As I walk towards Whiterun, I quickly come to appreciate the beauty of the nature. I feel it's presence - a majestic, unrelenting presence. It makes me feel small, insignificant. But like all beauty - nature's as well can be deceiving. I learn this the hard way as I walk to curve and get ambushed by a wolf.
The wolf is huge - almost as big as man, nothing like what I faced earlier with Hadvar. This one is younger, but more dangerous and more eager to attack. We quickly measure each other by engaging in short, but intense fights. The wolf stairs at me and I stare back. Both of us have the same look: relentless. This will only end to the death of either one.
The wolf charges towards my exposed right hand, I quickly discover its intention: disarm me by cutting my wrists tendons. I move my right hand back and bash the wolfs head with my shield. The wolf staggers and I use my moment, I charge forwards and impale the wolf with my swords. It growls at me for one last time before moving from this realm. It got a few bites at me, but nothing serious. Just as I am cleaning my sword and about to skin the wolf, I hear a howl..
A second wolf appears behind the same rock the first one came. This one is significantly smaller, probably the female of the one I just killed. This one is angry. Really angry. She attacks but I bash her with my shield, forcing her to stumble back and clear her head a bit.
She recovers quickly and comes for my feet. I quickly move the left and kick her in the neck. She is knocked over and whimpers as the full force of my kick hits her. I use the moment to my advantage and finish her off. As I clean my sword, shield and skin the two wolves, I can't help but wonder what has driven these animals so hungry that they would attack on the roads...
The skins in my pack and my equipment cleaned I continue my journey. I laugh when I think about the beating Alvor would give me if I don't attend to my armor tonight. I am distracted from my thoughts by a house I see. Right by the river. A massive complex, at least from the outside. I wonder who lives there. What a beautiful place.
I continue the road and my thoughts, passing by the house I just saw. After a short while, I see four men in the distance. Once I get closer, I can see the uniforms of three. Imperials. One of the four is dressed in rags and obviously guarded by the soldiers as they walk. I walk by them when I hear "Imperial business, move along." from one of the soldiers. I almost turn around to take this discussion to more personal level, but I realise that I would have three armed men against me - besides, I think I'm neck deep already with the Empire. I swallow my comments and continue my path.
I make it down quite fast and get my first good look at Whiterun. I can see the keep, Dragonsreach they call it according to Hadvar. The city is protected by a sturdy looking stone wall to protect it from invaders. The whole city looks magnificent. While I make my way through the farms and houses outside Whiterun, I remember the bounty letter I got from the Sleeping Giant. I dig it out of my pack along with the map Hadvar gave me and start reading... Silent Moons Camp. Once I say the words aloud, the map warms up a bit. I open the map and I see a marker added. There is clearly a new marker added: Silent Moons Camp. Hadvar didn't mention this about the map. Obviously this was a more valuable gift than even Hadvar thought. Since the camp seems to be relatively close to Whiterun, I decide to check the camp out first before heading into Whiterun. A good chance to make some coin and possibly find some gear. At least I'll afford a room in the inn once I get to Whiterun.
Near the main gates of Whiterun, I see three warriors take down a giant with ease. They look to me - like they are expecting something, but I continue my walk to the camp. They certainly knew how to handle themselves...
After a while of walking on the plains after I got off from the main road, I run into a curious plant. A plant that makes a sound. The sounds is high pitched and seems to penetrate my hands which I raise to cover my ears. I decide to pick up the plant - can't be any worse than the sound already is.
Finally, after a couple of hours of tiresome walking for miles and miles I arrive. Silent Moons Camp.
Knowing well enough of what's ahead I quickly go over of what I know. A place of that size must have almost a dozen bandits. If they are all outside - I'm in trouble. But I think luck is on my side - it's raining. I doubt even bandits care to be out in the rain unless necessary. So, I'm expecting a few outside sentries - probably archers. My strong suit against them is my shield and reactions. I block the arrows and force them in melee.
I start walking to towards the camp, warming up my muscles as I get ready for the battle ahead. Not far from, the camp I get spotted by the sentries just as I expected. I see two archers, one on the ramp leading to inside and one near the shack made of stone - within sprinting distance. Before I realise, I'm getting rained in with arrows. I manage the block the other one, but the other one hits my armor, luckily it gets blocked by a plate on my leg. Thank god for Alvor and his trade.
I don't really feel like standing around after the first arrows so I sprint towards the closest archer. The archer sees me coming but still keep on pulling out another arrow to fire at me. I don't give her the chance. As she places the arrow on the string of her bow, my sword cuts through her leather armor and kills her.
As she falls to the ground I feel a strange power radiating from the other side of the shack. After a brief second, a robed man steps into the shack with both of his hands on fire. I can feel the heat they produce, but the man stands and doesn't seem to feel a thing. A mage. Just what I needed. As the man raises his hands and covers me in fire, I feel strange tingling on my skin - like a natural reaction. Before I'm covered in flames I can see my skin go blueish. The flames don't seem to hurt as much as I expected. Appreciating the fact that I didn't get burned alive I rush through the flames and kill the mage. I'm still hurt, but not as badly as I expected. I head out of the shack, only to be faced with the other archer. He fires and arrow at me and I block it. I start running at him, but not straight ahead, but doing small steps to the side - making it harder for him to aim. He drops the bow and pulls out his dagger - but too late. I push my sword into his throat and I leave him laying on the ground. I see three bandits coming down the stairs towards my position. I quickly run behind a corner of a ruin to gather my thoughts. I'm wounded and there are three bandits left outside - one mage and two equipped with melee weapons.
As I begin to feel desperation - a strange presence penetrates my mind, completely paralyzing me. It digs through my thoughts and then sinks into my mind. It doesn't last for long and as it leaves - it shows me a new part of myself. Something I knew, but didn't remember having - magic. The bandits are drawing closer and I don't have time to think. Grasping my new found power, I focus on my wounds and ancient words on healing come off my lips.
I rush from the corner to the stairs and manage to surprise the mage. He doesn't get off a single spell before throwing his life away. The two bandits left seem so surprised to have lost their mage that they don't seem to put up a fight.
I finish them off and heal myself from the few wounds I got. I head inside the camp to face their leader.
I got inside the camp. Turns out it's a cave like building the bandits have been using. I have no idea how many bandits are here, but I can hear at least one talking - and if that one is talking, there is at least one listening. Not too much - I did take many more out outside, but I don't take chances.
I decide to draw them out first. I grasp my newly found power and again and start shaping a companion in my mind - a wolf. I define its size, its teeth, its fur and let the magic flow through my mind to my hand. Once I'm happy with my creation - I release the magic from my hand.
A flame of magic and the wolf appears. Glancing at me - asking - the wolf stares. "Go." I say. With a silent nod, the wolf starts jogging towards the sounds. I take a deep breath as this spell strained me beyond of what I expected. I hear growls and move into position. I ready my weapon and stand - waiting. "What's this then?" I hear a bandit saying once the wolf attacks. Growling, biting and sounds of weapons. The serenade ends to the wolfs whimpering - I can feel my creation leaving this realm. I know the bandits will be on me soon.
The bandits appear side by side. No archers - wouldn't do any good in a space like this. Both melee fighters - although quite poorly equipped. First one to fall for his mistake is the one in a leather armor. He thinks I'm not ready - that I would be overwhelmed by his speed. He is wrong. He finds himself at the end on my sword and falls to the ground. The second one is the chief. Seemingly more experienced - he measures me. "So you're the one coming for us, huh? What's the bounty this time?" he says. "Does that really matter? I'm here and only one of us leaves here alive." I say. "Fair enough." says the bandit chief and strikes hard on me. I block and fall to my knees - on purpose. Grinning of victory - so sure of himself - the chief prepares to finish me off by striking my defenses with all of his strenght. Too late does he realise that I actually am not staggered and I move out of the blows way. But it's too late for the chief. He put too much strenght in the swing to stop it. I let the weapon it the ground and impale the chief with mine. The chief turns his head and looks at me. There is nothing to be said - and then he passes. I collect what I believe is valuable from them and continue exploring the cave like building.
After a while, I run into one more bandit - female archer. I dispose of her quickly since clearly her intentions to harm have not vanished with the death of her chief.
At the end of the tunnel, I find a room - a room filled with valuables. Obviously the treasure room of the bandits. There are labeled potions, gems, coins... But my eyes notice something else as well. A sword. The sword is a one-hander, made of steel. It is in a good shape and radiates slightly of magic. There is carving on the sword that says "While the moons are out, the fire of sword awakens". Obviously the sword is enchanted with some kind of fire magic that activates when the moons are out. Happy with what I found, I head outside. I pack my old iron sword and take the new steel sword to use. I head towards Whiterun - anxious to meet the Jarl.
Once I reach the gates of Whiterun - a guard approaches me.
"Halt! City's closed with the dragons about. Official business only." says the guard.
- "I am aware. Riverwood requests help." I respond.
"Riverwood's is in danger as well? Very well, make your way to the Jarl. He is at the top - at Dragonsreach." says the guard.
I step inside Whiterun.
