Jorrvaskr's Sissy Baby, Skyrim RP (private w/ AJbestpony)

[Jacie Sparkles]

Jesper was an orphan who had grown up in Riverwood, learning whatever he could from the members of the community and any travelers who passed through, and doing whatever he could to earn his keep. He had chopped wood, mined iron from nearby Embershard, worked the forge, gone hunting, helped with the harvest, and so on. He had picked up some skill with sword, axe, and bow in his not-quite-twenty years as well, though he’d seen little in the way of battle, aside from driving off some occasional bandits.

Jesper Lone-wolf, some called him. And today, he was headed north toward the very heart of Whiterun. With a sturdy iron sword, forged himself, and a pouch of coin he had saved up, Jesper was headed for Honnigbrew Meadery, hoping to afford even a small sample of their renowned brew. He was not far from the crossroads, when he heard a piercing, inhuman roar. Whipping his head around, Jesper saw a troll barreling down the slopes toward him.

Swearing profusely, Jesper broke into a run toward the crossroads. His only hope was that their might be some Whiterun guards on patrol with whom he could stand and fight. There would be no outrunning the troll, nor could a lone neophyte swordsman hope to stand against such a creature. Nearing the crossroads, Jesper could indeed see a few figures moving towards him, but with the blood pounding in his head, and the troll’s thunderous roaring and feet pounding behind him, he couldn’t make it out if they might be armed allies.

Drawing his sword and spinning on his feet in a single fluid motion, Jesper prepared to face the terrible monster…

[AJbestpony]

Aela the Huntress, renowned member of the Companions, was out with her fellow Companions, Ria and Njada Stonearm. They were just returning from a quest which involved clearing a dungeon. Of course, for the Companions, that was more or less an everyday occurrence. There were plenty of dungeons in Skyrim, and no matter how many times they were cleared, they always seemed to need cleaning again at some point or other.

Although they had just completed a mission, they were always on their guard, and they were by no means tired. It took much more than bandits and draugr to wear down one Companion, let alone three.

When they were within sight of Whiterun, they heard a roar. "What was that?" Ria asked warily.

"It sounded like a troll," said Njada.

"It IS a troll," Aela pointed out to her two fellow female Companions, pointing to the road in front of them. She drew her bow and prepared to notch an arrow. But she did not fire just yet. She noticed someone else was on the road between them and the troll. "Ria, go right. Njada, go left. I'll back up that person, whoever he is."

[Jacie Sparkles]

Jesper gritted his teeth, knowing Sovngarde likely awaited him, if we was lucky. His only hope was to time and duck the troll's initial strike at him and somehow stick it in the vitals with his sword. Then, suddenly, arrows whizzed past him and into the troll's flanks. The monster's predatory roar turned to a howl of rage and pain. Seeing his chance, Jesper dashed in and slashed the troll's leg, severing blood vessels and partially crippling the monster. Springing back to evade the retaliatory swipe of the troll's claws, he risked a glance over each shoulder to see who had come to his aid.

[AJbestpony]

Aela grunted in satisfaction when she saw the arrows hit home. She drew another one and notched it as a precaution. She then rushed forward to investigate the situation. She noticed the person she and her comrades had just saved appeared to be an adventurer. Albeit a novice adventurer. He was a few years younger than her, and his equipment and arms looked relatively plain. Evidently, he had not seen nearly as many battles as she.

After planting another arrow in the troll's neck and finishing it off, she turned her attention to the stranger before her. "And just who might you be?" she asked in her usual gruff tone of voice.

[Jacie Sparkles]

Jesper let his breath out in relief as another arrow brought down the troll once and for all. Turning to face his savior, and to answer her question, he saw a lithe, fierce-looking woman with long auburn hair, intense wolf-gray eyes, and streaks of dark face paint.

"My name... is Jesper," he replied, a bit more intimidated than he'd expected. "Of Riverwood," he added. "It seems I owe you my life, and you have my thanks. Although, there is little I can offer you in return. Perhaps, at the very least, I could buy you a bottle of mead at Honningbrew. That's where I was headed, you see."

Jesper looked down at his weather-worn boots, rather shyly. There was no question this woman was as deadly as the troll, and he could only hope she understood his offer was one of genuine gratitude, nothing more.

[AJbestpony]

Aela was certain there were no ulterior motives behind Jesper's offer. After all, most men in Skyrim were not fond of courting fierce women such as Aela the Huntress. That was quite alright with her; she was accustomed to being feared by men instead of being pursued by them.

"Perhaps I might take you up on that offer, Jesper," she said with a smirk, "But first, allow me to introduce myself. I am Aela the Huntress of the Companions. My two comrades are Ria and Njada Stonearm, who are also fellow Companions."

By now, Ria and Njada had regrouped with their sister-in-arms. The two of them were nearly as lethal as Aela, but they at least looked more cordial. "Might we ask what you were doing out here on your own?"

[Jacie Sparkles]

Jasper nodded politely to other women as they joined him and Aela. "I have heard of the Companions," he said. "Many stories are told of your courage and prowess by the travelers who pass through Riverwood.

"As for me, I was simply traveling on my first adventure, so to speak. Nothing of any renown, to be sure... just a visit to Honningbrew Meadery, having saved up a little coin to spend for once. Truly, I did not expect to be set upon by troll on the open road, in broad daylight."

[AJbestpony]

"Well, before we go anywhere, allow me to give you some words of wisdom," Aela said flatly, "Firstly, trolls can attack ANY time of day. To them, day and night are one in the same. Secondly, you should always be prepared to be attacked, and not just by trolls. Skyrim is a very dangerous placed, especially to those who underestimate it."

Aela then smiled and placed a hand on Jesper's shoulder. "Now, about that drink. I would be most interested in sharing a bottle of Honningbrew mead with you. Njada, Ria, what say you?"

"I thank you, but I believe I will head back to Jorrvaskr," said Njada.

"So will I," said Ria.

"Very well," said Aela. She turned back to Jesper and remarked "Then I believe it is just you and me."

[Jacie Sparkles]

"I will remember your words, Aela," Jesper said. He and Aela walked side by side to the Meadery, situated on the south side of the road, just west of the crossroads.

Honningbrew mead was expensive. A single bottle cost Jesper almost half of his saved-up coin, but he had expected as much. "I had planned to take this back to Riverwood," he told Aela, "but I'm happy to give it to you as a gift." He handed the bottle to the Huntress.

[AJbestpony]

Aela smiled and happily accepted the bottle. "This single bottle is worth more than ten trolls. It would hardly be fair for me to just accept it, even as a token of gratitude. So, please, allow me to do something for you in return."

Before he could ask what, she declared "The Companions always keep their doors open to everyone, provided they meet a few certain criteria. At a glance, you appear to meet all those criteria. Come with me to Whiterun. I'll allow you to stay with me at Jorrvaskr. There, we can see if you have the makings of a Companion."