Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me and that I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed. I forget who it was, but damn they were right.

As we descended the wooden steps, Skeevers began running up towards us. One lunged at me, which I blocked with my shield. As it bounced off my guard, falling down the steps, I let them taste Flames. It was then that I learned the error of my ways.

As two of them burned, so did the wooden spiral staircase we were all on. I noticed far too late, and soon the entire path below us was lit.

"Shit shit shit SHIT!" I cried out as the flames began to spread, engulfing the third Skeever, who ran away through the doorway on the bottom still on fire.

"What did you think was going to happen!" Faendal yelled behind me.

I took a step back as the fire spread. "Shut the fuck up! I'm thinking!" I yelled back.

Ralof pushed past Faendal. "We have to get through. If we go back top, the drop would break our legs." He observed the situation. "We can climb down the support shaft, then drop to the bottom. Follow me!"

Ralof quickly grabbed on and shimmied to the bottom. I followed but got a splinter, making me lose my grip and fall on my ass. I quickly got out of the way and through the doorway and watched as Faendal slid down with ease. As the flame spread, steps began to break and fall as Faendal jumped through the door.

"Well, no going back that way now," Ralof chuckled.

I sneered at him and stood, pulling the splinter out of my palm. Inside the barely lit room was a table that hosted a grey bottle and a scroll. Reading the scroll, I found that it was a Scroll of Fireball. My eyes drifted down the crusty paper, which included what appeared to be instructions glowing runes and strange symbols. WORDS! I rolled it back up and tucked it in my belt.

The last Skeever was nowhere to be seen, so my party trudged deeper into Bleak Falls Temple. As spiderwebs began to get thicker on the walls, we heard the voice of a Dark Elf ahead of us, "Is someone coming? Is that you, Harknir? Bjorn? Soling? Anyone?" Ralof and Faendal paused, but I continued forward, trying my best to prepare myself for the giant fucking Spider ahead. The voice came again begging for help, but I was already thinking of the hairy legs, the mandibles, and eyes. I pulled back out the Scroll of FIreball. The fire did pretty well back in Helgen. Disgusting creepy creatures. Ew.

Around the corner, some natural light was pouring out, and I took the chance to read the scroll with some minor assistance from the flame in my other hand. Following the instructions, I found the incantation. Squinting, I slowly read it aloud.

"By Jhunal, the Light burns crimson, a Ball gathered, blazing of Fire."

Immediately the paper began to disintegrate, pure Magica flowing off the page, forming a bright ball of light. The ball burst into flame and formed a runed circle around it, then sat in my hand. The pure energy in my hand shot warmth and force through my forearm, and it was hard to keep stable. I gripped my forearm and gritted my teeth until the spell stabilized. A flame much brighter and hotter than Flames flickered in my palm, and the power still pulsed through my arm.

I turned to my allies, whose faces sang a tale of awe, concern, and apprehension. "Giant spider," I said. "I'm gonna throw this at it. You shoot the fuck out of it." They looked at each other and reached for their bows. That was all the acknowledgment I needed; I turned and let Flames burn a wall of webbing that blocked the doorway, then ran in.

I surveyed the area, no spider to be seen. On the other side of the room, a dark elf bandit caught in webbing, Arvel the Swift, looked up and screamed, "Oh no! Not again!" I looked up and saw the Giant Frostbite Spider swing its disgusting, fat, hairy body down and drop to the ground. When it landed, I concentrated all of the power into the Fireball in my hand and sent it. The ball flew with a whistle, making contact and exploding with an echo, knocking the Spider back, hissing, and writhing on fire. Arrows flew from my left into the eyes and disgusting body, pushing it the rest of the way over. The Spider began to slow its struggle on its back and curled its legs into its body as it charcoaled.

My arm felt so light I had to shake it to make sure it was still there. "Nice shot" Faendal murmured.

Arvel piped up from his cocoon. "Sweet breath of Arkay! You did it! You killed that thing!" He struggled in the webs, "Now cut me out of here already."

As I approached, Faendal drew back his bow. "Why should we, thief? Stealing from Camilla has gotten you what you deserve."

Arvel squirmed, "I don't even know who that is. If you're referring to those shopkeepers, they didn't know what they had lying in that shop. The Claw, the Hall of Stories - you wouldn't believe the power the Nords have hidden there. Cut me down and I'll show you!"

I ignited Flames in my hands. The second he's free, he will run. I unleashed Flames on the webs.

"It's coming loose, I can feel it!" Arvel struggled more.

Once the Flames had destroyed the layer above him, I focused everything onto him.

"AH! Wait! What are you doing?" Arvel cried out from the pain of Flames, writhing in the webs. "You're burning me, not the webs! Stop! Stop!"

I didn't stop and let the Flames engulf him. The webs let loose of him from the heat, and after he fell, I continued the torrent until his body began to burn. As the magical flames transitioned his skin from grey to charcoal, I reached into the pouch on his side, pulling out the Golden Claw.

"Well," Ralof sighed, walking up beside me, "that was the last of the Bandits, no? He must've been the 'dark elf' that ran ahead."

"Then we succeeded!" Faendal cheered. "We can go back to Camila heroes!"

I winced as he said that. I turned back, Claw in hand. "Actually…we need to keep going."

"Why? Wasn't he the last bandit?" Faendal said.

Ralof chuckled, "You didn't tell him, did you." I glared at him.

"What do you mean?" Faendal scoffed behind me. After a few seconds, he gasped, "You can't believe that bandit nonsense about power hidden here."

I sighed and turned, claw in hand, "I…the Jarl has tasked me to retrieve…an artifact behind the Hall of Stories…to which this," I held up the Golden Claw, "is the key."

Faendal looked at Ralof and me, "You can't be serious." He shook his head and turned, "I'm going back. I'm telling Lucan and Camilla we took care of those bandits. You two can die here."

I pursed my lips. I…we could use all the help we could get. I don't want to force him, but I can't let him leave, taking the credit and potentially ruining the Companions quest.

Ralof piped up before I could speak, "And…how exactly are you planning to get back upstairs?"

The stairs! That's right! He can't go back that way.

Faendal paused and turned, "I'll figure something out. Better odds than getting through the traps, trolls, and whatever else is down there."

Damnit. I cleared my throat, "And how are you going to prove it?"

Faendal narrowed his eyes, and Ralof turned to me with an eyebrow raised.

I continued. "Lucan didn't just want the bandits dead. He wanted a particular artifact back as well…one that was taken from him and would prove success." I held up the Claw and shook it.

Faendals eyes went wide, then his eyes narrowed, and his teeth gritted, "...You bastard." He came forward with his hand extended. "Give me the Claw. If we work together, we climb back up."

I pulled the Claw to my chest, "You know I can't do that. You can go back with nothing or come with us." Faendal glared at me, hand still extended.

Ralof bellowed a hearty laugh," Enough of this. Guy and I will continue. You are free to go if adventure is not in your spirit."

He walked through the doorway that the burnt webs had just opened. I watched him, turned back to Faendal, putting the Claw away. I gave him deuces, then followed Ralof.

Ralof and I continued until we reached a burial room. The air was stale and cold. The dead surrounded us; the freshest seeming bodies had wrappings around them, the oldest just a skeleton.

Ralof removed his hood and looked around the room, "Look at these carvings! These halls might fill some with dread, but as a Nord, they fill me with pride." I rolled my eyes and trudged forward.

"What…GUY, LOOK OUT!" I turned to find the giant blonde Nord charging forward. I took a step back in shock before he pushed me, making me fall back. While I fell, I saw the reason. Where I was standing, a Draugr's Ancient Nord Greatsword struck.

"I TOLD YOU!" Ralof yelled as he incapacitated the Draugr, "NOT. TO UPSET. THE SPIRITS!"

Two more rose from where they lay on the other side of the room, one with an Ancient Nord Sword and Banded Iron Shield that looked dented and corroded, and the other with an Ancient Nord War Axe. As Ralof rushed forward, I got up and let the other taste Flames. An arrow landed in its head with a loud thunk as it burnt. I turned in the direction it came to find Faendal, bow at his side as he approached. I gave him a smile, but he just glared.

"Let's get this over with," he muttered as he passed me by…walking right in the direction of a trap.

"Wait!" I grabbed his shoulder. He turned to me with angry eyes. "WHAT?"

"Chill, dog, you were headed towards a trap." I stepped next to him and pointed at where the pressure plate usually was, surprised to see it wasn't as straightforward as usual, only an unmarked raised stone. Seeking a more obvious sign, I panned my pointer finger to the hinges of the wall of spikes that would have swung around.

"Oh…" he mumbled, face softening.

Ralof approached us, "Is the area around on this other side safe?"

"Should be," I said. "Let me take the lead."

I led my party around the trap and downstairs, leading to a similar room. Sure enough, Draugr rose from their resting place, weapons ready. As we began to engage, I heard a growl from above us on the stairs. I turned as Ralof ran ahead, and Faendal nocked an arrow. At the top of the steps we just descended, I found a Restless Draugr with light blue light emanating from its left hand descending slowly towards us. It outstretched its hand, an intricate runed blue circle forming. Knowing what was coming, I jumped to the side as it released a torrent of ice towards me. With both hands, I responded with Flames. Frostbite met Flames, deflecting against it, before being completely overtaken. The Draugr snarled as the Flames licked at its desiccated body. It lept down with slightly more coordination than the other Draugr, swinging its blade. I jumped out of the way, drawing my sword. Before I could respond further, the Restless Draugr had an arrow in its head, and its glowing blue eyes dimmed as it fell, still on fire. I returned my blade to its sheath.

"Are you alright?" Ralof approached me. "It looks like they're getting stronger the deeper we go."

"It's almost like this is a stupid idea and we should go back," Faendal sang, examining his bow.

"I'm fine Ralof," I muttered, approaching the next doorway. Three sets of giant metal axes were swinging like clockwork from the top of the threshold.

"How are we supposed to get past that?" Faendal chuckled.

"Maybe if we can time it or stand between them?" Ralof approached, watching the axes.

I observed the axes, which appeared to only swing about thigh-high. We can crawl under them!

"Under!" I announced. "There's enough room to crawl under! Watch!" I pointed. "There's a chain on the other side," I looked to my allies, who both were looking at me. "...What?"

"Well…" Ralof started. "You're the…smallest one here, no?"

I looked at Faendal, who stepped back, "Don't look at me. I'm not doing it."

My heart dropped. I peered at the axes. Dammit. I removed any equipment that stuck out and gave them to Ralof. I pressed my body as close to the cold, dusty stone floor as I could. With every metallic whine, I winced. I could feel the air sliced above me as I slowly crawled, my anxiety rising and the axes seeming closer and closer with every swing. I finally reached the end and hurriedly pulled the chain. As I released the chain, I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. The sound of rusty gears grinding rang out, and after one last swing, the axes stopped.

After a moment to make sure it had actually stopped, Ralof came first with my gear, followed by Faendal. After re-equipping my items, I led the way down tighter, older catacomb halls. Steps led us progressively deeper, and at every corner, a Draugr left its pedestal to face us, meeting flame, blade, and bow. Eventually, we found ourselves in a more open corridor ascending stairs this time. At the end of this corridor was an open room that nature had taken its course on; a waterfall flowed from one of the walls across some weathered stones through an iron gate. Across the room, a Draugr pounded out of its sarcophagus, the lid falling to the floor with a crash. It turned to us and charged, Ancient Nord Greatsword raised, but soon fell from Flames and an arrow from Faendal.

I opened the gate, and we followed the path that the water had cut…or was intentionally made to follow. We found ourselves in a cave lit by glowing mushrooms, which at the end featured a waterfall falling past a landbridge patrolled by a Draugr below. There was also a chest nearby that I promptly opened. Inside I found what appeared to be copper coins and another Scroll of Fireball. The coins had a rough face and weren't perfectly circular, either a sign of erosion or ancient craftsmanship. As I took the scroll, Faendal's bow gave a twang, and we heard what could easily be assumed to be a Draugr falling into the water below.

My party continued down a corridor cut in the cave wall to the landbridge. I crossed it in awe. All of this, hidden below this mountain…and we probably weren't even that close to the end.

Across the bridge, we climbed an incline in the cave system until we found ourselves in more familiar stone corridors. We spotted a Draugr in the room ahead and, sneaking, shot it with our bows. It fell, peppered, and its Ancient Nord Greatsword fell to the floor with a clang. I opened a chest nearby, finding even more crude bronze coins, then rose to find my companions waiting for me. We marched to the end of the room to a set of wooden doors adorned with rusted metal at the end of the room, leading to Bleak Falls Sanctum.