I was at the tower when it first arrived. Black as coal with an evil bluish gleam. From the south it flew on its journey of hate, stopping to quench its deep seated desire for destruction. Svengol saw it first, but not long after, all were witness. It started with a roar that shook everyone to the ground. A deep fear swelled up that was almost overwhelming. We all ran for cover. It flew once overhead and blotted the sunlight with its huge wicked and scaled form.

Unlike anything before witnessed, it circled above as a wolf circles its prey. Its keen eyes burning as they passed over and beyond. Gendov, Svengol and Jurgen made the top of the tower, Kintrel, Jangra and Hronta were on or near the south wall. Torgol and Makkra at the base of the tower and I by myself took cover in a small drainage ditch near the roadway. I saw Jurgen on the top of the tower let loose an arrow as the beast made a pass. The arrow struck the spawn, but only seemed to heighten its anger, if that was possible. It turned wide to the right on a long sweeping arc, setting up its next run. Then, as if from legends, it folded its wings and came at the tower in a flash. A monstrous cry was let loose and flames engulfed the entire tower. The roar was deafening, while screams of pain and agony could be heard above the echoing thunder and the hot crackle of a raging fire.

A lifeless burning body fell with a thud across from me but closer to Kintrel near the base of the wall. I saw Kintrel yell in terror and bolted, heading down along the road to the south. Hronta started after, but the beast was already on him. It came down fast and precise as it raked Krintrel with razor sharp talons and easily lifted his screaming body as it climbed. It tore him with his other claw and dropped his shredded shell to a silent, lonely impact.

Back around it came, this time we all were ready. A stream of arrows leaped up from all. As fast as we could, we drew and released. Most of the feathered shafts missed their mark, and those that did strike, appeared to do little or nothing. Flames burst forth and the tower appeared as a torch. The screaming and yelling above us indicated great anguish as the pain from the heat and flames burned flesh and armor alike. This beast was real and it meant to stay.

Jangra was yelling at Torgol as it made its last pass. He looked terrified, but listened as she laid out her plan. She then said something to Hronta and he darted towards the tower. As the Beast made its next turn, Torgol was dropping all his gear and laid low as everyone, including myself just let arrows fly. The winged behemoth responded by letting its searing hot breath lick the walls of the tower and along the open field east and beyond my sight.

That's when I saw him. Torgol bolted for the roadway north of me and ran like the very winds them self. He shed his armor, sword, shield and bow. I think I saw a dagger, but it was clear his intent wasn't a fight. I then realized, Jangra sent him for help. If he could top the main hill, the guards on town watch will surely see him. We needed to buy him time.

The creature was making its way as Torgol hit the road and started his trek. It seemed to take everything in at once and followed a precise path well above the tower. It then started a rapid decent towards the running man. I only had precious seconds to react as I stood up from the hidden recess of the ditch and let an arrow fly. It struck the beast below the front claw and it veered slightly. With a wild twist of its head, it arced back and made a wide sweep. I darted for the southern end of the wall. For a moment, it appeared to forget about Torgol and spewed out a painful deafening roar with fire and smoke blowing wildly into the air about it. The arrow seemed to penetrate its thick scaly hide enough to tell us, it can be hurt.

It's pass took it over my head and I saw its eyes. Swelling with hatred and lust for destruction. It was marking me for its next go. I glanced back up the road and saw Torgol crest the hill and then disappear over its summit. The loud flapping sound brought me back to my real concern. Instantly I saw the beast's intent. It's spiky head reared back and then lunged forward as it closed the distance. I dove for cover on the other side of the wall as the structure was engulfed in a fiery nightmare of heat and shattered rock. The wake of the heat blast knocked me over as it powered its way past and up towards the sky. A score of arrows followed its path. I saw Hronta and Makkra pulling what looked like Svengol from the rubble. I don't think he made it.

Pass after pass this beast continued to test our will. Pass after pass it slowly leveled the tower and wall. Rubble was everywhere, smoke, burning wood, brick and flesh. Yet, with each pass, you could see a trail of arrows, mine included, following and sometimes striking this denizen of evil. On every wave, fire billowed up from the creatures belly, scorching and charring anything in clutched. Yelling of pain could be heard through the sight stealing murk of smoke and haze. Twangs of bowstrings were audible over roars of shouts, as if being played by a minstrel in a busy tavern. Again and again flames showered us from the sky. Time and Time the strength of men fought on and held their ground.

With arrows dwindling and resolve fading, a horn blast was heard from the north and west. It could only mean Torgol made the town. I had no idea where anyone else was, but I needed to get to a place I could gain cover. Along the wall I crept, trying to reach the doorway's remains. I stopped to dodge a cascade of falling boulders and let one of my remaining arrows loose. I was about to step over some smoldering rubble when I spotted the torn remains of Gendov. I leapt over him and kept on towards the tower's opening. Smokey debris lie strewn everywhere. Makkra was there, burned but capable and we joined together to make our stand. Noise above the broken and misshapen stairs told us we were not alone and someone else in the tower was still fighting on.

Through a break in the smoke and fog, I saw them. A squad of soldiers from the keep. I could make out the Captain herself leading the bunch. At her side was some stranger I had never seen. He was chiseled and hard. His eyes showed a resolve like none other. He wasn't wearing the issued uniform or armor from the town, but simple gear as a traveler would adorn. The helm perched upon his brow was held high and outlined his stern look of determination. His sword at the ready, was flickering from a gem set deep into its belly. As the flicker of a candle in a soft breeze, a light danced out from the weapon. His other hand cradled a strange worn shield that truly has seen some far and forgotten recesses.

CRACK!. the walkway above me shattered and fell. I looked up and jumped trying to clear myself of this incoming mass of stone and wood. Flames hidden from view raced from behind the crumbled debris and stuck me hard. I was horribly burned and pinned under a block of charred stone. Smoldering ash and lumber landing on my broken body. Looking across, I saw Makkra run out and join forces with the new team of defenders. I tried to move but my legs and arms were cold and numb. I watched the battle unfurl from my place of rest.

The newcomer stepped out into an opening as the great beast passed. It seemed to sense him there and disregarded all others. Archers now lined the north end of the tower's remains, with the Captain standing at the fore with ax and sword drawn. Through the haze and my failing sight, I saw the creature turn fast and descend upon this lone man. A deafening roar was belched out with flames and raking claws as it landed just yards from the hardened warrior. Engulfed in the very oblivion flames that rent this tower of stone, the swordsman was lost from sight. The Captain, yelling commands, started forth with such speed, it was hard to see what she was doing. Sword and ax bit deeply into the creatures left rear side and leg. Time and time she swung down with scores of strikes that truly would have severed limbs. As she dodged and readied another series of attacks, the great beast swept its tail and struck her hard. She tumble far to her right.
She staggered up, gained her awareness and started moving again.

The beast turned back to the smoke and ash it's flames left behind. This great warrior stepped from the waste and sliced hard with his gleaming white sword. The creature reeled back, trying to gain the sky when that blade struck again, sending the wanton beast back to the ground. It reared its spiked and spiny head then bellowed an unnatural declaration at the force it wasn't ready to deal with.

As my vision dwindling and my body feeling the call of my ancestors, here is what I took with me.

This warrior himself reared back and returned a like gesture, as if cursing the great beast in its own lost tongue. Fire, reached out with his strange and deadly words engulfing the wounded thing. Flames hotter than its own seared though scaly hide, its soft under flesh and into the bone itself. With blinding speed, that great glowing sword bit into the evil spawn before him. As if falling backwards, it gained it's full height on muscular back legs and tail. The whole of the Reach could have seen it over the tower had it still stood. The great out-stretched wings extended three times its height. They wavered, then drooped. The creature bellowed out a last echoing scream from its broken and bloody mouth as it slumped to the ground at the foot of the
warrior.

Fading now from my vision, I saw the captain join his side as he pulled that great jeweled blade from the deep gash he left in the creature's chest. He stepped back as if waiting for some other adversary to meet. I blinked my eyes and tried to focus as these strange rays of light emanated out from the defeated carcass and engulfed this man. As he stood with his head held high towards the clouds, he appeared as one taking in a refreshing spring rain. The great beast then started to burn. A mystical fire from within, no heat, but a crackle and flickering blue flame. Then, it was gone. This could only mean one thing.

This man, this warrior. It must be. It can only be. Dovahkiin... Dragon..bor... Dovahki, Dovah