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20th of Last Seed, 4E 201:

There is no possible way I can fully express my gratitude for Hadvar's family at allowing me to stay with them for several days while I recovered from the trauma of Helgen. Their generosity wasn't something I expected to experience from the local Nords; there were tales of the people of Skyrim that depicted them as hardy folks, as harsh as the environment in which they live. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they -at least, not all of them- weren't like that.

I gave my farewells to the Nord family after a couple of days (and restless nights. Helgen insisted upon visiting me in my dreams) and prepared myself to set off for Whiterun. My first stop was at the Riverwood Trader. As I entered the building, I heard the brother and sister pair arguing about an item that had been stolen. When I questioned the man behind the counter -an Imperial named Lucan Valerius- he said that an item shaped like a Golden Claw had been stolen from his shop by a Dunmer thief. Lucan knew it had been taken to Bleak Falls Barrow. I offered my assistance, and then we did business.

The matter of the Golden Claw wasn't exactly urgent, so I took off in the direction of Whiterun. On the way, a thief attempted to rob me. Keyword: attempted. With my lips pulled back in annoyance, I killed the thief and took her armor. It was made of a thicker, studier leather than the Imperial Light armor I had been wearing and I figured I could put it to good use; more use than a dead body could, anyway.

I passed the Honningbrew Meadery a short while later. Not far ahead, I could hear the sounds of battle. All sorts of grunting and roaring was coming from a farm just up the road. I moved in to investigate.

Just as I got there, a group of three warriors brought down a Giant. No small feat. One of the warriors, a woman, ran up to me. She told me that the problem was taken care of, no thanks to me. I told her that I had only just arrived there when they killed the beast. The woman smiled gently and informed me that she had been sent there with her Shield-Siblings to kill the Giant. It was to be the second woman's training.

Our conversation continued for a while and the Nord woman, Aela, informed me of the Companions: an order of warriors that lived within the walls of Whiterun. If I wanted to join, I only needed to have some skill in combat. Then I would have to speak to Kodlak, the Harbinger of the Companions that resided in Jorrvaskr. It seemed like a good opportunity. Once I'd done what I had promised Alvor, I would join the Companions.

Speaking of my promise... After talking to Aela, I kept running towards the gates of Whiterun. When I got there, I was stopped by a guard. He informed me that the city was closed due to the threat of a Dragon attack. In turn, I passed on Riverwood's request for aid. The guard unlocked the gate and let me in immediately.

Whiterun was a lovely place. There was a bustling market in the center of town, and houses all around it. Dragonsreach dominated the city, looming over all other buildings. That was my destination; I needed to see the Jarl, after all.

When I entered Dragonsreach, I was stopped at the tip of a sword by the Jarl's Housecarl. She demanded to know why I was there, and I said that I had information about the Dragon attack on Helgen. Only then did she let me speak to the Jarl.

After I had told him all I knew, Jarl Balgruuf offered me a job: I was to help his court mage, a man named Farengar, find the Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow. Apparently it was an ancient stone tablet depicting Dragon burial mounds. I wasn't sure why he wanted that, but I accepted the job anyway. I didn't really have a choice.

It seems I had to go to Bleak Falls Barrow anyway. While I was there, I would pick up the Golden Claw and the Dragonstone and be done with both jobs at once. Simple.

The path to Bleak Falls Barrow was guarded by Wolves and Bandits. I had to fight my way through them in order to get to the Barrow. Once inside, I fought my way past the Draugr (why is it that the dead never seem to stay dead?), recovered both the Dragonstone and the Golden Claw, and made my way back to Riverwood.

On my way there, I explored a small underwater ruin in Lake Ilinalta. The place was full of Nordic Barnacles; I harvested as many as I could and got out of the water. I noted that the sun had set. That meant that it was likely Lucan and Farengar would both soon be going to bed. There was no point in returning to Whiterun tonight. Instead, I rented a bed in the Sleeping Giant Inn.

I would return the Golden Claw and Dragonstone in the morning. For now, it was time for me to get some rest. Something told me that I would have a busy day tomorrow.

Screenshots:
To Whiterun
Portrait II
Bleak Falls Barrow
Stealth Kill
Underwater Exploration

well hell, I am no longer in the mood to spill a story. I do not see where to save the story as a draft. what am I missing?

Ursula returned to Hjerim with arms full of food. Upon entering the house no guys could be found, "of course" she grunted. Heading for the kitchen, she was met by a very excited Sophie. "Momma, can I have a snack?" the young girl asks. Ursula hands her a honeynut treat. With mouth full of sweets, Sophie asks if she and her sister could go fishing with Vorstag and Calder. Ursula responds,"of course." After unloading all the food, still no sign of the guys. The kitchen fire was nearly out. Under her breath Ursula says "what the hell have those men been doing?" Sophie says,"what?" Ursula replied,"would you help me with this fire?" Sophie gleefully answers "can I use the billows?". "Of course", says Ursula. With that the fire was stoked.

Soon another daughter enters the kitchen to see what is going on. Lucia asks, "what can I have? I'm hungry" Ursula hands Lucia a pastry. The girls start discussing fishing and collecting flowers. Ursula decides to investigate what the men are up to. Ursula quietly goes up the stairs and peeks around the Armory. No one to be found. Suddenly whispered voices can be heard, Calder says "how can we keep her from finding out about this?" Vorstag replies, "she is gone most of the time, she will never know." Calder responds, "the girls will tell her." Vorstag says, "then we will need to be careful not to let the girls hear us."

Ursula decided it best to be heard at this point, she stomped and grunted. The sheepish men exited Calder's room. Vorstag says, "You're back" with that came a strong hug and a warm kiss. Ursula felt a loving tingle. She opened her eyes to see Calder turn his reddened face away from them. Ursula stifled a giggle, it sounded like a snort. Vorstag says "What is that for?" Ursula, "Oh nothing dear, just something funny happened at the market earlier." Calder returned to his room. Ursula and Vorstag went downstairs to check on the girls.

Back in the kitchen the girls were making plans to go fishing and flower collecting, they were glad to see the "parents" together with that happy look in their eyes. Sophie has been having a hard time with separtation anxiety, considering all that has happend to them this past few years. Ursula has been feeling guilty being gone for work so much of the time. The girls proposed that they all go together for the outing. Vorstag and Ursula agreed and the girls winked at each other.

Vorstag decided to make dinner, pretty sure he was in trouble for not helping with the food storage or the fire tending. Maybe this would get him a point or two. Ursula gladlly accepted the offer, then said to the girls. "Lets go check your room." Upon inspection, they both had a positive reaction, not too many things on the floor. "Momma" said Lucia,"would you tell us a story?" "Sure, what shall it be?" Ursula said. "Maybe the Helgen story" , says Sophie. They all agreed and Ursula began, "Your Great Uncle Ulfric and I were captured by Imperial soldiers and riding a wagon to Helgen, It had been decided my relationship to Ulfric would be a secret in circumstances such as this..."

Most of the story was told, then came a call from the kitchen and dinner was ready. Sophie went up to get Calder. They all sat down to a rabbit feast. The adults had several tankards of Honningbrew Mead and Wine. Everyone went to bed warm and satisfied.

Jerking upright, black hair cascading around her face, Blade woke up to unfamiliar surroundings. Eyes wide, the black nearly overtaking the ice blue, she looked around, darting from the furnishings and furs to the gray wooden planks, barely standing upright; through them, she could see mountains and forest.

Chest tightening in panic, she cast back for how she had gotten here. She remembered waking in the night feeling hot, but beyond that it was a blur. Running a hand through her hair, she stopped when she tangled the bandage on her fingers. Pulling her hand back down, she scowled at it, and wondered who had patched her up.

In fact, glancing down at the bedroll she sat in, she wondered who had taken her clothing from her. She didn’t know whether to be worried or thankful; being unfamiliar with the latter, she settled for concern. And aggravation, to be safe.

Another look around the room told her it was a shack, and one used by those who caught animals. She couldn’t see any of her belongings, the things that she had acquired.
The bedroll would not suit her as wrappings, but the leather beneath it would do for now. She rose on shaky legs, and stumbled against the wood; the shack creaked, a worrying sound. She frowned down at her traitorous limbs; the muscles trembled beneath yellowing bruises.

Yellow, not storm-colored. How long had she been out?

Tugging free the leather, she wrapped it around herself and, leaning on the wall, walked to the door. Through it, she smelled woodsmoke and roast vension.

Her stomach growled, and told her it was empty.

A Redguard woman, dressed in the hides of the wilds, looked up from the cooking pot. “Well, you’re awake,” she stated, neither smiling nor frowning. Blade, unsure of the woman, merely nodded. “If you’re strong enough to stand, you’re strong enough to come stir this.”

Blade tilted her head in thought a moment, and once she was sure she detected no demand, she gave a brief nod and walked forward to take the ladle from the hunter. The darker-skinned woman chopped wood while Blade stirred, one hand clutching the leather.

Another thing she noticed was that she was clean, and even her ribs were no longer sore. It was strange to think of strangers giving her aid when Horem never had.

Sounds behind her startled her into dropping the ladle and spinning, dropping into a crouch.
A second hunter, a male Nord, stopped at the top of the rise, freezing with a deer heavy on his shoulders. A smile crossed his face when he saw her, and he continued closer. “Ah, our guest. Good to see you up and about.”

He set the deer onto a table beside the shack while the Redguard came to salvage the dinner. Blade flushed; there was a reason Horem had never let her near their dinners.

They left her alone while they finished their chores – stoking the fire, carving the deer, serving up venison stew – and she watched, comfortable with the silence. When the Nord brought her a bowl, she looked up at him and said, reluctantly, “What do I owe you?”

Startled, he said, “Nothing, lass.”

It took her several more days to heal and recuperate from her illness, and she never asked how they’d tended to it. Instead, she ignored the Nord’s words and helped. Chopping wood and dressing animals, she made herself as useful to them as she could; doing so helped her muscles to gain strength again, though it was slow going
.
Working alongside the Nord, she painstakingly tanned the hides. This was new to her, and she felt a small part of her crack open and there was a sense of peace, even joy, at the simple completion. The Redguard, in her turn, showed her how to carve wood for a bow for hunting with, though Blade’s arms were still too weak to draw it properly.

When she was well enough to go on her way, they surprised her with a set of armor from the leathers she’d helped them with. The act surprised her, and she stared at them, dumbfounded.
She didn’t know what to do.

Suspicion, irrational, rose and part of her wanted to deny it and them, to turn away and flee. She didn’t understand. She hadn’t earned this; she owed them for their care.

But the Nord was smiling, a soul who enjoyed what he did and there was no ill will in either his or the Redguard’s demeanor. Hesitating, Blade reached out for the hides. They weren’t special in their make or design, but she found that she didn’t want to say no. For their own reasons, that bewildered her and ran against all she knew, they were being kind to her. Accepting her preference for silence, accepting her presence.

There was only one thing she could do now.

“Thank you.”

Morndas 17th of Last Seed, 4E 201
What a terrible day! I thought I was a goner for sure. Those [&@%!] in Helgen deserve what they got from that dragon. I'm so glad I chose to travel through the Keep with Hadvar. I don't think I would have made it through without him. I certainly owe him one. He did most of the fighting. I was lucky enough to stay out of his way for the most part. At least he stopped to let me eat lunch in the barracks. It may have only been a bit of wine and some bread, but it's all I've eaten in days. There's got to be some more food around this place!

Cursed dragon! It destroyed the bridge to get back to Helgen. We'll have to fight our way though this cave for sure, now. I just hope there is a way out and we're not trapped down here with nothing to eat but cabbage and raw pheasant! To think Hadvar wanted to sneak past that bear.. A few nice shots with this longbow just ensured that we've got another day's worth of crawling through this cave! It's a good thing I had some venom from those spiders we killed earlier. Aha! Wine!

Ah! Fresh air at last! To think, just a few hours ago, had things gone differently, I wouldn't even be here to enjoy this. I'll count myself lucky. But there's no time to sit around. That dragon is still out there somewhere. I'm going to stick with Hadvar until we get to Riverwood and see what his uncle has to say. That Warrior's Stone was really something, wasn't it? I could feel the power coming off of that thing before I even touched it. I've got a feeling I made the right choice back there. But off to see Alvor!

Nice place you've got here, Alvor. Real nice. Such generous people. I swear they allowed me to take every morsel of food from that house! I just hope Alvor won't be missing this Banded Iron Armor when I leave in the morning! Time to sit back and relax with these books I picked up back in Helgen.

Tirdas 18th of Last Seed, 4E 201
It's time to go. I stopped over at the Riverwood Trader and promised the owner I'd find his stupid ornament for him. What a waste of time. He'd better be paying cash for this! Or a few nights with that sister of his at the very least... I think I'll hold off on that errand until I've talked to the Jarl in White Run, though. The barkeep at the Sleeping Giant mentioned a bounty up at Silent Moons Camp that I might want to check out while I'm up there too.

Well I talked to the Jarl and his lackeys. I had a quick lunch of bread, cheese, and wine while I was waiting for the Jarl and his ministers to shut up. It seems that wizard of his wants me to go to the same barrows as the storekeeper in Riverwood. I wonder if that claw and this Stone of his are connected somehow. It will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm going up to that Camp right now to collect the bounty on those bandits up there.

Silent Moons Camp turned out to be a rather profitable venture. I even picked up a few books while I was there. (I wonder why I love books so much!) This Lunar Steel Sword is quite nice. I think I prefer it to the Iron War Axe I've been using. I've got some nice gear to sell to Belethor back in White Run in addition to the loot I picked up at the camp. And it feels like my health and sword arm have improved.

Back at Dragonsreach, it seems like they're letting me take almost anything I want now. I cleared up the left overs at the banquet table for them. Plenty of wine and bread to go around now. And I've filled my bags with all of the Jarl's books. I've got to find a place to stash this collection pretty soon. It's getting too heavy. It's getting late. I'm going to head over to the Bannered Mare and get a room for the night.

Middas 19th of Last Seed, 4E 201
I woke up rather early so I had a nice breakfast of a red apple, some ale (ale goes good with anything!) and a boiled crème treat I swiped from one of the Jarl's boys last night. I walked over to Belethor's, but I was still a half hour early, so I waited around for a while. I thought it would be a good time to change into my steel armor, iron boots, gauntlets, helmet, and shield. I sold off some stuff to Belethor (the cheap [&@%!]!) and headed over to Bleak Falls Barrow. I wanted to have a companion for this mission. That place freaks me out just looking at it. But I haven't got time to look for a business partner right now. Besides, if I can survive the headsman and a dragon attack, I can survive anything! Off to the Barrows!

I decided to stop back at Alvor's house in Riverwood to deposit these books, but wouldn't you know it, the door is locked! Those inconsiderate peasants! Smoke and mirrors! When they want you to do something for them they give you the shirt off their backs. But once you've gone and done the deed they act like they don't even know you. And I suppose all of this is over that worthless Banded Armor I took. I see how they truly are now. I won't forget this. He should have just given me the armor to begin with. What's he going to do with it? Roleplay with that floppy wife of his?

On my way up the mountain to Bleak Falls Barrow, I came across a fortress a little off the way from the path up. I figured it would be a good place to rest and have some lunch. However, there were some bandits there and I ended up having to wipe out their camp. I got a nice Amulet of Akatosh (wonder how I'm ever going to need this when I never even use magic?) and a cool looking Banded Iron Shield from their dead bodies. The amulet should bring a nice return at Belethor's but I'll put it on for now just in case I need to do some quick healing up in the Barrows. I had a big lunch of Cabbage Potato Soup, Bread, Goat Cheese, and Ale (always Ale!). And it feels like my health and Armsmanship have improved again.

Inside Bleak Falls Temple, I spotted three bandits up ahead and quickly cleared them out. There were some nice bed rolls at the entrance that I might make use of later. And it looks like these bandits have been dealing with a major Skeever problem. I'm sure I'll see more further into the tombs. Hopefully that's the worst this crypt has to offer.

Further into the passage way I came upon another bandit who seemed to be puzzling over a blocked entry way. What an idiot. How could you not know how to unlock that door? I did the world a favor with that kill. Further into the passages, I found the thief that stole the claw from Lucan Valerus. He was trapped in some serious spider webs, but before I could get to him, a huge spider jumped down at me and tried to eat me. Luckily it wounded itself in the floor grates and I got away from it before it could spit venom at me. It was a tough fight, but I pulled through with the help of some healing potions. With the spider dead, I went over to confront the thief, a guy named Arvel the Swift. Arvel talked me into cutting him loose, but alas! I cut too deep and sliced poor Arvel's head clean off. Poor guy! But I did retrieve the Golden Claw from his body.

I continued on through the passages for a way and put on some Iron Gauntlets of Archery that I found somewhere. I realized that along the way, my stamina and blocking had improved. Good stuff! Practice makes perfect! I stopped along the way and had a nice dinner of Grilled Leaks, Rabbit Haunch, and some Honningbrew Mead. Wonderful! It was getting rather late, and I found the door to the Barrows, so I decided to head back to the bed rolls at the entrance to count my gold and get some sleep. Looks like I've got over 1250 gold. Not bad for three days of wandering around. Last thing I remember, I was checking out this "Thief" book I picked up somewhere in the catacombs.

Turdas 20th of Last Seed, 4E 201
I woke up pretty early this morning so I made myself a breakfast of a green apple, a honey nut treat, courtesy of the Jarl's... whatever.. and a nice bottle of Ale. Ale! Ale! Ale! Breakfast of Imperi-ales! But play time is over. It's time to get to the bottom of this Claw and that stupid rock the court wizard wants so badly but couldn't be bothered to fetch for himself.

Since everything was now dead in the passages, I figured I would have an easy enough time down here now. I stopped at Arvel's body to pay my respects. Poor guy.. Curse this increasingly strong sword arm of mine. It was a complete accident, little buddy. Here. Have your head back. At any rate, the ghost of Arvel seems to have gotten the last laugh at me. Tell me how no one was down here but me, but somehow the swinging pendulum trap from last night is running again? Damn near sliced my arm off this time too. Bad timing.

At any rate, I came through the door to enter the Barrows and walked into another puzzle door. This one was easy enough to figure out, and now I know that the Golden Claw was for and can return it to Lucan to claim my reward. Coming through that door, though, I saw a dreadful altar up ahead, and decided it would be a good time to stop and write a journal entry, as I have a bad feeling this may be my last. I don't want to think about what's waiting for me up at that altar. If anyone finds this journal.. well forget it. If you find this journal, just get the hell out of here while you still can!

Well that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. That draugr overlord sure had some foul breath but he was easy enough to beat. He did manage to get a clean hit on me that nearly took my head off though. Checked out some weird looking graffiti on the wall and collected all of the loot, including this Dragon Stone. In the loot I found another volume of the Songs of the Return series, as well as a rather nice Steel Horned Helmet.

I left the Barrows to collect my reward from the Riverwood Trader. There I had a big luch of Salmon Steak, Baked Potatoes, an Eidar Cheese Wedge, and some Alto Wine. From there I stopped at the Sleeping Giant to pick up a bounty and traveled back up to White Run to talk to Farengar Secret-Fire about the Dragon Stone.

I learned some interesting things from the wizard, but was interrupted when a guard came running in to tell the Jarl about a dragon attack at once of his watch towers. Of course, some how it comes down me to go running off to protect the Jarl's holding from dragons, giant spiders and the walking dead. (What's next, Frost Trolls?)

Anyhow, instead of walking around with this Dark Elf chick (man, is she ugly. I hope the Jarl's not tapping that on the side), I figured I'd run out ahead and wait for her outside the Tower. But apparently she's as slow as she is ugly. I waited for her forever before she finally came grimacing up over the tundra. So I listened to her stupid little rally speech as she wasted even MORE time, meanwhile a freaking DRAGON is ravaging the countryside....

At any rate, she finally shut up. We went to the Tower, killed the dragon, and suddenly all the guards were talking some nonsense about people with grey beards and some other crap, but to be honest I really wasn't listening. They kept asking me to shout at them, so I did, and damn near blew their helmets off when I did. Time to go back to Dragonsreach. This was all very interesting to me. True story. Anyway, the Jarl tells me I've got to go to High Hrothgar to the Throat of the World and talk to these Grey Beard folks. Yeah. Just keep waiting for that to happen. 7000 steps my eye. However, it seems Lydia has been appointed my housecarl. At least something useful came out of this.

Fredas 21st of Last Seed, 4E 201
It was a rather uneventful day. I traveled up to Halted Stream Camp to clear out the bandits up there. As I was fighting bandits, some idiot fugitive nearly killed me by talking to me while I was being attacked. Why do I feel the need to stop fighting and talk to any random stranger who comes up to me, regardless of whether I'm being attacked by a gang of bandits or not? It's a serious character flaw. My mother warned me that this would get me into trouble some day.

The bandits were not very strong inside the camp. I managed to obtain a couple more books for my collection before heading back to White Run. It feels like my stamina has improved again, and I feel more comfortable in this heavy armor.

Back at White Run, I did some smelting behind Warmaiden's before traveling back to Riverwood to wait for morning at the Sleeping Giant.

Loredas 22nd of Last Seed, 4E 201
This morning I did some trading in Riverwood. I finally have enough money to purchase a home in White Run. I traveled back to Dragonsreach and bought Breezehome. I walked out the door and that's when the game crashed on me.

Ar'khaja had no idea why Skjor told her to be here to this place, the "underforge". He'd been scant with information, and she suspected he just wanted to whet her curiosity. It had worked.

Aela met her out front. "So it's true? You're the Dragonborn?"

"Yes," Ar'khaja answered. In the six days since she'd returned from High Hrothgar, she'd been asked the question so many times that she no longer hesitated.

"Then Vilkas is right, for once." Aela said, and turned around to slide the door in the rock open. "You're nothing like ready to face a dragon. Come on."

Ar'khaja followed her into the dim passageway, and Aela slid the door shut behind them. "We have a cure for that, fortunately, " Aela told her. "It won't do the work for you, you'll still have plenty to do, but it'll be a weapon, and a glorious one at that."

They emerged from the tunnel into a chamber lit with a peculiar light, almost as if the moon shone on it. It took Ar'khaja's eyes a moment to adjust. As soon as they did, she lost all interest in the light. 

Only once before had she seen the like of the beast in front of her. A werewolf. She gaped at it. 

"Skjor?" she guessed.

"You recognize him. Good. He's providing the blood."

"Wait a moment. You wish to turn me into a werewolf."

"Of course. You'll have the instincts of the savage, the strength of the beast. All the ferocity of the wild, all its unerring skill and speed and resilience, at your beck and call. You hunt the ultimate prey, shield-sister. You must be the ultimate hunter. And when you hunt, you must understand your prey with every fiber of your being. This, here, is your chance."

"This will make me a member of the Circle, will it not?"

"Technically, yes. The others, though, may not recognize you as such."

"I joined the Companions no more than a fortnight ago, and you think I should be named among your top warriors?"

"You are Dragonborn. You will be the greatest warrior in the land. We have the privilage of helping you to reach it."

Aela walked around, took Skjor's arm and held a dagger to it, and looked back at Ar'Khaja. "Well, shield-sister? Will you accept our gift?"

Ar'Khaja stared at the beast in the room, remembered watching Farkas tear his way through the Silver Hand as easily as if they were unarmed, and imagined the power. She smiled.

"Eagerly," she said, and stepped forward to drink.