Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-14011542-20131009214425/@comment-24261859-20140524094337

So, I got to the point where I wanted to start a new game--partially because I ran out of steam on the old one, and partially to try out some new mods. However, I really liked my current character, so I had to solve this dilemma.

I solved this by taking advantage of TES' mystical elements to invoke some Bioshock: Infinite sort of storyline, as follows:

"After my arrival in Skyrim, I, Emma Fairchild, had managed to return to my full power. Icommanded legions of troops and had occupied substantial territory under the banner of the Shadow of Azura. It logically followed that my enemies would soon scatter or be destroyed. It seemed so simple. Wander Skyrim, slay dragons, and eventually reach Alduin. So simple, in fact, that the presence of someone named Miraak on an obscure island was of little consequence, or so I thought.

Once Miraak was alerted to my presence, however, he became alarmed. Recognizing the threat posed by the Shadow of Azura, he beseeched Herma-Mora for greater power. Since I had only had minor dealings with the Daedric Prince, Mora accepted, and Miraak gained abilities beyond human comprehension. It was not long before he was able to extend his influence even further beyond Apocrypha.

Where I remained blissfully ignorant, the Dragons took notice of Miraak. They launched a siege of Apocrypha, and, after a lengthy battle, Miraak emerged victorious. Such was the power of his Bend Will, even Alduin himself fell victim to the hypontism. Using his enthralled Dragon army, Miraak launched a campaign against the mortal plane with his new Dragon Army, catching us completely by surprise.

Winterhold was the first to fall. The Dragons arriving from Solsthiem completely decimated what little remained. Some magical resistance from the College managed to hold them off for a short time, even slaying one or two monsters, but without the Dragonborn's support they were unable to make a difference in the end. Windhelm fell shortly afterwards, though the superior defenses proved difficult for the dragons to take.

Where Winterhold was a small outpost whose loss was relatively unfelt by the greater Skyrim community, the destruction of Windhelm shook the entire country. The Legion took advantage of Ulfric's death to press eastwards and met with great success, but eventually they too were destroyed by Miraak's army. Riften and Dawnstar were burned, and the Dragons pressed westwards.

We lost everything. It was not long before I and a few groups of allies had to turn to the Dark Brotherhood, of all people, for safety. We lurked in their sanctuary, hoping that Sithis might protect us. He did not. A force of Draugr, and those damned liches that they call Dragon Priests broke down the door and began to cut through our final defenses.

There was one last ray of hope. I still had the Elder Scroll, and, with it, I was able to do the impossible. They have time-altering properties, see, and this would be our salvation. Hopefully. Using the scroll, I was able to fall back into the past, into an 'alternate reality,' so to speak. What might have been, but was not. I would not keep my memories--at most, I would have shades of deja vu or an occasional dream, but, Gods willing, this time would be different."

Thus, Emma found herself in a peaceful Skyrim once more. A few things had changed--her own appearance had shifted slightly, though this seems at first glance to be limited to her hair and eye color. Secondly, in this reality, she had been forced to turn to crime after her SoA allies were slain by the Thalmor. If you were to ask her how she ended up with a group of peculiar and eccentric Forsworn*, she wouldn't be able to tell you. As far as she knew, she had always been there. In reality, this Emma had no past beyond that point. Amusingly, the first conversation she had in this world was with one of the Forsworn concerning the nature of one's soul after death, and whether one gets a chance to "try again." This wording struck an intriguing chord with Emma, though she didn't know why.

One other side effect was her newfound hatred for religious fanaticism. Her family slain by the Thalmor, a faction known for religious persecution, she began to see fanatics as a plague upon the land, bringing conflict and strife. As such, she banded together with several allies (a few of which would have worked with the Shadow of Azura in the original timeline) and formed the Damned Inquisition, an organization dedicated to rooting out those who too fervently pursued their religions. The Thalmor, the Stormcloaks, both willing to go to war over their Gods. They all had to be taught a lesson. The more dedicated and chaotic daedra worshipers would taste her blade as well.

As you can see, she's a little less pure in this timeline. But such is life, and she's ultimately still a good girl, just twisted towards a slightly more violent end by the cruelty of fate.