The trek into Skyrim was supposed to be straight forward. We'd hike over the mountains and head for Falkreath. There we would stay at the inn for a few days, resupply and then head for Knifepoint Ridge where Nelso had a contact who could help us lay low for a while. It was a nice simple plan. I like simple plans, not very much could go wrong... or so I thought
We were about half way down the mountains into Skyrim when we were hit by a snowstorm. By the time we found a cave to sit out the storm my hands were practically frozen. Thankfully Nelso had brought some firewood in her pack so we built a small fire. Once I could use my figures again and the chill was more or less gone I walked back into the cave a bit looking for some more firewood. It looked like the cave had been mined as there were wooden joists holding up parts of the cave. One section had collapsed and I was able to pull loose a few good pieces of wood for the fire. There looked to be much more to the cave but I was tired and had what I came fore so I went back to Nelso.
She had already started preparing dinner, two rabbits we'd caught the day before were roasting over the fire and there was some fresh snow melting in a pot so we could boil some potatoes. I took a few bottles of mead from my pack and left them near the fire to warm up.
While the food cooked Nelso decided it was a good time for me to practice my Fire spell again. She'd been trying to teach me it for the last few days and I could feel I almost had it. "It'll help to keep you alive in Skyrim" she kept telling me and after that snowstorm I couldn't argue with her. I spent about twenty minutes practising and managed to bring the flame to life once but it died quickly. It made me feel a bit better about living in this frozen country now I could supply my own fire.
The storm was starting to die down just as the food was ready and I took my roasted rabbit hungrily. I'd barley finished a leg when we heard a harsh bark like roar from within the cave. I froze and looked to Nelso who had already flung down her food and was unsheathing her sword, shield held at the ready. I followed suit and we both put ourselves on the far side of the fire. "What was that?" I asked. "It sounds like a Troll." she replied, sheathing her sword and grabbing up her pack.
I looked at her with surprised. "I've never heard a Troll sound like that, are you sure?" She nodded at me and began to rummage through her pack franticly. "We've fought trolls before" I said. "If it's just the one we can take it surly?" Nelso paused briefly to look at me worriedly before returning to her pack. "The Trolls of Skyrim are nothing like their cousins in Cyrodiil, these Trolls are are about twice the size and could probably rip of your arm and beat you to death with it. I've got it!" she pulled out a murky bottle and held it in her right hand. "When I give the signal were going to make a run for it." I nodded and waited.
A few seconds later a monstrous creature came loping out of the cave. It was easily eight feet tall and had long thick muscled arms nearly the same length. The Troll came to an abrupt halt when it saw the fire and snorted angry stomping and pounding it's fists into the ground. It's three eyes were wide with rage and it roared showing a massive mouth filled with dagger like teeth.
Nelso paused for only a heart beat before flinging the bottle she held into the fire and shoving me towards the entrance. I turned just as the bottle struck the fire, I heard a loud whoosh and could feel eminence heat on my back as we fled from the cave. The Troll let out a roar of frustration and surprise as we ran from the cave.
We ran for what felt like hours but was probably minuted when Nelso signalled for a halt. We were both out of breath and panting heavily. We just stood there unable to speak for a moment and when we locked eyes we began to laugh. "What the hell did you throw into that fire?" I asked. She leaned against a rock and smirked. "Dwarven Oil." She said breathlessly. "I knew the stuff was flammable but I wasn't expecting that!" I began to laugh again. "I'm sure it was a great surprise to the Troll too... you think that killed it?" She shook her head. "I doubt it, but with some luck it's wounded enough so it cant follow us."
I stared at her in horror. "Are they really that though?" She nodded still panting. "The Frost Trolls are even tougher." I stood there for a moment stunned when we heard the distant roar of the Troll from up the mountain. Nelso swore and pushed away from the rock. "Looks like it's recovered already, lets keep moving"
We jogged down the mountain, every so often hearing the Troll barking after us. It sounded to be gaining so we quickened our pace but the snow was thick and it was slow going. We came to a cliff edge and could see a road far below us but there was no clear way down. The Troll roared once more and we turned just in time to see it burst through some trees towards us. It swang a clawed hand at me and I raised my shield. The blow knocked me back a step and I felt the shock of it all the way to my shoulder. I lashed out with my axe but the Trolls reach was too great and I hit only air. It roared at me and raised both hands above it's head to come crashing down in my shield. I lost my footing and my arm went numb to the elbow, it was all I could do not to drop the shield.
It looked down at me snarling and brought one arm up to strike me when all of a sudden it howled in pain and turned with surprising speed towards Nelso. She raised her shield but the Troll grabbed it and flung her to the side ripping the shield from her hand. I was on my feet then and charged striking at its back but my axe practicable bounced off it's tick hide. It turned on me then with a massive back handed and knocked me through the air.
I landed heavily and saw the cliff edge appear in front of me. I grabbed franticly at the foliage around me but there was nothing substantial about and I went crashing over the cliff. I bounced off jutting rocks and over a bush loosing my shield and axe as I tumbled down the cliff face. The road beneath came rushing up to meet me and I landed face down, the sound of bones breaking assaulted my ears.
The pain was incredible, I was coughing blood and could barely move. Instinctively I reached out with my mind and slowly began to heal myself. I'd broken almost every bone in my body and it took everything I had just to keep concious but eventually I managed to heal myself. Once finished I took stock of what I had. I was weaponless, my armor was badly dinted and my helmet had come off during the fall. My pack had also gotten snagged in a bush and I could see it about twenty feet above me, completely unreachable. None of this however compared to the fact that my left tusk had been chipped, instead of a sharp point it now ended a jagged stump
"Nelso will get a kick out of this" I thought to myself and only then did I remember the Troll. I looked up the cliff and called her name but it was too high, there was no way she could hear me... if she was still alive. I pushed the thought from my head and took in my surroundings. I was pretty sure I was now in Skyrim but other than that I was completely lost. I decided to follow the road down, it was bound to reach a town of village eventually and I could figure out my next step then.
I'd been walking for about an hour when I came across a group of men dressed in furs. They were solders and heavily armed, when they saw me they haunted. Two of them began walking towards me hands on their hilts but they also halted at the sound of rustling in the bushes beside me. I turned to see Legionnaires running my way with swords drawn. My mind went blank as I saw them run towards me, then a rage began to fill me. After all I'd just been through I was to be killed by Legionnaires? I felt that familiar rush in the back of my mind and the world went red. I roared at them, letting all my rage and frustration fill me as I charged them weaponless.
The man leading their charge faltered for a moment obviously expecting me to flee instead of fight. It was all the opening I needed, with his guard down I struck him in the face with a mailed fist and he collapsed like a boneless fish. I punched another in the stomach and he bent double, then I brought both my fists down on his back and he too collapsed. There was fighting all around me as the men from the road fought the Legionnaires. A bearded man in furs came up behind me and I rammed my thumbs into his eye sockets, he screamed and dropped his swords. I picked up one and rammed it through through his chest, leaving him impaled and gurgling as I ran towards two Nords fighting. The Legionnaire had his back to me and I hunched my back throwing all my weight into my shoulder. I slammed into him and could hear bones breaking as he was thrown through the air. The man in furs he'd been fighting looked at me startled for a moment, I grabbed the solder by the throat and dragged him to the ground choking the life from him.
Then out of nowhere a mighty force struck me from the side sending me flying through the air and into a three. Darkness took me before I hit the ground.
Comments