My eyes snapped open, it felt like I just woke up. My head also kind of hurt, looking up I saw other people. We all were aligned in a circle. In the sky were stars and below us was a large planet. I recognized it some how as Nirn.

I paused taking in information, until a man in a fancy red and purple suit appeared. "Haha! Welcome to the Beta Testing of Elder Scrolls 8 you guys! Now I am sure you have plenty of questions, like how did you get here! What are we doing. Blah, Blah, Blah. Quiet down and I'll tell ya!"

I hadn't spoken, perhaps the others had? I couldn't hear them, so maybe it was some sort of one way call? The well-dressed announced tapped a microphone. "So, like I said. This is a beta test! Which means you are gonna be bound to a single part of the game for the sake of simplicity. Second you will be constricted to a time period. Yes in the full game you will be able to explore all Nirn and start anywhere in Nirn. That includes different time periods."

his speech was paused by a single breath. "For you lore mongers, we do have a new crisis that is centered around this specific game. However for you lot, discovering the main quest will be beyond difficult. After all you will be restricted by 1 time period. Starting all in one continent, now you can leave the starting continent. However I suggest you don't as you may get lost. An as a warning, you will get lost."

So what was the time period? Where would we begin? He should've waited at least a little as he provided the answer almost instantly. "The beta will take place in Tamriel, specifically during the game of Skyrim. Yes, we know the joke. That's why we are playing into it. In this beta most of the game skyrim has been completely converted over. We did update many things though, so beware what you think you know. May not be true."

That made sense, I jumped though as a screen appeared before me. The announcer explained, "This is your Journal. It will contain your quests, profile, and the map. There are no saves, no respawns. If you wish to level up, you must sleep. Now we get to the good part. Character Creation!"

He snapped and the screen changed, "Pick three skills trees you wish to specialize in. You will get bonus experience in these three skill trees. Everything else you need to learn on your own. So chose wisely."

The light on the announcer disappeared and he vanished from view. I looked back to the screen. A list of the skill trees were displayed. Most of them were the skill trees from skyrim. However 4 new skill trees existed. Acrobatics, Hand to Hand, Empowerment and Blessings. Acrobatics seemed to be throwing knives and similar tricks. Hand to hand was martial arts and pugilism. Empowerment and Blessings however I had no clue what they could be.

I scratched my head as I thought about which three skill trees I wanted. I definitely wanted stealth, even if you didn't have good pickpocketing or combat skills. Stealth could carry you those skills for you. So I picked stealth as one of my skill trees instantly. 

For the second, if I wanted an all around good skill, it would be speechcraft. Its highly underrated, if this was gonna go how I thought it would. Speechcraft would give me persuasion checks, better prices, and if I can learn Thu'um, it would increase my shout power. However a feeling in the back of my head made me think it would be even better than those three examples.

For my third pick it was a tough choice. This wasn't skyrim, the beta test we were in was just taking place in skyrim's setting. So I gave it a lot more thought than the other two. Ultimately I think the decision was some kind of magic. As the four new skill trees I had no clue on any of the skills or perks in it. Second the physical combat styles could be learned through effort.

As for magic? In the lore you needed a talent for the stuff. So I was leaning toward magics. Ultimately I decided on either Restoration or Alteration. Conjuration could be too dangerous. What if lore rules apply and I accidentally summon a dremora that kills me? I was never fan of destruction and Illusion was useless in my eyes. Which left my two choices.

Both had their perks, Restoration was obvious, but Alteration was also a bit underrated. It increased all alterations, meaning it also effected your enchanting skill, your alchemy skill and even your speechcraft. The spells paralyze and transmute alone were worth it. Transmute would provide an immense increase to my ability to make money in combination with speechcraft. 

I had convinced myself it seems. I selected Alteration, I really wanted the passive effects. Specially if I wanted to somehow learn dragon tongue. I jumped as the announcers voice came back. "About time! I was waiting so long for you lot to finish! Everyone has selected their skill trees, now for those who were lucky enough to not overlap any skill trees you may pick one bonus for each of those skill trees."

Two of the three skill trees I picked were glowing, Speechcraft and Alteration. It seemed I was free to come up with any bonus I wanted. Well almost, I was restricted to it being related to the skill tree. I thought for a moment this time my decision with alteration was easier. I wanted three personalized spells. Divergence a spell that could create a new spell from any existing spell. Fusion a spell that could combine two existing spells. Finally for the third, I'll call it... Conversion. It would change active spells into passive effects or changing a passive effect into a new spell.

For speech craft, it was the harder decision. My guess we wouldn't have the powers of the dragonborn so no soul absorption. I got an idea, I would choose an ability similar to that of skill books. I chose to own a book that would teach me the dragon tongue and the many dragon shouts.

Once I was done the announcer spoke again, "The lucky ones make their decisions? Good, next is your race. Decide quickly, here is a mirror."

The next second a mirror showed my face as the basic Nord. I looked around and everyone else appeared the same as me. however a few changed their genders. I rolled my eyes, i had no clue if those who changed their genders were actually women. However I wasn't gonna change my gender. I looked at the other options.

I could pick one race or I could pick two races and be a half breed. The exception was Beast folk could only half-breed with other beast folk. Certain options allowed for being a half breed of the extinct snow-elves or Akaviri. The Beast folk had a few new races though. Though selecting any of those races were no different than killing yourself. Well, unless you picked a Riekling or Falmer, though you would need to have the choice to pick your starting point.

I would have picked my race based on my starting place. However, clearly if that was an option they thought of that. Which was why we had to pick a race before a starting zone. I decided on a Nord Snow Elf hybrid. Their combined racial traits gave me a 85% resistance to the cold. The trade off for being a hybrid is I received no racial ability. It was fine, I liked the near immunity to the cold.

Now I just had to edit my character's face. I decided to look more traditionally Nordic. I gave myself the elven ears though and purple eyes. If character customization gave me the ability of purple eyes. i always went from them. I paused...

However I was playing this really distorted my memory. I had no recollection of getting here. However my memory of my gaming habits was seared into my skull. Speaking of, I made myself have some more chiseled features. I couldn't remember my natural looks. So what was a little bit of charisma added to my character.

My face looked too plain, I decided to give myself a light beard. Something that covered my chin completely, but not too hairy. I made my hair black as I didn't like the blond and brown hair natural to Nords. I gave myself a lot of head hair, enough that it covered my head and neck completely. Finally I got to the body.

I decided on a fairly muscular body. I didn't know if the scales effected my over all stamina and strength so I decided on a relatively normal frame. Though the scales included features I didn't expect. I adjusted the length of a special scale. I made it larger than the average, but not freakishly big. 

Lastly seemingly was my clothes. I could select a few options. In the end I decided on a set of hide clothes. The type with a lot of fur, just because I was resistant to the cold didn't mean i wasn't scared of it. That's why I went a hybrid in the first place. 

Lastly I needed a name. I had no memory of my real name. So I needed a good one. I clicked my tongue as I got one. I typed in the name Vek Frostwane, I liked the sound. The first name was simple while the last name was a pun on the fact I have such a high frost resistance. I liked it.

"OKAY!" I jumped at the announcers voice returning. I swear he's doing it on purpose. He continued, "Now you lot have created most of what you need. The only thing left is your backstory. Now if you are a terrible writer or just too lazy. Leave that blank and you will be thrown somewhere random. However just know depending on how good your backstory is."

I don't know if it was just me, but he looked into my soul or something. His voice became monotone and he said. "This will be the last time you hear from me. So just remember, stay safe, play smart, and don't make any stupid mistakes. Once your backstory is finished you will wake up in a random location or wherever you ended the backstory. Good luck gamers, and always know... It just works."

With that he vanished. The only light shining on the other players. None of us could speak to one another. Nor could we see each other's characters anymore either. I looked down at the little screen. I guess I'll make my background.