Skyrim Real Roleplay - Ralos Ravenclaw

I have loved all these real roleplays and needed to join in on the fun. I was looking for a new outlet for writing too so if you choose to read, I hope you enjoy.

I had forgotten how clean the air could smell, especially compared to the musty rankness of the caverns beneath Helgen. I'm also glad to be rid of the Imperial soldier I helped escape. Hadvar, Hadnot, whatever his name was, he knew the way out and that's all that was important. I kept us both alive long enough to be free and now he's gone to see his family.
Family, what a waste of a word. They're the reason I'm here to begin with. I was supposed to meet an Argonian to buy some quality skooma when I got caught up in a raid and thrown in with a bunch of thieves and traitors. I know my sister sent the guards to nab me. She thinks my skooma enjoyment is an embarassment to our high and mighty family. Now I see that my parents think so as well since they did not try to free me after word had been sent. Fine. To the Nines with them. When I've made a name for myself here in Tamirel, with gold and a title of my own I'll return and see them put in their place. I've already got dragons going out of their way to free me. That's obviously a sign I am destined for greatness. Of course I'll have to harness or slaughter those beasts later - it damn near got me killed. I've got a sword and armor, cheap as they are, and some gold in my pocket. That's all I need for now, well, that and some skooma. I'll find this Riverwood and introduce them to their next Nord ruler, Ralos Ravenclaw.
I follow the path Hadvar told me to use to reach his little town. I've never been in this area before. There is a lot of beautiful land here I could turn into something worthwhile. I could put a castle on the other side of this river, maybe a monument depicting my arrival nearby. I run across a small monument with three stones. Each has a figure carved into it. One looks like a sneaky thief. Perhaps these are tombstones. At least one thief met his just end. The next has a robed figure on it. A mage, most likely. Why would anyone want to become one of those creepy practitioners? Summoning creatures from who knows where? Raising the dead? Reading musty tomes and scrolls for days? Thinking about it makes my skin crawl. The third stone, however, now there's a mythic figure - a mighty warrior brandishing a sword. Reminds me of myself, in fact.
I reach out to touch the carving and a voice asks me if I accept the warrior's blessing. I'm shocked but recover quickly. Even the stones here can see may valiant, heroic heart. I accept and the stone lights up, announcing to the heavens it has found its herald, or so I assume. I take my iron greatsword from my back and whirl through a couple maneuvers as all true Nords have been trained to do. It feels as though the stone has charged me with an aptitude for learning with the blade. We shall see.

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for. I'm trying for a sort of dark comedy. I'll try and work in more dialogue, too, to break up the monotony.

I find out soon enough. Further down the road I run into two wolves, howling at me from above. They leap down and come at me but I am able to deal with their uncoordinated attack. The last I skewer through his guts and hurl into the swift river. Damn, I could have used that pelt. I almost go after it but my borrowed clothes already look horrid and getting them wet I'm sure would only make them smell worse. I skin the other wolf and move on. The short battle actually made me feel more comfortable with the blade, though I can not wait to purchase a real weapon. Perhaps Riverwood would have something suitable.

As I approach, I can only hope there is more to this (cough) town than what I see. Granted, I don't have access to the sort of gold I was used to living with my parents. How much can they charge for a decent blade made here, anyway? I'll just have to make due until the tributes from my followers begin trickling in.

I am barely in the town when a tall, blonde man talks to me. He instantly tells me above his troubled love life. I glance behind me to make sure I'm the one he is bothering with this. Nope, it is me. I choose to ignore his outburst and ask where I can pick up some supplies.

"If you have stuff to sell, the Riverwood Trader's your best bet. If you need weapons or armor, go see Alvor, the blacksmith. Now about Camilla..."

I spot the blacksmith just ahead. I've had enough of this fool. "Yeah, yeah, put it all in a letter or something," I tell him. Under my breath I mutter, "Then send it to someone who gives a skeever's ass." I leave him there to ponder my advice.

I speak to the blacksmith. He is rightfully astounded by the tale of my harrowing escape from a dragon. He begs me to go to the Jarl in Whiterun and inform him of this danger.
"I'd like to," I say, "but my supplies are a bit thin at the moment."

"Take what you need," he says, "within reason."

I seem to have a good reason for everything he offers me. When I eye a shiny new sword on his table he bristles and puffs up more than I like. I inquire how much for a steel greatsword. The lout actually asks for two hundred and seventy-five septims! Does he not understand my plight? Does he not want to be a part of my imminent greatness? I leave him at his piecemeal forge at seek out the Trader I was told about
.
When I enter the ramshackle establishment, the owner and a woman are arguing. How typical of the poor, I've noticed. Always yelling at each other. To break the ice I ask about their argument with feigned interest. The owner, Lucan, tells me they were robbed. I curse the bandits hoping to get on their good sides. The woman, Camilla, the owner's sister I later find out, actually gives me a wink. To further curry her favor I offer to go after the retched thieves. Lucan promises a reward and we finish with me selling off a few items a picked up escaping from Helgen. I had hoped for some finer clothes to buy but he had nothing but mage-wear. I also discreetly ask about any skooma he might have. He gives me an odd, almost pitiful look and says no. I notice Camilla has gotten up and says she'll show me the way to go. I happily follow her, my eyes glued to her swaying backside. Perhaps I'll show her the way as well.

We walk to the bridge leading out of Riverwood with her talking the whole way. I thank her and she finally goes away. Thank goodness. Unfortunately I notice how late it is and decide to wait until tomorrow to figure out where to go next. I'm feeling a bit sluggish from my day of adventuring and my lack of any skooma. I go back to the inn I passed and have a quick meal of cheese, rabbit, and some warm ale. All right, three warm ales, but like I said, without skooma, I need to drink a lot more and I can't stand wine. Too fruity and it gives me a headache the size of a pregnant horker. After my meal I rent a room and stagger up a flight of narrow stairs to my bed.

The next day I feel refreshed and after a quick meal of cheese and a few apples (washed down with ale), I leave the little town and decide to head towards Whiterun. I'll inform their Jarl of the dragon and maybe get a reward. My chances for scoring some skooma are also much better since it should be a bigger town.

On the other side of the bridge I spot a mudcrab scurrying around in the water. I make short work of it, though it manages to put a new tear in my pants. I cut off its claws for later to make a soup. I also spot some mushrooms growing on a nearby tree stump. I had heard rumors of some mushrooms had special effects on people and thought I would give these a try. I tasted one. Not bad, but it only made me light-headed and caused me to see in blue for a moment. Bah, not worth it.

Around the first bend I am attacked by a monstrous, slavering wolf. He got in the first strike since I had no warning. The heavy armor I picked up from Alvor's home helped keep the damage down and I finish off the beast with two swift blows to the head. One pelt heavier, I move on to Whiterun. Nearly there I come across a meadery. Now we're talking! I venture in but the scoundrel wants over sixty septims for a single bottle!

"Good luck with that," I tell him angrily and leave. "I hope your place becomes infested with skeevers!" I yell once I'm outside.

This neighborhood is terrible. Besides the crooks selling mead, a little further down the road I see a gang of ruffians attacking a giant. I have no love for the pasty, smelly creatures, but four or five against one? I would have taken him on myself but they killed him too quickly. Cowards. Thieves and cowards, that's all I see...wait. Could it be? A khajiit caravan?

I pick up my pace and sure enough there is a khajiit trader outside of the town. I ask the main trader, Ri-saad, but it's a silly question. Of course they have skooma. I buy all I can afford, three bottles, and continue towards Whiterun. I'll have to make these last. Back home I would go through three in a day. I suddenly realize as I down one bottle immediately that I'm going to have to get more money and get it fast. I could have the best weapon in the world but it won't matter if my hands are shaking too much to hold it.

I appreciate that IamI3rian. There's nothing like it when everyone works towards making their own efforts better just for the fun of it.

The guard at the main gate gives me a line about dragons flying around so the town's closed. I'm enjoying my skooma buzz so his brashness does not bother me as much as it should. I inform him I have news for the Jarl about the dragons. He lets me in but with a warning to watch myself. I'm in a good mood, but his insolence is testing that.

After spending most of my money on skooma, I didn't bother looking for any shops. I'll just have to meet the Jarl dressed as I am. Perhaps I'll run into him later after I've found some suitable clothing and I'll have another chance to impress him. Whiterun is at least impressive inside the gates. I stop at the blacksmith's shop to get an idea of her prices. Outrageous! Especially made by a woman! I try unsuccessfully to control my laughter. Despite this she asks me to deliver a sword for her to her father in Dragonsreach. The work she does is tolerable, I suppose, definitely better than what I have now.

"I'll do it," I tell her. Eventually, I tell myself.

I ask for directions from a guard to the Jarl's residence. With his closed helmet he sounds just like the last guard I talked to. His directions take me through the entire town. I like the bustle of the market area but some priest near a fountain needs to calm down a bit. He is going to burst something yelling like that.

At the top of the stone steps I come to Dragonsreach. I like the view here. I may use this for my command base once I'm established as their ruler. The place is huge. You could fit a dragon in here! Inside I'm stopped by an elf waving a sword at me.

"The Jarl is not seeing visitors today," she says.

I place my fists on my hips. "Tell him I have news of his dragon, servant."

"That explains why they let you in. The Jarl will want to hear of this."

You? What did she mean by that?

I tell the Jarl about the dragon's attack on Helgen as Ulfric was about to be executed. His concern seems to deepen about some war. His advisor, the one I'm supposed to give the sword to, squawks about something but he is put in his place by the Jarl. I like this Balgruff. He knows how to control his people. He turns back to me and gives me an outfit of studded armor form his personal stores. I thank him and just as I'm leaving he wants me to talk to his court wizard about a task. As much as I loath mages, I follow in the hopes it will lead to some quick coin.

In the mage's lair the first thing I notice is a huge map with red and blue pins stuck in it. These must pertain to that war Balgruff was talking about. I had no idea Tamirel was so vast. I may have to make use of these Jarls to oversee the tedium of administration.

The wizard speaks first as I approach. "You must be the one the Jarl has told me about."

My fame preceeds me. Despite his attempt at flattery I don't trust him. Why must he keep half his face hidden behind that cowl? A wanted man, perhaps, or maybe he is disfigured by some experiment gone wrong. I won't turn my back on this one.

"I am the one everyone is talking about," I admit. "What do you need?"

He begins to tell me of a simple task, but then he must have seen the hard look I was giving him and changed his tune, admitting it is actually a dangerous endeavor to retrieve an ancient artifact.

"Just tell me what it is and where to go."

Once he realizes that the mention of danger only made it irresistible to me he supplied me with the details. I was surprised of the mention of Bleak Falls Barrow again. It seems fitting that a mage would know all about a refuge for bandits and other lowlife. I nod and leave the room without another word. I did not leave immediately, however. Everyone was busy and not caring that I was lingering so I decided to take a look around. I bump into some brat who not only does not apologize, but calls me a wanderer here to lick his father's boots. My skooma buzz saved the lad's life. If he is the Jarl's son then I'll eat the next skeever I see. I suspect Balgruff's adviser is doing more than laying out plans with the Jarl's woman.

I notice not much is locked in the castle so I assume whatever there is is fair game for the residents and visitors. Of course they want their people to look their best so I fine some fine clothing in different wardrobes. Now I feel respectable enough to talk with Balgruff and be taken seriously. The extra coin and food I find is nice, too. Hopefully the Khajiits will still be there when I leave. I decide to eat before heading back to Riverwood. The barrow seemed an easier route from there.

I stop at the Bannered Mare and take the only empty seat. I order some cooked beef, some ale, and a sweetroll. I manage to choke down the overcooked meat with the help of the stale ale then the bard by the fire begins a song about some ugly red haired fellow. We all had a good laugh at the end but when I turned back around my laughter turned to rage. I leapt from my stool.

"All right, who stole my sweetroll?"

Infuriated, I left the inn without leaving a tip. The nerve of these peasants. On my way out I am stopped by a guard.

"Let me guess," he said, "Someone stole your sweetroll."

I could almost see him grinning inside his stupid helmet. He walks away and I down another bottle of skooma to stop my eye from twitching.

Outside the Khajiit is stilll there so I buy his last three skoomas and trek back to Riverwood. I am tired and still a little angry so I check in at the inn and go to right to sleep to be well rested for tomorrow.

In the morning I eat a breakfast of bread, cheese, and a rabbit I managed to catch last night coming from Whiterun. It was early and still a little dark so the patrolling guards were carrying torches as they walked around. Alvor was asleep so I helped myself to his grinding stone and workbench and improved my equipment. Adrianne's blade sharpened nicely. I may be using this for a while. My destiny is more important than decorating his wall.

I crossed the raging river and after a short walk through the woods, find the path leading towards the barrow. I spot a watchtower and slow to a crawl. I can see a filthy bandit standing by the doorway with his arms folded, probably sleeping. I better not risk sneaking by since it's not the best thing I do. I string my longbow and take aim at him. The arrow strikes him in the chest but I must have missed his vitals. He shouts at me, rousing his fellows, then comes charging with an axe. I put my bow away quickly and draw my sword. I inch backwards down the path to limit how many can come at me. The bloody bandit takes a wild swing which I block. I smack him in the face with the pommel which staggers him. I bring my sword down on his neck and he is done. I take a step and an arrow lands in my hip. It does more damage than I would have thought. I can't let him get any more of those shots in. I charge him, weaving through the hard-packed snow until I'm within range. He's still trying to shoot me when I run my sword through his gut, lifting him in the air and throwing him back down. For the first time I notice it's actually a woman. Is there such a shortage of men here that women have to fill in their ranks? Who's in the kitchens? I wipe my blade on her fur armor but then hear another arrow strike me in the back. I turn and run for cover behind a tree. I spot the thief firing from the bridge to the tower. Now that I'm aware, I can tell this one is a woman also. No matter. Act like a man, die like a man.

I let one more arrow fly by me and I charge the wench. She manages to get one shot in before I reach her. She dodges my first swing by running into the tower. She pulls a dagger.

"You picked the wrong day to get lost, friend," she hisses.

I laugh and land one powerful blow at her chest. She already drops to the ground. I get behind her and expose her throat to my sword.

"How many more of you are there?" I demand. "Tell me and I'll end your life quickly, thief."

I can see the fear of me in her eyes, as it should be. She gurgles, "Seven," then goes limp before I can show my mercy. The battle has left me wounded but energized. I search the tower, turning up some coins, food, and a ruby hidden in a chest at the top. I take the arrows from the bandits and add them to my quiver. The weapons and armor I take from them and stash in a barrel to retrieve later for extra coin. Let their bodies feed the wolves.

I eat some of the food I had just found, some cabbage and apples, and I feel better instantly. I proceed along the only path as the wind begins whipping the snow around so much I can barely see. If I wasn't in the mountains I would suspect a wizard at work. A little further and the barrow appears through the snow. The wind dies down as a try to sneak closer. That figures. A blizzard would have hid me quite nicely. I spot one bandit pacing back and forth to my left. I take aim with my bow but stop as another bandit appears to my right. I didn't think they saw me but suddenly the new bandit comes charging down the steps with a battleaxe at the ready. I turn my bow on him but my shot goes wide. Must have been a gust of wind, or something. He is a big fellow and approaching fast so I ditch my bow and ready my sword.

I block his initial blow and wind up for a power swing of my own. Before I can, however, he recovers and hits me across the shoulder, barely missing my head. The damn thing cut right through my armor. Suddenly an arrow hits me as well then the brute with the axe attacks again. I barely manage to block it but suddenly the blood is pounding in my ears. They must know their only chance to is attack all at once and with all their fury. I have to buy myself some time. I make a break for it, running behind the axe-wielder as he tries a finishing blow. As I run another two arrows land at my feet. I quickly drink two of the potions for healing I picked up in Helgen. Hadvar had told me what they were for but I doubted I would need them. At least I had the sense to keep them handy. I also chug another vial of skooma to aid my fatigue. Refreshed, I return to the battle.

The archers are too far away to matter for the moment but the axe man is almost upon me again. This time I wait for him to swing, stay out of reach, then dart in when he is off balance. I land two slashes, one high, one low, then block his counter swing. I ram my sword across his face and bloody his nose. He falls to one knee and I finish him off. The archers were still waiting, slowly inching down the steps to try their luck a little closer. I won't give them the satisfaction. I'm nobody's target dummy. Nimble even in my armor I swiftly close on them both. One looks to be wearing less armor, another woman, so I go after her first. She draws a sword as I get close but she is too late. She hits me once, a glancing blow to my arm, but I follow up with a two stroke killing move I learned from my father's master-at-arms. The third bandit hides behind a pillar but I know he is there. I work around to see him and he lets an arrow fly. I anticipated as much and it misses as I duck back. Again I charge and he only takes two hits to bring down.

I rummage through their belongings, hoping for another of those healing potions but find only coin and questionable food. I find one green bottle that smells a bit like skooma but lacks its consistency. I'll keep it just in case.

These desperate bandits have made me wary so I search for an entrance besides the huge double doors. To the right I find nothing and the left only a hidden alcove with a satchel and a locked strongbox. The satchel had nothing worthwhile but once I manage to jimmie the stronbox open I find a single coin and a large ruby. I pocket both and wonder at the coin. Perhaps it was someone's lucky coin. I'd rather have the lucky ruby, myself. Now that I've had time to rest and wrap my minor wounds, I open the doors to the barrow.

Inside I find a large, ruined chamber. The floor is littered with crumbling stone, dead skeevers, and one large dead bandit. At least there's one less I have to sully my blade on. I hear voices up ahead and see two of the thieves standing by a fire arguing. Probably rutting-mates. I creep up to the corpse and relieve it of its coin. It's still warm and I nearly step in a puddle of blood around its throat. I resist the urge to gag. I look up to see another bandit laying face up on a tomb. These bandits are nothing but animals. Time for some fun. I sneak to the left where I saw a small alcove. It offers a perfect view of the bandits as well as cover. I get my bow out bury an arrow in the woman's neck. Somehow she survives and the two of them scour the room looking for me. I finish her off with two more arrows but I can not contain my mirth long enough to do the same to the man. He hears me chuckling and waits for me to come out. I oblige him and quickly send him to the Hells with his fellow scum. Four in here, three outside. That should be it according to the cowering thief I questioned. But why would they all just be standing around? None of these lowlifes had Lucan's claw on them. There must be more inside. Damn her! She lied to me! Me! Or she can not count, which would be more believable. Either way it appears there may be more to deal with. I take anything useful from the bandits and stash them in a chest near the fire. These lockpicks I keep finding have proven useful and surprisingly easy to use.

I creep through the barrow's tunnels, finding nothing of real use to me. I do find one bottle of the healing potion along with some linen wraps that could prove very useful later, especially if the food I'm finding does not sit well in my stomach. I leave some of the rougher fabrics behind. A little further I nearly run into another bandit as he approached a lever in the ground. I knew there had to be more! I ready my bow for a shot to the head. The thief throws the lever and is instantly pelted with darts. He goes down quickly. They must have been laced with poison. Once in the chamber I see the lever was part of a trap. The key to it was simple enough to figure out, even with one of the answers dislodged. Simple fool. I check his person but he does not have the claw either. I open the gate and continue on.

I find some coins in an urn and a clear blue crystal a little ways in. I hear the squeaking of skeevers and turn to see three of the foul creatures climbing a spiral staircase at me. I make short work of them, suffering only a few bites. Luckily none are diseased. At the bottom of the stairs I find a moldy scroll and a bottle of something smelling so foul it could only be poison. I pocket both to sell later once I leave this dank place.

Further along I hear someone calling out. How many of these bandits are there? I follow the voice. This one sounds frantic and a bit insane. I have to cut through a thick mass of cobwebs to go any further. How long has he been in here? As soon as I'm through, a huge shadow appears on the ground. I look up to see the biggest spider I've ever seen, even bigger than the ones I dispatched back in Helgen. The man starts screaming, "Don't let him get me!" I ignore him as best I can and start after the spider. Before I can close, it shoots a stream of poison at me, hitting me in the chest. I'm weakened instantly and must retreat back the way I came. Spitting spiders? How fair is that? I can see the hairy beast waiting for me. He will just have to wait. I eat some of the food I found while I recover. The man's screaming is beginning to hurt worse than the poison.

"Shut up, Thief, or I shall leave you here to feed its young!"

IamI3rian posted...

Your writing skills are extraordinary. = )

I'd also like to throw my support behind Ralos, everyone's favorite blue-blood, skooma addict. Seriously, just a few posts, and I feel like I know him.

Also, good to see his take on Bleak Falls Barrow. We all seem to have converged there at the same time. = ) Well, except Shavina. She's busy takin it to the imperials.

P.S. Your action scenes are great. I'm also a fan of binding the wounds, and of course his withdrawl symptoms. Any chance for a pic? I'd absolutely love to see what he looks like. Even a crappy one from a phone would be nice. I wish I could... = /

Thank you, I am humbled. I will try and figure out a pic but sadly I am not as tech savvy as I would like to be.

I snag two arrows and some poison from the dead spider. I notice a few lockpicks sticking out of some dry corpses on the floor and grab those as well. The man's shouts are too grating to ignore so I question him.

"Where is the claw?"

He says he has it and knows how to use it. Perhaps I will let him live.

"Hand it over then, thief."

He points out that his hands are obviously stuck and I must free him first. I don't care for his attitude much. I may let him live just long enough. There is no reason justice should not be dealt out as soon as possible.

"Don't move," I warn him, "Wouldn't want to accidentally cut anything important off, would we?"

Even through the webbing I can see him starting to sweat and glancing downwards. Though tempting, I merely start hacking through the webs. He collaspes and thanks me profusely. Then calls me a fool and takes off running. He is swift, I'll give him that. This is why mercy and me have never gotten along. I curse acidly then give chase.

Luckily, there are no forks in the tunnel or doors for him to duck into and I'm able to catch sight of him. Fast as he is he realizes he can not escape me and turns to fight. We exchange blows in the narrow confines of the dark tunnel but my recent fights have given me more experience with this blade and I eventually outlast him. A quick search of his cooling body reveals the golden claw Lucan had claimed stolen. Along with a few other useful items I find the man's journal. I sit and read a bit to rest my aching body. I would love to down another of my skooma but I resist. Who knows when I'll be able to locate more.

According to the journal there will be a lock that requires this for a key. I snap my fingers, the sound echoing down the tunnel. That must be where the dragonstone Farengar wanted is. First a dragon saves my life, then I'm asked to retrieve a dragonstone, now I'm fortuitously given the very key to accomplish it. Dragons must be somehow linked to my grand destiny. I've heard they are highly intelligent. Perhaps the next one I see I will try to converse with to see how they may serve me best.

Rested, I continue on. This task is already taking longer than I expected. I've got a kingdom to overthrow and I'm picking through dead thieves clothes? This had better be worth it. It doesn't take long before the stench of death fills the still air. I get a better grip on my sword as I move along down a ramp. I can see ahead there are crypts set within the walls. Some are empty but others are filled with the dead in various stages of preparation. Sloppy work, no wonder it's fallen under control of bandits. My family would never have let their dead go so unattended. That leads to the dead coming back to seek revenge.

No sooner do I finish the thought then I see one of the interred moving to get up. Did Farengar even warn me about this? I can't recall but it does not matter now. The dead are walking, armed and armored, and only I am here to send them back. I suspect Farengar sent me here knowing what was waiting. I shall live long enough to at least know the truth.
The dead man taunts me, waving his ancient sword in the air. As he approaches I notice more dead are following him. Again I retreat to a narrower space and let them come at me. I'm not even sure if they can be killed with a normal weapon. I soon find they die as surely as the living, though less messily. I check the dead for loose coin. No sense letting the bandits have it.

I pass by a nasty spiked door, only noticing the pressure plate just before stepping on it. The tunnel leads past more crypts, these fancier, but still poorly maintained. I can smell oil heavy in the air and notice oil pooling on the floor. This whole place is a fire trap. It did give me an idea, though. As a few of the walking dead ran at me, I put my new archery skills to use and severed one of the lanterns in front of them. The ensuing conflagration destroyed them all. The smell, however, will haunt my nose for days, I fear. Another trap, one with large pendulum blades, takes me a moment to figure out. A simply time it right and run through them. I feel sorry for anyone old or with a gimpy leg. That would indeed be precarious.

I find three more chests, containing various useful items, healing potions, scrolls, and coin. There was even one dead, I believe someone once called them draugr, that came right out of a closed stone coffin to try to kill me. I pass by a waterfall hiding another chest and come to a door. Hopefully this dragonstone is on the other side. I stop to have a quick dinner of cheese and a horse haunch I acquired from Dragonsreach.

I press on through the door but nothing immediately attacks me. In fact it's too quiet with just the wind howling low through the passage. A little further and I hear the scything sounds of another blade trap. I see nothing moving beyond them so I wait then run through them again, this time the last blade passes through the hem of my armor, slicing off a piece. Now I'll have to replace this. My ruined armor will have to wait as a draugr rises from an open coffin beside me. I run up to it as it struggles to get to its feet. It takes three hits but it collapses back into the coffin. How's that for efficient? My self-congratulations are put on hold when an arrow pierces my side. I look up to see one of the dead standing on a ledge firing down on me. Another has made his way down the stairs. This one still has a full red beard around his bony chin. We engage near a puddle of oil. I block his sword then cut his leg out from under him and slash down across his neck. The archer is still shooting but he apparently can not hit a moving target to save his..uh..death. I charge upstairs and he waits too long to switch weapons. I knock him off his perch and he dies on impact. I go back downstairs to check a small side room I noticed during the fight. All I find is a small bottle, unlabeled, but feels warm to the touch. I pocket it for sale later.

The path leads me upstairs and to another set of doors. These open onto a long chamber. It's silent and warm, the fires illuminating carved representations on the walls. The one I find the most interesting is of a warrior holding the skull and spine of a dragon in each hand. I'll have to remember that pose for one of my statues that I commission. I approach the stone door at the end of the chamber and work the puzzle along with the claw just as the craven thief's journal described. The ancient stoneworks prove flawless as usual and the door descends into the floor revealing a staircase leading up. This must be it.

The cavern is immense. Waterfalls cascade on either side of an enormous alter. I can already feel a power in this room, feel it in my blood. I barely notice a colony of bats rush passed my head. I cross a small bridge and I hear chanting that grows louder as I approach the wall. I see an alter, another coffin, and a chest but the wall holds my interest. A giant stone reptilian head stares down from the top. Below it I see mysterious writings on the wall and a small spot that is glowing. I'm drawn closer and suddenly the room begins shifting and I nearly black out. A word burns itself into my vision though I doubt know what it means. I can almost hear it sizzling and the sound brings me back to the chamber, and none too soon. The top of the coffin bursts open and I force myself to grab hold of my sword to defend myself. Even at a distance I can feel a coldness radiating from the towering warrior. He laughs evilly then lurches forward with some sort of shout. An invisible force as well as the foulness of his breath stagger me back into the wall. He does not mean for me to leave this cave. I swear I will never become one of his thralls.

I take the fight to him, knowing he will only cut me down if I try to find a better vantage to fight from. I block his first strike but even so my arms ache as if suddenly frozen. It is then I see the frost emanating from his sword. I feel tired already. I change my tactics realizing I must rely on quickness rather than brute force. He raises his sword for another blow but I bash my sword into him first. He reels back and I slash it his chest. He tries to hit me again and I do the same. Death has obviously given him no extra intelligence. I do this twice more and he falls to the ground on one knee. I tried mercy before with Arvel and it bit me in the ass. This time, the sentence will be passed as Ralos Ravenclaw has learned is best. My sword slices into the creature's neck and his skeletal form crumples and slides down the stone steps. The people of this land will find my judgments just as swift and sure.

I sheath my sword and scour the alter and cavern for the loot I've earned. I find much that I can later sell including a scroll having to do with courage and a bottle labeled 'frenzy'. The potion sounds like something used for one of their heathen sacrificial orgies. I'll just keep that. All together I find three chests but no dragonstone. Damn wizards and their lies. I knew he was just trying to lure me to my death. When I get back I'm going to shove...I stop by the alter to pick up the warrior's magic sword when I notice something poking out from under him. I roll the decaying corpse over and find an object that can only be the artifact I was looking for. The wizard shall live another day. Perhaps I may just set him to be my personal skooma maker. I search and find a hidden passage out. It leads to another chest with a nice garnet inside and I follow the fresh air outside.