The light of day was so bright after the darkness of the cave that I was temporarily blinded. There was a roar from above and Hadvar swore under his breath and dragged me to the ground. As my sight returned I could see the black dragon flying away from us to disappear into the distance. We were high up in the mountains and there was a good view of the surrounding area. Hadvar stood up and thanked me for helping him escape. He wanted to split up but I managed to convince him to take me along in case there were any more Stormcloaks around, so we headed for Riverwood to find shelter with his uncle.
It was an easy trek down the mountain, and Hadvar filled me in on some of the goings on in the area. Then there was a howl and we were attacked by a small pack of wolves. After what we’d been through earlier they were easily dispatched. We carried on a bit further and Hadvar stopped at a group of standing stones. He told me to go and say a prayer to receive one of their blessings. I glanced at them skeptically “You’re kidding me right? You want me to go pray to a stone?” Hadvars eyes widened with surprise “You’ve never used a standing stone?” I smirked back at him “I’ve never even heard of these standing stones.” Hadvar shook his head in disbelief and began to explain how the blessing of the stones can grant great boons.
“The three stones there are the Mage, the Thief and the Warrior” he pointed to each as he spoke. “A scholar once explained them to me. The Mage helps magic users to focus their mind so casting spells becomes easier, it also makes understanding new ones easier. The Thief helps those so inclined to blend into shadows and makes them more agile so they make less sound when moving and are quicker with a bow. The Warrior increases your strength, making it easier to swing a sword, or in your case an axe for hours and you probably won’t notice it so much when someone bashes against your heavy armor or shield.”
I stared at him unbelieving and my feelings must have shown on my face as he sighed and walked over to the stone he called the Warrior Stone, knelt beside it and pressed his right palm to the stone. He muttered something under his breath and all of a sudden there was a bright flash and a pillar of light shot into the heavens.I stepped back eyes wide with shock and watched the light pulse into the heavens, then fade to nothingness. When I looked back to the stone Hadvar was gone.
I reached for my axe but stopped when I realized he was standing beside me. “Don’t do that! I thought you’d been sucked up into whatever that was!” I roared giving him a shove. He laughed raucously raising his hands in submission. “I couldn’t resist, you looked so shocked I thought you’d turned to stone.” I glared at him and he laughed again pointing at the stones and showing me towards them.
I stalked over to the stones and stopped in front of the same one he had. Then, like Hadvar I knelt and placed my right palm to the stone. It was smooth and warm to the touch. As I regarded the stone I got a sensation that it was also examining me, checking to see if I was worthy. It made me nervous yet secure at the same time. Without realizing it I began to speak. “O standing Stone, I ask that you grant me your strength so I may defend those who stand with me and crush any who would oppose me. I ask you to give me the power to avenge my fallen friend.”
Nothing happened for a moment, then I could feel a pulsing in my palm and the sensation shot through my whole body as a blinding light shot forth from the stone into the sky above. As it pulsed I could feel my muscles bulge and tighten, my shoulders and chest tightened and my stomach stiffened like stone. To a lesser extent the muscles in my legs hardened and I was filled with a vigor I had never known before. I suddenly felt like I could chop down a whole forest without breaking a sweat.
As the light began to fade I could feel the pulsing energy leave me, it’s work done and my body changed. When I stood I felt different, stronger, faster, I even felt slightly taller. I took a step and my legs wobbled beneath me. Hadvar was there and he caught me. “The first time can be a doozy, rest a moment and you’ll feel better.” I let him guide me to a rock and I sat. I dropped my pack and took out a bottle of mead and some rabbit haunch I’d collected from Helgen, then kicked the pack towards Hadvar for him to help himself. He took out an apple and some mead. While we rested he pointed with his bottle to a nearby mountain.
“You see that structure over there. That’s Bleak Falls Barrow, it used to give me the creeps as a child.” I looked towards where he pointed and saw the massive arches. “Yeah, I suppose it does look pretty intimidating” I said around a mouthful of rabbit. He nodded taking another swig of his mead. “I was always afraid the Draugr would swarm down during the night and take me.” I raised an eyebrow “Druger?” He gave me a level look. “It’s Draaaugr not Druger. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of them, they were once mighty Nord warriors but were cursed with undeath for serving the Dragon Priests. It’s said they still walk the halls of the ancient barrows but I’ve yet to find someone who’s actually fought them.”
I finished my rabbit and drained the bottle of mead then turned to Hadvar. “Your Nords, are such a supersites lot. I’ve fought skeletons and zombies before.” I leaned forward and looked him in the eyes. “Yeah, they can be scary as hell but they die like everything else.” Hadvar nodded somberly and looked up at the sky. “We’re losing daylight, lets get a move on.” I stood and slung my pack over my shoulder. “Maybe we can get some warm mead and fresh food, I swear that rabbets been dead a month.” I spat as I said the last. “Why did you eat it if it was so bad?” Hadvar asked. I shrugged at him. “Meat’s meat.” and began walking down the path towards Riverwood. Hadvar just shook his head and followed.
We made it to Riverwood without further incident. The guards watched us as we entered but made no attempt to stop us. Hadvar quickened his pace and walked straight towards the blacksmith, who was pounding his hammer on some armor. At the sight of the forge my fingers began to twitch for the hammer and tongues. It’d been years since I’d worked a forge and the sight of one now brought back memories of a life I’d almost forgotten. As they spoke the smith looked over to me and for a moment I thought it was Fjotkvar Heart-Fang. My heart missed a beat at the sight of an old friend but as I drew nearer I realized it wasn’t him. Hadvar turned to me then and beckoned me to follow them into the house.
When we got inside Hadvar introduced me to his uncle Alvor and his family. They offered us Venison stew and I wolfed it down hungrily using some bread to scoop large chunky mouthfuls while Hadvar recounted the Dragon attack and our escape from Helgen. By the time I’d finished my stew the story was coming to an end. Alvor sat there quietly listening to everything Hadvar said and as he finished he sat back in his chair with concern written across his face.
“Old Hilde’s been telling everyone she saw a dragon earlier today, black as night she said. If what your telling me is true then she was right.” His expression became serious. “We need to tell the Jarl.” He said turning to Hadvar who was taking a drink from a tankard. He lowered the tankard and shook his head. “They’d never let me through the gates. Many at Whiterun would know me on sight and they also know me to be part of the legion, they wouldn’t listen to me.” They both turned to me expectantly. “You want me to go?” I said incredulously “I’m an outsider, what makes you think they’d listen to me anymore then Hadvar here?”
Hadvar leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “It’s because you’re an outsider they’ll let you in.” he smirked at me then. “Yes you’re a miserable Orc so they’ll probably keep a hand on their weapons when they see you coming but look on the bright side.” He laughed “at least you’re not a flaming elf!”
I growled at him baring my teeth and was about to retort then Alvor spoke up drawing my attention. “I think the wine has gone to my nephew’s head.” He gave Hadvar an meaningful look to which his nephew lowered his gaze in mock submission. “What I’m sure he meant to say was, because you’re an outsider they’ll have no reason to stop you, especially if you tell the guards you need to speak to the Jarl about a dragon sighting near Riverwood. Some of the men will have friends or family here. They’ll let you in.”
They both stared at me expectantly. I didn’t know what to say, then I heard Nelsos voice inside m head. “We’ll make our way to Falkreath and from there it’s a short trek to Knifepoint Ridge” Falkreath, that’s where I needed to go. If I was lucky I might be able to find some trace of her or at least get directions to Knifepoint Ridge. I came out of my musing then and looked back across at the two Nords staring at me. “There’s a friend of mine I was due to meet at Falkreath, is Whiterun anywhere near there?”
Alvor shook his head but his eyes brightened. “It’s in the opposite direction from here but you’ll be able to get a carriage from Whiterun direct to Falkreath. In fact it’s probably the quickest route” “And the safest” Hadvar added. “There’s no real path from here to Falkreath and there’s bandits out in those woods.” Alvor stood and walked over to a chest near the fire, bent and unlocked it. “If you’ll do this for us I’ll be happy to lend you some supplies, I might even have some coin I can spare.”
He came back to the table with a small bundle and placed it on the table. “Let me see.” He took out a small purse that jingled as he put it down, an Iron Dagger, a jade necklace and some leather straps. I looked at it disapprovingly. “If you can throw in some smiting material and let me use the forge I think we’ll have a deal” Alvor raised an eyebrow and a small smile tweaked the left side of his face. He tapped a finger on the table and went down stairs for a moment. When he came back he was carrying a wooden box. “You say you’re a smith huh? If that’s true you should be able to make some decent armor with this lot.”
I took the box from him and inside saw there were several iron and steel ingots, some leather and a smiths hammer. I smiled my first real smile in days and nodded appreciatively. “You can use my apron too if you want.” He said reaching over and pulling his apron from a peg where it hung by the door. I stood as he threw it over the box. “I think this will do nicely.” I replied still smiling. “Now if you don’t mind I’ve got a date with a forge.”
I spent the next several hours working the billows and hammering the steel into shape, at one point Alvor came out to watch and mentioned how I’d forgotten to use any of the fur he’d given me. Only then did it dawn on me I was making Cyrodilic steel armor and it wouldn’t have the insulation required to help me survive the harsh Skyrim weather. He gave me a few pointers and recommendations on how to pad the armor and I made the necessary adjustments. Several hours and a lot of sweat later I’d crafted myself a full set of steel armor complete with boots and gauntlets. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough for a helmet but I always preferred the wind on my face anyway.
I tried the armor on and it was a perfect fit, the weight was so comfortable it felt like a second skin. The sun was setting by the time I’d finished and I had a thirst for some good drink and miserable company but good drink coasts gold and my purse was depressingly light. I did however have a pack full of loot I’d snatched while escaping Helgen so I grabbed my pack and headed over to the traders.
The trader was bickering with a woman when I entered, something about a theft but I’d enough problems of my own so I ignored them and landed my pack heavily on the counter. The traders eyes lit up with the sound of it, he introduced himself as Lucan Valerius and apologised for the argument with his sister. He eyed my armor and mentioned the theft but I ignored the comment and begin to unpack my items out on the counter. His eyes widened again as I lay out six axes, two long swords and three long bows along with eight sets of Stormcloak armor, some with large holes stained with blood. I also had a few sets of Imperial armor, three Imperial Swords and a set of Novice robes. Lastly I took out some stale meat, a few bottles of mead and wine, a spell book and a few other bobbles.
He began to pick over the lot, fingering some of the holes in the armor and testing the sharpness of some of the weapon. “Hmmm, it’s a fare amount of goods you have their friend but it’s not all in the best of condition.” He lifted up a set of armor and peered at me through one of the holes. “I’ll have to get some of these repaired before there good enough for resale.” He smirked at me “That’ll bring the price down friend.” I smiled back at him. “I’ll agree some of the armor is a little worse for wear but the weapons.” I said picking up an axe and running my finder along its blade. “Are sharp enough to cleave a man’s head from his shoulders in one stroke.” I took my thumb from the blade and showed him the trickle of blood running down my hand. He smiled at me nervously. “They do say an Orc knows his weapons and I’d have to agree with them today.” He scratched his chin for a moment and I could almost see the numbers coming together in his head, he looked up at me quickly then back the to the items.
“Ok, considering the condition of some of the armor I’ll take the lot off your hands for 568 Septims.” I didn’t even pretend to hide my surprise. “Ha! The weapons alone are worth 800 Septims, not to mention the robes and spell book.” I paused for a moment. “I’ll let you have the lot for 1000 coins.” His eyes widened in surprise. “1000 coins, were you dropped on your head as a child! The armor’s sup par, I’ll probably be stuck with it for a year before I can convince someone to buy it, at half price I might add. As for the robes I already have 3 sets and more spell books than you’ve ever seen!” His eyes shot to my bloody thumb and back to the weapons, then he looked up at me his eyes narrowing and stabbed the air with a finger. “700 coins!” I mulled it over for a moment then picked up the robes and spell book. “Have it your way then, 750 for the lot but I’m keeping the robes and spell book, I’m sure I’ll find someone willing to pay at least 200 for them.” He flung his arms into the air and began sputtering angrily. “You put them back down now you lunatic! You can’t expect me to fork out more than my top offer with you taking something away!” I lifted the axe I was still holding. “Lunatic! I should rip off one of your arms and show you a real lunatic!” He planted both hands on the counter and looked up an me with anger blazing in his eyes. “Oh that’s right, I’m an big angry Orc and you do what I say or I’ll chop off your head and use it to crap in! You don’t scare me.” We glared at each other for a moment then he sighed. “Fine, 800 for the lot including the robes and book.” Again there was a long silence as we stared at one another. “Agreed” I said at last stretching out my right hand to seal the deal. He shook it, then knelt behind the counter and began to rustle about. When he stood again he had a large purse which he dropped purposefully on the counter. “Now take your gold and be gone with you!”
I took the gold and placed it into my pack then lounged against the counter looking around the room. He’d begun to pick up the newly bought items then froze and looked at me angrily. “I thought I told you to get out?” I looked at him calmly, took the purse back out of my pack and placed it on the counter. “I haven’t seen your wares yet friend.” He stared at me for a moment then began to laugh. “You’re crafty for an Orc.” He said pointing at me. “I think I like you. Just let me get these weapons out of the way and we can get down to business!”
We bickered and bartered for the next half hour or so but there wasn’t much in his shop I was interested in. I still came away with a Banded Iron Shield, Steel War Axe, a map, a couple of freshly cooked Salmon Stakes and a potion of healing. I also indulged myself by buying a magic book called Healing Hands, I was getting better at healing myself and thought it might come in handy if I can figure out how to direct it at someone else.
The inns common room was long and had a nice fire burning in the centre of it, there was a Nord minstrel playing a Lute and another singing along badly in a happily drunk sort of way. I approached the barkeep and ordered some mead, there were more kinds to hand then I’d expected. I was looking over some of the bottles when the drunk Nord approached me. “Out of towner eh?” He squinted at me a moment wobbling slightly. “You don’t look like much of a milk drinker, never mind that pisswater.” He turned to the barkeep. “Dig out a few bottles of Black-Briar, this fella wants a real drink.” He lay his hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. “That stuff’ll make you warm inside and nice and bleary up here” he tapped his forehead.
The barkeep put two bottles on the bar and smiled at me. “Not to mention it’s got a kick that’ll knock you out of your armor.” He turned to the drunk Nord. “You got any coin today Embry or should I just stick it on your tab?” Embry waved his hands and the barkeep angrily “Put it on my tab, you know I’m good for it.” Then he picked up one bottle and handed it to me. The other he took for himself, pulled the stopper and took a long gulp then sighed happily as he smacked his lips and leaned on the bar. He smiled dumbly at me and ushered me to drink up. I pulled the stopped and took a swig swooshing it around my mouth. It was sweet with a bitter kick to it and had a slightly spicy after taste. I took a second, longer swig and this time it was much more enjoyable. It must have been written on my face as Embry smiled at me, patted me on the shoulder and signaled to the barman for two more. He picked them up off the bar and staggered over to the seat he’d been in earlier on the other side of the fire. I followed him and took the seat beside him. He unstopped the two fresh bottles and placed them beside the fire. “Always better when warm they are.” He slurred at me happily.
We sat and talked for a while then Embry tried to order two more bottles but was told his tab had hit the limit so I shook my purse at the barman and he brought over two more. Several bottles of mead and a few sweet rolls later we were trading war stories. Embry told me how he’d been a miner and worked Embershard Mine before it became overrun by bandits.
“I was there when they first moved in.” The bartender groaned his shoulders slumping. “I think I’ll go fetch some more mead.” Embry gave him dagger eyes as he walked away from them. “Those bandits moved in while I was working a vane about a hundred yards into the cave. They crashed in killing the few guys who happened to be outside. I had a pickaxe and this shirt on so I wasn’t in a really good state for fightin but dam if I was goina let them kill me.” He based his right fist into his chest to emphasize the last. “So” I asked “how did you make it out alive?” He strengthened in his chair. “I did what any Nord worth his salt would do.”
Then from across the room the barkeep roared. “Yeah, you ran for your life!” he laughed. “Like a child!”. Embry stood up with surprising speed and flung his half empty bottle of mead across the room to smash loudly on the floor about two feet to the right of its target. The barkeep burst out laughing, “Always a sore spot with this one.” He looked at the smashed bottle on the floor and then back to Embry. “That floor better be spotless before Delphine gets back or I might just let her skin your hide!” Embry began to grumble to himself then roared back. “It’ll be clean by morning, just keep that Breton away from me.”
Seeing an opportunity I caught Embrys eye. “If you want I’m sure I could clear the bandits out for you. for a price of course.” I lounged back in my chair and took a sip of my mead. “As much as I’d like that mine cleared I’m not willing to pay for it… maybe the Jarl would pay you if you asked him?”
The barkeep came back over to us then. “If you’re looking for paid work you could always try getting that golden claw back for Lucan? ”Embry nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, a group of thieves broke into his store the other night and took his prized claw. He’s offering 500 gold for anyone who can bring it back.” I thought about it a moment running a finger over my right tusk. “A few thieves hu, that could be fun. Any ideas where they are now?” Embry pointed over his shoulder towards the door. “Faendel said he saw some bandits over at Bleak Falls Barrow this morning when he was over that way hunting. I’d bet ya a bottle of Black-Briar Reserve there the same lot!”
The barkeep whistled with surprise. “If you lose Embry, you’ll be paying that off for a month.” Embry scowled up at him. “I know that, but I’m pretty sure I aint gona lose.” He turned back to me sticking out his hand to seal the deal. “What do you say Ultek? If I’m wrong you get a bottle of the best mead in Skyrim. If I am right though and it is them, I’m sure you’ll want to celebrate getting the reward, not to mention whatever loot you can take from them up there?” His eyes were twinkling in the firelight and it was all I could do not to laugh. I grasped his hand firmly. “You’re on Embry.” I said shaking his hand, his smile widened and he slouched into his chair.
“If you want I’ll give you directions in the morning.” I shook my head rising. “I’ll head over there now, they won’t be expecting any kind of attack during the night.” I wobbled over to the table I’d left my gear on and picked up my new axe and shield, swung the axe a few times through the air then hung it from my belt. When I turned back around Embry and the barkeep were staring at me. Embry was the first to break the silence.
“Are you crazy, it’s the middle of the night! You can’t go charging up there now.” I stared him down. “It’s bad luck to call an Orc crazy.” I fingered my axe. “Especially a fully armed one.” He shrank from my gaze. The barkeep regained his tongue then. “Look friend, you’ve been drinking all evening. You’ll have trouble making it up the mountain in this state.”
I planted my feed surely on the floor and raised myself to my full height. “The only difference between a sober Orc and drunk Orc is that a drunk Orc doesn’t feel any pain.” I reached into my pack and pulled out the map I’d bought earlier. “Now, which one of you are going to show me the way?” They glanced at each other then turned back at me. Embry took the map from my hand and they examined it. “This is us here.” The barkeep took some charcoal from his pocked and made a mark on the map. “and the barrow’s there.” He made an X this time and looked up at me. “It’s only about a half hour’s walk up the mountain, swing left after the bridge and just follow the path.” He handed me the map and I shoved it back into my pack.
I smiled at them then and patted Embry on the shoulder. “I’ll be back by morning.” I walked over to the door and pulled it open, then over my shoulder I said “You can have that mead warmed and ready for breakfast!” Then with one last smirk I nodded to them and stepped out into the chill night air.
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