The Stormcloak Commander

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Joruun Steel-Swing, Commander in the Stormcloak Army, mourning a rebel prisoner.

Joruun was my nord character, whom I played as a two-handed axe swinging brute.

( I have decided to make a new background story for Joruun, the first one seemed very... plain. So this is what I have done, and this is only the first part. Notice, his beard is shorter here than in his stories, and his scars are gone. )

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( PART ONE )

His story begins in his homeland. He was an executioner in the Imperial Army of the Colovian Highlands. His axe was always associated with the usual thief or murderer. He was loyal to his work and never questioned anything he was ordered to do. 

That was until one day, a nord prisoner was brought before him. Nords were usually brought to him as murderers, but his superiors did not clarify the nord's reason for execution, so he didn't take notice. But something about this nord touched his curiosity. The way he held his head high with pride and dignity. His face was not the usual anger or sadness of that of a murderer, thief or any other criminal. No, this nord was proud of what he had done, and Joruun did not understand why.

At last, just as the prisoner was brought before him and positioned for beheading, Joruun asked the man why he was to be executed. The man looked up at Joruun and said with a proud face, "I fought for the freedom of our country, brother." with a rugged smile, "I am a Stormcloak."

As he said this, the imperial soldier holding the nord down shouted, "Quiet! Rebel scum."

Joruun fell silent, he knew of the rebellion in the north. Some of his people were fighting against the empire, he didn't know why, but they did.

His axe was still in his hand, but he didn't move. "Why are you rebelling?" asked Joruun, confused. "Hasn't the empire helped us all this time?"

The prisoner answered, "Maybe the empire has helped you here, truely, I can see that." he said with honor, "But Skyrim is our country, we need to help ourselves, because the empire doesn't."

Joruun looked confused, "What do you mean?"

The prisoner smiled, "If you ask any nord in Skyrim, they will each tell you a different story of injustice." he replied, "Corruption is everywhere. Murders are always happening..."

The prisoner frowned, and looked to the ground. "My family was murdered in cold blood by the Thalmor." he continued with grief, "Skyrim is not free brother, not as long as the empire shields the Thalmor."

The imperial soldier was now getting impatient, "Executioner, stop with these questions. Finish this rebel so we can get the next criminal scum to the chopping block."

The prisoner continued, ignoring the soldier, "Ah yes, the imperials never want to listen. They think it's a ploy for simpetizers. But what I say is the truth."

The soldier got his sword out, "I SAID STAY QUIET REBEL!"

Joruun did not answer, his axe still unmoving. The prisoner looked at him, and said proudly, "Talos is smiling at me today, can you say the same?"

At this, Joruun dropped his axe down to the ground. He couldn't do it. This man, so called rebel, was fighting for his homeland. He was fighting for his people and for his gods. And above all, he was proud of it. Joruun did not wish to execute an honorable man.

The imperial soldier, now furious, forced the rebel to stand. "If you can't do this, I will." he said with a stern face.He took his sword and stabbed the prisoner through the chest. The prisoner fell onto the floor and Joruun looked down in horror and the blood filled the floor.

The soldier walked out of the room, and yelled "I'll be bringing in a theif, get that rebel to the corpse pile and be done with it."

The prisoner smiled and gave a painful laugh, "Hah... I've done all I could. The nine will watch over me and I walk to Sovngarde."

Joruun simply looked down to his feet, giving a few prayers.

The prisoner laughed again, "Maybe I'll meet you there aswell, eh Kingsman?"

Joruun gave a small nod, and said softly. "Talos preserve you..."

The prisoner smiled, "Talos preserve us all."

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