Whiterun and Carriage ride to Solitude

I once again start the day early at the chopping block, food and ale costs money and my coin pouch always seems too light. My thoughts are quickly interrupted by a beautiful sunrise which I take the time to enjoy.

I return to the Bannered Mare and collect my payment while enjoying a breakfast of cold cuts from last night’s roast. 

While I am savouring the smoky taste of the meats I ponder my next move. The journey to Riverwood wasn’t of any real value as I am no closer to finding out anything about my past.

Perhaps I need to try a different big town, maybe Solitude but before I do that though, I want to explore the parts of Whiterun I missed on my first visit.

I leave the Inn and head up to Dragonsreach, when delivering the sword to the Steward on my previous visit I noticed the Court Mage tinkering away in his laboratory, I wanted to speak to him but wasn’t able to at that time, so I will start with him.

On entering his laboratory the Mage is hunched over his table studying some, no doubt secret, scrolls. 

I greet him in a softly not wanting to anger him and get turned into a chicken or something even worse for my troubles. 

The Mage looks up ‘Do you know about the Mages Guild’

‘I confess am ignorant of all things arcane’ I mumble politely.

Farengar’s gaze is piercing and I feel as though he is looking into my very soul.

‘Are you interested in learning some rudimentary enchantment techniques?’ he almost whispers.

I think about my response for a moment and decide it should be safe enough.

‘Sure’ I stammer, not knowing what will happen next.

Moving to the Arcane Enchanter he calls me over and explains the basic technique of first disenchanting something to learn its particular enchantment then re-enchanting a new item using a soul gem.

‘Thank you so much’ I blurt out, not having the faintest idea what he was talking about.

‘In exchange for my little lesson, I wish you to deliver something to Arcadia for me as I don’t have time right now’ Farengar utters.

‘With pleasure’ I respond feeling a bit like a courier service. 

Farengar gives me the Frost Salts for Arcadia and hunches back over his scrolls oblivious to my presence. Leaving the laboratory I end my tour of the Jarls Seat of Power.

I make my way to Arcadia’s to deliver the salts. On the way I pass by a religious nut, pronouncing doom on the world, standing in front of a statue of Talos. I cant take his ravings more than a few minutes and move on.

  

Continuing past the preacher I see the Temple of Kynareth and enter.

Danica Pure-Spring greets me warmly and enquires about my health, thanking her; I reply that my health is just fine.

If I don’t want to be cured then perhaps a donation of some kind she proffers. Damn these priests are good! 

I drop a few coins into the collection box and ask about the history of the Temple. 

Danica talks about the how the Gildergreen Tree standing just outside is ailing and needs restoring of some kind and how she wishes for someone to undertake the arduous task on her behalf. Damn these priests are good! 

I inform her that I am not the one she is looking for but perhaps another donation will aid her in her search. I don’t wait for a reply before heading out the door.

I walk down the steps and across the market and enter Arcadia’s Alchemy shop.

Arcadia is so ecstatic with the delivery that she offers to give me some more training in the arts of alchemy, I gladly accept, at least this makes sense to me.

Walking past the Drunken Huntsmen Tavern I turn right and come to the Hall of the Dead. 

 

Do I need to go in there I ask myself. Perhaps the priest will recognise me or remember some family member entombed within. The decision made I enter. 

The first area consists of a chapel and in it, prominently displayed, is the Shrine of Arkay. Adjacent to this is a living quarters presumably the priests.

In these living quarters I find the priest, Andurs, looking bewildered. 

‘Are you well? Priest’ I ask.

‘I’ve misplaced my Amulet; it’s the most valuable item I own’ Andurs replies.

‘Do you remember where you saw it last?’ Thinking the answer might not be what I want to hear.

‘In the catacombs’ Andurs says sheepishly.

‘So what’s stopping you from going to retrieve it’ I reply, my voice betraying a bit of nervousness. I definitely don’t like where this is going.

‘I am an old man and recently my mind has been playing tricks with me, sometimes I hear noises and they frighten me. Can you go into the catacombs and retrieve my Amulet for me?’ Andurs pleads.

‘If I have no other choice’ I sigh.

Not showing the Priest my fear I enter the catacombs.

No sooner do I look around the chamber when I am beset by a skeleton brandishing a sword. 

I dodge the first blow and draw my weapon, now we can dance together, my strikes are too much for this animated set of bones and I quickly send it back to where it came from. Experience tells me there are probably more where this one came from and I proceed with caution. I encounter two further skeletons which I dispatch without too much fuss. I have come a long way since my first terrifying encounter with that wolf on the South Road at Mixwater Mill.

I search the catacombs and sure enough I find the missing Amulet and return to Andurs.

‘Here is you amulet’ I declare triumphantly.

‘Thank you, my son. You have made an old man happy, may the god Arkay bless you’ Andurs pronounces in return.

I accept a small reward for my kindness and leave the Hall of the Dead as Andurs can shed no further light on my situation.

Midday over, I return to the Bannered Mare and pack up my meager belongings. 

Its time to leave for Solitude.

Returning to Whiterun

I wake up with Sven’s drum beating in my head or at least that’s what it feels like. I wash in the coldest water I kind find and have some breakfast, no mead for me now just plain water.

 

Once I can think without my brain hurting I realize there is nothing more for me to learn here, no one has recognized me. I will return to Whiterun today.

I pack my gear and head out of town via the same route I arrived. Crossing the bridge I notice that there is a path, not well worn, that looks to bisect the mountain. I take the path hoping for a short cut. 

Reaching the highest point of the path the snow starts to fall around me, soft flakes of white fluff. I stop a moment and enjoy the wonderland.

About half an hour later I head down the mountain and the weather clears allowing me to take in the majesty of the tundra and mountains bordering it.

At the bottom of the mountain I survey the tundra trying to spot some game.

 I don’t see anything in the way of game so I decide to do some more exploring while I am here. I head roughly towards Whiterun while trying to cover some new ground.A short time later I am hailed by a stranger, a Vigilant of Stendarr.

I greet her warmly and ask if she has seen any deer.

She answers ‘A Vigilant of Stendarr only hunts undead and more specifically Deadra.’ Pretty serious group of people I think to myself.

I assure her I am very much alive and have seen no undead of any kind today. We go our separate ways.

Scanning the ground for spoor I hear what sounds like Mammoths and follow the noise until I discover a giant’s camp! The giant spots me and waves his club above his head in a threatening manner.

Time for me to leave!

I backtrack and make my way around the camp glancing back often to ensure the giant is not following me.

Whack! 

An arrow hits me in the chest; luckily my steel armour deflects the shaft, the wind driven from my lungs my thoughts are instantaneously focused on where the arrow came from. I crouch behind my shield for protection as a skeleton rushes up and lands a savage blow to my raised shield.

Angry that I was taken unawares I lash out and after trading several mighty blows I hack the skeletons head clean off, I deal with a second skeleton in a similar fashion.

Where is that Vigilant of Stendarr now when I could have used her help!

Next to the shattered bones of the skeletons I see an altar and on it a dead acolyte.

Some dark ritual that went wrong? Maybe the skeletons turned on their master? No one will ever know now.

Surveying the area I see what looks to be the reason, a lone skeleton not far away standing amongst some ritual stones of some kind.

I hurriedly take cover behind some bushes in case it spots me.

It seems different than the ones I have just hacked apart; perhaps this lone skeleton is the master which commanded its minions to deal with the acolyte?

Not wishing to engage this lone skeleton I work my way around the area and continue on in the direction of Whiterun.

Shortly afterward I come across some standing stones; the tundra is full of surprises today.

Scouting the area carefully I can see it’s devoid of creatures both alive and dead. Moving to the centre of the stones I see what must be some kind of puzzle.

Figuring out the correct arrangement of marker stones nearby I turn the lever and a metal grate opens to reveal some stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs I see a skeleton, dead this time, the poor fellow was probably trapped inside when the grate closed behind him and starved to death.

 

I descend the stairwell making sure to wedge a large rock between the grate and the opening so that I don’t befall the same fate.

Investigate the body and find no identifying items; inside the chest next to the body I find a few items worth keeping, I stow them in my pack and set off for Whiterun once again.

Back in the city at The Bannered Mare I rent my usual room and settle down for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

I enjoy mingling with the patrons and build on new friendships by regaling them of my tales on the Tundra.

 

Tired, I turn in early and while lying on my bed I think about the day’s events. Realizing I am no longer completely afraid of danger my over-confidence almost got me killed today. 

I need to keep my wits about me if I want to live a long happy life in Skyrim.

 

Whiterun - Hunting for the First Time

I rise early and head to the chopping block and work away for several hours.

Sweat dripping from my brow I haul my load of wood back to the Inn. Hearing my stomach growling reminds me its also time for my morning meal.

As usual I get paid in gold for my labours.

Today is going to be very interesting; I am heading out to do some hunting. It’s time I restocked my dwindling food supplies and I am also keen to try out my newly improved bow.

Just as I exit the city gates I come across some caravan traders. I remember that Ysolde from Whiterun was looking for a Mammoth Tusk and out of curiosity I ask, nothing this time.

I head off west down the main road and after a short while I come across a broken down house on the outskirts of the city, resting up nearby are  two Imperial soldiers and their prisoner.

The prisoner cries out to me for help, but what I can do against two well-trained soldiers?

Nothing! I leave him to his fate, the gods guide him now.

I continue roaming the plain looking for signs of game, the vistas truly are breath-taking.

I collect all of the herbs I come across; they will make valuable potions when I get back to Whiterun and Arcadia’s shop.

At last I come across some spoor, they look like deer. My tracking skills leave much to be desired but I am sure its deer and they look fresh.

I start to follow the tracks, moving as quietly as possible. After about an hour I spot them, a large male and a smaller female.

Making sure I am downwind, no good letting them catch my scent and bolt, I move towards them hugging the sparse cover as best as I can. I manage to close the gap to within range and drawing back my bow to its maximum; I carefully take aim and then loose my arrow.

It’s straight and true; the arrow hits but fails to penetrate the Stag fully. 

The Stag now enraged bolts off! 

Nothing for it now, I chase after it, doing my best to keep it in view; fortunately the tundra plains are relatively flat so the Stag cannot evade me.

About half a mile later the Stag collapses from lack of blood and exhaustion, I end its misery and thank the gods for the kill.

Catching my breath, I butcher the animal but leave some for the scavengers; after all they must live too.

After I am done I continue the hunt and not much further away I spot the remaining female, she must have stayed close to her partner.

I take aim and loose another shaft. It’s wide, damn! The deer takes off, I follow in hot pursuit.

The deer disappears behind a rocky outcrop and I follow at full speed not really thinking about anything else other than filling my lungs with air and keeping a rhythm to my stride.

I round the outcrop of rock and run straight into a man.

Crashing into him we fall to the ground.

I jump up and out of the corner of my eye I see a second man knocking an arrow to his bow.

They don’t look in the mood for idle chit chat so drawing my sword I try to keep the first man, now back on his feet, between the bowman and myself.

Outnumbered, I need to end this quickly, I feint high with my sword and as my opponent raises his shield to parry the non-existent blow I instead stoop as low as possible and hack the man’s foot off.

He shrieks in agony and crumples to the ground. I rush the second man who is circling to get a better shot at me. I plunge my sword into him with all my strength; he should have worn more than a leather deer skin!

Deer hunting of a different sort, ironic? maybe not for him.

I return to the first man who is clutching his severed foot trying to stem the blood flow. 

‘Who are you?’, ‘Why did you attack me?’ I scream

‘Please help me, I am dying!’ he begs in-between sobs.

I ignore his pleas for now, searching the campsite for clues to explain what they were up to; I find, laying on the ground a letter.

Turns out they are drug smugglers.

I return to the smuggler who is now trying to crawl to some kind of safety.

‘Scum, you don’t deserve to live, I hope the wolves eat you alive!’ 

I walk away without a backward glance. Making my way back to Whiterun.

Once in the city I try out my new ingredients at Arcadia’s shop and nearly burn my eyebrows off. 

I  need to be more careful in future!

The sun is sinking in the sky and I head for the Inn a drink of ale and some food, maybe I will need more than one drink after the drug smuggler encounter.

 

I relax with the Patrons and wile away a few more hours thinking of my first hunt and how it nearly cost me my own life.

Still a plaything of the gods it seems.

The ale dulling my senses, I head for my room.

As I gaze at the ceiling from my bed I realize that maybe a ‘good guy’ wouldn’t have left that drug dealer for the wolves.

I drift off to sleep.