Bloated Man's Grotto

• Posted by Joshua James January 28, 2012 - 745 views

  When I first stumbled upon this cave I was awestruck. It would beautiful. I was expecting tight corridors, blood, bones and Rosie O'Donnell at the end for a epic boss fight. Thankfully that wasn't the case but the spriggans and bears were difficult. For those who don't know it's a outdoor cavern where a Shrine of Talos and a Oathblade (Katana) from a Blade who sacrificed himself, in some incredibly badass way apparently, are. Two chests are located amongst the grotto and some pretty good loot.

  It's also the perfect refuge for a ranger. It isn't some damp, dark and horrible place. Sure the creatures within are hostile but after being cleared out it's the exact opposite. Rangers spend the majority of their time alone but still there is some kind of organization to the reclusive watchers. Lore wise I'm going to use it as Sindathiel's main place to retreat to and recover along with avoiding enemies. Theoretically let's just say it's extremely well hidden and guarded by a regular watch of whoever is currently residing there. A few of the rangers know the location but some amongst their movement / brotherhood / whatever you want to call it have no idea. Whiterun in Sindathiel's eyes is the last bastion of resistance to the Thalmor in Skyrim, a place where the eyes and ears of his enemies have a difficult time of finding him. He still has to watch his step being an Mer and a ranger but most of the people know that his kind are watching their borders and protecting them. The grotto allows a base of operations that is secluded, within range of the border areas and a few days away from Whiterun (My vision of it.).

  I don't want the rangers in Skyrim to be extremely organized or have a chain of command. Whoever has the most experience, skill, talent and knowledge are considered the first to speak or act amongst the group but everyone is on equal footing and doing the same duties. Still there are places hidden away from rest of Tamriel where they can operate from in case of war and or conflict. As for proper names, titles, etc. I'm going to have to go for the North, South, East, West Watches which are put together into the Far and Near Watches. Each Watch can have anywhere from one to one hundred rangers operating in different regions, sub regions, etc. Sindathiel would be a Ranger of the North Watch and so on. Of course he wouldn't use his true name but most of the people in Whiterun know him as "Green Scar". I'm at a loss for anything that sounds cooler so if that is corny I'll cut that part.

  His journey will begin in Whiterun, at the Bannered Mare, and will take him south past Riverwood and the deep forests and valleys to the south. (I'm going to have to come up with the names but Skyrim is going to be much more massive in my stories.) where he watches over the areas between Falkreath and Whiterun.Unless it's absolutely necessary Rorikstead and Ivarstead act as "boundaries" where his patrols end. The feel of the region, the deep woods, beautiful lakes and untamed wilderness are what drew him to protect the area. In a way for him it's a visage of his earlier life in Valenwood away from the troubles of civilization.