Rahil Al'Qadhar

My Skyrim Dragonborn

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Rahil is a Redguard master duelist and is my canonical Dragonborn in Skyrim- so he doesn't really fit in outside of that setting. I have four other characters that are adaptable (and have been adapted) to other games that I will post eventually, but Rahil's story only plays out there so I am posting it first. Regardless, he mainly uses one-handed swords and wears little armor- light gauntlets and boots if any. He is proficient in smithing and alchemy- mainly to boost his strength- and eventually trains in destruction magic to master a single spell.

Rahil Al'Qadhar watched his father serve the Crowns and fight back against the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire both, honoring the traditions of old Yokuda and rejecting unnecessary colonialism. He came from a line of sword-singers, his distant grandfather, San'muluk Al'Qadhar, was the final member of his family able to conjure an immense blade in his hand, which he did by simply humming a tune his mother had sang to him. By nature of the sword-song it could not be dispelled without his command, and he wielded it as if it were as light as a pen. When the time of peace came he used the sword-song the entertain, but he followed the culture of the Ansei and never taught his children to use this power. Rahil grew up on these stories of San'muluk's adventures and knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in those footsteps. During the day he would train tirelessly with a wooden sword and at night he prayed for hours to Leki, daughter of Tall Papa and Saint of the Spirit Sword. He stuck to this routine throughout his teenage years up until he could enlist in the army.
In the army, he learned that he was unfortunately socially awkward and could not discern lies or sarcasm and would often be ostracized from his peers. This would never faze him, and he remained focused on his goal. Unfortunately, this was never to be. In jest, a soldier named Khas challenged Rahil to single combat after mocking his insistence to train. Rahil, who had yet to ever unsheathe and use a true sword, accepted this challenge and was given a scimitar. After a crowd formed, the two clashed one single time, and Khas' sword shattered. In a single one-handed swing, Rahil cut straight through the sword and body of his fellow soldier. Khas lived but needed immediate medical attention and healing and would never use his arm again. With this disgrace, Rahil was summarily dismissed from the Crown army and sent away from Hammerfell.
He traveled a short time through the northeast, headed to Blacklight in Morrowind. As he entered Skyrim, he sold his sword for the money to live. He stayed only a short time in Markarth as he was offput by their Imperial control and the Dwemer architecture. After a brawl with a drunkard in Falkreath who hated outsiders, he fled north- directly into an Imperial ambush on Stormcloaks, and is struck from behind. He wakes up to a surly Nord voice saying "Hey you, you're finally awake..."

From here the events of Skyrim take place, with Rahil following the Dragonborn questline. In the interim he joins the companions, but- upon finding out they're werewolves- leaves the beasts. He joins the civil war on the side of the Stormcloaks, taking pleasure in fighting against the Empire as he knows what it would look like to continue living under their boot. While he does not agree with the Nordic treatment of the Mer nor their foolhardy nature, he still admires their strength of will. He chooses Kematu over Saadia as he knows her story is a tall tale and will seek out every word of power, clearing many dungeons and amassing wealth. He uses his thu'um relentlessly, defensively utilizing Whirlwind Sprint and Become Ethereal, early on relying on Elemental Fury to greatly enhance the speed of his blade before he finds Dragonbane. He will utilize the Blades resources and take Dragonbane as his main weapon as soon as he comes across it, though he will reject the Blades decision to kill Paarthurnax. Eventually, he is pulled into a conspiracy about a Redguard spy network that rewards him with traditional Redguard armor and a unique blade, Boneshaver- said to be the artifact of a Yokudan diety- that he uses for the rest of his time in mainland Skyrim, though he keeps Dragonbane handy for dragon fights. In Sovengarde he wonders what Leki has in store when his time inevitably comes. As soon as the dragon menace is dealt with, he will investigate the cultists who wanted to find the dragonborn.
Solstheim changes Rahil fundamentally. For the first time, he hires a mercenary to fight at his side, as Teldryn Sero knows the island and seems to be able to handle himself easily. While investigating Raven Rock he will go into the mine and discover its secrets, including finding the Bloodskal Blade. This greatsword quickly becomes his new main weapon, as he bonds with it and wants to wield it to its maximum capacity. Boneshaver is retired, but Dragonbane remains in Rahil's arsenal to strike down any dragons, but all other foes are practice for his greatsword mastery. In traveling the land he picks up a tome containing the Whirlwind Cloak spell and, when finding the time, trains with Wuunferth the Unliving in Windhelm to use it effectively. Just like in Skyrim, Rahil learns all shouts available to him and comes to rely on Dragon Aspect when under duress and utilizes the Cyclone shout to dismantle hordes. He rescues each All-Maker Stone and gains all possible knowledge from the Black Books of Hermaeus Mora and wins his epic battle against Miraak.
Here, he retires to the Skaal village where he continues his life as it was before, training by day and praying by night. Utilizing Hermaeus Mora's power, he is able to train his one- and two-handed swordsmanship to levels unseen, and eventually at this far away village is visited by a warrior clad entirely in ebony armor. He takes council with Frea who tells Rahil that this must be part of his destiny- so he gathers his gear and goes to the Last Vigil to duel the Ebony Warrior. Rahil attempts to use his Whirlwind Cloak, but it has no effect on the Warrior, who counters with a powerful ebony blade and immense presence. Rahil uses Whirlwind Sprint to gain distance with the intention to use the range of the Bloodskal Blade to his advantage, but the Warrior swaps quickly to a bow and launches winter-cloaked arrows with extreme accuracy. Rahil realizes this will be a true combat, and activates Dragon Aspect and rushes in. The Ebony Warrior shows his hand and reveals that he, too, can use the thu'um- shouting Disarm and sending the Bloodskal Blade away before relentlessly striking at Rahil, who's gauntlets begin to buckle under the weight of the blocked strikes. Then, in an instant, as if conjured by Rahil's will, Boneshaver appears in his hand and perfectly parries the Warrior's advancing strike as if guided by another's hand, leaving the Warrior open to a riposte. Boneshaver finds an opening between the blacksteel plating, plunging straight through the Ebony Warrior's shoulder- his arm goes limp, his blade falls, and he drops to his knees in front of Rahil. The final words spoken by this most worthy foe are "At last, Sovengarde." Rahil falls back, sitting in the snow, catching his breath. He wonders if he should unmask this foe, to see his face and memorize it- but reconsiders. If this spirited warrior wished to take off his helm and be seen beneath the mask, he would have done it himself. The Ebony Warrior was his identity, and Rahil would not take that from him. After retrieving the Bloodskal Blade and taking a short rest, Rahil buries the body in the snow, leaving the blade in the ground as a burial marker. He wonders if one day they will meet again in Sovengarde, then packs up his items and begins the trek back to Hammerfell with one goal in mind- Rahil will bring the Empire and the Dominion to their knees and free his home of their influence.

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