“Of Storms And Half Light” – from Remastered Version of Beyond Skyrim Bruma – All rights for this audio belong to Daniel Ran
“Skyrim lies king less and bleeding. From the Jerall mountains will come a hero. She will ride with the echoes of her past calling forward when dragons return. She will rise to face the meeting of her destiny, not alone, but with one who hails from Helgen on the day that legends live again, and the world eater threatens all of Tamriel. “
The area and town of Riverwood had been inhabited since the Merethic Era, also known the time before when the Dragons and their cult ruled over much of the events of that time.
In its early days , sometime before the second era 582, the inhabitants of Riverwood feuded with another Nordic clan. Riverwood was a large settlement in those days during the Imperial Simulacrum, a time when Jagar Tharn, an Imperial Battlemage betrayed and secretly imprisoned Emperor Uriel Septim VII and used illusion magic to masquerade as the Emperor for a decade.
During this time there were many battles; The Five Year War, Arnesian War, War of the Blue Divide, The War of the Bend'r-mahk, and Invasion of the Battlespire.
This period ended with the Eternal Champion defeated Jagar Tharn in the imperial Palace labyrinths, restoring the rightful Emperor to the throne, thus ushering in a period known as the Restoration.
There was much history that transpired between Riverwood, the Nimalten City, Black Moor, Oakwood, Whiterun, and the Imperial City during that time. In time, Riverwood would become abandoned though until the Forth Era when a lumber mill was built on the banks of the river. a surviving member of the Blades named Delphine would open up an Inn named the Sleeping Giant as she fled the Thalmor assassins back in Cyrodiil.
In 4E 201, Riverwood was led by a local woman named Gerdur, whose family had built the lumber mill. Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun tried to stay neutral during the new war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks.
It was during this time that Alduin, the World Eater would return, the "Last Dragonborn" came into existence because of Alduin's return predicted in the Prophecy of the Dragonborn. Also Delphine would depart Riverwood to re-establish the Blades as history and prophecy together were moving events of great import across the lands.
It is here that the story of the Child of Destiny comes into its beginning and two unlikely people find themselves thrown together in what would become an story unlike any other full of destiny.
Sensing the Dominion regulars looking them over as they read the poster, “Wanted, Rigmor of Bruma, 15,000 Gold Coin, Dead or Alive.” The adventurer stood there a moment thinking, “I wonder what she did to deserve so much attention from Thalmor operatives in Skyrim? It must have been something truly unique to earn that much of a reward. 15,000 Gold Coin could feed a family here in Riverwood for some time to come.”
The adventurer turned then and headed into the town towards the Riverwood Trader, the local goods store where Lucan and his sister were. As they neared the store, the adventurer saw a dark elf speaking with some authority to yet another Justiciar.
The adventurer casually walked up to the poster, yet another one of this Rigmor girl, then turned and watched from the walkway of the town in front of the Riverwood Trader.
What he heard was, “I have every right to be here, do you think your authority extends to the Dominion?” The dark elf lady appeared to be unconcerned with his declaration of superiority over her.
She responded, “I don’t care who you believe gives you permission to harass the citizens of the Jarl in Whiterun. I will tell you though; I am the authority here, and if you don’t take your group away from this town, stop bothering everyone you have a suspension about, I will have you and your regulars escorted out of town by sword point. Do I make myself clear?”
The adventurer smiled slightly and took an immediate liking to this lady. They thought, “She must be an officer of the Jarl of Whiterun to speak with such confidence.” Then the Justiciar responded, “Well I never, you can be sure the Jarl of Whiterun will hear about this from the authorities in Solitude.”
He turned and headed towards the entry where the rest of the Justiciar and Dominion regulars stood. With that, the dark elf lady looked briefly over at the adventurer. Their eyes connected across the distance. The adventurer felt her take the measure of their worth. She then turned towards the Sleeping Giant Inn, the local establishment for food, drink, music, and sleep if needed.
The adventurer quietly turned, reached out to open the door to the trader and stepped in through the doorway. Once inside they immediately picked up on the heated discussion taking place between the store owner and his sister according to Rose.
Lucan was speaking, “This discussion is over. There will be no thief chasing, no bandit tracking, nothing of the sort.” His sister Camilla stood there defiant and spat back at him, “Well, what are you going to do about it then? Nothing!” They then both noticed the new person standing there is the shadow of the doorway.
Lucan, turned towards them and said, “I don’t know what you heard but the Riverwood Trader is still open for business. We have just about anything you might need.”
The adventurer responded, “Thank you, I need to see if you might have some clean cloth for bandages. Hmm! Maybe a warm fur to be used as a blanket.”
Lucan replied, “I think you’ll like what we have here, I believe these will fit your needs.” Lucan paused briefly then followed up with, “I hope you’re not planning any trouble!”
The adventurer smiled slightly and responded, “No just helping some folks out, no trouble planned on my part.” The adventurer received the goods, paid Lucan, then began to leave the store with his sister quietly sitting behind him, likely trying to consider who this stranger was.
When the adventurer had stepped outside, he took a few paces forward and looked around at the town. There was no Thalmor anywhere. Musing, “Well, it appeared the Justiciar did indeed believe the Dark Elf lady had enough authority to encourage them to leave the town.” The adventurer chuckled quietly to themself, turned, and noticed the poster of Rigmor of Bruma was still there even if they were not.
The adventurer shrugged, then began their trip back to Rose and the injured girl who they now knew to be Rigmor of Bruma. The adventurer considered as this new information as they made their way back to the boat at the hunter’s camp.
Thinking quietly to themself, “Rigmor of Bruma is a title, not a common name. They would have only used the name Rigmor if she was just a local resident of the city of Bruma or the county.”
Continuing to think this through, “They needed to consider this some more concerning this girl. There’s something not adding up right now. I need to learn about what her reasons for being here are and where she was going if we are to have any hope of helping her.”
