carriage came to a stop and when he was addressed as "Prisoner", a new terror came over him. "Why didn't I listen to that ugly Nord Ralof more? What have I gotten myself into?"Figgin's thoughts wrestled each other inside his head. Just then he caught sight of the chopping block used for beheadings. Instantly, Figgin was taken back to the waterfront of Cyrodiil and he as a 5 year old boy looking at his father's headless body slumped over the block and those Imperial bastards singing and dancing. Was he to suffer a similar fate? He thought about making a run for the gates, but that was short lived as the crybaby horse thief was just shot down by the archers on his attempt.

The Imperial Guard, named Hadvar called Figgin up.

"Wait, this one is not on the list?' Hadvar exclaimed.

Maybe this was Figgin's lucky day. Maybe he would get out of this after all. Another short life span for that sense of hope as the captain decided to have him added to the execution anyways.

Hadvar inquired "What is your name?"

Figgin debated whether or not to give his full name. He hadn't used his last name in 15 years in fear of imprisonment or death. Although, who cares now, death seemed inevitable in the current state of affairs? On second thought, why give them the satisfaction of knowing my identity, so they can dance and sing over my headless slumped body? Figgin felt as if he had let his Father and Mother down in his quest to avenge their deaths. There was also something eerily familiar about that General Tulius. Figgin could not place why he felt he knew him from somewhere.

It was now Figgin's turn to be executed and throughout this whole time he failed to hear the roaring in the skies above but when he laid his head on the block he saw what his ears failed to hear. A dragon! Was this a mirage? Could this be real? The dragon landed on the tower and shouted an unrelenting force that knocked Figgin over. Then came the fire. Figgin, being immune to fire realized he was no longer a priority and that he was unguarded. He made his way to his feet and to the adjacent tower in enough time before Ralof shut the door. Now to find a way out of her, thought Figgin. He bounded up the stairs but the dragon powered through the wall and blocked the access to the roof. the courtyard was strewn with Imperial soldiers so no chance of escape that way, ask that horse thief. The only chance was to jump to the house next to the tower and meet Hadvar at the bottom. Could he trust an Imperial, especially one who had just sentenced him to death? No time to mull over the specifics, he needed to act fast. He jumped to the house and down to the square.

Hadvar led him to the entrance to the keep and there was Ralof untied and making an escape of his own. Both men squared off and when they both realized there was budging on both sides, they decided to enter take different paths of escape. Figgin had a choice to make, does he follow the Imperial, a race he despises and man that almost killed him or the Nord who was to suffer the same fate but yet another race he despised? He chose the Nord, seemed like a lesser of two evils in Figgin's mind.

Once inside the keep, Ralof cut loose Figgin's hands and told him to take the armor and weapons from a fallen Stormcloak soldier, it seems a rescue attempt had gone south and Ralof knew a way out of Helgen and asked Figgin to follow him. They fought their way down the keep to the torture chamber where Figgin snuck up on the torturer's assistant and plunged his blade deep into his spine ending his miserable life instantly. The lone survivor was a female Nord Stormcloak soldier who joined the party. Figgin looted the dead prisoners and soldiers and came across a Mages Robe of Destruction and a Mages Hood of Destruction. Perfect, Figgin thought.

Their descent continued until they reached a Frost Spider's lair. Figgin and company quickly dispatched the spider and pressed on. The female Stormcloak would not make it out of the keep but Figgin seemed to care less. Upon making it out of the Keep, Ralof told Figgin it was Sundas the 17th day of the Last Seed  and judging by the sun, it must have been around 4:30pm. Ralof invited Figgin to his sister's house in Riverwood and told Figgin to join the Stormcloaks in the rebellion. Something Figgin had no interest in.

They split ways and Figgin went into the woods to find some shelter, he was accustomed to living in the woods, caves, mines and sewers. It is how he grew up. He happened upon a mine shaft and was attacked by a bandit. Figgin plunged a few arrows into his chest and that threat was nullified. He continued toward Riverwood realizing that he was a stranger in this land and that maybe he needed some friends here and since Ralof did save him in Helgen, maybe he could use a friend. Upon his descent Figgin found the Ancient Guardian Stones and chose to be blessed by, none other than, The Thief Stone, in honor of his Mother.

Figgin made his way to Riverwood and found Gerdur and got fresh supplies and a bed to sleep in . In the morning he would figure out his next course of action. For tonight he was tired and needed sleep.

The Back Story

Figgin was born in Cyrodiil on the 17th day of the First Seed, about 20 years before the events of today Skyrim and the return of the Dragons. He was born to Vikrim Fordonia and Ileania Fordonia.  His father was one of the last Dark Brotherhood Listeners in Cryodiil an his mother was said to be the Grey Fox herself. They lived in Anvil and were quite happy. Figgin's Grandfather, Alkarian Fordonia, lived during the Oblivion Crisis and had to perform the Purification of the Dark Brotherhood at the time and ascended to Listener as well. He was killed mysteriously by an unknown assassin in his sleep and that paved the way for Vikrim to take control. Rumor has it that it was Vikrim's blade that sent Alkarian to his death, but no proof has ever been proven to be the case.

Things were going well for Vikrim, until Figgin reached the age of 5 years old. Figgin loved Vikrim and aspired to be just like him. When Figgin turned 5, Ileania was savagely raped and killed by a band of Imperial Legion Soldiers who caught her stealing cyrodilic brandy from the Legion Barracks in the Imperial City. She had an insatiable appetite for the drink. Upon finding out she was the infamous Grey Fox, they had to set an example of her. After her death, she was hung by the waterfront as a symbol of what the imperials will do to those that broke the law.

Upon hearing the news of his wife's savage death, Vikrim knew he had to avenge her, but feared for Figgin's safety. Since there was no family left in Morrowind and due to their discreet lives they both led,, there was not many options for Figgin. With the demise of the Guild without the Grey Fox, Vikrim left Figgin in the old Cheydinhal Sanctuary in the care of his oldest assassin friend, Ja'Agusta, an Argonian Shadowscale. Vikrim set off for the Imperial City. That would be the last time Figgin saw his father.

Vikrim arrived in the city and found where the men who murdered his wife were through his contact in that city who was with the Dark Brotherhood. However, little did Vikrim know that this informant was arrested earlier that day and sold the brotherhood and his friend out to save his own hide. Vikrim walked right into the trap that was laid for him and he was caught and beheaded under his wife's hanging dead body. At the same time the Sanctuary was raided by  Imperial Forces and every member of the Dark Brotherhood was killed. Figgin was placed in an old vampire coffin belonging to Vicente Valtieri until the attacks were over. When Figgin finally came out, they were all dead.

With most of the brotherhood dead and the rest on the run and hunted, the brotherhood was in disarray. Figgin found himself alone and scared and only 5 years old. He took to the sewers of Cyrodiil and learned to survive on his own. He did go and see his dead mother and father in the waterfront but only once, the display was too intense for him. Upon that visit, he heard the name Pelanius Sergitus, a Nord Soldier who was Vikrim's contact and betrayer, being praised for his actions in bringing down the Dark Brotherhood. That face and name will never leave Figgin's mind. The Imperials did search for the boy Figgin for quite some time but figured him for dead.

Figgin spent 10 years in the sewers of Cyrodiil. He became an accomplished thief in those years in order to survive.  He does not go by his last name at all because of the notoriety of his mother and father. At the age of 15, he would set out for Morrowind to learn more about his heritage. He learned the ways of the Dunmer from an old but wise family friend of Vikrim's. His name was Clavius Dreth (son of Valen Dreth). Dreth taught Figgin everything about the Chimer and Dunmer and taught him the ways of the Assassin.

 When Figgin turned 20 years old, he left Morrowind for Skyrim in search of one Pelanius Sergitus. He was arrested at the border as a suspicious character and possible Stormcloak. Figgin knew nothing of the war and could care less about it,  but given his eternal hatred for the Imperial race, he was less than cooperative and attacked the soldiers. He was subsequently arrested and put on a cart with other rebel prisoners......

This is where the story begins.