Skyrim Real Roleplay - Let-It-Be

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed

I try to wipe off the oil before the lake fire engulfs me. Figuring I could outrun the trail of oil I left behind, I took off into the forest again. About a minute later, I heard the familiar cracking and popping of burning trees. The lake fire reached up at ignited this side of the forest as well.

Running faster than ever, I went into a tall stone tower where two other land striders were. After I shut the door and made them run up to avoid the flames, the tower was knocked down. As I was falling, I looked around to see what destroyed the tower, only to see a dragon made out of flames roar at me. It opened its mouth again, and prepared a breath attack.

“Don’t hurt me!” I yelled, throwing my hands up in front of my face, like it would stop the attack. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes, still bracing for an attack, only to see that I was back in the inn.

While I’m dressing I started to think that everybody who sleeps on these beds has nightmares and can’t get a good nights’ rest, and that’s why everyone in Skyrim is trying to kill me. After picking up the scattered bones and scales in the room, I made my way down to the kitchen area to have breakfast.

“Oh, hello,” the Redguard said, surprised anyone would talk to her. “Hulda isn’t awake yet.”

“That’s alright,” I responded, grabbing a nearby seat. “Do you have any sweetrolls?”

She gave me a strange look. “We have a few … would you like one?” I nodded, and gave her the gold for it. “Eat up, I guess.” She returned to cooking what looked like a stew.

As I devoured the sweetroll, I pondered what I would do today. Then I remembered the two Redguard soldiers from last night. “Did you know,” I said, swallowing what was left of the roll, “that two Redguards are looking for a female Redguard?” After I said it, I realized how ridiculous that sounded, and how little info I got from the soldiers last night.

“Oh, no, they’ve found me!” She replied quietly. Apparently, it was enough to trigger something in her. She grabbed me by the arm, and took me to a vacant room upstairs. She then pulled a dagger on me, and pressed it against the back of my chest. She didn’t stab me, but she made it clear that she would in an instant.

The cook then asked me questions about her assailants. When I didn’t respond, she yelled “Answer me!”

“Quiet down!” I finally answered, whispering yet yelling it at the same time. “I don’t know anything about this ‘Alik’r’ you keep speaking of, and I’m not one of their spies,” I softly responded. “Now can you please let me go? If you don’t, you’ll wake up the innkeeper.”

She tensed up, and then freed me. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting away the dagger. “It’s been difficult trying to keep up this ruse.” The cook soon told me that her real name was Iman, a noble from Hammerfell, but she was using a fake name of Saadia. I needed to kill these mercenaries. I looked at her in disbelief.

“How am I going to kill all of the mercenaries?” I said. She told me to just kill the leader and the rest would scatter. That seemed a bit more doable. Iman also told me that one of their soldiers was captured up in the Dragonsreach jail (I should collect my bounty as well …), and if I want get the location of their leader, I should get it from him.

I opened the doors, and promised Iman that I would get rid of the assailants. I walked out of the inn, and made my way up to Dragonsreach. Still no sign of Lydia. Maybe she gave up searching for me.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

After opening the double doors, I saw that Proventus wasn’t up next to the throne like he was all the other times I saw him. I questioned a nearby Nord maid where he is. She told me he’s still asleep, and wouldn’t be awake until 8:00. I asked where the jail was, and she pointed me in the right direction. I thanked her, and walked back outside.

Walking into the jail brought back a few bad memories. I remembered exploring a part of the abandoned city in Gideon. All of the elders said not to go there, but the tribemates my age thought we were old enough to explore. We got into the old jail cells and played a few games there. The floor couldn’t hold all five of us after a while, and collapsed.

When we all came to, we yelled for help, but no one could hear us. One of my friends broke his leg from the fall. All of us panicked, especially at the sight of his leg. We were trapped for a few hours, though it felt like days down there. We were finally rescued when we didn’t come home at sunset. My friend with the broken leg was brought to our healer and was able to walk again, but our parents wouldn’t let us play outside of their supervision for a long time.

Getting the information out of the soldier wasn’t too hard. I just paid for his release, and he told me that their leader, called Kematu, was hiding out west in a place called Swindler’s Den. What a fitting name. As I left, I heard the Nord guard say he “lost the key.” These Nords, I swear …

I walk back outside, blinded by the new sunlight. Surely Proventus is up and about now? I walk back into the main building of Dragonsreach. Still no sight of him. He’s clearly an Imperial with how much he sleeps. Hopefully, this means Farengar is asleep as well, and I can use his enchanting table.

No such luck. I walk into the side-room, only to see his face in a book. He doesn’t look up from the sound of my footsteps, but I figured he knew it was me. “Well?” he said, arrogant as ever.

“I learned a thing or two,” I paused, and then continued, “about magic.” I didn’t want anyone else to know about our little problem. “Mind if I learn a new spell?” He waved me away, giving me a mixed signal of yes and no. Regardless, I walked closer, and bought three spell tomes: one to cast the white powder from my hands, one to launch the powder spikes like from Fort Ilinalta, and the other to launch lightning bolts at my enemies (Frostbite, Ice Spike, and Lightning Bolt).

I also disenchanted the Fire Sword from the bandit, which jogged my memory of the bounty. I don’t know how I forgot about it, what with that being the reason I walked into the palace. I never realized before how engrossed I can get into magic. I threw the stolen amulet at Farengar, and walked out to meet Proventus.

I got a reward of 400 gold; much more than I was expecting, and it helped deal with the bribe that I paid the wizard. After he thanked me for “service that I had done for Whiterun,” I walked into the marketplace to prepare for my excursion. I sold the bones, scales, and most of the tusks (shopkeeper ran out of money); I’ve studied these pieces enough, and I’m sure that I’ll run into more of them. Arcadia also saved me from another disease today.

Walking outside, I bumped into a Nord girl. At first I thought it was Lydia, but this land strider wasn’t wearing any armor and was carrying a flower basket. That didn’t seem to fit Lydia’s strong Nord nature.

“Sorry about that,” I said, picking up some of the flowers. “These are some nice flowers, miss …”

“Ysolda,” she finished my sentence. “Just Ysolda. I was going to sell these flowers at the market, but oh well.” I felt bad for it, so I asked if there was anything I could do to make up for it.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

“Well,” she said, pondering. “The Khajiit caravans were looking for a mammoth’s tusk. I need one for leverage to try and become a trader.” I had one of them, but I’m still not convinced to help with that. Mammoth tusks are way more expensive than some flowers, no matter how bountiful or beautiful they are.

“Why do you want to become a trader?” I asked, trying to change the subject. She explained to me that before her parents passed away, she promised them that she would become the greatest merchant in all of Skyrim. She’s without her parents too …

“Here,” I handed her my spare tusk. “Hope you have luck on your career.” She looked overjoyed, and had a tear in her eye. She taught me a few trading techniques, and how some merchants lie just to get a deal. “Like Arcadia,” she said. “She will tell you that you have any type of disease just to get a purchase out of you.”

I didn’t have a disease? “Thank you for your advice,” I said as I walked into the potion shop.

“What do you need my friend?” Arcadia asked with a smile. I was angry beyond belief.

“You!” I yelled. I paused. Should I make a scene? She was just trying to make some coin. Especially with the war going on, and now dragons, maybe I shouldn’t burn down her shop …

“Do you have any healing potions for sale?” I asked in a much calmer tone. She quickly nodded, and gave me her entire stash of potions, and at a discount! I thanked her, and walked out triumphant.

I also walked to the local smith to see if she has any better armor. Sadly, there weren’t any steel wares made. After a quick buy of the most expensive enchanted boots, she agreed to teach me how to make steel armor of my own. (level up, steel smith)

I also gave her my gold ore that was transmuted, and told her if she could smelt them, she could have a cut of it. She agreed, and I made my way out of Whiterun.

As I walked westbound, I saw the watch tower from yesterday, along with the dragon’s skeleton. The fire was at least put out now, but still no progress to repair it … I’m sure the Proventus is working on it.

A little while further, I found a burnt house, most likely from the dragon attacks as well. I rested here for a while, trying to figure out how this house came down. I found a chest buried under the floorboards. The previous owners were pretty clever to hide their valuables down there.

With my coinpurse a bit heavier, I walked out to meet a fellow traveler. I didn’t notice from afar, but his skin was a sickly orange color. “Are you … alright?” I asked, slowly approaching.

“Do I look okay?!” he lashed back. “Yes, feel free to laugh at the diseased.” When I offered him my spare disease-curing elixir, he laughed and said, “You think this is a regular disease? This is from Peryite, the Taskmaster.” The name rang a bell.

“A Daedra,” I remarked. He nodded, and marked a shrine to Peryite on my map. Being able to talk to a Daedra would be … fantastic. The land strider soon walked away, saying he’s getting out of Skyrim as soon as he can.

I walked next to an abandoned castle, looking at its structure as I passed. The “guards” posted at the watch were nothing more than dummies fitted with swords and shields. It looks like some swindlers might be present there.

I snuck up the side of a destroyed battlement and took out a bandit before the rest noticed. The rest of the bandits sprang into action soon after, but were burned to a crisp afterwards. I was able to dodge the arrows fired from them; they clearly haven’t had much experience. I opened up a side-door, hoping to catch more off guard.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

Soon inside, I walked right into a trap that ensnared me. It didn’t completely clamp down on my legs because of the steel boots, but it was powerful enough to puncture and wound my legs. I heard the bandits come closer, to inspect the sound. I limped over to a hallway, and un-hinged the trap. I started healing the wounds when the bandits finally found me.

The feeling didn’t return to my legs, but I was able to dodge against the wall, bash with my shield, and run to the table in the middle of the room for support.

Finishing the mending of my wounds, I channeled my flames to stop the bandits. They soon fell afterwards, but not before one of them hit me in the side with a mace. The wind was knocked out of me and it felt like a rib was broken, but luckily there wasn’t any bleeding.

I numbed the impact while slowly walking down the set of stairs. At the bottom, there were some ragged pants folded neatly on a shelf. It would be nicer to dive in those instead of getting all my gear wet. I grabbed them, and finished restoring me to full health. Turned out there wasn’t a broken rib, and if there was then I’m a better healer than I thought.

There was a long corridor with torches illuminating the main path, and multiple locked cells on each side. I was able to pick them all, but there weren’t any people in them; anyone living, anyways.

At the end of the hallway, there was a mage preforming an autopsy on a dead … creature? I don’t know how else to explain it. Dispatching the mage pretty easily, I examined the corpse closer.

This creature has a thick coat of fur (I’m starting to think all creatures in Skyrim do), with heavy, calloused joints. These joints, however, supported huge arms and legs, and is very muscular, despite having a relatively thick layer of fat. And the most notable thing about this creature is that it has three eyes! It probably helps see prey, but I can do that just fine with two.

I felt content about my examination, and continued on through the castle. I opened up to a mess hall area, with one bandit sitting down. With my bow and arrow, I wounded him in the chest, and soon fired another shot, ending him, but not before alerting the rest of the castle to my presence.

I switched back to my shield and ranged fire, and soon dispatched or a Nord wielding a battle axe. It seems like all Nords do is swing around giant steel weapons and drink mead.

A mage came out of a side-room and shot lightning at me, to which I responded with my own bolts of fire. The battle was quickly decided, though her bolts burned my scales where they connected.

I also noticed that her bolts instantly found her target, which could be better than my fire balls. But, as of late I noticed that my flame spells have been doing more damage (level up, augmented flames).

I walked up to another dining hall (though to be honest this seemed more like the storage wing) and starting burning an Orc and a Nord. It was simple to dodge their brutish overhead swings, but sadly the table between us didn’t fare so well.

I stormed into a side-room off the dining hall, only to run into an old land strider. “Were they keeping you prisoner?” I asked, still ready to attack.

“Prisoner?” She laughed at the notion. Well, more like cackled at her age. “Oh no dearie, I just cook and clean. People come and go so fast I can barely keep track.” I let down my guard, and asked if she wanted to share lunch. “Not if I didn’t cook it dearie. But I wouldn’t mind to sit down and talk.”

So we sat down at a not-destroyed table, and talked about the comings and goings of war while she gave me her special homemade meal, apple-cabbage stew. It tasted amazing, but it’s to be expected; Agnis looked like she knew how to cook a proper meal for a huge group.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

Between bites, I asked if a man called Kematu was here. “Not that I knew dearie. But that name does ring a bell.” She then told me that he was taking refuge with some bandits in Swindler’s Den, and she marked it on my map. What a kind lady. I thanked her for the meal and her time, and she was back to sweeping the castle.

I finally found the golden chest that all bandits seem to have, and found a wooden amulet, carved into a symbol and embroidered with beads. “An amulet to Dibella, the goddess of Beauty.” I remember reading about her. Maybe she’ll grace me with her speech if I wear it.

Taking it, I walked out of the castle, and made my way towards where it was marked. It was on the other side of a small mountain. I wasn’t particularly happy for the long trek back that was bound to happen, but it would give me ample time to transmute the rest of my ore.

On the other side of the mountain, I found a shrine to Stendarr. It wasn’t until after I prayed that I realized I knew most of these gods’ names by heart. These Divines seem to have more interaction with mortals than Seth had …

After being blessed by the god of Mercy, I soon found a lookout for a bandit’s cove. I don’t know if he saw me or not, but I pulled out my map and figured I was close to Swindler’s Den.

The bandit didn’t move from their post, but I figured he finally saw me because he drew his weapon. It was an easy battle, especially because I was able to launch fire at him while he tried to close the distance.

Entering the cave, I muffled my boots, and hid in the entrance while I overheard a conversation from two bandits.

“… I’m not sure I like the Alik’r hiding out here.” So Kematu is here.

“Keep it to yourself. They’re not paying us to talk.” Are they paying for protection then?

“They’ll be gone as soon as they’ve found whoever they’re looking for.” Iman. I won’t let that happen.

I didn’t hear what the next one said, for he had trouble breathing with an arrow in his neck. The bandit that still remained was so shocked at his comrade’s sudden death that I was able to dispatch him as well.

Walking through the tunnel, I found the next group of bandits. I twisted one of them to fight her friend, and soon dispatched the axe-wielding Nord. My ranged fire soon charred the twisted one.

The next tunnel led me into a dining area, filled with at four or five of the bandits. Luckily the patrolling bandit didn’t see me, and I backed out of the room.

How can I fight five bandits at once? Ingenuity struck, and I realized I didn’t have to fight all of them. I readied my Fury spell, and casted it at each of the bandits.

One of them was resistant to the spell, but was soon attacked by his once-allies. As I watched them fight him and soon each other, I pondered the thought of fighting against your own will. I fought the thought of killing a few people for a long time, but as much as I can relate to fighting yourself, this is out of necessity. I couldn’t kill the plantation owners and survive. These bandits at least have a chance to survive.

I snapped back to reality when an arrow struck me in the right shoulder. I looked up to see a bandit on a cliff who just finished pelting arrows into his friends, and wants revenge on the mage that made it happen.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

Not wanting to fight him with him having an advantage, I dodged the next arrow, going into a new corridor and found a resting area for the bandits. There was a few salmon cooking over a fire; I’ll be sure to eat those for dinner.

I ran through the next tunnel, which brought me up to the same level as the thug. It was easy to dodge his arrows when his target kept moving around him, and I suppose being on fire is a nice distraction as well. He fell soon afterwards.

His body fell onto a leg trap like the one I walked onto, and made a huge impact to his left side. Even if the bandit tried to kill me, he didn’t deserve his body to be mangled after death. I was going to mend his wounds, but I don’t have a healing spell for another. Plus, I don’t know if I would even be able to. So instead I unhooked the trap, wrapped the wound with a nearby pelt, and blessed the body for Sovngarde.

The next tunnel brought me downwards and through a river. It felt good to find an actually body of water near Whiterun, even if it’s just an underground river. I waded through it (it wasn’t big enough to swim), walked through the waterfall, and was soon surrounded by soldiers.

These soldiers weren’t clothed like the other bandits; instead, they were wearing garbs that looked like the soldiers from Whiterun. “Alik’r,” I said out loud, preparing my flames spell.

“Hold, warrior,” I heard someone order, to which all the Alik’r soldiers followed without hesitation. Kematu must be a powerful man if they’re this responsive. Either that or they’re extremely loyal. Maybe both.

He certainly looks intimidating. Even with all the baggy clothing I could tell he was very muscular, and carried two curved swords at his belt. I didn’t even know you could make curved swords …

The leader tried to convince me that Iman was the true criminal here, but I wasn’t buying it. I admit, though, when he acknowledged that they knew her fake name Saadia truly was a façade, I was surprised. He must’ve noticed my shock and offered me a deal to sell out Iman.

I refused in an instant. “It’s a shame that you’ll have to die here,” he said, unsheathing his swords. I didn’t have to look at the other soldiers to know that they did the same. “Get the lizard!”

Ugh. ‘Lizard.’ Now I have to win this fight more than ever, for Iman and for my own dignity. I twisted three of the Alik’r, and replenished my magicka while they were busy fighting themselves.

After dispatching of their own, the mercenaries soon turned their attention to me. I was able to burn two more of the soldiers before Kematu was next to me. He gripped his swords, and swung about wildly. If I haven’t put up my shield in time, he would’ve cut me in two.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

Turdas, 20th of Last Seed (cont'd)

After his attack, I bashed with my shield, made to the other side of the room, and burned the last remaining soldier before their leader was up on his feet.

That was an extremely easy battle for being outnumbered as much as I was. Shrugging off the feeling, I ate the salmon for dinner, and started the long trek back to Whiterun.

It was dusk, and the sky was its brilliant tint of blue-orange, but its hint of purple told me that the twilight wasn’t going to last much longer. The stars were shining in the sky as well. I looked up to them, wondering if the Divines really live there …

As I was wandering, I didn’t notice the drop off, and tumbled down the mountain. I really should pay more attention on where I’m going. Once I stopped falling (and checked to make sure all of my things were with me) I saw a green glowing light in the distance.

I walked closer and found out that the light was coming from … I really don’t know how to explain it. It looked like a land strider mixed with a tree. I set it on fire, and it was brought down just as easy.

One of the many horned beasts in Skyrim charged me, but luckily I heard its hooves and burned it to death. Strange, since all of the creatures I’ve met before were extremely docile, even skittish, and ran away from me.

I should inspect this tree creature. With the natural light gone, I lit a magical candle, and started with my examination. This creature has wooden limbs, that even when set on fire, were able to withstand the heat and keep its form.

It also seems that it can call upon creatures to attack for it, with the horned creature being an example. This tree creature also used insects as a sort of “magic,” so to speak. It was able to command the insects to swarm me like how I do with flames. Thank goodness mine does more damage, or I would’ve been filled with bugs.

I’ve got to get back to Whiterun. Luckily, the vantage point I was at let me see the lights from Dragonsreach, so I was able to get back in a timely manner.

I walked into Whiterun and found my gold bars in a barrel next to the smith’s house. That was pretty clever of her. I figured I’d smelt a few more gold bars before going to bed. I’m not completely tired, and anything’s better than the nightmares I’ve been having lately.

In between letting the bars cool, I was reading the book Farengar gave me, “The Book of the Dragonborn.” The book taught me a good deal about what it meant to be “Dragonborn.”

A few lines piqued my interest, though, especially “being Dragonborn is not a simple matter of hereditary.” Even though I didn’t know exactly what “hereditary” means, the author said that being Dragonborn is a blessing of Akatosh. Could there be more than one Dragonborn at the same time?

After getting my last gold bar, I walked back into the Bannered Mare and rented the same room. I was approached by a man in a black cloak who wanted to have a drinking contest with me. He said that I “looked like I could hold my own.” Needless to say, I refused. I can’t be drunk; I need to have my wits about me when I’m talking to a Daedra.

I didn’t see Iman anywhere, so I just went upstairs to my room, changed into the pants, and fell asleep. As comfortable as my robes are, feeling the comfort of the wool blankets on my scales felt is better than anything. Soon after falling onto the bed, I fell asleep.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

BHAALER posted...

I really like Let-It-Be of Gideon. Keep up the great writing, phil!

Coolio! I'm glad a few people are enjoying these RRPs. I know that I'm enjoying all of them, and trying to keep up with each of their stories. How each character is portrayed really makes each story different and exciting.
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There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

laml3rian posted...

Did I miss something..? I was totally waiting for an epic fight with Kamatu. = (

Did I miss part of what happened?

To be honest ... the fight with Kematu was extremely bland. I couldn't even think of a way to embellish it. It was a mixture of dodge-fire-dodge-fire for about two minutes, and then he died. I didn't know how to spice it up it was so bad. D:


laml3rian posted...

Absolutely. When we were all in BFB... I dunno maybe I'm getting too into it, but to me at least... it almost seemed like a different place when we were all in there.

I hope that happens again, at some point.

For real! Maybe we should all collab on the next point after we all get caught up on our typing. I still have like 5 days to type up, though ... AND SCHOOL STARTS IN TWO WEEKS!!!! D:

It's a bit sad that Togoth might not be joining us, however.


lami3rian posted...

I dunno how much time you've got in Skyrim (phil, not L-I-B) but you absolutely nail the "stranger in a strange land" vibe so perfectly. From the "weird" animals right down to the food. I can't get enough.

Not too much time; I've had just a few characters (a couple Argonians, a Khajiit, and a High Elf), but I've had enough of the experience to make a novel about it.

This game lets you experience something new every time you turn it on; you just have to let it in. (my sleep deprived "deep" saying of the night)
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There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one !Smogang

ShavinaRRP posted...

Potion of cure disease from Arcadia: 230 septims
Paying the A'kier prisoner's fine: 500 septimes
Not being drunk when you speak to a daedra: Priceless

I may be wrong here, but Let-it-be doesnt drink does he? I guess that sanguin's rose will never be his.

Yup, he doesn't drink anything that isn't water. Let-It-Be doesn't touch nord mead, and doesn't know what the other alcoholic beverages are. The only drinks he does know is the local Morrowind drinks (Flin, Sujamma, Greef, etc.) from the plantation, and even then it's only the names of them he's familiar with.
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There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one! Smogang

Fredas, 21st of Last Seed

I opened my eyes, and found myself at the bottom of the burning stone tower. Seeing the crumbling tower and trees around me, I picked myself up and ran away from the flames.

When I was running through the forest, I heard a voice call out for help. It kept echoing throughout the woods, “Help me, help me.” I didn’t know how, but I knew exactly where this voice was coming from. Changing my direction, I found a castle amidst the trees.

I opened the large double doors, and found a large room, decorated with pillars and a fountain in the middle of the room. It was hard to see anything else though, because the only lighting was a lit torch on one of the pillars.

The voice was louder. It was coming from behind a door, near the torch. As I opened the door, a hand grabbed me from the other side.

It was Iman! But … her body was decayed, and dried pieces of flesh flaked off with every movement. “Help me,” she said, now speaking in a whisper. “He’s coming, you’ve got too help me…”

I flinched back, releasing her hold on me. As I turned to run away, the room was filled with undead soldiers. These soldiers all had curved swords.

One of them drew out his, and advanced towards me. I was paralyzed with fear, frozen in my own scales. As the corpse raised his sword, a chilling wind from the open front doors blew out the torch.

I jumped up from bed, landing on the floor. Curse these dreams. Curse these terrible beds. Curse them all!

Sighing, I dressed into my tattered robes and armor, and walked down to find Iman. Not in the kitchen … Maybe she’s in the upstairs room?

There she was, sitting down, waiting for my return. “Is Kematu taken care of?” I nodded, and she looked ecstatic. “Oh thank you! I was able to sneak some of my riches out of Hammerfell. You’ve more than earned it.” She grabbed an overstuffed coinpurse. “You’re always welcome here at the Bannered Mare.”

She reached out her hand to give it to me. My mind saw flaked of skin falling off … “Thank you for your hospitality,” I told her, taking the purse. As we walked down, I asked for another sweetroll for breakfast. What should I do now?

“Oh, quick question …” I started, sitting down at a table, “why is it no one is ever awake before sunrise here?” Maybe I could start the trek up to Winterhold for the college …

She chuckled. “Oh, that. This new guy came in and got everyone drunk with a home-made alcohol drink.” She set down the sweetroll in front of me. “I can see you didn’t have any.” What about talking to Peryite?

I shook my head, for my mouth was full. Swallowing, I said, “I’ve never tried anything like that before.” I thought, and then corrected, “Well, once. But I didn’t like it.”

My mind flashed back to the shack I was sequestered in, about three years ago. One of the older Argonians had out a silver bottle and was sipping it, savoring every drop. He went unnoticed by the rest of the shack for a while, but when I walked up to him, he offered me a drink. “It’s really good stuff.”

I grasped the bottle, and took a drink. It took everything in me to not spit it back out. Coughing because of the bad taste, the oldest Argonian in the shack saw what just happened, and started to yell at the one in front of me in the land striders’ tongue. He yanked the bottle out of my hand, and started shaking it in front of the younger Argonian’s face.
---
There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one! Smogang

Fredas, 21st of Last Seed (cont'd)

The noblemen entered the shack to see what the commotion was about, and when they found the oldest Argonian with the bottle, they took him outside and executed him. It wasn’t until after what had happened did anyone tell me that the beverage I drank was the Dunmer drink called “flin.” From that moment onward, I promised to never drink another alcoholic beverage.

“Something wrong?” Iman’s voice snapped me back to reality. “You stopped eating.”
“Oh, nothing’s wrong,” I said, returning a smile to her face. “I was just thinking about what to do today.” I thought it over again, and asked, “Do you know anything about Winterhold, or the area around Markarth?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Why, are they your next destinations?” I nodded. “Well, Winterhold is cold and mountainous. And it’s always covered in snow.”

I gave her a strange look. “Snow? Is that the white powder that falls from the sky?”

She nodded. “I’m a bit surprised you didn’t know what snow is. Of course, I’m sure there isn’t any of that in Black Marsh.” We laughed, me doing it more out of respect.

“And Markarth?” I inquired. She informed me the weather in Markarth is very humid at midday, but at nights it can get cold.

“Like Whiterun, but wetter,” she explained. “And it can get very foggy in Markarth, so be wary. You’re not going to be able to see as far as you normally would in fog.”

I thanked her for her advice, and walked out of the bar. I’ve been extremely lucky to avoid Lydia these past few days. I’m glad that I’m going to be leaving Whiterun, and learning about the Skyrim culture a bit more.

As I walked to the front gates, the smith stopped me. “Hail, Argonian. Did you find your gold bars?” I nodded; she smiled and said, “Good. Since you look like the mage-researcher type, I saved a couple good pieces for you.”

She went inside the shop, and came out with metal boots and gauntlets. These pieces looked golden brown with age, yet looked like they could withstand multiple blows. She told me these pieces were made by the Dwemer, an ancient race of Tamriel. I’ve never seen a “Dwemer” elf before …

I bought the pieces, trading my old steel armor and a couple gold bars as leverage. With us both happy, I made my way to the gates.

“Argonian, wait!” she called out. “A Nord was looking for you. I think her name was Lydia?” Oh yeah, I remember that from yesterday. Lydia went searching everywhere for me.

“I know. If you see her again, tell her she’s been released of her duties as housecarl, and free to pursue her dreams.” I walked away to the gates, determined to set out this time. I didn’t hear the smith say anything else; I think she was too shocked to see the Argonian she had dealings with the past couple days turn out to be the new Thane of Whiterun.

As I walked out the gates, I saw smoke nearby. Investigating the smoke brought me to a camp of Khajiits, each set to a different task.

I walked up to one on a carpet stringing a necklace, when he looked up and smiled the trademark Khajiit grin. “How can I help you?” I noticed a mammoth’s tusk in his wares. It seems Ysolda has been busy achieving her dreams.

As I browsed his items, he told me about his homeland, Elsweyr. He described the sandy deserts, the hot temperature, and the ancient buried details with such detail I felt like I could feel the sand beneath my boots. I bought a reddish-orange gem the sparkled like the sun in my hands. “Take it, and be reminded of the tales I have told you,” the merchant said.
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There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one! Smogang

Fredas, 21st of Last Seed (cont'd)

These Khajiit were extremely welcoming of me. Maybe it was my coin, but the only other time I’ve had with their kind was on the plantation, and I never had a chance to converse with any of them. The noblemen didn’t like the idea of inter-racial alliances, I suppose. Even amongst slaves.

Wishing them luck on their travels, I headed towards the mountainous region to the west of Whiterun. The sun is in the sky now, which starts to warm me up on the inside.

I took this free time to transmute more iron ore. Gold has a lot of buying power I’ve noticed, and I can make jewelry out of it. I wonder what my mother’s jewelry would look like if it was made out of gold …

While I was lost in thought, I didn’t see two figures in the distance. They took this initiative and shot snow spikes at me.

Quickly snapping back to reality, I raised my shield in defense. The spike pierced my shield, and would’ve entered my skull if not for the shield taking the impact. I never knew that magic passes through regular shields.

My magicka was drained from the transmutations, and these mages had their magical shields raised already. My only chance of conquering the enemies is to slash them with my axe.

After dodging the last snow spike before the mages switched to snow-spitting from their hands, I raised my axe and brought it down on each of their heads.

The sound made from their skulls splitting sent a chill up my scales. Wiping the blood splatter off my face, I continued on, deciding against transmuting for the rest of the trip.

As I spotted a building off in the distance, I was ambushed by another claw creature. This time, however, I bashed it when it came upon my shield, disorienting the beast.

I started to set it on fire when a traveler came out of nowhere with a sword, and slashed the beast in the face. Together, we fell the beast much faster than either of us would have alone.

I asked the traveler his name. “Talsgar the Wanderer, at your service!” he bellowed. Even though his skin says Redguard, he can only be a Nord with such a name. “Nasty sabre cat, eh?”

“Is that what the creature’s called?” Thank goodness I’m starting to have names to beings now.

I shared a lunch of salmon steaks, a couple apples, and water (mead for the Nord, of course) with the bard at the nearby town called Rorikstead. I remember that the horse thief I was on the horse carriage with was from here … I don’t know why I thought of that.
“What’s the matter, friend?” Talsgar asked. “You seem deep in thought about something.” Was it that obvious?

“Just wondering how to get to here from Rorikstead,” I pulled out my map and showed the bard where the diseased land strider marked my map.

“Hmm …” he pondered, “You’re gonna want to get up to the peak through Karthwasten, a small mining town near Markarth.” He then looked at me strangely. “You’re not … trying to commune with a Daedra, are you? I’ve heard stories about that area.”

“Why?” I asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible. “Are Daedra bad in Skyrim?”

“Well, I can tell you’re not native to Skyrim if you’re asking that.” He then told me stories about how the Daedra are mostly looked upon as evil gods in most eyes, the only exceptions being Azura and Meridia. Maybe this was the wrong path to choose …

“I see,” I remarked. No, this is the path for me. I’m going to talk to a Daedra, and see for myself what’s so bad about them.

I thanked the bard for the stories, and gave him the rest of my mead that Lydia bought. I was never going to drink it anyways.

I walked out of the tavern, still traveling westbound until I reach Karthwasten. As I continued, the terrain got progressively steeper. Soon, there were actual cliffs with hundred feet drop-offs.
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There was a HOLE here, it's gone now.
Twenty-three is number one! Smogang