After Escaping Helgen

Aria Highire had lived a life of luxury. As the 5th daughter of the honorable Kinlord Valen Highire, Aria had little chance of inheriting her father's titles. This gave her two choices for adulthood, marry a lord to increase her family prestige or join the Thalmor and spread the truth of Altmer supremacy. Neither option interested Aria much, so she instead decided to go on a tour of mainland Tamriel. This tour wasn't an alternative to either choice, but it let her put the decision off a little bit longer. After traveling through Cyrodiil, and found observing the Imperials living in their quaint cities was very entertaining, she decided to spend some time in Skyrim. Although Skyrim was full of drunken barbarians, its natural beauty was said to be breathtaking.

That's where everything went wrong. The trouble started the moment she entered the province when a caravan of soldiers passed by. She had approached them to ask for directions when the caravan was ambushed by the Imperial Legion. How was she supposed to know the caravan was actually a rebel army? All humans look the same after all! Worst still, a squirrely little horse thief named Lokir had tried to steal her horse but only managed to scare it off with all her supplies and identification. After being knocked out in the battle she woke up in a prison convoy with her fine elvish silks replaced with rags. At first, Aria couldn't believe that, in this Post Great War climate, the legion could so inept as to imprison an Altmer of high stock such as herself. Were they really so dim that they couldn't see the political ramifications of her father finding out. However, after they entered the fortress city of Helgen, Aria realized the truth when she spotted her old rival Elenwen. Elenwen had always hated Aria back in Alinor. She was always talking bad about her behind her back. Aria never let it bother her however, she knew Elewen was just jealous she was an inferior spellcaster to her. Now that shrew was going to get her **** by convincing the Imperials to execute her.

Aria had never felt as much fear as when she was **** onto the executioner's block. She hadn't even been given last rights due to some idiot Nord who DEMANDED he die first. These Nords really were barbarians. As Aria was laid on the block she prayed to Auriel for salvation. And he answered. Out of nowhere an enormous black dragon appeared and attacked the town. Burning both soldiers and citizens alive. Aria couldn't believe it. Dragons were supposed to be extinct. The last of them wiped out in Elsweyr over a thousand years ago. The rebel prisoners (The Stonecoats or something) used the opportunity to escape and Aria took the opportunity to go with them. As the town was leveled Aria and a Nord named Ralof escaped through the underground caves. Despite being a barbarian, Ralof proved to be a very kind soul, telling her she could find shelter at his sister's house in Riverwood village. Aria had agreed but asked Ralof to go on ahead she needed a minute.

Aria sat down on a nearby tree stump to sulk. She was a member of one of the most prestigious families on the Summerset Isles, but now she was an enemy of the Empire and possibly the Dominion so long as Elenwen was in charge, and she had nothing to her name but these rotting rags.