The Darkworker 12: Hiking Trails

• Posted by Clement Bilhorn March 2, 2013 - 799 views

  Serana doesn't let me wallow in blissful confusion for long, and explains that we've come across some sort of ancient valley. Also, the sky lights come out so it becomes clear to me that we're outside.

  

  Well, it's pretty and all, but as usual, my duties compel me to more than sightseeing, so Serana and I start looking for the different basins so we can complete the snow elf's ritual. The way these door-portal-things work impresses me. Pity I can't set these things up all over Skyrim and save a bunch on carriage fare.

  

  Pretty sights aside, though, it's no picnic. The locals don't take kindly to our presence, anyways.

  

  But we deal with all the trolls and giants, fill up a few more basins, and reach the top of what looks like a frozen lake. The clouds clear and the tranquility of it all almost stops me in my tracks.

  

  So it figures my older brothers would show up to spoil this moment I'm having with my new friend.

  

  I don't know what their beef is with Serana. I try to tell them that we're not dating or anything--we're just friends united by common dislike of megalomaniacal vampires. But they don't listen, and Serana, like all vampires, doesn't handle fire too well.

  

  While I'm up on the ridge trying to find cover off the ice, the two dragons converge on Serana and she goes down. I run back to her, trying to get the dragons' attention, and it works. Both of them lunge at me, but by this point, they're getting weak, and a few bolts from my crossbow end them.

  

  I give Serana a moment to recover from her injuries. The sun comes up, but it only improves the view and it looks like the dragons were the worst of what the Vale had to offer.

  

  But we've still got to find the last of the basins, and I expect it's at the end of this long gorge.

  

  Every nook and cranny of this cliff is just crawling with Falmer, though, so it's tough going for a while. 

  

  On the bright side, I can just shout these degenerates off the edge.

  

  But I'm finding that even as a vampire, I still prefer the outdoors to fighting indoors, now. Ever since I got so good with this crossbow and beefed up my armor, I don't see the need for creeping around in the dark, especially here, since it only gives the advantage to the Falmer.

  

  But after emerging from one cave, I catch sight of what I hope is our destination. Mostly because it's high up and looks pretty neat.

  

  Yep, real pretty. But the Bow had better be in here, because that was a long walk.