A/N: So this is my first attempt at a Gamer fic. I'll be starting in at Skyrim, and I plan to take it a lot slower than most other Gamer fics do their scaling. I got most of the outline for the Skyrim part, which will last for most of the foreseeable future. I plan to start universe-hopping when most of the Skyrim stuff is resolved.
For the stats, I'm working on a bot that keeps track of everything, including when the MC has which stats.
On the Gamer Omniverse discord server, you will be able to ask the bot the MC's stats. This server is discord. gg [SLASH] 4Dt3UZRK4Y
Do note that Spacebattles and QuestionableQuesting, where I also post this story, will ALWAYS be at least as and probably more up to date than on this site. This is because for those sites, I can let my discord bot handle the vast majority of the rendering in their native BBCode, while ffnet requires a fuckton of manual adjustment for all the stats.
This story will contain smut, in small measure. These parts will be censored on the Spacebattles version, but here and QuestionableQuesting will get the full version.
I highly recommend reading this fic on QuestionableQuesting, since it is most up-to-date, is uncensored, and has the less obtrusive stats. The bigger stat collections on there will also be collapsed behind a spoiler box, so that you don't have to scroll for as long as here.
Chapter 1 — Imprisoned
— A Dragon's Game —
I am J'samma. My mother is the leader of our little merchant caravan, and my father is one of the caravan's guards. I was born on the 20th of Evening Star, under the sign of the Thief.
I am also in deep trouble. Well, it's more that we are in big trouble. I try to slash the bandit coming at me with my dagger, but his shield crashes into my hand, and I drop the dagger with a scream. The man's club shoots into my belly faster than my eyes can follow, and I collapse to the ground, out of breath.
A foot lands on my back and pushes me flat. My arms are pulled behind my back, and I feel my hands being tied up.
"This one here may make a decent mining slave, guys."
Well, at least I won't d—. I hardly finish the thought, before I hear my father scream, and then hear the scream turn into a gurgle. I look up, and see him still standing, two swords through his chest, one from the front and one from behind. Blood leaks out of his mouth, and they let him drop to the ground. I can't look away as I see him lay still.
Not even two minutes later, I'm roughly pulled to my feet. I struggle to keep my feet under me, not willing to risk the ire of those that kill so easily.
All the others are dead. My mother has an arrow in her throat and lies on her back right next to the cart. A group of around ten bandits is ransacking it until one of them clubs another and tells them to just take the entire thing.
I get a look around, and notice none of the other members of the caravan have survived. I don't have the presence of mind to even think about what I want to say, as I'm forced to follow the bandits, not even being given a chance to cry over the small group of people I've known better than anyone else.
Judging by the sun, it takes around six hours to get where the bandits seem to be holed up. There's a path into a mine, and we step into the dark. We walk on the right side of the tunnel, over some wooden boards that don't cover its width, for reasons unknown to me.
We turn a corner, and the walls seem to widen into a cavern. We walk on a wooden bridge, entering the wall again opposite us. There's another bridge branching to the left, while there're stairs to the right, heading to the rocky bottom of the cave. There's some bare rock there, but the rest of the cavern seems covered by a lake.
There's a campfire, surrounded by what looks like a few Nords, a Redguard, and a Dunmer, all male. And all of them have an iron collar around their neck. When we approach, I also get put in a collar, and pushed towards them.
"Hey there, you guys are lucky, because we got you some new blood. Explain to him how this works. And feed him."
I stumble down the stairs and approach when they gesture me over. One of the Nord's face softens.
"Sit down, kid. Have some stew."
I sit down cross-legged, still nervous. All of them wear coarse linen, but I'm still in wearing my middle class clothes, so I feel uncomfortable.
"My name's Hrolf." The man continues. "Who're you?"
"This one's name is J'samma." I notice I fall back into my accent because of my nerves. Stupid J'samma. I don't want to be an outsider here. "I… used to be a merchant."
Hrolf nods. "I was a hunter, myself. We're in Embershard Mine, now. These bandits discovered there's still ore around, but didn't feel like digging themselves. So that's where we slaves come in. They chain us to this wall at night," — he gestured to the wall behind him, where my Khajiit eyes could make out some fastenings in the wall — "and have us work during the day, under guard."
He frowns at my arms. "You won't like your early days, but please don't get smart and try to flee. The last one who tried got tortured for his trouble, and all of us got whipped for not stopping him. But you'll get strong in no time."
"Hrolf." The Redguard spoke up. "Give the kid some space. He's been through a lot already today." He turns to me. "Tomorrow during the mining you'll be able to think all you want. There's little else to do while cutting rock. I can see you've been through a lot today, so we won't try to fill your head with every little thing. Just do as we say and you'll be fine."
I nodded and consciously suppressed my accent. "Thank you. We… I used to be part of a trade caravan. The bandits…" I swallow. "They killed the others, including my parents. So even if I ran, where would I run to?"
"Aye." The Redguard nodded. "I know how that feels."
I eat my stew as silence drops, most of the group staring listlessly into the flames of the fire.
Some time later, I get pointed to a bedroll, and I fall asleep because of my exhaustion.
— A Dragon's Game —
I wake up with a strange feeling in my head, an odd clarity. Without knowing how, I have a good idea of how I'm doing, even in… numbers?
Name: J'samma the Merchant
Level: 8
Classes:
- Survivor: 7
- Merchant: 1
Skills:
- (Survivor) Butchering: 12
- (Survivor) Gathering: 11
- (Survivor) Skinning: 8
- (Merchant) Bartering: 7
- (Survivor) Tracking: 4
- (Survivor) Harvesting: 2
- Fire Magic: 1
- Frost Magic: 1
Perks:
- Race: Khajiit
- Birthsign: The Thief
Attributes (Partial):
- Health: 240
- Stamina: 240
- Mana: 110
- Charisma: 35
- Dexterity: 29
- Stamina Regeneration: 29
- Endurance: 24
- Strength: 15
- Health Regeneration: 15
Abilities (Partial):
- Heat: Heats an object slowly
- Chill: Cools down an object slowly
- Skin: Skin the hide of the target. Takes 3132 seconds per square meter of hide.
- Butcher: Butchers meat from a cadaver in 3132 seconds per 50 kilograms.
Titles:
- Survivor
- Merchant
It's almost as if it's written down right before my eyes, though that can't be because I can see whatever I look at, there's nothing in the way.
Am I a merchant because that's how I think of myself? Also, fire magic? If I'd had that I'd have defended myself with fireballs instead of a lousy iron dagger…
Skills (detail)
Fire Magic 1/100:
Fire Magic is the art of mastering Fire, in all it's forms and appearances.
Frost Magic 1/100:
Frost Magic deals with cold, frost and all other types of magic to do with freezing things.
Skinning 5/50:
The skinning skills helps you skin your kills.
Butchering 12/50:
The butchering skills helps you butcher meat from your kills.
Harvesting 2/50:
The harvesting skill helps you harvest ingredients from your kills.
Gathering 11/50:
The gathering skill helps you harvest plant-based ingredients from the wild.
Tracking 4/50:
Tracking helps you track down animals and humanoids in the wilds.
Bartering 7:
Bartering gives you better prices on all your deals
Ah, level one out of a hundred. And now that I think about it, mother once started teaching me fire and frost magic, but I was impatient and got bored. Apparently, something must have stuck. It looks like I can warm up objects and cool them down with frost magic?
That sounds a bit underwhelming…
Skills
You have multiple skills. Skills can be gained in many ways, for example, from books or by experienced teachers, and some of them just by doing. Once you have a skill, you need to improve it to become better at it, and potentially unlock more difficult features of that skill. For example, if you reach level 10 in Fire Magic, you will learn the Firebolt spell. Skills often also increase your abilities. For example, Fire Magic will increase the effectiveness of fire-aligned spells, shouts and enchantments.
It feels as if a warm breeze gently touches my mind, as somehow I gain knowledge.
It makes sense, though. Practice something to become better at it? I can deal with that. It also makes sense if being good at fire magic, well, makes it work better. Somewhat less that enchantments benefit, but I can still understand it. No clue what shouts are, though.
"Hey, cat, wake up." Something pokes my side, and I get up. Right, slavery and mining. I look up and see the Dunmer looking down at me. "Time to get to work, boy. We'll get breakfast in a few hours."
I get up, and at the command of a bandit, change into the same course linen that the others are wearing. I don't get any shoes, but neither do the others. After the warm bedroll, the stone floor is cold under my feet. The air is pretty cold. I can't help but pity the others, who don't have my fur. I get handed a pickaxe, and follow the others into the mine. We head up to the wooden bridge, into the gap opposite from where I came in yesterday, and down to the right again. Hrolf tells me how to swing a pickaxe, and where to dig, and I get to work as my thoughts wander off.
New skill! Mining (lvl 0)
That's… nice? Anyway, I do want to get out, but I'd have to be stronger than I am now. According to the strange knowledge about myself that I suddenly had this morning, I can practice magic. The pickaxe won't help much against the bandits, but Firebolt sounds useful.
I cast Heat on my pickaxe, hoping nobody will notice.
Nobody does. I can't even see the difference, and I don't think anyone here can see in the dark like I can. It does feel slightly warmer, though. I keep the spell up, draining 4 magicka per second, just like I knew it would.
Abilities (partial):
Fire: Heat
Heats an object slowly
Cost:
- Mana: 4
Hey, this new knowledge calls magicka mana instead?
Odd. Regardless, I'll get to practicing more.
— A Dragon's Game —
When my mana ran out, my pickaxe was warm to the touch. It was regenerating nice and fast, though. Wait, could I see how fast?
Attributes (partial):
- Mana: 110
- Mana Regeneration: 9
Yes, yes, I could. 110 Mana and 9 Mana Regeneration. Wait, 9 per what?
Mana Regeneration
This is how many mana you naturally regenerate each minute.
Dragon Soul Boost
Dragon Souls make this attribute stronger by 5.0% each.
9 per minute… that makes it a little over ten minutes to fully recover it all. No clue what that line about dragon souls means, though. It sounds exotic, so I'm sure it won't really matter to me, no matter how nice a 5% boost sounds.
The pickaxe cools down slowly, though. Perhaps I can cool it down myself with my frost magic?
I pause a few seconds, trying not to draw attention as I feel some other parts of my pickaxe. It seems the heat I put into it was evenly spread, which is great. It means I can heat and cool it, even with my hands in different places, and it should average out.
And if it doesn't, then one of my magics will improve slower than the other. Also not a huge issue.
I keep at it, alternating between Heat and Chill every time I have the mana. That means I cast one every five minutes, but it feels like forever.
Your mining has increased 1 level!
Hm, I wonder what mining does…
Mining
Mining has to do with drawing all sort of resources from the earth.
Class: Craftsman
Attributes per level:
- Strength: 0.6
- Endurance: 0.4
- Mining Yield: 1.0
- Gemstone Chance: 2.0
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Mine
Oh, it actually strengthens me? That's nice… do other skills do that? What does Fire Magic do?
Fire Magic
Fire Magic is the art of mastering Fire, in all its forms and appearances
Maximum level: 100
Class: Apprentice
Attributes per level:
- Fire Resistance: 1.0
- Fire Affinity: 1.0
- Fire Damage: 2.0
- Burning Duration: 0.5
- Fire Effect Radius: 1.0
Skills Granted:
- 100: Fire Mastery
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Heat
- 10: Firebolt
- 25: Fireball
- 50: Incinerate
- 75: Disintegrate
- 90: Fire Nova
Oh, that's a lot of stuff…and what does Frost Magic do? Or just all my skills?
Frost Magic
Frost Magic deals with cold, frost and all other types of magic to do with freezing things.
Maximum level: 100
Class: Apprentice
Attributes per level:
- Frost Resistance: 1.0
- Frost Affinity: 1.0
- Frost Damage: 2.0
- Chilling Duration: 0.5
- Frost Effect Radius: 1.0
Skills Granted:
- 100: Frost Mastery
Perks Granted:
- 80: Frost Ray: Sleet Storm
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Chill
- 10: Ice Spike
- 25: Ice Storm
- 35: Freeze Water
- 50: Frost Nova
- 60: Frost Ray
- 95: Blizzard
Skinning
The skinning skills helps you skin your kills.
Class: Survivor
Maximum level: 50
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Skin
Butchering
The butchering skills helps you butcher meat from your kills.
Class: Survivor
Maximum level: 50
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Butcher
Harvesting
The harvesting skill helps you harvest ingredients from your kills.
Class: Survivor
Maximum level: 50
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Harvest
Gathering
The gathering skill helps you harvest plant-based ingredients from the wild.
Class: Survivor
Maximum level: 50
Tracking
Tracking helps you track down animals and humanoids in the wilds.
Class: Survivor
Maximum level: 50
Bartering
Bartering gives you better prices on all your deals
Class: Merchant
Mining
Mining has to do with drawing all sort of resources from the earth.
Class: Craftsman
Attributes per level:
- Strength: 0.6
- Endurance: 0.4
- Mining Yield: 1.0
- Gemstone Yield: 2.0
Abilities Granted:
- 0: Mine
Ouch. That much information all at once is a bit much — I shouldn't ask for that much at once. But more to the current point… Mining?
Mine
Mine the ground for ores up to 6 ores every 600 seconds, with a chance for valuable gemstones.
Cost:
- Stamina: 20
Hm… six ores in ten minutes. Wait, that costs 20 Stamina… how much do I have and regenerate?
Attributes (partial):
- Stamina: 240
- Stamina Regeneration: 29
Phew, I was worried there for a second. If I'd have to just catch my breath half the time, you can bet I'd get whipped. I do wonder why it's so much higher than my Mana, though… where is that Stamina Regeneration coming from?
Survivor
The survivor knows how to survive in the wild, able to live from the land.
Skill levels required to level up Survivor: 5.0
Attributes per level:
- Strength: 1.0
- Dexterity: 1.0
- Endurance: 2.0
- Poison Resistance: 2.0
- Cadaver Processing Duration: -1.9
Skills:
- Skinning
- Butchering
- Harvesting
- Gathering
- Tracking
Ah, my Survivor class. I have it at level 7 right now. What did Endurance, Strength and Dexterity do, again?
Strength
Your Strength increases your melee combat effectiveness and your Health Regeneration
Dragon Soul Boost:
Dragon Souls make this attribute stronger by 5.0% each.
Attribute Boosts:
This attribute strengthens the following other attributes:
- Health Regeneration: 1.00
Endurance
Your Endurance increases your maximum Health and Stamina
Dragon Soul Boost:
Dragon Souls make this attribute stronger by 5.0% each.
Attribute Boosts:
This attribute strengthens the following other attributes:
- Health: 10
- Stamina: 10
Dexterity
Your Dexterity increases your archery damage, attack speed, and Stamina Regeneration.
Dragon Soul Boost:
Dragon Souls make this attribute stronger by 5.0% each.
Attribute Boosts:
This attribute strengthens the following other attributes:
- Stamina Regeneration: 1.00
Well, that seems to explain why my health and stamina are that much higher than my mana. And apparently those skills belong to the class… I know how to level up the skills, but how do I level up the classes?
Classes
Classes are the archetypes that govern your skills. For example, the Merchant class manages the Bartering skill. That generally means that the class gives benefits to actions from that skill. In this case, Merchant class levels give Charisma, which gives better results when bartering. In the other direction, leveling up a class' skills will level up the class, though typically several levels are needed to level up the class. The exact number depends on the class.
All your class levels together are your character level.
That makes sense.
I'm getting the hang of this. I cast another Heat, having regenerated enough mana after cooling my pickaxe to not feel strangely warm anymore.
Your Fire Magic has increased 1 level!
Hell yeah. Only 8 more levels and I get Firebolt. And I've been here like an hour so far.
Your mining has increased 1 level!
That could get annoying, though. But now that I think about it… that was my sixth mining cycle. Where's my ore?
Inventory:
- Copper Ore: 1
- Iron Ore: 30
…what? Where do I have it?
Inventory
Your Inventory is where the items you keep on your person are. You can easily look through it, or search for something. Your Inventory is unlimited, and what you carry inside won't weigh you down. To take something out, you just need to desire to hold it in your hand. To put something in, hold it in your hand and [I]desire[/I] to put it in. Some actions may put things inside your inventory directly.
Ok, that's new. I focus, and suddenly I hold a small chunk of iron ore in my hands. I eye the rock warily.
No way there's enough stone gone for this many chunks.
I look around, but nobody seems to pay attention. I put some ore on the pile but keep half inside my inventory. It looks like even just having the skill and have my strange ability extract the ore lets me work about twice the speed of these more experience miners.
And drawing attention from the bandits with being too useful… doesn't sound like an attractive idea to me. I'll never be able to escape if I draw too much attention. Hrolf notices how much I put on the pile, though, and he nods approvingly.
"Good job, kid. I'm glad you can keep up. If we're short, everyone gets the whip. But let's go have breakfast."
— A Dragon's Game —
I get both Fire and Frost magic to level 4 by the end of the day. It slows down already. Mining went to 9, which is a lot better. I may be able to cast firebolts in two more days. Still probably not enough to fight the entire group of bandits, though. I must watch for a good opportunity to flee, preferably taking the others with me. Safety in numbers, and if I leave them behind, they'll suffer for my freedom. As much as I hate being stuck here, I don't want that.
I wonder, though. Does the magic level so much slower because I got so much less mana regeneration?
Skill Leveling
Skills don't level at the same rate regardless of what you do with them. Using them for their intended purpose helps, as does the urgency of the situation. For example, shooting a Firebolt at an enemy in combat will level Fire Magic far faster than launching it at a still, harmless target in a training yard. Some skills suffer a lot less from this. Skills like Mining cannot really be used outside of their intended use, and therefore, generally level at their normal speeds.
Ah, I see. So do something useful with it. Well, that's hard right now, so I'll just have to bear with it.
— A Dragon's Game —
Several days after I am brough in, I'm allowed to see the daylight again. Apparently, I am being sold to another bandit group. This is good news and bad news. First, I cannot escape along with the other mining slaves. And since there will be six bandits along with me, there's not a chance in hell that I could escape on my own. But if I do escape, then they won't be punished either.
But the worst news is yet to come.
We will travel across the other side of the White River, because they can't well travel through Riverwood with a slave.
That means we have to swim to the other side. And while it's not dangerous, I'll get wet.
I hate getting wet. My beautiful, black fur, no matter that it's full of dust at the moment, will get all wet and sticky and clammy.
Seriously, if you don't understand why that's so horrible, then you've got to be furless.
Ew.
Regardless, I am still preparing as best I can. Escape will come, and I'll burn the bandits that killed my family.
My magic has become more powerful, and I am now level 15 in both Fire and Frost Magic, having learned a few new spells, which are amazing.
Abilities (partial)
Firebolt:
Shoots a small bolt of fire dealing 28 damage
Cost:
- Mana: 17
Ice Spike:
Shoots a shard of ice dealing 28 damage, chilling it, which reduces its movement speed by 20% for 2 seconds.
Cost:
- Mana: 17
If for safety, I assume that the bandits have about the same health as I do, which is 360 at the moment, then that still means even ten firebolts cannot kill them. Perhaps I'll deal bonus damage if, for example, an Ice Spike is shot through the heart?
Or would they have less health, since my health just about doubled because of the Endurance I got from increasing Mining to 31?
Regardless, six will be too much.
We travel downhill, an iron collar still around my neck, and my hands tied in front of me to get any stupid ideas, but still able to break my own fall if I trip.
Can't let the merchandise accrue too much damage, after all.
We stop for noon, next to a few standing stones which I recall are called the Guardian Stones. They are supposed to be connected to the stars or something, and bestow blessings.
Such rot. As a kitten I used to play around these when we passed them in the caravan. I climbed all three of them, and they did nothing. It was a fable, much like your birthsign somewhat helping you out in life.
Wait, didn't I see a birthsign perk?
Birthsign: The Thief
Those born under the Thief may not always be thieves, but they are more prone to risk-taking. They tend to talk their way out of the trouble they brought upon themselves.
Attribute Increases:
- Dexterity: 10
- Charisma: 20
Wait, that's where I got that high Charisma and Dexterity from when I first got this power — it's only recently that my Endurance outpaced those.
If birthsigns actually give something… perhaps the Guardian Stones will as well?
Since I'm still well in bow, sight and spell range, the bandits don't stop me from approaching the standing stones. I touch the one closest to me on the left, first. It's mostly because of my experience with this system that I don't respond to the warm and comfortable feeling suddenly rushing through my body.
You have gained the Warrior Class:
The Warrior focuses on Melee combat, fighting with a variety of weapons.
Skill levels required to level up Warrior: 10.0
Attributes per level:
- Strength: 5.0
- Dexterity: 2.0
- Endurance: 3.0
That's… well, I don't have any of those skills yet, but it will be useful. I reach out to the one furthest from me.
You have gained the Thief Class:
As a Thief, you employ cunning and manipulation to achieve your goals.
Skill levels required to level up Thief: 10.0
Attributes per level:
- Charisma: 5.0
- Dexterity: 3.0
- Endurance: 2.0
Also potentially helpful. Neatly complements with Warrior to level those primary attributes equally. I reach out to the last one.
You have gained the Apprentice Class:
You are just getting started learning magic.
Skill levels required to level up Apprentice: 10.0
Attributes per level:
- Intelligence: 5.0
- Wisdom: 5.0
Skills:
- Fire Magic
- Frost Magic
Now that is a rush. I can feel my level rise by three as suddenly, my Fire and Frost Magic have a class to contribute to, and I can sense the boost to my intelligence and wisdom, gaining 15 points each. My capability for magic has more than doubled — I have 260 ready mana and 24 regeneration per minute.
Still insufficient to escape, but a lot closer than I used to be. I'm confident I could take on one or two. 17 mana for an offensive spell, so that means I can cast fourteen immediately, and then one every forty seconds after. Or thereabouts. That's around… 450 burst damage?
Should be more than sufficient for at least one bandit.
I wander back to the bandits as they get up. I don't feel like getting injured because they need to come get me.
Swim time. Yeach.
— A Dragon's Game —
It was even worse than I feared. Aside from being wet, this water is also cold. It's not fun. I'm a cat, I have a reason to hate water.
At least I can take advantage of my increased magical abilities to cast heat on myself every ten seconds. I'm certain I'd otherwise have frozen to death within the hour.
If I hadn't made it clear, I hate wet fur.
I trudge along with the bandits, head down. At least I don't have to fake feeling terrible.
We pass down a sole cottage at a distance, as if the bandits don't want to interrupt whoever lives there. We follow the White River further down, and it's late in the afternoon when I see Riverwood pass on the other bank. If only I could get there, I could get free…
But alas, it might as well be in Oblivion, since I cannot reach it, anyway.
We keep going, joining the road between Riverwood and Whiterun at the point the Riverwood Bridge crosses over it. After that, we climb the mountain along the path, and camp in sight of Whiterun.
It looks so homey, here from my place in a bedroll outside the only tent, chained to a nearby tree.
It better not rain, because I'm only just dry.
— A Dragon's Game —
Next day, we descend the mountain. We encounter a rich-looking man on a horse, and my traveling companions promptly rob him. They take his horse and valuables, and demand his clothes, brandishing their weapons.
The man strips, but before someone can demand his loincloth, the sole female of the group, a Breton mage, intervenes.
"No, he can keep that one. I really don't want to see what he's got under it. It has to be disgusting."
This causes the other bandits — all male — to laugh loudly.
I'm somewhat disappointed. Why couldn't he be an adventurer in disguise and unleash some wrath on the bandits? If he could hold those four off, I can deal with my two guards, and I'd be able to escape.
I know I should feel a bit more empathy, but really, I got my own problems to deal with here, and he's getting off better than I am.
They decide that the rich man can walk home, and we resume our journey. A rope is tied from my collar to the horse, and I have to walk behind it. Luckily, it's long enough that the distance isn't that close — standing behind a horse isn't a smart idea, since they can get nervous about people they can see, and that's a terrible moment to be in kick range.
At least, that one horse I met when I was seven did. I haven't really liked horses since.
We walk past Honningbrew Meadery at a distance. I think I can make out a guard there, but I'm not betting on it. Even if the guard could handle six bandits, he couldn't stop them from putting an arrow in my back as I run towards him.
I also have to protest against the rather unimaginative name. Honningbrew Meadery? Oh really, it's not as if every single meadery ever brews honey…
I still don't get what's so great about mead. It's just bland. It's supposed to be sweet, but what does that word even mean?
We cross another bridge over the White River. Half an hour later, we encounter two more bandits, one sitting on a rock, and the other leaning against a tree.
"Who goes there?"
"Arvel's men. We're bringing this one to Faldar's Tooth, they're buying. You're Ironhand's guys, right?"
The one on the rock nods. "Yup, indeed. Say, this is our road, so to speak…"
"Yeah, yeah, we know the deal. Here's the toll."
Some gold changes hands.
"Thanks. You know, I wish everyone were this polite. 'd make our work a whole lot easier, right?"
The speaker for our group, whose name I'm trying to not remember, laughs. "Aye, it would. How's business for you guys?"
The man shrugs. "Old same old same. Good enough, really. Yours?"
"Can't complain. Enough to live on, and even got some slaves mining for us."
"Embershard, right?"
"Got it in one. Still plenty in the ground there. Even if we don't find any targets, the slaves mine enough for us to not have to worry."
"Well, good luck. Here's a note for Valtheim, to tell them you've already paid. Safe travels."
"Thanks, and see you."
We continue, and when the evening falls, we reach Valtheim Towers. The bandit leader of our group hands over the piece of paper he got, and we end up camping out near the Valtheim group.
Before, I never realized quite how many bandit groups there are in Skyrim. I've traveled through most of Whiterun hold, and I've seen tens of bandits, and perhaps a few citizens.
Regardless, in the one-and-a-half day since I got my Apprentice class, I grinded my magics quite a bit, reaching level 21 with both Frost and Fire magic. This was going the right, and I had another level in Apprentice because of it. No new spells yet, but I was getting there. Level 25 for Fireball…
Regardless, I should keep practicing and stay alert for an opportunity.
— A Dragon's Game —
The next day passes much like the last, if with somewhat less company. We walk past Fort Amol, and I overhear the bandits in my party talk about the group of rogue mages living there, which they don't want to cross. The mages don't seem to bother us, though, and we pass unaccosted. It's late afternoon when I finally see Darkwater Crossing, a small mining village. There are guards there, so the bandits don't even cross the bridge going that way. Instead, we climb the slope towards the Riften Plateau.
It's a long climb, and we don't make it. Even the bandits are too smart to climb at night, though, so we make camp next to a crossroads. Level 24 magics… they won't know what hits them. Even my damage numbers have increased, mostly because of my higher intelligence, but also due to my Fire and Frost Damage increasing. 310 Mana also means that I can fire a decent amount before having to stop and regenerate mana.
I should take out one of the shield users first, that might give me a better chance to regenerate some without getting stabbed in the meantime. Hiding behind a shield isn't cowardice, it's common sense.
And if it isn't, then I'll happily be a living coward.
— A Dragon's Game —
The entire morning of the next day is spend climbing. About two hours after we leave, the leader turns left into the wilds.
"Snapleg Cave's right ahead. Left here, we pass by the Rift Watchtower, and then we continue straight to the Tooth."
I follow the group, not having much of a choice. We arrive at the Rift Watchtower around noon, after three more hours, and eat our breakfast while our group leader buys some information from the local bandits, one of whom seems to have some ambitions.
"But perhaps I can interest you for some work? We're only with four of us here, but there's a nice farmstead two hours north. There's also a guard there, though. But it's run by a miss Mallory and her daughter, if you know what I mean, and they're not poor. After we done our raid, you can nap at the tower, and we split the loot equally by head."
Our group leader nods and looks around our group. "I'm up for it. How about you guys?"
Everyone but the Breton Mage and a Dunmer sword-and-shield user agree, but they object little.
Together with the four local bandits, we head south, as our leader explains the strategy.
"The two of you," — he gestures to the Dunmer and the Breton — "stay here and guard the slave. The eight of us go in, kill the resistance, and take our due. Understood?"
Everyone nods or affirms verbally.
It feels as if we arrive in mere minutes instead of hours, and the larger amount of the group rushes forward as soon as the local guard spots them.
Now… strategy. The female here is a mage, and should probably die first, unless I can get them at one go. Dunmer have fire resistance…
Abilities (partial):
Firebolt
Shoots a small bolt of fire dealing 38 damage
Cost:
- Mana: 15
Ice Spike
Shoots a shard of ice dealing 36 damage, chilling it, which reduces it's movement speed by 20% for 2 seconds.
Cost:
- Mana: 15
Firebolt's damage grows slightly faster, while Ice Spike of course has that nice slowing effect to keep them at a distance where I can safely pepper them with more spells.
When my two guards go look at the fight, I let them step in front of me. I'm lucky that they pay more attention to where the guard is being attacked by four bandits at once, while the other four force their way into the farmstead.
I inventory my bindings, and ready an Ice Spike in my right hand, a Firebolt in my left. I aim, trying to keep both steady at the same time, and then I release. The Ice Spike, which I was paying most attention to, shoots between the Dunmer's visible ribs with a wet squelch, and the elf starts slowly toppling forward. I hear the soft burst of sound of my Firebolt hitting the Breton, and look her way, since the Dunmer seems down.
I see her recover from the physical force the Firebolt seems to have had, and she turns around, shock in her eyes.
Sadly, she is fast enough to conjure a ward against the second Firebolt I send. I send two more, and she sends one at me in return.
I hiss in pain as I feel the heat singe my fur and shoot two more Firebolts at her. I see her eyes widen in fear, as the first shatters her ward, and the second makes her shout in pain as it burns her. She's still standing, so I send two more, sending her flying a few meters away.
She doesn't get up.
I look at the farmstead, and see two bandits running my way, the others probably gone into the house.
How much Mana am I at?
Attributes (partial):
- Mana 225/310
- Mana Regeneration: 29
Wow, still got some juice left… Of course, Mana cost reduction on magic I'm familiar with. I grin. I love this new ability to learn of mine.
I shoot two Ice Spikes at the bandits, running towards the fallen Dunmer. I hit one of them, but he keeps running. The other mostly bounces it off his shield and doesn't seem terribly affected by the slowing effect. So I send Firebolts to him instead, since they deal slightly more damage.
When I reach the Dunmer, I notice he's still breathing, though crumpled to the ground in pain, clutching the shard coming out the front of his chest.
He hears me coming, and looks up, a crazed pain in his eyes.
Whatever he's thinking, I don't want to know. And I don't have time. I send an Ice Spike right into his eye. His head slams backwards from the force, and he lies still.
It's a swifter death than I'd get if they catch me again now.
They're getting closer, and I fire two more sets of Fire and Ice at them. The one I'm shooting Spikes at is now limping, but the other one is closing too fast, catching my magic on his shield.
My Mana is 140. It's still noticeably regenerating — it's been a little over thirty seconds since I started fighting.
I grab the Dunmer's shield and pry it off his arm. I put it on my left.
New Skill: Shield Proficiency!
I ignore whatever that is, lifting my shield until I can only just look over it. I shoot a firebolt at the charging bandit's feet right before he reaches me, eliciting a curse as he brings down his one-handed axe as hard as he can towards me.
I lift my shield, but it still feels as if someone is clubbing my arm. I wonder if this is how it feels to break a bone?
I have no time to think, though. Before he can withdraw his axe, I reach over his shield with my arm down, and shoot an Ice Spike. I get another curse, and I'm knocked back when he rams his shield into me full force. I trip and fall on my back. The bandit also staggered back a bit, and I can see my Ice Spike sticking into his belly. I raise my arms and shoot two more to accompany it.
He looks at me in surprise and then topples backwards.
I get up, and I notice the other bandit is getting really close for comfort. I try to aim for the heart and shoot another Ice Spike. He doesn't instantly die, but his wheezing intensifies as he tries to reach me. Then he coughs up blood, before he suddenly collapses through his legs as if they can't carry him anymore.
I notice I'm breathing pretty heavily as well. Wow, fighting is intense. And though the situation was very much to my advantage, this was closer than I'd like. I take stock of myself: Health: 336 Mana: 140?
I blink. Didn't I just expend like, 60 Mana?
Oh, I leveled up. Fire and Frost Magic are now both 25, which means I have 5 more Intelligence, which means I have 50 more Base Mana. And I regenerate 34 per minute now. Health Is still 33 per day, so I probably have to wait slightly over a day before my arm stops feeling as if a mountain troll took a bit out of it.
I take the sword from the Dunmer. I don't think I'd be very good with it, but if I get caught without Mana, it'll be better than nothing.
New Skills: Blade Proficiency and Piercing Proficiency!
I look at the farmstead. Why aren't I running away from the remaining bandits as fast as I can?
….it's because there's two women in there about to be raped and murdered, isn't it?
Why do I care about people I've never met before, while I'm low on Mana and hurt?
Why am I running towards six bandits, instead of away, like a sane person would?
I hiss and draw my thoughts back together. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this best I can. In a mere instant of thought, I look over what my two new spells do.
Fireball
Launches a ball of Fire, dealing 91 damage to all targets in a 6.25 meter radius where it hits.
Cost:
- Mana: 70
Ice Storm
Launches a slow-moving, 2.5 meter wide storm of Ice that lasts for 18 seconds, dealing 91 damage.
Cost:
- Mana: 70
Ok, I got Area of Effect damage. That farmstead looks… wooden, so I should probably stick to Ice if I can. Luckily, they're doing equal damage.
However, they're really expensive. I can get off two, and then I'm all out. And I might hit the women… Well, lets just go have a look.
As I approach the farmstead, I slow my pace. The guard lies dead on the ground, wounds all over his body. Close, there's a bandit silently staring at the sky. While dead, taking one with him against four is admirable.
I enter de door, cautious. I see a bandit with shock on his face as he looks up to me. He holds his arm to his belly, and I see blood stains. Perhaps the guard got this one, and he's waiting here until the others come back to bandage his wounds?
Well, they'll be too late.
The bandit grasps at his hip for his sword, but I lunge forward, stabbing him. The sword bounces off his chain mail, but he still emits a shout of pain.
The second, slightly wild slash of my sword opens up his throat. I hear a gurgling sound come from his mouth before he flops forward.
Is his left arm… spasming? I know it sometimes happens with dead bodies, but this is really creepy. I slash at it, and it stills. No exclamation of pain, so I think he's dead already.
Entering the next room toward the noise I hear, I can see a dead bandit, surprise still on his face and a knife in his chest. Next to him, a dead woman, probably about forty years old. She probably surprised him, and his fellow killed her.
Good for me, one less bandit to face later. I walk towards where I hear a scream and enter a room. Two bandits are holding a girl down by her arms, and the other is trying to pull down the pants from her struggling legs without bringing his genitals in reach of her wild kicks.
If I slash wildly, I might hit the girl, so I stab him in his lower back. He shouts in pain.
Shit, not dead, or even disabled. I hold out my hands, and in three seconds, four Firebolts slam into the man. He screams in pain as his flesh burns and he's thrown backwards, into one of the men holding the girl down. The other rushes up, releasing the girl in his urgency, and jumps me while drawing his dagger.
I try to slam him with my shield, and succeed in that he doesn't manage to plunge his dagger in my flesh — yet. I try to strike him with my sword, but he parries with what looks like a gauntlet, and the sudden shock through the sword makes me drop it. He yells and tries to stab me again, but I get the shield in the way quick enough. I shoot an Ice Spike from my other hand, and it pierces through his belly. He hesitates in shock, and the next one enters his eye from very close range.
Got him.
I turn towards where the others are, and see one with a sword and shield, the other burning on the floor, and trying to put himself out. Behind the sword and board user, I see the girl jumping him with a dagger in her hands. The bandit on the floor seems too busy being on Fire to notice.
I feint with my shield, as if I try to bash the bandit facing me, and shoot an Ice Spike, which he blocks with his shield.
It's really hard to get a straight line from your hand to someone's body when he's carrying a shield that covers his entire torso. I could go for the head or feet, but what if I miss?
I better keep him busy.
I feint again, and he laughs at me. Meanwhile, his friend behind him starts silently choking on his blood.
He goes on the offensive, and slams his shield into me again. I shoot an Ice Spike, but it bounces off his shield. Then his head suddenly jerks backwards, and I see the girl slitting his throat from behind.
He tries to stab her, but I grab his arm, only letting him go when the girl drops the bandit to the ground.
I put my hands on my knees and pant, the adrenaline finally easing up on my system. Why do I feel both hot and cold at once? It doesn't make much sense.
The girl doesn't calm down, though. "Where's mom?"
I blink. Ah, I forgot. How on earth could I forget that.
I shake my head. "Sorry. She's there," I gesture through the corridor "she got at least one of them, though. Knife in the chest."
She rushes past me. I look at the bandits, and turn around. I can see the girl kneeling next to her mother, cradling the woman's head. She tries to suppress her sobs, but fails.
I sit on the ground a bit away from her, but in her sightline. She probably prefers to be more in control of the situation right now. After what almost happened to her.
With a few minutes, her sobs die out, and the silence starts getting awkward, so I decide to break it.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help the two of you more."
She's silent a bit longer as she blinks the tears out of her eyes. Her eyes don't stray from her mothers face, her hand caressing the woman's cheek. "I don't think you could have done much more." She pauses. "But who are you? I don't know you…"
"I'm J'samma. Until like, ten minutes ago, I was a slave. Six of these were escorting me to be sold somewhere. They met four others about two hours north of here, in an old watch tower. I managed to keep my magic secret, and when they only left a guard of two behind while the other eight entered here, I saw my chance, got out of my bounds, and killed my guards."
I pause. Would she blame me for not rebelling sooner and sparing her the agony of losing her mother?
"Then after, I went here, to see if I could save either of you."
She remains silent for what feels like a minute, until she whispers. "Thank you. If you hadn't…" She shivers, and I see a broken smile on her face. "I'm Saffron Mallory." Then she tilts her head. "Wait, where's the guard?"
"Dead outside. He took one with him, and I think he severely injured a second. That one was waiting at the entrance with a sword wound in his gut, probably until his friends would come to him to bandage him up."
"What am I gonna do now? This farm was all we had, and I can't take care of it alone…"
I stay silent. I have no answers for her.
"I can't tell you, but I'm going to return to the outpost four of these bandits were holed up, see if they got anything of value. Then I'm going to become strong and kill the rest of the group that killed my own family and enslaved me."
She looks at me. "Your family too?"
I nod. "We were a Khajiit merchant caravan. We got ambushed on the road. Everyone but me was killed, and I was enslaved and put to work in a mine. Then a few days later we started traveling this way. Apparently they wanted to sell me at someplace called 'Faldars Tooth'."
She nods back. "That's a bandit fort to the south of here, on the shore of Lake Honrich."
"Ok. Well, how about we see if the bandits had any valuables with them, and divide it up between us?"
Saffron nodded. "Where will you be going after the tower?"
I shrugged. "I don't know yet. I'll think of something."
She studied my face for a few moments. "I got an uncle in Riften. We could go there together. From what I know, he'll know how to find some work for me. Be nice for you to also have the opportunity, at least. And even if you become an adventurer or something, then you could probably use a resupply."
"Ok, that sounds like a deal. Well, I'm going to see what these bandits have, starting there." I nod towards the room where we killed the last ones.
"I'll be… preparing mother for the pyre."
I nod, and check the bandits for anything worthwhile, shoving it into my inventory. I can't put the bandits themselves into it, though. But it doesn't really matter. Even just the week of Mining made me more than strong enough to drag the bandits outside. I pile them up. They'll probably be eaten by the wolves or something. I check whether they're really dead, but all of them already are. Sapphire has brought her mother outside, and gently puts her down on a bench.
When she sees me finish putting the last bandit on the pile, she looks at me.
"It's so… odd. That mom is cold. I just…." Her tears start silently falling.
I step over to her, and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She doesn't look up, but I see a slight curl around her lips, and for a moment, she closes her eyes and rubs her cheek on the fur on the back of my hand.
"Thanks. We should also prepare the guard. He died in our defense… he's earned his place on the same pyre as mother."
I nod, and help her remove the guard's helmet. He looks to have been a year or thirty old.
We light the pyre, and Saffron packs what she needs from the hovel. It's not much, but it makes a pack. After I explain to her about my inventory as a "trick", she also lets me store her pack there.
It's almost dark as we reach the tower. With it's occupants gone, it looks… off. The fire is still burning on top. We go up, and I collect the remaining valuables. I realize all occupants of this tower were Orcs, which is proven with the few books they had, The True Nature of Orcs and The Code of Malacath. The remaining one, Hallgerd's Tale might not have been about orcs in specific, but it contains a… questionable tale about the usage of Heavy Armors.
We now had a tent each, one from each group of bandits, and we slept each in our own, on either side of the campfire that was there already.
In my first night of freedom, I fell asleep easily, despite the stinging in my left arm.
A/N: This is taking forever to do a chapter, so keep in mind that this WILL update a lot slower than the version on the other websites.
Even right now, it's 50k long on those.