Day Three

In the morning I ate a breakfast of bread, cheese, and a rabbit I had managed to catch last night returning from Whiterun. It was early and still a little dark so the patrolling guards were carrying torches as they walked around. Alvor was asleep so I helped myself to his grinding stone and workbench and improved my equipment. Adrianne's blade sharpened nicely. I may be using this for a while.

I crossed the raging river and after a short walk through the woods, found the path leading towards the barrow. I spotted a watchtower and slowed to a crawl. I could see a filthy bandit standing by the doorway with his arms folded, probably sleeping. I thought better of trying to sneak by since it was not the best thing I did. I strung my longbow and took aim at him. The arrow struck him in the chest but I must have missed his vitals. He shouted at me, rousing his fellows, then came charging with an axe. I put my bow away quickly and drew my sword. I inched backwards down the path to limit how many could come at me at once. The bloody bandit took a wild swing which I parried easily. I smacked him in the face with the sword's pommel, staggering him. I brought my sword down on his neck and he was done. I took a step and an arrow landed in my hip. It did more damage than I would have thought. I could not let him get any more of those shots in. I charged him, weaving through the hard-packed snow until I was within range. He was still trying to shoot me when I ran my sword through his gut, lifting him in the air and throwing him back down. For the first time I noticed it was actually a woman. Is there such a shortage of men here that women have to fill in their ranks? Who's in the kitchens? I wipe my blade on her fur armor but then feel another arrow strike me in the back. I turned and ran for cover behind a tree. I spotted the thief firing from inside the tower. Now that I'm aware, I could tell this one was a woman, too. No matter. Act like a man, die like a man.

I let one more arrow fly by me then charged the wench. She managed to get one shot off before I reached her but it went wild. She dodged by running into the tower. She pulled a dagger as I approached.

"You picked the wrong day to get lost, friend," she hissed.

I laughed and landed one powerful blow at her chest. She dropped to the ground, shocked by my swiftness. I got behind her and exposed her throat to my sword.

"How many more of you are there?" I demanded. "Tell me and I'll end your life quickly, thief."

I could see the fear of me in her eyes, and rightly so. She gurgled, "Seven," then went limp before I could show my mercy. The battle had left me wounded but energized. I searched the tower, turning up some coins, food, and a ruby hidden in a chest at the top. I took the arrows from the bandits and added them to my quiver. The weapons and armor I took from them and stashed in a barrel to retrieve later for extra coin. Let their bodies feed the wolves.

I ate some of the food I had just found, some cabbage and apples, and I felt better instantly. I proceeded along the switchback nearby as the wind began whipping the snow around. I could barely see. If I was not in the mountains I would have suspected a wizard at work. A little further and the barrow appeared through the snow. The wind died down as I tried to sneak closer. That figured. A blizzard would have hidden me quite nicely. I spotted one bandit pacing back and forth to my left on a stone platform. I took aim with my bow but stopped as another bandit appeared to my right. I did not think they saw me but suddenly the new bandit came charging down the steps with a battleaxe at the ready. I turned my bow on him but my shot went wide. Must have been a gust of wind, or something. He was a big fellow and approached fast so I ditched my bow and readied my sword.

I blocked his initial blow and wound up for a power swing of my own. Before I could, however, he recovered and hit me across the shoulder, narrowly missing my head. The damn thing cut right through my armor. Suddenly an arrow hit me as well then the brute with the axe attacked again. I barely managed to block it and suddenly my blood was pounding in my ears. They must have known their only chance was to attack all at once and with all their fury. I had to buy myself some time. I made a break for it, running behind the axe-wielder as he tried a finishing blow. As I ran, another two arrows landed at my feet. I quickly drank two of the potions for healing I had picked up in Helgen. Hadvar had told me what they were for but I doubted I would need them. At least I had the sense to keep them handy. I also chugged another vial of skooma to aid my fatigue. Refreshed and out of range of the archers, I returned to the battle.

The axe man was almost upon me again. This time I waited for him to swing, stayed out of his reach, then darted in when he was off balance. I landed two slashes, one high, one low, then blocked his counter swing. I rammed my sword across his face and bloodied his nose. He fell to one knee and I finished him off, splashing red on the snow. The archers were still waiting, slowly inching down the steps to try their luck a little closer. I woould not give them the satisfaction. I was nobody's target dummy. Nimble even in my armor, I swiftly closed on them both. One looked to be wearing less armor, another woman, so I went after her first. She drew a sword as I got close but she was too slow. She hit me once, a glancing blow to my arm, but I followed up with a two stroke killing move I had learned from my father's master-at-arms. The third bandit hid behind a pillar but I knew he was there. I worked around to see him and he let an arrow fly. I anticipated as much and it missed as I ducked back. Again I charged and he only took two hits to bring down.

I rummaged through their belongings, hoping for another of those healing potions but found only meager coin and questionable food. I found one green bottle that smelled a bit like skooma but lacked its consistency. I kept it just in case.

The desperate bandits had made me wary so I searched for an entrance besides the huge double doors of the barrow. To the right I found nothing and the left only a hidden alcove with a satchel and a locked strongbox. The satchel had nothing worthwhile but once I managed to jimmie the strongbox open I found a single coin and a large ruby. I pocketed both and wondered at the coin. Perhaps it was someone's lucky coin. I would rather have the lucky ruby, myself. Now that I had had time to rest and wrap my minor wounds, I opened the doors to the barrow.

Inside I found a large, ruined chamber. The floor was littered with crumbling stone, dead skeevers, and one large dead bandit. At least that was one less I had to sully my blade on. I heard voices up ahead and saw two of the thieves standing by a fire arguing. Probably rutting-mates. I crept up to the corpse and relieved it of its coin. It was still warm and I nearly stepped in a puddle of blood around its throat. I resisted the urge to gag. I looked up to see another bandit laying face up on a tomb. These bandits were nothing but animals. Time for some fun. I snuck to the left where I saw a small alcove. It offered a perfect view of the bandits as well as cover. I got my bow out and buried an arrow in the woman's neck. Somehow she survived and the two of them scoured the room looking for me. I remained hidden and finished her off with two more stealthy arrows. I could not contain my mirth long enough to do the same to the man, however. He heard me chuckling and demanded for me to come out. I obliged him and quickly sent him to the Hells with his fellow scum. Four in here, three outside. That should have been it according to the cowering thief I questioned. But why would they all just be standing around? None of the lowlifes had Lucan's claw on them. There must be more inside. Damn her! She lied to me! Me! Or she can not count, which would be more believable. Either way it appeared there may be more to deal with. I took anything useful from the bandits and stashed it in a chest near the fire. Those lockpicks I kept finding had proven useful and surprisingly easy to use.

I crept through the barrow's tunnels, finding nothing of real use to me. I did find one bottle of healing potion along with some linen wraps that could prove very useful later, especially if the food I was finding did not sit well in my stomach. I left some of the rougher fabrics behind. A little further I nearly ran into another bandit as he approached a lever in the ground. I knew there had to be more! I readied my bow for a shot to his head. The thief threw the lever and was instantly pelted with darts. He went down quickly. They must have been laced with poison. Once in the chamber I saw the lever was part of a trap. The key to it was simple enough to figure out, even with one of the answers dislodged. Simple fool. I checked his person but he did not have the claw either. Stairs to the right lead up to some shelves where I found another healing potion. I returned and opened the gate to continue on.

I found some coins in an urn and a clear blue crystal a little ways in. I heard the squeaking of skeevers and turned to see three of the foul creatures climbing a spiral staircase towards me. I made short work of them, suffering only a few bites. Luckily none were diseased. At the bottom of the stairs I found a moldy scroll and a bottle of something smelling so foul it could only be poison. I pocketed both to sell later once I left this dank place.

Further along I heard someone calling out. How many of these bandits were there? I followed the voice. This one sounded frantic and a bit insane. I had to cut through a thick mass of cobwebs to go any further. How long had he been in there? As soon as I was through, a huge shadow appeared on the ground. I looked up to see the biggest spider I had ever seen, even bigger than the ones I dispatched back in Helgen. The man started screaming, "Don't let him get me!" He was trapped in webs against the far wall. I ignored him as best I could and started after the spider. Before I could close, it shot a stream of poison at me, hitting me in the chest. I was weakened instantly and retreated back the way I came. Spitting spiders? How fair was that? I could see the hairy beast waiting for me to go back. He would just have to wait. I ate some of the food I found while I recovered. The man's screaming was beginning to hurt worse than the poison.

"Shut up, thief, or I'll leave you here to feed its young!"

That did no good. He was too hysterical. I debated using my bow on the thief to put us both out of our misery, but perhaps he knew something I could use. I decided not to kill him, yet, and took aim at the giant arachnid. It was wary and kept luring me in to be able to get a good enough shot at him but eventually he succumbed to my prowess and patience. My skill with the bow was definitely improving, though I was worried over my supply of arrows.

I snagged two arrows from its carcass and some poison as well. I noticed a few lockpicks sticking out of some dry corpses on the floor and grabbed those as well. The man's shouts were too grating to ignore so I questioned him.

"Where is the claw?"

He said he had it and knew how to use it. Perhaps I would let him live.

"Hand it over then, thief."

He pointed out that his hands were obviously stuck and I must free him first. I did not care for his attitude much. I may only let him live just long enough. There was no reason justice should not be dealt out as soon as possible.

"Don't move," I warned him, "Wouldn't want to accidentally cut anything important off, would we?"

Even through the webbing I could see him starting to sweat and glancing downwards. Though tempting, I merely started hacking through the webs. He collapsed and thanked me profusely. Then he called me a fool and took off running. He was swift, I'll give him that. This was why mercy and me had never gotten along. I cursed acidly then gave chase.

Luckily, there were no forks in the tunnel or doors for him to duck into and I was able to catch sight of him. Fast as he was, he realized he could not escape me and turned to fight. We exchanged blows in the narrow confines of the dark tunnel but my recent fights had given me more experience with this blade and I eventually cut him down like the waste he was. A quick search of his cooling body revealed the golden claw Lucan had claimed stolen. Along with a few other useful items, I found the man's journal. I sat and read a bit to rest my aching body. The man was obviously no bard. I would love to down another of my skooma but I resisted. Who knows when I would be able to locate more.

According to the journal, there would be a lock that required this claw for a key. I snapped my fingers, the sound echoing down the tunnel. That must be the location of the dragonstone Farengar wanted. First a dragon saved my life, then I'm asked to retrieve a dragonstone, now I'm fortuitously given the very key to accomplish it. Dragons must be somehow linked to my grand destiny. I've heard they are highly intelligent. Perhaps the next one I see I will try to converse with to see how they may serve me best.

Rested, I continue on. This task was already taking longer than I expected. I've got a kingdom to overthrow and I'm picking through dead thieves clothes? This had better be worth it. It does not take long before the stench of death fills the still air. I got a better grip on my sword as I proceeded down a ramp. I could see crypts set within the walls ahead of me. Some were empty but others were filled with the dead in various stages of preparation. Sloppy work, no wonder it had fallen under control of bandits. My family would never have let their dead go so unattended. That lead to the dead coming back to seek revenge.

No sooner did I finish the thought then I see one of the interred moving to get up. Did Farengar even warn me about this? I could not recall but it did not matter now. The dead were walking, armed and armored, and only I was there to send them back. I suspected Farengar sent me here knowing what was waiting. I intended to live long enough to get the truth of that out of him.
The dead man taunted me, waving his ancient sword in the air. As he approacheed, I noticed more dead were following him. Again I retreated to a narrower space and let them come at me. I was not even sure they could be killed with a normal weapon. I soon found they died as surely as the living, though less messily. They proved to be no match. I checked the dead for loose coin. No sense letting the bandits have it. I passed by a nasty spiked door, only noticing the pressure plate just before stepping on it. The tunnel lead past more crypts, these fancier, but still poorly maintained. I could smell oil heavy in the air and noticed the fuel pooling on the floor below the hanging lanterns. The whole place was a fire trap. It did give me an idea, though, as more of the dead appeared. A few of the dead men ran at me and I put my new archery skills to use, severing one of the lanterns in front of them. The ensuing conflagration destroyed them all. The smell, however, would haunt my nose for days. Another trap, one with large swinging pendulum blades, took me a moment to figure out. I simply timed it right and ran through them. I felt sorry for anyone old or with a gimpy leg. That would indeed be precarious, but what would they be doing in here anyway.

I found three more chests, containing various useful items, healing potions, scrolls, and coins. There was even one dead warrior, I believe someone once called them draugr, that came right out of a closed stone coffin to try to kill me. He died just as easily. I passed by a waterfall hiding another chest then came to a door. Hopefully this dragonstone was on the other side. I stopped to have a quick dinner of cheese and a horse haunch I had acquired from Dragonsreach.
I pressed on through the door but nothing immediately attacked me. In fact it was too quiet with just the wind howling low through the passage. A little further I heard the scything sounds of another blade trap. I saw nothing moving beyond them so I waited then ran through them again, this time the last blade passed through the hem of my armor, slicing off a piece. Now I would have to replace that. My ruined armor would have to wait as a draugr rose from an open coffin beside me. I ran up to it as it struggled to get to its feet. It took three hits but it collapsed back into the coffin. How was that for efficient? My self-congratulations were put on hold when an arrow pierced my side. I looked up to see one of the dead standing on a ledge firing down on me. Another had made his way down the stairs. This one still had a full red beard around his bony chin. We engaged swords near a puddle of oil. I blocked his sword then cut his leg out from under him and slashed down across his neck. The archer was still shooting but he apparently could not hit a moving target to save his..uh..death. I charged upstairs and he waited too long to switch weapons. I knocked him off his perch and he died on impact. I went back downstairs to check a small side room I had noticed during the fight. All I found was a small bottle, unlabeled, but it felt warm to the touch. I pocketed it for sale later.

The path lead me upstairs and to another set of doors. These opened onto a long chamber. It was silent and warm, the fires illuminating carved representations on the walls. The one I found the most interesting was of a warrior holding the skull and spine of a dragon in each hand. I would have to remember that pose for one of my statues that I commission. I approached the stone door at the end of the chamber and worked out the puzzle on it using the claw just as the craven thief's journal described. The ancient stoneworks proved flawless as usual and the door descended into the floor revealing a staircase leading up. This must be it.

The cavern was immense. Waterfalls cascaded on either side of an enormous alter. I could already feel a power in this room, felt it in my blood. I barely noticed a colony of bats rush past my head. I crossed a small bridge and I heard chanting that grew louder as I approached an odd wall. I saw an alter, another coffin, and a chest but the wall held my interest. A giant stone reptilian head stared down from the top. Below it, I saw mysterious writings and a small spot that was glowing. I was drawn closer and suddenly the room began shifting and I nearly blacked out. A word burned itself into my vision though I did not know what it meant. I could almost hear it sizzling and the sound brought me back to the chamber, and none too soon. The top of the coffin burst open and I forced myself to grab hold of my sword to defend myself. Even at a distance I could feel a coldness radiating from the towering warrior. He laughed evilly then lurched forward with some sort of shout. An invisible force, as well as the foulness of his breath, staggered me back into the wall. He did not mean for me to leave this cave. I swore I would never become one of his thralls.

I took the fight to him, knowing he would only cut me down if I tried to find a better vantage to fight from. I blocked his first strike but even so, my arms ached as if suddenly frozen. It was then I saw the frost emanating from his sword. I felt tired already. I changed my tactics after realizing I must rely on quickness rather than brute force. He raised his sword for another blow but I bashed my sword into him first. He reeled back and I slashed at his chest. He tried to hit me again and I did the same. Death had obviously given him no extra intelligence. I did this twice more and he fell to the ground on one knee. I had tried mercy before with Arvel and it bit me in the ass. This time, the sentence would be passed as Ralos Ravenclaw has learned is best. My sword sliced into the creature's neck and his skeletal form crumpled then slid down the stone steps. The people of this land would find all my judgements just as swift and sure.

I sheathed my sword and scoured the alter and cavern for the loot I just earned. I found much that I could later sell from two other chests, including a scroll having to do with courage and a bottle labeled 'frenzy'. The potion sounded like something used for one of their heathen sacrificial orgies. I'll just keep that. All together I found three chests but no dragonstone. Damn wizards and their lies. I knew he was just trying to lure me to my death. When I get back I'm going to shove...I stopped by the alter to pick up the warrior's magic sword when I noticed something poking out from under him. I rolled the decaying corpse over and found an object that can only be the artifact I was looking for. The wizard shall live another day. Perhaps I may just set him to be my personal skooma maker. I searched and find a hidden passage out. It lead to another chest with a nice garnet inside and I followed the fresh air outside.

"What the Hells?" I said.

My curse echoed down the mountainside several times. The passage lead me to a cliff on the side of a mountain. It was beginning to get dark but I thought I could manage to scale my way down. While looking for a way down I found an orange bottle. Apparently I was not the first to be trapped up here. I stashed it away and began down slowly.

I dodged around some very old mammoth bones and made my way down to the nearby lake. There, I refreshed myself in the water, being careful to fold my clothes on a nearby dry rock. I gave little thought to someone happening upon my nakedness. Some of my best memories as a youth involved things 'happening' with the lasses in the hot springs near my home. The water livened me. It was no skooma, but it was free. While swimming, I spied a rock formation underwater. I'm no strong swimmer but the lake was calm and I dove to see if anything was worth salvaging. I spotted a chest and luckily it was unlocked, revealing a steel mace and some coin. Suddenly I was besieged by several nasty looking slaughterfish. Ridiculously, I swung the mace at them. One even bit my hand as the weapon floated in front of them. Their bites were taking a toll so I hurried away before they bit more than my hand.

I treated the small bites until they stopped bleeding. By then I was dry enough to get dressed. It was getting darker by the moment it seemed so I checked my map. I believed I was near Riverwood so I headed that way. Even the Sleeping Giant Inn accommodations would be welcome at this point.

I trekked through the woods following the river that was just out of sight to my right. It was a pleasant enough walk with the smell of lavender and mountain flowers in the cooling air. From out of the dusky gloom materialized an old cabin. Odd that it was just out here in the middle of nowhere. At the front of the cabin sat an old woman. She said I had no need to trouble with her, as if she indeed posed a danger. It was a long shot but I step inside her cabin for a quick look around to see if perhaps she had some bottles of skooma, since with all her ingredients lying around she obviously was brewing something. I find nothing but a book which I avoided touching, recalling the magic tome I opened in Dragonsreach. Upon leaving, the old woman, Anise, she said her name was, turned towards the woods and crouched. Her hands began to glow.

"I'll teach you to trifle with me," she said.

A glowing wolf appears in front of her and together they disappeared into the dark. I could not see what was going on but I heard blasts of magic and men yelling at her. A war among mages? Could anything be more revolting? I decided to leave them to their squabble. I was far too tired to care for such pettiness. A wolf howled in pain and I assumed it was Anise's. I heard a woman cry out then two mages dressed in black robes with skulls on the front emerged from the woods and came after me.

Necromancers, the worst of the vile orders of magic. I knew I would not be able to outrun their magic so I grabbed my sword from my back and charged the nearest one. He put up some sort of energy shield. My sword made contact with it but it did not seem to penetrate. He was still standing, his bald head shining in the moonlight. I was suddenly enveloped in a wave of frost. My movements slowed and I felt my energy failing me. I turned to look at the other mage who was hitting me with a shaft of whitish-blue magic. He was close so I took a swing at him which stopped the magic and forced him back. I felt weak so I dashed back to the cabin. The two mages followed. Inside, I quickly unstoppered two of the health potions and one of the green bottles. The effects were instantaneous and I felt warmer and hale once again. I chose another bottle, this one I had filled with poison from one of the spiders I killed, and I poured it over my sword. Someone was about to get a nasty surprise.

They made the mistake of separating outside. One stayed by the door while the other circled around to an open window. I stabbed at the one by the door. He backed up, his whole body tinged with blue. I hit him one more time and he fell on his side, blood smearing his robes along his leg. That poison worked nicely. My blade looked clean so I emptied another bottle over it.

"Come here, Mage," I called out. "I've got a point to make. Go through your chest, that is."

We met each other coming around a corner. He had a spell ready and started blasting me with the white light again. My health restored, I managed to endure the chill long enough to reach him and chop off one of his extended arms. He fell and tried to crawl away, the poison dripping onto the ground from his wound.

"This is for the old woman, Vermin," I said and plunged my sword through his chest.

I did not survive the barrow's demons to be taken down by some balding men in robes. I cleaned my blade on the mage and went in search of the woman. I intended to lay her in her cabin to keep the wolves away from her. She did not threaten me so she should not have died so. I looked around but I do not find her body. I shuddered to think perhaps there was a third mage that carried her off. I spit in revulsion and quickly left the place. I'll need plenty of ale to help forget this night.

It was late when I finally arrived in Riverwood. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. My head was pounding but I doubted it's from the wounds I had taken. More likely it was from that word that seared my mind back at the barrow, or my nagging desire for a sip of skooma. On the way to the inn I checked at the traders and to my surprise, they were open. Let me get this over with.

Lucan was shocked to see me and even more shocked to see the golden claw. He acted disappointed by its appearance, however, and I think he meant to lessen my reward. I suggested it would look better back in the barrow and he quickly changed his tone. He handed me a purse filled with four hundred septims. Less than I expected, but the loot I collected will make up for the difference. I took some coins off the counter as well and a wheel of cheese to compensate.

"You've done a great thing for me and my sister," he said.

Sister? I had almost forgotten about Camilla. She stood as I was about to leave, showing proper deference to my station, no doubt. I gave her a look as she stopped in front of me.

"It's a fine day with you around," she said, her tongue wetting her lips.

"If I wasn't so tired," I answered, "I'd make it a fine night as well."

Lucan cleared his throat a little too loudly and Camilla retreated to their upstairs. I smiled at Lucan, nodded, then left. I truly was too tired.

At the inn, I bought slaughterfish for dinner, three ales, and a honeynut treat. My own little revenge on those nasty buggers from the lake. I was feeling better afterwards, though drowsy, so I asked Orgnar for a room. I thought of going back to Alvor's but his snoring was louder than that anvil of his. Orgnar said the innkeeper was out but I could rest my head on a table. I was so tired I did not even feel like killing him for that. I hurled one of the empty mead bottles against the wall and left. I dragged myself over to Alvor's house but it was locked.

I did not have the patience for this one cow town. Gathering the last of my strength I marched over the bridge towards Whiterun. Along the way I was attacked my an Argonian thief. He wielded his daggers expertly but he had picked the wrong night to slither from the banks. I finished him off with three swift hammerblows to the head. I relieved him of a large amethyst, a few lockpicks, and his armor as well. A slimy reptile has no need for such good clothes anyway. As a final indignaton to match my foul mood, I picked him up and tossed him back into the river from whence his kind came.

I was staggering with fatigue now and I wanted a skooma. It was in my hand before I knew it but I resisted. If I drank it I would never get to sleep until I passed out wherever I happen to be standing. I put it back in my pouch and trudged to Whiterun.

I did not even look at the guards as I shambled through the street to the Bannered Mare. I think I spoke to the innkeeper, perhaps even paid for the room. All I remembered was a green blanket hitting my face.