Chapter 5
Chapter 5
I set out across the bridge leading out of Riverwood and start to follow the road as I travel I send unseen servant out into the wilderness to collect ingredients for me since alchemy is the best way to earn gold early on, I kill a couple wolves and loot their pelts barely stopping as I follow the path down the waterfall I pass by a group of imperials escorting a stormcloak prisoner but I just pass by them without incident eventually I reach the bottom and I see Whiterun in the distance I could follow the path to my left past Honningbrew meadery but instead I cross the bridge to my right killing and looting another wolf on the way to white river watch.
As I continue along past the bridge I come to a place where the path diverges into a dirt road that winds up the mountain side as I travel up it I start to sneak as I approach the small bandit camp there's two bandits one of them is an archer standing guard right outside the cave and the other on is of to the side kneeling at a tanning rack so I summon and send some wolves at him while I shoot a few lightning bolts at the archer before he has a chance to pull out his bow which fries him, the other bandit is trying to fend off the wolves but a (Firebolt) finishes him off, after a quick round of looting I make my way into the dimly lit cave and come across an old blind bandit.
"Eh? Who's there? Rodulf, that you?"
"Yeah."
"Boss was looking for you, said he'd be up at the summit. Better not keep him waiting."
After he says that he losses interest in me and goes back to staring at his blank book and I have to supress my childish urge to mess with the blind guy, instead I crouch down and start sneaking up the wooden stairs and through a small passage and see a bandit mage leaning against a wall arguing with some other bandit I can't see, I hit the mage with (fury) which he fails to resist and he runs off and I hear sounds of fighting, I wait until the sounds die down before I send in my spirit wolves to finish off whichever one is left, I move through the room quickly looting everything as sneak my way to the next room.
Once I make it there I see and overhear a couple bandits talking about a wolf that is locked in a cell that their boss captured and is trying to tame, fortunately for me the pull chain to release the rabid animal is right in front of me but I don't pull it just yet first I cast (fury) on the archer overlooking the two talking bandit then I release the wolf and retreat back to the previous as I hear sounds of chaos break out amongst the bandits, I wait a few minutes until I hear the sounds of combat die down once it does I hear footsteps coming towards me so I prepare a (lightning bolt) which I immediately fire at the screaming bandit which sends him flying back with smoke beginning to rise from his corpse, now that they know that I'm here I summon four spirit wolves and send them ahead of me.
I follow the wolves into the room just in time to see one of them get taken out by a arrow fired by the remaining archer from above so I quickly counter by shooting two (ice spikes), one stabs into her gut and the other one pierces her through the neck causing her to fall from her perch and slam into the ground with a loud thud, it's only then that I notice the bandit chief in full steel plate armor standing in front of me, I guess the archer must have warned him so I send my remaining wolves at him but he cleaves through two of them with one swing of his orcish greatsword, he tries to rush me but the last wolf bites into his ankle stopping him momentarily while I have the chance I quickly use (observe) on him.
Hajvarr Iron-Hand
Race: Human
HP: 600
STR: 35
DEX: 15
END: 30
INT: 5
WIS: 7
CHA: 10
LCK: 10
Affection: - 100
Thoughts about you: Hatred
"You killed my men, you're gonna die for that!" he says with a roar.
He kicks away the wolf at his heels and tries charging me again but I swiftly cast (flash of light) blinding him and I sweep his legs with a (power strike) as he passes me using his own momentum against him, I summon another wolf before I sprint up the winding path to where the archer was, my two wolves immediately pounce on Hajvarr while he is trying to get up I and down a mana potion before I pull out the necromancers staff and spend one of the charges to animate one of the dead bandits down below.
By this time Hajvarr has knocked my wolves off and managed to get to his feet and he cuts down one of the wolves only to get smashed in the face by the mace my reanimated bandit is carrying which seems to disorient him for a moment so I hit him with a (lightning bolt) and a (ice spike), Hajvarr shoves the zombie bandit away and kills the last wolf with a overhead swing before bull rushing the zombie and knocking it over and finishing it off with a downward thrust.
I spend the rest of my MP to summon three more spirit wolves before I employ the brave tactic of running away and letting your minions distract the boss, I head further up and out of the cave where the Hajvarr is meant to be in the game, a plan forming in my head, I quickly turn and climb the rockface that makes up the entrance to this place so that I'm directly above the cave opening and drink my last mana potion then I activate stealth and wait for my chance.
About a minute goes by before Hajvarr stumbles out of the cave still in a rage, his body is covered in wounds with blood poring from them and his armor is in rough shape, I can tell he's on his last legs so I jump down from my hiding place landing behind him which obviously alerts him but it's too late as I quickly grab him and start using (shocking grasp), Hajvarr tries desperately to break my hold which normally he would have no trouble doing considering the difference between our STR nut he's exhausted and he can't get enough leverage to shake me off, the smell of his flesh cooking is awful but I hold on and before long it's done.
Level Up!
After it's over I shove Hajvarr's corpse away from me which collapses in a smoldering heap onto the floor and I let out a sigh of relief, once I collect myself I look over my stats and allocate my points, I have just enough to bring my STR, DEX and END all to 20 which I do to round them out and because I don't want to neglect my physical stats too much, then I wait for my MP to recover and when it does I create some (unseen servants) and send them into the cave to collect everything of value in it while I start looting up here.
First off I go over to a nearby table and grab a coin purse as well as a health regen potion and a enhance stamina potion then I go over to the big chest and grab the coin purse sitting next to it and the I open it finding a spell scroll of summon storm atronach alongside some gold and a silver ingot, after I'm finished I go and loot Hajvarr getting his greatsword some more gold and the iron hand gauntlets.
(Iron Hand Gauntlets)
Increases all damage dealt by two handed
weapons by 20%
Now that I'm finished up here I exit the cave and start making my way back towards Whiterun, as I'm walking down the road I see a group of familiar looking warriors fighting a giant, they seem like they have it under control but if I help them it could give me an easy in with the Companions whenever I decide to do their questline, as I finish musing to myself I rush over there and start spamming attack spells while staying well outside the reach of its club.
The giant falls in no time at all as it was already heavily damaged when I got there, once it's dead a beautiful redheaded women with war paint on her face comes up to me, I use (observe) on her on reflex.
Aela, The Huntress
Race: Werewolf
HP: 1050
STR: 25
DEX: 50
END: 35
INT: 10
WIS: 8
CHA: 20
LCK: 15
Affection: 5
Thoughts about you: Slight Gratitude
"You handle yourself well, you could make for a decent shield brother."
"What is a shield brother?"
"An outsider eh, never heard of the companions we're an order of warriors and we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough."
"could I join the companions?"
"That's not for me to say, you'll have to talk to Kodlak Whitemaine up in Jorrvaskr, he has a good sense for people, he can look into your eyes and tell you're worth, if you go to him, good luck." Having said her piece she walks over to the rest of her group and they start heading back to Whiterun leaving the giant corpse for some poor farmers to clean up.
There is nothing else in my way to Whiterun but there is one last thing I want to do before I go into town so I head into the fields east of town and summon as many unseen servants as I can and have them spread out to grab as many blue butterfly wings and as many blue mountain flowers as they can find because I know that these two ingredients become a poison which damages mana regen which is quite valuable so if I can make a bunch of it I could solve any early money problems not to mention that I'll be able to power level alchemy in the meantime I decide to do some hunting to get some more pelts for smithing.
After a few hours go by I manage to get some pelts before I call my servants back and then I have a small pile of flowers and butterfly wings at my feet which I quickly put into my inventory, then I open my crafting menu and begin creating my poisons, after I'm done I have 25 poisons to sell, I also made some health and mana potions before I start to head towards Whiterun, once I make it to the main gate one of the gate guards stops me.
"Halt! City's closed with the dragons about, official business only."
"I was at Helgen and I have news about the dragon attack."
"Fine, but we'll be keeping an eye on you."
With that small exchange over the guards let me pass through the gate.
Once I'm inside the city the first thought that goes through my mind is, big, like seriously big in the game there were maybe twenty buildings in the whole city but I can see at least that many from where I'm standing, I think this is a welcomed change because this makes so much more sense considering that this is a hold capital, still some things are still like the game for instance the blacksmithing shop that I can't remember the name of is still right next to the gate and that battle born guy is arguing with Adrianne out front.
I also see the Drunken Huntsman inn and shop up some stairs to my left but neither of these places interest me at the moment so I head into town towards where I think Arcadia's cauldron should be, it takes a few minutes of looking around but I eventually find it and head inside where I'm immediately greeted by Arcadia, I go up the counter and after a lengthy exchange and some haggling I manage to sell off all my poisons for 2500 gold.
By the time I leave the shop the sun is starting to set so I decide to stop by the Bannered Mare to rest for the night, once I'm inside it doesn't take long for me to get a room to myself costing me ten gold, the room itself is pretty nice with a good sized bed and a table off to the side which I sit down at, I need to make some kind of plan for tomorrow because I know when I go to Dragonsreach in the morning I'm almost certainly going to be roped into fighting a dragon, a prospect that would normally have me running for the hills but if things stay consistent with the game I should have Irileth and a small army of guards backing me up, still I shouldn't get overconfident a dragon isn't something to be taken lightly after all, so with that in mind I activate (skill creation).
New Skill Created (Absorb Elements) Level 1/100
The user creates a magic barrier which can absorb elemental damage
The barrier can absorb INT elemental damage
New Skill Created (Summon Spectral Archer) Level 1/100
The user summons a spectral archer which must obey you
Power of the summoned creature is determined by INT
The wolf remains until it is destroyed or until INT minutes have passed
New Skill Created (Shock Rune) Level 1/100
The user places a magical Rune on a solid surface within range
when a creature who is not the caster comes into contact with it
the rune explodes with a burst of electricity
the creature that sets of the rune takes INT lightning damage
and anyone else caught in the blast takes INT/2 lightning damage
you can place the rune up to INT feet away from you
New Skill Created (Fireball) Level 1/100
The user summons shoots a ball of fire which explodes on impact
A target that takes a direct hit takes 20+INT/2 fire damage
Any targets caught in the explosion take 10+INT/4 fire damage
These skills should help me against the dragon, I don't intend to get hit by the dragon's breath but if I do (absorb elements) might save my life and my archer should be able to hit the dragon while it's flying and if it lands I can just put a (shock rune) below it, (fireball) probably won't be too effective against the dragon but I just really want to shoot one, I also think it's long overdue for me to make some more proficiencies as well.
New Proficiency Added (Pyromancy) Level 1/100
Measures the users ability to use fire magic
Your fire spells cost slightly less MP to cast
New Proficiency Added (Cryomancy) Level 1/100
Measures the users ability to use ice magic
Your ice spells cost slightly less MP to cast
New Proficiency Added (Electromancy) Level 1/100
Measures the users ability to use lightning magic
Your lightning spells cost slightly less MP to cast
Realistically I should have done this a while ago but, well . . . I don't really have a reason, I let out a sigh at all those wasted points these proficiencies could have been quite high if I had done this earlier but there's no point in worrying about it now I get up from the table and lie down on the bed and go to sleep.
In the morning I wake up and leave the tavern and begin to make my way to Dragonsreach, as I start walking up the long set of stairs I'm surprised that none of the guards that I pass try to stop me from just walking in, once I actually make it to the keep I push open one of the large wooden doors and step inside then I start walking through the great hall towards Jarl Balgruuf who is sitting on his throne, once I get close a dark elf women in leather armor stops me but before she says anything I use (observe)
Name: Irileth, Nightblade
Race: Dark Elf
HP: 750
MP: 400
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 35
Endurance: 28
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 17
Charisma: 8
Luck: 10
Affection: 0
Thoughts about you: Apprehension
"What's the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors."
"I've got news about the dragon attack at Helgen."
"Well, that explains why the guards let you in, come on then the jarl will want to speak with you personally." I follow after her as she turns and starts walking towards the jarl who is currently taking with his steward, once I approach he turns his attention to me.
"So you were at Helgen, you saw this dragon with your own eyes?"
"Yes, the dragon destroyed Helgen and I saw it heading this way."
"By Ysmir! Irileth was right." then he turns back to his steward "what do you say now Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls against a dragon."
Irileth after hearing her name decides to cut in, "My jarl we should send troops to Riverwood at once it's in the most immediate danger, if that dragon is really lurking in those mountains . . ."
Irileth goes to continue but get interrupted by Proventus. "The jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation, He'll think we're planning to join Ulfric's side and attack him, we should not ..."
"Enough!" Balgruuf roars "I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people, Irileth send a detachment to Riverwood at once."
Balgruuf turns back to me "Well done. You sought me out, on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it. Here, take this as a small token of my esteem."
I receive a pair of hide boots with a muffle enchantment on, I'll be disenchanting these later once I put them away the jarl continues speaking.
"There is another thing you could do for me. Suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps. Come, let's go find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and... rumors of dragons." he says before he gets up and leads me across the hall to where Farengar's lab is. "Farengar I think I've found someone to help you with your project so fill him in." The jarl then turns and heads back to the great hall.
Farengar then turns to me with a pompous smirk on his face "So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Yes, I could use someone to fetch something for me. Well, when I say fetch, I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there." Lucky for me that I already got the tablet.
"Oh did you mean this." I say with a smirk of my own as I pull out the tablet and lay it on a nearby table while I enjoy the wide eyed totally shocked expression on his face. before he can respond I get two quest notifications.
New quest Added: Bleak Falls Barrow
Description: The jarl's court wizard needs your help to further his dragon research
Objective: Recover the Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow and deliver it to Farengar
Rewards: One Random power
Quest Complete: Bleak Falls Barrow
Description: The jarl's court wizard needs your help to further his dragon research
Objective: Recover the Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow and deliver it to Farengar
Rewards: (Telepathy), You can now mentally communicate with creatures that you can see
A little late now isn't it game? Still being able to silently communicate with others is bound to be useful at some point.
"Ah! The Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow! You already found it! You are cut from a different cloth than the usual brutes the Jarl foists on me." he says as he sits down at the table and pulls out a notebook and begins to franticly flip through it while studying the tablet.
As I go to ask about a reward Irileth rushes into the room "Farengar you need to come at once the dragon has been sighted nearby" then she turns to me "you should come too." We follow her up a set of stairs where we see the jarl standing next to a guard, once he notice us he beckons us over and after some prompting by Irileth the guard informs us that the western watch tower is under attack by a dragon, then Irileth says that she will gather some guardsmen to deal with it.
The jarl then looks over at me and steps forward. "There's no time to stand on ceremony, my friend. I need your help again. I want you to go with Irileth and help her fight this dragon. You survived Helgen, so you have more experience with dragons than anyone else here. But I haven't forgotten the service you did for me in retrieving the Dragonstone for Farengar. As a token of my esteem, I instructed Avenicci that you are now permitted to purchase property in the city. And please accept this gift from my personal armory."
Steel shield of shock absorption Added
I agree to go with them and I get a new quest notification.
New quest Added: Dragon Rising
Description: A dragon is terrorizing Whiterun hold, show it why the dragonborne is called the ultimate dragon slayer
Objective: Defeat the dragon attacking the western watch tower
Rewards: ???
Irileth says it will take her a few hours to gather the men and that I should meet her at the main gate and make any last preparations I need before then.
I spend my last bit of time disenchanting the shield and brewing some fire resistance potions to pass around to the guards since I want my meat shields to last long enough, once that's done I leave Dragonsreach and begin making my way towards the gate. Everything up until this point has been relatively easy so this will be my first real test as a gamer.