Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-9026161-20130505015451/@comment-24589685-20140304060001

Akatosh, being the Aedra God of Time, knows all that will be with more accuracy and awareness than even the best of us know what recently was. He was, is, and will be, always, aware that Alduin is, was and will be, always, coming. So he designed that the Last Dragonborn would be present to stop Alduin from prematurely ending this iteration of the world.

However, Alduin wasn't quite sure who this Dragonborn should be, or on what criteria they should be chosen. Two possibilities presented themselves... to choose the one most *worthy* of the Dragonblood, with the wisdom to wield the power properly... or to choose the one most naturally suited to their primary role as Alduin's Bane, Hunter of Dragons, with the power and cunning to be able to defeat the World Eater himself.

On a cold winter's night in the 130th year of the Fourth Era, Akatosh chose: Both. He split the timelines, allowing different Dragonborn to assume their destinies. That night, strange omens appeared in the sky... and two special infants were born on two sides of Tamriel. In one of Akatosh's timelines, the one is gifted as Dragonborn. In the other timeline, the other.

WISDOM AND STRENGTH:

Shuebol is a small, isolated orc stronghold, with some unique customs and traditions despite upholding conventional worship of Malacath, located deep in the Dragontail Mountains of Northeastern Hammerfell. On that winter night, a child was born, named Csorsza. The strange omens that appeared in the night sky above her birth indicated immediately to Shuebol's wisewoman that Csorsza was of a unique destiny. And so it was decided that Csorsza was to be raised to someday assume the role of wisewoman herself... a rare thing in Shuebol, with only a single wisewoman assuming the role for several generations, as the wisewoman alone was uniquely privileged to live out much of the long natural Orsimer lifespan rather than being expected to find an honorable death before her hair turns gray.

So Csorsza was raised as such (eventually she became known in Shuebol as "Csorsza The Unblinded Eye" when one of her eyes was wrecked in a battle with a bear, while with a hunting party). In addition to the usual, customary training in combat, smithing, hunting and so forth that all orcs receive, Csorsza was taught extensively in the spirituality and traditions of her people, as well as in alchemy (so that she could treat disease and illness, and prepare beneficial potions), enchanting (so that she could create wards and charms to protect the warriors and hunters), restoration (to treat wounds and injuries, as well as ward off the restless dead), illusion (to calm, or frighten away, wild beasts that threatened the stronghold or trade caravans, and to aid the hunting parties), and conjuration (to banish malevolent spirits, ghosts and deadra, and commune with the beneficial ones). Being more educated than most orcs, she also frequently took a lead role in trade with neighbouring communities and settlements, and travelling traders and hunters.

Though Csorsza WAS dragonborn, and so she had dark, draconic yearnings for power and dominance. Additionally, Orsimer culture looks upon power and strength as virtues unto themselves (similar to how we regard beauty, for instance). But Csorsza also took the Code of Malacath very seriously, it being her responsibility to not only uphold the code, but to someday become its primary interpreter and judge for her people. So she transferred her draconic appetite for power into her studies, and soon developed a hunger for arcane secrets and wisdom of all kinds... in particular developing an interest in Alteration magics, despite them falling outside the purview of her ordained role. She indulged these interests every time she made contact with outsiders, or was sent to cities like Elinhir on trade.

At 70 years of age, Csorsza was soon to complete her "apprenticeship" and assume the role of full wisewoman of Shuebol, so her predecessor and mentor could at last seek her own Good Death. But fate decided otherwise. But she and her mentor received a series of strange, powerful visions.

Her mentor's included a visit from Malacath himself, who decreed that it was not yet her time to die, that she would have to serve Shuebol for many more years, until a new successor could be found and taught, for Csorsza was not fated to take her place.

Csorsza's visions were subtler and more disturbing... dragons, consuming the world. A vast and grand Nordic hall, shrouded by an evil mist, accessible only via a whalebone bridge. A labyrinthian library, nearly infinite in scope, with towers of books, pages scattered on howling winds, and toxic green seas. The sun, turning blood red and dark, the day turning black as night. A strangely-dressed dunmer lying dead at the feet of a strange blue orb. An elderly Nord warrior, pursued by a spectral wolf. A shrine to Malacath, defiled by giants. And a bear and a wyvern, locked in fierce combat.

After long discussions, and consulting their various traditional means of divination, Csorsza and her mentor determined that it was true... Csorsza's special destiny, marked out in the night sky's omens on her birth 70 years ago, was not to become a wisewoman of Shuebol. Instead it would be something grander, perhaps darker, still. And apparently, that destiny lay in Skyrim.

So Csorsza gathered what she could carry on her back, and set forth towards Skyrim, crossing the border from Cyrodiil rather than across the Druadach mountains to avoid the Forsworn raiding parties. Following omens and signs, she was somehow led straight into an ambush, where a group of overzealous Imperial soldiers seemed very suspicious as to what some hillbilly old Orc lady was doing in a Stormcloak raiding party...