Skyrim Real Role Play - Shavina

Day 51. FedEX

I wake up in the crypt, its 5:00sm but I must get moving; Ulfric would be expecting the crown. Along the way I cross the Nightgate Inn where I am nearly mugged by a thief. It doesn’t end well for him, I take the small bit of money he has and treat myself to a morning breakfast of horker loaf, baked potatoes, and grilled leeks. At the Inn I ask about the orc I keep hearing lives her but haven’t seen yet. It turns out he sleeps in the cellar. I introduce myself but he wasn’t feeling particularly sociable. Before reaching Windhelm I pass by M’aik who tells me he was once soul trapped.

At Windhelm I overhear the guards talking about the Arentino residence and how it’s cursed. Best to stay away from it for now. I soon arrive at the Palace of Kings. Ulfric asks if there was trouble getting the crown and I tell him the sad news that we lost a lot of good men. I get the sense that he was more upset about the lost men than pleased that he had this crown. I am then ordered to Whiterun to deliver an axe to the Jarl. I am told Balgruuf will understand its meaning.

Traveling to Whiterun as a Stormcloak is less risky than it used to be. At the crypt I was able to get one of the Stormcloak helms that cover your whole face. As long as I only speak with the Jarl of Windhelm and do not stay long I expect no one will recognise me. Along the way I see another company of Imperials with a Stormcloak prisoner who I liberate. I also hunt some goats and even an elk. I miss this place, it used to be home. It was even harder walking through the hold and seeing people I was once friends with and not even being able to say hello out of fear of being discovered by the Companions.
At Dragon’s reach I give balgruuf the axe. It seems to mean a declaration of war. I am told to wait why the Jarl discusses this with his steward. I go to the kitchen and make several venison stews with the ingredients there as I am a messenger and should be treated well. The jarl returns and tells me to return the axe to Ulfric. It seems Balgruf will not side with the Stormcloaks.

Doing as I have been instructed I return to Windhelm. Along the way I liberate another prisoner. Since he is going to Windhelm like me I escort him the rest of the way. A good thing too, because we were eventually ambushed by a thief.
Ulfric takes the axe back and says that the Stormcloaks will march on Whiterun in the coming days and that I am to get orders from General Stone-Fist at a camp outside Whiterun. This introduces a moral dilemma. Sure I want to fight the empire, but now this may mean killing the people of Whiterun to do so. I’ll need to sleep on this as it is now night.

Leaving the Palace, a courier approaches me with a letter and 90 septims. The letter states that Servio Pelagia has died and left me 100 septims (10 taken away as tax). The poor man. I am amazed he left me anything since all I have ever done for him was sell cabbages from a cart I found abandoned on the road. At the Candlehearth hall I use the money to drink, feast, and request songs in his honor. What will I do tomorrow?
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 52. The Battle for Whiterun

I woke up with my thoughts in order. It is true that if I go to battle in Whiterun I may have to fight and kill people who were once my friends. But it’s also true that I also have many allies from Windhelm, many of whom are also Stormcloaks. I realize that I should be fighting in Whiterun. Maybe if I am there I can help make sure the battle doesn’t spill over to the poor people of Whiterun.

Along the way I am confronted by Deep-In-His-Cups for the second time. I explain to him that I don’t have 10,000 septims for a bet I don’t even remember and he gets upset and slashes at me with his blade. I have no choice but to fight back, although I regret having to kill him. I don’t think he was a bad person. Sadly, this will be one of many deaths today. Further up the road I see that someone or something has killed Balbus. I remember when I crossed his path over a month ago when he told me he was collecting ingredients for the gourmet. Is this land really that cold?

As I approach the battle field I can see and hear the sound of catapults launching smoldering debris at the walls of Whiterun. I fall into ranks. General Stone-Fist has some words of inspiration and leads us into battle. The mission is simple, breach the city’s barriers, lower the drawbridge, and force Jarl Balgruuf to surrender. I follow my general closely, and our company lead to the cobblestone road that leads into the hold.
From there the battle begins. The Imperials and the Whiterun guard are firing arrows at us and all of a sudden I feel less bad about firing back. I chop through the first of many barriers with my axe and the Stormcloaks flood into the courtyard. Stone-fist makes for the drawbridge controls and I follow suit. We are stopped by three imperials but my shield wall holds and soon the drawbridge is lowered. We cross the lowered bridge and wait in front of the city gate for our company to regroup before storming the city.

Inside, there is little resistance and soon are at the footsteps of Dragon’s Reach. Balgruff is waiting for us in a full suit of steel plate armour. I am surprised to find that the old aristocrat can still swing a sword, but our company is still too much and he surrenders. Then I hear a voice I didn’t want to hear.

The voice belongs to Vignar Gray-mane; one of the werewolf supporters. I discretely go into the mage’s quarters while the Gray-mane, the Jarl, and General Stone-fist talk. I peek out to listen in and learn that Vignar will be the new Jarl. This is decidedly not good for me. Now I know there will be no chance of having peace in Whiterun. I leave Dragon’s Reach to survey the damage.

There are no bodies in the streets and I expect most people were ordered into their homes. Two houses were completely destroyed by the catapults, the awning on the blacksmiths shop was burning, and the butcher’s kiosk was hit too. I look at Carlotta’s food stand, many of her vegetables are out in the open and I worry that they will be looted; she was my friend. Of all the places in this city I wouldn’t mind being hit, Jorvasker, the Wolves den, still stands unharmed. Solemnly, I return to Windhelm to tell Ulfric about this “success”

Perk in Agile Defender
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 53. Doing Something Good for a Change

When I returned to Windhelm last night I received my new orders. Jarl Ulfric regards Fort Neugrad of Falkreath to be important for the Stormcloaks to capture and wants me to rendezvous with General Stone-fist for further instruction in capturing it.

It was an eventful journey to say the least. I took the road through Riverwood and up by where Helgen used to be to reach the Stormcloack camp. Just outside of Riverwood I ran into another redguard but all he was interested in fighting. Lately I’ve been more intolerant of these kinds of folk on the roads. I am supposed to be a soldier and it would damage my reputation in the army if word got out I let someone disrespect me by calling me a milk drinker. Our battle was very technical, with lots of blocking, shield bashing, and strong blows. I was exhausted at its end. A few hours later I then cross paths with a mage battling it out with some bandits. I didn’t notice the bandits at first so I charged the hostile mage. It wasn’t until the mage fell that I was then attacked by the bandits who tried to take advantage of my weakened state. I nearly died. Its times like these when I miss having someone watch my back.

I reach the Stormcloak camp and learn that this is a rescue mission. I remember from Helgen that the Imperials are willing to torture captives. Rescuing people from this fate makes me feel better about my decision to join the Stormcloaks. I was beginning to regret it after Whiterun, but remembering the torture I seen and being given a chance to now save people has rekindled my desire for fight the empire. I am instructed to meet with a company of men outside Fort Neugrad.

Soon I am re-acquainted with Ralof. During our escape from Helgen we were separated when the dragon broke through a watch tower. I am glad to see he fared well. He tells me about a secret entrance into the fort near the lake. I am to sneak in and free the captive soldiers then take the fort. This does not go according to plan as I couldn’t find the secret entrance he talked about and was eventually spotted.

With a limited number of soldiers backing me up I resorted to picking of Imperials with my bow from a stony precipice. Once the courtyard was clear I then continued with the rescue mission on my own. The reason for this was because stealth would be needed. If a whole company of soldiers rushed the prison than the Imperials may kill our comrades. I enter one side of the fort. This seems to be the soldiers barracks. There is food set out on tables, beds for sleeping in, and an armoury. I move along as silently as only a hunter stalking game can and eliminate the Imperials in here, including their commander. With no prisoners being found I go outside and try the other side of the fort.

This is the prison, I can hear voices below talking about escape. I also see signs of torture including bloody cages, racks, and tools of pain. Again I work silently as to not raise alarm. When I am confident that there are no more guards I unlock the prisoner’s cells. Ralof then comes in and tells me the fort is secure. In the morning I am to return to Windhelm to inform Ulfric. I return to the Fort’s barracks. Tonight, dinner is on the Imperials and I have a fancy feast of beef stew, goat cheese, wine, and bread. I sleep in the commander’s bed as it’s the largest and most comfortable of all. On the dresser I read a note about how the imperials are struggling moving supplies in the Pale. I will bring this to Ulfric tomorrow.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 54. Of Hunters and Spriggans

I wake up in the fort and see that I am the last of my company out of bed. They were all outside having a proper rabble over our victory as only Nords do. I would love to join in and celebrate, but someone does need to tell Ulfric about our victory.
Shortly I spot a pair a huge elk. I smile, I much prefer shooting arrows at these magnificent beasts. I pick the larger of the two, a buck, and bring him down. The doe flees, but it’s not long before its chased back in my direction by a pack of wolves. I aim, and shoot the doe before it barrels over me. I then nock another arrow and fall a wolf. One more shot and I am harvesting valuable pelts, meat, and antlers.

The day is bright and sunny. Although Skyrim is a cold place compared to Hammerfell, it’s much brighter as the sun shines on the snow and ice (As a Canadian this is something I love about the winter). Birds sing in the gently frosted evergreens, and in the distance mountains with heavy mists can be seen. As I pass by the Honningbrew meadery, the smell of boiling honey fills the air and I feel great peace.

My contentment is short lives as the road ahead is blocked by two mages, one of fire and the other of ice, exchanging spells of destruction. I stop, crouch down and draw my bow. The string twangs twice, both arrows finding their marks several yards away.
I reach Windehelm without further incident. Ulfric is pleased and rewards me with an elven sword. I ponder at the meaning of the gift. I am then told that our next target is in the reach and that I will receive my orders from General Stone-fist as usual.

As the permafrost up north eventually gives way to the dry grasslands near Whiterun I see a Spriggan is attacking some hunters. I rush in, but am too late, one of the hunters has already fallen. As I close in I see the body of a wolf pierced with an arrow. This must be what caused the spriggan to attack. No matter, I still intervene and save the other hunter who gives em a good price on my pelts. Hunters, like me, have an interesting relationship with the spiggans. On one hand we value the spiggans for protecting nature and its bounty that we need to survive. But sometimes this means spriggans are aggressive towards us when we take from nature. As a general rule a hunter only attacks a spiggan if the spriggan attacks first.

I turn west towards Roriksted, but soon night falls. I am near Broken Fang Cave and decide that will be a suitable place to make camp, as long as the vampires haven’t returned yet. Before I reach there I see the ghostly apparition of an enormous mudcrab which can only be a spirit guardian. Fulfilling another one of Kyne’s trials I send two arrows its way.

At Broken Fang cave the vampires have indeed returned. I clear them out without much effort. I recall that the last time I fought vampires hear they were much more difficult to deal with. Perhaps my time with the Stormcloaks has had other benefits than just exacting revenge on imperials. This confidence does not help me sleep any better and I keep one eye half open in case anymore vampires show up.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Ionizer posted...

I lost track of Shavina after the first week or so of her journey. I'm glad I finally found the topic again and have read it all the through.

This was the first of the Real Roleplay Logs, wasn't it? Timmy, are you proud of what you've done? What you've turned the PS3 Skyrim board into? It seems it just polls and RRPs now... ;-p I'm kidding, of course. So far, the only RRPs i'm following are Shavina and Thalen, but if I some free time, I might look into some the other ones.

Thanks for taking the time to get caught up, I know there's now a lot of entries in here so it must have taken a long time to do.

I don't think this was the first RRP in that I am sure others have written down a log of their Skyrim experience. I think this is the first that actually became popular and I think that has a lot to do with how people supported this topic early on. I think the RRPs make the boards fun again. People doing RRPs have a new reason to play the game again and others enjoy reading the RRPs. I know I actually spend more time reading other RRPs than working on my own.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 55. Who is Thalen Tweel? Part I

I leave the vampire cave, happy I was able to get some sleep in spite of the fact I could be attacked by the undead in my sleep. As approach Roriksted, I see a dragon in the distance, not attacking the village but plainly interested in something on the hill. Apparently the villagers saw the dragon as most people were inside. As I was sneaking through a farmer’s field I see a column of purple energy raise into the sky near the dragon. I decide that one dragon is not enough of a threat to stop me from investigating so I approach with caution. Then, all of a sudden, the dragon flies over me and says something I didn’t catch. I realize it was the black dragon Alduin and he just raised another dragon, Nahagliive. Just to add to the moment, there is even a crack of thunder and a storm begins. I ready my bow and dodge fireballs and bursts of flame by hiding behind the stones marking Nahagliive’s burial site. I am soon overwhelmed and retreat to the village where a team of Stormcloaks come to my aid and together we lay Nahagliive back to rest.

I thank my fellow Stormcloaks for their assistance and continue on to our camp in the Reach. I soon come up on an obvious forsworn ambush where the road bottlenecks between a high cliff and an old ruin. I turn back and go off road. The ground steeply slopes down and I see an over turned cart with a small collection of books scattered among the rocks. I pick up one of the books, An Explorer’s Guide to Skyrim. I open the book and see “Property of Thalen Tweel” . I wonder who he was. It looks like he was on the roads with a cart of books when he was attacked by forsworn, but there is no body. Curious.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 55. Who is Thalen Tweel Part II

I then spot an elk, but before I can ready my bow to shoot it It takes off. Surely it couldn’t have heard me. I take out my axe expecting trouble. I am not disappointed as I am soon being mauled by a pair of saber-cats. I am able to avoid their teeth and claws by staying behind my shield. If I hadn’t been ready for them I would hate to know what might have happened. The elk is nearby, I let it be. I soon find an abandoned camp in the vicinity, and find the bodies of a nord and a hunter close by. I expect they were killed by the saber cats but a journal at the camp suggests that neither man nor beast could do this. The journal gives direction to a cave in the hills where the journals author thinks the killer might be. I follow these directions, and see another saber-cat by the caves entrance. To me it’s clear that saber-cats killed those people and there is no need to go into the cave.

I tried to climb back up but all I found was an abandoned cabin with bear traps and pelts and a book called “Archery lesson”. I rested hear for a bit, reading the book and eating a venison stew. I also skimmed Thalen’s book. It described the locations of some stone monuments. I had already crossed a few fo these, but there was one in the Reach I might try to see if I pass by it. I eventually find the Stormcloak camp by following the river since the surrounding area was too hilly to climb back up.

My orders are to go to Markarth and find evidence that the Jarl’s Stewart is worshipping Talos to get the support of the Reach. The camp is well hidden, I actually need to swim across a river and climb a steep hill to get back on the main road where I am ambushed by the Foresworn by Kolskegger Mine. I narrowly defeat my worthy adversaries and take their weapons for my Foresworn collection. I then realize I am very close to the stone monument in the book I read. All I need to do is climb the hill over the mine. I find place where this is possible, and see the stone. There is a bear here so I kill it before approaching the stone. To show that I was able to make the climb and defeat the bear I accept the sign of the stone.

I reach Markarth after dark, but its not too late so I head towards the keep. I am stopped by a Vigil of Stendar who asks about an abandoned house. I tell him I just got here and don’t know anything about it. Soon I am inside the keep. I expect the Stewart’s quarters are to the side of the main throne room. A guard stops me and tells me I am trespassing. I ignore him because I am a soldier in the Stormcloak army and will not be stopped by a guard. I march past him and right into the Stewarts room. Without trying to be sneaky I tear through the room. Bingo! An amulet of Talos. After that the Stewart is putty in my hands and spills the beans about a shipment of silver bound to Solitude. Convinced he is not lying to me I retire to the Silverblood inn for the night. On my way out I am told how Ulfric defeated the Forsworn using the power of the voice. Maybe he’s the dragon born everyone is talking about.

Perk spent in Hack n slash 2/3
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 56. Sunset on Sungard

I wake up, my back aches. I couldn’t get a good night’s rest on the stone bed of the Silver-blood inn (anyone else notice this about stonebeds?). As I leave Markarth and pass by the stables I see a dog that looks like Meeko. I ask the owner about the dog and he tells me the dog is for sale and is named Vigilance. I hand over 500 and take the dog. I’m sure the dog will be of help, just like Meeko was.

I return to the Stomcloak camp without incident and tell General Stone-Fist what I learned about the silver shipment. I am told to meet with Ralof and his men to hijack the silver. I tell vigilance to stay at the camp, swim across the river, up the steep hill and am back on the main road. I need to cross the Forsworn ambush I went around yesterday and decide to just sprint by since I know must people can’t run as hard or as fast as I can. I see Ralof up ahead and don’t stop until I am with the soldiers. The Forsworn will think twice about continuing their pursuit.

Ralof informs me that the caravan has broken down and that his plan is to take out their look out and use the precipice to provide me back up while I take on the other Imperials. The plan goes off without a hitch. I leave the Silver for Ralof to deliver to Ulfric and return to camp. General Stone-Fist says it is now ready to take fort Sungard, he says I can take a horse so that I don’t miss the assault. I make for the fort with Vigilance.

I get there just before the battle and tell Vigilance to wait by the road. With the other Stormcloaks we rush up the hill. The entrance is guarded by archers and blocked by barriers. I take control of a wooden stand and provide cover with my bow for the other soldiers who breach the barriers. Once the barriers are breached and the archers guarding the entrance are dead I follow my company into the courtyard. The Stormcloaks fight hand to hand with the Imperials pushing against the resistance to gain control of the high ground. I spot two archers and let my own arrows fly before I join them. The adrenaline rush lets me keep my shield up as I hold back several Imperials on a bridge connecting the courtyard to the watch tower the archers were on. The imperial’s are routed and those still living flee.

I collect Vigilance and enter the fort to sleep for the night. There’s not much here to use, mostly steel and iron weapons. I do find some good food in a dining room and also in a panty. I make some venison stews and help myself to a meal of salmon, leeks, and baked potatoes before sleeping in one of the beds in a communal bedroom.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

IamI3rian posted...

timmyg316 posted...

I pick up one of the books, An Explorer’s Guide to Skyrim. I open the book and see “Property of Thalen Tweel” . I wonder who he was. It looks like he was on the roads with a cart of books when he was attacked by forsworn, but there is no body. Curious.

<3

No body I can believe, it's the no deep pools of blood, and scattered gore that makes me wonder what happened.

Maybe he finally got Tolfdir's protection spell worked out. = )

Must be a future event since Thalen hasn't been to the Reach. Yet.

timmyg316 posted...

Who is Thalen Tweel?

I'll take bloodiest mess for three hundred Alex.

Thanks for the shout out!

All I saw was the cart of books and that Explorer's Guide was there and I thought about how Thelen had that book and made "choosing" a guardian stone easy and how I wanted to use it to get the lover stone which was in the book. Too much of a coincidence to not give a shout out you know?
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 57. A New Shield

I wake up, treat myself to a sweet roll from the dining hall and ride out to Windhelm. Just outside the hold I am ambushed by the Imperials. They may have been with a prisoner, but they executed him before I got there. I dismount and strike back. They offer little resistance. Too bad about the prisoner.

Before I meet with Ulfric I take some time to process some pelts I been holding onto from various wolves and bears I have encountered during the war. I use some of the leather to make improvements to my uniform and make a set of leather armour to sell. Ulfric is happy about our success and the control it gives us over silver in the province. I am given another elven treasure, a shield. I will keep it only as a trophy of the victory at Sungard. I am ordered to meet General Stone-Fist in Halmarch.

The road to the camp is barren and I only stop at the Nightgate inn for lunch. I grow more and more curious about how the food there is so good. The camp seems to be slightly off the road next to a swamp. There are ingredients here for the paralyze potion I learned how to make a while back so I make a few samples of the poison at camp. I am told by the general that he plans on running interference with the Imperials and needs me to intercept an Imperial courier who runs between Dragon’s bridge and Roriksted. It’s nearing nightfall but I would rather press on to Roriksted than sleep outside in a frozen swamp.

I soon pass another Redguard on the road looking for a fight. I oblige, but soon realize that I can’t hurt him. His iron armour was too heavy and his shield, no doubt make by the orc smiths of the Dragontail mountains in Hammerfell. Even with my good endurance and help from Vigilance I am quickly exhausted. Realizing I may be in trouble I use one of my paralysis toxins. Its effect is instant. I feel bad having to resort to such a low trick, but in reality if I didn’t I would be the one left on the road. I take the man’s incredible shield and use it as my own, something from Hammerfell after all.
The main road eventually crosses Robber’s gorge, I’ve been here before when the place was full of bandits who forced people to pay tolls or simply rob them blind. Only two bandits were here today. My dog attacks one of the bandits and I take on the other. All the fighting attracts the attention of a dragon circling nearby and I run the rest of the way to Roriksted.

At the Frostfruit inn I ask the innkeeper if he seen any Imperial couriers. He tells me he has but he won’t tell me where they are now, even if I lie and say his life is in danger. I probably should have changes out of my Stormcloak uniform before asking about the courier. The innkeeper does tell me for a price, but all his information amounts to me spending the night at the inn and waiting for the courier to return. I talk to a farmer at the inn named Erik. He tells me he wants to be an adventurer like me but he has no armour and his father, the inn keeper, won’t help him. I consider telling him a tall tale about an arrow in the knee but I don’t think he’s buy it. I talk to his father instead and convince him that his son might resent him if he doesn’t let him leave the farm. Before going to bed I tell Erik his father will help him now and retire until morning hoping the courier will be here.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 58. The Devastation of Roriksted.

I wake up early. Apparently the imperial courier hasn’t arrived yet. Erik seemed to get a head start on being an adventurer and had a new set of steel armour and a new name “Erik the Slayer”. I go outside to keep an eye on the road. The morning passes slowly and I take some time to talk to the local farmers. An elf woman was telling me how she was keeping the crops in good condition when I felt the ground shake. I look into the village and see a dragon like no other attacking everyone in sight.

The dragon was large, mostly white, and spiny. Someone yelled for help. I cautiously take a position next to the inn, ready to run inside in case things got hairy. I send a continuous stream of arrows into the dragon that landed in a farmer’s field across from the inn. It bit down on poor Lemkil and he was no more. The dragon took flight once again but soon landed in the middle of the village. Two Stormcloak soldiers who were guarding the village rushed in and were quickly sent flying. This was also the fate of the village patron, Rorik for whom the community was named, and also the farmer I was just talking to, Reldith. I was the only one left to fight. The dragon sent terrible blasts of icy wind that hit me and felt colder than even the northern sea. I took cover on the other side of the inn until the dragon stopped attacking me this way and sent a final arrow into its heart. This is how the village of Roriksted was put into ruin.

With the other Stormcloaks dead, I patrolled the streets until the Imperial courier returned in the late afternoon (4:00). Now I would love to say that I simply took his message without his knowing and left him there to guard the town, but this did not happen. Instead, I demanded the message and I killed him. With the Imperial message I left for the Stormcloak camp. As I walked past robber’s gorge the dragon from yesterday attacked. By some miracle there was a horse standing on the road and I mounted it and rode away.

At the camp General Stone-Fist reads the message and makes changes to make our attack on the Halmarch Fort more likely to succeed. He wants the message delivered. It’s late, but the inn at Morthal sounds better than the Stormcloak camp and it’s only a short ride. I drop a raw rabbit haunch for Vigilance and go to deliver my message. Along the way I am attacked by some imperials on the road. This actually worked out well for me since I could take a uniform and be more convincing when I deliver the imperial message, because remember, I did not know I would also be responsible for delivering the message (Shavina: Master of Disguise).

Before delivering a blizzard rolled in. The Imperial officer accepts my message then recommends the inn for food and a place to sleep. I take his word for it and rent a room, lucky to not be sleeping in a frozen swamp.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523

Day 59. Promotion

I wake up in the early morning and make the short ride back to the Stormcloak camp without incident. General Stone-fist tells me that there is a company outside Fort Snowhawk ready to begin an attack. I hit the road and only stop to leave Vigilance at Morthal, I leave him another bit of rabbit to munch on during the attack.

As I approach the fort I see that it has one large tower in the middle with two smaller towers on either side. I meet the other soldiers and we rush the fort. Much like the assault on Fort Sungard, my first job is to provide cover for the other Stormcloaks who need to break through the Imperial barriers to breech the fort. The Imperial archers were using the two smaller towers to shoot the Stormcloaks who were having trouble with the barrier. I provided cover as best I can, killing several Imperial archers.

Once the barriers were destroyed the Stormcloaks flooded the inner courtyard. I, on the other hand, went into the fort to try to gain control of the highest tower. Inside there were five imperials. I took some damage from them, including a small gash on the arm. The orc shield, however, is amazing. The metal its made from is hard to resist damage, but also a little soft so that weapons that strike it stick in a bit and are hard to pull out. This is probably why a lot of orc weapons like like they are carved as if made from wood rather than ground to a sharp point like steel or iron. Anyway, I climb up a spiral staircase up to the highest watch tower. Before I go out I take a healing potion from the cupboard next to the ladder going up. From the main tower I can see the whole battlefield. Some archers try to shoot me form hear but other than that I am well protected. I take advantage of this potion and let arrows rain down on the imperials until they retreat.

I go back inside and look for anything of use in the fort. Nothing spectacular, some salt, a goat hide, a few coins. I then check out the prison. The cells are mainly empty but most have a ruined book for the prisoners to read, if the books are even good enough to read. I also see some torture devices. Once cell has a cave dug into the back of it, obviously for escape. I follow this cave out of the fort to see where it opens up and then return turn to the main road to make for Windhelm.

On the road i see a team of bandits take on another team of conjurers. The mages are quickly cut down and the bandits go after me. Without much difficulty I am able to defend myself. Vigilance aids me in the skirmish (I picked him up as I passed Morthal) and is rewarded with more meat. It will be convenient having a dog to feed old meat too. I search the wagon and the conjurers and find two books. One teaches a spell called lesser ward and the other is for a bound sword. I plan on reading these later when I have more time.

I reach Windhelm as the sun goes down and I report to Jarl Ulfric. He is ecstatic about taking a fort so close to Solitude. In fact, he rewards me with a suit of elven gilded armour and also a promotion. He declares that I am now a general in his army and gives me a new uniform. The uniform is the same as General Stone-fist wears and is made from the pelt of a cave bear. The bracers even have bear claws attached just to make it more authentic. I am told Ulfric now intends to take over Solitude and that I won’t have much time to bask in the glory of my accomplishments. I hope I have some time tomorrow to make some improvements to my new equipment since I expect they will be needed. I retire to the Candlehearth Hall.
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PSN: TimmymuthpuckinG
RIP Eazy E - 11523