Falkriot

The Companions ventured south of Whiterun towards Falkreath, they would acquire supplies in the city and find someone to guide them through the massive forests. While the Companions were well-versed in hunting and everything involved in that, they were wary of accidentally wandering into a sanctuary protected by spriggans and other beasts. Killing the witches alone would require their full effort, so getting injured on the way would be catastrophic.

Unfortunately, as soon as they neared Falkreath they found the place on the brink of full-on rebellion against the newest Jarl, Dengeir's nephew Siddgeir who'd proclaimed his support for the Imperials.

Obviously, the discontent hadn't only gotten worse after the many defeats on the Imperial side, pushing the Stormcloak sympathisers to become bolder in their actions... This wasn't helped by the previous Jarl, Dengeir, encouraging them. Nor was Jarl Siddgeir's laziness in ruling the Hold.

Without Nenya, Dengeir's old steward doing all the work for the young Jarl, Falkreath would've fallen apart by now. Bandits roamed the forests, villages refused to pay taxes, and people more often than not snubbed the Jarl directly to his face.

Dengeir was only a little better, but he had a fierce enough reputation to sway most bandits. His habit of hastily executing bandits, thieves, and other criminals made it far too risky for most.

Jarl Siddgeir was attempting to give a speech to encourage the populace to believe in the Empire, but a large group of civilians were blatantly and loudly disagreeing with him... The guards didn't like the Jarl either, causing them to ignore some slights that might've otherwise been caught...

This is the scene the Companions walked in on.

"My people-" Siddgeir starts but is instantly cut off.

"GO BACK TO THE EMPIRE YOU PRISSY MILK-DRINKER!"

...

"My people! We must all remember that it is the Empire that-"

"GO DROWN YOURSELF IN A LAKE, COWARD!"

...

Siddgeir coughs into his fist, "Ahem. MY-"

"GO KISS A DRAGON YOU CUNT!"

"That's it! Guards! Arrest anyone who breaks the peace! No exceptions!" Jarl Siddgeir angrily exclaims, his soft upbringing making him unable to keep his temper in check.

"Ugh, I preferred Dengeir. He actually had a spine compared to this show pony." Shakeesh remarks louder than intended, causing Siddgeir to turn to them.

"And what would you know, Redguard? You'd know as much about ruling as you would about cleaning yourself!" the Jarl spits.

Shakeesh throatily chuckles, "I'd rather be unclean than a wet-behind-the-ears child who was given his position by an innocent-murdering tyrant. You feel comfortable under the boot, don't you boy? Didn't feel anything as your 'people' burned?"

Kodlak sighs, "Shakeesh, we should leave this matter and continue with our task. The witches are far more important than... This." he says, dismissively... Which Siddgeir decides to take as an insult.

"THIS!? Be quiet old man before I have you thrown in jail! I doubt you'd last a night there!"

"Runt, speak like that again and I'll take your head." Skjor growls as he glares at the Jarl.

"That's it! Guards! Take them, all of those armoured traitors!" Siddgeir angrily commands.

Reluctantly, a couple guards step forward and begin approaching the group... Though, even half of those paused when they identified who they were arresting.

"You dare arrest the Companions!?" Aela shouts, causing a commotion in the crowd.

"The Companions!?"

"GODS! I recognise them! Harbinger Kodlak! Aela the Huntress! The Jarl would dare touch them!?"

"Fuck the false Jarl! I'm not standing here and letting him dishonour our Hold!"

"YEAH! GET THAT IMPERIAL DOG AND STRING HIM UP!"

More and more of the enraged civilians begin getting on the bandwagon, and soon enough a full-on riot had started... With most of Falkreath's guards unwilling to lift a finger, Jarl Siddgeir soon found himself barricaded inside his longhouse alone, cowering at the mob clashed against the heavy wooden door.

"Did... Did we just start a riot?" Farkas mutters, unsure of himself.

"Morel like a revolution, if I know anything about mobs, they'll have that dumb lad hanging from the gates by the end of the day..." Vilkas says.

"Should we do anything?... Politics is not our place but, we started this didn't we?" Farkas questions, glancing at Kodlak.

The Harbinger shakes his head, "We are not responsible for what people may do in our presence... This," he gestures at the mob, "Was going to happen eventually. We've interfered enough indirectly, let's leave before anything else forces our hand."

"What about the guide? We'll be wandering blind without one." Saeko asks, unwilling to be lost in a forest for however long.

"We'll manage." Aela states, beginning to walk towards the gate.

...

"Wait... I, think I know someone who might help..." Saeko interjects.

"And who might that be? You've spent most of your time in Hammerfell haven't you?" Shakeesh asks.

...

"They're friends of Michael's... I haven't met them personally but, I think they'll help us..."

...

"Lead on then, Saeko. I trust your judgement." Kodlak nods.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A couple hours later...

"My trust was misplaced." Kodlak mutters as he stares at the skeletal door with glowing red eyes.

"The Dark Brotherhood... Michael's 'friend' was an assassin, and you've led us right to their doorstep. We'll be lucky to fight our way on now, Saeko..." Vilkas states.

Saeko shakes her head, "I'm sure that we'll be fine if you promise not to reveal this place to anyone. Michael's deal with them is pretty secure from what I heard... He actually offered to help me join them, I refused of course... I like to fight face to face."

"Hard to do with a dagger in your back." a little girl's voice remarks above them.

The group readies their weapons and looks over, spotting a child with glowing red eyes sitting on a nearby tree branch with a fanged grin.