Skyrim Real Roleplay - Ralos Ravenclaw

Lydia was actually quiet all the way back to Whiterun, which made me more nervous than her talking. She didn't have to give my offer so much consideration. A raise in pay or her own house would have sufficed. I don't think I want to know what she is going to come up with. We make it back to Whiterun without too much trouble and quickly find Ysolda in the market square. I pull her aside out of earshot in case Lydia starts retelling the tale for the fun of it.

"Here's your ring back," I say, "turns out it was a misunderstanding."

"Oh, sorry it didn't work out," Ysolda says, sounding truly sad, "You were so excited about the ceremony, saying you've never been to Morvunskar and that Sam was going to set it up for you."

"So Sam is at Morvunskar?" I ask.

"That's what he said. He said he would be ready for you if you showed up, even had some magic staff for you to handle the guests, whatever that means."

"Well, there'll be no ceremony but I still want to have a word with Sam. I've gone through too much to let him off that easy."

Ysolda waves goobye. "Farewell then and...hey, there's hair stuck to this ring. What did she do, throw it at you? She must have been furious."

Lydia says, "You could say she lost her head."

"Well, we better get some sleep if we're to go all the way to Morvunskar," I say and pull Lydia away towards Breezehome.

On the way, Lydia asks, "What was that about a staff? What was she talking about?"

"I forgot about that," I say, "In fact that was the whole reason I started drinking with Sam, as a contest to win some staff he said I could have. I was going to give it to you, since you seemed down the other day. I think I won, but he never gave it to me. Believe me, he owes me a lot more than a staff now. In fact if he tries to give a staff for all this I may just shove it up..."

"Let me get this straight. You did all this for me?"

"Well, I started out doing that and I guess it just snowballed into this mess. Serves me right for trying to do something nice."

Lydia is quiet again and I don't like it but once we are inside Breezehome she says, "All right. If there's a staff waiting at Morvunskar, I won't say anything about your drunken escapades. I may not ever let you forget it, but no one else will know from me. Deal?"

"Deal." I swear if Sam isn't there with a staff, I'll make one out of his spine. I start to get things ready for a dinner but Lydia tells me she will do it and I can go get changed if I want.

Now I'm really confused.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

bebob26 posted...

Tru_To_The_Game posted...

"Lead the way," Lydia says, "I've got your baaaack."

I so need a new follower.

Lmfao! I literally bust out laughing at work reading this. And my coworkers were like, "What are you laughing at?" And I'm like, "You wouldn't get it."

I was throwing everything out there hoping something would stick, and that one just seemed right.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

The next morning I expected some biting remarks from Lydia, now that she's had a whole night to think of some doozies. Instead it is just business as usual with eating and getting supplies together for a walk to Morvunskar, which turns out to be not far from Witchmist grove. Her silence is oddly disquieting. I don't know if she's mad or disappointed, or just plain tired from all the walking. I guess like always I'll find out later, most likely when I'd rather not.

The road is clear with only a skeever attack to speak of near a ritual stone, probably some mage's pet left behind. I find Morvunskar, which is basically a large stone fort. Instead of Sam and wedding decorations, I encounter hostile skeletons followed by even more hostile mages, five of them all totaled. We eventually wade through the sea of black robes and elemental magic until they are piled up in the blood stained snow.

"Charming little place your friend picked out," Lydia says. "Quite the reception. And you say this was planned by a friend? Are you sure you didn't steal his goat or bed his hag?"

I wish I could say for sure I did not but my memory is still a muddled mess. "Yes, I'm sure," I lie. She has enough ammunition already for years of needling.

On the mages I find two spellbooks teaching frostbite and candlelight. I read them and the instructions seem easy and actually remain in my memory. I doubt I'll ever use them but with all the unexpected things going on lately, I'd rather be prepared. We only find one door to the inside of the fort so we use that.

Inside I can hear banging like at a blacksmith's shop. The interior is damp and dark. It's becoming more apparent that if Sam is here, he is taking his time with setting up the decorations. I follow the smithing sounds until I find two mages working a forge and complaining the whole time about having to do it. Even watching them for a minute tells me they have little experience at what they are doing. Time to show them what a real sword can do. I catch them by surprise and they barely have time to put up their wards before I behead one and cut the other down so she lands face first into their too cool forge. The smell of burning hair is nauseating. I grab a book nearby and leave the room. It turns out they were using a book called, 'Cherim's Heart', which gave a series of basic weapon forging instructions. I pack it away for my collection and we move on cautiously.

We don't get too far before I spy a mage performing a ritual of some sort atop a flight of stairs. I doubt he's busy wrapping my wedding present so I lace an arrow with poison and send it flying into his throat. I must have only grazed him because instead of dying, he turns around and advances towards us, his hands glowing. From out of nowhere, three more mages join him and the next thing I now Lydia and I are in a pitched battle with ice shards, fireballs, and curses filling the dark halls. I take out two of them while Lydia and her summoned wolf take out the other two. During the fight I deplete my supply of potions, even one I found on the floor. One mage has a book called, 'Oakflesh'. Sounds creepy but I take it anyway. I catch up with Lydia. She shrugs off her pain but I can tell she had a tough fight as well. It figures nothing but damn dirty mages would be at a party arranged for me. Sam is going to pay for this all right.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

I go up the stairs to see if there's a door. At the top I freeze as a magical circle appears. I look into its blue and white swirling mists and I can hear water running, like of a stream or river rolling over rocks. I can almost make out some scenery within but I don't want to get too close to whatever this is.

Lydia arrives next to me, "What is that?"

"I don't know. It appeared once I got up here. I think I can see some sort of misty grove inside."

"Really? Let me have a look."

Lydia tries to peek around me but in doing so, bumps me closer with her prodigious hips. The circle becomes a vortex, sucking me into it. My last thought is of self-preservation and I reach out to grab Lydia for support but only end up pulling her in with me.

When my vision clears, I find myself indeed in a mist-veiled grove, dimly lit but with decorative lanterns. The grass is lush and green and the trees are healthy and in full bloom. Idyllic, to say the least.

"Now this would make for a beautiful wedding," Lydia says. "Do you suppose Sam knew about this place?"

"If he's here, I hope he'll like it as a final resting place."

I see a path and follow it across wooden plank bridges and over peaceful green hills. It leads to a clearing where I hear voices laughing and joking. Once it opens before me I see a long table beneath hanging lanterns. Barrels of mead are set up and eight men are sitting around the table drinking and having a grand time. One of the men sees Lydia and stands up and shouts, "Finally, the entertainment has arrived!" Followed by a chorus of whoops and hollers.

I don't hear anything after that because in front of me I see Sam Guevenne, smiling and happy to see me. A wave of calm passes over me. I still think he must pay for his misleading me so far, but I just don't feel like acting upon it. He must have done something, but he doesn't seem the type to know anything that powerful.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

"I thought you wouldn't make it," he says jovially, "I was beginning to worry I was too subtle."

"Subtle?" I say, "You think an angry giant and a hagraven orgy is subtle? Not to mention I had to cross Skyrim about five times trying to track you down. You've got some explaining to do while I debate reasons not to kill you."

"Kill me? Now there'll be none of that. I just needed some reason to send you galavanting around the world, getting into delicate situations that only someone like you could deal with. You see..." A darkness swirls around Sam and the friendly drunk turns into a devilish looking Deadra, complete with red armor and horns on his head. "You can call me Sanguine, Prince of Debauchery."

"Now look here," I say, "I'm not falling for your illusions and I think..."

"You've proven quite entertaining. Watching you and your reactions has been the most fun I've had in a hundred years."

"Fun? I've got four feet of steel fun for your neck..." I still can't move.

"Oh yes, and here's your staff. I'm a lover, not a liar. Well, not all the time. By the way," he says, addressing Lydia, "Me and my friends have more merriment to plan but we'll gladly wait if you feel like earning a few extra septims with a little dancing and shedding of all that heavy armor."

"My armor stays where it is," she says through gritted teeth, "Pigs. You're all just a bunch of pigs, aren't you?"

"I demand justice!" I shout ineffectually.

"Now you've insulted your host. You two aren't as fun as I had hoped. You deserve each other. Now be gone!"

The world begins to go black. I hear Sanguine laugh and say as I fade away, "Oh, and Ralos, I'll give Esmerelda your best. Oh, wait, that's right. You already did!" More laughter from all the men. Everything goes dark.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

I come to on the floor of the Bannered Mare. Lydia jogs over to help me up. There's no sign of Sam or the grove or anything. Did any of that actually happen, I wonder hopefully.

"I thought you might not wake up," Lydia says, "Busy dreaming of Moira and her black-feathered sister?" She laughs.

So much for hope. "Didn't we make a deal about that?" I say, taking a seat at the bar. Hulda is busy putting away foodstuffs behind me.

"The deal was that I tell no one, not that I don't remind you whenever I feel like it. Here's your staff."

She thrusts the weapon at me and I flinch. I don't know what I was expecting but it was not a wooden staff with a flower on top. It's too pretty for all the crap I was put through to get it. "What does it do?"

"I don't know. It's your staff so I didn't want to use it with you still being unconscious. I would suggest, however, that we take it to Farengar and see if he knows, or at least use it out in the middle of nowhere where no one can get hurt."

"I'm more worried about myself getting hurt. And I wanted the staff for you, not for myself. It's yours. Do what you want with it."

Lydia seems unsure of herself for the first time I can recall. She takes the staff and looks it over curiously. "Oh, thank you, Tha...Ralos. In that case, eh, we should probably take it to Farengar, I suppose."

"What's wrong with you?" I ask as I stand, testing my balance. "You look like you think the thing's going to come to life and bite you."

She shakes her head, "No, it's not that. You're sure you want me to have it? Not just to hold for you, but... you know, to have?"

What does she want, a receipt? "Yeah, it's yours. Ready to go see your boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend."

"If you say so. I saw how you two were looking at each other last time."

"True, he's handsome, in a way. Tell me, does a hagraven's claws grow like that or do they chew them to points?"

"Fair enough, I'll stop."

We go to Dragonsreach and find Farengar who is falling asleep at his desk in front of a large, dusty tome.

"Wha...What is it? Dragons?"

"Relax, Satin-robes," I tell the wizard, "We just need information on a staff."

"Ah, my favorite housecarl and our illustrious Thane. I've heard of your recent, shall we say, dangerous adventures."

I look straight at Lydia, glare, then back at Farengar. "Have you now?"

"Indeed," he chuckles, "I hear you slew three tankards of mead all by yourself before passing out and drooling on the floor of the Bannered Mare. You really ought to pace yourself. Whoever will we get to replace you? Perhaps that one-armed drunkard who kept speaking in the third person and petting the sock on his hand?"

"Finished, Wizard?" Lydia says loudly, cutting off the man's laughter. "We've done more than you have, with you in here sleeping with one hand in a book and the other Nine's knows where. Now is there anything you can tell me about this staff?"

We're both taken back by her outburst but for once, I wish it had gone on a little longer. That was nice.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

Farengar's surprise is replaced by awe once he set his eyes on the staff. He reaches out with a shaky, bony hand and holds it gingerly at arms length. "Where did you get such a weapon?"

"I won it in a drinking contest," I say, keeping it as simple as possible.

"No, really, how did you come about acquiring this? You can tell me, I'm a wizard."

"Seriously, that's how I got it. So what does it do?"

Farengar only shakes his head, "The luck of the foolish never ceases to amaze me. This, wise Thane, is a Sanguine Rose. It is used to summon a daedra demon to fight for you. They are very powerful, though not always pleasant. Sounds like someone you'd get along with quite well."

"Be that as it may, it's not mine. It's Lydia's."

"That's right," she says, "and I'll be taking my staff back, if you don't mind."

Farengar reluctantly lets it go, but his eyes linger on it. "How much do you want for it? Surely it would be safer here, you'd have to agree."

Lydia put both hands on the staff, "I don't know who this Shirley is, but no, I do not agree. It is mine and no amount of money will get it from me. As a matter of fact, let's see what this can do."

Farengar and I both jump back as she holds the staff aloft then strikes the rose down towards the ground. A purple swirling mist appears then dissolves, leaving a daedra looking very similar to Sanguine himself. He simply stands there looking at us.

"Remarkable," Farengar whispers.

"I am Kynval," it says in a raspy, metallic voice. "Shall I dispose of these two weaklings for you? They are no match for me."

Lydia seems to ponder the question as Farengar's face turns white, then says, "No, I just wanted to see what I was dealing with now that I own this staff. You may go."

"I will go when my time here is finished. All will flee before my wrath!"

Kynval remains standing for another minute then vanishes with a gurgle and a clattering of his sword, which also disappears with him. The sudden departure makes the wizard nearly leap over his map of Skyrim.

"I think that was a successful test," Lydia says. "Time for dinner, Ralos?"

"You're treat? You're on then. Have a good night, Farengar. Oh, and by the smell, you might want to check your clothes. I think you've soiled your pretty robe."

*Quick stat update*
100/250/130 level 19
Resto. - Novice, Dual Cast
Smith. - Steel
H.A. - Juggx3, Well-fitted
Block - Shieldx2
Archery - Over.x3
2Hand -Barb.x4,Champion Stance, Dev. Blow
Been running through this kinda fast so I haven't purposefully leveled up, just taking what the game's giving me. Should be more than enough to finish.

p.s. Working on getting a pic up since I've had several requests, just gotta sign up with photobucket then figure out how to do it. Gonna try taking a pic tonight with my ipad, if not, I've got one on my camera but that has to go through my pc which I haven't used in months.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

Ralos Ravenclaw *National Enquirer Edition*
Here he is in all his Blades Armor glory.

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/alldaygamer71/074468ae312cc459d8952830f7596f21.jpg

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/alldaygamer71/c2ddb218831dafef452c0ca7849b12ae.jpg

And here he is ready to give the ladies what they know they want.

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/alldaygamer71/63ca8b25749736c4b18cb46009c025a2.jpg

First time I've tried this so I hope it works. Please, let me know if I may have done something wrong. Back tomorrow with the main quest.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

Turdas, 25th of Heartfire

When I awake in the morning, I'm exhausted despite a full night's sleep and I have no idea what day it is. Lydia is not too sure either so I'm forced to subtly ask Adrienne next door. I would have sworn more time than that had passed. Now that my unintentional diversion is over I decide to get us back on track with defeating Alduin so I might take over as ruler of the dragons and from there, Skyrim, then all of Tamriel. That will prove to my abhorrent sister who is better to lead our family.

I check my map and find the mark Septimus had made for our next destination. Of course, it is near Winterhold so it looks like more mountain climbing. While checking my packs, including emptying them of assorted gems and other shiny things, I come across the two bottles of skooma I had purchased I don't know how long ago. The fact that I forgot about them must mean I'm well over their attraction. My back twinges, reminding me of my fatigue and I decide to use one of the bottles for a boost of energy. I'll leave the other wrapped up in case the mountains prove ridiculously arduous. Later, I'll tell Lydia how I am able to control it now. She will be so impressed by my progress she may even want to test my stamina in other ways. She's been a useful follower so I guess she deserves it.

We set out once again and I decide we should cross the river at Valtheim Keep. It is still empty of bandits. The roving bands must have heard how thoroughly we cleansed it last time and are now wary of moving in. On the other side I find a narrow shortcut through the mountains. Lydia is struggling a bit to keep up and remarks on my energy.

"I feel the end is drawing near, Lydia," I say, "It is almost time for me to take the reigns of this out of control domain and set it right."

"So you're eager to delegate others to do the real work."

"Of course. Decision makers are a hundred times more important than the common toiler. Without us, the common folk just flounder and become bandits and lollygaggers. That's why they make us into statues. Now pick up the pace, woman, daylight is burning."

Ah, I can still feel the rush of the skooma like it was the first time. I ought to quit more often. My enhanced energy nearly cost me my life however as I hurried a little too much to prove my superiority and slipped on an icy slope. I tried to slow myself by scraping along the rocks but all it did was scrape me up bad. I landed awkwardly and thought I could feel damage internally. Blood pounds in my ears and I quickly begin healing with my magic, though concentrating at first is difficult. Luckily Lydia is too far behind to have seen me fall. That would have proved embarrassing. I'm tempted to drink my other skooma for another boost. I can still taste the first on my lips. I hear Lydia climbing over the rocks, calling out my name, and I decide I will have to wait.

Lydia joins me and just past where I landed I spot a snow covered city down below us. The roofs are covered in domes and there is a lot of metal and stonework, though some has collapsed. It is a Dwemer city, so it must be a ruins, but I can see smoke rising and when I look closer I see footprints in the snow. Then I see movement along a walkway. Bandits. Looks like it's time to stretch my climbing muscles with some sword swinging. I crouch into a sneaking walk and head towards them, holding my sword beside me.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

Anyone know of a way to find out the number of views on a topic? Hard to tell if anyone's still reading them.
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If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

AMP1317 posted...

LOOOOOOOVE the Airplane reference (Surely and Shirley) and I am also reading, almost religiously. Having something to do in my downtime at work is great.

Also, glad you have pictures!!! Good to see Ralos in all his glory! I had pictured him differently, but it's nice to see the real deal. Also, I have a Vizio too!

Cool, thanks for the responses. I know I did a Star Wars reference and I think a Raiders of the Lost Ark one, too. Fun trying to work in modern scripts with the Skyrim dialogues.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

I still suck at sneaking. A bandit sees me but I try hiding behind a large rock, hoping he goes away. He talks boldly until he comes around the rock and finds both me and Lydia waiting for him.

"Welcome to Irkngthand," he shouts, "This city's secrets are ours!"

He dies before he can utter a second sentence. Unfortunately, his shouting attracts another of his cohorts but he dies just as messily and this time without warning anyone else. I can see others walking around and hear them. They suspect intruders but they haven't spotted me yet. I decide to take a direct route to a set of stairs. Lydia goes around another way so we can catch them by surprise in a sort of pincer attack to disguise our numbers.

I'm able to pick off two just using my dwarven bow even though it seems to have lost its iciness. I have a close melee battle with a third who caught me off guard as I was pulling an arrow back through my thigh from the previous fight. I had to shout him into a wall then heal magically while he stumbled back to his feet. I bash him in the face as he raises his sword then cut him down as he is falling back. I hear Lydia grunting as she likes to do as she swings her battleaxe. I would never tell her, but it is actually a bit of a turn on. I follow the sound down to the lower level. She just cleaves her opponent's left arm and shoulder off as I get there.

We think we are done but suddenly yet another bandit attacks us, hitting Lydia first with a wicked looking Orcish greatsword. Lydia must have been weakened from the last fight because she is slow to block and takes a tough shot to her breastplate. The female bandit, obviously the chief of this rabble, turns on me and charges like a mother protecting her young. I block her swing but she comes back with another I had not anticipated and cuts through to my wrist. I manage to stagger her with a pommel to her temple. I try to heal with magic but for some reason my reserves die out in no time. That's when I notice the magical aura around her sword. It must have drained my magic with the cut to my wrist.

Luckily, Lydia returns and they start dueling each other while I swig a healing potion as well as a rare blue potion that is supposed to restore my limited reserves. I join the fight and after a vigorous exchange of counters and parries, I land a slice to her exposed neck. She goes down to one knee and I slice the front of her neck as well and she collapses to the ground. The snow blossoms red around her head. I take her enchanted sword as well as any other valuables and give them to Lydia to carry.

I rest on a fallen pillar to catch my breath. "I'm surprised you did not use your new staff," I say to Lydia. "This would have been a perfect time for it with us so outnumbered."

"I thought of it, but I don't want to use it up," she says.

"Well, next time, use it. I'd rather you used that up than have to keep healing all these painful wounds that I didn't have to take. Is there a reason you're afraid to use it up? I can recharge it once I get another of those fancy gems, you know."

"I know. It's just that... I've never been given anything like this before. Not without having to give something in return. Even then, nothing this special. I don't want to ruin it."

I don't know what to say to that, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. "Hey, you're with the Dragonborn now, Honey. There'll be plenty of exotic and precious items to pick from before long. Just use it, all right?"

"I will, and thank you again, Ralos."

"You can call me Thane. It sounds more official around the underlings. Or Big Dragon, that'll work too."

Lydia finally laughs, "Thane it is, Big Dragon."

"That's better, now let's get out of here."
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

We leave Irkngthand by the main gate and head North again towards Alftand. The way gets colder, especially along the shore of the lake near the city. Either I was not paying attention or my ears are freezing, but two ice wolves are able to get the jump on me and do a fair bit of damage to my arms before I can retreat and get them in front of me for a shout. Their stunned bodies go flying into the woods, one pinwheeling away from a tree. Lydia starts chopping them up with her axe and I only get in one shot before they are both gone. Their pelts are heavy but will make some nice leather strips. Ice wraiths are waiting for us a few minutes later but they fight with a wolf first. Lydia and I practice our archery at the group before the wolf dies and the wraiths attack us. They don't last long this time.

I finally get to a spot I remember as the Nightgate Inn appears. We stop to eat and rest up. The room is small with a single bed but for once, Lydia does not even suggest the floor for me. I must be tired and probably crashing from the skooma, because once in bed and feeling the heat of her body, I just fall asleep.

Fredas, 26th of Heartfire

Lydia is in a good mood in the morning and urges me to get up so we can eat and get moving. I wave her away to go get the food and sit on the edge of the bed. My head feels bloated, like my eyes are about to pop out. My mouth is drier than a draugr's heel and my hands are swollen and shaky. I'd forgotten just what skooma can do to ruin your mornings. Perhaps taking that one bottle was not such a good idea. No more. It's just not worth waking up like this, especially since going to bed had been so nice. I find the other bottle I had bought and nearly throw it out the window, but instead I just drink half to get my hands to stop shaking. I restopper the top and put it back in case half wears off too quickly. By the time I'm dressed, I think I can keep food down and go out to find Lydia had ordered a huge platter of food. My stomach rolls but steadies after a moment. She'll be eating even more than usual today.

We leave the inn and straightaway find a some wayward pass through the mountains. It should save us a few hours of climbing at least. The pass must have been used by someone for a camp or hideout because there is an burial alter set up with a tribute to Arkay. I touch the statue and feel the boost to my hardiness. I also grab an amulet with the Arkay symbol that is laying nearby.

Just as we leave the pass I can hear the sounds of battle in front of us. I see four men, most likely bandits, trying to fend off two nasty ice wraiths. I'm tempted to just let them fight, but the skooma I took has got me anxious to get my sword cleaving into something, or someone. I charge towards the nearest bandit.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

preachinsin posted...

Finally caught up. I'm getting a bit spoiled, but the writing makes it worth it. We're lucky to be getting for free what others have to pay for. Didn't your mother ever talk to you about cows and milk?

Tell me about it. I do almost all of these on my breaks at work, so it I've got plenty of time at home to do the 'real' writing that helps keep lights and water working in the house. Speaking of which, is it permissible on Gamefaqs to advertise, say a book, in a signature? Just curious if anyone knows. Couldn't find anything in the rules faqs.
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If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.

While I'm battling with a well-armored bandit, I hear Lydia summon something then her daedra warrior, Kynval, pushes past me.

"Stand aside, Dragonchump," he rasps, "Let me show you how to wet a blade!"

I finish off my fight with a clean beheading. "How's that, Hornhead? From now on you will address me as Dragonborn or my Lord."

"Bah!" Kynval spits out then runs without hesitation towards the ongoing fray.

I stop Lydia as she runs by, "I know I said to use the staff, but is there any way to temper the mouth of your summons?"

"He's a product of Sanguine himself, and you remember how he was. What do you think the chances of quieting him are?"

She runs off to fight. She has a point. I assume the daedra will just always be as irreverent as Sam, eh, Sanguine. At least he's useful in a fight. He and Lydia have already taken out all of the combatants except for one ice wraith and the daedra's sword seems to be setting it on fire with each shot. Perhaps he'll get better once he witnesses more of my fighting prowess. I'm not going to hold my breath, however.

I join them as they walk among the bodies making sure the bandits are dead. Kynval seems to relish the task, plunging his sword through all of their chests before he finally growls and vanishes.

"Your guy's efficient," I say to Lydia, "I'll give him that."

"He's more powerful than my wolf summons, but I don't think I'd like him walking behind me, though he did compliment me on my fighting."

"He gave you a compliment? I'll have to have a word with him next time. I demonstrated just as much skill in front of him and all he did was scoff. Anyway, lets go see if we can find our way into this Alftand."

We find a camp nearby outside of a partially buried dwarven ruin but it looks to have been abandoned long ago. The camp members are merely frozen shapes in the snow. I find what presumably the bandits were after - a locked chest that when opened reveals a nice collection of gems and jewelry. While I was picking the lock, Lydia scouted around and found a bridge leading down into the ruin. We have a quick bite to eat and a rest inside one of the tents then follow the narrow walkway to the interior of Alftand.
---
If you have to cheat, you're admitting to yourself you're not good enough.