Xan'ith Karek, the Last Dragonborn

     Xan'ith Karek was born sometime between the beginning of the First Era and sometime before the Tsaesci first invaded Tamriel. Almost nothing for certain is known of her for the Tsaesci defaced and destroyed all records of her ever having existed. The only inhabitants who still remember her at all are the Kamal, and they revere her almost to the point of declaring her a goddess. They are very closed-mouth when it comes to talking about her. The only stories we were able to get from them was that the Tsaesci so feared her that they 'ate' all the humans living in Akavir at that time in order to destroy her. But even then they failed, for she was then and is now of the Dragonblood. Even as the Nord Tongues were building their power and knowledge of the Rotmulaag, the Dragons of Akavir taught Xan'ith Karek all that they knew.

     They did not hold with Alduin, and knew that the Tsaesci would soon begin a war that would drag them to their doom. And so in a manner known only to these dragons, they each shared a sliver of their souls with her that they would live on in her. Then they asked Akatosh to hide her, let her sleep the centuries away until the time when he would need to wake her and make her his Dovahkiin.

     The cavern is dark, not having seen the light of the sun for thousands of years, the only sound that can be heard is the slow drip of water seeping through the soil above to make its way to the tip of the stalactites in the roof of the cavern then drop to the tip of the stalagmite below, over time building them closer. A few having already met and fused, now growing into a column. The slow drip, drip, is interrupted by the sound of a pick punching through the distant wall. The shouts of the miners as they realize they have broken into a large cavern. The foreman and one of the dig team come running, poking a torch through the hole to catch a glimpse inside. The dig team member drops the torch and as it rolls the shadows it makes play among the rock teeth, some of the miners swearing they can see dragons inside. This causes a large stampede as the superstitious miners race for the dubious safety of the surface.

     For they are here, unknown to the Tsaesci, having trickled in one or two at a time, guided by the Ashen. The dig team member picks up a pick and works to enlarge the hole until he can make his way inside. Once through, he picks up the torch from the floor and holding it high, he looks around in almost hysterical wonder. No one has entered this cavern since it was sealed shut by the Tsaesci thousands of years ago, and all maps showing its location burned. How this one map found its way into their possession, no one knows and will not even speculate. But now they know that since the map has proven true and the cavern is in fact here, the rest of the story must be true as well. She must be here somewhere, the last one, according to everything else they have been able to pin down. He believes the last Dragonrider of ancient Akavir and just maybe the last Dragonborn as well is here, placed here to sleep by Akatosh himself. 

     He thinks on how this expedition got started, when the call went out from the White Gold Tower for a team to investigate a prophecy just read from one of the Elder Scrolls stored in the Tower. It amazed him to learn that one of the Moth Priests willingly gave up his sight to bring that prophecy out, and now he is on the cusp of finding the beginning. Wandering about for over an hour, doubt beginning to cloud his mind as the torch begins to die down. Then he sees it, the open area, clear of the rock fangs everywhere else in here. And in the center, a dias with a crystal sarcophagus. As he approaches, the braziers at the corners blaze up into life, casting light everywhere. He walks up and gently blows off the rock dust from the crystal cover of the sarcophagus. As he sees her face, the breath catches in his lungs, by the Gods she is beautiful.

     Just then a deep voice echoes throughout the cavern, "Xan'ith Karek hon faal zul do Bormahu, faal tiid meyz wa daal wa Vus, zu'u bel hi wa kos dii Dovahkiin, mon do dii zii, daal wa zu'u." (Xan'ith Karek hear the voice of Akatosh, the time comes to return to Nirn, I call you to be my Dragonborn, daughter of my spirit, return to me.) He cannot make out what exactly is being said, but he does recognize the language as Dovahzul. Then he catches sight of her eyes beginning to flutter open, and her chest rises as she breathes in. He tries to push open the top of the sarcophagus but the lid is too heavy. Inside Xan'ith sees what he is trying to do and smiles. She patiently waits until he has exhausted himself trying to push the lid off, thewn motions for him to stand back. He cannot believe his eyes as he does as she instructs and steps back out of the way. She releases, "FUS", and the lid is blown off the rest of the sarcophagus and clatters to the rock floor.

     The dig team member doesn't know what happened, for him the lid just flew off. He starts chattering questions toward her but she does not understand modern Cyrodiilic, and he does not understand anything she spoke when she was awake. She tries to climb out but is still weak after such a long interment. He sees this and steps up, gently offering to help her out. She nods her head, and he scoops his arms underneath her. As he carefully lifts her out, she places one arm around his neck. He turns to follow his track back to the hole he made in the cavern wall, but she makes a hand sign to go in another direction. He follows her directions to the opposite wall, to a small alcove cut into it. She them motions for him to put her next to a pair of levers protruding from the rock. She uses both hands to pull both levers down together, then pushes the left lever back up, pauses and then pushes the other one up. A seam opens in the rear of the alcove and the back moves away silently. Then he moves forward with her.