Snakestone's Story - I hope he isnt a Gary-Stu Edition

Snakestone, the surname of his family that he uses as his merc name, is a warm-hearted wanna-be mercenary born in Skyrim but moved to Cyrodiil with his parents when his grandfather fell ill. His father was a respected member of the thieves guild and his mother's family had ties to the Dawnguard, his armor and greatsword were his grandfathers. His father, now deceased, being a well-respected member of the guild allowed Snakestone to always have a home with the Thieves Guild and has, reluctantly, helped them out occasionally when he needed coin. He returned to Skyrim at the age of 18 when his mother disowned him. Snakestone is always willing to help the weaker, even if the pay isn't great. If he knows they can't properly defend themselves he is there to help.

His hometown is Riften, as his father still worked with the Thieves Guild until he had a child, when his grandfather fell ill they moved into the Imperial City's Elven Gardens District to take care of him.

Snakestones family life was odd at that, his dad was an ex-thief who tried to work honest jobs after Snakestone was born. Though, he has suspicion that his father was still working for the guild at times. His father taught Snakestone how to use a sword when he was young, much to his mothers disdain. Snakestones mother was a pacifist, Snakestones grandmother was murdered in cold blood by bandits when his mother was a little girl. His grandfather exacted revenge but it never brought his mothers mother back. From that point on his mother believed that violence accomplishes nothing and only makes the world worse. This caused tension between his mother and grandfather who was still a member of the Dawnguard. Despite this his mother honored her father as he was all she had until she met Snakestones father and then gave birth to Snakestone. Snakestones mother tried to teach him that violence was never needed in this world, that it only lead to war and senseless death.

While living in the Imperial City Snakestones mother ran a small crops stand with home-grown vegetables. His father tried his hand at honest work at the docks, loading and unloading ships, but the life of a thief was calling him. When Snakestones grandfather got worse his father was offered a deal, steal a rare amulet from the current Count of Skingrad and return it to the current Thieves Guild fence in the Imperial Cities Waterfront. Snakestones father was caught trying to escape the Skingrad Castle. When word got back to Snakestones family it was heard he was gonna be escorted back to the Imperial City for execution after his crimes in Skyrim had been brought to light from a rat in the Thieves Guild.  The Thieves Guild sent a man to try to help Snakestones father escape, but were unsuccesful. Snakestone and his mother watched as his father was hunged 4 days after his arrest. Snakestones father was hung by the gallows outside the Imperial City, a sight that is forever burned into Snakestones memory.

After the death of his father Snakestone knew it was up to him to support his mother and ill grandfather, Snakestone took up his fathers job at the docks and worked a lot of odd jobs to earn coin. Sadly it wasnt enough and his grandfather passed away not to long after his dad. This has seeded deep guilt inside Snakestone for failing. Snakestone and his mother were kicked out of the Elven Garden District and moved into the Waterfront. Snakestone still worked hard to support his mother. His mother became to depressed to work and would spend a lot of days outside the small shack they owned watching the kids of the Waterfront. Money was tight, and Snakestone was working for the Thieves Guild behind his mothers back on small petty jobs. The money wasn't good and he didn't like it, but he wasnt gonna let his mother down. He grew a strong friendship with a dunmer fisherman name Darfin Fenwarin. Darfin would offer small jobs to Snakestone for a small amount of coin and some fish.

It would be Darfin who would help lead to the events of Snakestone leaving the Imperial City to Skyrim. A few years after his fathers passing a group of bandits were terrorizing the road between the Imperial City and Bravil, a bounty was placed on the head of the bandit leader named, Gurukk Var-kug. Gurukk ran a small rag-tag group of bandits hiding out in Veyond Cave. The bandit gang had claimed a few lives of traders, travelers and guards who attempted to stop them. The bounty of 2,000 septims placed on Gurukks head was enough to make Snakestone consider the job. He needed the money to help support his mother. He knew she'd hate him for doing it, but he hoped she'd never find out. One night after his mother went to bed, Snakestone opened his grandfathers old chest and put on his Dawnguard armor and took his grandfathers Silver Greatsword. Darfin helped Snakestone get close to Veyond Cave via boat. Snakestone a rookie warrior would attempt to kill Gurukks gang, and while succesful of killing a bunch of sleepy and half drunk bandits, the idea he had just taken life shocked him. His mothers pacifist teachings made him regret every kill. Even if he told himself it was justified. After a succesful fight and killing a drunk orc bandit leader, Snakestone returned to the Imperial City for the bounty. Sadly his mother found out about what he did through talks in the city, and in pure rage of the last living family member breaking the one thing she held most sacred, disowned Snakestone and threw him out. At a loss at what to do, he decided it was time he set off to start a new life back home in Skyrim as a mercenary. Being disowned made him drop his first name and only use his surname Snakestone, aswell his pacifist views were skewed, he now believed that killing is justified when it would make the world a better place, or if the person committed crimes so horrid that jail would be too good for them. Darfin loaned Snakestone the septims to take a carriage to Bruma. Before Snakestone left, Darfin promised him that he would look after Snakestones mother and write to him often to keep him updated on his mom.

When Snakestone first arrived in Skyrim, he ran into a young Breton merchant. This merchant was looking for help to get to Whiterun, and Snakestone was more than happy to help out. This young Breton merchant was, arrogant, rude and very girly, Snakestone realized the kid was from a rich family, but he didn't pry much. As the duo got to Riverwood they ran into a beggar and the merchant insult the beggar, causing Snakestone to slap the kid up the back of the head. The young Breton fired Snakestone and told him to get lost, but Snakestone continued to follow the kid till they reach Whiterun to keep him safe, he knew the kid wouldn't last and he did save the kid from a pack of wolves. When they reached Whiterun the kid reluctantly thanked him and they parted ways.
After some time in Skyrim Snakestone had made a small name for himself doing odd jobs and bounties. When he heard of a dragon attack in Helgen he set off to Whiterun hold to see for himself, he ended up helping Whiterun hold when a dragon attacked the farms outside Whiteruns walls. With the help of the guards and the companions they took down the beast, the Jarl gave him a key to a house in Whiterun, for helping a hold he had no ties with, he was told while he was given the house, he would still have to pay property tax to keep it. From here Snakestone started to do mercenary work around the hold, he would only keep enough septims to buy food and pay property taxes. All his money was sent to his mother, along with a letter telling her on how he was doing, sadly he has yet to get a reply from his mother. Darfin writes him every month, according to him, she is doing fine and even opened up a small stand in the Market District of the Imperial City, selling vegetables and fish.

Snakestone would then make his way to Riften to meet with his dads old friend Brynjolf. He spent days traveling and decided he would go through Darkwater Crossing, then go through Ivarstead to see the 7,000 steps and then follow the path to Riften. As he made it to Darkwater Crossing he met a young and friendly Dunmer woman. The dunmer woman offered Snakestone to stay at her home near Darkwater till sunrise, Snakestone thinking he'd get a nice meal and some warm furs to lay on gladly accepted. While it wasnt what he expected, it was a very good night for him. He awoke the next morning confused, this dunmer woman had invited him into this small cabin and fell into his arms. She embraced him and stripped him of his armor. Who was she, and what did she want? He watched her sleep, with a warm and content smile on her face. He knelt down and kissed her on the forehead and left.

He eventually returned to Riften to meet up with his fathers old friend Brynjolf. Brynjolf apologized for the failure of saving Snakestones father and gave him his condolences and offered Snakestone a home with the Thieves Guild. While he refused he still has helped the guild with petty jobs or when a client needed roughing up, much to the disdain of Snakestone from time to time. Snakestone also started wondering who the rat was within the guild that caused his fathers death. He would ask Brynjolf who had no clue, Snakestone had no reason to suspect Brynjolf as he was like a brother to his father. Snakestone wanted to ask the current members of the Guild but Mercer wouldn't let Snakestone past the Ragged Flagon since he wasn't an actual member of the guild. This eventually led to a dead-end since he couldn't reach all the current members of the Thieves Guild. After this Snakestone decided to buy a horse and travel across Skyrim, in hopes he could help people out, aswell as find out who the rat was. Brynjolf assured Snakestone before he left Riften, that if anything came to light on the rat, he would contact him as quickly as possible.

While in Riften he stopped at the Bee and Barb, he was feeling slightly depressed and lonely. He spent years in Skyrim, and while he had the ocassionaly bedmate, he never found love or a true friend. He though a nice cup of ale and some old friends would cheer him up. He chatted with Marcurio a bit about the adventures they both were on, when someone caught his eye. It was the dunmer woman he met near Darkwater Crossing. He excused himself and went to talk to her. She seemed to slightly remember him, and admitted to him that she was just hiding in that hut near Darkwater. This shocked Snakestone a bit, so he offered to buy her a drink and talk to this mysterious dunmer. After a few hours of mead and wine, he had another great night. He felt feelings grow for this dunmer woman near him. After sometime of talking with each other, the two of them decided to traveled together. As the months passed by they grew closer and eventually married. Snakestone being ecstatic of his life looking better, he wrote to his mother and Darfin about the marriage. He offered them a place to stay and money for rooms at the Bee and Barb. When the big day arrived Snakestone was greeted by Darfin, the friends hugged and Snakestone asked where his mother was. Darfin, with a somber look, told Snakestone that his mother didn't even open the letter  when he delivered it. Darfin also told Snakestone she seemed indifferent about the news when Darfin himself told Snakestones Mother. The news of this sent a sharp pain through Snakestones gut, he looked behind him and saw the dunmer woman smiling and repressed it, this wouldn't ruin his big day. So on a sunny Sundas morning Snakestone married a dunmer woman named Yarti. They moved into his home in Whiterun soon after.

Only a few weeks after the wedding, Snakestone set out to Dawnstar when he heard a rumor of the Vigilant looking for help. When he arrived in Dawnstar he met up with an elven Vigilant, the Vigilant hired Snakestone to help him with some issues across Skyrim. Snakestone and said Vigilant returned to Whiterun to find and remove a vampire. With the success of the Vigilants detective work and Snakestones silver sword they found and slayed the vampire who was working as a lady-of-the-night. Snakestone and said Vigilant set off to Windhelm that night. The Vigilant received word of a man who may have correlation to the deadra. When Snakestone and the Vigilant arrived they were greeted by the guards, informing them that a Dremora was summoned in Candlehearth Hall. While the town guards evacuated towns people Snakestone and the Vigilant rushed in and killed the Dremora, with this the townsfolk told the Vigilant of a one-eyed man who ran off to the inn in Kynsegrove. The Vigilant sent Snakestone to Kynsegrove while he stayed behind to properly remove the Dremora. Snakestone took off to the Kynsegrove in to meet an old man, weak in age, who admitted to summoning the Dremora. Snakestone had regret in his heart but he couldn't allow a man with such knowlage and power to harm others, and with this he slayed the man. Snakestone returned to Windhelm to meet the Vigilant, who congratulated him on a good job. The two set off the the Hall of the Vigilant, as they traveled and talked Snakestone felt pride. He felt like he was finally doing the one thing he always wanted, helping Skyrim become a safer place. Snakestone at this time was considering becoming a member of the Vigilant and leave the mercenary life behind. When they arrived to the Hall of the Vigil the Vigilant had gotten word of a witch in the Rift hold. This witch was a threat to the hold and needed to be dealt with. The Vigil sent Snakestone to Riften to kill this witch. Snakestone set off to the Rift to kill this witch, but along the way he ran into a knight in ebony on the road. This knight said he knew what Snakestone was going to do, and was here to stop him. The rain fell hard as Snakestone got off his horse and drew his sword, the men fought valiantly, but in the end Snakestone pierced the mans armor, and killed him. The ebony knight said in his dying breath, that Snakestone would regret what he was about to do. Snakestone was reluctant to heed the mans words and set off. When he arrived in Riften he asked the guards about the witch, and was directed to a small cove she lived in. Snakestone took off to the cove and eventually found the witches home. Snakestone charged in, to find two women. A young woman, and a child. Snakestone was confused and apologized. The woman asked what Snakestone wanted, and he asked about the witch. The woman told her child to hide as she raised her hands and electrocuted Snakestone. Thoughts raced through Snakestones mind as the electricity ran through his body, he thought of the Vigilant, of Skyrim and his wife. Snakestone stood up and slayed the woman before him, once Snakestone had kill the woman he heard the sounds of boxes and pots falling and in his fit of pain and rage he turned to the child and killed her aswell. Snakestone froze and dropped his sword as he looked at the body of a child laying before him, soaked in blood. He fell to his knees and coughed violently. Tears ran down his face as he looked at the child, he passed out soon after.

Hours passed and Snakestone woke up to the sound of heavy rain, he stood up in a daze and grabbed his sword. He saw the woman lying before him and realized what he had done. He panicked and dragged the woman and child outside of the homes, tears and rain ran down his face as he buried the woman and child in unmarked graves. He went inside and searched for any justification of his deed. He found letters written to a man, said man was sick. Snakestone soon realized the ebony knight was the father. He tossed the letters aside in anger and desperation. He noticed a Teddy Bear on the table, he is still unsure to this day why but he took the bear. He returned to the Hall of the Vigil a few days later, he was depressed and unsure of what he did. He told the Vigil that he quit, he didn't want more innocent blood on his hands. He returned to Whiterun only a few days later. Yarti tried her best for weeks to cheer Snakestone up, but Snakestone spent most of those days staring at the Teddy Bear he put above the fireplace, or reading his journal. Snakestone became a drunken mess in his depression, and he was spiraling out of control. Yarti sat Snakestone down one day and confronted him about everything. The guilt was killing Snakestone and he knew he needed to do something. He set off the next day only taking a spare set of armor, the child Teddy Bear and a tent, and headed to Ivarstead. Snakestone decided he would take a pilgrimage up the 7,000 steps to High Hrothgar. The pilgrimage was peaceful and it gave Snakestone time to reflect on his life and what he did. It took him nearly a day but he reached High Hrothgar, he was taken back by the beauty of the ancient nordic building. Snakestone removed his armor and sat in the snow, only in his underwear, and meditated for hours. He though hard of his life and what he did, he realized he was living his life in the past. He needed to focus on his future, and so Snakestone spent 3 days atop the mountain, hunting wolves and rabbits. After 3 days of meditating Snakestone decided it was time to bury the past. He knew this would be more than a figurative thing, he knelt and dug in the snow till he reached the dirt, he then dug through the dirt with his bare hands till he made a hole big enough. Snakestone took his grandfathers Dawnguard armor and placed it in the hole. He took the Teddy Bear and sat it atop his grandfathers armor, and proceeded to push some snow atop it till it was buried. Snakestone then proceeded to take out his spare leather armor and put it on, grabbing his grandfathers Silver Greatsword and sheathing it. He proceeded to walk down the 7,000 steps, vowing to live for the future and to never harm a child again. Even if the child is trying to hurt him. Days later he returned home to his wife a changed man, for the better.

After his trip from the 7,000 steps Snakestone found out Yarti was with child. Knowing his current home was to small for a child, he sold the house and bought an small cottage called “Pinegrove”. The home sat on a small cliff overlooking Darkwater Crossing. The fact that he moved to a home located so close to where he first met his wife was funny to him, but it made him feel like he chose the right place to raise a family. As the months dragged on Snakestone had visions of the child he killed. The stress of being a father was getting to him and one day while on a job he met a woman with goat horns, who offered him some skooma. This soon started a small addiction that Yarti quickly noticed. She feared what would happen to Snakestone so she wrote to her friend Xi. Xi was always a good friend of Snakestone and Yarti and the moment Xi heard that the father of her future godchildren was becoming a skooma addict she dropped everything, got two of Snakestones friends and headed for Pinegrove. On a foggy Middas night Xi, Aylen and Elanor arrived at Pinegrove to talk sense into Snakestone. Between being assaulted by Xi, threatened with Aylid Flesh Gardens and Elanor preaching love of divines, Snakestone took notice at his pregnant wife in the kitchen. Everything was silent in his mind and he weakly crawled to his wife and held her close. Resting his head on her belly and weeped for hours. The next day Snakestone dumped his small crate of skooma off the side of the cliff and swore off skooma for good.

Snakestone took up small jobs close to his home so he could be with his wife as much as possible, and as the months grew closer his excitment at being a father was overbearing. He wrote to Darfin and his mother everday in excitment. As the month drew close, Xi and her mother Nu came to stay at Pinegrove for awhile to help with the delivery. On a bright Fridas day, his children Fanar and Fannah were born. Snakestone held his wife close and just looked down in amazement at his children. Yarti held Fanar close to her with a tear soaked face, gently rocking the newborn. Snakestone looked over to Xi and Nu, Xi was holding and rocking the new born Fannah as Nu calmly waved at the child. It was the first time he ever saw Xi or Nu acting so gentle and loving, he slide close to Xi and looked down at his daughter. He went to caress her cheek when the child reached out and grabbed his finger. Snakestone started crying as he knew that he has a new reason to try to make this world as safe as possible. His life was finally looking up.

Snakestone now spends most of his days traveling Skyrim, looking for mercenary work and helping people out, all the while supporting his wife Yarti and his children Fanar and Fannah, to make sure they have a happy life. He's met many interesting people on his adventures. All Snakestone wants to do in life is help make the world safer for others, and to hear from his mother again one day, and find the rat who got his father killed.

Other small facts of Snakestone:

- Wanted to be a bard as a kid

- Good with the lute

- Has a Snake amulet that everyone in his family gets at birth

- He gave Yarti his fathers Snake amulet on their wedding night

- Favorite meal is Salmon with grilled leeks and mead

- Favorite sweet is boild creme treat

- Often writes in his journal about his adventures

- Has a bastard son named Theo from a one night stand he had when he was 18. He didn't meet Theo until Theo was 16 and looking for him in Skyrim.

- Favorite divine is Shor

- Birthsign is the Steed

- Loves to read

- Loves to smoke his pipe

- After almost losing his grandfathers greatsword, he hung it in his home to give it to his son one day

- He named his new sword Hilde after his mother

- Banned from Blacklight for bedding a nobles wife in his younger days

- Snakestone has a deep hatred for Goblins, cause while living in Cyrodiil he met his fathers brother, his uncle. Who was a semi-wealthy farmer near Cheydinhal. While spending time at his uncles farm one summer, a tribe of Goblins attacked, killing the livestock and his uncle. He hid his two cousins (male and female) and aunt in the basement of the farm and ran to Cheydinhal, to get the guards. By the time the guards and Snakestone got to the farm on horseback, the house was broken into, aunt was dead and torn clothes of his one cousin (female) was found. They never found her body. He tries to repress this memory often since it was the first time he saw such horrid violence.

- Favorite city is Solitude

- Owns a guar named Kamata-Kun that wwas given to him as a house warming gift

- Birthday is the 7th of Frostfall