Annals of Adrian: Hardcore Skyrim, Continued

[SilverLeaf167]

Hey y'all, and welcome to the Annals of Adrian!

This gameplay journal is basically a continuation of a similar series (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272460) I did earlier this year but which was cancelled due to various issues. The basic premise is that I shall provide a first-person, in-character account of all that transpires, spiced up with screenshots and OOC comments in separate spoilers to avoid breaking the flow (and lagging slower machines). To enhance the roleplaying experience, I will not be using fast travel at all and will only be allowed to save after a good night's sleep in a safe bed.

The only DLC I have is Dawnguard, but I might be getting Hearthfire from the Steam Christmas Sale.
I have also installed certain mods that add such things as hunger, thirst and a need for sleep. Below I shall list all mods that become relevant in the game (simply because adding everything at once would be a pain for both parties), in alphabetical order.

Alternate Start - Life Another Life
Amazing Follower Tweaks
Duel 7 - Combat Realism
Realistic Needs and Diseases
Recurve Longbows

Aesthetic mods, bug fixes etc. will be listed if requested OR centrally displayed in screenshots, in order of appearance.

Magical Dragon Bridge
Steel Soldiers with Cloaks
Dovahkiin Relaxes Too
Vibrant Auroras
Expanded Enchantments
Horse Armors


Links to individual chapters:
Chapter #0: What a drag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16666959&postcount=2)
Chapter #1: Civilization, arguably (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16668273&postcount=4)
Chapter #2: Rock the joint (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16671586&postcount=6)
Chapter #3: For the Dawn (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16671998&postcount=7)
Chapter #4: Sweet Solitude (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16679737&postcount=10)
Chapter #5: Déjà-vu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16685151&postcount=18)
Chapter #6: Gods know (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16703875&postcount=20)
Chapter #7: Falkreath folks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16718295&postcount=21)
Chapter #8: Wolf? Where? (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16735815&postcount=24)
Chapter #9: Hiker Adrian wants to battle! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16768698&postcount=36)
Chapter #10: What the Helgen happened here? (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16835353&postcount=39)

And remember, I'm always looking for useful mods, any and all feedback or just interesting ideas about what to do in the game, so feel free to chime in!

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #0: What a drag
My name is Adrian. For whatever reason, you insisted on hearing my life story, boring and inelegantly told as it may be, so here you go. No, don't sit down, this isn't going to take long.
I abandoned my last name the same day I abandoned my family. Thus, all you need to know about them is that I was the third son out of six in a wealthy noble family all the way over in Imperial City. By my twentieth summer, I was already growing restless with the slow, boring life, painfully devoid of the thrill of combat; as is customary for nobles, I received some training in the way of the blade as a lad, but that stopped when I showed the slightest interesting in fighting in the local arena. My family, with some help from fate, spared me the trouble of running away: after my eldest brother drunkenly assaulted another noble at a tavern, my parents shifted the blame to me, effectively banishing and forcing me to flee. At least they were fair enough to tell me in advance, giving me just enough time to evade the guards.
I followed my dream, so to speak, seeking training in the ways of the spellsword and becoming a traveling sellsword – I have yet to figure out a nifty way to combine those two terms. Five long years I spent in Hammerfell and High Rock, until finally hitching a fateful ride on the Skinny Horker, a ship embarking from Daggerfall, headed towards Morrowind. I had no interest in passing through Skyrim, embroiled in a bloody civil war and just unpleasant in general, or so I hear.
Of course, it didn't work out quite so simply.
It turns out, there was a Thalmor Justiciar on board. Like just about every mercenary in Tamriel, I'd had some run-ins with them, and this one wasn't too pleased to hear of my profession. Angry at me for some reason, and utterly convinced that I had done something against the Dominion (not completely wrong), she paid the captain of the ship in exchange for my arrest. The sailors overwhelmed me, confiscated my equipment, locked me in a small cabin and headed towards some Thalmor Embassy in northern Skyrim.
That wasn't such a good idea. After what I think was just a single day, as the Horker approached the coast, a deafening roar was heard from overhead. I have no idea what happened outside, but I thought I heard some of the sailors yelling ”Dragon!” and ”Oh my god my face is melting!” and other such nonsense, until suddenly the whole ship was capsized and water rushed in from a hole in the hull.

So that's how I ended up here.

The rushing torrent had forced open the door to my cabin. I think I hit my head pretty hard, but now I have to move fast until my fortune becomes my death. I scramble towards where I think the door should be, pull myself out and gasp for air. Since the water level inside the ship doesn't seem to be rising, I presume we're stranded on a rock or island of some sort. Let me tell ya though, navigating an upside-down ship with water all over the place is very disorienting, especially when you may or may not have a concussion. In the cargo hold, which is at the bottom of the ship, except it's now at the top, but technically at the bottom, **** I should stop confusing myself, I find a dead Redguard. I recognize him as one of the sailors. There don't seem to be any other people around, though. I try not to think about it, to avoid worrying myself unnecessarily. It's not like I cared about these people, anyway. They were quite annoying even before trying to sell me to an oppressive dictatorship, and it's not like I haven't seen death before. I pull off my soaking wet tunic and take the man's armor instead, mixing and matching with some other bits and pieces I find lying around. His hood feels warm and cozy. I climb out through a gaping hole in the technically-bottom of the ship, squinting as I'm temporarily blinded by the sun.
Standing on the now-top of the capsized ship, I spot the corpse of the Justiciar who ordered me captured. Jokes on her, I survived primarily because I was in my cell. I loot her corpse, snagging her enchanted robes (not my style, but probably worth a pretty septim), some assorted trinkets, a magical staff of some sort and an iron dagger. After kicking her humiliated corpse into the ocean, I take a good look at the horizon. I have no idea of my exact location, but I know for a fact that the sea is north of Skyrim, so I'm currently gazing over towards the south. I don't see any real signs of life or inhabitance, only some sort of high tower to the east. That's where I'm headed for now, I guess; I can't just sit on this wreck, freezing to death, waiting for someone to rescue me. Whatever attacked the ship might even come back. Looks like I'll have to go for another swim... I better find someplace warm, fast. Just when I got some warm clothes on...
Screenshots
Click to enlarge

http://s25.postimg.org/h397f7rvf/2013_12_22_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h397f7rvf/)
The rushing torrent had forced open the door to my cabin.

http://s25.postimg.org/inejdm09n/2013_12_22_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/inejdm09n/)
Let me tell ya though, navigating an upside-down ship with water all over the place is very disorienting, especially when you might have a concussion.

http://s25.postimg.org/6k97q1p7f/2013_12_22_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6k97q1p7f/)
I take off my soaking wet tunic and take the man's armor instead, mixing and matching with some other bits and pieces I find lying around. His hood feels warm and cozy.

http://s25.postimg.org/qdlbir2l7/2013_12_22_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qdlbir2l7/)
I don't see any real signs of life or inhabitance, only a high tower to the east.

http://s25.postimg.org/ae2nz76jf/2013_12_22_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ae2nz76jf/)
OOC Info
Yes, I know I said the first update would come later, but I'm feeling pretty excited for this. And hey, when it comes to deadlines, it's better to overstate than underestimate, right? :smalltongue:

So, I ended up uninstalling Random Alternate Starts, simply because it kept tossing me into really weird situations I had great trouble explaining logically, and downloaded Live Another Life instead. This first update isn't very long, basically only describing the very first minutes of gameplay, but at least you get Adrian's backstory and some neat screenshots! :smallwink:

[Legato Endless]

Subscribed. Sounds interesting to see how this is developed. Incidentally, besides the previous work by OP, are there any other good Let's plays of Skryim on the forum?

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #1: Civilization, arguably
Shivering, I paddle my way to the nearest glacier, from whence I manage to cover some distance by hopping on ice floes. However, I stumble into the icy water every few jumps, and still have to swim at least a hundred yards until I finally reach dry land.
I beach on a tiny peninsula with nothing but some bird nests. I empty the nests of eggs; they should make good eating, once I find somewhere to cook them that is. The tower looms in the distance, but on a cliff right next to me stand some impressive ruins. I consider for a minute; that sort of ruin is practically always full of beasts, the undead, bandits or all three, but on the other hand, I could really use some shelter right now. Drawing my dagger and chanting a fire spell in my head, I step into a cave in the stone.
The inside of the cave is just as icy as the outside, if not more so, but at least the stony walls provide ample protection from the wind. Lit torches line the walls, yet there is almost complete silence, broken only by the howling of the gale outside. Carefully, I wade further. I come across a wooden table with a magicka potion lying on it, making it quite clear that someone at least has been here lately. Rounding the next corner, I spot a faint shape moving in the mist. Noting its gaunt figure and shambling stride, I sigh to myself. Readying my flimsy dagger, I approach slowly, but the ice cracks under my boot and I am spotted. The thing charges at me. I get a better look at it. It is definitely some sort of undead, but it feels somehow... different from the zombies I've seen before, and there's way too much skin on those bones for it to count as a skeleton.
Anyhow, my in-depth analysis is interrupted by an axe nearing my beautiful face. I step backwards just in time to dodge, and retaliate with a burst of fire. The thing swings at me meekly, but I back up and keep the heat on it. Soon enough, it succumbs and falls to the ground, still smoldering. I'm really getting suspicious, but decide to go a little further anyway. In the next chamber, I find another one, armed with a bow, but those frozen fingers really don't help its aim too much. It dies easily. I'm starting to feel a little more competent, but when yet another monstrosity runs around the corner, spewing magical frost from its hands, I decide to leg it. It's not like this damn dungeon holds anything of interest, anyway, so I'm done risking my life for it.

I decide to resume my hike towards the tower, only to have a wolf ambush me at the bottom of the cliff. It gnaws on my calf a little bit, but I slay it with a dagger to the eye. Looking around for other threats, I see the rest of the pack hanging around just a short distance away, but they seem to be hanging back so I do the same. A little healing magic and a skinned wolf later, I'm off.
Looking for a vantage point, I scale the next hill, only to come across a flag sticking from the ground, accompanied by a wooden chest, a book and a skeleton still holding onto said flag. In the chest I find some gold and gems, which I stick into my bag. The book lying in the snow is titled The Knights of the Nine. It's practically unreadable, its pages soaked beyond comprehensibility, but its presence sheds some light on the scene. I put the book back where it was and leave the forgotten hero undisturbed.
I find a campsite, complete with a fire and a lean-to. There is also a letter, in which a man explains how he'll sit here on this very rock until his beloved comes back. That explains the skeleton on the bedroll, I guess. By the Nine, this must be the most tragic square-mile of coast in all of Tamriel!
The bedroll doesn't look too inviting, and it's not like I'm actually sleepy per se, so I just warm my frosty joints next to the fire for a while. As a bonus, I find some juicy, only slightly frozen tomatoes in a bag.
After getting some warmth and chow, I'm feeling much more up to some exploring. I think I spotted some interesting arrangement of stones on a nearby cliff, so up I go. On my way, I collect some barnacles, clams and berries. Wandering the land, one really must learn to take what he can get.
The stones turn out to be some odd monument with a constellation engraved on one of them. I don't recognize the constellation, though; I wasn't that interested in my studies. Fascinated by such handiwork standing around in the middle of nowhere, I swipe my fingers across the pattern, only to have it suddenly light up with a blue glow and shoot a beam of light into the sky. For a second, I'm sure something horrible is just about to happen, but it doesn't. In fact, nothing does. Shrugging my shoulders, I leave the standing stone behind and keep walking.
A mountain is blocking my sight of the tower, but luckily I find path up marked with piles of stone. This area seems to be full of wildlife, though: close to the coast, I almost literally stumble on a not-so-skinny horker and have an intense staring contest for a while we scan each other for signs of aggression. Eventually, the horker turns around disinterested, and I decide to do the same. Those triple tusks look nasty. I also cross paths with a total of two foxes, six wolves and an elk, all of which I kill and skin, except for the latter, which doesn't seem interested in taking its chances against me. You got away this time, you horned bastard!

The sun has already set when finally, trudging through a narrow passage, I see the tower again. It turns out there's a small village here as well! Praise the Nine! Based on a sign on the side of the path, the place is called Winterhold. Just as I'm reading it, a blinding blizzard whips up out of nowhere. The name seems quite appropriate.
The streets are quite empty, apart from some foolish merchant expecting to find customers in such bad weather and some local guards. Oh, how I envy them their fuzzy cloaks. I strike up a conversation, and the guards seem friendly enough, though one of them does seem to be implying something with a rude comment about my race and profession. I turn around awkwardly and enter what seems to be an inn.
The Frozen Hearth is quite small, but much nicer than it sounds. There's a firepit in the middle, a bartop and some quaint rooms for rent. As I step in, shaking the snow from my clothes, I overhear a discussion about a Mages' College here in town. Oh, that must be the tower! There's a whole bunch of those back in Cyrodiil. I ask the barkeep, and he confirms my guess. He says the College is the main reason people visit their secluded hamlet at all, but that he is definitely happy to have me as a customer. I'm glad to see most people around here don't think me an invader simply because I happen to be an Imperial by birth. I buy a bottle of Alto wine and some salt, so I can cook some of the food I've rounded up. However, looking around, I notice that there is no cooking pot in the whole building! I have no idea how the barkeep prepares his, but for now I'll have to make do with the fresh food I do have, like the rest of the tomatoes and a bunch of sour red berries I found. Sitting down, I notice that there's an Altmer right next to me! My heart skips a beat, but before I do anything drastic, common sense takes the reins and I figure out that he obviously isn't Thalmor, or if he is, at least he doesn't seem to recognize me. Nervously, I ask him what he's doing this far north, trying to disguise it as small talk.
He tells me he's just working on some magical experiments of his. Huh. I guess I'm safe for now. He is happy to buy some of the things I managed to strip of dead folks on my way up here; of course, that's not how he worded it, but that's practically all I have. I sheepishly sell him a set of Thalmor robes (he doesn't bat an eye) and some jewels, but decide to keep a handful of soul gems and the magic staff I mentioned.
There doesn't seem to be anything else to do, so I rent a room. It's small and (oddly enough) has no door, but it will do. Even better, there's a book lying on a table. I sit down and read it for a while. It is called ”Walking the World, Vol XI” and details the city of Solitude, Skyrim's coastal capital and the seat of the Empire's influence in the province. I may very well visit it some day, since I seem to be stuck in Skyrim for a while anyway. It might be nice to see some of my own people for a change. I leaf through a randomly selected chapter before going to sleep on the comfy bed.
Screenshots
Click to enlarge

http://s25.postimg.org/yq41gpivv/2013_12_23_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yq41gpivv/)
Shivering, I paddle my way to the nearest glacier, from whence I manage to cover some distance by hopping on ice floes.

http://s25.postimg.org/9ba3xou6z/2013_12_23_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/9ba3xou6z/)
I beach on a tiny peninsula with nothing but some bird nests. The tower looms in the distance.

http://s25.postimg.org/yvce44fkr/2013_12_23_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yvce44fkr/)
I consider for a minute; that sort of ruin is practically always full of beasts, the undead, bandits or all three, but on the other hand, I could really use some shelter right now.

http://s25.postimg.org/ag4632gnv/2013_12_23_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ag4632gnv/)
I come across a wooden table with a magicka potion lying on it, making it quite clear that someone at least has been here lately.

http://s25.postimg.org/nf5z631ej/2013_12_23_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nf5z631ej/)
I step backwards just in time to dodge, and retaliate with a burst of fire.

http://s25.postimg.org/uwf6laqxn/2013_12_23_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/uwf6laqxn/)
Looking for a vantage point, I scale the next hill, only to come across a flag sticking from the ground, accompanied by a wooden chest, a book and a skeleton still holding onto said flag.

http://s25.postimg.org/ab5074yqj/2013_12_23_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ab5074yqj/)
It gnaws on my calf a little bit, but I slay it with a dagger to the eye.

http://s25.postimg.org/nzl08rumz/2013_12_23_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nzl08rumz/)
By the Nine, this must be the most tragic square-mile of coast in all of Tamriel!

http://s25.postimg.org/wtbwpvhln/2013_12_23_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wtbwpvhln/)
The stones turn out to be some odd monument with a constellation engraved on one of them.

http://s25.postimg.org/70c1tijff/2013_12_23_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/70c1tijff/)
You got away this time, you horned bastard!

http://s25.postimg.org/83w65h42j/2013_12_23_00015.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/83w65h42j/)
The place is called Winterhold. The name seems quite appropriate.

http://s25.postimg.org/48ss2wkwr/2013_12_23_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/48ss2wkwr/)
One of them does seem to be implying something with a not-so-subtle comment about my race and profession.

http://s25.postimg.org/kmhczsqfv/2013_12_23_00018.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/kmhczsqfv/)
Nervously, I ask him what he's doing this far north, trying to disguise it as small talk.
OOC Info
For some reason, I've never paid that much attention to the numerous, surprisingly interesting books found all around Skyrim. Another great opportunity offered by this series!
I think I might have gone a little overboard on the screenshots this time, but there was just so much to show, and I find the environments so enchantingly... beautiful, I guess? Especially with modded graphics. That reminds me, do people prefer scenery or action shots? I've aimed to have a screenshot of just about every special location I visit and every sort of enemy I've fought, but I don't know whether you guys find that a good system.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

So far seems a good balance to me! The game lends itself well to scenery shots especially, but the most spectavular are usually already well known, so a balance works out :)

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #2: Rock the joint
I wake up well before sunrise and stumble out of my room yawning, greeting the barkeep's wife standing behind the counter. In a worried tone of voice, she remarks that I don't look so good. Now that she mentions it, I get the same feeling as well. At first I think I might just have caught a cold from all that ice swimming, but on second thought that's not what this feels like. My joints feel stiff and bloated. She suggests rockjoint, which is a frightening yet quite likely possibility. I did suffer quite a few wolf bites the day before, after all. This will have to be dealt with posthaste; rockjoint gets quite nasty if you let it progress too far. I ask her if she has a potion available, but she shakes her head sadly and points me towards the Jarl's Longhouse, where I may have better luck with the local court mage.
Stepping outside, I see that the snowstorm is still going. If anything, it has gotten worse. I can feel the sickness slowing me down, making it hard to move. Valiantly I shuffle across the road and stumble into the longhouse. The throne room is almost empty, except for a Dunmer gnawing on a piece of stale bread. I ask him what he does around here and whether he could help me find the mage. He just rudely declines and says he doesn't really do anything around here, let alone help random strangers, as the Jarl thinks he has connections to the College. Apparently forgetting how uncooperative he's being, he asks me to steal him some staff from that surprisingly friendly Altmer I met at the inn, in order to keep up appearances or something. Scoffing, I make my way towards a promising-looking side room. He mutters a curse under his breath and I smirk silently. However, all I find is the Jarl sleeping next to (whom I presume to be) his wife and some sort of military advisor standing over a map with all of Skyrim's major forts marked on it with colored flags. I grab a spare map and take a closer look, making notes on the forts' locations, mostly so I can avoid them. Meanwhile, the man makes small talk. It appears that he's with the Stormcloak. In case you don't know what that means, they're the local rebels fighting against the Empire. With that in mind, you can probably see why I got a little nervous, but he didn't seem to suspect me for anything. It seems the Nords are surprisingly tolerant of Imperials, not too prejudiced and just overall nicer than I thought.

Leaving the longhouse, I decide to turn to the College. It seems they're basically my last chance... Based on the map I got, the nearest city is way too far away for me to reach by foot in this condition, and there's nary a horse available either.
On the bridge leading to the College I am interrupted by an elf insisting that I prove my magical prowess before entering. Seriously? This is how you treat dying people coming to you for help? I'm too tired and squeamish to argue though. She insists that I cast a spell I don't even know, but at least she's nice enough to sell me said spell for a fair price. Waving my hands, I read the instructions straight from the book and cast an useless ball of light. She lets me pass. Since I'm feeling a little dizzy to begin with, I try not to think about the incredibly poor condition of the bridge. Inside the castle, I approach an elder woman to ask for directions, but suddenly notice she's talking to a Thalmor. Not just some random Altmer, a Thalmor, full uniform and everything. Luckily, I'm sort of getting used to that, and manage to keep myself from flinching (I think). He pays me no mind. I'm pretty convinced the Thalmor on the ship just had something against me personally and that I have no bounty after all.
After they're finished talking, the woman, who turns out to be some sort of big boss at the College (I'm not paying much attention to such details at this point) mistakes me for a new student and takes me on a tour. As soon as she's pointed out the employee's quarters, I dash off as quick as my crippled legs allow, leaving her to talk to herself.
Inside, I find a teacher of enchanting, an eccentric illusionist who thinks himself invisible and a summoner, from whom I buy a cheap spell that might come in handy, but no potions or vendors of such. I am told that the alchemical supplies lying around are available for anyone to use, so I comb through the shelves, but find nothing of use (I pocket it all anyway, of course). While I'm at it, I also find a few soul gems, which I presume to be free as well.
I'm getting more and more desperate. I'm about to visit the students' wing as well when I feel my stomach grumbling angrily and realize I haven't eaten any breakfast yet. I don't have much of an appetite, but force myself to eat some bread anyway and manage to drink some watered-down wine as well before continuing my pathetic search for the cure. It is all for naught, though. There is nothing of interest in the other wing either. Feeling defeated, I look in the main hall as well, but find nothing.

Growing increasingly worried, I leave the College. If I could just find a shrine to the Nine, that would suffice as well, but such things seem to be unheard of up here. Shambling towards the inn, I spot a general store I didn't notice before, and a glimmer of hope rises within me, but their stocks are remarkably useless as well. It seems there is literally no place to find medicine in this stupid village. Just the night before it had felt quite pleasant, but now I almost hate it. I just feel so goddamn tired. I practically fall onto my rented bed and fall to sleep, relying on my last chance: rest.
I am not sure how long I spent in my room, but it must have been at least a couple days. I woke from my restless sleep every few hours, had some food and drink and went back to sleep. A few times the barkeep even cruelly shook me awake to demand that I pay for another day. I complied weakly and kept drowsing.
Eventually, after more sleep than I usually get in a whole week, I felt healthy again. The stiffness and bloatedness was gone, as the barkeep gleefully remarked. I was ready to leave this uneventful town behind and head towards... well, something. Either Windhelm to the south, or Dawnstar to the west. Dawnstar would be one step towards Solitude, which sounds good to me.
Screenshots
Click to enlarge

http://s25.postimg.org/dlxykre1n/2013_12_23_00020.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dlxykre1n/)
Valiantly I shuffle across the road and stumble into the longhouse.

http://s25.postimg.org/qas94fk63/2013_12_23_00021.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qas94fk63/)
I decide to turn to the College. It seems they're basically my last chance...

http://s25.postimg.org/43y7kpsd7/2013_12_23_00022.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/43y7kpsd7/)
Waving my hands, I read the instructions straight from the book and cast an useless ball of light. She lets me pass.

http://s25.postimg.org/ldeojbi6z/2013_12_23_00024.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ldeojbi6z/)
I try not to think about the incredibly poor condition of the bridge.

http://s25.postimg.org/yk44iudwb/2013_12_23_00025.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yk44iudwb/)
I approach an elder woman to ask for directions, but suddenly notice she's talking to a Thalmor. Not just some random Altmer, a Thalmor, full uniform and everything.

http://s25.postimg.org/r6oqjvtuj/2013_12_23_00026.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/r6oqjvtuj/)
I don't have much of an appetite, but force myself to eat some bread anyway and manage to drink some watered-down wine as well.

http://s25.postimg.org/5ljnw9x3v/2013_12_23_00027.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5ljnw9x3v/)
A few times the barkeep even cruelly shook me awake to demand that I pay for another day.

http://s25.postimg.org/pu71hzwez/2013_12_23_00028.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/pu71hzwez/)
OOC Comments
Wow, I actually really like the Realistic Needs and Diseases mod. This is the first time I ever reacted to a sickness with anything more than a shrug; with the mod, they get progressively worse and can almost completely incapacitate you, but with some luck, can be cured with enough bedrest. I was genuinely worried here, especially as a disease can totally lock me down, even with my ”checkpoint” system. I felt really anxious, running around town looking for a single bottle of some simple medicine.
Of course, in contrast to one of my usual goals with this whole journal, I can't really give the game itself much credit for this whole chapter, and it was arguably quite uneventful.

Also, as you might notice, I often forget to mention when I find new gear somewhere, and it feels sort of awkward to shoehorn into the narrative anyway, so instead I'll try to provide clear screenshots of the character so you can see the changes for yourself.

I'll try to squeeze out another update today, because after that, you might have to wait a couple days... because, you know, Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/winter solstice/whatever tickles your fancy.
Mod listing
Oh, right, I forgot to mention this one in my last post. I have a mod called "Steel Soldiers with Cloaks", which gives guards way cooler looking attire more suitable for the harsh environs of Skyrim.

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #3: For the Dawn
I gather my things from around the room, have a hearty breakfast and head out. At the edge of town I realize I should probably buy some more food, but just as I turn around, three armed men interrupt me. They glare at me menacingly and tell me they're here to teach me a lesson. I have no idea what they're talking about, but they draw their weapons so I do the same. All I have is an ancient axe pillaged from a frozen corpse, though, and they have much better armor and greater numbers as well. I barely manage to block a swordstrike with my axe, but as I'm focusing on that, the two other men circle around me. It is readily apparent that this is a hopeless battle. Not thinking about it, just hoping to distract them, I yell out.
”STOP!”
My voice is amplified as if coming from a giant and echoing through a great stony hall. The men suddenly stop mid-swing, sheathe their weapons and walk away. Baffled, I decide to take my chances and run. Screw food, I want to live. I don't stop before I'm way outside the village.
I have no idea what happened, but I ain't complaining. I've heard about spells that can pacify people like that, but never actually bothered learning one of those. Maybe I did something similar by accident? My throat feels really sore, though. I don't think I can repeat that too much.
I pass through an oddly empty-looking archaeological dig, but don't pay it much mind and instead just loot a few chests lying around the outside. Just a little further away, however, I come across an odd scene. A fully armored white horse is standing over a dead orc, who I presume to be a bandit based on his equipment. I look at the horse suspiciously, but it just stares back. You know, like horses tend to do. Shrugging, I skim the corpse for anything useful, finding just a few coins but taking his weapons as well, and hop on the horse to continue towards Dawnstar.
The terrain here is treacherous, covered in ice and full of cliffs and ravines, but the horse does a fine job navigating it. However, after only a short time of riding, I come across a cave. It looks really inviting, with blood stains and bones scattered all around the entrance. I have no idea what goes into me, but I decide to check it out.

Inside, there's some furniture and I could swear I hear voices, so I expect some mundane bandits. I am proven wrong when around just the next corner I stumble into a skeleton armed with an axe. I dispatch it easily enough, but someone in the next room hears the racket. A black-robed Altmer with a skull painted on his chest dashes out, scowling. Oh, necromancers! That explains. He aims a frost spell at me, which I counter with my trusty fire spout, but he seems to be a little better at it and I have to duck around a corner to chug a healing potion. When he comes around to look for me, I bury my axe in his forehead. Apparently, that's quite a catch-all solution. I should write a book.
I spend a while healing myself before delving deeper into the cave. I don't really know why I came here in the first place, but fighting is... exhilarating. I haven't had a good fight in a long time. I've really missed that.
I come across some more skeletons, but they fall so easily, it's not even funny. There's a silent moment as I climb an eerie tunnel, and I get to think about my tactics a little bit. These mages are much easier to kill with weapons than sorcery, but they're quite hard to reach. I realize that I
I've looted a bow from one of those weird ice zombies and pull it out. Geez, I'm an idiot.
Balancing on a creaky rope bridge, I look below me and see some sort of workshop. What do you know, there's a necromancer walking around down there! I haven't shot a bow in a long time, so it would be good to get some practice. Balancing on a platform, I spend a long time lining up my shot, only to have it miss and clatter on some rocks. I curse under my breath, but apparently the mage doesn't realize what made the noise. He looks around for a while, only to decide it was nothing. I shoot again, and this time hit him in the shoulder, but he's still alive and relatively well, allowing him to alert the others.
A mage rounds the corner, but I nail him with an arrow. This does indeed work quite well. I get a surprise shot on another mage, but then a whole bunch of them rush out to meet me. Panicking, I run back into the tunnels and onto the bridge, launching a few more arrows at them, but this darn bow is so slow!
As I'm being battered with another frost spell or two, something that I can only call ”divine inspiration” strikes me. This is what I do best! I cannot die like this, in a frozen cave to some lousy corpsehuggers! I feel a new power welling up from within and charge, roaring as I go. I slay a lesser mage and re-slay their animated brother, but one still stands, and I can feel my strength fading. No!My wrath echoes on the ice as a flurry of axeblows carves into the accursed elf. He heals himself, but so do I, continuing my assault. Eventually, he succumbs to my superior might!
I raise my hands, laughing! I am victorious! I off-handedly bash down a skeleton and prance across the bridge.
The rush of power ends.
What in Oblivion just happened, I think to myself. I mean, I like fighting, but I ain't no... orc!
Passing by, I mischievously toss a corpse off the bridge, just to watch it splatter on the rocks below.
Okay, that really doesn't support my point too much.
Anyhow, I soon find myself in a gruesome room of sacrifice. There is blood and bodyparts everywhere. Truly a master of ironic timing, my stomach starts grumbling. I decide to wait for a safer (and less disgusting) spot before having lunch.
Behind a wall of spears lowered by pulling a chain, there's a hallway lined with magical frost traps, but they're pathetically easy to disarm. I just have to waltz over to them and grab the soul gem powering it. Thanks for the loot, guys!
I nail a necromancer with two arrows, grievously wounding him. I spend a few seconds watching him desperately drag himself away from me before lifting him up to his feet and slashing his throat open with my axe. Sometimes I really worry about myself.
I am brought down from my power high quite soon, though. Three powerful mages assault me, though I suddenly remember that weird staff I found earlier and decide to try it out. It shoots bolts of fire, but seems to be having weird hiccups. They overpower me, forcing me to run back through the trapped hallway – thank the Nine I disarmed those – and lock them behind the spear wall. I spend a while shooting at them, but they keep healing themselves and I'm starting to run out of ammo, so I just decide to leave. Perhaps I shall return at a later date to finish off their weakened cult. Or, you know, perhaps not. Why should I care?
As I exit the cave, I am disappointed to see that the horse I, uh, ”commandeered” has up and left. To make matters worse, the snowstorm has gotten stronger again and it's getting quite late. Trudging uphill through snow and wolf, I have mixed feelings upon spotting an Imperial camp. On one hand, they offer me food and warmth. On the other, they keep telling me to join the army and bragging about how they're kicking the rebels' asses, though a tent full of moaning, wounded soldiers makes that kind of awkward. I sell their quartermaster most of the useless weapons I've ”come across” and buy a suit of steel armor, though it's so stupidly overpriced I decide to help myself to an iron shield lying around as well. I then spend a while tasting all the weird alchemical ingredients I've collected; in very small doses, they don't do any real harm, but you get a feel for what they do. Feeling a little squeamish after tasting at least twenty different clearly-not-edible things, I take notes on what each one of them does and mix up a bunch of basic restoration brews. I cook what I can at the fire before going to sleep on a free bedroll.

I awaken feeling quite fell rested, and eat some breakfast while gazing eastward at the rising sun. There's some tower over there, but after yesterday's farce I'm not really interested in any dungeoneering right now. Better to just head towards Dawnstar, it can't be much further.
I pass some sort of ruined temple, getting ambushed by some frostbite spiders near its gates. My newly obtained shield does a passable job of blocking while I roast them with fire. Even though they manage to land a few poisonous bites, I survive.
After less than a hour of walking, I already find myself in Dawnstar. It's quite small, but still bigger than Winterhold. The first thing I run into is a bunch of people having an argument with the local Jarl. It seems one of them is a former soldier of the Empire, and the Jarl expects him to betray the village. He is assured this isn't the case, but he doesn't seem quite convinced.
I try speaking to the soldier, but he says he's just a bodyguard and tells me to talk to his liege, one Brina Merilis. I ask her what's going on around the city. She mentions everyone in the entire town having horrible nightmares, which explains why everyone seems on edge. Hm, doesn't sound promising. I'm not sure if I want to stay here. I decide to visit the inn, though, and ask around.
A pretty bard repeats Merilis's story, but adds that only the locals are being affected, so I should be safe. That puts my mind at ease, a little at least. A priest chimes in, suggesting that I could help him with the issue.
We sit down and he explains the situation. According to Erandur, as he introduces himself, the dreams are caused by a malevolent Daedra called Vaermina, and we could do something about by entering those ruins I passed by. I can tell that there's something he's not telling me, and I'm not exactly ecstatic about the idea of going against a deity, either, so I have to pass. He tells me to come back if I ever change my mind. Not bloody likely.
If I am to stay here, I need something to do. I ask around, but it's starting to seem as if the only available jobs were mining, mining and more mining, until the captain of an anchored ship finally presents an interesting assignment. He wants me to retrieve some precious cargo his drunken sailors lost in a cave somewhere. I am intrigued. That doesn't sound too hard, and he seems willing to pay me well. I ask him to show the cave's location to me on the map.
Wait, wah? It's halfway across Skyrim, and not even on the coast! How did his sailors end up there, anyway? No way I'm walking all the way over there! He shrugs and goes back to his business.
I guess I should just move on. I do find an alchemist's shop, and try to buy some medicine in order to avoid repeating what happened with the rockjoint, but I don't have enough money after being ripped off by that quartermaster. Frustrated, I whisk a bottle of the shelf while the broker is looking away.
I manage to hire a small boat to take me to Solitude, which somehow takes just shy of six hours. He must have taken some really weird route, but joke's on him, I paid in advance.
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/3xpkeqpjv/2013_12_24_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3xpkeqpjv/)
I pass through an oddly empty-looking archaeological dig, but don't pay it much mind and instead just loot a few chests lying around the outside.

http://s25.postimg.org/hh6ekg3iz/2013_12_24_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/hh6ekg3iz/)
I look at the horse suspiciously, but it just stares back. You know, like horses tend to do.

http://s25.postimg.org/w1nhf9yhn/2013_12_24_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/w1nhf9yhn/)
I come across a cave. It looks really inviting, with blood stains and bones scattered all around the entrance.

http://s25.postimg.org/fyb0fgwyj/2013_12_24_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/fyb0fgwyj/)
He aims a frost spell at me, which I counter with my trusty fire spout.

http://s25.postimg.org/pleip6py3/2013_12_24_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/pleip6py3/)
I come across some more skeletons, but they fall so easily, it's not even funny.

http://s25.postimg.org/3wako7hej/2013_12_24_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3wako7hej/)
What do you know, there's a necromancer walking around down there! I haven't shot a bow in a long time, so it would be good to get some practice.

http://s25.postimg.org/4439htyor/2013_12_24_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4439htyor/)
I mischievously toss a corpse off the bridge, just to watch it splatter on the rocks below.

http://s25.postimg.org/hou1gyehn/2013_12_24_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/hou1gyehn/)
There is blood and bodyparts everywhere. Truly a master of ironic timing, my stomach starts grumbling.

http://s25.postimg.org/nknz4ctsr/2013_12_24_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nknz4ctsr/)
There's a hallway lined with magical frost traps, but they're pathetically easy to disarm.

http://s25.postimg.org/g0zhg1pzv/2013_12_24_00015.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/g0zhg1pzv/)
I lock them behind the spear wall and spend a while shooting at them.

http://s25.postimg.org/ttdwbogrf/2013_12_24_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ttdwbogrf/)
Trudging uphill through snow and wolf...

http://s25.postimg.org/mow32n9i3/2013_12_24_00021.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mow32n9i3/)
A tent full of moaning, wounded soldiers makes that kind of awkward.

http://s25.postimg.org/rxmims2jf/2013_12_24_00020.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/rxmims2jf/)
I buy a suit of steel armor, though it's so stupidly overpriced I decide to help myself to an iron shield lying around as well.

http://s25.postimg.org/qp38evzyz/2013_12_24_00022.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qp38evzyz/)
I eat some breakfast while gazing eastward at the rising sun.

http://s25.postimg.org/wftesm7yz/2013_12_24_00023.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wftesm7yz/)
I already find myself in Dawnstar. It's quite small, but still bigger than Winterhold.

http://s25.postimg.org/5tgy3n3rv/2013_12_24_00024.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5tgy3n3rv/)
The first thing I run into is a bunch of people having an argument with the local Jarl.

http://s25.postimg.org/wh3cm19sr/2013_12_24_00025.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wh3cm19sr/)
OOC Comments
I just realized what an immense advantage Imperials have in a game with harsher death. I'm going to fluff that power as a variation of the Thu'um, though, since it's pretty darn clear that no Imperial NPCs can do the same. :smalltongue:

As you can see, saving one's level-ups for an emergency is a vital strategy. Had a LOT of really close calls. Maybe I should just stick to bandits for now...

[Tylorious]

subscribed, i love this...you should write a book for real.

[SilverLeaf167]

subscribed, i love this...you should write a book for real.
I assure you, I've tried, but I always somehow end up slipping... :smallbiggrin:
Thanks for the compliment though, you have no idea how much I appreciate it :smallredface: That's what keeps me doing this (in addition to getting an excuse to play Skyrim, that is).

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #4: Sweet Solitude
I have dinner on the docks while thinking about my next course of action. It's not like I had any real plans to speak of... I just came here because I didn't like where I was. This is the biggest city I've seen around here, though, but I guess that's to be expected, given that it's the capital. Maybe I'll finally find something to do, as well.
To get into the city, I have to take a winding path up the cliff. I pass by a farm, complete with a stable, and a carriage driver too. I decide to talk to him for a while; such men always see and hear many different things. Though he doesn't really have much to share beyond some of Solitude's history, he does offer to take me to any of the hold capitals, but I must refuse. I've only just arrived. I'll remember his offer, however.
On the way to the gate, a guard calls out to me. He tells me to find someone called Legate Rikke if I want to join the Legion (fat chance), and to stay out of trouble or I'll end up like Roggvir.
Who the heck is Roggvir?
Oh, so that's Roggvir.
Just inside the city there's a public beheading in progress. They're currently reading to him his charges, though it seems clear that everyone present already knows what they are. Apart from me, of course. Apparently, Roggvir allowed Ulfric Stormcloak (whom I think is the leader of the rebels) to flee the city after killing High King Torygg (whom I presume to be, well, the High King), and has thus been tried for treason. He tries to explain that what Ulfric did was entirely in keeping with Nordic traditions of honorable duels, but his excuses are ignored and silenced forever. With a really nasty looking axe, that is.
Yeowch! The guard at the gate was right, I really do have to behave myself.
The crowd scatters and so do I. I decide to finally get rid of all these useless things I've been hauling around like the gift-giving saint I ain't and head towards a general store. It's kept by a Redguard woman, the kinds of which I haven't seen since the shipwreck. While looking through my incredibly spacious bag for things she'd be willing to buy, we talk about the execution. She appears quite sympathetic towards this Roggvir person, which I can't imagine to be considered a good thing around here.

After lightening my load somewhat I decide it's quite late already and head to the Winking Skeever, an inn next door recommended by one of the guards I met. I think the book I read back at the Frozen Hearth mentioned it, too, and so did the carriage driver. On the way there, though, I run into the Headsman. He seems a decent enough fellow, but I guess he really likes axes, since he's carrying two of them. He offers me a job, as well. It turns out, he's the local head jailor as well (hehe, head) and wants me to track down an escaped convict. He has fled to a nearby cave called Broken Oar Grotto. Finally, an assignment of honest killing of honest bandits within a reasonable distance! Of course I'll do it! He smirks and promises me a bag of gold if- I mean, when I come back.
Inside the inn I find quite a cozy and warm hall, teeming with patrons of many races. I mean, I've seen a lot of different people on my travels, but this is the most I've seen at the same time in Skyrim. Dawnstar and Winterhold were quite dominated by the local Nords. There's an Argonian sipping mead in the corner, a Redguard or two and plenty of Imperials as well.
I spend a minute listening to a bard sing about someone called the Dragonborn. I only hear the last verse, so I'm not quite sure if he's supposed to be a good guy or a bad guy, only that we are supposed to ”beware”, so I assume it's the latter.
I ask the innkeeper, a jolly Imperial fellow, about any jobs available. He tells me to check out the royal court, some Argonian at the market, the Bards' College and some weird madman wandering the streets. Sure, I just might do that. For now, however, I rent a room and head upstairs.
I am amazed to see the luxury of the room. I even got it for the same price as that tiny closet at the Frozen Hearth! I'm not sure whether I got scammed back there or this guy is just really generous. Either way, there's a lot of books lying around, so I decide to take a look at one.
I happen to pick up ”Ode to the Tundrastriders”, a clumsily written poem about how the author really wants to live with a bunch of giants. Uh-huh. I really don't feel like reading too much into that one, so instead I look at ”Olaf and the Dragon”, which tells the tale of, well, Olaf and a dragon. There's an epic battle, mostly consisting of really loud shouting that somehow injures the target. Nords sure are wacky. Either way, the book itself is technically a comparison of different versions of the legend, some of which depict Olaf as a great hero and some as a lowly liar. I find it quite interesting, but eventually drift to sleep with the book still in my hands.

In the morning, I buy some food and drink from the innkeeper and sit down at a corner table. I talk with a balding sellspellsword, and he offers himself into my service for the lowly cost of just 500 golden septims. As much as I appreciate his generous offer, I unfortunately only have 170. I promise to think about if I ever get more money, though. He says it's alright, but promptly starts drinking heavily and stumbling around. I don't think he took it quite so well. I drink some wine myself, just to make him feel a little less lonely.
Okay, maybe I drank a little too much. I find myself stumbling as I head out the door, somehow end up climbing down some rocks instead of using the path and I think I'm seeing double. Either that, or those hawks are really good at flying in formation.
In order to reach Broken Oar Grotto, I have to go down through the docks and follow a road northward, so I do just that, stumbling only occasionally. Even slightly drunk, I have to admit, the nature around here is really pretty. Soon enough, I find what I'm looking for; a half-hidden cave right by the water, with a campfire and multiple boats (one of which is wrecked) lying around outside. I consider for a while to wait until my head clears up, but decide against it. I'll be fiiine.
Inside the grotto I see some surprisingly impressive scaffolding and whole shelves of assorted loot, in addition to the bandits of course. Apparently the escaped convict has already managed to gather quite a bunch of jolly highwaymen. I make my way through the caves, dropping guards like flies with my surprisingly effective bow. I do end up in the living quarters, where I'm forced to resort to my equally effective spell-and-shield tactics, which work quite wondrously too.
That changes when I find the target himself, though. He is hiding on a secluded island, the bridge to which I foolishly lower in order to get a better shot. Armed with a heavy two-handed hammer and followed around by two similarly-equipped men, he charges. I scorch them somewhat, but their relentless assault forces me to jump into the waters for momentary refuge. However, by the time I've swum to a pier, they're already there as well. I manage to slay two of them with my flames, but the leader himself proves somewhat more difficult. He unleashes a relentless assault onto my shield, which I am far too fatigued to use properly at this point. Finally, I am forced to drop my guard and stumble backwards. The last thing I see is a steel hammer swinging at my head.
My skull is smashed, jutting into my brain and killing me instantly. I see my lifeless, not-quite-as-handsome corpse slide into the waters below.

Wait, how in Oblivion (not literally, I hope) am I still narrating this?
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/tluuswv6j/2013_12_26_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tluuswv6j/)
I have dinner on the docks while thinking about my next course of action.

http://s25.postimg.org/sts6tpqzf/2013_12_26_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/sts6tpqzf/)
Though he doesn't really have much to share beyond some of Solitude's history, he does offer to take me to any of the hold capitals, but I must refuse.

http://s25.postimg.org/ck20qtgbf/2013_12_26_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ck20qtgbf/)

http://s25.postimg.org/3xyr684bf/2013_12_26_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3xyr684bf/)
his excuses are ignored and silenced forever. With a really nasty looking axe, that is.

http://s25.postimg.org/7b6zsxxwb/2013_12_26_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/7b6zsxxwb/)
He seems a decent enough fellow, but I guess he really likes axes, since he's carrying two of them.

http://s25.postimg.org/i5ofuvh0b/2013_12_26_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/i5ofuvh0b/)
I spend a minute listening to a bard sing about someone called the Dragonborn.

http://s25.postimg.org/wxt5m7mxn/2013_12_26_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wxt5m7mxn/)
I am amazed to see the luxury of the room. I even got it for the same price as that tiny closet at the Frozen Hearth!

http://s25.postimg.org/6a6r3tgwr/2013_12_26_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6a6r3tgwr/)
He says it's alright, but promptly starts drinking heavily and stumbling around.

http://s25.postimg.org/5ypar20gr/2013_12_26_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5ypar20gr/)
I think I'm seeing double. Either that, or those hawks are really good at flying in formation.

http://s25.postimg.org/6kiv0wkwr/2013_12_26_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6kiv0wkwr/)
I have to go down through the docks and follow a road northward, so I do just that, stumbling only occasionally.

http://s25.postimg.org/btdvys3bv/2013_12_26_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/btdvys3bv/)
Even slightly drunk, I have to admit, the nature around here is really pretty.

http://s25.postimg.org/t7y4720gr/2013_12_26_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/t7y4720gr/)
A half-hidden cave right by the water, with a campfire and multiple boats (one of which is wrecked) lying around outside.

http://s25.postimg.org/51ngvxecb/2013_12_26_00015.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/51ngvxecb/)
Inside the grotto I see some surprisingly impressive scaffolding and whole shelves of assorted loot, in addition to the bandits of course.

http://s25.postimg.org/vwxiatvbv/2013_12_26_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/vwxiatvbv/)
I make my way through the caves, dropping guards like flies with my surprisingly effective bow.

http://s25.postimg.org/50dj2icij/2013_12_26_00018.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/50dj2icij/)
He is hiding on a secluded island, the bridge to which I foolishly lower in order to get a better shot.

http://s25.postimg.org/k2prd6x23/2013_12_26_00021.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/k2prd6x23/)
The last thing I see is a steel hammer swinging at my head.
OOC Info
Whoops. Well, it was about time, I guess.
Mod Listing
In case it was unclear, the additional effects of inebriation are from Realistic Needs and Diseases.
Also, I don't think I mentioned this yet: in the last thread, someone recommended a Recurve Longbows mod. That's what I've been using here. They have more range and damage, but a longer draw time to balance it out.

[Landis963]

That pirate captain is a boss in mook's clothing. Can't tell you how many times my evil Bosmer died to him.Some door-fu with the drawbridge helped, though.

[Triaxx]

Oh, Captain Cupcake? Arrows are your friend. He's got a huge sword or hammer in this case, but frankly that just means you can porcupine him easily.

Of course head to head you'll want to learn the cover in the lower areas of the docks. He's not much good if he's hitting a post.

My suggestion though, before trying again is to chat up Jaree-Ra. That way you can kill two birds with one spell, or sword. Your choice. Also, talk to the court mage and pick up Frostbite. It's better than flames for a spellsword.

[SilverLeaf167]

Oh, Captain Cupcake? Arrows are your friend. He's got a huge sword or hammer in this case, but frankly that just means you can porcupine him easily.

Of course head to head you'll want to learn the cover in the lower areas of the docks. He's not much good if he's hitting a post.

My suggestion though, before trying again is to chat up Jaree-Ra. That way you can kill two birds with one spell, or sword. Your choice. Also, talk to the court mage and pick up Frostbite. It's better than flames for a spellsword.
Oh, I knew this was used in some other quest! :smallbiggrin: The scaffolds are pretty distinctive, after all. I'll look into Frostbite as well, though I'm pretty broke right now and might not even be able to afford it.

EDIT: Hearthfire is on sale for another five hours, and I'm thinking about getting it, because you know, why not? *shrug*
Comments? :D

[Tylorious]

Oh, I knew this was used in some other quest! :smallbiggrin: The scaffolds are pretty distinctive, after all. I'll look into Frostbite as well, though I'm pretty broke right now and might not even be able to afford it.

EDIT: Hearthfire is on sale for another five hours, and I'm thinking about getting it, because you know, why not? *shrug*
Comments? :D

Hearthfire is a welcome addition to the game in my opinion because it adds the feeling of a REAL home you actually want to return to occasionally. I honestly go to my home and take care of things there before I turn the game off for the night. Oh and I think Adrian should get resurrected somehow, I want to read more.

[Togath]

Offering my support as well, it's been a fun read.
I'll also vouch for Hearthfire, it's remarkably fun.

[Triaxx]

I got twenty bucks for DLC for Christmas and got Legendary edition with all three for 20. Awesome.

[SilverLeaf167]

[snip] Oh and I think Adrian should get resurrected somehow, I want to read more.

Yeah, don't worry, it was decided in the last thread that I should just return to the last time I spent a night in a safe bed (so, in this case, Winking Skeever this morning) and somehow explain it in-character.
I'll try to get the next chapter up this evening (from my POV, noon for Americans)... Pokémon X just happened to arrive in the mail :smallbiggrin:
Bought Hearthfire, btw. Now I'll just need to a. decide which estate to go for, b. become Thane in the area and c. save up 5000 gold for it. :smalltongue: Might take a while.

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #5: Déjà-vu
Geez, that was one crazy dream... I wonder as I awaken sweating in my bed within the Winking Skeever. I mean, sure, I've had violent dreams before, but this one felt... oddly real, and far too detailed. My memory of it is perfectly clear, right down to the unspeakable pain of one's brain being shredded by splinters of bone. Believe me, that part I'd definitely like to forget. On the other hand... it is just a memory. My brain feels just fine, thanks for that.
I shake my head. I can't let dreams disrupt my work. I'm basically a glorified killer myself, for Oblivion's sake, why should imagining my own death mean anything?
I stomp down into the main hall. The same mercenary I saw in the dream, whatshisname Belrand is there as well. Without really even thinking about it, I have the same exact discussion with him and get a little drunk... again.
Stumbling out through the door in an oddly familiar manner, I get the feeling that I should so something to mix things up, maybe avoid the Grotto for a while. After all, y'know, maybe the dream was some sort of sign from the gods? It's a possibility, after all. They've saved my butt a few times before, maybe this is just more of the same. I have no idea why they give a damn, though, but I'm not complaining.
The least I can do is check out some of those jobs the innkeeper mentioned. Looking at a map of the town, I notice that the places he mentioned are quite nicely lined up (well, pretty much the whole city is). First up is the Argonian hanging right next to the inn, named Jaree-Ra. He offers me some work helping him cause a shipwreck and loot the wreckage. I flinch and back off. See, I have this principle of only killing people willing to kill me. Innocent sailors hardly fit into that category. In fact, I threaten to turn him in to the guards, but he just gets all smart about how he hasn't really done anything illegal... yet. I turn away, grumbling.
I don't find the rambling madman as much as he finds me. He launches into a litany about masters, vacations, hipbones, crumbling empires and some guy called Pelagius. I leave before he can finish. That guy is not worth my time.
The Bards' College asks me to retrieve some ancient poem from some (most likely haunted) barrow over yonder. I listen and make notes about the job; I mean, I have some experience tombraiding as I like to call it, might as well look into it.
Finally, at the court, I have to wait for my turn while some man from the nearby village of Dragon Bridge pleads the queen for some soldiers to help defend the village. The growing feeling in my chest ends up being correct: I am asked to be said soldiers. Sigh. I'll have to think about that one, too. I do have a conversation with the court mage, as well. Those annoying necromancers and their pesky frost spells come to mind, so I decide to buy one. Never hurts to have some variation, and if it's nearly as effective on bandits as it is on sellspellswords, I'm golden.

Now to decide what I actually want to do. The poem is buried at least half a day's travel south from here, while the cave those villagers want me to clear out is way closer. I decide to head to the latter. I feel a little ashamed about it, but something about the idea of going to the Grotto right now just repulses me. I feel almost... frightened.
On my way out of the city I stop by the food market. I think about buying some tasty beef, until I start digging my bag for money and am reminded that I spent almost all of my money on that spell. I walk away, but promise myself a nice steaming hot bowl of stew when I return.
According to the map, in order to reach this place called Wolfskull Cavern I'll have to walk along the main road for a while and then take a side road up the mountainside, so I get on my way. As I pass the stables, I momentarily consider buying a horse, until remembering that I'm broke. By the Nine, I hate being poor! I wish I hadn't lost all my money in that shipwreck...
Either way, it is now walking time. This mountain path isn't unpleasant at all, to be honest. I spot a Redguard walking towards me in the distance, and instinctively draw my weapons, but he's just a harmless farmer. He tells me he's going to join the Stormcloaks (the rebels call themselves that, in case I haven't mentioned) because the Empire has banned all worship of Talos. Yeah, I've heard about that, but unlike the farmer, I also know the Empire only did it under a lot of pressure from the Thalmor.
Speak of the devil; just a few minutes later, I run into a trio of Thalmor escorting a chained prisoner. As politely as possible, I ask what his charges are. Nothing but Talos worship, basically. I pity the man, but can't really do anything. The guards would likely overwhelm me, and I really don't want any more trouble with the Thalmor anyway.
I notice some huge statue standing on top of some stairs and climb up to take a look. It's impressively made, but there doesn't seem to be anything special about it. When I'm about to take my leave and finally get where I was supposed to go, I hear weird shouting in my ears and notice some blue light streaming from my side. I turn my head and see some stone wall full of carvings. One part of the carvings is glowing blue, for whatever reason. Suddenly, I feel drawn towards the runes in the stone. I wander towards them, but just as I'm about to touch them, the shouting stops and the light disappears.
Meh. Seen weirder.
As I approach the cavern, I am attacked by two skeleton warriors. Sigh, more necromancers... Should have known. I have a light meal before entering to make sure I'm in peak fighting condition.
Inside the cave it is almost disturbingly silent and peaceful as well. There are chains hanging from the ceiling for no apparent reason, which I try to avoid. I don't want to make too much noise. I come across a lone zombie guard walking back and forth in a hallway. I get a really stupid idea: I decide to try that spell I got from the elven mage at the Frozen Hearth.
As I raise my hand, a fearsome jagged sword is drawn forth from the planes of Oblivion themselves, glowing with magical might. As awe-inspiring as that sounds, it also performs passably in battle. Not bad at all. I engage the zombie in an intentionally drawn-out duel to try it out, and it cleaves into dead flesh just fine. Now to try it on something living...
This is where it all goes downhill again. I try to sneak up on some necromancers hunched around a fire, but my iron boots clank far too loudly and raise their attention. The battle quickly devolves into a pathetic skirmish with both parties ducking in and out of cover, firing arrows (or icicles) at the other party before weaving away again. With some bleeding wounds in my side and rapidly running out of magicka, I decide to bail out.
Outside the cavern, I bash my head into the wall a few times. What am I supposed to do if I can't hold my own against a bunch of lowly maggotlovers? Should I just find a juicy bandit camp and take my stress out on them? Those at least have some valuable loot to re-steal.
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/h8vsr89nf/2013_12_27_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h8vsr89nf/)
He offers me some work helping him cause a shipwreck and loot the wreckage.

http://s25.postimg.org/x20r7owkb/2013_12_27_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/x20r7owkb/)
The Bards' College asks me to retrieve some ancient poem from some (most likely haunted) barrow over yonder.

http://s25.postimg.org/h2i3o50ij/2013_12_27_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h2i3o50ij/)
I have to wait for my turn while some man from the nearby village of Dragon Bridge pleads the queen for some soldiers to help defend the village.

http://s25.postimg.org/aeli1jh0b/2013_12_27_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/aeli1jh0b/)
The growing feeling in my chest ends up being correct: I am asked to be said soldiers.

http://s25.postimg.org/yjm7j91az/2013_12_27_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yjm7j91az/)
This mountain path isn't unpleasant at all, to be honest.

http://s25.postimg.org/bjfk6x3h7/2013_12_27_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/bjfk6x3h7/)
He tells me he's going to join the Stormcloaks because the Empire has banned all worship of Talos.

http://s25.postimg.org/48k1usn2z/2013_12_27_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/48k1usn2z/)
Just a few minutes later, I run into a trio of Thalmor escorting a chained prisoner.

http://s25.postimg.org/drtqo9al7/2013_12_27_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/drtqo9al7/)
It's impressively made, but there doesn't seem to be anything special about it.

http://s25.postimg.org/myc1bjftn/2013_12_27_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/myc1bjftn/)
I turn my head and see some stone wall full of carvings. One part of the carvings is glowing blue, for whatever reason.

http://s25.postimg.org/ms2xm6w2j/2013_12_27_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ms2xm6w2j/)
I am attacked by two skeleton warriors. Sigh, more necromancers...

http://s25.postimg.org/dhqtinlcr/2013_12_27_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dhqtinlcr/)
I have a light meal before entering to make sure I'm in peak fighting condition.

http://s25.postimg.org/9zetm9kgr/2013_12_27_00016.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/9zetm9kgr/)
Inside the cave it is almost disturbingly silent and peaceful as well. There are chains hanging from the ceiling for no apparent reason.

http://s25.postimg.org/dyc15393v/2013_12_27_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dyc15393v/)
As I raise my hand, a fearsome jagged sword is drawn forth from the planes of Oblivion themselves, glowing with magical might.
OOC Info
NOTE: The huge bloom in the first screenshots is caused by inebriation.

Sorry for wussing out again, but... c'mon! Those necromancers are a huge pain in the nether areas! :smallfrown:

SIDE NOTE: I'm pretty damn sure Jaree-Ra used to be green. Oh well.

[Triaxx]

Bound sword eh? Cool.

Yeah, Wolfskull is kind of nasty for a low level character. Jaree-Ra has always been red as far as I remember. Might be Gulum-Ei you're thinking of.

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #6: Gods know
I decide to head towards the cave where that poem was supposed to be hidden. Maybe I'll find something interesting on the way there... however, I swear, if I spot another necromancer, I'm not even trying to fight. Those folks are just too frustrating.
I walk back down the mountain road. I meet a noble on horseback, escorted by an Imperial soldier on foot. I've always found it quite impolite when nobles do that, but I guess it makes them feel superior in some stupid way. The man isn't even interested in talking to me face to face, instead deigning to threaten me with his guard. I leave him alone. He's not worth my time. I mean, what would I do anyway? I really don't want to start slaying nobles willy-nilly, and a stern talking-to probably wouldn't do much good either.
My chosen path takes me through Dragon Bridge. It's quite a small settlement, named for a very beautiful bridge crossing a very beautiful river. I check at the inn for anything of interest, but find none and decide to just keep walking. I do joke with a friendly miller about his shrewish wife, who I'm pretty sure is within earshot, but neither of them seems to care.
Shortly after crossing the bridge, I come across a worrisome sight: a robbed caravan. Running closer, my suspicion is unfortunately proven true: there's a dead Redguard woman lying on the ground. I scan the area for any sign of the attackers, but all I find is a journal (the last entry ironically mentions the woman's worries about the trip) and some odd arrows with their tips fashioned of something I can only assume to be bone or shell. I'll have to watch myself. The roads are clearly not safe.
I take a little hike up the mountainside and spot some deer. Reminded of my pathetic marksmanship against those necromancers a couple days back, I think my skills are a little rusty. I hit one deer in the calf, and land another shot while it's trying to run away. Another deer manages to escape, but that's okay. I was only doing this for practice anyway.
I realize it would be way easier to walk along the road, but as soon as I try to do so, I'm ambushed! Based on his clothes and generally unpleasant demeanor, I take him for a bandit, but surprisingly he summons a ghost-like wolf. I recognize it as a familiar; it is quite a basic conjuration spell, but not one I've bothered to learn. Knowing what it is doesn't make the bite wound hurt any less, though. I burn it to death easily enough (ghosts are flammable, apparently) and move onto the main target himself. He summons another familiar, but it disappears in a few seconds as its master breathes his last. I don't find anything on his body that would explain why he attacked me, though, and generic bandits usually don't know magic. I do, however, recognize him as a wood elf. I haven't met too many of those guys; all I know is that they really like nature or something. Maybe he got mad because I killed that deer? That would be quite childish, to be honest.
I see a small shack up in the woods, which I momentarily assume to be the explanation for this elf's presence: he was just defending his home, albeit a little aggressively, right? Nah... In the shack I find a Nord man on his dead bed, watched over by a scruffy but quite friendly-seeming dog. Based on a journal lying on the nearby table, the man succumbed to a bad case of Rockjoint. We've all been there, bud.
The journal mentions the dog's name being Meeko. I kneel to talk to him. I've always been fond of dogs, you know. They're dumb as bricks, but in a friendly and loyal way. I pet him on the head and scratch him behind his ears, but don't really know what I can do for him. He seems insistent on watching over his dead master. As I said, dumb but loyal.
However, as I'm leaving the shack, I hear a bark behind me. I take a few more steps, but the dog follows after me. I can't just leave him, I realize. The most that would achieve is him starving to death, and that wouldn't be nice at all, would it. I decide to take him with me. Gods know how I'm gonna keep him alive in the sort of place I seem to prefer.
So, I have a dog now.
Just about a hundred meters further, there stands a large stone fort. I decide to take a peek, but am unpleasantly surprised. It's not like I didn't know it was there... It was marked on that fancy table back at Winterhold, where I got my map in the first place. That map said it was held by Imperials, though. What I find instead is a bunch of skeletons. I am surprised yet again to see Meeko eagerly pounce at them and break them into pieces. Just as I'm about to make a witty remark about dogs and bones, I am assaulted by necromancers. From three directions at once. Oh, for... AUGH.
I dash out of the fort, Meeko following close at my heels. However, as seems to be my eternal, repeating, unavoidable fate, my legs are frozen by their damned magic and I stumble to the ground, allowing them to cheerily finish me off.
Sigh...
Wait, I'm narrating post-mortem again, aren't I?
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/l2376f5y3/2013_12_31_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/l2376f5y3/)
I meet a noble on horseback, escorted by an Imperial soldier on foot.

http://s25.postimg.org/dwbg3ywuz/2013_12_31_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dwbg3ywuz/)
My chosen path takes me through Dragon Bridge.

http://s25.postimg.org/yf6c91asb/2013_12_31_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yf6c91asb/)

http://s25.postimg.org/ijhi5qk7v/2013_12_31_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ijhi5qk7v/)

http://s25.postimg.org/tydzacwkb/2013_12_31_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tydzacwkb/)
I check at the inn for anything of interest.

http://s25.postimg.org/wgzob1iaj/2013_12_31_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wgzob1iaj/)
I do joke with a friendly miller about his shrewish wife.

http://s25.postimg.org/d2yubcqu3/2013_12_31_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/d2yubcqu3/)
Shortly after crossing the bridge, I come across a worrisome sight: a robbed caravan.

http://s25.postimg.org/4uwwqcyxn/2013_12_31_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4uwwqcyxn/)
I hit one deer in the calf, and land another shot while it's trying to run away.

http://s25.postimg.org/qzbo0zcgr/2013_12_31_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qzbo0zcgr/)
I recognize it as a familiar; it is quite a basic conjuration spell, but not one I've bothered to learn.

http://s25.postimg.org/mephm1srf/2013_12_31_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mephm1srf/)
I see a small shack up in the woods, which I momentarily assume to be the explanation for this elf's presence: he was just defending his home, albeit a little aggressively, right?

http://s25.postimg.org/tcp0e91i3/2013_12_31_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tcp0e91i3/)
Nah... In the shack I find a Nord man on his dead bed, watched over by a scruffy but quite friendly-seeming dog.

http://s25.postimg.org/x436eb4kb/2013_12_31_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/x436eb4kb/)
Just about a hundred meters further, there stands a large stone fort.

http://s25.postimg.org/lqgn33u1n/2013_12_31_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/lqgn33u1n/)
However, as seems to be my eternal, repeating, unavoidable fate, my legs are frozen.
OOC Info
Sorry for the short update (and not posting for a few days), but I've been... uh... busy, with such things as Pokémon X and RPG Maker. I mean, it's not like anyone is gonna read this on New Year's Eve anyway, right?

...Right?

Sigh. Anyway, clearly the 22nd of Last Seed is an accursed day for Adrian.
Mod Listing
Magical Dragon Bridge. Adds fancy balls of light to the Bridge.

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #7: Falkreath folks
Wow, that sure was weird.
After yet another brief stint with death, I woke up in that same room at the Winking Skeever, as if I'd never left. Perhaps that really is the case. Perhaps I just had two very realistic nightmares in the same night, like a dream within a dream or something stupid like that. I mean, it's happened before, but... it's never felt quite like this.
Descending the stairs, I'm slightly disturbed to find the same scene I've already seen two times, drunken mercenary and all. This time, however, I don't stop to drink with him. I just stomp out through the door.
I'm getting a really bad feeling about Solitude. Maybe I should go somewhere else. Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, but I can't shake the feeling that those events weren't just dreams. I walk out of the city and down the road, over to the spot where the carriage driver was, and well, he is still there. Only half-jokingly, I ask him to take me to the warmest place in Skyrim. He says he would be more than happy to give me a ride to Falkreath, the southernmost hold in the province. Hmm, now there's an interesting prospect. I break bread with him and talk for a while. The driver tells me that Falkreath sits near the beautiful Lake Ilinalta in a heavily forested area and is directly south of some city called Whiterun, though one has to go around some mountains anyway. Well, I guess it's a good place as any to spend a while. I just don't feel comfortable staying in Solitude anymore, so onto the carriage I go.
I'm a little worried about the ride, but it goes by surprisingly comfortably. I mean, sure, the road is bumpy and it takes literally all day, but at least we don't get ambushed or anything. I do see a glimpse of the familiar fallen wagon south of Dragon Bridge, though, which brings a drop of sweat to my brow.

It is already evening when we arrive in Falkreath. It looks nice enough. There's a lot of green, which I like as a southron boy, and the night wind, though still cool, isn't quite as chilling as further up north.
Well, off to the tavern I go. The guards at the gate bid me welcome and share (unprovoked, I assure you) some gossip of events around the land. It's mostly about how Ulfric Stormcloak murdered the High King. I thought that was old news? Perhaps news don't reach these parts quite as quickly as... well, the capital.
The local tavern is named Dead Man's Drink. Though the name sounds worrisome, I'm not bothered. Taverns are given oddly dark names quite often. Inside, it is relatively empty, though not as deserted as that place in Dragon Bridge was... in my dream that is. Gods, I don't know how I should refer to those events! I don't even know if they were truly real or not... and if they were, have they already happened, or are they occurring right now, or going to occur later? It's so confusing, I decide to just refer to them in past tense. Having a set rule makes things much easier.
Anyhow, about the tavern! There are some people boasting about their past efforts in the war and how they're going to drive out the Imperials, which makes me a little nervous, but they don't seem to be talking about me specifically. I guess the locals are usually just talking about the Imperial Legion when they say such things, and not just everyone of my particular race. That would be awfully rude, after all.
One ragged old man shoves an urn into my arms and tells me to take it to the local shrine. Apparently it contains the ashes of his dead friend or something. Before I can mutter an answer, he stumbles out. That's another thing about the locals: they're really open about literally shoving quests and valuable items into your lap and assuming you'll do as they ask. I really have no idea if they're really trusting, stupid or simply arrogant. Either way, I guess I could indeed deliver them. In the morning.
I listen to the bard pound on his drum and consider buying something to eat, until I remember the annoying lightness of my purse. It's not quite as empty as ”before”, since I didn't buy that spell from the court mage, but I did spend about one-third of my remaining wealth on the carriage ride, so I'll still have to be careful. I eat some of the bread and water I've been carrying around instead. After that, I try and mix up some potions. I end up with a lot of different stuff, such as simple restoration potions, but also manage to make one vial of frost resistance brew. That really would've been useful many times in the ”past”. Some of the less useful concoctions I'll try to sell off later. For now, though, I head to sleep in a rented bed.
A very nice bed it is, indeed. I expect to be taken to one of the tiny side rooms, but instead I am given what I like to call the main suite. It's about three times as big, nicely decorated and furnished with a double bed. Geez, there are huge differences between the inns of Skyrim, maybe I should write a book around them! Once again, there's a book lying on the night table, called ”Nords Arise!”. Expecting some heavy-handed propaganda, I read a few pages into it, and am proven right. I do agree with the basic ideas though... The ban on Talos worship is mean and blah blah blah, you've heard it a thousand times. I try not to pick sides in this conflict. I have no real connection with the Legion other than my race, which the locals don't seem to mind anyway, which gives them a big plus in my book.
Shaking my head, I try to shoo out the politics so I could finally get some shut-eye.

In the morning, I sit down at a table and have some breakfast. I imagine I must look really mysterious, sitting here in the shadows with a hood pulled over my head. I am interrupted by a quite revealingly dressed woman asking me if I want a drink. At first, I think she might a, uhm, working girl, but then I realize she's just an ordinary waitress. I tell her I'm fine, and she struts off. I wasn't interested anyway, honest.
As I step outside, I notice it's raining. Just a little drip, though, not a storm or anything. I don't mind that too much... if anything, it's a nice change from the blizzards up north. Now that I can actually see where I'm going, the area around here really is quite beautiful. The mountains looming on both look quite impressive, and I'm pretty sure someone will try to send me on a quest over there anyway. I head over towards where I think I heard someone mention the graveyard to be, assuming the shrine to be there as well. Awkwardly enough, I run right into the middle of a funeral, but they don't seem to notice me. There's only two people, whom I assume to be a couple, and obviously a priest. I think he's the one I'm supposed to find, so I wait patiently. The priest finishes a really generic speech about death, Arkay and Aetherius, after which the ceremony is over. My curiosity momentarily overrides my good manners, and I speak to the grieving man. He explains that the one they buried is their daughter. I give him my condolences, thinking I should be quiet, as he is obviously and understandably quite depressed. However, he goes on to explain how their daughter was literally ripped to pieces by some manbeast. Oh... uh... I think I'll leave now.
I speak to the priest, who thanks me for delivering the ashes and hands me a nice bag of gold as a reward. Well, that sure was easy money. Further, he asks me if I could go and find his journal, which he lost in a cave somewhere. While he tries to find the location on my map, I half-expect it to be somewhere near Solitude, but as it turns out, it's quite close to Falkreath after all, easily within a hour's walk. Huh. Nice.
I promise though, the first time I see a skull, real or drawn, I'm out.
Before I go, of course, I visit the general store. At the door, I run into someone who makes a rude comment about Imperials – not just the Legion, but our race in general – before stepping out, prompting the shopkeeper to apologize for his brother. I assure him it's fine, sell some of my useless things and head off.
As I predicted, the cave seems to be located in the southern mountains. On my climb, I find a small hunting camp. It's completely deserted, of course, and based on a very ironic journal entry I don't think they're coming back. I decide to loot the place. There's a knapsack full of small trinkets and two books I might read later. Not bad, I guess. It's not like I did any work for it, after all.
Finding the cave gives me pause. It's called Halldir's Cairn, and there are large stone pillars outside, so all things considered, it's probably a tomb. And based on my experience, what do the tombs around here tend to contain? Yeah.
I decide to give it a shot, though. I mean, if it's just undead, and not their masters themselves, I'll be fine. It might even be inhabited by just plain bandits. Still, if I see a necromancer, I'm leaving. I repeat the mantra in my head a few times.

Treading carefully, I see a glowing blue light as soon as I step inside. There's some large monument standing in the middle of the room, with a humming ray of light shooting out of it. Such things do usually imply the presence of mages, but the place seems deserted so far, so I swallow my doubt.
Approaching the monument, I notice all the bones, blood and fresh bodies lying all around it. Sigh...
On a nearby pedestal, there's a journal and a key. The journal is apparently written by one of the people lying bloody around the monument, and describes how they settled down in these ruins for a while, but it seems they were eventually possessed and killed by the titular Halldir (or more likely his ghost). Well, it's not like I expected this place to be exactly pleasant to begin with. Taking a closer look at the monument, I notice that the beam of light goes through a chute and a grate into a room above me. It can't go much farther than that, though... I would have seen it from the surface. I wonder what it does, though.
I decide to head deeper. At least it doesn't seem like there are necromancers here. At the top of a spiral staircase, I am attacked by two ghosts. Ghosts? I don't remember fighting those before. Fortunately, they seem to be physical enough to be harmed by my conjured sword. I back up into the staircase. Whatever you might have heard about fighting an upstairs battle, I consider it worth it when you're outnumbered. Either way, they succumb quite quickly, leaving behind ghostly, gooey remains that somehow contain their physical belongings. Huh.
The key on the pedestal opens all doors for me, as I tread further into the crypt. I fight some more ghosts, some of which surprise me with frost magic and make me momentarily consider abandoning this silly cause, but it ends up feeling like a tickle compared to the necromancers' and doesn't slow me down too much. There are some fairly obvious pressure plates connected to very painful-looking traps, but they're easy to avoid.
Too busy watching the ground, I walk right into some bones hanging on strings from the ceiling. The clatter awakens two more ghosts and a frostie (what I've decided to call the frost-zombies for now), which sort of catches me off guard. I have to dismiss my sword spell in order to heal, and decide to use my flames rather than summon it again. It works well enough, especially against the frostie. Though empirical experimentation, I also discover that ghosts aren't immune to iron shields in their face, either.
Spotting an unsubtly positioned frostie sitting on a throne in the middle of the hall, I decide to take my chance and launch an arrow smack-dab into its forehead. It slowly stands up and shambles towards me with its axe swinging. This frostie doesn't end up being any more challenging than the others, though it does look quite comical with an arrow sticking out of its head. A few more rise off their pedestals to attack me, but end up being just as harmless.
Funnily enough, the locked portcullis to the next corridor slows me down more than all its guardians put together. For a minute, I can't seem to find the switch to open it, but then I notice it behind the throne and continue on my quest... for a journal, I just realize. Does it have something to do with what's been happening? How else could the priest have dropped it here?
I'm stopped by yet another door, a puzzle one this time. I've seen a few of these in my time, and the same principles apply to this case: the answer is very obviously presented in the same room. Well, I guess it does confound the undead, and perhaps the most stupid of bandits. This one consists of three rotatable pillars with three pictures on each side. The silly part is that each pillar is flanked by not only one, but two carvings showing the right picture. As I'm focusing on that, a few ghosts attack me again, one of them barraging me with fire spells. I find out that he is very much flammable himself.
After ”solving” the ”puzzle”, I am once again attacked by two more ghosts sitting on benches I'd just passed. I say, if the ghosts have one thing going for them, it's their tendency to appear in weird places. The problem is, they still die (re-die?) within seconds.
Skipping over a tripwire to avoid a trap, I find a nice new shield in a chest, only to awaken to the grim truth that I seem to have combusted. I just step to the side, though, and notice that there was a fire-spewing trap behind me. Whatever's fueling it must have burnt out, though, since it barely hurts me at all. That doesn't mean I'm going to try my chances on the other traps, though. A dull axe cracking your head hurts just as much as a new one.

I finally step into what must be the final room. At least I see the blue light shooting up from the floor, and a wispy character hanging around the other end of the room. I guess he's this Halldir guy. He seems to have noticed me, though. The ghost slowly walks towards me, suddenly launching forth a bolt of lightning from his hand. I manage to dodge it, but it does take me off guard somewhat. However, even as I stumble and lower my defense, he still just walks around at a painfully dragging pace. It's almost like he doesn't want to fight me. I scorch him with a fire spell for a few seconds, which seems to finally awaken his wrath. In a burst of light, he summons two copies of himself. I try to duck into the corridor for cover, only to feel cold iron against my back. A portcullis has locked me into the room! There is no escape from this.
The battle that follows is a very anticlimactic one. The copies fall quickly, after which we both just stay in our own end of the hall and shoot at each other. He eventually falls to an arrow, and I foolishly approach him to search his ”remains”. However, in another flash a new copy springs up from the beam of light. We engage in a melee, axe against axe, and I emerge superior... Mostly because I know healing spells and he doesn't. Another one doesn't seem to appear. I hear the portcullis rattle open behind me, and see the blue light shimmer and fade. Time to leave this place. First, of course, I have to look for loot, including that journal I was sent to look for in the first place. I claim the ghost's frost-enchanted axe and magical staff. In a chest behind the throne I find some generic treasure, a drum with the name Rjorn scribbled on it and the priest's journal. Time to see what this was all about:
Huh.
The journal is just, well, a journal. It's about some random nightmares he's been having and his daily doings. Nothing at all that could be related to this place. Maybe I should ask him how he happened to ”drop” it here.
It's almost evening when I get out. The sun is starting its descent. Time really does fly when you're dungeoncrawling...
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/pf795c1y3/2014_01_03_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/pf795c1y3/)
I just don't feel comfortable staying in Solitude anymore, so onto the carriage I go.

http://s25.postimg.org/cy0li66sb/2014_01_03_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/cy0li66sb/)
It is already evening when we arrive in Falkreath.

http://s25.postimg.org/3nohemw2j/2014_01_03_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3nohemw2j/)
The local tavern is named Dead Man's Drink.

http://s25.postimg.org/6f7r58ul7/2014_01_03_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6f7r58ul7/)
I expect to be taken to one of the tiny side rooms, but instead I am given what I like to call the main suite.

http://s25.postimg.org/wtwkxpntn/2014_01_03_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wtwkxpntn/)
I imagine I must look really mysterious, sitting here in the shadows with a hood pulled over my head.

http://s25.postimg.org/njkgu6d3v/2014_01_03_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/njkgu6d3v/)
I tell her I'm fine, and she struts off. I wasn't interested anyway, honest.

http://s25.postimg.org/3z5xrecij/2014_01_03_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3z5xrecij/)
The mountains looming on both look quite impressive.

http://s25.postimg.org/rxsy60nob/2014_01_03_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/rxsy60nob/)
Awkwardly enough, I run right into the middle of a funeral, but they don't seem to notice me.

http://s25.postimg.org/xxlanexuj/2014_01_03_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/xxlanexuj/)
I find a small hunting camp. It's completely deserted, of course...

http://s25.postimg.org/ssk35skwr/2014_01_03_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ssk35skwr/)
It's called Halldir's Cairn, and there are large stone pillars outside, so all things considered, it's probably a tomb.

http://s25.postimg.org/t2rlp4ziz/2014_01_03_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/t2rlp4ziz/)
There's some large monument standing in the middle of the room, with a humming ray of light shooting out of it.

http://s25.postimg.org/6unmc05wb/2014_01_03_00015.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/6unmc05wb/)
Approaching the monument, I notice all the bones, blood and fresh bodies lying all around it. Sigh...

http://s25.postimg.org/9d9bcormj/2014_01_03_00016.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/9d9bcormj/)
I notice that the beam of light goes through a chute and a grate into a room above me.

http://s25.postimg.org/8c92nkamz/2014_01_03_00018.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8c92nkamz/)
Whatever you might have heard about fighting an upstairs battle, I consider it worth it when you're outnumbered.

http://s25.postimg.org/nfv8rnx0b/2014_01_03_00019.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nfv8rnx0b/)
There are some fairly obvious pressure plates connected to very painful-looking traps, but they're easy to avoid.

http://s25.postimg.org/mwq5ie5ln/2014_01_03_00023.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mwq5ie5ln/)
This frostie doesn't end up being any more challenging than the others, though it does look quite comical with an arrow sticking out of its head.

http://s25.postimg.org/95log6gnv/2014_01_03_00024.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/95log6gnv/)
I find out that he is very much flammable himself.

http://s25.postimg.org/9jn0fs0rf/2014_01_03_00025.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/9jn0fs0rf/)
The silly part is that each pillar is flanked by not only one, but two carvings showing the right picture.

http://s25.postimg.org/4me18eo63/2014_01_03_00026.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4me18eo63/)
I notice that there was a fire-spewing trap behind me.

http://s25.postimg.org/ov1eu4nh7/2014_01_03_00028.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ov1eu4nh7/)
I see the blue light shooting up from the floor, and a wispy character hanging around the other end of the room.

http://s25.postimg.org/foj46ui8r/2014_01_03_00029.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/foj46ui8r/)
We engage in a melee, axe against axe, and I emerge superior...

http://s25.postimg.org/vbadk7w0r/2014_01_03_00031.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/vbadk7w0r/)
OOC Info
Interesting fact: Narri is Finnish for ”fool” (as in ”jester”, but occasionally as an insult as well), so I've obviously always found her name quite comical.

Another slow-ish chapter, at least near the beginning, but that's how these transitions tend to be. Gotta visit the inn, gotta check out the area, you know the drill. I'll probably try to buy the Falkreath estate later, if I get a chance. Or, you know, moral permission from you guys to obtain enough money through the console. :smalltongue: I mean, it's really stupid that you have to become Thane and spend a fortune just to obtain a small house. IIRC, I already lampshaded that in Khajiit Chronicles, so I'll try not to dwell on it too much here. I won't use the console unless given specific ”permission”, of course. :smallsmile:

Also, in case you haven't realized, I've typically left out the parts about looting every single body I find, since that's a given anyway and mentioning it really breaks the narrative flow for me. Rest assured, I'm ripping everything I can off every corpse (except their clothes, since that makes screenshots look weird... unless their clothes are really neat and/or expensive, of course. :smallwink:)

I'm not sure whether I prefer Skyrim's rendition of ghosts over Oblivion's. Back then, they could only be harmed by magic or silver weapons, which was a pain near the beginning of the game... especially if you had to fight that wraith who appears if you betray the Dark Brotherhood (by stealing or such). In Skyrim, they're just normal, rather weak enemies with a different skin...

Another behind-the-scenes confession: I sometimes forget to save when I sleep, so I have to settle for the closest autosave instead...

Hmm, I got wordy here. I guess nobody minds that, though.
Mod Listing
Dovahkiin Relaxes Too adds a bunch of neat idle animations you can activate with a power, perfect for screenshots. One example is in the last picture.

[Triaxx]

Sorry, fair play only. You want to live in Falkreath, pay the admission fee. :smalltongue:

That said, it's probably the nicest of the houses.

[SilverLeaf167]

Sorry, fair play only. You want to live in Falkreath, pay the admission fee. :smalltongue:

That said, it's probably the nicest of the houses.
Well, I better start gathering some money then...
And "convincing" my completely self-controlled character that he wants to live here, of course. :smalltongue:

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #8: Wolf? Where?
After descending back into town, I find the priest at the inn. He offers no further explanation for the journal's odd location, but does offer me his thanks and a fat bag of coin. This must be at least 500 septims! Well, given I risked my life facing horrors from beyond, it isn't really that much, but better than what many people would pay.
Hanging around the tavern, I speak to a man called Dengeir who claims to be the former Jarl and warns me about the local blacksmith, Lod. He thinks the man is a traitor, and even asks me to break into his house and look through his things! I turn down his offer with what little grace I can muster. I don't want to get mixed up with the local politics. He calls me a ”milk drinker”, which is an odd insult used in these parts. I don't mind, though. Milk is good for you.
It's not that late yet, so I head to the general store to lighten my load of loot, but I step in just as the merchant is gathering his things and closing for the night. Well, I decide to try the blacksmith. I step inside, but he has already finished the day's business as well. He does invite me to join him for a while, and I see no reason to disagree. However, while he's busy cooking, I can't help but glance at a letter lying on his table. It's nothing suspicious: he's just ordering more iron for the forge. Maybe I'll mention to the fat not-Jarl how wrong he was. Maybe.
Return to the Dead Man's Drink, of course I mention it, just to rub it in his face. Much to my surprise, he seems convinced that Lod isn't actually conversing with the Legion. Just as I'm about to gain some faith in Dengeir's common sense, he decides that Lod is making swords for the Legion, instead! I groan slightly, only to have a pouch of money tossed at me ”for the help”. Huh. Well, I don't mind.
Tired from the day's efforts, I have a hearty dinner and go to sleep in my rented bed. The inn system in Skyrim is quite interesting: if you rent a bed, you literally have it for a day. However, if you're asleep when your time ends, they don't bother waking you up. It is thus possible to get a room for two consecutive nights at the price of one, simply by going to sleep early enough.
I am woken by the bard's singing. Apparently, he's trying to cheer up Dengeir and the dead girl's father, both of which are drinking heavily this early in the morning. Sad men, truly. In a fit of compassion, I speak to the father and ask who's to blame for his daughter's death, in case I could help somehow. It was a man named Sinding, he tells me. However, Sinding is already in the town jail, awaiting his punishment. Huh. I still feel like I should go look at him, though.

The jail is located under the guard barracks, as usual. There only seem to be two cells, though: a quite normal one with an orc sitting in it, and an unusually small, circular one with water pooled at the bottom and light seeping in from the top. It almost looks like a well. The man within, whom I presume to be Sinding, walks over to me and asks me if I'm there just to ”gawk at the beast”.
Uh, sort of?
Long story sort, he tells me how the attack was caused by his sudden transformation into a werewolf form. Apparently, he's been one for quite some time, but a cursed ring he stole from the daedric prince Hircine has made his shapechanging completely random. He seems terribly apologetic, and I sincerely don't believe he meant any harm for anyone. Hell, he even explains that he only came to Falkreath in search of some mystic beast that he could slay in order to appease Hircine and lift the curse. I promise to do that for him. Extremely thankful, he hands me the ring for safekeeping, turns into a werewolf and climbs out of a hole at the top of his cell.
Wait, what!? Was his cell an actual well?
While I'm busy gaping at what just happened, the ring somehow manages to slide itself onto my finger. It won't budge.
Whoops.
Well, I'm definitely doing this now.
I run out of the town as quickly as I can. I feel like the ring is guiding me toward the beast, which is an improvement at least. I slow down once I'm a safe distance outside the settlement. I'm not sure if the ring can spontaneously turn me into a beast as well, but I'm not taking any risks by hanging around anywhere near other people.
Following the ring, I come across a small ruined tower. Peeking inside, I am attacked by some very angry forest spirit! It looks like it's made of wood, so the first thing that comes to mind is to burn it to death. That works reasonably well. The inside of the ruin is nothing but grass and trees, but I do spot a chest hidden in the shrubbery. It contains some gems, gold and a nice-looking greatsword I can sell later. No great beast though.
That, I find only a little further. Seeing how it's just a slightly larger white deer, I'm not quite sure myself, but the ring reacts very strongly so I draw my bow for a surprise shot. The shot lands, but the deer unsurprisingly survives and runs away. I chase after it, and after two more arrows it lies on the ground dead.
A ghostly figure rises from the body. It speaks to me in the voice of Hircine, congratulating me for my kill and ordering me to make Sinding my next prey. I refuse, of course; saving Sinding is part of why I'm doing this in the first place. The aloof spirit tells me that if I refuse, it will just send other hunters after Sinding. Having said that, it disappears.
And the ring is still on my finger. Sigh...

The ring draws me toward Sinding's location. I decide to go there and protect him from these other hunters. My search takes me between some mountains and over the Lake Ilinalta. It is surprisingly easy to wade across on some banks of earth. There are some hunters and fishers around, but they seem friendly enough. Through another mountain range I go. On the way, I come across a few other caves and a half-sunken fort, but the ring gives no reaction so I just pass them by.
I finally find the cave where the ring seems to think Sinding to be. Whatever happens, I'm going to have to fight someone, so I fill my stomach before descending inside the mountain. I'm feeling quite tired from my long trek, but it's not like I can sleep here or anything.
I'm pretty sure this place isn't natural. It has no ceiling, yet I didn't see it from the outside. The sky is colored a bloody red, and so is the huge moon. There's a campfire, and some (literally) bloody hunters... The last live one, a badly wounded Khajiit, calls to me. He tells me that more hunters will come, for the glory of Hircine, blah blah blah, until finally succumbing to his injuries.
There are bedrolls in the camp, some of which only have a little blood on them, but I still cannot sleep. It is definitely not safe here. I wade deeper into the wooded grotto, expecting an attack any second. Suddenly, I hear a voice from above. Sinding, in his wolf-like form, is perched on a high rock, staring down at me. I assure him I am here to help. He thanks me and tells me that the best way I can help right now is by killing these hunters. Okay. That's pretty much what I expected.
He comes along. We make quite short work of all the hunters we find. We encounter them in small groups, which is perfect, since we definitely couldn't handle this many at once. I get to try out my new frosty axe, but Sinding's claws seem to be even more effective. In just a few minutes all the hunters are dead. He promises to stay here in the grotto, away from anyone he might hurt. The red haze fades away. On my way out of the grotto, I realize the ring is still stuck to my finger...
The ghostly stag is there waiting for me when I step out. At first, I expect some sort of punishment for defying Hircine, but receive congratulations instead. By ”turning the chase inside out” and hunting the hunters, I have greatly amused him and earned his blessing. The spirit disappears, and I can almost feel the ring sliding off my finger.
I am now met with a new problem. What should I do with the ring? I can no longer feel the same malevolence emanating from it as I did before... I don't want to keep it, I definitely don't want to wear it, but I'm not sure I feel comfortable selling it either.
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/gmzh94vkr/2014_01_06_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/gmzh94vkr/)

http://s25.postimg.org/7td65rxzv/2014_01_06_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/7td65rxzv/)
I speak to a man called Dengeir who claims to be the former Jarl and warns me about the local blacksmith, Lod.

http://s25.postimg.org/l6bpundgb/2014_01_06_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/l6bpundgb/)
It's nothing suspicious: he's just ordering more iron for the forge.

http://s25.postimg.org/l02m5atp7/2014_01_06_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/l02m5atp7/)
I speak to the father and ask who's to blame for his daughter's death.

http://s25.postimg.org/4wljrr2sb/2014_01_06_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4wljrr2sb/)
An unusually small, circular cell with water pooled at the bottom and light seeping in from the top. It almost looks like a well.

http://s25.postimg.org/62u54aggr/2014_01_06_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/62u54aggr/)
He turns into a werewolf and climbs out of a hole at the top of his cell.

http://s25.postimg.org/i79el9tcr/2014_01_06_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/i79el9tcr/)
It looks like it's made of wood, so the first thing that comes to mind is to burn it to death. That works reasonably well.

http://s25.postimg.org/71ai6ktsr/2014_01_06_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/71ai6ktsr/)
Seeing how it's just a slightly larger white deer, I'm not quite sure myself.

http://s25.postimg.org/eoxeovsgr/2014_01_06_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/eoxeovsgr/)
The ring reacts very strongly so I draw my bow for a surprise shot.

http://s25.postimg.org/cqqqqvzyz/2014_01_06_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/cqqqqvzyz/)
A ghostly figure rises from the body.

http://s25.postimg.org/oaqz56jmj/2014_01_06_00015.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/oaqz56jmj/)
My search takes me between some mountains and over the Lake Ilinalta.

http://s25.postimg.org/kgxiw12aj/2014_01_06_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/kgxiw12aj/)
There are some hunters and fishers around, but they seem friendly enough.

http://s25.postimg.org/ftrgu9exn/2014_01_06_00016.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ftrgu9exn/)
come across a few other caves and a half-sunken fort, but the ring gives no reaction so I just pass them by.

http://s25.postimg.org/5c60c93h7/2014_01_06_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5c60c93h7/)

http://s25.postimg.org/5ijpfccm3/2014_01_06_00018.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5ijpfccm3/)
I finally find the cave where the ring seems to think Sinding to be.

http://s25.postimg.org/c3wff3sgr/2014_01_06_00020.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/c3wff3sgr/)
The sky is colored a bloody red, and so is the huge moon.

http://s25.postimg.org/o71r2o3iz/2014_01_06_00019.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/o71r2o3iz/)
There's a campfire, and some (literally) bloody hunters...

http://s25.postimg.org/r68npsd0b/2014_01_06_00021.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/r68npsd0b/)
He tells me that more hunters will come, for the glory of Hircine, blah blah blah, until finally succumbing to his injuries.

http://s25.postimg.org/zd0nhd32z/2014_01_06_00022.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/zd0nhd32z/)
Sinding, in his wolf-like form, is perched on a high rock, staring down at me.

http://s25.postimg.org/nwu8jbowr/2014_01_06_00023.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/nwu8jbowr/)

http://s25.postimg.org/iqj38aa57/2014_01_06_00024.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/iqj38aa57/)
I get to try out my new frosty axe, but Sinding's claws seem to be even more effective.

http://s25.postimg.org/3o6uxlpln/2014_01_06_00025.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/3o6uxlpln/)
OOC Info
The downside of this sort of play is that the size compression of Skyrim becomes disturbingly apparent at times. See the part where I cross two mountain ranges in a few hours...
Given that making Skyrim itself bigger is quite literally impossible, I just might change the time ratio through the console... but then the dungeons, which I consider relatively uncompressed, would literally take whole in-game days to explore. Guess I'll just have to switch it back and forth.

What shall I do with the ring? I guess I could just sell it, for quite a price in fact, but that would feel kinda weird in-character, given that Adrian knows the ring has directly caused the death of a child and at least was horribly cursed.
Mod Listing
Vibrant Auroras can be seen in the last screenshot. To be honest, I can't really remember even seeing the auroras in vanilla Skyrim... were they so bland or something that I didn't even notice them? :smalltongue:

[Togath]

I think vanilla auroras are just fairly uncommon.

[Landis963]

If he doesn't want to keep it and doesn't want to sell it, the best thing to do would be to find some deep, dark, non-renewable hideyhole and stash it in there. (e.g. a chest in a player house somewhere)

[Triaxx]

Why are there no volcanoes in Skyrim? Seriously. All the evil Rings, and no where to throw them.

I'd say hold onto the ring until you get the Sanguine quest, then leave it in the grove.

[Landis963]

Why are there no volcanoes in Skyrim? Seriously. All the evil Rings, and no where to throw them.

I'd say hold onto the ring until you get the Sanguine quest, then leave it in the grove.

Adrian doesn't know that all the aedra, daedra, and their assorted extended family have taken an interest in him specifically, though. So if he comes to the same conclusion I have, he'll prioritize getting a house ASAP and dumping it in the first chest he finds/makes.

EDIT: It's too bad he can't make a daytrip to Red Mountain or something, just to toss it in there and be done with it.

[Triaxx]

I was thinking that from an RP perspective, meeting Sanguine and finding he's no where near as bad a chap as Hircine, he'd let him have the ring instead because he's powerful enough to contain it, while also not being the type to hand it out for random murders.

[Landis963]

I was thinking that from an RP perspective, meeting Sanguine and finding he's no where near as bad a chap as Hircine, he'd let him have the ring instead because he's powerful enough to contain it, while also not being the type to hand it out for random murders.

This is also the guy who just sent him on a drunken spree, then a wild goose chase, for the lulz. The daedra just aren't that trustworthy. Sanguine in particular would love to hand it out to some schmuck just to cause chaos. Also, Sanguine can just call Hircine up and say "ohei, your champ just gave me your ring. Wannit back?"

[SilverLeaf167]

oh my god
actual discussion

Seriously though, nice to see this thread get some life :smallbiggrin:
I haven't decided about the ring yet, though. Perhaps I will indeed just stash it somewhere... selling it would feel kind of cheaty in any case, as it's worth 2000-something septims.
I'm not sure Adrian would hand it out to anyone, even a daedric lord... Given that Sinding explicitly managed to steal it from someone (from whom is not clear, perhaps Hircine himself?) and got cursed for it, the only logical course of action I can think of is to completely remove it from circulation, so to speak. Of course, if it was successfully tracked down and stolen from a powerful daedra, I'm not sure if a mercenary's coffer is much safer.
For want of a volcano, indeed...
Isn't there lava in some Dwemer ruins? Maybe that would do the job? :smalltongue:

[Triaxx]

For all that there's been lava EVERYWHERE in the previous two games, I can't recall any of it in Skyrim.

Perhaps that place up north with all the sunken boats. Head out there and dump the ring.

It's all that it's worth 2000 septims, try getting that out of a merchant and I suspect you'll be very disappointed.

[Togath]

Hand it over to Azura or Meridia perhaps(Meridia at least is a good aligned Daedra, not as sure about Azura)?
Once/if he encounters them of course =3.

[Landis963]

Drop it in Azura's Star - while it's being corrupted by Nelacar. Safest place I can think of.

[Triaxx]

Now that's good. It's already going to purge everything in there... I like it.

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #9: Hiker Adrian wants to battle!
It must already be past midnight. I can see the wide open plains of Whiterun spreading before me, but looking at the map, I see that Falkreath is still the closest city, so off I go. This time, I can follow the path. There's no risk of mauling anyone to death. I hope.
The colorful lights in the sky are dazzlingly beautiful, but that doesn't make me feel any less tired. I see a little cabin off the road, but unfortunately the hunters living there don't have a free sleeping spot. They do buy some of the pelts and other animal parts I've gathered, though.
On my way back to the road, I hear some yells for help. I investigate and find a wounded man sitting outside a cave. He tells me how he and his friends were attacked by spriggans (I think that's what those forest spirits are called) while hunting, and he was the only one to get out alive. He begs me for a healing potion, which I grant him, and asks me to clear out the cave so he can retrieve his friends' bodies. Sigh... Fine, I guess I'll try. No promises though. That last spirit I fought wasn't too tough, but I'm not so sure about multiple at a time.
Almost immediately upon entering, I see a vaguely humanoid character with a green glow about it standing at the other end of the room... and one of the man's friends lying on the floor. I fire an arrow at the spriggan, but that doesn't seem to do much. The spirit dashes at me, spewing forth... something... from its hand. I think it's a swarm of glowing insects, but whatever it is, it really hurts. However, when the spriggan decides to try and scratch me to death instead, I get an opportunity to block its blows with my shield and scorch the damn thing with a fire spell. I come within an inch of my life, but manage to win... barely. I'll have to be really careful.
In addition to woodland sprites, there's a woodland animal as well: the bear these poor saps were hunting in the first place. While standing on high ground, I fire an arrow at it and start to scorch its rear hairs with flames, causing it to run away. Huh. What a surprisingly smart bear. As I accidentally stumble off my safe sanctuary, the beast comes running back right away. I'm backed into a corner with nothing but my shield to protect me, but it performs admirably. The burning fur smells horrible, though.
The main room of the cave is more like a grotto, quite similar to the one I already visited today. I don't see any movement, though, so I relax a bit and just walk around. That turns out to be a poor idea when a sleeping spriggan peels right off the bark of a large tree and attacks me. I manage to get it down on its knees, but take a little too long to finish it. Suddenly a flash of light appears and gets the thing back on its feet. I switch to my axe and make sure that doesn't happen again. Timbeeer!
The grotto seems safe enough, so I get out and tell the man just that. As thanks, he hands me quite a mundane looking iron dagger. Huh. Apparently it has quite a lot of sentimental value, but here's the thing: sentimental value only matters to the giver. To the other person it's just a lousy iron dagger. He goes to retrieve his friends and I continue walking towards Falkreath.
Just a short distance away from the city, I am suddenly charged by a skeleton warrior out of nowhere. Despite my surprise, it is easy prey. However, where there are skeletons, there are almost always necromancers as well. I decide to hurry up.
It's just a few hours before sunrise when I reach the town, rent a bed at the Dead Man's Drink and quite literally fall on top of it. I really don't envy the innkeeper who has to stay up all night just in case a sleepy scoundrel stumbles in. I do thank her for it, though.

When I wake up, it's already afternoon. I see that the man I helped at the cave has returned safely, which is a good thing I guess. After having breakfast (I guess it might already count as lunch) I sell some of my useless loot at the general store. Looking through my backpack, I come across the (formerly?) cursed ring again. I'm still not sure what to do with it. Selling it would definitely be a poor idea, so I guess I'll just have to hold onto it for a while longer. I go to the Jarl's longhouse to ask for work.
I expect an old man, but instead there's a quite young lad with an infuriatingly condescending tone of voice. He says that if I want him to give me real work, I'll first have to do some chores for him. He wants me to bring him a bottle of Black-Briar Mead, straight from Riften.
What!? That's halfway across Skyrim!
Annoyed, I step out of the longhouse. I bet I could just get any goddamn mead and he couldn't tell the difference... In fact, I should do just that. I visit Lod's place to see if he has a bottle I could borrow. He does. Whew, that was easy!
I hand him the mead, and sure enough, he has no idea it's just from the house across the road. In fact, he doesn't even bother wondering how I came back so fast. He just hands me some healing potions as a reward and gives me that real work he was talking about:
He wants me to go kill some bandits he had a deal with.
Wow. He's being quite open about his illegal dealings, that's for sure. Well, it's not like I really care. Bandit-hunting I go! The camp even seems to be quite nearby. As I'm leaving, he specifically remings me to ”spare no one”. Well, it's not like I was planning to...

My hike up the western hills goes quite peacefully, for a few minutes that is. Suddenly, I feel the all too familiar breeze of frost magic on my heels, and sure enough, there's a necromancer chasing me for no reason. Not wanting to fight (pretty much out of principle), I just keep running, but he keeps chasing me. Even better, I run straight into a grove of spriggans. After passing right through without paying them any mind, I realize the necromancer is nowhere to be seen. He must have been caught fighting the spriggans. Serves him right...
I come across a ruined tower, probably inhabited by bandits, but not the ones I'm looking for. I consider just bypassing it, but my ponderings are interrupted by a roaring bandit with an axe. Well, guess I'm fighting then. To be honest, mundane fighters are a really relaxing change after so many evil mages and supernatural spirits. Sure, there are a few casters, but they're quite weak and easily defeated. I never thought I'd say this, but... It's nice when your enemies use flame spells on you. At least those don't freeze and slow you down. Skyrim is cold enough as it is.
I climb the tower, looting everything in sight, only to find myself on a small watchpost as a hulking orc charges up the stairs. The downside is that I have nowhere to go; I might be able to jump off, but that would hurt quite a bit and I would be vulnerable to any other attackers until I manage to heal. The upside is that he's fighting an upstairs battle. He's hardly a challenge. Two-handed strikes are really hard to perform upwards, I guess.
After emptying the tower of gems and books I decide to continue west, towards Knife Point Ridge, where my actual target is supposed to be. It's not much further away, so I get there without any issues, though one bandit does manage to sneak up on me. All he does, however, is hand me an enchanted bow and tell me to keep it safe for a while. I try to object and ask what in Oblivion he's talking about, but the man runs away. Huh. These guys are weird.
As I'm trying to climb a winding path towards the bandit camp an arrow swishes right by my head. I turn around to see a bandit on top of a wooden watchtower, taking potshots at me. He doesn't even seem to have alerted anyone else. I guess he considers me a random traveler they don't need to worry about. Time to prove him wrong.
As I run up the slope, two things happen. Firstly, more bandits charge towards me. Secondly, the idiot in the tower activates a trap. Tons of rocks form a small avalance, crushing two of his friends to death without getting even close to hitting me. Geez, seriously?
I clean up the rest of the bandits in sight, spend a while just mixing potions at an alchemy table and look around. The camp itself seems quite empty, but there's a wooden door to some sort of mineshaft. Guess I'll have to check that, too.
As soon as I open the door, a bandit armed with an enchanted mace attacks me. I'm not quite sure what the enchantment is good for, though. He takes a little longer to kill than the others, but is nonetheless quite pathetic. Guess I'm done here, then. I loot the room and decide to head back.
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/yllglsb8b/2014_01_06_00026.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yllglsb8b/)
The colorful lights in the sky are dazzlingly beautiful, but that doesn't make me feel any less tired.

http://s25.postimg.org/r9g0g8t0b/2014_01_06_00029.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/r9g0g8t0b/)
I see a little cabin off the road, but unfortunately the hunters living there don't have a free sleeping spot.

http://s25.postimg.org/mig4y8063/2014_01_11_00001.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mig4y8063/)
I investigate and find a wounded man sitting outside a cave.

http://s25.postimg.org/lwr62453v/2014_01_11_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/lwr62453v/)
I see a vaguely humanoid character with a green glow about it standing at the other end of the room.

http://s25.postimg.org/rjnizl7mj/2014_01_11_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/rjnizl7mj/)
I get an opportunity to block its blows with my shield and scorch the damn thing with a fire spell.

http://s25.postimg.org/ji3vvfe8r/2014_01_11_00004.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ji3vvfe8r/)
The burning fur smells horrible, though.

http://s25.postimg.org/cg5y98amz/2014_01_11_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/cg5y98amz/)
The main room of the cave is more like a grotto, quite similar to the one I already visited today.

http://s25.postimg.org/tab5etejf/2014_01_11_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tab5etejf/)
I am suddenly charged by a skeleton warrior out of nowhere.

http://s25.postimg.org/vdlkmhecb/2014_01_11_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/vdlkmhecb/)
I expect an old man, but instead there's a quite young lad with an infuriatingly condescending tone of voice

http://s25.postimg.org/wdbvi6ti3/2014_01_11_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/wdbvi6ti3/)

http://s25.postimg.org/5tjag1syj/2014_01_11_00012.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5tjag1syj/)
I just keep running, but he keeps chasing me.

http://s25.postimg.org/z65327tuj/2014_01_11_00014.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/z65327tuj/)
I come across a ruined tower, probably inhabited by bandits, but not the ones I'm looking for.

http://s25.postimg.org/j1io8zqhn/2014_01_11_00016.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/j1io8zqhn/)
Tons of rocks form a small avalance, crushing two of his friends to death without getting even close to hitting me.

http://s25.postimg.org/tqwd192aj/2014_01_11_00017.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/tqwd192aj/)
The camp itself seems quite empty, but there's a wooden door to some sort of mineshaft.

http://s25.postimg.org/mmejs7v17/2014_01_11_00019.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mmejs7v17/)
As soon as I open the door, a bandit armed with an enchanted mace attacks me.
OOC Info
Now that the holidays are over, I think I'll settle for something like a weekly basis for these updates. Any less, and I'll just forget the whole thing... More and it'll become a chore.

For a second here, I thought I'd have to actually go to Riften for the darn mead, but checking the nearby houses paid off. :smalltongue:
Mod Listing
Expanded Enchantments adds those colored swirly things around enchanted weapons. It's a little disruptive in first person, though, since they have a tendency to hide part of the screen.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Mind you, makes enchanted weapons so much more interesting than the normal enchanted weapons, which are quite frankly boring looking.

[SilverLeaf167]

Mind you, makes enchanted weapons so much more interesting than the normal enchanted weapons, which are quite frankly boring looking.
Yes, I agree with you, and that's precisely the reason I downloaded the mod in the first place. However, there's a reason I don't have any first-person screenshots with my frost axe out... :smalltongue:
From what I've seen, Shock and maybe Drain weapons are probably the coolest-looking (and the least obstructive as well).

[SilverLeaf167]

Chapter #10: What the Helgen happened here?
It's getting quite late, and as I step outside, I notice it's actually raining as well. On the way back to Falkreath, however, I spot some small fires burning in the distance. Turns out it's another robbed carriage. The ground around the area is scorched and the bodies are burnt clean. I don't find any sign of what could have done this... maybe it was those necromancers. They probably would've reanimated the corpses, though.
Within just a few minutes, I have to stop yet again. It's the spriggan grove I ran through earlier. I shoot an arrow at a tree on the other side of the grove, and the spirits are momentarily distracted, but as I'm trying to pass through they notice me and attack. I back up into the woods, spewing flames all the while. I can barely see where I'm going or what I'm burning, but it works out. I don't even light the forest on fire, for some reason. Magical fire is weird like that. The grove seems to be quite empty; the only thing I find is a dead robed man (perhaps the necromancer from before?) with a book about alchemy lying right next to him. That's quite weird. I take what little loot I find in his pockets and the book, after checking that it's still legible of course.
The rest of the hike goes peacefully. I decide not to bother the jarl before morning and instead decide to head to my still-rented room at the inn. I drink, eat and read a bit before going to sleep. In the morning, I have breakfast, fiddle with the alchemy supplies for a while and finally head to the longhouse. The jarl seems an awful lot nicer than he did yesterday. When I tell him of my success, he hands me a fat bag of gold and grants me the right to purchase property in the hold. Wait, what? That's a privilege around here?
Since I've spent some time helping other townsfolk and he's heard of my deeds, he also declares me the Thane of Falkreath. That's some sort of honorary title, I guess. Along with the title comes an enchanted sword (nifty but not too good), a personal housecarl and some special treatment by the guards. Huh. Seems nice. It's not like I did much for it, anyway.

As I'm leaving the building, my housecarl stops me at the door. She is a painted Redguard named Rayya, armed with two fearsome curved swords. I greet her politely and ask what exactly a housecarl does. Apparently, they basically act as bodyguards to thanes. Okay then, what's a thane? A honorary title granted to a recognized hero of the hold. Well, that was simple. I tell her to follow and head upstairs.
I ask the Jarl's steward about that available property he mentioned. Apparently, it's not an available house, per se; just a plot of land where I could build my own. The land costs 5000 septims, though. 5000! That's a little too much for now. I'm not even quite sure whether I want a house. I leave the building with Rayya in tow.
Out of the blue, we are attacked by a vampire and two demonic hounds! We dispatch them quite quickly; I recall hearing that vampires are weak to fire, and that seems to be true. No-one else seems to remark on the incident. I'm a little worried, though. The vampire seemed to come straight for me, not even trying to kill anyone else. Not to mention the fact that one of the guards mentioned you can get infected with vampirism from a mere scratch. I don't feel weird... yet. I'll have to keep an eye out for anything unusual.
While selling my loot, I think about what to do next. I feel like looking around Skyrim some more, and there doesn't seem to be much more to do here in Falkreath... I'll definitely come back if I feel like settling down, though. This is definitely the nicest hold I've visited so far. Right now, however, I have to pick a direction. Maybe I could head to Markarth, in the Reach? I haven't been in that area before. I'll have to keep that in mind. I'll be going to Whiterun first, though. It's much closer.
There doesn't seem to be a single carriage in town, so we'll need to walk. I decide to take the eastern path; I've already seen the western one while walking home the other night, and besides, this one goes through two villages. We'll want someplace to sleep, after all.

Rayya doesn't seem to be very talkative. She's always walking a few yards behind me, not saying a word. It feels a little odd, but I guess it's nice to have someone watching my back. She gets her first test when we come across a bandit outpost. They've set up a wooden bridge and some very obvious rockslide traps across the road. They don't seem to have noticed us, though. However, just as I duck down to aim my bow, Rayya runs forth and yells at the bandits. I'm just about to tell her to shut up when I realize the bandits haven't noticed me and are focusing their fire on her instead. She takes cover behind a tree and allows me to freely shoot the bandits. Geez, that was actually quite clever of her. When I climb the hill to get onto the scaffolding and loot their bodies, she takes the longest possible way around for some reason. For a second, I'm worried she'd gotten attacked, but then she shows up all safe and sound.
We continue walking. We've traveled around one third of the way to Helgen, the closest village. We pass by a lone cabin, but decide not to bother whoever lives there. The high walls of Helgen are already looming in the distance. As we approach the village, however, I feel that there is something off about it. It's far too quiet and the walls seem to have partially collapsed. Just as we're about to reach the gates, I hear a distant roar echoing from the mountains. It sounds eerily similar to the one I heard when my ship was wrecked. I'm getting quite nervous, but still decide to check out what's happened.
It doesn't look good. The whole town has been burnt to the ground, except some stone towers and a couple houses as well. Those've only been burnt halfway to the ground. Maybe it really was a dragon. I can't see a single live person... In fact, I can't see any corpses either, which is almost as disturbing. I decide to check the main fort before leaving. Perhaps someone is huddled within.
All I find within are some potions and a dead rebel. Oddly enough, the rebel has a crossbow and some bolts on him. I've never seen a crossbow in Skyrim before! I take it with me, naturally. However, with so little ammunition, I really can't be bothered to actually use it.
As I try to proceed deeper underground, the hallway collapses in front of me. There's no way to get through, so I just decide to leave. There's nothing I can do here, even if someone happened to be trapped.
Screenshots
http://s25.postimg.org/vt2tfd4gr/2014_01_21_00002.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/vt2tfd4gr/)

http://s25.postimg.org/4tyyk7hzv/2014_01_21_00003.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/4tyyk7hzv/)

http://s25.postimg.org/hgdyus9uj/2014_01_21_00005.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/hgdyus9uj/)

http://s25.postimg.org/5yt0pl4gr/2014_01_21_00006.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/5yt0pl4gr/)

http://s25.postimg.org/qk7shhm1n/2014_01_21_00007.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qk7shhm1n/)

http://s25.postimg.org/srgmj5gpn/2014_01_21_00008.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/srgmj5gpn/)

http://s25.postimg.org/xc2sy30ez/2014_01_21_00009.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/xc2sy30ez/)

http://s25.postimg.org/q17alyk0r/2014_01_21_00010.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/q17alyk0r/)

http://s25.postimg.org/x5p3uzra3/2014_01_21_00011.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/x5p3uzra3/)

http://s25.postimg.org/fd3jn4a1n/2014_01_21_00013.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/fd3jn4a1n/)
OOC Comments
Sorry for the delay; sick, school, sick of school, you know the drill.

Random question: do you mind if I don't label the screenshots? That's a surprisingly annoying and tiring thing to do :smallsmile:

Awesome behind-the-scenes info: if the name of a chapter makes me wince in pain, it is officially badgood enough.
Mod Listing
Barely visible in one of the screenshots is Horse Armors. As the name implies, it adds (purely cosmetic) armor onto horses, the exact sort depending on where the horse was bought. IIRC that specific armor is from Whiterun, though it also seems to be the standard one given to NPC-owned horses.

Now might be a good time to mention that I'm using good ol' Amazing Follower Tweaks. It doesn't change much in terms of balance or content, but it allows you to have multiple followers, look through their stats, decide how they'll fight and other stuff like that.

[Landis963]

Wait, what? I thought going to Helgen would trigger the opening cutscene?

[SilverLeaf167]

Wait, what? I thought going to Helgen would trigger the opening cutscene?
Oh, not really. It just skips to "Oh look, the town is in ruins! You better go tell Balgruuf!"
One thing that surprised me was that the mod had actually added another cave-in inside the fort that blocks you from progressing beyond the kitchen area. I thought I could just walk right through it, caves and all. :smalltongue: Not like it mattered much.
As you might know, Helgen is normally home to a whole bunch of bandits if you visit it later, so I was expecting to fight my way through. The emptiness was almost creepy.

[Triaxx]

I use Random Alternate Start instead, which has you ride up to the town, then Alduin flys overhead, and leaves the scene of the crime. Instead of that rock slide, it removes the lever to drop the bridge further in. Of course a disable command solves that problem easily enough.

[SilverLeaf167]

I use Random Alternate Start instead, which has you ride up to the town, then Alduin flys overhead, and leaves the scene of the crime. Instead of that rock slide, it removes the lever to drop the bridge further in. Of course a disable command solves that problem easily enough.
Well, Alduin probably did fly away... in the other direction. I entered the city from the side opposite to the usual one with the cave exit, facing Riverrunwood.

I'm not sure why it's really necessary to lock the cave area in the first place, though. Is it very heavily scripted or something?

[Triaxx]

Not that I know of. I think the RAS guy just forgot something.

[SilverLeaf167]

Health bars are red
Magic is blue
Silver is late
What else is new?

Okay, I'll be honest here.

As you can see, I haven't updated for a while. I assure you, I've tried. If I'm still allowed to make excuses, I'd say I have "gamer's block", together with the typical writer's block. I've hardly felt like playing anything lately, instead lazily surfing on the web. When I do manage to drag myself to play something, it is only for a little while until I tire of it again, doubly so when I'm going to have to write about it and have no idea where to take the story.

I'm not sure what's causing this, but I think it's at least partially caused by having too many games from Steam sales and Humble Bundles. I just get these periods every now and then until I finally get interested in something again.

I decided to at least man up and post this here instead of just quietly slinking away like last time. If I ever regain my interest in Skyrim, I'll definitely try and continue this, so feel free to stay subscribed. It's not like that costs you anything.

[Triaxx]

I advise playing something completely different from Skyrim, to cleanse the palette. Tactics or strategy is a good option.