I was circling the Gildergreen when a voice called out: "Grey-Mane!" I looked up and saw an older man in noble clothing approaching from the west toward another headed to Jorrvaskr in Fine Clothes. The other sighed, stopped, and turned his head, "What do you want, Olfrid?"
A crowd started to form in anticipation. I hid behind Gildergreen and peered past to watch from a distance. "Someone's been pilfering crops from my farm. If I find out it's one of your kin Vignar, I'll see the culprit ROT in prison."
Vignar fully turned around and approached Olfrid. "I'm surprised you had the wits to notice, Olfrid, what with your nose buried so far up the Emperor's backside." Damn, that was a good one, I chuckled.
Olfrid crossed his arms, clearly not wanting to lose like this publicly. "You won't be laughing when the Thalmor come to root out Stormcloak sympathizers." He put on a smug smile and caressed his beard. "In fact, I've already put in a claim to the land and property you'll forfeit when you're found to be a collaborator!" That got some groans and whispers from the crowd. Olfrid didn't seem to notice, thinking that that was a burn of some sort.
Vignar chuckled, "I'll remember that when the Stormcloaks liberate the city. No amount of your precious money will protect you then, Battle-Born."
"Ha! Got em!" I accidentally called out. The crowd and Vignar and Olfrid heard and looked in my direction, but I realized my mistake and was already behind cover. It took a while for the group to disperse, so I took the long way to the Bannered Mare, the Whiterun inn.
I wasn't far into my extended path until I started to notice there were far more houses than I remember in-game. In my rush with the guard before, I hadn't taken the time to appreciate it. The Wind district was filled with plenty of new buildings and sites, including a bank and a decent-sized park. I walked past it and observed a few different monuments and statues.
I walked down the stairs to the Plains district and looked around as well. There were additional market stalls and small shacks on the southern side, and it seemed to push out much further...and certainly further than my stomach would allow me to explore. My stomach grumbled, so I hurried to the Bannered Mare.
I opened the door of the Bannered Mare and came inside. It was pretty packed inside. Ew, I thought, people.
The familiar "Come on in! Let me know if you need anything, or take a seat by the fire, and I'll send someone over." welcome from the barkeep Hulda rang out through all the noise and commotion.
I strolled toward the bar and noticed a lot of eyes were on me. New guy, weird armor, makes sense. I saw a drunk on the other side of the Inn hobble and spill on a meathead next to him.
"Watch it, milk drinker!" he shoved the drunk. The drunk took a final swig of his tankard and threw it at the meathead. "I'll teach you to talk to ME that way!" The meathead knocked the tankard away and said, "I hope you're willing to back up those words with your fist!" and naturally, they began an all-out brawl.
All the patrons got up to drink and cheer for the fight, and the bard, Mikael, must have thought it was for him. "Haha, thank you, thank you! No, please! Hold your applause! Haha! Nooooooooow there once was a hero named Ragnar the Red…."
I rolled my eyes at the situation, took advantage of the opened Red Sea in front of me, and made a beeline to an open stool.
"Well met, friend," Hudla leaned on the bar. "What would you like?"
"How about a warm meal and full tankard?" I smiled, hoping that played the part well enough.
Hulda laughed, "15 septims will get you just that." I handed her the coins from my pouch, and she turned to a Redguard woman sweeping behind her. "Saadia, wake up dear! Get this man a warm meal and fill him a tankard as well!" Saadia looked up, "Yes, mum!" and a bit awkwardly laid the broom on the wall.
"New to Skyrim?" Hulda asked, looking at my armor. I guess that makes it a lot easier; I can just claim I'm from wherever too.
"Yeah, just arrived recently…" I replied. I stopped as Saadia arrived with a plate of warm Salmon Steak, Bread, Apple Pie, and a tankard filled with Wine. My mouth was watering too much to go any further with explaining, and I immediately dug in.
"Haha, long on the road, eh? We have warm beds, too, if you require it." Hulda smiled warmly.
I was about to respond when another cheer filled the Bannered Mare. I turned, and to my amazement, the drunk had beaten the meathead! I know I'm better at some things when drunk, but DAMN.
"Thank you, good patrons, of the Bannered Mare! Thank you!" Mikael called out and bowed. Pathetic.
I shook my head and continued with my meal. A blonde Nord in Iron Armor dared to sit down on the stool next to me. I gave him side-eye while I took a swig of wine.
"Another round of mead, eh Hulda?" the Nord let down his tankard, and Hulda cheerfully took it. "Of course, Jon!"
Jon began to size me up while Hulda filled his tankard. "Aye...well met, traveler! What brings you to Whiterun?"
I took another swig of wine. "Just passing through on business."
Jon sighed, but at least he had his tankard returned to him, "A pity, that. And words I hear too often." Jon took a sip of his fresh drink and continued, "But there's no shame in it, friend. One spark in Whiterun, the place'll go up like tinder."
There was a bit of silence as Jon thought to himself, looking into his drink. I finished my meal and decided to break the silence, "So...you live here then? Worry about the war and all that?"
"Aye, that I do. Have lived here all my life. I'm a Battle-Born; we've been here since the beginning of Whiterun. Along with the Gray-Manes." He took a swig, "Our families been close as kin for generations...but Ulfric Stormcloak's uprising has divided us. Now seems we can scarce look at each other without comin' to blows. Petty and foolish, that."
"Funny you mention that," I said after another sip of wine. "On my way here from Dragonsreach, I ran into such a squabble near the Gildegreen. Olfrid and Vignar were arguing and threatening what will happen after one side takes over here in Whiterun. It was honestly pretty funny to watch as an outsider, but I get it's definitely not funny for you."
Jon Battle-Born scoffed and shook his head. "Truly? In public, no less? That's what I mean, petty and foolish." He took a bigger swig of his mead and turned to me. "Now, they're sayin' dragons have returned to Skyrim. That there, now that's a real problem."
"Definitely." I sighed and finished my drink. And I have to kill those things. I signaled Hulda over. "Got one of those warm beds still open?"
"Aye," she smiled. "10 Septims, and it's yours for the night."
I paid her and turned to Jon, "Well, good meeting and talking with you, Jon. I'll see you around."
Jon nodded as he took a swig. "Well met, didn't catch your name?"
"It's Guy," I shook his hand.
"Well, Guy," Jon smiled, raising his mug. "May your sword be sharp, and your tongue sharper!" I nodded with a smile. Not too bad of a guy!
"I'll show you to your room, right this way," Hulda called.
I nodded to Jon and followed Hulda through the crowd and up the stairs to the room.
She opened the doors and straightened up the bed. "This is it! Let me know if there is anything else you need!" I nodded to her, and she smiled, then headed back to the party below.
I set down my bag and removed my equipment that was uncomfortable to lie on. I crawled under the covers - finally, a bed. Not my bed, but at least it's decently comfortable. After lying for a while, I realized I was in a bit of a predicament. How the Walt-Disney-fuck am I supposed to fall asleep with all that noise downstairs?
I facepalmed. No fucking wonder the room rate is cheaper than the damn food. Damn, that food was good, though.
After a while of staring at the ceiling, Mikael thankfully began to play a soft tune on his lute. The volume in the tavern slowly dropped off. I was so tired that I immediately passed out.
I awoke on a perfectly flat, dark surface. A circular ring of fog surrounded all sides. I sat up. Another loading screen. Lmao, did I fucking get killed in my sleep?
"No mortal, as funny as I agree that would be." a familiar voice filled the area.
"So...why am I here?" I stood up to face the fog.
"Because I'm curious how you plan to take Bleak Falls Barrow, mortal. I would really love to hear your plan. I could use a laugh."
I was taken aback a bit. I hadn't really thought about it. It just needed to be done. "How else? I'm just gonna go, kill the bandits, blast the spiders, and kill the Draugr. No different from Helgen."
A laugh echoed through the loading screen.
"What? Do you think I'm going to fail?"
"Jolly good guess. But only half right. I know you are going to be skewered, shot, burned, desiccated, frozen, and die in several different painful ways. You should know just as well as I mortal, in Helgen, that Ralof fellow, he...ehm, what's the modern mortal term for it...HARD CARRIED."
I clenched my fist. Using Flames had helped, and I had dealt with several threats that way. But that was mostly one-on-one. Now I was alone, to fight several enemies, likely all at once.
"I think that's all I need to do, haven't got an eternity to explain everything to you...oh wait, I do!" a laugh echoed. "Now go away."
I woke suddenly in the Bannered Mare and gave out a cry of frustration, pain, and disorientation.
I need to get stronger.
I need somewhere to train. Learn to fight. Get stronk. Ooga Booga.
I threw back on my equipment and ate some of the food from my bag on the way. I practically ran out of the Bannered Mare, getting some strange looks on the way.
Bleak Falls Barrow could wait. It was time to join the Companions.
