You know, when I put the idea in my empty skull to find or think up new Race Modifications, I expected that endeavor to take quite a while.
Not five fucking minutes while reading a damn book on Draugr I grabbed at the church of Arkay. Which, for some reason, sells book on Draugrs?
Mainly how they come to be, how their meaning changed with time, and even how their purpose grew different, so on and so forth.
Oh, and of course, the different types.
In the game, the higher the level of the player, the more different the Draugr became.
First they were simple, without any clothes or armor. Then they had armor, then helmets, then heavier weapons, then better quality weapons.
Here it is the same thing, with weapons and armors indicating the status and ranking of said Draugr, and what role they had.
For example, the Draugr with tattered robes and with nothing else – usually also gathered together in a large room – used to be slaves. Simple workers, meant to remain that even in Death.
Then after that are the Draugr Fighters, sporting rusty weapons and ruined leather armor. They were soldiers, and like the slaves, they were also gathered together in a large room.
Then the Draugr start getting a lot stronger.
The Restless Draugr – one that appears even in the game – is called that due to being a patrolling and very powerful Draugr in the crypt, unable to remain dormant and making it a very ferocious fighter.
Then the types of Draugr start growing more different, with some leaning towards Magic like the Draugr Warlocks and Spellcasters, or more towards stealth, showing that they were the owner of the crypt's personal assassins.
Those are called the Death-Stalkers, with some even being known and feared for being capable of casting Invisibility Spells on themselves.
Honestly, there are so many differing types of Draugr that it's quite baffling.
The most ancient can be recognized through their armor that also have quite a few dragon scales on them, showing that they used to be followers of the Dragons in life.
After that, there was a period of time where those buried were left in a way that they could be challenged, and that was mainly for their descendants.
Apparently, those who could defeat their Undead Ancestor will be the leader of their respective House or Clan during their life, and then become the next Draugr when their time comes.
It was a great honor for them, especially since they viewed it as keeping their descendants 'sharp', or something like that.
This style – while not famous – seems to still be in use according to the book, though it used to be very famous back in the Second Era, apparently.
Either way, the more I find out about Draugrs, the more complex they become.
Some are like that because of the titles or status they held in the past, while others are different due to the way they were born.
Certain Draugr used to be humans with very massive Magicka reserves, as there are some cases of people being born with that condition.
And that condition ends up causing them to… 'Mutate', for a lack of a better term, once and if they are turned into Draugrs.
The immense amount of Magicka inside of them, on Death, gains the Frost Attribute – people are either born with an Attribute to an element, or sometimes even two, making them better at using that type of magic – which can either further Mutate them, or not.
If it does Mutate them, then sometimes these Draugrs become buried in a massive coffin of dense ice. Other times instead, their bodies become frozen and harder than even steel, making them very troubling enemies to deal with.
And then, finally, there is the worst type of mutation caused by this, called the Frozen Monstrosity. A Draugr that becomes something akin to a Frost Atronach, just far, far deadlier and harder to deal with.
Then there are the mutations caused by Magicka, but not due to the Frost Attribute it gains on Death.
Basically, the overflowing Magicka of the Draugr just… juices 'em the fuck up.
They become tougher, faster, stronger. Fearless Berserkers that can hurl boulders and not flinch under the strike of a greatsword. These types of Draugrs are, in fact, called Draugr Berserkers.
Now, imagine that… Just way stronger, and mixed with the second type of Frost Mutation due to said Magic Attribute.
Those are appropriately called the Draugr Death Knights. Absolute fucking tanks that either take an army to take down, or are best left the fuck alone.
And guess what?
I have them as Race Modification.
Unique Race Modification Unlocked!
[Draugr Berserker]
No thoughts, just violence. A simple Undead, overflowing with Magicka that enhanced its seemingly frail-looking body, thus making it a nightmare for many unlucky fellows.
(10/10)
Unique Race Modification Unlocked!
[Death Knight]
A body clad in near unbreakable frost, and overflowing with Magicka that enhances its physical capabilities to the utmost limit. An unstoppable force that feels no pain and only seeks to kill.
(0/20)
I managed to grab the first Modification, but I am seven Souls short for the Death Knight one, which will be an enormous boost to my capabilities.
It always irked me the fact that I am basically a glass cannon, capable of unleashing an immense amount of power through Spells, but a stack of cards in close combat.
If it weren't for my creativity – and insanity – I would never dare to get in close quarters of even a normal human, because they could fold my bony ass with ease.
Well, they could have in the past. Now I am quite a bit stronger.
"Leo?" I perk up when Aurelia's beautiful face peeks in through the doorway, her long hair tied up in a ponytail that just makes her even more beautiful to my eyes. "You done packing?"
I nod and throw the large sack over my shoulder without problem, "Yep, got everything important." Mostly the map and my notebooks on certain things to do, topics and approaching threats and whatnot.
While I trust Farengar and the Jarl to not come peek in and search my stuff, I'd still rather be sure. After all, the knowledge I hold is very fucking dangerous.
I'd rather not have an army of morons go to the Forgotten Vale in search of the Auriel Bow and Shield, only to never come back.
Divines know how fucking dangerous that place is in this Skyrim.
"Is Hildr ready?" I question, moving towards the door, feeling kinda sad that I'll leave this room behind for quite a while.
Aurelia nods with a warm smile on her face as she fully opens the door for me, wearing a casual outfit instead of her new armor, which is placed in the sack thrown over her shoulders alongside her greatsword. "She is telling Gretel what not to do while we are away."
"...That might take a couple of hours, if she's gonna be specific."
I point out, earning a giggle from the silver haired woman as I step into the living room, just in time to hear, "-no stabbing, no murder, no psychological torture-"
"What about putting rats into people's beds? Dead rats, to be specific. Live ones tend to wake the fuckers up before I can leave."
"That sentence has so many things that you must not do, for the love of Hircine." Hildr groans, face in her hands, looking ready to just die on the spot. "Don't break into people's homes, Gretel."
The young girl huffs and crosses her arms with a pout, "Then tell 'em sons of bitches not to leave the fuckin' door open!"
"She's got a point."
"Leo!" A smack to the head tilts my empty skull to the side, "Don't encourage her!"
"My very existence encourages her to do bad." I shrug, and Gretel nods with a big proud smile, earning heavy groans from Aurelia and Hildr both.
Stepping forward, I pat Hildr on the shoulder, "Let her live. She's young only once, and she has the Companions taking care of her in case she goes overboard."
Hildr furrows her brows, clearly very worried as the older sister, but she relents after a few seconds of internal struggle. "You're right." She agrees finally, shoulders sagging while Gretel gapes in shock.
Squatting down and with a warm smile on her face, Hildr brings Gretel in a tight hug while kissing her forehead and cheek, "Be a good girl. I'll miss you so much, my lovely gremlin." Gretel goes to say something snarky, as is per usual, but her words choke in her throat as her eyes redden and swell with tears.
She is still a kid, after all.
Her own small arms tightly hug her sister right back, her sniffling face digging into the nook of Hildr's back, "Write back lots, or I'll be angry…" Gretel threatens, her voice soft and sad.
Sometimes I forget that Gretel is super fucking smart. She is young, yet she can already read and write without problem. It is something quite shocking in Skyrim.
Even Aurelia, by her own admission, said that she was confident in her writing only in her late teens, while Gretel already has got that down.
Props to Hildr, who taught Gretel how to do all that. The only children in Whiterun that can compare are probably the sons and daughters of nobles, or of Balgruuf himself.
Education here is basically something for the rich, unfortunately. It is more spread in the Empire though, where there are schools very similar to Earth.
Hildr chuckles, her own voice sounding quite hoarse, "Every week, I promise." Breaking the hug, Hildr plants another kiss on Gretel's forehead before pulling back.
Wiping her tears, the little brat turns to cutely glare my way, "Take care of my big sis, 'kay?" I chuckle at her, "And if someone tries to hurt her, fuck 'em up real bad!"
I salute the adorable gremlin, "Aye, captain." She sniffs and nods proudly, little fists on her hips.
Aurelia leans forward, sweet smile on her face and hands on her knees – and goddamn that view from the back "I left you plenty of your favorite snacks in the canteen, and that stew you liked in the kitchen. It's enough for today and tonight."
Gretel's smile starts downright glowing at that, and she swiftly moves to give Aurelia a big and tight hug, which the woman happily reciprocates, "You're the best, 'Relia!"
"And remember what I told you!" I remind Gretel, who perks up with a ferocious grin as she breaks the hug with Aurelia, both adult women now looking very worried.
"I do remember it!" Gretel sniffs, "Word for word!"
"Prove it."
Gretel nods and crosses her little arms, "So, when I find Nazeem, I'll call him a 'Spear chucking, vine swinging, koolaid drinking, big back gorilla looking, chicken bone sucking, hell cat driving, midnight disappearing, burnt elbows havin', colonized shop-lifting middle passage, big-lipped, bug-eyed big ass forehead havin'-"
"Okay, that's enough." Hildr starts dragging me away from the collar of my robes, and I cheerfully wave at the giggling Gretel, "I understood nothing of what she was saying, but I can tell that it's nothing good."
I snort and give Gretel a thumbs up. This was just to annoy Hildr, not to bother Nazeem.
That, I shall leave in her good hands.
Hopefully, Whiterun still stands by the time we come back.
….
"You know, I never asked this before, but… From where do you two come from?" Hildr asks from her horse, the steed running alongside ours.
Her question makes me lift my gaze from the notebook I was holding, making me notice that we have already reached the pass between Shearpoint and High Hrothgar, with the horses now following the road straight towards the Valtheim Towers.
"Where we come from?" I repeat, and Hildr nods from her spot between mine and Aurelia's horses. Ah, she means our Nationality.
"Yeah. I can tell that Aurelia is definitely from Cyrodiil due to her accent, but yours… Never heard it before."
I never really took note of Aurelia's accent, now that I think about it. Well, to be fair, they can understand me and I can understand them despite the fact that I do not know their language.
Though, they both have a slight Slavic accent, now that I think about. Reminds me of home, kinda.
"Well, I am from a place called Norway." I shrug, "Born and raised there."
Though, my last years were spent in America, away from the family and home. As far as possible.
The accent Hildr probably hears is from the rare Kven Finnish Language. It probably slips out when I don't realize it.
"Norway…" Aurelia furrows her brows, "I never heard of such a place. Is it not of Tamriel?"
"Nope." I drawl out, stunning both ladies, "This bag of bones is very far from home." Like, in a whole other fucking Universe.
The flash of pain and worry in Aurelia's eyes does not escape me, but Hildr speaks up before I could reassure her, "Do you… miss home?"
I hum at her question, "I miss the sights, but Skyrim is very similar, so not really." I shrug again, "I was already far from it before-" I wave to my body, "-this happened to me."
"Huh…" Hildr sniffs, sagging back on her running horse, "What about you, Aurelia?"
The pale woman blinks and perks up, "I actually lived in a small village in Cyrodiil, in-between Hammerfel and Valenwood."
I tilt my head at that, "So you lived close to Kvatch?" I ask, and she nods with a large smile on her face.
"It was a few days away, but yes."
"How was the weather down there?" Hildr asks, a smile on her lips, "Bet not as cold as around here."
Aurelia shudders, "It's very humid where I was born. Lots of insects, always sweating, and Summers were literal hell." She laughs softly, gaze nostalgic and lovely, "My father used to love the warm weather there, while me and mother both hated it."
"Sounds like hell…" Hildr shudders herself, "No thanks, I prefer the cold weather."
"You say that just because you can warm yourself up with ease." I point out, and Hildr's answer is giving me the middle finger for pointing out her 'secret'.
"Still… What are you, Aurelia?" Hildr questions, tilting her head curiously towards the woman beside her, "I've never seen someone so pale, and you don't look like an Imperial."
Aurelia laughs nervously, "Well, my Father was a Redguard – Or Yokudan, if you will – while my Mother was a Breton."
"Then how the fuck did you come out so pale!?"
Aurelia shrugs, "I honestly don't know-"
"Huh…" I make a noise as it suddenly just clicks, drawing their gaze towards me, "You have Albinism." I point out, then cup my chin and tilt my head towards Aurelia, "Though, your eyes aren't blue, so… Strange."
"Albinism?" Hildr repeats, sharing a glance with Aurelia as she does so, "What's that?"
"A genetic condition one has since birth, where they basically are born with white hair and very pale skin, plus either reddish pink or bright blue eyes." I drawl out, "Aurelia seems to have that, but also not. Weird."
Right, of course they wouldn't really know much about these things. Far as I know, they do not really study human biology here, so certain things or birth defects aren't well known, or even named.
"So it's… Normal?" Aurelia asks, curiously, "My parents thought it was from some sort of curse…"
"It's very rare, but yeah it is normal. Even some animals can be born with this condition." I had a very cute picture of an albino porcupine on my phone back home, now that I think about it.
Aurelia huffs out, shoulders sagging and eyes wide in disbelief as she turns her head to gaze at the road ahead.
"I forget due to how stupid you act that you are actually also very smart and knowledgeable." Hildr muses aloud, making me preen at the compliment, "And now I am wondering if the one thing you took as compliment is me calling you stupid, or me calling you smart."
I cackle like a madman at that, as it is right.
"What about you, Leo?" Hildr changes the topic, making me tilt my head, "What did you use to be before becoming an insane skeleton?"
"A very insane human?" She looks ready to punch me in the face at that.
I chuckle at her glare, "To be fair, where I came from, we didn't really have Races – in my opinion, unlike what many other might say. We were all Humans, there were no Elves, no Orsimers and whatnot, and we did not practice magic."
"What we had instead of Races was Nationalities. Like, for example I am Norwegian, due to where I was born. Or even European, if you will."
Both ladies are now gaping at me, eyes wide in pure shock and disbelief, "W-Wait, you serious?" Hildr questions, and I nod with a chuckle, "Then, if you didn't practice magic, what did your people do?"
"We excelled in technology, far greater than the Dwemer." I boast without care, "We had machines that could cross the lands at great speeds, or some that could fly in the sky and from one continent to the other."
"Whoa…" Aurelia gapes, eyes nearly sparkling in wonder.
While Hildr, instead, frowns lightly, "...It's not all sunshine and rainbows, is it."
If I could, I'd smile at her, "We had weapons that could erase Whiterun off the map within the blink of an eye, and turn the surrounding land into wasteland for decades to come." And instantly all that wonder disappears into horror.
"My home was beautiful. The people? The Humans? They revolt me, and forever will." I'll never get behind the desire to start wars for resources.
To fight each other, to hold weapons that could lead our whole planet to a mass extinction event that will doom not all of us, but also all creatures on the planet.
So many of which we led to an early grave, to only be remembered by bones now hanging within halls of a museum or drawings upon a fucking cave wall.
"There might be Spells that can do the same as those weapons back home here, but I honestly do not care." In fact, I could erase a city off the map quite easily with a bombardment of Draconian Howls.
I shake my head at that, "Apologies for bringing the mood down, ladies."
Hildr shakes her own head, "It's alright. Honestly, it is expected when sharing knowledge. Rarely does acquiring more bring joy." That is… Very, very mature of her. And on point.
We fall quiet after that.
For about… five seconds.
"Leo, look." Aurelia speaks up, and points forward in a flat voice. Up ahead of us are the two towers, among my most favorite spots in Skyrim, where I love butchering the bandits on the scene. "Victims."
And, as Aurelia has said, there are victims!
Look at that shoddy roadblock with just a tree, like our fuckin' horses can't jump over that!
And the archers at the top of the tower, already taking aim with their flimsy bows!
"Yay! Death and destruction!" I have my horse speed up with a happy, childish cheer.
Next Race Modification, here I come!
….
Gretel was bored.
The food left behind was amazing, and she made sure not to inhale it within five seconds, as she wanted to enjoy it.
Aela was busy with a Companion meeting, so she couldn't hang around the older woman, but a promise for archery teachings and going out for a Hunt soon enough quelled Gretel's desire to start problems.
So, instead, she just started exploring Whiterun. It was a new city, after all. A new home, much larger than Falkreath.
Much, much larger.
Despite both being Holds, Falkreath was more akin to a village with a population in the few hundred, while Whiterun was an honest city, with a population in the thousands.
There was so much for her to explore, so much to see, and so many targets to find for her to use to quench her boredom.
Sniffing, Gretel turns the corner with a bored look, and comes to a pause at the sight before her.
"-just leave me alone, Braith!" A young blonde boy yells at a Redguard girl while trembling on the spot and backing away from her.
But the Redguard girl just scoffs, arms crossed before her, "Or what? You gonna hit me? Gonna cry to your papa?"
The boy flinches and steps back, "Just go away!" He yells, even more scared, and Gretel scrunches up her nose.
A part of her wanted to leave, but then her thoughts went to her cool big sister stepped forward to help Whiterun against that meanie Undead that attacked it not too long ago.
She wouldn't be Gretel, the sister of the great mage Hildr, if she walked away from someone in need!
"Hey, back off the guy." Gretel grunts out gruffly, swiftly stepping in-between the two, surprising and elating the boy while visibly irritating the girl named Braith.
"Who the hell are you?" Braith sniffs, arms unfolding and small hands clenching into fists, "Did the sniveling baby pay you to protect him? Is that it?"
Gretel blinks in surprise, and raises a slightly confused brow.
Not at the girls words, no… But at the fact that she wasn't running away in pure terror.
And that's when it clicks in Gretel's mind.
They don't know me here… Every single elder and child back in Falkreath knew and feared her, plus her older sister. She was a nightmare, someone not to be crossed. Someone they had to give offerings to in order to keep pleased.
Here in Whiterun? She was nobody. She had no fearsome reputation, no 'achievements', no nothing.
And that made a near feral smile spread across Gretel's young face.
"You listening to me?!" Braith yells, shoving Gretel back, "Or are you already chickening out? If so, get lost! And leave any Septims on you behin-" Gretel does not punch the girl.
No. Gretel is a big girl. She is better than that.
Instead, what she does is something more… humiliating.
She slaps her across the face. Hard.
Braith yells, taking a step back in shock, eyes wide and shaky as she holds her right cheek, "D-Did… Did you just slap me-!" Another slap is delivered, but to the other cheek this time.
Then another, changing cheek.
And one final one, so to match the other cheek.
"You want more?" Gretel asks, waving her small hands with a grin of challenge.
Braith looked ready to tear her throat out with her teeth, but she was also visibly terrified.
Good, as she should be!
Turning back to the boy behind her, Gretel gives him a grin and thumbs up, "Don't worry, I got her!"
A scream reaches her ears, then a hand grabs her shoulder and forcibly spins her around.
The girl had grown the guts to pull back her fist to try and punch her! Oh my!
So Gretel headbutts her in the face. Hard.
Then kicks her legs out from below her.
Sniffing, Gretel stares down at the sniveling and downed brat before her… Then is hit by a bright idea! "Is there a water canal nearby?" She questions the boy she was protecting, who gives her a confused look.
"Y-Yeah…? But… Why?" Ah, poor child. He does not have a creative mind like her!
"Oh, nothing much!" Gretel smiles, grabs the downed girl by the scruff of her neck, then starts dragging her down the road.
"T-That's not where the water canal is!" The blonde boy yells after her.
"I know!" Gretel calls back with a wide grin.
She asked that just to know if there was a place the girl could clean herself up after getting her face shoved in cow poop, after all.
Now, there were some close to Jorrvaskr, if she remembers right?
Hopefully, her big sis and the others are having just as much fun as she is right now!
….
[A Soul has been absorbed!] x 11
[Death Knight]
A body clad in near unbreakable frost, and overflowing with Magicka that enhances its physical capabilities to the utmost limit. An unstoppable force that feels no pain and only seeks to kill.
And there we go! New powerful Race Modification got! I feel so power- Just joking. I feel jack shit. Figures.
Bit miffed that I am now left with just four normal Souls and one Greater Soul, but that's alright I guess. The roads are sure to be full of bandits until the College. I'll stock up on the way.
"Did you have to destroy the towers, Leo?" Aurelia asks, arms crossed and gaze flat as she taps her foot on the ground.
I look at her, then look behind a the ruins of the two towers and the bridge, courtesy of a single well placed Draconian Howl.
I turn back to Aurelia, "Yeah!" She sighs and face-palms at my very cheerful tone.
I just couldn't help myself. It's fun to cause so much destruction!
"Hey, guys?" Hildr calls out, and I turn to see at what she was looking at. A large cart, close to the ruins of the towers, yet without horses and with a broken wheel. "These guys probably got a merchant before we arrived."
Aurelia frowns and moves to step close to the carriage, "No corpses?" Hildr shakes her head, and Aurelia scoffs, "Probably tossed down into the river below."
Yep, totally no remorse for removing that filth in such a violent way.
Shrugging my shoulders, I approach the carriage and hop on the back, then approach a random sack in the corner, "Might as well check out what they had-" I freeze when I prop it open.
Then instantly squeal with childish glee.
"L-Leo…?" Aurelia calls out as I dig my hands into the sack, then pull out-
"A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACO-"
"FUCK YEAAHHHHHH!" I howl right back as I hold the white orb high in the air, "I have found thee, Mommy Meridia!"
Aurelia and Hildr share nervous and disturbed looks at my words.
"Show me thine Godly Booty Cheeks, and I shall-"
Crack!
"Hm?" I pause, then lower the orb in front of my face to stare at the brightly glowing crack that suddenly appeared on it.
Crack! CRACK!
It starts glowing brighter and brighter, and brighter, while the cracks spread and spread all over it.
"Bismillah, I am finished…"
"L-Leo-!"
….
Gretel pauses and blinks as a loud and powerful explosion far into the distance shakes the whole of Whiterun, bringing everyone to a pause.
Turning her head, she stares towards the two distant mountains.
Then tilts her head at the rising mushroom cloud between them.
Why did she feel like that was Leonidas's fault?
A.N. I am bacc! Sorry for the long wait, folks! I'll try to push out another chapter before the month ends!
Imagine Meridia's face when she felt an Undead touch her Beacon. Must've been glorious.
Anyway, next chapter will have the arrival to the College, a Thalmor catching hands, and Aurelia starting her training with Parthubro.
Then, the next arc shall start! I should probably give 'em names.
And if you wish to support me and read FIVE CHAPTERS ahead on this fic, then consider hopping on over to my !