u/Narrow-Test-4655

After Ella and Thogra discretely disposed of the body of the dead old woman, whom turned out to be an abusive woman ironically named Grelod the Kind, Ella and company fled Riften under the cover of night. Ella had no idea what consequences might befall them if the old woman’s death was traced to them, but she had little time to ponder. Ella, Thogra, and Sofia trekked through the forests of the Rift, heading North to their destination, the ancient dwarven city of Mzulft. On the way however, Ella was truly blessed with a miraculous sight. A unicorn.

It was wounded severely, the bodies of wolves surrounded it. Ella, having some knowledge of restoration, used healing hands spell on the mystical equine. Sofia, still in her state of drunkenness, attempted to ride the poor thing but was swiftly discouraged when Thogra simply knocked her out with a single punch. Seems even stoic Thogra could only take so much of Sofia’s drunken antics. Ella finished the healing of the unicorn as Thogra slung the unconscious body of Sofia over her shoulder. The unicorn stood, addressing Ella with what one could assume was gratitude, before trotting off into the forest. Ella watched it go, and couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride, at both finding such a magnificent creature as well as the chance to even touch it.

They continued north, stopping at an Imperial Legion encampment. As they rested for the night, and waited for Sofia to wake and sober up, Thogra decided it was time to share her story with Ella. Turns out, Thogra was once a Legion soldier from Cyrodiil. She deserted 10 years ago after her husband was killed and went in search of his killer to avenge his death. One road led to another and Thogra became a mercenary until she met Ella. Thogra finished with apologies for holding Ella back when she tried to kill Ancano. Thogra felt it hypocritical now, as Thogra too was on a path of vengeance, one 10 years going strong. Ella forgave her, knowing what it was like to have a need to vengeance and the drive that keeps you going. Thogra smiled, feeling for the first time in 10 years that she may have found a kindred spirit. Ella felt similar, but did not smile. She still felt as though Thogra could not begin to understand just how deep Ella’s hatred for the Thalmor ran.

When daylight came, so did Sofia’s hangover. They set out north once more, now accompanied by Sofia’s complaints of a splitting headache. They finally reached the ruins and Ella was stunned. She had seen ruins before, but those were Nordic, these were something else entirely. They entered into the first set of doors they found and it turned out to be a storeroom of sorts. They defeated the dwarven construct that stood watch. It was almost human in its appearance and Ella wondered if that is how the dwarves had looked. Inside they found many exotic materials such as metal ingots and parts that Ella had no inkling as to what they may do. She turned to Sofia to ask for her thoughts only to see Sofia stuffing a whole ingot into her pouch. Ella watched in fascination as the ingots, bigger than the pouch Sofia had, disappeared into the pouch with no apparent problems. When questioned, Sofia simply said she picked it up while at the College, snatching it from the Arch-mage’s desk while Ella had confronted him. Ella, impressed, told Sofia to make herself useful and gather up all the parts she could. Guess Arniel Gabe might get his ‘cogs’ after all. Ella took a particular interest in a blue crystalline artifact that she tucked in her own pouch for safekeeping.

They left the storeroom and made it to the main entrance just in time to witness the last breath of a man in bloodied robes. He bid them to seek out something called an “occulatory” and then breathed his last. Ella searched his body and found his journal. It was something about a focusing crystal of some sort. They pressed into the ruins and encountered many constructs created by the dwarves, as well as the twisted goblinoid Falmer. Ella had never seen a Falmer before, but knew of them from children stories as they were said to steal away children in the night. She killed them without mercy, charring the twisted beasts as her party cut their way through the ruins.

Eventually they found the aforementioned crystal after a hard battle against a giant made of metal and steam. They made it to the last door and found it locked. Just as they were about to turn around, a voice responded and the door opened. A man in dirty robes greeted them with open hostility. Apparently he was the last survivor of the Synod research party. After Ella explained their intentions, and presented him with the focusing crystal, he showed them inside. He said he was worried that they were more of those blasted Aldmeri Dominion dogs, coming to steal his research. Ella was about to ask what he meant when she saw the corpses of several Thalmor soldiers littering the floor. She made a point to walk on them rather than over the bodies. It was obvious to her, they were here for the Staff of Magnus as well. And she knew Ancano was to blame. One of the elves, interestingly enough, was wearing a fascinating armor of dwarven make, and she almost mistook his corpse for one of the constructs.

The Synod researcher eventually led them to the main part of the occulatory, which housed a magnificent, if strange contraption. He placed the focusing crystal into the device and light channeled through it. He then bid Ella and Sofia to use ice and fire magic to help ‘tune’ the device to the right frequency so the light may strike where it was needed, as his own magic had been used up fighting the Thalmor soldiers. Ella and Sofia used their respective magics to tune the device, and succeeded when a map of Tamriel was projected on the wall. The Synod researcher was overjoyed at this success, but quickly became agitated when the results showed not what he had hoped. He rounded on Ella, believing she had come to foul his research. Thogra made him back down though. After a he had a moment to calm, he explained that the map was meant to show powerful magic resonances. The map only showed 2, Winterhold, and a place called Labyrinthian. When Ella questioned him on where she could find the Staff of Magnus, the researcher guessed that it must be at either of those 2 locations. He then wandered off to a table, mumbling about mages, counsels, and reports. Ella could see he had been in this place far too long alone.

Ella now had an idea as to where to search, but the bodies of the Thalmor soldiers disturbed her greatly. She had to get back to the College, fast. Who knows what Ancano must now be up to in her absence?

Ella stormed into the Arch-mage’s office, fury burning in her amber eye. She demanded to see Ancano. The Arch-mage was taken aback by this sudden outburst, asking what was the matter. Ella told the Arch-mage that Ancano was planning to destroy the College and that he must be dealt with immediately. The Arch-mage, who she thought to be a wise man, told her to check her temper, that Ancano would do no such thing. He claimed that Ancano had already, in fact left the College on important business. The Arch-mage told Ella that if anything should happen to Ancano upon his return, expulsion would be the least of her worries. Ella, searing with anger, stormed from the office, blades of fire forming in her hands. She didn’t care, the elf must die.

In the main hall, she found her quarry. The pompous elf had just returned. Ella approached him, blades burning with her hatred, ready to strike, but Thogra held her back, and so the elf passed her by, a smug look twisting his face as he glanced at her. Ella rounded on Thogra, flames of her blade scorching Thogra’s leather cuirass. She demanded to know why she held her back. Thogra, ever stoic and strong in the face of threat, calmly explained that Ella shouldn’t strike out in anger, that if the elf was really danger, he would show his hand soon. Thogra also said that she would prefer Ella to remain alive, after all, she swore to protect Ella, even if it was from herself. Sofia didn’t share that sentiment however, and was rather disappointed that Ella didn’t charbroil the haughty Thalmor. Ella relinquished her blades, letting the flames die. She did however warn Thogra to never, ever interfere with her business again in such a manner.

Ella then sought out Mirabelle, as she was the next highest ranking staff member beside the Arch-mage. In Mirabelle’s quarters, she told Mirabelle what the Auger had told her, and asked if she know anything about the Staff of Magnus. Mirabelle told her that it was an artifact of tremendous power, or so they say, as many a mage has claimed such things if their creations. She said that while she didn’t know where to find it, there were some who did. Mirabelle told her that a group of Synod researchers had visited the College and had mentioned it, as they were in search of it themselves. They were said to be visiting the ancient dwarven city of Mzulft on a research expedition. Mirabelle then gave Ella a ring. She explained that Ella, having passed her classes so far, as well as assisting in the research of the Eye of Magnus, was now allowed to use the teleportation orbs in the upper floor of the staff dorms. She told Ella that Riften was the closest city to the dwarven city and to use the orb to reach it far faster than she would on foot. She then wished Ella luck, and to remember that she was representing the College.

Ella made her way upstairs but was stopped by Arniel Gane. He overheard she was on her way to a dwarven city and thus asked her for a favor. He said he was working on some very important research on the dwarves and thus needed some artifacts to work on. If she was willing to bring back 10 cogs, he would reward her and let her in on his research. Ella said she would do her best, but made no promises, as she had never been to a dwarven city before and had no idea what’s “cog” even was. She then reached the teleportation orb and was transported to Riften.

The smell of fish hit her before the teleportation had finished. Even in the graveyard, where the orb hand brought her and her companions, she could smell the docks over the sickly sweet scent of nightshade and deathbell. She walked through the market, hoping to acquire some supplies for their journey, when she was stopped by a rather handsome nord called Brynjolf. He said he could help her make some easy coin, but Ella brushed past him. Sofia on the other hand, took her place and started to chat up and flirt with Brynjolf. After Ella and Thogra had secured some supplies, a commotion drew their attention. It was Brynjolf, he was advertising his product called the “Falmer Blood Elixir.” As he raved about the wonderful properties of his product, Ella noticed Sofia fumbling behind one of the stall vendors, as its merchant was currently distracted by Brynjolf’s loud advertising. When Ella approached her and cleared her throat, Sofia jumped and a small ring dropped from her hands and rolled away, dropping down a nearby grate into the sewer below with a soft plop.

Sofia froze, staring openly at the grate like it was a portal straight to Oblivion before calmly standing, and marching off to the nearest tavern, shoulders shaking. Thogra went after her as to keep her out of trouble. Ella, know alone, turned her eye to Mistveil Keep. She decided to visit her old teacher.

Ella found Wylandriah pondering in her lab, staring absentmindedly at the enchanting table. When Ella greeted her, Wylandriah broke from her contemplations and looked at Ella like she had grown a three heads. After a moment, she recognized Ella and asked her if she could assist her with an experiment. It seems she never realized Ella had ever left. Typical. After assisting Wylandriah in mixing ice wraith teeth, glow dust, and ectoplasm in an effort to conjure an ice wraith, and succeeding in a mouse sized version, she asked how Wylandriah had faired since Ella left. Wylandriah, oblivious to Ella having ever left, simply asked what she was talking about, before proceeding to chase after the loose miniature wraith before it escaped to the main hall of the keep.

Thogra burst in a moment later, out of breath. She told Ella to come quick. Ella rushed after her without a word, as Thogra wasn’t one to panic. She followed Thogra into the Honor Hall Orphanage. Apparently Sofia had gotten drunk after her failed attempt at thievery and had started an argument with the headmistress of the orphanage after wandering in and attempting to adopt a child. Ella and Thogra entered that main room just in time to hear Sofia call the headmistress a horker before hurling a tankard of mead at the old woman’s head. The old woman collapsed dead on the floor. Ella and Thogra looked at Sofia in shock, while the children cheered, praising someone called Aventus and the Dark Brotherhood. What had Sofia just gotten themselves into?

Ella returned to the College of Winterhold after days on the road. She found Tolfdir and brought him the books she had searched and traveled so far to find. He showed her the Eye of Magnus had been moved into the main hall for further study. According to him, the markings and writings upon it had no existing record as to what it may be. Ella truly found this revelation fascinating, but their pondering was interrupted by the Thalmor advisor Ancano.

At the sound of his snide voice, Ella nearly singed his smug face off, but restrained herself. After rudely dismissing Tolfdir, Ancano took her by her arm to his quarters to interrogate her as to why a mysterious mage had requested her. Ella threatened to roast him alive if he ever touched her again, telling him to mind his business or they would find naught but ash. Ancano merely sneered at her threat, claiming he would have his answers one way or another. Mirabelle Irvine thankfully showed up before conflict could ensue and escorted Ella to the Arch-mage, claiming he had business with her.

In the chambers of the Arch-mage, Ella met the same mysterious mage from the ruins of Saarthal. By some means of magic, he froze time so they could speak without being heard. He warned her of the danger the Eye of Magnus posed to the College, but refused to indulge further information. He simply left her with a cryptic message, “Find the Auger of Dunlain.” Then he left, leaving all in attendance besides Ella none the wiser of their conversation. Ella realized that her research in the dragons and her own powers would have to wait, for if the College was in danger, that took priority over all.

Ella retired to her chambers, only to find that Sofia, who was absent after they arrived, much to Ella’s dismay was drunk in Ella’s quarters. After prying the drunk woman from her bed, she rested after her long journey while Thogra kept vigil outside her room, keeping to her oath as her sworn sword. The next day, Ella began asking about the Auger of Dunlain, while Sofia got looks of horror from staff and student alike, as her reputation was still very fresh in the minds of the College as the “Robe Reducer”. When questioned, the staff seemed reluctant, and claimed to have no knowledge of the Auger, or simply wished not to speak of it. None of the students knew anything when she asked them during summoning class. Brelyna had no information herself, but promised she would tell Ella who did, if Ella only helped her with an experiment.

Ella met Brelyna after class in the dorms, and under went several embarrassing transformations under the magic of Brelyna’s rogue casting. Much to Ella’s own horror, Sofia and Thogra witnessed all, Sofia dying of laughter and even stoic Thogra smiling at this most embarrassing moment in Ella’s life. After her human form was restored, Ella told Brelyna to give her the information and to never speak of this experiment again, else Ella would test just how fire resistant dark elves really were. Brelyna shrunk at the threat and told her to seek out Tolfdir, as she overheard him mention the Auger in passing.

Ella left Brelyna to her devises and found Tolfdir in his chambers, pouring over old tomes. When asked about the Auger of Dunlain, he said that the Auger was once a very talented student before an unknown accident fused his soul with the magical currents of the College. He advised her to travel to the Midden, located beneath the College as that was where his essence was most concentrated. He then unlocked the door to the Midden but did warn her that she may very well encounter failed experiments that the College had locked below.

Ella descended into the Midden, and found to her horror that Tolfdir had not exaggerated in his warnings. Ella, Sofia, and Thogra fought their way through creatures better left in the dark. Atronochs made from the flesh of charred corpses, mangled and rotten. They soon found the source of these horrific creatures, an artifact called the Atronoch Forge. Ella shattered the strange orb that allowed the creatures to wander the halls unchecked before she pressed on. She finally found the essence of the Auger of Dunlain. The entity told her as much as the Psyjic mage had, that the College was in danger and the Eye of Magnus was to blame.

She presses it for more information and was finally told that she must search for an artifact called the Staff of Magnus, with a cryptic message of, “Only then you may gaze upon the Eye without being blinded.” Ella went to leave, but stopped short when the Auger told her that he had told as much to her Thalmor friend. Ella spun back, flames in hands and demanded the Auger tell her who his Thalmor was. The Auger seemed surprised by this reaction, but revealed to her that the Thalmor went by the name Ancano. Ella’s blood boiled, and she ran from the chamber, Sofia and Thogra barely keeping up with her pace. Ella was going to find and kill that treacherous elf, expulsion be damned!

After the battle at the West Watchtower in Whiterun, Ella was granted the title of Thane by Jarl Balgruuf the Greater. The title was honorary of course, but may prove useful in the future at some point. The Jarl advised her to seek out a group of monks that reside at the top of the mountain known as the Throat of the World. He said that if she was indeed Dragon Born, that they could teach her in the ways of the voice. Ella accepted her title and the advice, though the monks could wait, her duty lay with the College for now.

Now with some much needed gold in her purse, and not well wanted company, Ella set forth back towards home. On the journey back up north, Sofia kept the cold air alive with chatter. Turns out that Sofia once belonged to the College herself, learning ice magic as a past time while mostly staying on just for the bed and booze. She was expelled after an incident where she forced another student to make an alteration spell that removed people’s clothes, then proceeded to use it on certain staff members, including the Arch Mage. After her expulsion, Sofia wandered as an adventurer, killing bandits, flirting with farmers, and of course, drinking all the mead she could find. The events that led to her meeting Ella were rather dull compared to most of what Sofia claimed to have done. Sofia had been kicked out of the Bannered Mare tavern after initiating a fight between two men who wanted her hand, and more. The tavern brawl was so violent that both men nearly died and she was tossed out and at some point, lost her clothes and fell asleep in the stables. Ella learned more about her than she needed to know.

As they tracked north, smoke on the wind caught the attention of Ella. Following the streak of blacking the sky, they found a ruined house, fire, and dozens of dead soldiers of Dawnstar. Another dragon attack. A groan brought her and Sofia to a fallen soldier, alive, but wounded. She was an orc of surprising beauty. Sofia healed her and they learned her name was Thogra. She was a mercenary hired on to accompany a group of soldiers to a nearby Stormcloak camp to help the rebels resupply when the dragon attacked their wagons. Every soldier was killed but her.

Content to know that the orc would now live, Ella bid her well and moved to leave, only for Thogra to pledge herself to her as her sword and shield for saving her life. The last thing Ella wanted was another companion, but Thogra seemed strong, capable, and most importantly, not very talkative. She allowed Thogra to join her and Sofia on their journey back to Winterhold. They left the bodies of the dead to the snow, to be buried beneath the blanket of white. Ella hoped that after she returned the books needed for the Eye of Magnus study, that books on dragons were still available and accounted for. She had questions that needed answered, and the College was her best hope for now.

After her encounter with the black dragon in Helgen, Ella passed through the village of Riverwood. The locals had already spotted the beast and asked her to pass a message onto the Jarl of Whiterun. They requested guards to help defend the small settlement. Reluctantly Ella accepted, after all, she would pass by the city on her way back to the College. As she went on her way, a Nordic ruin on the hill above the village seemed to call out to her. Memories of her life in such ruins as a child may have given her the cause to ignore her better judgment, and so she decided to investigate.

After a cold trek up the hill, and dealing with some highwaymen in her way, she made it to the ruins the locals called Barrow. Inside she was accosted by a small bandit clan, but felt with them swiftly, leaving smoking corpses in her wake. After much walking and several dead ends, she heard a voice call out for help. Tracking the source, she discovered a dark elf, bound in webs and about to become the feast of a giant Frostbite Spider. After a short battle, the arachnid corpse lay beside the desiccated bodies of its past victims. The elf had escaped in the chaos of the fight. Ella continued on, the pull of magic and power drawing her deeper, the promise of power.

She soon found the dark elf, or what was left of him. He had been torn apart, ripped open. The creatures responsible stood over him. Draugr. She had seen the mummified corpses before, but never alive like this. She torched them all in a flash of flame, their dusty wraps and dried skin burning away like parchment. After the smoke cleared, a shine caught her eye. In the hand of the mangled elf, was an ornament of solid gold, in the shape of a dragons claw. Believing it of some worth, and significance to the dragon she saw, she took the artifact with her.

Deep in the ruins, she finally came across a door bearing primitive symbols and a keyhole in the shape of a claw. After she opened the door with the claw, a rush of magic power swept over her. There in the main chamber of the ruins, was a wall. Not just any wall, a wall of words. The words were in some archaic script that she couldn’t decipher, but one word stood out to her, called to her. Fus. She heard it in her mind, felt it in her soul. The sarcophagus behind her cracked open, and a withered hand began to pull itself out.

She threw down a fire rune and rolled away. The rune exploded the moment the creature stepped out of the sarcophagus and onto it. She summoned forth her blades and began her dance against the burning undead. After it fell, it crumbled to ash, leaving behind another curious artifact. A stone with the same language as the wall. She took the stone tablet, heavy in hand, and left the ruin, feeling satisfied with herself in a way she couldn’t quite name. She finally made it to Whiterun, exhausted from her adventure. While passing the stables, a naked woman smelling of ale suddenly barged into her, knocking her to the ground.

The woman apologized, then immediately took it back, claiming Ella had run into her. Then, shamelessly she said Ella was now indebted to her. Ella simply picked up the tablet, handed the woman some gold, and continued on her way, intending to leave the rambunctious woman behind. The woman however followed her.

She introduced herself as Sofia, adventurer extraordinaire. She claimed to be the best mage in all Skyrim. She continued to accost Ella all the way up to the city gates. The guards stopped Ella from entry, claiming the city was closed, when Sofia chimed in. Ella was more than willing to torch the annoying woman, when the guards, flustered by Sofia’s lack of garment, simply let them pass through. Ella continued on into the city, accompanied by the nude woman who had somehow proven useful in that moment. Ella made her way through the city to the Dragonsreach Keep, the home of the Jarl of Whiterun. Sofia wandered off toward the market, hopefully in search of clothes. Ella was not missing her.

After Ella was admitted into the keep and told her story to the Jarl and his court, she was presented to the court wizard, who immediately took interest in the tablet she carried, claiming he had been seeking this artifact for sometime. After she relinquished the tablet, the captain of the guard informed the Jarl that a dragon was attacking the eastern watch tower. Ella, not willing to pass up an opportunity to see said dragon, followed the group of guards to confront the beast. As they left the city gates, she found Sofia had decided to come along, much to Ella’s dismay.

At the watchtower, the dragon swept down and began its assault on the guards. Ella, with the help of Sofia, who surprisingly could in fact use magic, brought down the mighty beast. After the beasts fell, Sofia once again claimed that Ella was indebted to her, and therefore had to allow her to accompany Ella. Ella was about to reject this absurd notion, when she suddenly felt a rush of power fill her, like nothing she felt before.

The body of the dragon burned away, leaving only charred bones behind as its very soul entered into Ella. The word Fus suddenly had meaning, power. The guards bowed before her, and called her Dragon Born. As if to accentuate this, a voice like a tempest rushed down from the mountains, a voice of power. One word, Dovakiin. Dragon Born.

Sofia laughed, not believing her luck as now, in her eyes, she had the legendary Dragon Born in her service.

Ella the Cinder-hand was originally known as Ella before her disfigurement. She was an orphaned Breton child living in Pargran Village, working at the Bear Claw Inn and Tavern to earn her keep, often tending to the hearth. After a viscous raid by the Aldmeri Dominion, orchestrated and executed by Alinor the head of the embassy in Skyrim, Ella was left for dead and forgotten in the smoldering ruins of her village. Crawling from the cinders of the hearth of the inn, where she found refuge from the destructive fire magic of the elves, her body was covered in burns that remain her scars to this day.

After days of wandering the road, she found refuge in an old nord ruin, and found within a broken sarcophagus an old spell tome of flames. After she read it, she found she could conjure flames with her hands. It was then, as the flames danced on her charred fingertips, she decided those flames would one day torch the Thalmor and their Dominion as her home was torched by them. She practiced on the local skeever population in the ruins and on any bandits that wandered into her sanctuary. Eventually she set out for Riften. She became the apprentice of the ditsy court mage Wylandriah, and was often left to her own devices as her teacher was always infatuated with some experiment or another.

Seeking higher education by the age of 19, she set out for Winterhold to study at the College. Upon passing the enterprise tests, she made quick acquaintances with Faralda, learning every flame based magic that she could, learning to bend the flames to her every whim. She also learned a bit from Phinis Gestor, who had taken a liking to her and had taught her how to summon her first flame atronoch. She learned through him how to conjure swords, and with her own twist, how to turn those bound blades into fiery weapons of destruction. The arrival of the advisor from the Aldmeri Dominion caused her great discomfort, as she desperately wanted nothing more than to torch the haughty Ancano, but kept her flames smoldering. She would get her chance one day. After all, accidents happen.

After a field trip to Saarthal and the discovery of the Eye of Magnus, she was sent to recover books that were stolen from the arcanum that may shed light on the mysterious artifact. After she recovered the tomes, she received an anonymous letter via a courier about Thalmor activities near the village of Helgen. Not willing to pass up an opportunity to strike at the Dominion, she set out for the village only to discover it was burned to the ground. If not for the dragon, she would have believed this was also the fault of the Dominion. She immediately rushed back to the College to report her discovery, and return the books of course.

And thus is her lore so far. Her story is far from over.

Had fun creating this Character. This is Ella the Cinder-hand. Heavily inspired from Cinder Fall from RWBY, she is a Breton fire mage and conjurationist. More than willing to share the mods I have that let me create this character.