Day Two

The next day I felt refreshed and after a quick meal of cheese and a few apples (washed down with ale), I left the little town and decided to head towards Whiterun. I would inform their jarl of the dragon and maybe get a reward. My chances for scoring some skooma are also much better since it should be a bigger town.

On the other side of the bridge I spotted a mudcrab scurrying around in the water. I made short work of it, though it managed to put a new tear in my pants. I cut off its claws for later to make a soup. I also spotted some mushrooms growing on a nearby tree stump. I had heard rumors of some mushrooms that had special effects on people and thought I would give these a try. I tasted one. Not bad, but it only made me light-headed and caused me to see in blue for a moment. Bah, not worth it.

Around the first bend I was attacked by a monstrous, slavering wolf. He got in the first strike since I had no warning. The heavy armor I picked up from Alvor's home helped keep the damage down and I finished off the beast with two swift blows to the neck. One pelt heavier, I moved on to Whiterun. Nearly there I came across a meadery. Now we're talking! I ventured in but the scoundrel wants over sixty septims for a single bottle!

"Good luck with that," I told him angrily and left. "I hope your place becomes infested with skeevers!" I yelled once I was outside.

The neighborhood was terrible. Besides the crooks selling mead, a little further down the road I saw a gang of ruffians attacking a giant. I had no love for the pasty, smelly creatures, but four or five against one? I would have taken him on myself but they killed him too quickly. Cowards. Thieves and cowards, that's all I saw...wait. Could it be? A khajiit caravan?

I picked up my pace and sure enough there was a khajiit trader outside of the town. I asked the main trader, Ri-saad, but it was a silly question. Of course they had skooma. I bought all I could afford, three bottles, and continued toward Whiterun. I would have to make these last. Back home I would go through three in a day. I suddenly realized as I down one bottle immediately that I'm going to have to get more money and get it fast. I could have the best weapon in the world but it won't matter if my hands are shaking too much to hold it.

The guard at the main gate gave me a line about dragons flying around so the town was closed. I'm enjoying my skooma buzz so his brashness did not bother me as much as it should. I informed him I had news for the jarl about the dragons. He let me in but with a warning to watch myself. I was in a good mood, but his insolence was testing that.

After spending most of my money on skooma, I didn't bother looking for any shops. I would just have to meet the jarl dressed as I was. Perhaps I would run into him later after I've found some suitable clothing and I would have another chance to impress him. Whiterun was at least impressive inside the gates. I stopped at the blacksmith's shop to get an idea of her prices. Outrageous! Especially made by a woman! I tried unsuccessfully to control my laughter. Despite this, she asked me to deliver a sword for her to her father in Dragonsreach. The work she did was tolerable, I suppose, definitely better than what I had now.

"I'll do it," I told her. Eventually, I told myself.

I asked for directions from a guard to the jarl's residence. With his closed helmet he sounded just like the last guard I talked to. His directions took me through the entire town. I liked the bustle of the market area but some priest near a fountain needed to calm down a bit. He was going to burst something yelling like that.

At the top of the stone steps I came to Dragonsreach. I liked the view here. I may use this for my command base once I'm established as their ruler. The place was huge. You could fit a dragon in there! Inside I'm stopped by an elf waving a sword at me.

"The jarl is not seeing visitors today," she said.
I placed my fists on my hips. "He'll see me. Tell him I have news of this dragon, servant."

"That explains why they let you in. The jarl will want to hear of this."

You? What did she mean by that?

I tell the jarl about the dragon's attack on Helgen as Ulfric was about to be executed. His concern seemed to deepen about some war. His advisor, the one I was supposed to give the sword to, squawked about something but he was put in his place by the jarl. I liked this Balgruuf. He knew how to control his people. He turned back to me and gave me an outfit of studded armor form his personal stores. I thanked him and just as I was leaving he wanted me to talk to his court wizard about a task. As much as I loathed mages, I followed in the hopes it would lead to some quick coin.

In the mage's lair the first thing I noticed was a huge map with red and blue pins stuck in it. These must pertain to that war Balgruuf was talking about. I had no idea Tamirel was so vast. I may have to make use of these jarls to oversee the tedium of administration.

The wizard spoke first as I approached. "You must be the one the jarl has told me about."

My fame preceded me. Despite his attempt at flattery I did not trust him. Why must he keep half his face hidden behind that cowl? A wanted man, perhaps, or maybe he was disfigured by some experiment gone wrong. I would not turn my back on this one.

"I am the one everyone is talking about," I admitted. "What do you need?"
He began to tell me of a simple task, but then he must have seen the hard look I was giving him and changed his tune, admitting it was actually a dangerous endeavor to retrieve an ancient artifact.

"Just tell me what it is and where to go."

Once he realized that the mention of danger only made it irresistible to me he supplied me with the details. I was surprised of the mention of Bleak Falls Barrow again. It was only fitting that a mage would know all about a refuge for bandits and other lowlife. I nodded and left the room without another word. I did not leave immediately, however. Everyone was busy and not concerned that I lingered so I decided to take a look around. I bumped into some brat who not only did not apologize, but called me a wanderer here to lick his father's boots. My skooma buzz saved the lad's life. If he was the jarl's son then I would eat the next skeever I saw. I suspected Balgruuf's adviser was doing more than laying out plans with the jarl's woman.

I noticed not much was locked in the castle so I assumed whatever there was was fair game for the residents and visitors. Of course they wanted their people to look their best so I found some fine clothing in different wardrobes. After changing into the best looking outfit, I felt respectable enough to talk with Balgruuf and be taken seriously. The extra coin and food I found was nice, too. Hopefully the Khajiits would still be there when I left. I decided to eat before heading back to Riverwood. The barrow seemed an easier route from there.
I stopped at the Bannered Mare and took the only empty seat. I ordered some cooked beef, some ale, and a sweetroll. I managed to choke down the overcooked meat with the help of the stale ale then the bard by the fire began a song about some ugly red haired fellow. We all had a good laugh at the end but when I turned back around my laughter turned to rage. I leapt from my stool.
"All right, who stole my sweetroll?"

Infuriated, I left the inn without leaving a tip. The nerve of these peasants. On my way out I was stopped by a guard.

"Let me guess," he said, "Someone stole your sweetroll."

I could almost see him grinning inside his stupid helmet. He walked away and I had to down another bottle of skooma to stop my eye from twitching.
Outside, the Khajiit was stilll there so I bought his last three skoomas and trekked back to Riverwood. I was tired and still a little angry so I checked in at the inn and went right to sleep to be well rested for tomorrow.