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[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484 are all replies on the same post.

Alvor, Hadvar's uncle, and his family were very friendly and happy to help. They begged Draygar to bring the news of Helgen to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun, which seemed reasonable. Riverwood was woefully undefended, although if the dragon could obliterate a fort of the imperial legion Draygar wasn't sure what good a few local guards would do. He agreed to make the trip once he'd recovered, which they seemed to find acceptable.

The next morning Draygar awoke refreshed and went to sell what valuables he'd managed to bring from Helgen to get himself started in Skyrim. After all, the imperials who had captured in had confiscated all his belongings. He was able to get a small sum, it seemed that the trader had other problems though. Some kind of stolen treasure or heirloom. He tentatively agreed to see what he could do to help them, favour with a merchant was not to be underestimated, but then the man revealed that it was hidden in some ancient barrow! Hadvar had warned him about that place, full of draugr he'd said. There was no way Draygar was going there. He'd never come back!

He headed over to the local inn to ask around for local information, and as good fortune would have it it seemed they had some alchemy equipment! What luck! After rustling up some new potions from what ingredients he'd been able to gather, he went to talk to the barkeep. For now the only information of use was a bounty on a group of bandits (an opportunity for later perhaps) and a tip to talk to the local bard Sven about some local gossip. The arrogant boy was apparently keen on the merchant's pretty sister, who had recently been spending her time with a local bosmer woodcutter. The woodcutter seemed pretty handy with a bow though, and when the bard asked Draygar to deliver a faked letter to the girl Draygar though it wiser to err on the side of honesty, thus winning the favour of the elf, who agreed to acompany him on his travels.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819 are all replies on the same post.

The name of the bosmer woodcutter was Faendal and he would prove to be a true friend to Draygar in Skyrim. The generous elf was willing to lend the nord much from his home, including several animal skins. Between these and the pelts harvested from some wolves and an elk he'd shot on his way to Riverwood, Draygar was able to craft leather armour for the both of them at Alvor's forge, along with some weapons with the supplies Alvor lent him.

Faendal suggested that if Draygar needed more steel then there was an iron mine to the south west near the standing stones that Hadvar had shown him on the way from Helgen. (Draygar had been born under the sign of the thief and as such received its blessing.) So the pair ventured out to see what could be won in Embershard Mine.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964 are all replies on the same post.

Draygar sat on the floor outside the mine trying to catch his breath. He glanced across at the stripped corpse of the orsimer guard they'd just encountered. Apparently the mine was infested with bandits. Nothing was ever easy was it? He was just glad he'd brought poison... and his crossbow... and crafted a steel mace. If he'd been lacking just one the ork would likely have killed them both. He'd been wearing steel armour and a couple of pieces of steel plate. They would sell well at least, if they lived to enjoy the gold. Draygar downed a healing potion. At least Faendal was a good shot with his hunting bow. Bracing themselves the pair snuck inside.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209 are all replies on the same post.

Draygar marvelled at the power of his steel crossbow, with the element of surprise it was truly deadly. He'd caught five bandits unaware and killed them in as many shots, although poisoned bolts had helped. The sixth had been protected by heavier armour though and not taken kindly to beeing shot in the back at the forge. Back to mace and shield. Another bandit joined the fray and there were a few tense moments, but between a lot of well timed blocking and Faendal's twin swords to flank with (Advanced Follower Tweaks, ranger combat style) both fell, leaving their leader sniping at the duo from the bridge across the cavern with a crossbow.

Draygar caught a glancing hit before he could step behind one of the stone pillars and it left him bleeding badly. Beeing on the other end of a crossbow was no fun at all. He quickly drank a healing potion. Faendal had switched back to his bow, but had yet to hit. Draygar waited for the next bolt to clatter off of the stone and then jumped out to return fire while the bandit reloaded. The lucky shot took him through the throat and the poison did the rest.

By the forge below was another crafting manual and a smithing book. Light armour forging and a work on the details of manufacturing scaled armour. The leader, it seemed, had been carrying only a wooden crossbow, and Draygar shuddered at the thought of what may have happened had the weapon been of steel.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444 are all replies on the same post.

The next day, their pockets laden with gold from the bounty of their victory in Embershard Mine, and their packs filled with iron ore, Draygar and Faendal set out for Whiterun, pausing only briefly along the way for some mace practice on a swarm of four small mud crabs. On the road north they passed an imperial patrol bringing in a stormcloak prisoner and Draygar warily kept his head down, well aware of how on edge imperial forces are in Skyrim. Better to avoid attention.

At the bridge across the white river they took a short break while Draygar went to catch butterflies for alchemy. The road is lined with mountain flowers, tundra cotton and lavender, which he gathers in abundance, along with a valuable Nirnroot.

When they reach the Pelagia farm they witness a band of three warriors fell a giant, which Draygar quickly approache to check for a useable toe, but he is rebuffed by a fierce and beautiful archer with hair redder and more vibrant than his own. He doesn't rise to her taunts though, instead making conversation with the friendly and relaxed Farkas. A big man in heavy armour who explains that they are of "The Companions" and who exactly that is. Draygar says that perhaps he will visit them in their longhouse in city.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444, #18716394 are all replies on the same post.

Draygar's first day in Whiterun is eventful and begins with an audience with Jarl Balgruuf. He only managed to convince the guards to let him in the city with word of Helgen, and it seems these words have carried him all the way to the gates of Dragonreach at the peak of the cloud district. The Jarl is greatly impressed by Draygar's tale, though the Housecarl eyes him warily, resplendent in her ebony armour. Balgruuf though seems to be of the impression that the alchemist is actually some kind of warrior and gifts him a set of gilded moonstone armour, before bringing him to his court wizard Farengar - another manipulative man trying to send him to his death at the hands of the undead. It seems all roads lead to Bleak Falls Barrow, he'll have to do something about that.

By the end of the day Draygar feels like he's run errands for half the city, earning a small handful of gold in the process. Bringing Farengar's frost salts to the alchemist Danica earns him a free selection of ingredients for new potions though, which he quickly mixes using her lab.

Kodlak Whitemane, the Harbinger of the Companions, admits him to their ranks, earning the respect of Aela the Huntress in his fight with Vilkas. Farkas asks him to take care of a job dealing with the same bandits for which he picked up a bounty in Riverwood, a job he now begins to consider more realistically. They can't be any tougher than the bandits in Embershard Mine can they? Those bandits that nearly killed him and his friend. Maybe after some training then.

In the longhouse Jorrvaskr, the home of the companions he also finds some valuable silver ingots, from which he plans to forge weapons in preparation for his inevitable trip into Bleak Falls, as well as a mammoth tusk for the local merchant Ysolda. At least he had a regular place to sleep now.

He thinks back over the day as he lies in the bunk, feeling his swollen lip from his fight with woman in plate mail outside the stables. Uthgerd the Unbroken they'd called her. She'd knocked him flat on his back. He could have had her if he could only dodge! He'd have to work on that, the fight had cost him 100 septims, but he would be back. Tomorrow he and Faendal planned to hit the bandit camp at White River Watch and retrieve Amren's family sword, he'd better get some rest.

Edited by stormchaser6, 26 September 2014 - 11:37 AM.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444, #18716394, #18716904 are all replies on the same post.

Draygar sits around the campfire outside White River Watch, eating a lunch of fresh venison stew. He was starting to think that this might be getting easier, although he wasn't sure that was a good thing. Was this what life in Skyrim was like?

He was getting good at sneaking now, and shooting and blocking for that matter. Arkay's blessing had certainly helped today, having the god of death on your side could never be said to be a bad thing. They'd never have beaten Hajvarr Iron-Hand if they hadn’t caught him by surprise. That first poisoned crossbow bolt had made all the difference. Even so he'd almost knocked Draygar's head from his shoulders with that dwarven warhammer before Faendal could stab him in the back. Now here they were sitting on a pile of loot, Faendal in new elven armour and Iron-Hands' dwarven cuirass and magic steel gauntlets in the saddlebags of their new horse.

They were a good team, but they lacked someone with staying power, someone who could take a hit and keep coming. So far everything had been luck, the element of surprise and a poisoned crossbow. That had to change if they were going to survive long term, and he knew how.

That afternoon, after offloading their profits on Adrienne and Belethor, Draygar threw open the door to the Bannered Mare with a crash.

"Uthgerd. It's time!"

The woman stood up and laughed heartily.

"Show me your money softgut, I love taking it from you."

Draygar tossed the pouch of septims down, but this time he was ready for Uthgerd. She hit hard, but she was slow, and he'd been practising. Side stepping her punches he repeatedly landed his own until she fell forwards to the ground and spat blood on the floor.

"Now that's what I call a punch. You got me. Best fight I've had in years. You ever need another blade at your side, just ask. Wouldn't mind seeing how you handle a few trolls."

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444, #18716394, #18716904, #18717274 are all replies on the same post.

OOC - If anybody is reading or interested I'm open to suggestions as to where to go next. This is my actual game and obviously more has happened than is written here. These are just some highlights. Uthgerd is looking good in Iron-Hands' dwarven cuirass, which was tempered and better than her plate. I also got some scaled bracers out of that quest. Might pick up Jenassa from the Drunken Huntsman for a party of four. I'm holding off on the bandit camp in Redoran's Retreat for the companions/bounty, because I don't want to trigger Proving Honour until I can handle the hordes of Draugr. With Farkas and my party I might be okay, I have silver crossbow bolts. I was thinking of talking to Cicero next.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444, #18716394, #18716904, #18717274, #18717474 are all replies on the same post.

Between Uthgerd and the dunmer mercenary he'd recently hired Draygar was now for all intents and purposes the leader of a small band of soldiers for hire. Not exactly what he'd had in mind when he came to Skyrim, but it put food in their mouths and certainly wasn't dull. They could use their own roof over their heads though - at the moment they were semi-resident in Jorvasskr's cellar. He was considering answering that letter from the Jarl of Falkreath, but for now they'd built up something of a reputation in Whiterun and he was hesitant to already branch out into another hold.

They'd made short work of of the bandits in Redoran's Retreat and the job had been quite profitable too (Uthgerd was now sporting a fine breastplate of orsimer orichalchum). Furthermore he'd been able to refine a new alchemical recipe, enhancing his vision in the dark, which had proved most useful given their usual stealthy tactics. Aela said Skjor wanted to see him for his next job. It sounded important...

Edited by stormchaser6, 29 September 2014 - 07:07 AM.

[stormchaser6]

In response to post #18712709. #18713189, #18713554, #18713829, #18714124, #18714229, #18714299, #18714484, #18714819, #18714964, #18715209, #18715444, #18716394, #18716904, #18717274, #18717474, #18798594 are all replies on the same post.

So. The Circle were werewolves. That had been a surprise and yet it wasn't even the most dramatic moment they'd experienced within Dustman's Cairn. Farkas and he could now truly call each other shield brothers, they'd both repeatedly saved each others lives in that ancient tomb. Once a deadly trap would have killed him had his friends not rushed in to battle the following silver hand ambush, and in the final chamber he'd found himself the only one left standing as the draugr beat down his loyal followers. That had been intense. Outnumbered, with only his shield and silver longsword to rely on, he'd been forced to dodge, block and parry the blows of the risen warriors always moving around to flank and quickly strike.

In the end he'd been able to save his friends, but it had been very close. Nevertheless, something about the strange carved script on the wall in that chamber had left him feeling more afraid than triumphant. As he'd looked upon them he'd felt a burning in his stomach that he could not extinguish. While his companions now wondered if they perhaps, having survived this, could also emerge victorious from Bleak Falls Barrow on the Jarl's mission, Draygar felt his uneasiness about the consequences of entering that place only grow.