A massive wave rocked the boat. The water crashed right through the open fogged-up glass window in Sam's room. The water flooded his cabin and knocked over the glass beaker Sam was examining. The sudden shock of the situation caused him to remember that he was supposed to be on guard duty. He quickly ran up to the upper level of the boat, hoping that he wouldn't get into shit with the other researchers.

"Shit!" Sam swore loudly—the biting sting of cold, wet wind whipped across his face. He managed to look up and grimaced slightly. A storm was brewing, and they were out at sea.

Sam ran across the deck, trying to lock all the technical equipment away. They spent the past few weeks studying strange activities in the Antarctic. For the past few months, strange and unknown phenomena have been taking place here.

His team was already going on an expedition to South America before all these claims starting coming from other researchers. Naturally, Sam's colleagues were more than a little skeptical of some of these outlandish claims. Some of these claims mentioned supernatural phenomena; Sam laughed at first, then the strangeness started appearing.

The animals that Sam came across were often in a drunk-like state. Their eyes would gloss over strangely, milky like the cold rays of the moon. The rare few times that the crew landed, the seals and penguins would react almost violently. Peter and a few of the other interns nearly lost a few limbs.

Those animal attacks weren't the oddest things to happen. Weird lights and colours would flash randomly throughout the night, and intense electromagnetic pulses and frequencies were bouncing all over the place. The navigation equipment had gone to shit a few nights ago. The team was now relying on other means to navigate.

Sam didn't freak out because he knew there were other researchers nearby. All the crew needed to do was compile as much data as possible. Sam shook himself out of his thoughts and ran faster to save the equipment.

He heard a door slam right open, "shit! The fucking equipment! Have you lost your fucking mind? How could you let this happen, Sam?" He looked over his shoulders and saw Harry, the lead researcher, marching over angrily.

Sam cursed internally that of all the people to wake up; it would be him. "Look, Harry, calm down. I already put away most of the equipment," Sam pleaded.

"Most of the equipment? Do you realize how much all this costs! Even one machine or device is worth more than your life." Harry moved forward and coiled an iron grip onto Sam's collar. Harry made a dog-like face; his face grew older and leathery.

"The University is going to have your ass for this one, Sam," Harry sneered.

You were always a bastard, weren't you? You had it out for me since day one. Sam snarled and quickly wrapped his hands around Harry's wrists. Thanks to his mixed martial arts training, he immediately heard the pop of Harry's wrists breaking. Harry screamed and dropped to the floor.

"Motherfucker! Don't you ever dare lay your hands on me, you may be in charge when it comes to the paperwork, but out here," Sam paused and waved his arms around, pointing at the surroundings, "in the free world, you aren't even in charge of your girl."

It seemed as if that level of pettiness from Sam sparked something in Harry. He rose reinvigorated, water and snow dripping from his dark hair. He suddenly jumped up and tried to kick Sam. Luckily Sam was in a whole lot better shape than the piece of shit in front of him.

Sam dodged to the left, easily missing Harry's pathetic attempt at a kick. He reached out and grabbed Harry's leg before it fell and pulled him to the ground. He smirked as Harry began to panic. Sam smiled as his inner self was telling him to finish the pathetic bastard off.

Sam's fist had been travelling towards Harry's nasal cavity when he recoiled. What? Why do I hear these voices? They-they are not me. Why-why am I trying to finish off Harry? He's a bastard...but is that a buzzing sound. The sound of a thousand hornets buzzing around and stalking their prey echoed in Sam's ears.

Darkness, Sam could only see grey and black. In the distance, it seemed the hornets were coming. No, not hornets, smoke. A sudden cloud of vicious icy miasma descended upon the ship. Sam let go of Harry and stumbled. He felt a stream of steamy sweat drip from his furrowed brow despite the blistering conditions. He recoiled, the strange frequency was now louder.

Sam fell to his knees and began to rock back and forth. He clutched his head tight to ease the migraine that was forming. Bile made its way up Sam's throat. Sam desperately tried to purge the foulness within, but his lips were turning numb. They were turning purple, and Sam feared that meant poison.

Sam could hold it in no more. His trembling frostbitten fingers clawed at his constricted throat. He paled rapidly and started to spasm uncontrollably. Even as he looked at Harry, he could see that his colleague was also affected by the various strange phenomena.

Sam felt like he was going through a blender. The light in Sam's eye flickered on and off. He was descending into unconsciousness, but he noticed a tall figure in a white plastic suit slowly climbing on board.

Silence, that was all Sam could hear, even the man's footsteps were silent. Before, Sam was thrashing around like he was some caged animal trying to get out. Now, Sam could hardly move at all; all the sensations in his body left him. He felt a sense of vertigo looking into the man's helmet.

The man bent down and caressed Sam's neck. The man's plastic gloves felt oddly warm, Sam noticed. He felt a prick and looked over at the needle sticking out of his neck. Sam's eyes widened in shock, the breath Sam had been holding finally managed to escape his cage of a mouth. Then he felt the gentle embrace of oblivion.

A hammering sound shook Sam awake. He fell off the chair he was seated on and swore, "fuck!" His head was ringing like a cymbal. He looked over at what woke him. Sam slowly approached the strange object performing in the middle of the room.

The thing was small and seemed to have fur of some kind. Sam was starting to get nervous. He slowly remembered the strange man in the pale white suit. What had the man injected into him, Sam wondered. Suddenly, the thing had started to move further into the darkness. The lights flickered on and off, and Sam was beginning to feel that same sense of helplessness. He could not afford being caught off-guard.

Sam ran as fast as he could. Every room that he passed made his heart beat faster. They all had one thing in common; they were all empty. They were cleaned out. Fuck, where is the crew? Sam prayed to whoever would listen that they were still alive. He had stumbled upon a conspiracy of sorts and needed help.

Sam felt goosebumps travel up his arms. It was silent in the halls; the only sound was the flickering of the dying lights. Yet Sam could also hear a pounding of some kind like someone was trying to hammer his head in.

Sam clutched his head hard. "Fuck, what is this fucking sound?" he swore loudly.

Sam felt palpitations more and more with every step he took. Most of the lights had died out. Shadows draped around every corner, inviting misfortune. Sam swallowed his fear, he had to, for he reached the end of the hall. Whatever lay beyond the confines of the doorframe needed his attention.

With that, he counted to three, "one, two-" Sam ran right through the door, "three!" Sam cried out.

Someone was here. Sam looked shocked around the room that has been once the gym. All the weights and iron plates were replaced with a different kind of iron. Little pebbles that poke fiery holes in a man.

All this was presented with the chattering of a cymbal. Sam suddenly whipped his head downwards to the sound. He stood back, agape. Sam could not believe his eyes. How could something so small be so loud, Sam wondered.

Below him, he noticed that the creature had gears sticking out of it. Sam was confused, so he picked it up, he was surprised that it didn't protest, but he soon figured out why. What the hell...it's a fucking toy. It was a wind-up toy monkey that had a cymbal.

Sam felt like this was similar somehow, then he saw the wires on the back of the sinister toy monkey. He nearly dropped it right then and there. Sam had never been so scared when he saw the red explosive on the monkey's back.

Sam's heart threatened to burst out of his chest. He gently put it down, and the red-eyed demon glared at him while it waddled away. Sam's eyes followed it and noticed that it came across a large chest in the middle of the room.

Sam walked over to the chest, and his still purple fingers caressed the velvety slit of the box. He hesitated for a second and then clicked open the case. Inside was a fuel tank, and a hose connected it to a gun with a large nozzle. Sam was almost sure what the weapon was, and he was utterly shocked.

The sound of metal cocking back clicked in the room. Sam froze and turned around cautiously. He held his breath, and his eyes grew as he stared right into the barrel of Harry's gun.

A lump formed in Sam's throat, and his sweat was flowing down his brow. Sam was thunderstruck, Harry, and he had never liked one another, but to point a gun at him? That was unthinkable.

Sam licked his lips, and his fleshy tongue rolled over the cracks that had formed from the blistering cold. "H-Harry, w-what are you doing?" Sam asked.

Harry glared at him, and as Sam looked on in his eyes, he saw hate, such hatred. Sam couldn't believe the amount of evil directed towards him by his colleague.

"You know why..." Harry spit out with such venom. His veins were pulsing with black tar. Fire streaked across his eyes. And Sam knew why.

Sam looked away. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he lied.

Harry looked ravenous. "I know," he crowed out, "I saw you and Kate together. You're a fucking bastard, Sam. You couldn't even let me have one thing."

Sam was shocked but also angry. "You and Kate were never together, you fucking simp, get that through your head. Stop fantasizing about one-sided relationships." Sam spit at harry. If he was going to die right here and there, it would be on his terms.

Harry wiped the spit off his eyes and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "You fucking bastard!" He shouted.

Sam closed his eyes and awaited the click of the gun that would sound his last stroke. Yet when it did not come, he craned open the fleshy lids of his eyes ever so slightly. When Sam did, Sam recoiled and backed up in horror at what he saw.

Harry was convulsing and shaking like he was possessed. He dropped the gun, and it slid towards the window. Harry fell to his knees and started to clutch at his chest. Thick foam was forming in his mouth, and black pus was squirting out of his eyes. He screamed out, and Sam could hear Harry's ribs cracking.

Bloody and black tears rolled down Harry's face as he wept. His midsection was thrusting and turning, and the sound of hammering rang out. Something was trying to get out, and Sam knew it.

Sam backed away and quickly grabbed the weapon from the crate and hooked the tank to his back. He held and aimed the nozzle at Harry and waited.

He didn't need to wait long, a bloody stain leaked through Harry's white lab coat. There was a moment of silence, and even Harry had stopped screaming. Then something burst right out of his chest.

"Holy shit!" Sam yelled as a fleshy worm-like creature flew right out of Harry. Sam didn't hesitate in the slightest, he quickly pulled the trigger, and a sea of silky flames washed upon the abomination.

It screamed out in a high-pitched voice, but Sam did not stop until he heard nothing. Sam stood back and breathed heavily; he could not believe what was happening.

The sound of clicking and rapid tapping in the grates above him startled Sam, and he quickly aimed his flamethrower at the ceiling. The lights began to flicker, and every time it dimmed the pipes, he tensed. The clicking was getting louder now, but Sam controlled himself, he had to wait.

As soon as he saw a shadow form on the ceiling, he let loose. The thing that scared Sam wasn't the horrifying realization that monsters were among him, but it was the thought that all his crew were infected with that monster. And also, what about all the other researchers in the area? Were they turned as well, Sam wondered in horror.

The flames bathed and lit up the icy cold room like a warm summer sun. Sam's fears were confirmed when he heard the screams of multiple demons. Sam looked at his tank and noticed that it was losing fuel fast. He could not hold back the horde for long. The screams were never-ending, and that meant a lot of them were up there. Sam needed to escape and fast.

He looked around the room and noticed the window. If he jumped out, he would die by the icy waters and be given a watery grave. But, if he stayed, he would undoubtedly be infected with that thing. A sparkle caught Sam's eyes.

It was the gun from before, but that wouldn't help; there were too many of them. Sam then focused on the clapping of the monkey he had long since toned out, and a plan began to form.

Fuck, this is stupid. Sam's fingers eased off the trigger, and the flames coughed black smoke as the fire died. Sam ran towards the silvery gun, and in time as the flood gates burst open, bringing in the army of darkness.

They ran towards Sam, and he took in a deep breath. He aimed right at the monkey in the middle of the room and pulled back the trigger. A bright light washed across the room, and the creatures burned in the flames that followed.

Sam was blown right out of the window. He looked at the pale rays of the moon as he sank beneath the waves. The pure and adulterated coldness of the water shocked Sam to his very core. Then he began to feel warm.

Sam held his breath hard as he could, yet it was too cold, and he was too tired.

Sam opened his lips gently and felt a flood of water enter him. He spasmed, and the light was leaving him, but he felt something coil around him. He swore in his last moments that it was a giant tentacle that pulled him down.

Sam didn't struggle against the earthy root coiled around him. Before Sam lost consciousness, he stared at all the orcas staring at him as he reached what looked like a glass dome underneath. Then Sam felt the water clog up lungs, and his eyes closed again.

When Sam woke up, he was strapped to a table. He struggled against his bindings, but they would budge. Sam heard the sound of suppressed laughter around him. Sam thrashed around, and he saw men in white lab coats around him.

"What the fuck is this shit?" Sam yelled out, "let me go!"

The men continued to ignore him as they huddled around and whispered to a strange black stone in the middle of the room. Sam looked around the room in horror. There was some kind of gateway on the floor. It was dark and shadowed, but Sam could see energy ripple around.

Twisted black stone cast strange light around the room and made Sam see the vortex in the hole. He saw everything and nothing at the same time. Sam felt vertigo, and he thought his soul was being sucked into the portal of the unknown.

"Dr. Richtofen, it's time," said a young blonde-haired man.

An older man with a long face and slight mustache made his way over. He gazed briefly at Sam like he was insignificant or some lab animal waiting to get experimented on.

"The Lord has spoken. Bring the subject over to the dimensional tear," the doctor drawled out.

The younger men around him rolled Sam towards the portal, and he began to struggle again. He somehow knew they were going to do something sinister.

"Do you think this one will be the one to survive?" A man asked the head doctor.

Dr. Richtofen was focused only on the black stone and was whispering to it. "It doesn't matter, we'll find another, but I think we won't need to. The Lord says it is him," the doctor paused, "dump him in," the man said calmly.

The younger men looked at each other and nodded. Sam saw a needle making its way towards his neck. He stopped struggling. At least he would be unconscious for the ordeal.

The cold liquid pulsed through his veins, and his eyes widened. His body felt weightless as he flew into the unknown. He saw a vortex of colours. A fire burned throughout an icy wasteland, and ice-covered cracks of flesh battled against it.

He saw them. Things that never should have been. Then he saw a white light, and it washed over him. He felt a power, like no other course through him. It was searching right through him and picking him apart. Sam screamed loud. He felt like the light was breaking him from the inside. Then it stopped.

It felt warm now and comforting. Why had Sam been so scared of it and felt such pain? It made Sam feel such power. It felt like it was asking Sam what he wanted most, and Sam visualized strength. Magic, he wanted like no other.

The light wrapped around Sam, and he felt it accept him. He felt wonder and then pain. Sam felt like his body was being rearranged and mutated. Finally, he felt his spirit leave him.

When Sam's eyes flicked open again, he blinked or at least tried to. His body was nowhere to be seen, yet he could think, and he could see. And what Sam saw both shocked him and excited him. His wish had come true.

Welcome to the game system player. You managed to survive travelling through a dimensional tear. The Great Old Ones have granted your wish of power. Your path now leads to one of ice and fire—access to the world of ice and fire, Planetos.

Would you like to continue?

[Yes][No]

Sam stood back agape, whatever those scientists were playing at had him wary, yet the power presented before was too alluring. Plus, where would he go? What would Sam do? Would Sam die if he refused? He didn't plan on finding out.

Sam thought it over a couple of minutes and concluded that his time on Earth was over. Yet he could now explore one of his favourite worlds and with a gamer ability. He would be mad to give up this chance. Yes.

[Yes] selected

The system has found the most compatible and desired version of the gamer power from combing through your mind. The Elder Scrolls have inspired it, would you like to accept this version of the gamer power?

[Yes][No]

Sam looked at the message. It appeared the system was letting him choose what kind of system he wanted. He thought about all the different ones and couldn't help but prefer this one. Yes.

[Yes]

Before you enter the world of Planetos, your body must be recreated. This is where you can add power and mutate yourself. Each of the races present will represent their Tamriel counterparts. Please note that your race determines your starting location.

Please choose a race from below:

Westeros:

First Men

The first-men of Westeros. High levels of psychic energy due to Children of the forest DNA—50% Frost resistance. Skin changer perk unlocked. Thu'um unlocked, and Dragonborn DNA and soul fused with your own. As your mastery with the voice grows, your shouts will grow in strength.

Andal

The crafty and sneaky race of Andals, driven by greed and political manipulation. Andals seem to possess excellent trading and crafting skills. Start with a ship filled with gold and treasures. Silver tongue perk: merchants and high-born people are more likely to be persuaded by you and granted any one item from oblivion.

Rhoynar

The ancient Rhoynar people; a very liberal race that preaches about equality. Rumoured to practice hydromancy. Unique affinity with the mystic arts. Start with one random enchanted item—25% spell resistance. Mana core doubled.

Summer Islanders

The people of the summer isles. They are great sailors and mercenaries. Sword training scrolls granted—50% poison resistance. Treasure map granted. Sword-singing unlocked.

The Children

The ancient Children of the forest. They respect nature above all else. Skin changer perk unlocked. Green-seer perk unlocked—50% disease and poison resistance. Speak with animals. Night-vision granted. Lifespan decreased. The wild hunt unlocked.

Sothoryos:

Brindled Man

The brindled men. Massively muscled, big-boned creatures—not men—with long arms. They are more hog than men. Violent and cannibalistic. They can digest any meat, even their own. They have evolved resistances to the deadly diseases of Sothoryos—50% disease resistance. The power to go into a berserk state ignoring all damage for the duration.

Essos:

Yi Ti

Tall men with glowing skin. Sorcerers and priests often flock to Yi Ti. The ancient Yi Ti were members of the Great Empire of the Dawn. They are responsible for much of the biological and genetic manipulation in the world. Glass crafting recipe acquired. Fire Grimoire granted. Increased lifespan. Mana core tripled.

Tiger-Man

The tiger-men of Yi Ti. The tiger-men were the result of the Great Empire's research on taking on the traits of beasts to increase the physical condition. In this case, they fused with tiger DNA. Grants night-vision. Natural weapons: claws and sharp teeth. Unique skinchanging ability with cats. You become three times faster than a man. Falling damage reduced by 50%. Your feet are cushioned, providing silent movement.

Valyrian

The ancient Valyrian people. They were genetically mutated with dragon DNA by the Great Empire of the Dawn to create people who can link their psychic energy with dragons—50% fire resistance. White hair and red eyes.

Shrykes

Southeast of the Bleeding Sea, many human hybrids have been created by the ancient Asshai empire. The shrykes were once created by the Dawn Empire to begin research on human-dragon hybridization. They were genetically mutated and born from experiments in breeding human women with dragons. These were more lizards than men, so the empire decided to dump the failures and started over and eventually succeeded with the Valyrians. Water breathing granted—50% disease resistance. Night-vision granted.

Sam looked at all the options and thought hard on his decision. He needed to be smart as this choice would determine the most about his new life.

It had seemed that the system granted the racial bonuses and powers of each race compared to their Tamriel counterparts. The First Men were the Nords with their voice. It was the one that appealed the most to him. He had so many memories with Skyrim and shouting. Plus, he was a man of the North himself.

Andals were Imperials, with all their greed. It made sense that they started with gold and treasure. It was a fast-start to a lordship and in this world that was needed. It was tempting, but in the end, it was too mundane. Besides, Sam could always become wealthy from trading.

The Rhoynar and Summer Islanders were the Bretons and Redguards, respectively. Sam decided to skip over these, but the sword-singing was refreshing and made him think of bleach.

The Children of the Forest really made him think. It made sense that they would have a shorter lifespan. Children born with magic and extraordinary power often live short lives but will find eternal ones in the trees. As lovely as it was, he wanted to remain a man and a long-lived one at that.

He dismissed the other races, not on Westeros, he planned on exploring the world but wanted to start in Westeros.

It was cool that the system let him select human-hybrids, it confirmed that there would be some in the world. In the end, the voice was too tempting, so he chose the First Men. The First Men.

[First Men] selected

You were born under a particular sign. This sign lit up the path your life took. What was your sign?

Star signs:

The Apprentice

Novice spells cost no mana, and all other spells cost less.

The Atronach

Mana does not regenerate after resting. Each death within 50 feet restores mana equal to their strength level.

The Lady

When entering combat, summons a telekinetic construct under your control for 60 seconds. Pale light marks enemies who can kill you with their next strike, slowing them and reducing their armour's effectiveness.

The Lord

The Lord graciously allows you to power attack when out of stamina. 1/day - Throws all targets to the ground, dealing damage and absorbing all their strength for 10 seconds.

The Lover

The Lover periodically gifts you a random enchanted item. You have no limit to the magical properties you can attune to. At will - Targets and objects magically bonded to you can be teleported to your location with the: Lover's Call power.

The Mage

Spells are 10% stronger. Scrolls are 20% more potent.

The Ritual

Approach a violently slain corpse to gather its memories, summoning it as a vengeful spirit in your next battle. 1/day—Vengeful spirits gain 10 times the health they had in life. They move and attack 50% faster. Lasts 45 seconds.

The Serpent

Sneaking now costs stamina, but you move 25% faster while sneaking. If you have stamina remaining, sneak attacks are 40% better (20% for projectiles). 1/day—Silently steals mana and stamina from targets and prevents regeneration for 20 seconds.

The Shadow

The Shadow increases movement speed by 20% in combat. When near a wall or obstacle, sneaking and sneak attacks are 20% stronger. At will—Expend stamina to shadow-step into a nearby target's shadow within 75 feet.

The Steed

The Steed increases carry weight by 50 pounds and will add random nearby landmarks to the map. When out of combat, the Steed increases movement speed by 40%, and you regenerate stamina 50% faster. At will—Open an extradimensional storage space to stash or retrieve items.

The Thief

Sneaking and sneak attacks are 10% more likely to succeed. 1/day—find more loot on enemies you kill within 30 seconds. Especially violent kills result in even more treasure.

The Tower

Automatically open locks up to the adept level. Once a day, open any lock of up to the expert level. A quest leading you to a cache of hidden loot. Looting the cache will start a hunt to find another.

The Warrior

Power attacks do 15% more damage, and ranged weapons do up to 15% more based on distance. 1/day—invoke the Warrior to refill health and stamina and fortify them by the amount restored for 30 seconds.

Sam smiled at the fact he could choose his sign. Most of them didn't stick out, but there were a few. The Lover could help him set up a magical market and propel his way into a lordship like he was talking about earlier. Not to mention all the potential enchanted items would bring.

Yet the Steed would allow him to be given an inventory of sorts. Sam knew that he would only get one if he chose this sign. The dimensional storage was too vast a power, and this made sense. But, Sam didn't want to waste it on only an inventory.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, Sam decided to choose The Lover as it was too beneficial. The Lover.

[The Lover] selected

You are almost done, player! Before you can enter the world, you must choose a diety to follow. This must be done as the Great Old Ones demand it.

Please choose a faith to follow:

Old Gods

The Great Old Ones, the first greenseers, and the first to tap into the psychic energies of the universe. They ascended mortality through their bond with nature and the land.

They created an afterlife for their followers in the trees they marked as their own. They still affect the world through their psychic powers.

Honour and Guest rights are considered sacred. Protect and pray near weirwood trees. Execute criminals and prisoners near weirwoods.

Offences:

Incest

Kinslaying

Slavery (against followers of the Old Gods)

Grants access to higher skinchanger levels. Grants access to greenseer awakening quest. Alchemy recipe book granted. Weirwood manipulation.

The Seven

A fraud religion created by the Andals to unite the common folk under a banner. This religion gives no benefits, but the commoners of Westeros in the south will have a higher reputation with you.

Although fraudulent, all stories are rooted in some truth. Ancient Andals found fragments of knowledge texts from the Great Empire of the Dawn and pieces of their religion and formed the Seven.

The Seven doesn't provide any of the benefits that the Church of Starry Wisdom does.

Since there is no real benefit to choosing this faith, you will be granted a quest for knighthood upon awakening.

You must uphold piety, humility and knighthood.

Offences:

Gambling

Bastard birth

Incest

Kinslaying

The Drowned God

The Great Old One is known to those of salt and iron. Those Deep Ones worship him the most. The drowned god is a cosmic being that arrived into the world with a meteor that crashed into Planetos before the Dawn Age.

The drowned god is just one persona that this great Old One takes.

The Drowned God does not care about his followers, even if they go against him. Yet he also does not care about their lives either. He only craves madness; he will only help for his amusement.

You must adhere to the old ways which are:

Raiding

Taking thralls

Taking salt wives

Paying the iron price

Opposing the main-landers

Unique affinity with skinchanging marine animals. Water-breathing granted. Able to gift someone with the kiss of life, saving someone from drowning.

The Storm God

The great Old One known to those shepherds the most. Famously worshipped by the Valyrians till they found higher power in the form of dragons.

The storm god was the great Old One that summoned the black stone, which created the church of starry wisdom.

The storm god is at war with the Great Old One under the ocean.

Storm Grimoire granted. Able to breathe in the toxic fumes of Old Valyria.

The Red God

The red god is a fake god created by the Church of Starry Wisdom, manipulating followers with visions to act as their puppets.

The Church of Starry Wisdom used the black stone for knowledge in how to breed and create dragons and secretly used the Valyrians as test subjects, who were the first followers of this false religion.

All knowledge and magic from this religion come from the Church of Starry Wisdom.

You will be gifted a fossilized dragon egg if you follow the instructions given to you by those who use the glass candles in the shadows.

The Church of Starry Wisdom

A black meteorite that could summon and communicate with a cosmic being crashed into Planetos. The Old One demands outrageous sacrifices for limitless knowledge. Worshipped by the Bloodstone Emperor of the Great Empire of the Dawn.

The Andals used fragments of this religion to create The Seven. Some Andals found knowledge left behind by the Great Empire of the Dawn and built an empire themselves.

Sacrifices to the Old One will grant you knowledge of your choosing.

Sam looked at all the choices presented, and it all made sense to him. It was always strange to Sam that the Andals who got driven out of Essos managed to conquer the south of Westeros. It was said that the Andals had iron while the First Men wielded bronze, but that didn't make sense to Sam.

People on the Iron Islands were already mining iron. The First Men were also magical and had allies in the Children; the only way the Andals could have won was through otherworldly knowledge. The Seven has long forgotten its spiritual roots.

It was no surprise that the Church of Starry Wisdom was responsible for much of the world's events. Sam always knew that A Song Of Ice And Fire had these Lovecraftian vibes. It explained every game that was played.

The fact that R'hllor was confirmed to be fake and that the Church of Starry Wisdom was responsible for it didn't shock Sam. He always knew glass candles sent those visions.

He had to choose one of them to follow. He wasn't too keen on serving fucking Cthulhu, so he decided on the Old Gods. The Old Gods were the greenseers who entered the weirwood net. He didn't necessarily trust them, but it was the best choice. Greenseer abilities would make him an incredibly strong skinchanger and able to manipulate the weirwoods.

He would be seen as a wizard or sorcerer, but one respected by the followers of the Old Gods. He was nervous about what had to be done to awaken the greenseer power, but he steeled himself. The alchemy book was cool too. It would help him start making potions, an excellent way to make some coin. With that in mind, he decided, Old Gods.

[Old Gods]

Congratulations player! You have completed your Character Creation. Before you enter the world, you will see your status sheet. Before you see your status sheet, you must choose a name. Names hold power, so choose wisely.

Sam hesitated, he thought about using his name, but it didn't feel right. This was a new start in a new world. He needed a new name that symbolized him. People usually never got to choose their own names. They were often chosen by others.

Changing his name and one with meaning would really mean that he passed on and accepted it, and Sam was okay with that. He needed a name fit for a First Man, a name fit for a king of winter.

Sam thought about what he was now. He was going to be wed to the trees soon, and wizards in this world are connected to nature. The trees in this world were magical, and in his world, oak trees were said to hold supernatural properties.

He would be the protector of the forests and wildlife, protector of nature and magic. Oaks were associated with Thor and Merlin, and it represented magic on Earth. His family would be at the heart of magic, the heart of nature, the heart of the oaks. Oakheart would be his house name.

For his first name, Sam looked no further than Tolkien. He decided on one that would suit him the most, Thorin. It was related to thunder and storms like the one that had brought him here. It also fitted with the surname Oakheart since Thorin's name was similar.

It was decided, Sam was his old soul on Earth. He was now Thorin Oakheart, a future Lord of the North. He was ready to begin his journey into ice and fire. Thorin Oakheart.

[Thorin Oakheart] selected

Congrats for naming yourself. Perhaps you shall walk an exciting path. The Great Old Ones look forward to watching the events unfold from here on out. For now, take a quick look at your status sheet before getting dropped into the world.

Status Sheet:

Name: Thorin Oakheart

Race: First-man

Star: The Lover

Faith: The Old Gods

Vitals:

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Power Levels: (Earth average is 10, Planetos average is 15 for humans)

Strength: 15

Vitality: 15

Agility: 15

Diagnostics:

~No status effects detected~

Resistances:

Frost-50%

Powers:

Dragonborn: Your DNA and soul have been fused with the legendary Dragonborn. You have gained access to the Thu'um. Your power grows with use.

Mana core: You have formed a mana core by infusing your soul with the Dragonborn's countless dragon souls. Your mana core is average.

Skinchanger: As a First Man, you can possess and control a creature. Your power can grow with use.

The Lover: Your body can withstand attuning to unlimited enchantments. You periodically receive enchanted items. You can summon targets and objects magically bonded to you.

Sam, no, Thorin had no time to process everything. He suddenly began to feel dizzy, and soon fiery pain entered him as he was remade into Thorin Oakheart. He felt fire join him and then felt the gentle embrace of oblivion.

When Thorin woke up, he felt like hell. He was soaked wet, and his body ached. He felt so weak, and he could hardly move. Thorin coughed out a thick wad of blood.

He crawled over to the bushes in the distance, and he could hear the trotting of hooves. Thorin knew horses, and that sounded like horses. He pushed against the green leaves and stumbled upon two young maidens by their mares.

One was of dark hair and dark eyes. The North was rooted in her, and she was beautiful. Thorin was in pain, yet he was still himself, a lover of women.

The other was kissed by fire, her fiery red locks swaying gently in the wind—the sweet fragrance of lavender exuding from her. The summer maiden's skin was like snow and fair like a princess. Her cheeks were rosy, and as Thorin stared into her eyes, he noticed that hers began to dilate.

Thorin crawled over to her and shakily got up. The girl was still, and her pitched breath could be heard. Thorin brought his cold face near to the young girl's warm one, and the tips of their noses rubbed. He put his hands on her face and shoulders for support. His hot steamy breath tickled the girl's creamy neck. She was breathing hard, and her eyes were wide open.

The leaves danced around them, and Thorin's hands travelled all over the girl. She closed her eyes and began to moan, Thorin knew she was trying to hide it, but his hands were skilled. Thorin did not comprehend how the situation unfolded like this, but he couldn't think for long.

The pain came back with force, and Thorin began to fall unconscious. As Thorin's head lowered, his lips grazed across the young maiden's, and she yelped in surprise.

She held her fingers over her mouth and tasted the man's essence before her with rose-tinted cheeks. Thorin dropped to his knees and grunted, "help...please..." Thorin croaked.

The girl snapped out of her shock, she turned towards her friend and shouted, "Jeyne! Call father and some of his guards. We must help him," she cried out.

Thorin was falling unconscious, but he suddenly realized who the young maiden was. Sansa. The last thing Thorin heard the thundering sound of horses.

A/N: And it's a wrap. Thorin had a pretty interesting start, to say the least.

My other fic was a little flawed in the system; later on, it really conflicted with the plot, but this one is solid and one I really like it. I love Skyrim and feel like it definitely fits better with ASOIAF.

Thorin will be mostly using shouts while using alchemy and enchanting. He will also be using magic, but more primal magic that fits with ASOIAF. It'll really start to increase once the greenseer arc starts. There are some really cool ideas I have with the whole tree powers and power of nature.

Naturally, Thorin will be becoming a Lord of the North soon enough, at least when he establishes his magical market. The whole kingdom building will be really cool. Also, this will be a North uplifting fic. He will help the North grow in power.

Also, I have to restate this: there will be many lemons in this fic, so there's your warning, but for all the rest enjoy.

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