Chapter 1: Resistance is Futile, We are the Aldmeri Dominion!

The freezing winds of High Hrothgar bit into the scaly flesh of Jod Anvil-Hand as though he was being attacked by a pack of ice wraiths. Though born as Stand in Shallows he changed his name when a Nordic couple adopted Jod. Alvide and Volk, they raised him as their own and gave him an education. Reading, writing, basic math, and of course smithing. It was his father who taught him how to create his first iron dagger at the forge behind the house. Even when those who were once called friends began to shun the family, they still loved Jod dearly. Over the years Alvide gave birth to two boys and a girl Jod swore to protect his sibling, to be a brother they could be proud off. The sound of marching boots and the hissing of lightning grew louder as Jod was brought back to reality.

'So much for that promise; Mama and Papa murdered by assassins, Erik killed during the second battle of Whiterun, Frofnir scarred by Thalmor fire mages, and Evette having to become a healer, watching men's limbs needed to be sawn off, coughing blood after being hit by poisoned arrows b... by other Argonians'.
"Fus Roh Dah!"
The screams of Altmer mages died down as the avalanche swept them off the mountain despite the raging inferno of fire spells melting the snow and ice.

Still no matter what Jod did, they still marched to kill the Dragonborn and the Graybeards. After the assassination of Emperor Titus Mede the second, Skyrim and Cyrodiil grew weak making an easy target for an invasion by the Aldmeri Dominion. A coalition of Altmer, Bosmer, Khajiit, and Argonians began a devastating war which the empire could not win. Cyrodiil fell in a just a few months, corruption and greed of a single council member, and the insanity of what is left of the Dark Brotherhood was responsible for the death of an empire. They then set their sights towards the Nords of Skyrim. An army that could not be defeated, there only hope was to flee, to run away from the only place that they called home. The Nords stubbornly refused, they were to never leave their home at any costs. Their stubborn pride was shattered when both Whiterun and Markarth was reduced to rubble. In under a week, there only hope was to escape by boat from the harbors of Solitude or Windhelm.

It was due to the brave actions of Jarl Balgruuf and Jarl Igmund, who escaped the destruction of their cities. These heroes felt it was their duty to protect the fleeing civilians, like the ones they couldn't save from Whiterun and Markarth. It was Jarl Balgruuf who defended Solitude from the best fighters that the Argonians and Khajiits could muster. It was here where Balgruuf fought with what was left of the veterans of the Legion, where they fortified the path leading to solitude. Archers among the cliffs and trees firing arrows that cast shadows over their enemies that looked akin to a dragon's shadow. Though only numbering a little over 2000, they managed to kill three times their numbers, allowing for the boats to leave Skyrim.

Over in Windhelm Igmund and his men fought against the Altmer mages and the Bosmer archers. When it seemed as all was lost an unexpected ally came to their aid. The Forsworn berserkers and mages came for revenge. The Altmer enjoyed torturing the savage people for their own amusement. This would be their undoing as they were suddenly faced with enemies whose hate was greater than the petty rivalry with Markarth, as the enemy soldiers were assaulted on both sides. It seemed as though they could pull it off, until the Dremora Lords began their assault, conjured by skillful mages and necromancers hiding in the forest. The alliance between the Forsworn and the Jarl of Markarth didn't even last a day, cut down like livestock. However they too held the line for the ships to leave safely, as well as killing scores of elven mages and archers. The two leaders would live amongst the songs as heros who saved what was left of the people of Skyrim.

All of Tamriel was no longer safe for the survivors of Skyrim. The hunger and greed to conquer and dominate all of Tamriel was as though the Aldmeri Dominion were followers Molag Bal. It was Jod's idea to sail North-East into the unknown. Any other man would have been killed to suggest such a stupid plan. Sail into the great unknown. Where sea serpents lay in wait for lone ships. Were starvation and dehydration can kill even the heartiest of men. However this was the Dovahkiin who suggested this plan of action, the slayer of Alduin, Harkon, and Miraak. The three greatest threats to plague Skyrim, and it was Jod who vanquished these vile monsters, with the help of a sell swords, housecarls, and the many friends he made along the way of his quest to guard Skyrim. However even he could not stop an army which numbered over one hundred thousand.

A natural born leader, when the emperor was assassinated it Jod who began the funding of building ships. Ships for transporting people, livestock, gold, ores, potions and their ingredients found only in Skyrim. An armory ship filled with his personal collection of weapons and armor. By the nine there were even a ship large enough to house the last remaining group of giants and mammoths. Ships armed with catapults, ballistas, and explosive crossbows stolen from Dwemer ruins that could punch holes through ships causing them to sink in minutes. This grand project could have never been funded if not for Jod's wealth he accumulated as an adventurer, a companion, a thief, an assassin, and a master blacksmith. Wearing his finest set of armor he created, a full set of dragon scale armor, all pieces enchanted with resist fire and increasing one handed attacks. This helped tremendously as Jod wielded an ebony sword that his father made for him when he transitioned from boy to man. Spell breaker defending him from even the mightiest of destruction spells that the Altmer mages cast upon him. The Nightingale bow holstered at his back, his quiver empty of his usual assortment of dwarven, elven, and glass arrows. The corpses riddled with arrows could be seen down the mountain trail. And yet they still advanced.

"Masters we need to leave, now". Jod screamed to the Greybeards as he began to charge a fireball in his claws.

"We're coming Dovahkiin, we have gathered our supplies." Master Arngeir responded with a booming voice.

"Odahviing! Paarthurnax! Durnehviir!" Two bellowing roars could be heard overhead while a groaning rumble announced the arrival of a vortex.

"Forward men! For the glory of the Thalmor! Let us kill this traitor!" screamed Captain Falcar as they charged up the snowy hill. For hours the blasted reptile held back the Thalmors mages and archers. No swordsman would dare attack him head on, his reputation of a true warrior frightened even the most zealous Thalmor agents. However with a thousand of the strongest mages they could surely overwhelm the stupid lizard, but first they had to get over the hill. As they reached the crest of the hill the screams of intimidation turned into screams of pain and death.

"YOL TOOR SHUL"! Durnehviir and Odahviing roared in unison

Hundreds of altmer men and women burnt alive before they could retaliate with ice and lightning spells while others summoned wards to protect themselves. Paarthurnax came besides the heavy snow bank and brought the mountain to life.

"FUS ROH DAH"

An avalanche raced towards the thalmor as though it was a river breaking through a dam as the elite soldiers were crushed to death or fell to their demise over the cliffs. As the rumbling faltered the mountain fell silent, only the blizzard and the flapping of wings broke the silence. The three dragons flew using the clouds as cover as they flew north. Paarthurnax carrying his students, the Greybeards on his back. While Odahviing carrying Jod on his back, and Durnehviir attacking Thalmor patrols along the way. Jod couldn't help but to weep silently as they flew over the ruins of Whiterun, knowing that despite his best effort so many of his friends perished. Carlotta and Mila were trapped in their house as a stray fireball ignited the straw; turning their home into a raging inferno. Aela the Huntress was impaled by multiple ice spikes as she was flanked from behind. Arcadia was hit by a stray arrow from a Bosmer marksman, and for all her potions she could not cure the deadly concoction the Argonians shared amongst their allies. Heimskr was burnt to death at a stake in the town center by Thalmor agents as punishment for his preaching of Talos in public.

"Was I wrong Odahviing, to convince the others to leave Skyrim forever. To ignore the calls of help from Cyrodiil, and instead to prepare to leave our home forever. To abandon the Empire and the Legion in their time of need.".

"You did what had to be done Dovahkiin, The joors of the Empire could not win against the Fahliil, the elves. You did what was needed for the survival of Skyrim. The Dov would not have follow you, not until you have defeated them all in combat. Our hokoron, our enemies were stronger and united more than we could have thought off, we can only move on. Start a new wherever we may find ourselves in."

"I see you have been listening to Paarthurnax my fahdon, my friend" Jod said.

Odahviing grumbled in agreement as he began to scan the horizon as they passed Dawnstar, looking for the refugee fleet. The fleet should have met in the harbor to pick up any survivors left who could not reach Solitude or Windhelm, and then proceed to head North-East. Yet this damned fog visibility was near zero, and as tempting as it was to clear the skies with their shouts, they couldn't risk alerting any Thalmor patrol ships looking for the fleet. Still, there were ways to get around that problem.

"Laas Yah Nir" whispered Jod as he scanned the horizon for a any signs of the fleet. He whispered this "shout" for over an hour before he saw the first signs of life. A wall of red 10 knots ahead, they were making great speed to be this far out. A roar from Parthunaux alerted the fleet to their arrival as the two largest ships lit braziers on platforms large enough for the dragons to rest for the long voyage to come. Still Jod couldn't help but have some fun.

"Feim Zii Gron" Jod shouted as he jumped of the back of Odahviing and landed on the deck of Jarl Elisif's ship, and proceeded to walk up to her cabin with a sack over his shoulder. Ignoring the guards warning of his shouting scaring everyone and watch the magic, he walked in and smiled as he saw Elisif sitting on her desk as she was going over the reports of the fleet. Though others may have thought of her as a mere puppet for the Empire, they were so wrong. Elisif had always made sure that her people were safe, that her city was well off, and that no child should ever go hungry in her city. A sentiment Jod could agree on, he remembered his childhood cleaning the ships in the harbors of Windhelm before meeting his new family. Being able to breathe underwater at least made the task easier to complete.

"Oh, Jod, I'm sorry i didn't hear your arrival. Please take a seat." Jod took a seat and began to answer all her questions. Were there any survivors left, how many soldiers did the Aldmeri Dominion's bring to Skyrim. Jod answered them all, and dropped the sack in front of her and with a sad smile replied, " I did it Jarl Elisif, I retrieved what i could from the High Hrothgar."

"You mean… these are… the"-

"Yes, the Elder Scrolls and the many books that the Grey Beards manage to save from the sacking of the monastery. I killed hundreds of those Thalmor Agents, but they would not surrender, they were like the unrelenting waves of the ocean, stepping over corpses of their fellow soldiers they marched to their demise." Jod replied as he attempted to block out the wails of despair of the elves he slaughtered atop the mountain. The dragon souls within him yearned for more death, more destruction. It was always a constant struggle between the two sides. Man vs Dragon; one side lands on greatness, the other insanity matched with a power of a Daedric Prince.

"You did good Jod, I'm sure Urag gro-Shub will enjoy these and more importantly to keep them safe. I would hate for another to go blind reading these scrolls of power. That will be all for today, go to your ship, I'm sure Ysolda is waiting for you." Ysolda replied kindly, thankful that Skyrim's greatest hero managed to make it back to them.

"Thank you my Jarl, with your leave". Jod replied as he bowed his head and left the ship, gulping down a potion of water walking as he sprinted to his ship, the Vith Ah. The Serpent Hunter, was a massive battleship. Like Jod this war ship was armed to the teeth, two catapults, four rotating Dwemer ballista, and smaller ballistas bolted down on the rails surrounding the ship. There were sliding slots throughout the ship's cabin, living and storage quarters that could slide open and unleash a volley of arrows or magic. Four decks and three masts made this ship look like a swimming castle. A battering ram shaped as a dragon's head, built of Ebony ore was placed on the lower deck ready to sink any ship any size. The ship was reinforced with slabs made of a mixture of Malachite, Quick Silver, and Moonstone wedged in between the hull of the ship. A perfect defense against enemy ships ramming into it. The Vith Ah is no mere ship, it's a predator. It was ready to prove itself from any Thalmor ship, pirates, or anyone else who dared to threaten the fleeing survivors of Skyrim. Jod gave reassuring praises to the men and women who worked on the ship. From the archers and soldiers, to the cooks and sailors. All members of the crew looked toward Jod as a beacon of hope.

'If any one deserves praise it would have to be Captain Lonely Gale. Without him we would be dead in the water. Thanks to his friends and former associates from the East Empire Company that we managed to find enough sailors and captains to make the fleet some what seaworthy. Even with a lack of seasoned sailors, it should be enough to reach land that has not yet been tainted by the Aldmeri Dominion. And every working man and woman shall do their part to ensure the fleet makes it to safety. Put aside our petty differences, Grey-Mane or Battle-Born. Stormcloak or Imperial. Man or Elf. We all need to work together or else we will not survive. This the largest fleet in all of recorded history, 100 passenger ships, three hundred cargo ships, 50 fishing ships, and one hundred and fifty war ships. And instead of fighting we are fleeing from our home as fast as the wind takes us.' Jod thought to himself as he tried to plan for their next step, but the battle earlier drained him and he was bound to make idiotic mistakes if he tried to make a plan with no rest.

Jod entered his cabin as he took in his living quarters three beds, a huge table in a separate room for meetings with the other leaders of the fleet. A bookcase full of tomes, scrolls, potions, and ingredients. A dresser full of clothing for any occasion.

"Are you alright my love". Jod smiled as he looked to his bed as he saw his beautiful wife Ysolda. Jod was still wondering how he was so lucky to be with a beautiful woman such as Ysolda. What was it that made the impossible into his life. Was it the the time he snuck into a giants camp to steal a mammoth tusk. Was it the time that he rescued her from a bloodthirsty group of vampires,as he slaughtered them all before the companions were even alerted of what happened. Either way Jod knew that he was lucky to find her. She didn't care that he had scales and claws.

"I'm tired Ysolda, any longer on that mountain and we would have been overwhelmed and dead. It was a close call", Jod replied as he removed his armor and slipped into his night clothes. " How about you and the children, you didn't encounter enemy ships"?

"No, my love just foggy skies and rough waves. Other than that there was no troubles for us. The children tried to stay up for your arrival but they fell asleep a few hours ago. I don't know how with the boat being moved by these waves. I'll get use to it though, I have to knowing that it will be several months at least until find a new home. A place where we can raise our children, a place where you can forge armor that will be worn by the next heroes of Skyrim. Everyone will follow you, you are the Dragonborn of legend, Slayer of Alduin. " Ysolda replied reassuringly as she cuddled next to Jod, her eyes grew heavy as sleep managed to takeover her.

Jod chuckled as his cabin began to get blurry. 'Might as well enjoy what sleep I get, with my luck it's going to be non stop meetings tomorrow with the remaining Jarls, fleet commanders and what's left of the legion'. And before he knew it the darkness that used to scare him as a child now welcomed him with open arms.