Editing Scrollhammer: Holds of Skyrim (section)

====The Dragon War====

It was in the age of Ysgramor's sons that the Dragon Cult followed the travelers from Atmora to Skyrim. In the mountains of the east of the land dwelt the eyries of many great Dragons, the mightiest of which was Alduin World-Eater, firstborn of Akatosh, Bringer of End Times. It is he who had been prophesied to swallow the world into nothingness, and reigned as lord over all Dragons. But it is the desire of a Dragon to dominate all who are weaker than him; so it came to be that Alduin and his younger brothers, though sons of the time-god Akatosh, claimed to the Nords to be Akatosh himself in mortal form. The Dragon Cult raised up great and foul sacrifices to these Dragon tyrants, and in exchange were granted immortality, at the cost of the lives of their subjects. All Nords, once the most free of all men, a budding civilization, became slaves to the Dragon Cult and to Alduin's false claim to godhood. The Dragons held the power of the Thu'um, or the Voice, the ability to through their breath and very words command reality to alter to their whim. No blade could slay that which could turn it to dust with a whisper, no armor could withstand that which could breathe engulfing flames down from the heavens. All Nords lived in misery, under the Dragon Cults and their puppet kings.

But Shor and his wife Kyne could not suffer to see their children oppressed so. So Kyne, through divine wind, granted unto all mortals the power to use the Thu'um too, should they exert themselves to do so with all their spirit. The great Dragon Paarthurnax, greatest of Alduin's lieutenants, scourge of mortals, performed an act of betrayal against Dragonkind, but an act of salvation for mankind; he showed those whose fathers he had once feasted upon how to use the Thu'um, and taught them the sacred language in which it must be spoken. The power of the Dragons had been stolen by mortals. Mankind rose up against the tyranny of the Dragon Cult, slaying them and all those who still worshiped the Dragons, and through the power of the Thu'um cast the Dragons down from the sky and slew them.

But Alduin would not be put down with ease. Every Dragon the heroes slew, he shouted back to life with the Thu'um. Every hero who challenged him, he shouted to ashes. None could withstand his power. Yet he was banished to the aether by a means long forgotten; some say he was slain, but he was a god all along, and thus lived on. Others say he was caught up in his own prophecy, written for him in the Elder Scrolls. But all Nords fear that one day he may return, to bring about the end times.

[[Image:Alduinswall.jpg|thumb|700px|center]]

From these ruins was Skyrim rebuilt. The line of Ysgramor was no longer held back by the tyranny of Dragons, and was restored to its former glory. The many Jarls of those who had risen up returned to their people, and declared them free. But those who had sided with the Dragons and had fallen in battle were not allowed into Sovngarde by Shor, but rather forever wandered the land as the Draugr, the restless dead.