Chapter 10 — Before the Storm
— A Dragon's Game —
I got some skill boosts from escaping Helgen.
Fire Magic increased by 1 (44)
Lightning Magic increased by 2 (31)
As I come down the mountain, I recognize that I'm quite close to where my caravan was ambushed. To where I started the journey.
The guardian stones are just that way. Perhaps I should go pay my respects to Embershard mine, show them my… appreciation?
I move off the road to my right. Embershard should be right this way.
There it is. Two guards. One on woodchopping duty, the other leaning against a wooden pole near the entrance.
I shoot four Firebolts towards the one chopping wood, launching him against the cliff face he stands next to, and crumpling down in a heap. The other takes a bow from his back, and I can see him scanning around for me.
I decide to be nice and announce my presence with a bit of lightning. It takes five of them to take this guard down.
I make sure they're dead with Aegisbane, crushing their skulls. Then I step into the darkness of the mine.
I keep on the right of the corridor, on the wood, to avoid the tripwire on the left. I cast Muffle to stay hidden.
The next guard is to the entrance of the half-flooded cave, but he's looking the other way. I equip a dagger, sneak close, and slit his throat, holding him still until death takes him.
Then I take Aegisbane again and enter.
Perfect, the drawbridge is raised. That means there'll be a minute of delay if they call for reinforcements. I enter the cavern on the other side and kill the guarding bandit there with a single swing from Aegisbane. Then I follow the shaft down a bit towards where I know the slaves will mine.
"Hey everyone. Sorry it took me a while to get back."
They look confused for a few moments before Hrolf, the tall nord, recognizes me.
"J'samma, right? I thought they sold you?"
"They tried. I killed my escort and been doing a bit of adventuring since. I've fought groups of bandits before, so when I was in the neighborhood, I came to visit and show Arvel's men my… appreciation." I grin, knowing it'll show my canines.
"You can handle an entire band of bandits?"
"Done it before, and it's only getting easier with time. Just stay behind me, and you'll be right as rain. Or if you don't trust I can take them, take the exit near the guardian stones. I already cleared it."
"We're really free?"
"Yes. Now, I'm going to clear out the rest of the bandits. Just gather your stuff and do what you want."
I turn around and walk out of the mining section. They're just starting to believe it. It's quite the bomb to drop, especially because I used to be one of them, of course.
And while I don't feel I can blame them for still being slaves… could they have gotten stronger like I did, and freed themselves?
No, they don't have my special ability, so they probably couldn't.
The next room is a small guardroom, now empty. I pull the lever and walk over the drawbridge, Aegisbane in my hands. Then I see the first two bandits appearing. I grin visibly at them, maintaining my walking speed exactly.
Another two appear around the corner, one with a bow, as the other three charge me.
The archer pauses, knowing that he can't get a clear shot when his three buddies are charging me. Not when the path is this narrow — the chargers only barely fit side by side.
When they're a few meters away, I launch two Ice Storms towards them. This not only severely injures them, but also makes them stumble and slows their movements.
Far too slow to stop me from crushing their skulls, anyway. At least two of them — those must have already been low health, but this third is a nord, and nords have high Frost Resistance. His greatsword parries my overhead hammer swing, so I kick him between the legs. This causes him to go down and allows me to dispose of him.
The archer doesn't take much longer.
I continue through the corridor. The guard on the treasure room is gone, probably one of the those I fought before. This room contains the gold which officially belongs to the entire group, and practically just to Arvel the Swift, the leader. I pick the lock in less than a minute, which means that other bandits have probably also been helping themselves to its contents.
It contains an acceptable amount of gold, so I take it all. The other slaves here should be able to take care of themselves anyway, and I'm the one cleaning out the bandits, after all.
There should be only a few more, and all of them in the main section of the bandit hideout, which is ahead. The only member always hanging around here is the old orc smithing for them, at least when he's not busy being drunk. And a couple that are off guard duty. However, they're probably already aware that there's something going on — they'll know from the three that charged towards me.
Peeking around the corner from the darkness shows a lack of concern, though. They probably believe it's just a few slaves getting rowdy and expect their buddies back in a few minutes when they slap down the slaves.
Well, they'll meet their buddies all right — in Sovngarde as far as I care.
I enter on an elevated section. There's a large lake at the back, with the smithy on the ground next to it. There's two ramps down, and the kitchen and larder are on the high ground to my left. From that location, there's a bridge leading to the second exit.
For bandits, second exits are important, as they want a direction to flee in when someone attacks them.
Since my Mana is still decent, I throw a Ball Lightning to the kitchen section, which should buy me enough time to deal with everyone at the smithy. I rush to the edge, letting the Ball Lightning hover in the bottleneck where the ones at the kitchen will have to cross to intercept me.
The orc is working on something, but looks up at the noise of the Ball Lightning, right as he comes into my view. I throw six lightning bolts at him, and he goes down.
That's taken about five seconds, so I spin around to bombard the others before my Ball Lightning runs out.
Before I can, I feel like I'm being punched in my right arm.
Fuck, I missed an archer, hiding being a rock on the other side of the bridge.
I make the Ball Lightning approach the others with the few moments it has left to scare them off, and try to fling a fireball to the archer. All that happens is an intense pain shooting through my arm, and it refuses to go up.
Instead, I use my left, and cast a Fireball against the rock besides the archer. This blasts him out of his cover and throws him over the edge into the shallow water.
I throw another Ball Lightning at the melee bandits to replace the first, attempting to chase them down. I quickly switch attention, and shoot a Lightning Bolt at the fallen archer, striking the water.
Unlike what you might have heard, water is actually a pretty crappy conductor unless there's a significant amount of salt in it. Regardless, the Lightning Bolt just misses, striking the water without visibly harming the bandit trying to get to his feet.
So I cast Freeze Water and focus on the other bandits first.
I switch to Firebolt. I can't use Aegisbane to any kind of effect with only one hand, so I can't afford to run low on Mana.
Well, I got potions, but I should really save those for a more important time.
I catch one bandit against the wall with the Ball Lightning I still have, while I strike the other with Firebolts. He goes down in two hits, which makes me think I've already damaged him some with the Ball Lightning while I wasn't looking.
That's those dealt with. I turn back to the one in the water.
While he seems bothered by the cold, the Freeze Water spell doesn't significantly restrict his movement — it affected nothing within about 10 centimeters of him.
Since he's still in the water, I switch to Ice Spike, and impale him twice, after which he collapses forwards and stops moving, blood coming from his chest and mouth.
I reach for my right arm, close my mouth, and tear out the arrow.
Oblivion, but that hurts every time again. 150 Health in this one shot. I channel healing until the wounds closes over.
Loot time.
— A Dragon's Game —
Embershard Mine mostly yields Iron and Steel Ingots. All the money was in the chest I already emptied, and the kitchen and larder only have food, which while useful, isn't really worth all that much, so I leave it be. I rest up, recovering my Mana and Stamina, and make for the second exit. Riverwood, here I come. Time to keep my promise and ensure the locals know about the dragons, and what happened to Helgen.
Ulfric makes it hard to dislike him, asking me to help the people and Jarl of a hold he doesn't hold any power or responsibility over.
In his estimation of a day and a half, he considered as if I had to sleep at night, which I don't. So when I approach the gate of Riverwood, it's afternoon. I walk up to the guard.
"I have news. There was a dragon attack. Have you seen it fly over?"
"Really?" His eyes widen. "Some old women claimed she saw a dragon fly past, but I dismissed it. You saw this dragon from up close?"
"Aye. A huge black dragon burned down Helgen little over a day ago. I barely made it out. Have you seen anyone else from there today?"
"Just a hunter in the morning, but I know Faendal hunts close to Lake Ilinalta. So he wouldn't have seen…"
"I should spread the news. Who commands the guards here?"
"The captain should be at the barracks. Thanks for your initiative, citizen." I can see the additional tension enter the man's stance, as he scans the sky in both directions.
"Oh, and there is something else. The bandits following Arvel the Swift have been driven from Embershard. It was the shortest route here. I rescued some slaves, so they might show up in a bit as well. They don't know about the dragons yet."
"Thanks for—, wait, you fought an entire group of bandits on your own? Those weren't ill-organized… they defeated a group of mercenaries before."
"I…" wait, is it really that remarkable? Then again, if it were easy, there wouldn't be that many bandits living everywhere… "I think I took them by surprise." I finish my sentence.
He eyes me sharply. "But still nothing to be done about the dragon… may the nine protect us."
"I'll head for the guard captain."
"The nine shield you, Khajiit."
He gives me some directions to the barracks, and I leave the gate behind me.
Riverwood seems a very peaceful village. I hope it can stay that way. I reach the barracks in ten minutes, having crossed half the village. It's really quite small. A smith, a lumber mill, some merchants, some hunters…
I knock on the door and enter. There's two cells on one end of the structure, both empty. On the other end, there's a nord in guard uniform glaring at some paperwork.
"I'm looking for the guard captain?"
The man looks up. "You've found him, then. What is it?"
"I come from Helgen. It's been burned to the ground by a huge black dragon."
There's a moment of silence while he either processes what I just told him, or he's waiting until I laugh and tell him it's a joke.
"You're not joking, are you?"
"Sadly, no."
"Explain."
I sit down, and over the next fifteen minutes, tell him about the dragon razing Helgen. Halfway through, he takes a bottle of mead from under his desk and empties it.
Then he looks at me, pulls up two more, and gives one of them to me.
I accept it. I never really liked the taste, preferring beer or wine, but I think it's better to accept it right now. Would make this guard feel more comfortable with the situation.
"This is insanity." He responds after I finish my tale. Then he looks at me. "You from around here?"
"No, but I've been here in the past when I was part of a merchant caravan."
"Could I bother you to go to Whiterun and inform the Jarl? I really won't want to send a single soldier out to carry a message. I don't think we can hold the dragon off as it is, but every man I miss might be another civilian death."
"I was already planning on heading over there to inform them."
"I'll write a letter to the Jarl, make you an official courier. That should help you get past any guards and into the Jarl's presence at least."
"Thank you."
He writes quickly, two notes. He seals one, addressing it to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun on the outside. The other is a note to any guards that I should be allowed in the Jarl's presence, signed by himself in his rank as Captain.
"This introduces you to the Jarl. This one gets you past any guards that would normally stop you. However, they may choose to escort you instead of just letting you through. It depends on how nervous they are about the Jarl's safety."
"Understood."
"Kynareth watch over your journey, friend."
Fitting, Kynareth being the Divine associated with travels. "And Stendarr help you guard Riverwood." Which is the closest I can get to responding in kind.
I leave the barracks and head off through the eastern gate, heading for Whiterun.
— A Dragon's Game —
The journey from Riverwood to Whiterun could have been done in a day, if there hadn't been a huge mountain in the way. Instead, travelers follow the White River, and need a day and a half.
That means it's evening when I arrive at the city gates, again skipping a night. I can only hope the Jarl is still willing to receive me by the time I arrive at his palace.
I'm stopped at the gate by a female guard.
"Halt. City's closed with the dragons about."
"I got news about them, and a note from the guard captain in Riverwood to prove it." I show them the note.
The woman reads it, and then looks towards the other guard, before looking back at me.
"I'll escort you to Dragonsreach. If you really have news, the Jarl needs to know as soon as possible, and I can't risk you getting lost in the city." She turns to the other guard. "Stay here. I'll send someone else to keep you company."
She opens the gate and lets me in before closing it behind us. Then she takes her helmet off. She's young and fair-skinned with black hair tied into a ponytail heading straight into her armor. Definitely a nord, despite not being a blonde. "I'm corporal Lydia. This way."
We follow the wall, but after a few minutes, she tells me to wait, and steps up to a building, knocking on the door.
Another guard opens the door, this one a man. "What's up?"
"Send someone to the gate. I'm escorting a high priority messenger to the Jarl. The trainee is alone now, and I don't want some slick elf talking their way past."
"It'll be done."
She gestures that I should follow her again, and we move away from the wall, up several stairs.
"Where you from, cat?"
"Used to be caravaner until we got hit by bandits. Now I'm an adventurer. I was at Helgen when the dragon attacked. I made my way out with a group of stormcloaks, and one of them requested I inform the Jarl of Whiterun, since I'm affiliated with them nor the empire."
"Smart. We can't be seen to side with either here. The Jarl wants to remain independent of the civil war. Something about trade."
"Makes sense. Now Whiterun is the only hold that gets to trade with everyone."
"To the left here. Want me to tell you about the city?"
"If you could. I've passed the city a few times the past few months, but haven't been inside the walls."
"Over there's House Battle-born. Their patriarch has been in Dragonsreach a lot, trying to convince Balgruuf to join the empire. They're one of the two most influential families in Whiterun, so try not to make them angry if you plan on being around a lot. In a few minutes, we'll see the house of their rivals and the other big family. The Grey-manes, who support the stormcloaks. Half the work of the guard these days is to stop them and those sworn to them from fighting in the streets."
"Yeah, that sounds troublesome."
"It is, so if we catch them we throw them in jail for a few nights, so they cool off. Since that hurts income, the family heads are finally putting an end to the petty fighting. They tried complaining to the Jarl, but Balgruuf's got a backbone, and he doesn't turn on his guards."
"You like him as Jarl?"
"Jarls… aren't there to be liked. But I respect Balgruuf. The man has a lot of hard choices to make, but I think he gets it right more often than not. Oh, hey. This here is the Temple of Kynareth. They offer healing here, so keep that in mind if you're ever in need."
"I know a bit of Restoration myself." Well, Healing Magic according to my ability, but everyone else calls it Restoration. "So for simple wounds, I don't need it."
"Oh, that sounds very useful. I've tried to learn it myself, but I just don't have any magical talent at all."
"I suppose not everyone can have talent for everything."
"No, sadly not. Left here. These stairs always seem to go on forever, and Dragonsreach is at the top."
We cross a bridge over a very shallow but fast-flowing stream; the cobblestone glistening under the crystal clear water. It circles around a beautiful tree with pink leaves. It's huge, shadowing the entire road intersection.
"Beautiful, isn't it? This is the Gildergreen. The priestesses of Kynareth have an entire story about it, but all I know it's the oldest and largest tree of Whiterun."
"It's certainly big." And I have to suppress the desire to climb it. Not sure if it's because I'm a Khajiit or because I'm me. That'd probably be impolite, though, even if I weren't here to inform the Jarl about something that might kill hundreds of his people if not handled properly.
"Over there is Jorrvaskr. That's where the Companions live." Lydia explains.
"Those are warriors, right? The guys to hire if you're outside the guards' reach and really want some bandits or wild animals gone?"
"The Jarl also hires them to train the guard. The greatest warriors in Skyrim are all members."
We start up the stairs, quickly leaving the city behind us. We're about twice as high as the Temple compared to the ground where the Gildergreen stands.
We cross a wooden bridge over what looks like the source of the water that's been flowing on either side of the squares, while Lydia proudly explains how the entire floor can be moved in anticipation of an attacking army storming the keep.
Then we reach a pair or huge double doors. Lydia nods to the guard standing there who looks about to stop us, but he backs down. She opens the doors and escorts me inside.
— A Dragon's Game —
The main hall of Dragonsreach is big, perhaps the biggest room in a building I've ever seen. Then again, the only other Jarl's palace I've been to is Mistveil Keep, but that's only half the size. Just when we ascend the last staircase and pass the dining section, a female dunmer intercepts us.
"Lydia, what is the meaning for this interruption?"
"Important messenger from Riverwood, housecarl." She hands over the note that the guard captain had given me. Huh, I hadn't even thought about that she hadn't returned it to me.
The dark elf reads the note in but a second before looking at me.
I've met plenty of dark elves before, but never have those red eyes looked this intimidating.
Guild Mistress Karliah doesn't count. Her eyes are purple.
"Helgen was attacked?"
"Razed to the ground. I was there, and the captain of the guard in Riverwood wanted me to share what I've seen with the Jarl."
"And he was right. Come. Lydia, you're dismissed." She turns around, and I follow her towards the Jarl. Lydia gives me a wave and leaves the hall.
Jarl Balgruuf looks to be in his forties. His hair is still blond, and right now he's arguing with an imperial — his steward, by the looks of things. They finish up the argument, and he looks at Irileth.
"J'samma here is a messenger from Riverwood. He was at Helgen when it was attacked by a dragon."
"So, there was indeed a dragon. Please fetch Farengar. I want him to know as much as possible." He replies to Irileth before turning to me. "Tell me what happened."
I recount what happened in Helgen. He asks some specific questions about the dragon and its apparent capabilities. I haven't seen that much, but I guess anything is better than nothing.
"Are you absolutely sure the dragon was uninjured?"
"Didn't see a scuff mark on his scales. And there were archers and mages whose attacks landed. But the dragon was black, so it's possible I didn't notice minor wounds."
"But you noticed no arrows being stuck and no blood."
"No, none of that."
He looks deep in thought for a few moments, but then looks up at me.
"You seem awfully honest about what was your pending execution. Why would you think I wouldn't execute you?"
"Because from what I know, you've seemed like a just ruler. And the imperials tied me up while I was sleeping at night, never informing me why I was being executed. That hardly seems just."
"On the surface, no." Then he sighs. "I guess having Ulfric made Tullius a bit overzealous. Farengar, do you have anything to ask or add?"
"Yes, my Jarl. I've been looking up dragons in my library ever since that rumor started yesterday. I've found a reference to a map known as the Dragonstone inside Bleak Falls Barrow. It should contain a map of dragon nesting sites as used back when the dragons ruled Skyrim. I hope that it will help us determine where dragons could be holed up, and perhaps where they are likely to go."
"That's great, and that information would be welcome. But I was aiming for something you would need to ask the messenger about."
"Um, yes, there is something…" He rearranges the papers in his hands, before looking at me. "I'm hoping to identify this dragon you've seen. The old books are clear that not all dragons are of equal strength. Here, do any of these drawings look familiar?"
"Farengar." The Jarl interrupts. "Lets go to the table in your laboratory." He looks to me. "I understand that you might not be able to pinpoint a dragon's identity from a drawing that's older than the city of Whiterun. If the dragon has survived all these years, it may look different. Just do your best."
"Of course." I answer. We walk to the laboratory, and Farengar spreads out the sketches he has. They have names on them, with their colors noted in words. But I see the right one quickly. "This one. Alduin."
"Talos save us."
I turn to the Jarl, whose blood seems to have drained from his face.
"The world-eater himself… but how? The accounts all state that he was defeated…"
"I don't know. But between the color, the spikiness of his scales… there's no doubt in my mind. Is this bad news?" I might have grown up in Skyrim, but that doesn't include all of nordic culture.
"Literally any other dragon would have been better news. Any three other dragons would have been better news. Alduin is the oldest dragon, the most powerful, and the one who will end the world. He was reported defeated before the end of the dragon war…"
I stay silent. What do you say to that?
"I still want that map, Farengar." Jarl Balgruuf continued after a moment. "I'll ask the companions. No, I want them inside the city… A bounty, perhaps."
I clear my throat. "I could go have a look. I'm an adventurer by trade. While I don't have experience with tombs, I've cleaned out some bandit hideouts by myself."
He looks at me intensely for a moment. "I'll be glad if you do. But no matter how thankful I am for your information, I'll still post the bounty publicly, though it's of course yours if you arrive first. No insult to your ability, but if you fail, it'll take us a week to find out, and that could cost lives."
"Understood." He hasn't seen me fight, after all.
"Good. In the meantime, please make yourself at home for the rest of the night. You can stay in one of the guest rooms we have."
— A Dragon's Game —
The beds at Dragonsreach are quite comfortable, so I sleep until early in the morning. I obtain a copy of the bounty from the steward, Proventus Avenicci. It promises a nice amount of coin and includes directions to Bleak Falls Barrow.
There're actually two routes. The more well-known one starts at Riverwood, goes up the mountain past a ruined watchtower, and then heads further upwards to Bleak Falls Barrow. However, it doesn't stop there — the Barrow is built on a pass, and the road then goes down again, past Secunda's Kiss, and joins the main road heading from Whiterun to Markarth, joined by the road from Falkreath around Fort Sungard. It's little more than a dirt path, though, and the giants at Secunda's Kiss ensure that there can be no regular civilian traffic. But even if they hadn't, then using that road to travel from Whiterun to Riverwood would still take more time than the main road next to the White River from Lake Ilinalta.
I choose to go the shorter route. Secunda's Kiss isn't quite on the road, and by now I'm pretty good at sneaking. I should be able to evade some giants who aren't even looking for me.
No better time than the present, and I set out. It should take me almost a full day to reach the Barrow.
I take the Masque of Clavicus Vile out of my inventory. Haven't really had the chance to just… calm down and think about things recently.
Mask of Clavicus Vile
The wearer of this mask is always in good standing amongst their peers around them. However, it's true power is to blend it, and look like whoever you are among.
Attributes:
- Charisma: 100
Perk: Shifter
You can shift into each race you know. Currently unlocked:
- Nord
- Redguard
- Breton
- Imperial
- Khajiit
- Argonian
- Orsimer
- Altmer
- Bosmer
- Dunmer
I know that my hair stays black, and my eyes stay green. If I become Argonian, my scales go black as well. If I become human or elf, my skin takes on a tone about average for that race. But on a closer look, it also changes my other numbers a bit.
Race: Dunmer
You are a Dunmer.
Attribute Increases:
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 10
- Endurance: 9
- Intelligence: 11
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 8
- Fire Resistance: 50
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
- Flame Cloak
Race: Altmer
You are an Altmer.
Attribute Increases:
- Mana: 50
- Mana Regeneration: 5
- Strength: 9
- Dexterity: 9
- Endurance: 10
- Intelligence: 11
- Wisdom: 12
- Charisma: 10
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Bosmer
You are an Bosmer.
Attribute Increases:
- Poison Resistance: 50
- Strength: 7
- Dexterity: 12
- Endurance: 11
- Intelligence: 9
- Wisdom: 11
- Charisma: 10
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
- Command Animal
Race: Orsimer
You are an Orsimer.
Attribute Increases:
- Stamina: 50
- Stealth: Olfactory: -10
- Strength: 13
- Dexterity: 10
- Endurance: 12
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 9
- Charisma: 8
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Nord
You are a Nord.
Attribute Increases:
- Frost Resistance: 50
- Strength: 12
- Dexterity: 10
- Endurance: 12
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 8
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Redguard
You are a Redguard.
Attribute Increases:
- Stamina Regeneration: 5
- Strength: 12
- Dexterity: 11
- Endurance: 10
- Intelligence: 9
- Wisdom: 9
- Charisma: 9
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Breton
You are a Breton.
Attribute Increases:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 11
- Endurance: 9
- Intelligence: 12
- Wisdom: 12
- Charisma: 10
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Imperial
You are an Imperial.
Attribute Increases:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 9
- Endurance: 10
- Intelligence: 10
- Wisdom: 11
- Charisma: 12
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
Race: Argonian
You are an Argonian.
Attribute Increases:
- Frost Resistance: -25
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 8
- Endurance: 12
- Intelligence: 9
- Wisdom: 11
- Charisma: 9
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
- Waterbreathing
- Claw Swipe
Race: Khajiit
You are a Khajiit.
Attribute Increases:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 12
- Endurance: 10
- Intelligence: 11
- Wisdom: 8
- Charisma: 11
Abilities Granted:
- Punch
- Claw Swipe
- Night Eye
That's certainly interesting. It definitely looks like Altmer have the best base values to be mages, so I'll be trying that out for a while.
My fur recedes, and I grow ever so slightly taller. My eyes stay green, and I suddenly grow a large amount of dark honey-colored hair out of my head.
I've never quite understood why most races have all their hair there, instead of neatly spread out of the body. How's it supposed to keep you warm?
Regardless, I've got plenty of clothes for that.
I feel my Mana grow a little, as my regeneration also speeds up.
Mana: 1010
Mana Regeneration: 103
Hey, the race change got me an additional digit in both. That's nice.
I continue my journey. The roads are near empty. There's the occasional farmer heading towards Whiterun or back to their farm, and I encounter a few merchants. It's almost afternoon when I reach the foothills.
Okay, that's not entirely accurate. Whiterun is already located on the highlands. But now I start ascending again. The path takes a lazy turn up the mountain, never getting steeper than a cart with a single horse could go.
It's a little over half an hour before I spot Secunda's Kiss in the distance. The giants are congregated around a huge bonfire, and I can even stay on the path without them noticing me. I cast Muffle and Chameleon to help them ignore me. I maintain them for some five minutes, and it dents my mana pool less than I feared.
However, it seems to have improved Illusion more than I thought it would. Apparently, using a spell in active danger does more than just around people. Which in turn does more than when practiced in complete isolation, but I already knew that bit.
Illusion increased by 2 (22)
It's still a welcome increase. I continue the path uphill. I notice the air getting colder fast, but it doesn't bother me as much as I feared.
I guess the Frost Resistance I get from Frost Magic has some side benefits I didn't quite realize yet.
It takes a few hours of steady climbing, but when I turn a corner, I suddenly see Bleak Falls Barrow in front of me. Well, to the right, but still. I hide behind the snowberry bushes. I know that it's built into the mountains and most of the barrow is underground, but even just what I can see is nothing short of majestic. There's a large flat area built in front of the barrow, easily as large as the Whiterun market, which has over fifty stands when I passed it this morning. There're massive arches over it, standing on pillars.
I also spot a man on a lookout post. I recognize him — one of the bandits from Arvel's band. I don't know anything else about him. It's been a while since I was a slave. I hug close to the wall he stands on top of, wanting to sneak as close as I can before alerting him. If I can stop him from raising the alarm, that'd be great.
I find a massive set of stairs and climb upwards. Luckily, it seems no other bandits are braving the cold right now. The one on guard duty hasn't seen me, not that he's truly paying attention to his duty. I nail him in the back with an Ice Spike, since I don't think I could sneak close without getting heard, even with Muffle. It pierces him in the unarmored belly. He stumbles, then falls forwards off the platform. I walk to the edge and look over it.
Surprisingly, he's not dead. However, his legs don't seem to work, and he's slowly bleeding out while attempting to crawl to the stairs. I decide to be merciful, and end his suffering by nailing him in the neck with another Ice Spike. His movements still.
I head towards the entrance of the Barrow. The front doors are huge, three times as tall as I am. I fear I wouldn't be strong enough to open them, but luckily the bandits left them ajar.
Now that would be a good place for a guard — sitting inside in the darkness where I can't see him, while I'm outside in the light and visible.
Nothing I can do about it, though. I activate my sneaking spells, crouch low, and go inside. I try to activate my Night Vision, but it fails. I pull back to the door I just came through in panic. I look around, but I can't see through the dark, I don't know for certain there's nothing there.
What on nirn…?
Oh, wait.
I concentrate on the Clavicus Vile's mask, and I shift back into my more familiar Khajiit form.
I take another few minutes to calm down, now piercing the dark with my eyes once more.
I can finally see clearly again. No bandits on watch here. They must have not really expected anyone to come by.
There's a small group of them around a fire, talking and joking loudly.
I could leave them alive. They're out of the way. However, they're also part of the bandits who enslaved me and slaughtered my family.
I sneak close, and launch two Ball Lightning from as close as I dare to come. They're taken completely by surprise, and they fall down spasming, and three out of five smoking from burns. I run towards them with Aegisbane. Two flee — one away from me, keeping him in range of the Ball Lightnings longer, and he drops to the ground. The other towards me, but he still has minor spasms. I bat his weapon to the side with mine, kick him between the legs, and shatter his skull with a hit from Aegisbane while he's down.
There's two dead bandits and three alive but incapacitated ones. I put them down like the rabid dogs they are.
As usual, they have some gold on them, but not much else. I pick the lock of the chest and whistle in appreciation. Apparently, they found some valuables here, and I take the gold and gems. There're also a few potions, but I don't trust those.
Putting them into my inventory names them "Unknown Potion".
I continue further into the barrow. There're a few groups of separated rooms here, for some purpose I can't be bothered to guess at. I hear grunts coming from one, and sneak up on it.
Those inside are… busy. There's a dunmer naked on his back, with a nord woman riding him.
I've heard of that one. She's a member of the group of bandits, fighting alongside them and whoring herself out to the rest to take their gold. Apparently it works, since there's a really nice set of plate mail armor on the side that she'd otherwise never have been able to afford. It's painted to emphasize her more feminine assets, though from what I can see clearly she's got nothing to be ashamed of in that department, anyway.
She is showing a smile that looks fake to me, though I suppose it could easily fool most people. To me, she just looks bored.
I attack, smashing the skull of the dunmer. The woman freezes in horror, but still rolls with the blow I attempt to hit her with on the backswing. She shrieks as I hit her with a Firebolt, knocking her to the ground.
"Wait!" she cries.
I pause anyway.
"No reason to kill me! I can…" she licks her lips, and attempts to look seductive. "… earn my right to live? How about a sample right now?"
For some reason, I am unable to even consider taking her offer, even though some part of me is tempted to let her live. I scoff at her. "Just having nice tits doesn't clear you from the murders you happily committed, not the lashing you gave us slaves for fun."
I see her eyes widen, and her face turns to horror as she recognizes me. "No, please… don't you want revenge? Have me squirm under you helplessly? Why do it fast and violent when you can enjoy my body instead? I'll be your property!"
I realize why the offer disgusts me so. To her, it's that or death… which makes it rape. And Dibella doesn't like that. I'm literally unable to consider it.
Even if this… creature is the closest to deserving it whom I ever met.
I step close, swing my hammer, and interrupt her cry by crushing her skull. I can't help but glance at her undamaged body, aside from a few bruises on her chest from my backswing and some minor burns.
There will be more mercenaries coming in after me, I think. And while I can't imagine why, I still don't want anyone to defile her corpse. I lift it and put it on the dunmer. I cover them with the furs they were using for blankets and bedding, and ignite the pile.
I take the set of plate armor, though. Perhaps I can sell it. It's in perfect condition.
I resume my dungeon dive. I interrupt one of Arvel's lieutenants while he was attempting to reset a trap, and continue further down on a set of wooden stairs spiralling downwards. I kill a skeever, causing two others to flee, down some small holes I could never enter. They may be huge rats, but they're still a lot smaller than I am. I take the dead one with me — they taste great when properly roasted.
Continuing, I notice webbing. There're a few dead Frostbite spiders, so obviously some bandits have been clearing this part out.
Nevertheless, I still have to burn some bits of webbing away or it'll get in my fur. Apparently, someone hears me.
"Is that you, Harknir? Bjorn? Soling? Quick, come over here and kill this thing!"
I know that voice. That's Arvel, the dunmer bandit leader. He's more responsible for my brief slavery and the death of my family than anyone else. I step through a doorway into a bigger room, and see him on the other side of it, stuck in some webbing.
Right as I realize that it means there still has to be a spider around, a huge one descends from the ceiling in front of me. It seems to have some superficial wounds, but it obviously considers itself to be in prime fighting shape as it jumps at me.
I hop back quickly, lashing out at it with a double Lightning Bolt.
Its shriek seems to indicate that it doesn't appreciate that, but it doesn't seem to feel deterred either, as it tries to charge me again.
I dive back through the doorway I came through, hoping it's too small for the spider.
I nail it with a few Firebolts from through there, but it seems smart enough to figure out what's happening, and climbs up over the opening.
There goes my cheaper options. Luckily, I got something left. I cast a Ball Lightning, sending it through the opening, and then steering it upwards. It's turning speed is… slow, but it gets there in the end. It hits the spider multiple times, and sends it running from its current spot.
It skitters around erratically, so I don't use Firebolts with their traveling time. Instead, I shoot more lightning, until it finally stops moving.
Wow, that took a LOT of mana to kill. Only got about a hundred left.
I look to my left, where Arvel is still stuck.
A grin sneaks onto my face as I take out Aegisbane.
He looks afraid, though it's clear he doesn't know who I am, or that I used to be one of his slaves. I stand before him and lift my warhammer.
"No, no, please. I can make you rich. I'll do anything you w—"
He falls silent as my warhammer crashes into his skull. I burn the surrounding webs, as a shape in his pocket draws my attention. It's a golden ornament, shaped like a dragon's claw, with three fingers. There're a few symbols on the palm. Oh, and a journal. Don't mind if I do….
— A Dragon's Game —
Most of the journal is things I didn't know or aren't interested in. It might have been relevant to know where the band was going to attack, but it's not like these fuckers are going to do a lot more banditry now that they're dead.
I get all warm and fuzzy inside as I read about Arvel's reaction to learning about the complete extermination of the entire section of his group that were in Embershard. How's it feel to be on the receiving end, bastard?
There're a few passages which draw my interest, though.
Arvel's Journal
My fingers are trembling. The Golden Claw is finally in my hands, and with it, the power of the ancient Nordic heroes. That fool Lucan Valerius had no idea that his favorite store decoration was actually the key to Bleak Falls Barrow.
Now I just need to get to the Hall of Stories and unlock the door. The legend says there is a test that the Nords put in place to keep the unworthy away, but that "When you have the golden claw, the solution is in the palm of your hands."
I turn around the golden claw I found on him. Yup, there're a couple symbols there. Solution to a puzzle or something?
I'll keep in on me. Not that I wouldn't otherwise.
With the spider here, though… I would probably have to carefully watch for non-bandit threats from now on.
Fun. Probably plenty of vermin. I snuck through the next room, carefully watching everywhere, even the ceilings, as I advanced. It was even darker here.
Would the legends be true, with undead guarding these ancient nordic crypts? The walls had alcoves with the occasional body. The bounty called them Draugr. Reportedly, some were alive, though these didn't move.
I heard some shuffling behind me, and the sound of metal gliding over metal.
No, no no no no…
I turned around, and saw a draugr halfway standing up from one of the alcoves. It drew its sword, and then turned its head towards me.
The eyes glowed a bright blue.
I thrust my hands forwards, two firebolts shooting out. It flew backwards, and started burning, still on the ground and the unholy light gone from its eyes.
That was… unpleasant. But it…he? It went down faster than I thought.
And just in time, because there're two more, one of them with a bow. I cast two more firebolts at it, and it dies as well, leaving me to dispatch of the last with a few more.
I'm very happy with the Mana cost reduction I'm getting for Fire Magic.
Nevertheless, I wait ten minutes for my mana pool to fill back up. And since I've walked all night to get here in time, my legs don't complain about the rest either.
It's not as if I'm truly tired — my stamina is full. But… it's still nice.
I continue, keeping my eyes peeled for movement. I feel a sudden shift in the stone under my foot, and hear a metal creak. A door with bars and far too many spikes swings towards me.
I jump backwards, but the door gets stuck on some stonework.
I just got very lucky that nobody maintained these traps for centuries. Better also keep an eye on the floor. As I now finally pay attention, this tile is… actually pretty obvious.
I climb over the minor rockfall, and kill another draugr that was just standing up. They're slow, and not all that bright. The next open room requires me to burn two more ancient nords, and then I find another trap, this one with axes swinging through the corridor.
There's a draugr on the other end, but as soon as it sees me, it tries to rush me, and gets struck multiple times by the axes, until the one closest to his end remains stuck in the corpse.
Really? That's just pitiful. It's sufficiently damaged that a single firebolts make the blue lights in its eyes go out. The axes are quite easy to dodge, and I reach the other end in no time. I pull a lever, and they stop coming.
I continue down the stairs, and slay three more. The last one falls forwards while burning, and it turns out there was oil on the floor.
I only got some minor burns thanks to my Fire Resistance, but once again I remind myself to keep paying attention. To everything.
I head through another door and kill a draugr, but the way forwards seems blocked by another rockfall, so I take a side path following a stream that goes straight through the ruins for… some reason.
The path soon widens to a more open natural cave, lit by beautiful glowing mushrooms. Following it, I soon come upon a column of daylight. Apparently there's another opening, probably to somewhere higher up the mountain. It goes down… further than I can see, but that could be because the stream is making a waterfall down the hole, obscuring everything down.
There's a draugr wandering around there, but a good double fire bolt sends it plummeting down the hole.
I climb down, reaching the path, and picking to go left, which heads upwards again. It soon proves to be the right choice, as it ends in the corridor that was blocked off, but on the other side.
There are a few decorative arches leading into a larger hall, but the two on the right are somehow blocked with roots.
These must be some very long roots, as that hole showed the surface was at least twenty meters above where I'm now. I dispatch another draugr, and open the door.
Anti-climactically, it leads me into another corridor with a few turns, until it opens into a larger room. There's a stone bridge over it straight ahead, and I can see a Draugr standing on there.
I'd normally not want to alert any potential others nearby, but this one has a bow, and I don't want to risk getting spotted, so I kill it. I hear a loud crack from the stone coffin left of me, and a draugr tries to climb out.
I burn it like I did the others.
The third one sprints towards me down the middle, allowing me to easily take it down as well.
I hold still, my ears turning on my head to try to detect more Draugr, but it's silent for now. I carefully scout the small side room on my right, but there's nothing there. I cross the room, ascend the stairs, and cross the stone bridge, all without finding another Draugr.
Another turn, and I enter a wider hall. The hall of stories that I've sometimes heard about. There're supposed to be detailed murals, but only the stonework survived the ages, with the pain being completely gone.
The stonework is still amazingly detailed, though. Shame I don't know what any of it means.
At the end of the hall, there're three concentric stone rings, with a disc in the middle. The rings each have a symbol on them, which look a bit familiar. I've seen some in the room where that bandit was attempting to reset the trap, and also…
I take out the golden claw. Hm, they don't match. Perhaps if I…
I reach out, and discover I can easily turn the rings. Turning them all one to the left matches up the symbols. I hook the three claws on the golden claw into the holes in the disc and find that it easily turns now as well.
I hear some stone grinding inside the walls, and step back. Then the door in front of me splits in two, half sliding into the floor and the other half into the ceiling.
— A Dragon's Game —
Ominous. It opens into a large, natural looking cavern, featuring a stream down the middle. There's a raised surface just on the other side, containing a decorated half-circle wall. I can see a few bats flying about, no doubt disturbed by the sound of the door.
I walk there. There's another one of these stone coffins, but if there's a draugr inside, they're not rising yet. There's a large chest which nets me some gold and gems. Burial gifts, perhaps? Regardless, though I've been able to find myself some gold, I need it more than the draugr. That's what they get for trying to kill me.
I walk to the wall, and I must have been mistaken because of the distance, because it's definitely writing. I can't quite make it all out — some of the lettering is damaged.
… guardian, keeper … stone, … force … eternal … darkness.
That sounds… dangerous. But it seems to be about this Draugr here?
Right as I think that, I hear a crack of snapping stone behind me. I spin around, and shoot four firebolts, but where before that took out any draugr, this one seems to nearly ignore it.
Oblivion.
The draugr opens its mouth. "Force!" Fus
The word drills through me, throwing me against the half circled wall a few meters behind me.
That hurt. But nothing seems to be broken. I raise my hands and shoot Firebolts as fast as I can. However, it closes the distance quickly, and I'm only just in time to dodge the swing with the huge battleaxe, which has an icy gleam around it. It's enchanted, and I don't want to discover what it does. I take out a shield, because I don't think I can best it with Aegisbane. Spells are my best chance at killing this thing while keeping as much of my blood inside my body as I can.
I launch a Fireball at my feet, hitting us both. Sure, the heat hurts, but it hurts the draugr a lot more, finally showing some response by being flung backwards. I cast a Frost Storm, in an attempt to slow it. It's not like I'm going to truly hurt it with Frost Magic. For one, it's a Nord, and for the other, it's undead.
Hm… race… Didn't dunmer…
With a thought, the Mask changes my entire body. My fur recedes, showing ashen-gray skin, except for my head, where it grows out. I become a Dunmer. And Dunmer have increased fire damage and resistance, along with this one ability…
Fire: Flame Cloak
Creates a vortex of flames around you, dealing 10 fire damage to everyone within 2.88 m. Lasts 36 seconds.
Cost: 64 Mana
Hm, doesn't look as strong as I thought it would be, but it's still very useful.
And since firebolts don't eat into my mana pool that swiftly, I might as well cast a flame atronach as well. Some fire support and something else for the draugr to think about sounds like a great plan right now.
A purple sphere turns around when my magic tears a hole to Oblivion, and pulls through a flame atronach, binding it to my will.
I move to the side, putting some distance between me and the Atronach, and keep firing firebolts at the draugr. The atronach also detects the threat, and starts firing its own projectiles.
The draugr looks to it, and back to me, and goes after the daedra first. It gets a hit in, and my atronach recoils, but isn't destroyed.
I switch my casting to fireballs, hitting them both. I know that fire allows flame atronachs to heal, so my fireballs are doing double duty right now. The atronach switches to punching, and between the two of us and a good minute of spells, we take the draugr down.
Good thing too, I didn't have that much mana remaining.
A short search turns up a stone tablet, which must be what I've been looking for. And the dragonstone that that wall referred to. There's a sort of map on one side, looking like Skyrim, but a number of markings spread out that don't correspond to anything I'm familiar with. On the other side of the tablet, there's a short inscription, clear and readable.
Here lie our fallen Lords, until revived by the Power of Alduin
That doesn't sound good.
— A Dragon's Game —
Conjuration increased by 2 (14)
Fire Magic increased by 3 (47)
Lightning Magic increased by 3 (34)
Blunt Proficiency increased by 4 (15)
I change back into a Khajiit to search the room, but aside from an Iron Ore vein I'm too lazy to mine out, I find nothing. Also, no easy shortcut to an exit.
So I backtrack. It's not like I've explored every branch in the path or anything, so I have to carefully pay attention if any draugr happened to wander into the path I've cleared through this tomb.
And either I'm lucky, or they don't wander much, because I encounter none throughout the entire structure. It feels like only an instant later, I'm outside. It's evening, while it was morning when I went inside.
Time flies. It took me a day of walking without rest to get here, and now I have to spend that again to get back to Whiterun.
No matter how much I like sleep, I think it's good that I no longer need to. Nobody knows when the next dragon will attack, so I should try to ensure that Whiterun is prepared as well as possible.
Shouldn't I also look after the other holds? After all, while Balgruuf sent messages, I don't know…
I suppress that line of thought. I can't help them all, but I can help Whiterun now. Perhaps I'll take a look around other holds later.
And I'm slightly unnerved that no matter how much they scare me, I'm excited to fight a dragon.
That's not normal, right?
Pretty sure that's not normal.
I speed up my walk. When I finally reach Secunda's Kiss, I carefully climb down somewhat further removed from the Giant's camp. I really shouldn't risk a fight right now. Very carefully, as it's basically midnight.
The plains of Whiterun yield under my steady pace, the sun rising slightly left of the Throat of the World from my position. Noon passes, and the sun is almost touching the lone mountain in the middle of the plains by the time I enter through the gates of Whiterun.
Where I'm met by a pleasant surprise.
"J'samma? Is that you?"
"It is, Ri'saad." I respond, accidentally slipping back into the Khajiiti accent. "I see your caravan is whole. It pleases me."
"I had heard that your own caravan was attacked, but did not know about your survival. I was pleased when he heard rumors about your adventures around Riften."
"J'samma and his caravan were attacked near Embershard, and was the only survivor." I try to lessen my accent. It's not a good habit to have. "I was enslaved for a short time, but escaped later. I did a little work in the Ratway." He'd know that I meant the Thieves' Guild. "And while I even took a job for the Jarl, I later moved away from there. A lot happened, and I ended up witnessing Helgen's destruction. Have you heard?"
"I have heard only rumors, and only little. Come, sit, talk and eat with us."
I shake my head. "I cannot. Helgen was destroyed by a dragon. I bear information for the Jarl of Whiterun, to aid in fighting them. He also has a bounty for this information that I want to turn in."
"Ah, I understand." He contemplates something, but doesn't share his thoughts. "You are through with the life of a merchant in a caravan, are you not?"
I blink. I haven't thought about that… in a long time. I never even considered I could probably join another caravan if I wished. But put like that… "J'samma thinks so." Accent, J'samma. Accent. "I haven't considered it in a while, but I don't think that life holds much for me anymore. My magic is growing, and I want to use it. I can help people and enrich myself at the same time."
"The live of a caravaner isn't for everyone, J'samma. Go find your path. But do not be a stranger. If you encounter us and have time, sit with us, talk with us, and sleep with us."
"I thank you, Ri'saad, for this offer. I need to go, though, before the Jarl withdraws for the night."
"May your roads lead you to warm sands, J'samma."
"Yours too."
Reaching the gate, I explain to a guard that I've been going after a bounty and am about to turn it in, and I'm allowed inside. Lydia doesn't have guard duty, so I see no familiar face. I nonetheless follow the same route I did when she led me, and reach Dragonsreach as the twilight sets in.
After explaining my purpose, the guard lets me pass, and I cross the main hall.
Well, I try to. Irileth is in front of my face before I reach the stairs, but she seems to recognize me.
"You're back early. What happened?"
"Success." I pull the dragonstone out, and offer it to her.
As she accepts it from me, her hands fall a little. "Heavier than it looks. Then again, it's solid stone. Hm, looks like a map. Follow me to the Jarl."
Hm, it didn't feel as heavy to me. But I see the tension in her muscles, and I won't believe for a second that she's weak. Strange, but it doesn't matter. I follow her towards Balgruuf.
"Done already?" Balgruuf says. "That was fast. I'd have thought the first would only just arrive there, or perhaps just obtained it."
"I know it's urgent, so I tried to be as fast as I could." I answer.
"And I'm as grateful as I'm impressed." He turns to his side, where I can see two boys and a girl sitting. "Dagny, go fetch Farengar."
"Why me?" the girl pouts. "I was last time."
I can see Balgruuf close his eyes for a moment, and I can almost feel him suppress a sigh. "Because I ask you to. Now go."
The pout sticks around on her face, but she stands up. "Yes, papa."
The Jarl turns to his housecarl and holds his hand out. "Irileth?"
She gently hands it over, and Balgruuf studies it. "A map of Skyrim… curious."
Farengar approaches, and Dagny silently returns to her chair.
"Oh, it has been found already? That's quite amazing. I can't wait to take a good look at it."
"Lets grab a table." He looks around, before calling out. "Gerda! Escort the kids to their bedrooms." Then he turns to his children. "And don't let me hear about refusing to follow any instructions. Off to bed with you all."
There's a small chorus of discontent, but they shuffle out of the hall obediently, if slowly.
I follow the others to the table, where Balgruuf puts it in the middle, and Farengar starts copying it.
"I wonder what these places mean." He says. "They obviously put a lot of work into making this as detailed as they could, but I don't know the significance. It's supposed to help us locate dragons, but some of these places are quite close to civilization, they could have never stayed hidden."
"It's on the other side." I say. "It says 'Here lie our fallen Lords, until revived by the Power of Alduin'."
Farengar frowns, then turns it over.
"Ah, the markings of the dragon language. You've already translated it? That's amazing." He looks genuinely happy. "I'm always happy to meet a fellow scholar, rather than the brutes that normally take the bounties."
Translation? I didn't translate anything, I just read it… what on Nirn? Nevermind, not important. Pay attention to what's happening.
"Save your scholarship, Farengar." The Jarl interrupts him. "I'm much more concerned by the message right now. But if Alduin is going to 'revive' them, does it mean that the other dragons are asleep, or something? If so, we should move quickly, that we may slay them before they wake."
"I don't think so, my Jarl." The court wizard responds. "The legends are quite clear on the fact that normal men cannot truly slay a dragon. Only a dragonborn can. But perhaps they could sufficiently wound one, such that a stronger dragon needs to aid them."
"We don't have a dragonborn. If the legends are right, one should arise to fight Alduin… but even if not, I want to know how to force these dragons back into inactivity. Or make sure they stay inactive."
"I'll get right onto it, my Jarl."
"Good." He turns to me. "Even aside from the bounty, thank you. Please report to Aventus in the morning, when he comes back, and he'll pay you." He looks around until he sees another servant. "Fianna! J'samma here will be our guest for the night. See to his needs, would you?"
The short middle-aged woman curtsies, and approaches me. "Ah, you were here three days ago, right? The same room is free, was it to your liking?"
"I was, and it was."
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not had the time, had to deliver something to the Jarl."
"Please, follow me to the kitchens."
