Chapter VII: To Whiterun
The silence of my empty Instant Dungeon of Riverwood somehow felt comforting when I opened it. I had been forced to wait until everyone went to sleep again before I could access the pocket dimension. Oddly, it felt like far more than a day since my last time doing this, despite being far less than that. Purging a bandit camp from the countryside had a strange way of dilating time, I suppose.
After getting the quest to betray Sven, I approached it the way I had intended from the beginning. Finding Camilla, she was made aware of his attempt. She asked me to inform Faendal, which I did. Then I received the reward notification. It was… unexpected, to say the least.
Quest [Burning Out the Stars in His Eyes] complete!
Reward: Massively Increased Reputation with Camilla and Faendal, Massively Decreased Reputation with Sven, Title [Emotional Manipulator] added, Event [Matters of the Heart] activates, Quest [An End to the Suffering] added, Ultra-Rare Gacha Token added, 1000 XP gained
Perk [Elf-Friend] added due to Faendal's Reputation hitting 50.
Perk [Nature's Cloak] added due to Faendal's Reputation being maxed out.
Faendal is now available as a companion.
Perk [Gilded Bonds] added due to Camilla's Reputation hitting 50.
Perk [Blood of the Capitol] added due to Camilla's Reputation being maxed out.
Camilla is now available as a companion.
Sven is no longer available as a companion.
[Elf-Friend]: Reputation increases more quickly with Wood Elves.
[Nature's Cloak]: Disease and poison resistance is increased by 50%.
[Gilded Bonds]: Reputation increases more quickly with merchants.
[Blood of the Capitol]: Unlocks [Imperial] Race.
[Emotional Manipulator]: You've grown quite accustomed to taking advantage of the highs and lows of others' emotions. Reputation changes and speech checks are more favorable with emotionally-charged targets.
[Matters of the Heart]: The struggle for Camilla's heart between Sven and Faendal has seemingly come to an end in Faendal's favor. Unless some unforeseen circumstance comes to fruition, they are likely to be married within the year.
[An End to the Suffering]: Sven has lost the struggle for Camilla's favor. If he is not given a new purpose in life by the time Faendal and Camilla's marriage, he will find an end to the suffering himself.
There was a lot to digest from all the pop-ups. The perks were really nice, for sure. The Voice also informed me that Races were apparently equippable. So, I quickly replaced Human with Imperial, which gave me their active and passive abilities. That was certainly really nice.
More importantly were the event and quest though. The event wasn't that surprising, but knowing that my actions could potentially lead to Sven's suicide were something else altogether. I know I should've felt… something. Instead, I couldn't really bring myself to feel anything about it. I wasn't sad. I wasn't ashamed. I wasn't even proud of it.
There should have been
something. The sheer vacuum of emotion I felt towards the entire thing was unnerving, but not extremely so. Even my own anxiety about not feeling anything was… dull. It's like I only felt that way because I was consciously trying to feel that way because I thought I
should feel that way. This had to be Gamer's Mind. There wasn't any other explanation for it.
Still, I didn't have the time, the luxury, or the desire to worry too much about it. Based on what the Voice said back during Character Generation, Gamer's Mind was the primary tool that kept me from going insane in this strange afterlife. I guess this was the way it did so.
Not having to worry about any nagging guilt, or even any arrogant pride, about my actions was probably really good. In a world like Skyrim as well, there were so many things that I hadn't really given much thought but were actually quite terrible. What I did to Sven was different to killing bandits. It seemed more personal. If I could get over that – or rather, never have any problems with it to begin with – then something like charging the Ebony Blade or getting Mehrune's Razor would be a lot easier.
There was a thought. Was I going to just collect all the Daedric artifacts and become the Champion of every Daedric Prince I could for the sake of completionism?
Of course I was! There's probably a challenge or a quest for it or something. Even if there's not, the artifacts are mine. If I don't get them, some other bastard might do so. It would be better for Skyrim as a whole if I had them all, since I was the protagonist. If someone else had them, they'd clearly be some insane Daedra worshipper, a criminal, a psychopath, a cultist. I, however, am the very model of mental health!
You know, minus the whole sociopath thing. Or the manipulation of a star-struck country bumpkin. Why were you so easy to manipulate, Sven?
Anyways, there were more important things to concern myself with. I had some gacha tokens, but that wasn't why I popped into the Instant Dungeon. Opening my inventory, I pulled out my recently acquired staff. Channeling my mana through it, I watched as the soul gem atop glowed with magic. Releasing the energy at a spot roughly five meters in front of me, I witnessed the Flame Atronach materialize in my Dungeon.
The feminine-looking Daedra levitated in place and regarded both me and the pocket dimension we were in. It spoke without a mouth, its thoughts simply echoing across the space I'd created that was a reflection of Riverwood.
"
What is this place, Mortal? I feel as if it is both Mundus and Oblivion at once. It is vexing."
"This is my Instant Dungeon." I explained to it. "It is a dimensional magic. With it, I can create a copy of the spaces around me that are unaffected by whatever happens inside. I can summon entities here to fight against, so that I might become more experienced. I also can use it as a sort of waygate, since whenever I end the spell I end up not where I cast it, but where I'm standing in the Dungeon." It was quiet. "When I summoned you before, you said that you require an exchange for my continued usage of the staff. That's why I brought you out here, so that no one could interrupt us."
"
A wise decision, considering the tendency of your kind to attack unprovoked. Yes, an exchange must be made. Through the staff, I am summoned with the power of the gem atop. However, it seems that you are using your own power, and not that of the staff. I am currently here of my own power, to heed your call. My power is large, but not limitless, and the fires of Infernace call to me even now."
"Is the exchange… a power source for you then?" I wonder. The Atronach does not move, but I can somehow tell that it nodded mentally. Still, what sort of power source would work? Couldn't it just use my magicka?
That is a distinct impossibility! You do not have this world's Magicka, you see! You are utilizing the ever-vague and interchangeable Mana, which is then converted to Magicka through the use of your Elementalist class! As it stands, your use of the staff is only doable because it summons an Elemental being, but without the Summoner class, you will be unable to offer up your Mana to it.
That's… just wonderful, isn't it? I mean, learning more about the system is pretty cool, I guess. Still, what to do? Hm… "You mentioned that you utilize the soul within the gem as your power source? Could you sustain yourself on the souls of others then? I'm no necromancer. I'm not even a summoner. I don't know the first thing about how to trap souls or how to utilize the power within them. However, I do know a thing or two about killing mortals. Would you be able to consume the souls of whatever I kill?"
"
That is a potential path for our exchange. I did not imagine you to be quite so eager to sell-away Black Souls. It appears mortals are ever-surprising."
That's right. I did just try and use the sacrificing of the souls of other Men and Mer as my first option, didn't I? Well, no matter. "I'm going to be killing them anyways. Until I learn Soul Trap, I'd have to rely on mages to give me Gems, and those are expensive. Killing people and feeding you their souls is free though." I said matter-of-factly. I mean, I know I had quite a bit of money saved up, but I really wanted to use that for other things. I needed to get better armor in Whiterun. I wanted to buy Breezehome. I would need to see if Farengar had any good Destruction tomes I might want. Soul Gems are way too expensive, especially filled ones.
"
If you can ensure Black or Grand Souls will be available whenever I am summoned, then I will heed your call." It replied. "
You are certainly an interesting one. What shall I call you?"
"I'm Orpheus Kidwell." I introduce myself. "Do Atronachs have names?"
"
You may call me whatever you wish. I am bound to the staff and its wielder. I am yours to command, so long as you acknowledge and pursue your end of our Exchange. Do you require anything of me currently?"
Hm… well, I could test it out on the Zombie Dungeon, but I'll leave that alone for the time being. I don't think they have souls to be consumed, and they certainly aren't Black or Grand Souls. "No, I don't. You're free to return to Oblivion. I'll Summon you when I have need though."
"
Of course." With that, I was alone in the empty Dungeon once again. Glancing at the clock widget I'd purchased before, I saw that I still had several more hours until first light, and I'd already slept an hour before coming out here. Well, I may as well get some training in, right?
[][][]
After four hours of grinding Wave 5 of my Zombie Instant Dungeon, noticeable progress had been achieved. I wasn't too confident about going into Wave 6 after all the trouble Wave 5 had given me. That said, it was just challenging enough for me to get a rush but still within the range of survivability. I had to take time to recharge my MP in between each round, but it was really lucrative. I got my level up to 23, gained 8 Uncommon Gacha Tokens, and earned an extra 40 Stat Points. I didn't really know where to put them though, so I left that for later.
I made sure to also play my gambling mini-game. In the end, I got quite the boon between my Level 20 spells and the gacha.
Challenge [Back in the Grave I] Complete!
Rewards: +10% Damage against Undead, [Back in the Grave II] unlocked.
Challenge [Back in the Grave II] Complete!
Rewards: -10% Damage from Undead, [Back in the Grave III] unlocked.
[Back in the Grave III]: Kill 500 Undead (368/500)
Level 20 Elementalist Rewards acquired.
[Oil Slick]: (20 MP/sec) Create a stream of flammable oil from your hand.
[Stone Spear] (35 MP) Launch a spike of earthen material from any surface within your line of sight.
[Cutting Whirlwind] (50 MP) Create a small whirlwind of wind capable of cutting through flesh and clothing in any direction you choose.
[Water Whip] (20 MP) Create a whip from a nearby water source.
10 Skill Points acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
500 Currency Tokens acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Tome: Oxidize] acquired from Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Expansion: Apocalypse Magic] acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Jet] acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Phoenix Down] acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Awakening] acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Staff of Oakflesh] acquired from the Uncommon Gacha Token.
[Hero's Ring (Final Fantasy VI)] acquired from the Rare Gacha Token.
[Pickman's Blade (Fallout 4)] acquired from the Rare Gacha Token.
[Kyouko's Spear (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)] acquired from the Ultra-Rare Gacha Token.
Right off the bat, I noticed that I couldn't even properly use two of them. I mean, yeah, I could equip spears and knives. The system wouldn't stop me from doing that. However, it
did give me a warning that I lacked the requisite perks to use them correctly. Honestly, I'm not sure why I didn't get something similar when I equipped my armor and shield back at the Keep, but I suppose it didn't matter too much. It was a good thing to know that the gacha wouldn't only give me things related to my class though.
However, the more interesting thing was that I got consumable items like Phoenix Down and Jet. They were in the uncommon draws, which made some sense, but it did bring up the question of whether it was a one-time thing or if it was repeatable. Either way, I'd save both of those for much later, along with the Awakening. All three of them were useful, in their own way. Phoenix Down could bring back a recently deceased to life. Awakening was the item from Pokemon that woke up anyone sleeping. Jet... hopefully it wasn't as addictive as the Fallout games presented it as. Being able to increase my reaction time so much that time functionally slowed down might be life-saving.
The new mod was something else I was pretty familiar with. Apocalypse Magic added something like 30 new spells to each school, integrated them into loot and also into the spellbooks of enemies. There was a lot of really cool stuff in there.
I learned Oxidize, which was a neat little spell. It let me rust any iron or steel object I cast the spell on. The staff went into my inventory for me to use later. I don't think alteration magic was open to me yet, but the staff worked just fine when I tested it, so armor was looking less and less useful. Is it because wood was part of elemental magic? Would I be able to learn things like Ebonyflesh since Ebony was a metal? The gacha always raised new questions.
Lastly was the Ring. It was a neat little thing to have: all physical and magical damage is increased by 25% while wearing it somehow. I don't know how that works, but I really wasn't going to complain.
My grinding was probably in a pretty good place for now. I was still two levels off from picking up other classes, but it's not like that mattered very much. As a mage, I was more than capable of doing whatever needed doing. I probably needed to pick up something else to do the Thieves' Guild, Dark Brotherhood, and Companion stuff, but it wasn't that big of a deal to put those off right now.
Besides, it's not like I could do much more grinding anyways. It was first light, and people would start waking up. So, I traveled back to my bed and ended the Instant Dungeon. It would probably be a bit before we headed out, so a half hour nap seemed like a good idea to get back to peak condition.
[][][]
According to my clock app, it was around 6 AM when we left Riverwood. We gathered our other party members from the Sleeping Giant and made our way across the bridge to the outskirts of Riverwood.
I also had letters of introduction from Alvor and Hadvar to the Jarl. I was assured that it would make it easier to get an audience with him than just my word. Alvor I understood, but the reason Hadvar gave me one didn't hit me until just then. He was
part of General Tullius' bodyguard. That was pretty significant.
Five days of walking meant that whatever I
thought about the road in between Whiterun and Riverwood, there's no way it would even remotely resemble it.
If I was expecting much to happen, I was sorely mistaken. Hundreds of hours of Skyrim had trained me to believe that just walking on a road was going to be enough to elicit a wolf pack or roving bandits to attack us. Hours ticked on with nothing of the sort going on. Still, the landscape was pretty, so it wasn't all bad.
Huh… that was strange. Was I actually hoping for more life or death encounters while traveling with three people who definitely were not capable of fighting back? Hm… this Gamer's Mind thing was really effective at making me forget that I wasn't actually playing a game. That could be bad. Oh well, those were problems for future Orpheus to deal with. I was too busy uh… walking. Yeah, walking was more important that worrying about the imminent realization that I was either already a sociopath or well on my way to becoming one. Well, more than I already was in my previous life, anyways.
Well, if my mind was apparently incapable of making me feel ashamed of my amorality, there were always a few boons I could get from that. I wouldn't really feel guilt doing the more heinous Daedric artifact quests, at least. Hm… what artifacts could I obtain this early? Oooh, I might be able to pick up the Ebony Blade. I'd probably need to be sneaky, but my empty Instant Dungeon would take care of that. Also, it would take care of me getting into the sealed basement. Also, also, it would allow me to get back out of Dragonsreach without being detected.
That was definitely on my list of things to do in Whiterun.
Quest [A Sword in the Back] added.
Obtain [Ebony Blade] and restore it to its full power
Rewards: Massively Increased Reputation with Mephala, ???, ???, ???
I mean, I was already going to do it. Honestly, this whole system of rewarding me for things I already planned on doing was really good. It really kept me motivated to stick to my plans. Otherwise I might get distracted by other stray thoughts.
In all honesty though, the walk to Whiterun was quite boring. There were no attacks. All of our stops for meals and sleep were peaceful. There weren't even any fights amongst our group. I couldn't grind either. When it was my turn to keep watch, I made sure I did so. When it wasn't, I didn't want to go into the ID only for someone to look for me and not be there. It was all rather infuriating to have the means to grind, but purposefully not do so.
Those five days couldn't move fast enough for me. That said, we did
eventually reach the outskirts of Whiterun. Cobblestone and forest had given way to farmland yesterday. It was pretty interesting to see that changes from the game manifested in a semi-logical way at least. That said, with how far away the furthest farm was, I expected Whiterun to be immense.
I was not disappointed. The castle rolled into view well before we reached the Honningbrew Meadery. Dragonsreach dominated the skyline while the walls stretched on for over a kilometer. Large didn't even begin to describe the size of the city I observed. Despite that though, I wasn't particularly surprised. Whiterun was the economic center of Skyrim, after all. There was little reason for it to be as small as it was in-game.
Far more surprising were some of the things outside of Whiterun proper. For one, I didn't expect the Meadery to be its own… well, fort. There wasn't a much better way to explain it, all things considered. The entire property was larger, there were proper walls surrounding it and guards in full plate standing atop said walls. Two watchtowers glared down upon the road that were likely manned by archers whose sole job was to put an arrow through the throat of any intruder.
Upon further thought, it did make sense though. The Honningbrew Meadery would likely be a pretty nice target for bandits or rebels. There was plenty of alcohol and probably a pretty sizeable treasury. I made a mental note to stay away from the estate if I could.
Besides that, everything else was mainly the same. The rest of the farms were sized up, the stables were about thrice as big with two extra carts for transit and the walls apparently rose up higher than I thought they would. When we did finally reach the stables, Hadvar gave his goodbyes.
"Are you absolutely certain I can't convince you to come with us to Solitude?" Looks like he wanted to try one more time.
"I've already told you, Hadvar. I've got a responsibility to let the Jarl know. Plus, I'm a merchant, not a soldier. Perhaps my path will take me to Solitude, but I think Whiterun is where I'm meant to be right now."
Hadvar smiled and nodded. "Aye. I figured you might say that. I'll make sure to send word to you of General Tullius' decision about your pardon."
The torturer's assistant and the two other Imperial soldiers had already gone to the stables to get a cart hired to Whiterun. Hadvar, Victoria and I were somewhat alone, as the civilians had already gone into town to secure our lodging for the night.
"Captain, are you certain of this?" Victoria nodded once. I was a bit confused by the exchange and looked between the two. "Orpheus, there is something that we might still ask of you. You've already saved the lives of everyone here. And yet, there is something else."
Victoria spoke up next. "The others have given me their word that they did not see any clue or trail of my whereabouts if the General asks." She started. "I would like to ask that you allow me to accompany you on your travels. The sword and shield I carry are yours. The armor I wear is yours. I shudder to think what I might've become if you hadn't arrived. You could have killed me like you did so many of those brigands." She paused. "If I was in your place, I would have. Yet, you saw fit to spare me. Allow me to offer myself to you as a guard. If you do, then I shall no longer Captain the retinue of General Tullius, but I shall do as you order, for my life belongs to you."
Okay… what the actual hell? Imperials don't have a culture of life debts, so what is actually going on right now?
Despite the quantification of Reputation only reaching 100 in terms of the value you can see, this NPC has reached much higher than that! That is what the Loyalty system is meant to showcase. Generally speaking, the Loyalty of a Reputation 100 NPC starts at 50. However, in cases where their Reputation would go over 100, 1% of the additional Reputation that would've been gained is converted into Loyalty. The woman before you is quite grateful for what you did, it seems.
Well, at least the Voice is being helpful, in its own sickly-sweet, sociopathic way. I realized that I hadn't responded to Victoria's speech so I closed my eyes for a moment. I already knew that she would leave the Legion. The System told me that much. I didn't realize it would go this way though. Truthfully, I didn't really think about what that notification meant.
"I'll accept your sword and shield by my side." I finally replied. "It will be nice to have your support. I feel like I'll probably require it in the coming weeks." The former Captain gave the barest hint of a smile and nodded. "Still, you should've given me some warning of this, Hadvar."
The man only smiled in response. "Now, now. I can't go ruining the good surprises, can I?" Shaking my head, I watched as his smile slipped a bit and he sighed. "Still, I do wish we'd met under better circumstances, Orpheus. With less dragons and rebels, we might've had longer together." The other soldiers were coming back. "Goodbye."
"I think you mean, until we meet again, Hadvar." I corrected with a smile. I really would miss Hadvar. He had really grown on me. I always liked him in-game, but now that he was a real person and we'd fought together, I was going to look forward to that drink with him in Solitude. I didn't even care for alcohol, but having friends was always nice.
"Until we meet again, my friend."
+7 Reputation with Hadvar (75/100) for a solemn, but happy, farewell
As four of our group of nine left, I turned to Victoria. "We should head inside, don't you think?" She nodded and followed after me. Pretty soon though, I realized that I'd forgotten one little detail about the game. The guards refused to allow the civilians inside. We moved a little faster and I caught the tail end of the guard telling them to leave.
"Just as I told them, official business only." He explained.
"We just came from Helgen." I replied. "I've got a message for the Jarl from Riverwood and the Captain of General Tullius' personal guard." I mean, with Victoria at my side, I think Hadvar would be next in line for that position. Either that, or some completely random mook that I've never heard of. I was taking a bit of a gamble, but it was necessary.
The guards shared a glance. "And who might you be?" One of them asked. "You're not wearing anything marking you as Legion." I waved their concern away.
"Of course I'm not. There are Stormcloaks and bandits everywhere on these roads. Listen, there was an attack on Helgen and there's reason to believe that Riverwood is in imminent danger. I need to speak with the Jarl about it as soon as I can and deliver the messages." Reaching into my robe, I activated my inventory and made it seem as if I pulled Hadvar's letter from there. It had the seal of the Legion on it, which made the guards share another glance. This was a lot more difficult than the game.
Well, I do have a number of stat points left, don't I? I guess I could throw them into Charisma. It's not like I can't farm for more stat points now that I can grind Wave 5. Mentally spending my points until Charisma hit 80, I tried to push my luck. "Surely word had to have reached Whiterun by now of the dragon attack on Helgen? We were there and we survived. That's why our message to the Jarl is of the utmost importance."
It seemed to crack the guards finally. "Alright. We'll let you in. Just don't go and cause any trouble, alright?" I nodded as they signaled someone on the wall. After a moment, one of the large, wooden doors opened up enough to allow us passage. "Gods help us if a dragon attacks here." I heard one of them mumble under their breath.
Don't worry, the Dragonborn will help you. I need all those souls for my Shouts, after all. Oh, and the loot, too. I wonder if I could get Eorlund to make me Dragonscale and Dragonbone Armor if I join the Companions and give him the materials? That would be pretty sweet. I don't even know how to get smithing levels or perks yet. That would make things much easier.
That sort of thing would need to wait though. I still had a couple things to do before I fought Mirmulnir, after all. Once inside Whiterun, the civilians were once again tasked with finding us lodging. Victoria directed them towards the Bannered Mare. I had more than enough gold to cover months of inn expenses, and the capability to easily farm lots of Septims through my Instant Dungeon each night.
That said, I told them that I would only cover their lodging for a week, since I didn't intend on staying Whiterun very long anyways. A sense of urgency would motivate them, after all.
Victoria and I, on the other hand, would make our way to Dragonsreach. This was easier said than done. Despite seeing the increased scale of Whiterun, I hadn't expected… well, an actual city.
Upon entering, I saw Warmaidens and the Drunken Huntsmen easily enough. However, the rest of the Plains District was unfamiliar. It extended in both directions, from what I could tell, and was likely a truly tiered city now. If I strained my eyes, I could see the bazaar where the farmers and hawkers of Whiterun had stalls set up to sell their foodstuffs and wares. Somewhere past that had to lie the Bannered Mare. Lining the streets past Warmaidens to our right and the Drunken Huntsman on our left, shops and houses were compacted together.
I'd have to do some exploring in a bit, but for now Victoria and I made our way to Dragonsreach. It was only midday, so we'd have plenty of time for that later.
As we passed through the Wind District, my eyes wandered a bit. I spotted Jorrvaskr, the Gildergreen and Heimskr. He was shouting to the skies about Talos, as usual. This one was filled with far more housing than the Plains District. I definitely would need to come back here later.
As we passed Heimskr to the steps that led up Dragonsreach, Victoria passed a glance over him. "I will give the rebels their due in this. They are certainly filled with the conviction to die for their ideas." I'm not sure what I expected her voice to sound like, but that tone full of respect was certainly not it. "There are members of the Legion not half as brave as that man there."
She wasn't necessarily wrong, I don't think. Just because the treaty with the Aldmeri Dominion forbade Talos worship doesn't mean that the soldiers of the Legion stopped doing so. Heimskr put his life on the line every single day to sing the praises of an illegal god in what basically amounted to pseudo-Imperial territory.
"Faith is powerful." I responded as we ascended towards our destination. "When you believe in something higher than yourself, when you believe that there is something greater to work towards, you are capable of so much more than you can do on your own. That is why the Stormcloaks fight on despite the odds. They have an ideal to gather behind. The Legion is following orders."
I paused a moment. "Despite that, the Stormcloaks are flawed. The Empire needs to remain whole so that we can push the Thalmor back. Idealism and spirit can only take you so far in this terrible world."
"If you think that way, then why do you refuse to join the Legion yourself?" She wondered. Oh boy, was I going to have to deal with her trying to recruit me now that Hadvar was gone? I hope not.
"I'm not a soldier. I wander where I wish and do what I please. I'll help the Legion where I can, but I'm really not cut out for the Legion lifestyle." My response was nearly immediate at this point. "There are things I feel like I… we have to do before we make our way to Solitude, anyways. If I joined up with the Legion, then there's so many things here in Skyrim that I wouldn't be able to do anymore."
Before our conversation could continue, we were stopped by a Whiterun guard. "Identify yourself. The Jarl is not taking any visitors right now." I smiled at him and watched as his guard dropped a tad. Fucking hell, 80 Charisma is so useful.
"We're terribly sorry to interrupt whatever the Jarl is doing, but we have urgent information that he needs right now. We have news from Helgen about the dragon attack." The guard widened his eyes and glanced towards the castle before nodding. He stepped aside and allowed us to move through.
"You seem to have quite a knack for convincing soldiers to let you do whatever you want." Victoria commented. I didn't reply in any way but with a smile as we opened the door to Dragonsreach and headed inside.
I could already hear voices as I shut the door. Irileth drew her blade and approached us as soon as she heard the door move, I imagine. "What is the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors right now." She demanded to know, eyes locked onto Victoria.
Oh, that's right. Victoria
does probably seem more dangerous than me. She's wearing armor, carrying a sword and probably has the look of a soldier in her eyes. "I have news from Helgen about the dragon attack." I explain, immediately drawing her attention to me.
She paused a moment before sheathing her blade. "Well, that explains why the guards let you in. Come on then. The Jarl will want to speak with you personally." Victoria gave me a look as we followed behind her. I feel like she might be forming an opinion of me based on the silver tongue this high Charisma is giving me.
"Who's this then?" Jarl Balgruuf seemed to measure the two of us up as we approached. Victoria stayed silent. I think she was leaving it to me since I was the official messenger. "I trust you have something vitally important to tell me? Important enough to interrupt me in the middle of a council."
"My name is Orpheus Kidwell, a merchant and scholar by trade." I introduce myself. "I have news from Helgen, about the dragon attack." The Jarl straightened a bit in his seat as he regarded me.
"You were there? You were at Helgen?" I nodded. "You saw the dragon with your own eyes?" He seemed to be eagerly awaiting the answer.
"I was. The Imperial Legion had captured Ulfric Stormcloak and were prepared to execute him. That was when the dragon attacked." There was no reason to mention that I was also going to be executed.
"I should've guessed that Ulfric would be mixed up in this." Balgruuf sighed. He then looked to his steward. "What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?"
From here, they just went through their normal dialogue. Irileth saying that they should move troops to Whiterun to protect it. Proventus saying the Jarl of Falkreath will see that as provocation. The Jarl refusing to stand by and let his people die for the sake of politics. Then, he turned to me again.
"Well done, you sought me out on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a great service and I won't forget it. I'd like to give you something as a token of my esteem." He waved a servant over and whispered something to them, causing them to run off. Balgruuf then stood from his throne.
Quest [A Favor for the Blacksmith] completed!
+12 Reputation with Alvor the Blacksmith (32/100) for keeping your word.
+11 Reputation with Sigrid (21/100) for keeping your word.
+10 Reputation with Riverwood faction (10/100) for aiding in their protection.
+5 Reputation with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater (5/100) for delivering the message.
+6 Reputation with Irileth (6/100) for delivering the message.
+6 Reputation with Proventus (6/100) for delivering the message.
+5 Reputation with Whiterun faction (5/100) for delivering the message.
"There is something else you could do for me though, if you're willing. It's suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps. Come, let us find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter relating to these dragons and… rumors of dragons."
"What sort of matter?" I ask, feigning curiosity. "As I said before, I'm something of a scholar myself. Seeing something I thought was nothing but a mere legend with my own eyes was a harrowing, but intriguing experience." The Jarl chuckled.
+1 Reputation with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater (6/100)
"Oh, I think Farengar is going to like you." Even as he said that, we arrived in the very wizard's lab. Just like with everything else, Dragonsreach was much bigger. The throne room was probably about double the size of the game, and we actually had to go down a hallway to reach Farengar's location.
The lab itself was
nothing like what I was expecting. It was something like three or four times larger than usual, to start with. There were also several workstations that seemed to be dedicated to different projects. I didn't actually see an Alchemy or Enchanting table though.
Instead, there were several tools on one of the tables that seemed dedicated to alchemy, more like a chemist's lab than the table from the game. There were glass bottles of various sizes and shapes scattered and filled with all manner of materials.
What I imagined was the new enchanting setup was a large table with various Soul Gems and a dagger. There were symbols etched into the wood, but they didn't glow like the game's enchanting table did. It seemed as if Farengar preferred to do things a particular way.
Speaking of which, the court wizard was sitting, his eyes scanning over a particularly thick book, and mumbling to himself as he wrote notes. "Farengar." The Jarl spoke up, gaining the man's attention. "I have someone here who might be able to help with your project."
Farengar stood and eyed me a bit. "Ah, 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."
"Well, it certainly can't be more dangerous than surviving that dragon attack on Helgen." I mention, watching with some amusement as Farengar's eyes light up. "You would not believe how amazing it was to see one up close."
"You were there when it attacked? I've been looking into dragons for quite some time, but when the news reached me that one had shown up it was really quite amazing to hear. I've been doing my best to scour tomes and rumors for anything that might give me more insight, but there's very little that's survived from the Second Age here in Whiterun."
"What is this stone tablet that I'm looking for? We can discuss things about the dragon that attacked Helgen later, but I did tell the Jarl I'd help you. I may not be a court wizard, but I do think of myself as something of a scholar and a mage." Farengar seemed to straighten a bit as I talked.
"Ah, so you've got some knowledge of the Higher Art then? Well, simply put, the tablet is a map of dragon burial sites. If I had that, we could locate the corpses of dragons and perform some tests. We're not even sure what can harm a dragon right now, so being able to perform some rudimentary examinations would certainly help."
"Ah. That's actually quite useful. Not to mention, there would surely be all sorts of artifacts from earlier Ages that we could study. If it's a map of burial grounds, then wouldn't they be temples built by those that worshiped the Dragons before the Dragon War?" Farengar nodded, seemingly excited that I was of the same mind as him. I couldn't help it.
Despite scholar being a cover-story for my background, I really was interested in this sort of stuff. The Elder Scrolls lore really was quite fascinating and being able to learn about these sort of things up close and personal would be really exciting. Of course, the battles were exciting too, but discovering aspects of Skyrim's history for myself was on a whole different level!
+21 Reputation with Farengar Secret-Fire (21/100) for being more than a simple brute).
Jarl Balgruuf coughed to get our attention. "As you stated before, Orpheus, you two can discuss dragons later. If this map can help us get an advantage against the dragons though, we really do need it as soon as we can." Farengar nodded, losing his excited look for a more stoic one.
"Of course, Jarl. Are you familiar with Bleak Falls Barrow? It's an old Nordic temple just outside Riverwood, to our south. That's the location the Dragonstone is in, if I'm correct. I don't know much about it myself, but I'm sure the locals there would be able to help you."
"We had to go through Riverwood to get here from Helgen, so we know what you're talking about. One of them even pointed my attention to the Barrow on our way to Riverwood. We'll probably need a few days to get things ready, but you'll have your Dragonstone, Farengar."
"Wonderful! If you need any aid before you leave that I can offer, I'm more than happy to oblige a fellow scholar. As I said, I don't really have much in the way to offer in regards to the Barrow itself, but I'm sure there's something else."
"Thank you, Farengar." I then turned to the Jarl. "Jarl Balgruuf, if we're going on a trek that long then we'll likely need to get better gear. You wouldn't happen to know of a smith in the city that we can order something from on short notice?" The Jarl pursed his lips in thought, before nodding.
"Eorlund is the best in Skyrim, but I'm not sure short notice is something even I can get for you. You may be better off asking Adrianne. When you came into town, I'm sure that you saw Warmaidens? It is run by my steward's daughter and her husband. I will ask Proventus to help you get it done before her other orders. This is a project of utmost importance for not only the city, and the Hold, but all of Skyrim."
"Thank you, Jarl." I replied gratefully. I know I could have likely just picked up something from the shop itself, but I really needed for Victoria to have some custom-made armor. It would be easier for her to move in and if the Jarl asked for it, Adrianne would be more inclined to make something better. I didn't really need anything custom-made. Just a proper shield and maybe some better enchanted robes from Farengar and I'd be content. Money wouldn't be too big of an issue, considering the Instant Dungeon, but it did take time to farm. That's why I wanted a few days here.
My thoughts were interrupted as a servant finally entered the lab. "Ah, here we are." Balgruuf smiled. "I wanted to show my gratitude for your service to us, so please take this." The servant stepped towards me and handed me a shield. I examined it a bit, before using Observe. It was a large, round shield with intricate designs that seemed to be made of some sort of steel.
Heavy Skyforge Shield (Flawless)
A shield crafted by Eorlund Grey-Mane for Jarl Balgruuf and gifted to Orpheus Kidwell. Made from high-grade steel at the Skyforge, it is stronger than regular steel and Eorlund's craftsmanship has improved it even further.
"Thank you, Jarl. I really appreciate it." I told him gratefully with a bow of my head. "I'm sure it will find use on my journey."
"Eorlund would be happy to know it was no longer gathering dust in my armory, I think." The Jarl said with a chuckle. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to. I'll allow you to get things prepared for your journey." With that, Balgruuf turned and headed back to the throne room.
I then turned to Farengar. "I don't suppose I could trouble you, as well, Farengar?" I asked him. The wizard seemed curious. "You see, my field of magic is entirely in the Destruction and Alteration schools. As a merchant, I wanted something to keep me alive and my wares protected on the dangerous roads. I've never really attempted a single Conjuration spell, let alone tried my hand at enchanting. I noticed that you, however, seem to be quite skilled at it."
I glanced over at his enchanting station conspicuously so that he'd understand. "I'd offer you just compensation, of course, but I do think that getting a few things worked on by you would help. Truthfully, I only need Adrianne to make new gear for Victoria here. I'd much rather have a nice enchanted robe and a Flesh spell than steel plate."
Farengar seemed to mull over it for a bit before nodding. "I think that should be fine. I did offer to help you, after all. I have a few things that I was going to do, but keeping you alive will help secure the Dragonstone. Bring me the gear you wish to have enchanted and I'll only charge you for the Soul Gems used. Consider your little quest the compensation for the enchanting itself."
"Thank you, Farengar. I'll head into town and get what I need. Hopefully I'll be back before the day's end." A pop up informing me of a passed speech check was all I needed to know that increasing my Charisma was the ideal choice.
Victoria and I made our way out of Dragonsreach then. After we were on the steps descending back into the Wind District, she spoke. "Are you certain that you're a merchant, and not a noble?" She asked. I glanced at her. "You seem to be quite comfortable around all manner of people in Dragonsreach. Usually, a traveling merchant, even one from Cyrodiil, would be at least somewhat nervous."
"I can assure you, that I'm no noble, Victoria." I responded quickly. "I just know the importance of what we're doing, and don't allow things like class or royalty to get in the way of my job. Everyone is equally a meal to a dragon, after all." She seemed to ponder what I said before nodding.
"Maybe you're right. I never was one to read too much into the dragons. Now that I've seen one though, it really does hit home just how dangerous they are." As we reached the bottom of the steps, I asked my own question.
"Why didn't you speak though? Surely you had something to add at any point in our conversations in the castle." The woman chuckled.
"I was perfectly content with allowing you to carry on. I am your guard, not your steward. It is my place to draw my sword in your defense, not to prattle on with the blue-bloods. That is all." Is that how it was then?
"Your opinion is welcome. I have a feeling that we're going to be exposed to quite the danger on our little fetch quest, so you should give your input as well." Victoria paused a moment before nodding.
"I have no issues with what we are doing." She followed me without a word as I guided us in a particular direction, Heimskr's shouts becoming distant. "Jarl Balgruuf is not a rebel sympathizer, and he has remained a man loyal to the Empire, even if he refuses to attack the Stormcloaks. He seems to hold a similar sentiment to yours." When I stopped, Victoria seemed confused. "Where are we?"
"Whiterun's Hall of the Dead." I explained. "I need to off-load these corpses, remember?" Her eyes lit up with recognition as she looked at the stairs leading down to the catacombs. "While I'm doing this, could you head to Warmaiden's and meet this Adrianne? As I told Farengar, I want you to be outfitted with some proper steel armor. I'll head over there after I'm finished here and take care of whatever the cost is. I don't know much about armor myself, so you'll need to take care of the specifics anyways."
"Of course. I'll get on it right away." She replied before leaving. Alright, time to get rid of these corpses and retrieve that Amulet of Arkay. There's so much to do here in Whiterun. I hope I can get everything taken care of before I leave.
