The Witcher: The Black Dragon Witcher

…

Chapter 1: A Contract Most Curious

…

The College of Winterhold.

Martin sliced through another magical anomaly with his sword Blackfyre. The anomaly seemed to scream in pain as it was bisected in half by the dragon-steel blade of Martin's sword and it fell to the snow in a pile of steaming magical goo. Martin wiped his brow and took a moment to observe the battlefield briefly; members of the College, both novice and master were engaging the magical anomalies in battle, blasting out streams of fire, lightning and frost at the anomalies that flew about, slamming their eldritch bodies into the college members. This had all started when Ancano, the Thalmor advisor, had taken control of the Eye of Magnus and was using the artefact's insurmountable power for his own ends. The Psjic Monks had informed Martin that he was the only one who could stop what was happening. A meeting with the Augur of Dunlain had Martin travelling to Labyrinthian, the ancient Nord city ruin nestled in the mountains, to recover the Staff of Magnus that would have the power to close the Eye before it could destroy the world.

After a long battle with the undead and the Dragon Priest Morokei, Martin had recovered the Staff and immediately made his way back to the College. It had devolved into pandemonium as Ancano's reckless misuse of the Eye had caused magical ruptures to split the borders between realms, spilling forth magical anomalies that had begun attacking everything in sight.

Martin participated in the battle, helping his fellow college members as best he could, slicing apart the anomalies with his sword and providing healing to anyone who was injured in the battle against the anomalies. Mirabelle Ervine urged Martin to end the insanity and that was he intended to do.

Tolfdir volunteered his services to aid the Dragonborn in reaching the College and Martin graciously accepted the offer of the elderly but powerful wizard's help. Once the anomalies in the town had been dealt with, the pair then traversed the walkway leading to the college and they soon reached the magical barrier that barred the way. Pulling the staff of Magnus from his back, Martin raised the eldritch staff in front of him and unleashed the power of the staff onto the magical barrier barring entry.

Immediately eldritch energy shot forth from the crystal head of the staff and the stream of magic collided with the barrier in a shower of magical sparks and arcs of lightning. There was a great screaming sound as though the barrier itself were in pain but that didn't stop Martin as he focussed on bringing the barrier down. Finally, after a tense nerve wracking moment, the barrier was brought down and it cracked and broke like glass as 'shards' of magic fell around the College like broken glass. Putting the staff away, Martin then charged into the college with Blackfyre at the ready and Tolfdir following closely, his hands wreathed in arcane flames.

Barging through the large oak and iron bound doors, Martin and the Tolfdir entered the Hall of Elements where they found Ancano standing before the Eye of Magnus, his body enveloped in arcane magic.

"Ancano! Stop this madness! You don't know what you're doing!" roared Martin. Ancano turned around to sneer dismissively before he replied.

"Foolish whelp! I know exactly what I'm doing!" boasted the Thalmor agent "With the Eye at my command, the Thalmor has all it needs to wipe out both the Stormcloaks and the Imperial Legion!" he declared.

"Ancano! Please! Listen to reason!" Tolfdir cried "There are magics we were never meant to meddle with!" he yelled.

"Pathetic old man!" Ancano sneered, "I tire of your prattle!" Ancano then waved a hand and Tolfdir fell to the ground paralysed.

"No! Damn you!" shouted Martin as he blasted out a stream of lightning at Ancano but the magical aura surrounding the Altmer easily absorbed the lightning. Ancano waved another hand and it was only quick reflexes that saved Martin from being paralysed by a paralysis spell. Martin then drew the staff of Magnus from his back. Ancano's eyes flashed with recognition as he saw the staff in Martin's gauntleted hands.

"The Staff of Magnus? You found the Staff of Magnus?!" screeched Ancano.

"I did!" Martin declared "And with it, I'm going to end this madness!" he said as he pointed the staff towards the Eye and blasted a stream of energy at the Eye. The stream of energy collided with the Eye and the Eye closed. As the Eye closed, Ancano's magical aura faded away leaving him vulnerable. Almost immediately, Martin was upon the Thalmor agent, his sword flashing. Ancano barely dodged each strike, trying to raise his hands to cast a spell. Martin kept to trying to get in close so that the Thalmor lackey wouldn't be able to use any magic. Ancano in an act of desperation drew his dagger and slashed at Martin who blocked the strike with his sword but this provided Ancano enough time to hit Martin with a telekinetic pulse which forced the Dovahkiin back. Ancano then stretched his hand towards the Eye and cast a spell on it. The Eye opened and Ancano was then covered in magic once again.

Ancano then began throwing lightning bolts and fireballs at Martin for all he was worth. It took all of Martin's skill to avoid being hit by the destructive spells and he aimed the staff at the Eye and cast the magic of the artefact into the Eye. The eldritch magic of the staff collided with the Eye and it began to close again. Ancano screamed in rage as he cast a counter-spell at the Eye for it to remain open. But as Ancano's counter-spell hit the Eye, it began to froth with energy and arcs of energy and lightning lashed out and there was a great cracking sound as above the Eye a tear in the fabric of reality opened and began to suck everything in. Ancano was the first to be sucked into the blackhole and the Thalmor agent screamed in desperation as he scrambled to hold onto solid ground. Martin acted quickly; he used his Thu'um to Shout Ice Form on Tolfdir ensuring he wouldn't be sucked into the blackhole. Martin then stabbed Blackfyre into the ground and held on tight. Martin's body was raised into the air as the blackhole sucked everything in the room into its gaping maw. Martin held on as tightly as he could but before he could react, Blackfyre seemed to slip away from its anchor and Martin was sucked into the blackhole. Martin yelled in fear as he was sucked into the blackhole and he struggled to try and make his way back to the Hall of Elements but as he was sucked into the blackhole, the tear sealed itself. Martin roared in disbelief as he was now cut off from his own world.

It was then a whirlwind of colours and images and places that Martin had never seen and he desperately wished that he was somewhere on solid ground. And it seemed the Divines had heard the Dovahkiin's prayers as he landed with a thump on solid ground. After a moment of laying still on the ground, Martin sat up, groaning in pain slightly as he rubbed the back of his head and his back. Satisfied he hadn't broken any bones, Martin slowly sat up and observed his surroundings. He was in a forest but it wasn't one he had seen before. It seemed similar to the forests of Cyrodil but there was something different about it that set it apart from the forests of Cyrodil.

Picking up his sword and sheathing it over his back, Martin then took a moment to look around and before long, his sense of smell picked up the scent of cooking fires. Taking a chance to follow the scent, Martin then began walking in the direction of the fires.

…

A brown mare slowly cantered along the path, its rider wearing a hood over his head, two swords hanging parallel over one broad shoulder and a medallion in the shape of a wolf's head bouncing on his chest.

The rider was known as Geralt of Rivia, also named the White Wolf and he was a Witcher; a mutated/enhanced monster-slayer for hire. Geralt was riding towards some gods-forsaken little hamlet where a strange new monster was said to have butchered twelve men without provocation. The details about the monster were strange; the 'monster' stood at 6'5 and was wearing black armour and wielding a sword. Geralt knew that most monsters didn't wield weapons like swords or wear armour as their claws and teeth were than adequate for slaughtering humans and their hides were thick enough to provide suitable protection against the blades of men. But the other details of the monster caught the White Wolf's attention; apparently this black armoured sword wielding monster could spew fire from its maw like any dragon could. At the mention of fire being spewed from the monster's mouth, Geralt began to think that this monster might be some new kind of draconid.

It was here on this beaten dirt road, Geralt rode Roach towards the village. The village itself wasn't too interesting; just a small settlement of farmers along with a local blacksmith and a pellar to tend to the needs and maladies that befell the village. Urging Roach into the village and riding the mare up to the local tavern, Geralt dismounted and tied Roach to a post where the mare contented itself to eating some hay in the feed trough. Entering the tavern, Geralt was greeted with the usual sight of farmers and peasants drinking away their worries after a hard morning tending the fields. A few stared at Geralt, noticing the steel and silver swords over his shoulder before looking away hurriedly. Some of the muttered "Freak," or "Mutant," under their breath.

Walking up to the innkeeper, Geralt said to him "A pint of ale, if you have any." The innkeeper nodded before sloshing some ale into a tankard and placed it in front of the Witcher who without pause downed the beverage in one go. Putting some gold crowns on the bar which the innkeeper swept into his hand, Geralt then spoke.

"Heard there was a monster-attack here recently. Do you know anything about it?" Geralt asked the innkeeper.

"We haven't had a monster 'round these parts for o'er a week now," the innkeeper replied. "Why do ye be askin'?" he enquired.

"I took a contract telling me that some kind of monster came into this village and killed twelve men without provocation," answered Geralt, "Didn't think it might be a monster given that it apparently wields a sword and wears armour," he remarked. "But the part where it spews fire from its mouth caught my interest," the White Wolf said.

"Oh! Ye mean that Martin feller who saved our village just recently?" the innkeeper asked "He ain't no monster! He's human!" he said.

Geralt blinked in surprise. "But what about the part about him breathing fire like a dragon?" he asked.

"He said it were simply magic," replied the innkeeper shrugging his shoulders. "We all thought he might be some new kind of Witcher given that he could use magic and that he had a sword but I know enough about Witchers to know that all Witchers carry two swords. One made of steel for humans, the other wrought from silver for monsters," he said.

"But what about the part where this… Martin fellow killed twelve men?" asked Geralt.

A sour look came over the innkeeper's face as he replied, "Common bandits! In league with the self-proclaimed King of Bandits, Saker of Ard Skellige!" he spat.

"This village has had troubles with bandits, I take it," Geralt said rather than asked.

The innkeeper nodded and replied "Aye. Saker and his gang number about eighty strong. Most of 'em are deserters or layabouts that think they can take whatever they want by force," he explained.

"It was only about a week or so back when twelve of Saker's men came riding into town and tried to drag off some of our village girls. We were all too afraid, ye understand. If we put up any resistance, Saker's men would come in force and wipe this village off the map!" the innkeeper explained.

"Just as those ruffians began clap the girls in irons to drag off to their camp, Martin arrived. He charged in and swung his sword, cutting through three bandits in half as though they were nought but wet parchment! And that sword! It wasn't like any sword I'd ever clapped eyes on! The blade the colour of smoke, drinking in the sun… and ripples and waves all along the metal like water..." the innkeeper said as he recalled that fateful day.

"After cutting down three of Saker's men, Martin turned his attention to the other bandits and that was when he spewed fire from his mouth like a dragon as you said! He burnt those men till they were nought but ash, he did! There was one bandit who was still alive and Martin walked up to him and told him to deliver a message to Saker telling him that the village was under his protection and that if he wanted to take it, he'd have to go through him first."

Geralt thought about it for a moment; he had taken a contract from some thieves and murderers. A contract was a contract, but Geralt didn't like taking money from cut-throats and thugs. This had changed things.

"Do you know where I can find this Martin person?" Geralt then asked.

"I don't rightly know meself, master Witcher." The innkeeper shrugged his shoulders as he began wiping a tankard clean "Perhaps the blacksmith or the pellar might know?" he suggested.

"Thank you for your time," Geralt said as he turned to leave the tavern. Leaving the tavern, Geralt then headed towards the blacksmith's shop. The owner was a dwarf and he was busy hammering some hot metal on his anvil.

"Excuse me, I was told that you might know where someone named Martin might reside," Geralt said to the dwarf who stopped hammering hot metal. Grabbing the piece of metal with a pair of tongs, the dwarf smith put the hot metal into a trough of water that hissed loudly as it contacted the hot metal.

The dwarf wiped his brow clean of sweat before speaking to Geralt. "Now why would a Witcher be going after a human?" the dwarf asked.

"This human isn't ordinary from what I hear," countered Geralt "For one thing, he uses magic," he pointed out.

"Aye, that he does," agreed the dwarf, "But for what reason are you going after him?" he enquired.

"I took a contract that detailed that this Martin fellow had killed twelve men," replied Geralt "But I just learned from your innkeeper that these twelve men were bandits led by a man named Saker," he said.

"Aye, Saker and his lot, worse than monsters they are!" the dwarf smithy grunted "When Martin showed up, he showed 'em what for!" he said with a grin on his bearded lips.

"As I've heard," said Geralt, "But I was told that you or the local pellar might know where this Martin fellow is," he mentioned.

"I don't know where Martin lives," the dwarf replied apologetically "Perhaps the pellar knows?" he suggested.

"Can you give me some details on this Martin?" asked Geralt.

"Well, let's see…" the dwarf grumbled, "No doubt you already know he showed up about a week ago when some of Saker's men tried to drag some of the girls away to their camp and that he slaughtered them," he recalled. "Once the bandits were dealt with, he turned to look at us and began to ask us where here was," he then said.

"So, of course we told him this is the country of Temeria and he was quite surprised to say the least, so it got us thinking that maybe he was from Skellige, Nilfgaard or somewhere else," the dwarf smith then said "So, we asked if he were from any lands we knew of and he told us he was from a land called Skyrim," he added.

"Skyrim? Never heard of a place called that," Geralt muttered to himself. The dwarf smith nodded and said "Aye, we thought he might've been off his rocker or deep in his cups so we asked him if he was a Witcher."

"And he told you he wasn't?" Geralt asked.

The dwarf smith nodded. "Aye, he called himself something else, a Dough-Va-Keen," he said. "Can tell ye now, I've never heard of a Dough-Va-Keen in all me years and when we asked him what it meant, he told us it translated as Dragon-born," he added.

"Dragon-born? So, he is a draconid of some kind then," surmised Geralt.

"I really don't know enough about these things to tell ye," the dwarf said regretfully "And he were fascinated to see me, a dwarf," he added "When I asked him if he had ever seen dwarves before, he told us that the dwarves of his land had all disappeared thousands of years ago," he then said.

"So, he's from a land where there are no non-humans?" Geralt asked.

The dwarf shook his head and replied "Nah, he told us there were elves and the like and some other strange things like Orcs and Goblins. Strange things I'd never heard of before," he said.

"Can you give me some details on this Dragonborn's weapons and armour?" asked Geralt.

"Oh, aye! That sword of his! Why, it was the most beautiful thing I'd clapped eyes on!" the dwarf said excitedly. "I asked him if he'd forged it himself, he said it was a family heirloom and he said it were made of Dragon-steel," he explained.

"Then there was his armour! It was wrought of metal black as a midnight sky!" the dwarf then said "I asked him what it were made of and he told me it was made of ebony," he added.

"Ebony? His armour was made of ebony wood?" Geralt asked.

"I was just as confused as you are," replied the dwarf smithy "Martin then told me it weren't ebony wood but it were made of ebony metal, a volcanic metal from his lands," he said.

"So, I asked him if he had any ebony metal so that I could forge a set of armour like his," the dwarf smithy then said "Sadly, Martin said he hadn't any ebony ingots on him," he added sadly.

"And I tested his armour to see what it could withstand," the dwarf then said. "It withstood all my hammer strikes, a spear, a mace, a sword, a crossbow bolt and even a swing from a battleaxe couldn't scratch nor dent it!" he declared.

"You said the pellar might know where Martin lives?" Geralt then asked as he processed this new information.

"Aye. The pellar lives just outside the village," replied the dwarf, "If anyone knows where Martin makes his home, then the pellar does," he said before going back to his work.

Geralt then headed towards the outer edges of the village. Soon, the White Wolf found the pellar a grey haired old man tending to his herb garden.

"Excuse me, may I speak with you a moment?" Geralt asked the elderly man who looked up from his work and replied, "How may I help you, Witcher?" the pellar asked in a scratchy voice.

"I was told that you knew someone who had saved this village recently. His name is Martin," replied Geralt.

The pellar sucked in a breath before saying, "Aye, I know of whom you speak," he said, "But for what reason would a Witcher want with him?" he asked.

"I took a contract that I thought was a new kind of monster and it turned out this monster is this Martin person I've heard of," explained Geralt. "I was told that you might know where this Martin the Dragon-Born lives," he then said.

"And why would a Witcher be going after someone who saved our village?" the pellar demanded.

"I'm just curious if he is some new kind of monster or is as human as everyone in the village has told me," replied Geralt.

"Well, if ye be seeking the Dragonborn, head due west from this village. There is an old tower where the Dragon-Born has taken residence," said the pellar, "But be warned, White Wolf! If ye seek to do the Dragon-Born harm, be ready for a fight, for the Dragon-Born has much power within him!" he warned.

"I won't fight him unless he makes me," replied Geralt as he whistled for Roach and the mare came cantering up obediently and Geralt mounted the mare and rode off in the direction the pellar told him.

After an hour, the sun shone high in the sky indicating it was midday. Geralt soon found the old ruined tower the pellar told him the Dragon-Born made his home in. Dismounting Roach, Geralt then debated to himself which sword he should use. If this Martin fellow was indeed human like the villagers said he was, then a steel sword would be best to fight him. On the other hand, if Martin was indeed some new kind of monster then a silver sword was more ideal to use against him.

Drawing out his steel sword, Geralt then slowly opened the front door of the tower and slowly trudged up the stairs quietly as he could. Geralt's enhanced senses could pick up the sounds and smells of food cooking. Following the scent of cooking meat, Geralt soon reached the top of the tower where he sighted a large man wearing midnight black armour stirring some in a kettle over a fire. The man must've heard Geralt as he turned his head slightly and spoke in a calm baritone voice.

"Not many would venture into an abandoned tower willingly or alone," the man said dryly "One never knows what kind of monster has made its home there," he added ruefully.

Geralt stopped in his tracks. "You heard me?" he asked in disbelief.

"Your heartbeat I could as soon as you entered the tower," replied the man as he turned around to face Geralt. Geralt was a little surprised at how young the man was; he couldn't be any older than nineteen or twenty years old at best. The young man's hair and eyes also caught Geralt's attention; the eyes were a deep vivid purple colour like amethysts almost that were dark and stormy looking and his hair was like silver and gold.

"For what reason would you have to enter my home?" asked the giant of a young man.

"I took a contract recently that a monster had attacked the nearby village," replied Geralt, "When I got here, I learned that you were the one who had saved the village from being raided by some bandits," he said.

"You must be a Witcher then?" asked the young man and Geralt nodded in response. "Would you mind explaining to me what a Witcher is? I am unfamiliar with such a being," the young man said.

Geralt then sheathed his sword on his back sensing that this young man was no threat to him and was no monster. Although, Geralt's medallion vibrated a little in the presence of this young man.

The young man then introduced himself as Martin the Dough-Va-Keen or Dragon-Born and Geralt introduced himself in return and they began to have a meal of fresh venison stew that Martin had been cooking for the past few hours since this morning.

Martin had asked many questions about Witchers and what they were. Geralt answered Martin's questions and asked his own questions such as what a Dragon-Born was. Martin had explained as best he could what it meant to be Dragon-Born; a Dovahkiin/Dragonborn was a person chosen by the Nine Divines to have the blood and soul of a dragon and was innately gifted in a magic called the Thu'um or the Voice. Geralt had asked what the Voice was and Martin had explained to him that it was a form of magic as well as the language of dragons. Geralt had said that dragons here could not talk to which Martin had replied that where he was from, dragons could indeed talk and communicate with mortal beings.

After a bowl of stew and some bottles of mead that Martin had with him, Geralt then spoke, "I feel a little foolish taking that contract on your life," he said sheepishly "And here I thought you were some new kind of monster," he joked.

"Sometimes men can be worse than monsters," Martin said with a sardonic grin "I was going to go and take care of Saker and his gang and free this region from their control," he added.

"You against eighty men?" Geralt asked in disbelief "You're either very brave, or very foolish," he commented.

"Compared to what I usually fight in Skyrim, eighty men isn't something too strenuous," replied Martin as he stood up and began to grab his weapons.

"You need some help?" offered Geralt "I feel as though I should help you with this, as recompense for taking a contract on your life," he said.

"Very honourable of you," Martin noted "Plus you should get something out of the coffers of Saker's gang," he said.

"Do you have a horse?" Geralt asked as they left the room to leave the tower.

"I do," said Martin as they left the tower. Once outside the tower, Martin then gave a piercing whistle and Geralt's medallion vibrated as it felt the magic behind that whistle. After a moment's silence, galloping out of the woods came a large black stallion with glowing red eyes. The stallion reared before giving an unholy whinny. Roach almost bolted were it not for Geralt holding her reins.

Martin walked up to the black stallion, stroking its nose fondly and the red-eyed steed nuzzled his hand agreeably. Martin swung himself up into the saddle and spoke to Geralt, "I did some scouting a little while ago and found where Saker and his men have holed themselves up," he said.

"So, where have they holed themselves up in?" asked Geralt as he mounted Roach.

"There's an old fort that was abandoned by the previous occupants and Saker moved in and turned it into his headquarters," replied Martin "By the time we get there, it'll be dusk. Perfect time for us to sneak in," he said.

"Then let's get going!"

Wheeling their horses around, the two new friends urged their horses into a canter and rode off to put an end to the so-called King of Bandits.

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: well there it is everyone, the first chapter of my Elder Scrolls/Witcher story and as you can guess by certain details in the title and the story, this story will cross over into Game of Thrones at some point. But anyways, this is just setting the stage of Martin's adventures in the Witcher world and I've been doing some research on the Witcher universe and I've got a few ideas on how a Dragonborn can affect the inhabitants of the Witcher 'verse.

For romance, there's a couple of options such as Triss Merigold, Yennefer, Ciri and a couple of others as well as the usual Game of Thrones girls. I do have some OCs in mind that our Dragonborn could be involved with, but we'll see how we go.

Also, I am working on a Mortal Kombat/Justice League story that also crosses over with Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Witcher, Hellboy, Game of Thrones, Conan the Barbarian and Red Sonja. The main hero for that story will be the Dragonborn and I've set up a poll on my profile showing a list of the all the available women he can be with, so feel free to vote for who you want. I know a long time ago I had tried to write a Justice League/Mortal Kombat story but they weren't that good and I did receive some abuse from some people who shall not be named and it left such a bad taste in my mouth that I deleted them. But, I've decided to try again and hopefully this time, I can do it better and get some helpful reviews and positive feedback.

And to anyone who has anything negative to say, try to be constructive in your criticism without being abusive, because at the end of the day, we all want to enjoy ourselves here and read a good story. If you're just being negative or abusive for the sake of it, take it elsewhere and to anyone who complains about how the story isn't that good, why don't you try write one yourself?

So, anyways, this is just the first chapter, so let me know what you all thought and if you enjoyed it, leave a review and if you want to give me some advice on anything that is related to the Witcher world, feel free to tell me in a review or a PM, I've only recently been playing the third game and I've read one or two of the comics, but I'm still a novice in all things Witcher.

Be kind to one another everyone and have a nice day,

Angry lil' elf.