The Quetsion - Level Up or Not?

After reaching Whiterun and spending a day cooking, smithing and making potions I am faced with a dilemma. Should I level up or not?

Before I really started to think about the issue I did level up and as I wanted to stay in character I used my perks on Archery (justified as a hunting skill), Alchemy (justified as a trade), Smithing ( justified as a trade) and then One Handed (justified as a self defense skill).

I think I stayed true to character with these perk options as other NPC's in game have different levels, albeit pre-programmed. Not all NPC's are level 1 and as long as I add perks that fit with my role-playing in-game I think it should be okay.

What do you guys think Level Up or Not?

Vitor

Exploring Whiterun

  

I wake up feeling refreshed and eager to explore this new city and its surrounding area. 

Breakfast is small but nourishing and while I eat Hulda tells me about some available work if I am interested, chopping wood, seems like they get through a lot every night lighting the fires for warmth and cooking. Good, at least I can earn some coin this way if nothing else comes along. 

After some more conversation the topic of food preparation comes up and Hulda offers to give me some basic cooking lessons.

I accept. 

After trying my hand at making a few basic meals, have to watch the salt, I decide it’s time to explore outside and maybe earn some money.

Outside the inn is the market area I passed yesterday.

Passing through it I locate the chopping block nearby and spend a few hours at my task. 

I return the wood to Hulda and she pays me, around mid-morning I head out of the city to explore the farms I saw the previous day.

As I guessed all the farmers seem to have the same problem as Gilfre, no workers. They have all left to join the war. 

I agree to help the farmers out for some gold coin and additional supplies.

Harvesting wheat, gourds and leeks for Alfhild.

The next farm I come to, the same situation, this time I collect potatoes and cabbages for Severio Pelagia.

I also take the time to use a nearby tanning rack to make some leather from the pelts I have in my pack.

Around mid-day I rest up in some shade and enjoy a small meal and some ale. Admiring the view I imagine that I could get used to living here. 

Another thought still going around in my head though is that no one seems to recognize me.

I head back to the city and continue my exploration. I start with the first building I come to as I enter Whiterun, the blacksmith.

After a friendly greeting I ask about the war and the problems with supplies, Adrienne basically repeats what I overheard her say yesterday. 

I ask if she needs any help around the forge. 

‘Have I ever used a forge before’ she asks sceptically.

‘Never’! I reply. 

Adrienne sizes me up and deciding to be helpful offers to show me the basics. I accept gratefully, can’t ever have too many skills.

I learn how to forge a simple iron dagger and then temper it. Amazing!

I can see Adrienne is less enthusiastic about my skill but she is too kind to say so. 

I purchase some iron ingots from her and have a few more tries, each dagger an improvement on the previous one. 

Watching me carefully Adrienne offers encouragement and tells me with time and effort I could be a good smith, I flash her my best smile, not believing a word of it.

Probably feeling sorry for me Adrienne agrees to pay me for the daggers I just made. Maybe my smile worked after all.

As I take my leave, Adrienne asks if I am going up to the Castle on the Hill. 

‘Why?’ I reply. 

She needs a favour, will I take a sword she made for the Jarl and deliver it to her father, the Steward?

I agree happily, after all she has taught me so much already.

I make my way to the castle and locate the Steward Proventus Avenicci.

I introduce myself and give him the sword from Adrienne. He thanks me politely and gives me a small reward. 

‘Take a drink of wine before you leave’ he says briskly. 

I accept and remark upon how friendly the people in Whiterun are. 

Proventus gives me a polite smile but clearly he is a busy man, thanking him for the wine I take my leave.

Its mid-afternoon and I pass the Hall of the Legendary Companions; everybody seems to be talking about their deeds. 

I don’t think I need to be going in there, I am no hero.

Further along I enter the market area. 

I come across Anoriath, the drunken brother who put an arrow in the nether regions of Elrindir. He is selling the game from his hunting forays. I don’t stand too close as he cuts up the deer’s carcass on his stall table, I am afraid he might just slip and put that knife in my nether regions!

I hurriedly move on.

I check out the General Store owned by Belethor.

I sell him the two books I don’t want and pass the time of day.

Next I enter the Alchemist Shop.

Arcadia, the owner, seems to think I am deathly pale and wants to sell me some concoction or other as a cure.

I politely decline and inform her that we Nords are pale by nature. Arcadia does not seem convinced.

She goes on to tell me about her wares and how easy it is to mix up potions if you know the recipes. 

Intrigued I encourage her to tell me more, Arcadia, warming up to my charm, does even better and offers to show me some of the basics.

I make a restore health potion and I see the same look in her eye that I saw in Adrienne the smith’s eye. Undeterred I mix up a few more potions and to my surprise Arcadia offers me a few gold coins for them. 

I purchase some more ingredients from her and have another go. This time I keep the potions.

 Its closing time and I head back to the inn.

This has been a wonderful day!

I order some food and mead as usual from Hulda and taking a seat with the other patrons I listen to Mikael, the bard, sing. 

I can’t help but notice that the bard is leering at a woman sitting nearby; she is clearly uncomfortable with the situation. 

This is not right; I go over to the woman and ask her if everything is okay.

 

Carlotta, battling to keep her anger in check, tells me that as a single mother men tend to force their attentions on her and the worst one of all is Mikael the bard.

I am not a hero but I can’t stand by idly and allow this to go on, so I offer to speak to the bard on her behalf.

I walk over to Mikael, doing my best to look fearsome, I firmly advise him to lay off Carlotta and treat women with more respect.

Mikael just laughs at me, standing up he confronts me.

‘Are you going to stop me?’  He sneers? 

‘If I have to, I will’. I growl back.

Seeing an opportunity Mikael takes a clumsy swipe at me, I manage to avoid the punch and a brawl ensues. 

‘Fight’ the patrons shout! Gathering around us to watch.  

After we trade blows I land one square on his jaw and he goes down in a heap. 

‘Enough’ Mikael begs! 

 ‘Leave Carlotta alone and this will be the end of it’ I command.

Mikael gives his oath, it will have to do. 

Carlotta runs over and hugs me, ‘Thank you’, ’Thank you’ she says over and over. 

‘No problem’ I reply, ‘what is right is right’.

Carlotta hands over a tidy sum of gold and begs me to take it; I accept reluctantly brushing a trickle of blood away from the corner of my mouth. 

Wow! What a day.

Content I head for my room and bed, before falling asleep, I realize something about myself, I am one of the good guys. 

It’s Middas, 11:18 pm, 20^th of Last Seed.

Whiterun at Last

I can’t afford to let my guard down now that I am so close, I keep my eyes peeled for any potential problems. 

I walk past a beautiful mountain, must be the biggest one I’ve seen in Skyrim.

 At last almost safe.

Another hour or so of walking brings me to the outskirts of the city and with relief I see a city guard and ask him where I am, he replies Whiterun, and then he adds "stay out of trouble".

I grin because that’s all I want to do.

I walk past the outlying farms and notice that there are few workers in the fields, must be the same problem Gilfre has, the war. Damn! I forgot to ask the guard about the war.

Further ahead I come to the stables and hear that they sell horses, good to know.

I also see a carriage that travels between the main cities, again good to know.

  I follow the road into the city proper and enter the gates, safe again.

Closing the city gates behind me I come across the smith and a soldier discussing the very war I want to know more about. I stop nearby and listen. 

It seems the whole country is at war and all its resources are being funnelled into the war machine. I can’t believe that bandits still have the courage to prey on innocents along the roadside with so many soldiers moving around.

I move on and see a welcome sign.

 I head inside hoping to rent a room and make some inquiries.

Turns out it’s a tavern and the keeper has an interesting tale about how he got the name for it. 

Downing a bottle of mead I listen to his tale, his drunken brother shot an arrow into his nether regions on some hunt and that’s how he got the name, The Drunken Huntsman!

If I had to choose, I would rather have my nether regions intact than have a tavern but that’s just me. The Daedra gods are cruel for sure.

I ask about a bed and he refers me to the ‘Bannered Mare’. I take my leave.

Following his directions I pass the market square, the stall owners are shutting up shop. Nearby is a  general store and a herbalist.

I will explore more on the morrow but now I need a bed.

I enter the inn and am greeted by a bard’s song and the pleasant sounds of the patrons merriment. 

I lean against the nearest pillar and just listen, feeling the tension leave my bones. The bard finishes and the patrons clap their hands wanting more.

 I move to the bar and ask about a room.

I rent one for 10 gold pieces, pretty expensive, guess that’s city prices for you. I grab a mug of ale and move back to the crowd, staying around the outskirts, listening to what is being said and making polite conversation where needed. 

A woman with ambition, Ysolda I think her name was.

A member of one of two feuding families, the Battle-Born's.

A beggar that at least is direct with me, a gold coin he wants, I oblige feeling very generous tonight.

Nobody seems to recognise me though, why did my instincts tell me to come here I wonder?

Exhaustion takes hold of me and I head for bed. Tomorrow is another day, I made it to Whiterun.

 Its Tirdas, 11:15 pm, 19^th day of Last Seed.

The South Road

I open my eyes as the first rays of light peep through the cracks in the cabin walls. 

I bathe and eat a good meal; I will probably need all the energy I can get. 

Packing up my meager belongings and arming myself I head out the door to take my leave of Gilfre and the Mill.

Gilfre bids me well and tells me I am welcome to return anytime. I accept her offer, provided of course I am still alive then. I say my goodbyes and head up the south road. 

It had to be the south road; my instinct tells me Whiterun is where I need to be.

I follow the plan and walk up the road, my friendly revelers now gone, past the bridge then along the river bank.

As I continue on I am forced into the water by the steep rocky bank, the current is strong here but I swim ahead regardless. 

Then my heart starts to sink, a waterfall and no way over or around!

I am forced back towards the bridge by the current. Things have gotten off to a bad start. 

A thought flashes through my head, something about ‘a battle plan not surviving the first contact with the enemy’. Was I a soldier? Maybe my father taught me that? That will have to wait for later, right now I need to get past that fortification without being seen.

I return to the bridge and sneak up the road hugging the growth alongside trying to stay out of sight. 

My heart is pounding in my ears but I need to stay calm and take my time, I can do this, there is enough cover to get past. It seems like ages but eventually I am past the tower.

Letting out a huge sigh of relief I take cover amongst some bushes and survey the road ahead, it looks clear but I am not taking any chances. I continue on, staying hidden as much as possible and around midday I come to a crossroads. 

My mouth goes dry, are there any bandits waiting for me here? I draw my sword and move closer. 

Nothing happens, the silence is intense! My palms sweating so much I almost drop my sword. I wait coiled like a snake ready to strike, but still nothing! 

I start to relax and read the road signs.

I am on track so to speak.

I seek out some shaded cover and sit down for a small meal and rest, it may still be a long way still to go, there is no distance markings on these signs.

Rested I head off again still keeping to the road edge as much as possible. 

I come to an area that leads down to the river again and it looks like it has seen some use. Should I follow it? It might lead to a shelter I could use if I needed to spend the night out in the wilds. I follow the track and just ahead I see a pool in the river with what seems like a shelter of some kind.

I slowly inch forward, staying to the left bank of the pool and work my way closer. I don’t see any movement or anything else. I move closer, I see a skeleton of some large animal lying next to a fallen tree, but what’s next to it? Alarm bells start ringing in my ears; I should just run from this place now! 

I don’t, instead I foolishly go closer until I can see exactly what it is.

A woman savaged by what or whom I don’t know. A troll skull lying next to her sends a cold shudder through me, I am not strong enough to deal with whatever did this. 

I need to get out of here now! 

I want to leave but I can’t just leave this poor womans body as it is. Having no other choice I quickly search her body for anything that might tell me who she is and where she came from. At least I could let her kin know what happened to her; sadly I find nothing. 

I hurriedly take my leave from this place.

I get back to the relative safety of the road and continue on, berating myself for my stupidity, I could have been that’s things next victim!

After a few hours I come across another cross roads, my stress levels rise again, maybe this is the one the bandits are waiting in ambush at for some poor sap like me to come along and blunder into. 

I draw my sword and get ready for the attack….nothing, I wait….still nothing. My nerves are shot; I can’t keep this up much longer. 

I am indeed a plaything of those cruel Daedra gods I read about last night.

I read the road signs and at least I am still heading towards Whitrun.

I take another rest and slake my thirst on some mead; I feel the alcohol course through my veins and feel much better. There is still enough daylight left to keep moving so I rise and do just that.

Not long after the cross roads I come to a bend in the road and just past the bend stands an ancient Nord Tower, not good! 

I creep closer, taking cover behind a log and survey the area.

I can’t see much so I creep closer doing my best to stay hidden, my senses on edge straining for some sound or some sight of movement. 

This could really be the end of me if I make one tiny mistake; on one side of the road is a steep slope I can’t climb and the other side a huge drop off to the river, no choice but to go forwards. I inch closer catching sight of a sentry guarding the entrance, thankfully they don’t see me. I back up a bit till I am out of sight.

Having no other choice but to pass in front of the tower I take some time to study it. I notice a bridge spanning the river connecting this tower to another one, things just got twice as bad! On the bridge I see a guard patrolling up and down. I don’t see anybody else but these towers could be crammed full of bandits!

I mull over ideas about how I am going to do this. 

Should I wait for nightfall and try and sneak past in the dark, it would be harder for them to spot me but it would also be harder for me to spot them! I might just sneak right into one of them standing in the road. I decide I can’t risk the night. 

It has to be daylight then, but I can’t sneak past the guard at the entrance as she is right on the road. I wrack my brain for ideas, coming up short I decide to literally make a run for it and hope that the gods favour me now.

Securing all my equipment I sneak up as close as possible, the guard spots me! 

I jump up and run as fast as my legs can carry me past the tower. As I pass the guard I see a look of confusion on her face, she expected me to run at her and attack! She is caught on the back foot as I rush past. Putting some distance between us I risk another glance, the guard is rooted to the spot not knowing what is going on, are there more attackers? Is this a diversion? I don’t care what she is thinking I keep on going until my lungs are bursting and I am well past the tower.

I collapse in a heap, gulping air down into my lungs, desperately watching for some pursuit but none comes, my gamble paid off. 

I made it!

Catching my breath I move on putting as much distance between me and those towers as possible. 

Not long afterwards I see in the distance my goal, well what I at least think is my goal seeing as I can’t remember any of this place.