Journal Entry - 19th of Last Seed 4E 201 (Cont.)What am I? Yesterday was a revelation. I have done things only heard of in the tales of old, and feel a power stirring within me that begs to be unleashed. I must know more about what is going on... but again I get ahead of myself.
Yesterday I resolved to clear Bleak Falls Barrow and return Lucan's property. Before heading up, I decided to improve my gear a bit. Gerdur gave me the okay to use the forge while Alvor was out of town, so I purchased some leather from Lucan (at quite a high price...) and worked it for a few hours along with a bit of iron to craft a good strong suit of leather armor, as well as bracers and boots. I also made myself a padded hood lined with some fur scraps from the last wolf hide I had, which should help in keeping me warm. I reinforced the armor, and restrung my bow to keep it in good condition. I had to chop a bit of wood at the mill to pay for all of this, but it was worthwhile.
Whilst working at the mill, I was approached by a man named Faendal. He seemed to have a grudge against Sven because Lucan's sister fancied the bard... or didn't fancy Faendal. I don't know, it seemed juvenile. He then asked me to deliver a false letter to Camilla claiming it was from Sven, as if this would sway her heart and set her against the bard. What a devious and cowardly plan... I decided to uncover the plot and tell Camilla the truth. A Nord woman can make up her own mind about who to love, and doesn't need some conniving elf to lying to manipulate her. It went as well as can be expected. He mentioned a bard college, but I'm not terribly interested in singing for a living. It is a noble profession, but I can barely hold a note.
With that completed, I made my way towards Bleak Falls Barrow. The air was bitterly cold, the wind was clawing at my flesh like a thing alive. It sought out any opening in my clothing and stole my blood's warmth away. Its hard to tell, but I'd swear it wasn't this cold in the area before I was taken prisoner. As I approached the ruined tower, I noted two guards out front.
I shot one, and he fell quickly. The other rushed at me and the battle was joined.
The battle only lasted mere minutes, but it felt like ages. I was on form, finding it easy to dodge the blows. I blocked with shield and struck with my dagger, faster than the bandits could recover. With no fire, they must have been suffering from the bitter cold same as me. Perhaps that is why I won... perhaps there is another reason. I helped myself to a small stash of coins and goods before moving on up the trail.
As the barrow came into view, I let out a low whistle. By my ancestors, who could have built such a place? The vaulted stone arches and architecture spoke to ancient nordic traditions ingrained in my blood. I knew this was a holy site, and these bandits had defiled it. The dead here would not be pleased. Perhaps I could win some measure of solace for them by slaying the interlopers. It did not take long, and ice gripped my heart as I cut them down without mercy.
Two more souls had departed this realm thanks to me. I was disgusted at the ease with which I performed these actions, but looking back on it now it's as if I was gripped by a sort of fever. By then I was freezing nearly to death, my limbs sluggish and numb, but when the killing started a rage welled up within me like I had never felt, and strange words danced upon my lips. I found myself snarling as I waded into the bandits. As their corpses lay lifeless, the primal feeling left me numb and cold once again. I was drawn to the door, and the smell of fire. The smell promised warmth... perhaps I would not die in this gods-forsaken place.
The primal rage gripped me again as I saw the two bandits hugging close to the fire for warmth. They did not delay me for long, but I looked away in shame as my dagger dispatched them to Aetherius. I say a prayer now for their souls; they were brothers of Skyrim, no matter how wayward. The fire warmed my flesh and lifted my spirits. I sat for a short meal of bread and cheese, along with some mead, and then continued on. The caves were ancient, and many burial urns littered the path. I left them undisturbed, I would not steal from my ancestors. They deserved their rest.
As I approached a chamber I saw a man's shape and quickly extinguished my torch. The man, likely another bandit, muttered to himself and then pulled a lever. Darts shot out of the wall and slew him... poison? I approached after I was sure he was dead. He had a nice cloak
I took his cloak and his gold. I had heard of these locking mechanisms in the old stories... the Snake, Whale and Eagle are sacred animals of the ancestors, and their images are used often in ancient icons. I made the symbols match those on the wall, and when I pulled the lever the door opened. That wasn't too difficult... Beyond the door was a short ramp. I was jumped by a few skevers, but they fell without trouble. Inside the next web-choked cave I (surprise!) found a spider. It was massive, the largest frostbite spider I'd ever seen. Fortunate for me, it was also wounded... likely by its last victim who was yelling for help nearby, caught in a web like a fly. The spider did not prove difficult, and its slaying makes this region just that small bit safer for honest folk.
Thus it was that I met Arvel the Swift, as he called himself. The man was caught in a web, but I freed him. By way of repayment, he ran away laughing... but he got what was coming to him in the end.
I found Arvel dead just ahead, but not before his passage had awakened the ancestral dead to defend the barrow. I tried to calm the restless spirits, but they shouted at me in rage and I was forced to defend myself. Ancestors forgive me, I only did what I did to preserve my own life. I took nothing from the honored dead, and said a prayer over each one I dispatched, that their soul may return to Sovngarde with honor. Despite what I was forced to do, I have the claw now and Arvel's journal mentions the secret of its use. It seems quite simple, as the icons engraved upon the claw likely open another such locking mechanism.
Though I was forced to destroy a few more of the honored dead, I had reached the central chamber of the Barrow. I should have left at this point, I had the claw... something within me urged me onwards. Something ahead beckoned me forth. It was a force I could not resist, and so I continued. Within the chamber, I found the most remarkable thing that I have ever lain eyes on. I also nearly died.
Inside I found a wall of words in a language I had never seen, and yet I understood them all. The wall pulsed with an ancient power which gripped my soul and pulled me forward. As I approached, the knowledge and wisdom of the ancients flowed into my very being, and I understood for the first time in my life that I was different. I felt the first stirrings of an ancient power within me that day, a power which had awakened and demanded to be used. I must learn more about this, perhaps there is someone who can teach me to use this power. As I stood contemplating the new future which had unfurled before my eyes, the Lord of the barrow rose from his icy tomb and attacked me. His voice was thunder and knocked my sword from my hand. As I scrambled for it, he attacked me again and again. It was a long fight, as the honored lord matched me blow for blow until a lucky strike from my shield knocked him to his knees.
I ran him through with a prayer for forgiveness, and wished him well on his journey to Sovngarde. It was only afterwards that I realized... I had dispatched an ancient Wight Lord! Me... the simple hunter left for dead in a bandit's prison. I must have a destiny in store for me, these events must have a meaning. I took the lord's blade as my own, and made to exit the caves.
I emerged into a sunlit area near Riverwood, a hidden exit from the old temple it seems. I passed by a lonely cabin where an old woman named Anise wished me well and smiled a lot. She was creepy, but I had other things on my mind. Lucan was overjoyed to have the claw back, and rewarded me handsomely. It was only a few hours after mid-day, but I was exhausted by my trip and chilled to the bone. I retired to the Sleeping Giant and spent the last few hours of the day eating and listening to Sven's songs.
I slept until first light, and rose to the sounds of the town. They're at work early at the sawmill, and someone is feeding chickens outside. I am content for the moment, but I must find out more about what is going on, both with this strange power within me, and with the events of my homeland. I hear talk of war, rebellion, dragons... it worries me.
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Topic: A (modded) Skyrim Adventure! [Image Heavy] (Read 13647 times)