The North RemembersEdit

"For Tomorrow, Edmund. There is always tomorrow. We live for tomorrow."

―Harold Torrhen

"Anyone can be killed."

―Words of House Torrhen.

Born in 4E168 in Solitude, Skyrim, Edmund Torrhen was not known by his second name (meaning Wolf-Eater in ancient Nordic, whom many referred to him and his family as) until later in his life, and after serving with the Stormcloak armies as one of the principal field commanders High King Ulfric Stormcloak I he was known as 'Stormblade', so in full, his name was Edmund Torrhen the Stormblade, Jarl of Haafingar and Lord of Solitude. For his family was a middle-class one with no registered Surname, for it was not the Nordic custom apart from the families of, Jarls, Kings, or sometimes even Thanes. Thus many men and woman earned surnames more as pseudonyms when born outside of great families for things they had done in their life. His personal emblem and the emblem of the Torrhen family was a snarling Black Wolf with White eyes on a field of Red. He grew up to be the Dovahkiin and a mighty Werewolf (though this was a secret known to few), thus his emblem.

Edmund's father was a shield-brother in the great war. Far from the conflict, Edmund liked to read stories of his forefather's while his father was away. After the Great War, his father died on the way home, his regiment rounded upon by a stray Aldmeri Dominion Army Column. Edmund was from that point on raised by his paternal uncle, Harold and his mother, Angi, learning swordplay and general fighting skills, armed and unarmed, from Harold. Edmund was an intellectual and incisive boy who often considered the likelihood of the idea that his mother and uncle were romantically involved with eachother, but strangely the notion didn't bother him; Edmund never knew his father well and Harold had always been more of a father figure.

At the age of 18 in 186, he joined the Solitude guard, staying for 3 months. He then packed up and moved to Morrowind, eager to learn more about the world saying goodbye to Harold and Angi and fixing his legal requirements with the Jarl and High King Istlod. Upon arriving in Morrowind, Edmund at first joined the Legion, holding many forts against the bandit tribe of the New Argonia, the Freedmen. After a short while, he saw the hypocrisy of the Legion, claiming to be the leaders of free men whilst allowing Elves to subjugate them, so he joined the Mercenary company the Long Lances, fighting in Morrowind on both sides, and other arenas, such as Hammerfell against the remaining Aldemeri Dominion soldiers. Making massive progress, he left the company at the age of 29, briefly returning home to Harold and Angi, learning that unrest was brewing. He then left again, spending the next 4 years travelling Tamriel to understand the nature of the Aldmeri Dominon and the nature of current political realities outside of Skyrim.

After a 4-month stint in Cyrodiil, he received a letter from one of the subordinates of General Tullius, the Imperial military governor of Skyrim, demanding him to come home, as Harold had been murdered by the Empire without trial on suspicion of harbouring stray Stormcloak fighters and his mother was under house arrest after moving to Falkreath to escape Imperial jurisdiction. Edmund was vaguely aware of a civil war and had been planning to return to Windhelm to enlist, but felt no great rush to do so until now. He then realized the Thalmor knew about him from his time fighting them in Hammerfell. More intrigued than angry, Edward travelled north through the Jeralls. On his way, he was attacked by an Imperial patrol. He killed all of them, but passed out from his wounds, and later woke to find himself on a cart to the stronghold of Helgen.

He remembered that in his right boot was a handmade Ebony knife, sharper than the crescent moon, that Harold had given him when he was 12. The Legionairres detaining him had not seen the weapon. He remembered the Call of Ysgramor that Harold had taught him so many times: "On the blood of our Fathers. On the blood of our Sons. All men must fight so that the Kingdom shall live." A smile curled on his lips. He then found himself remembering something he had never heard. "Put aside the ranger, Dovahkiin. Become the man you were born to be."

Little did he know, he was a famous man in this part of Skyrim. The folk at Helgen were shouting "Ranger, ranger!". A Nord a few years older than Edmund sat opposite him, a courteous man with a grasp of honour. He was called Ralof. He also saw Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King of Skyrim, a man with a lifetime of military and political experience.

When the cart stopped, the captain, subordinate to General Tullis, saw the anger flash in Edmund's eyes when he saw Tullius. He had not known his rage, but now it was slowly creeping to the surface. Tullius confronted Ulfric, then ordered the first prisoner to be killed. This one clearly didn't have the patience even for his own last rites, and told the executioner "For the love of Talos, just shut up and get this over with. Come on, I haven't got all morning." The axe fell and the man died. "Another to Sovngarde", Edmund thought as his comrades shouted around him.

"Next the Nord in the rags!" ordered the Captain.

"But he's not on the list." protested the Sergeant, a kind fellow by the name of Hadvar.

"I said next prisoner!"

Acknowledging, Hadvar payed his respects. "To the block prisoner, nice and easy."

Walking towards the block, head held high enough to stare into the eyes of the executioner, Edmund prepared for death.

"You've drawn quite a crowd, Nord." mocked the Captain.

"If they came to hear me beg" Edmund growled ", they shall be dissapointed."

Black Wings shone overhead.