Day 1

Day 1 (of blog)
Game: Skyrim
Level: 16
Location: Wreck of the Winter War

Yesterday, I investigated the Wreck of The Pride of Tel Vos. I love me some pirate ships, so to continue the theme I fast travelled to Windhelm (boo to that city's prejudices!) and jaunted on over to Winter War. Killed some horkers - practiced my archery, killed an ice wraith - practiced my flame spell, then went to bed.

Killed 3 bandits, but died when I failed to see the fourth. Boo, let's try this again.

Avoided some bear traps, narrowly. Killed the same three bandits with my flames, then broke out my trusty Dwarven Warhammer of Burning to finish off the Bandit King. He was pretty good, but no match for that beast of a weapon! Got a dwarven shield off him, some gold, and an elven dagger, just 'cause it looks cool. Left behind the Iron Warhammer of Scorching, steel armor and shin boots. Got some gold off of each of the bandits, but I left their armor and weapons ('cause they suck). Then I took a bunch of food, yay food!

Found a chest! Elven bow, some gold, potion of resist shock, ring of sure grip, and some Novice Robes of Who-Cares-I-Have-Too-Many. Also found a bunch of lockpicks and Surfeit of Thieves [book] which raised my lockpicking skill! Then, an expertly locked chest - quick save in case I break all my lockpicks - broke 4, gold and lesser soul gem.

Quick save before some underwater treasure hunting - nothin', just some salmon. Boo. Walked up a ramp on the ship's deck and looked out to see a camp to the northwest. Fisherman's journal that abruptly stops ... usually a sign of someone dead nearby. Attacked by two wolves and an ice wolf, but my warhammer made quick work of them.

Level up! Whoohoo! I'll take Magicka and Apprentice Locks, thank you.

Then something started attacking my ankles ... slaughterfish can walk?! There's food everywhere and a small fire still smouldering; either the fishermen are alive, or very recently dead. Found a dead fugitive, then a sudden roar - from a bear, crap, let's back up. A good dose of fire and a lot of backing up took care of him before me. No fishermen on this peninsula, but there is an overturned boat over there. Lot's of slaughterfish around though; I lured them away to explore under the boat. Just an axe and a small coin purse, nothing too exciting ... oh well. Let's drop some stuff off at home before continuing to the next mission.

Dropped off some kit, did some alchemy, and then went to Arcadia's to sell.

Traveled to Ansilvund, on my way to Mzulft, and there was a dragon waiting. After equipping dragonskin and  trying the Ice Form shout - which it resisted - I blasted through all my magicka and magicka restoration potions pelting it with Frostbite, until a final shout of Unrelenting Force took the thing down. Ugh, I really need more restore magicka potions before I investigate these ruins.

After picking up the dragon bones, I had to drop ... unbelievable amounts of potions and soul gems, as well as some iron ingots and a few other things that I didn't care so much about, even after I took a potion of strength to get me home so that I could drop them off. About 70 pounds worth of things ... ugh.

Came back to talk Mikail out of harassing Carlotta, and got into a fistfight, then a drinking contest with Sam Guevenne. I won, but ... I woke up in the temple of Dibella, near Markarth, and I guess I had trashed it. I cleaned up the damages, and headed back to talk to Sam.

On my way, I saw a man stab some woman named Margaret. She had a key to her room ... it might be important. A man was shouting about the "Forsworn," and another, Eltrys, handed me a note to meet him at the shrine of Talos. Guess I'll be a little sidetracked ...

He asked me to find out who was behind the woman's attack, and find out who the Forsworn are - they seem to be natives, followers of the old leader. I have so much to do ... I think this will have to wait.

Back in Whiterun, Carlotta gave me 400 gold for getting Mikail off her back - seems like a lot for the task, but I'm not complaining.

Back on the road to Mzulft - wolves (2), bears (1), and a dragon - but I ran straight into Mzulft instead of fight. No way I'm wasting my magicka (again) right before a fight.

Mzulft: Seems to be dwarven ruins, judging by the amount of shiny. There is a mage here, Gavros Plinius, who died upon giving me a final message: To find the Oculory, as there would be other people there, and according to his journal, a focusing crystal.

Since these things are impervious to magic, I am making slower progress than usual and my stamina is draining quickly. Dwarven Spider Workers (8, so far) have provided me with a lot of scrap metal and dwarven oil, and go down pretty easily with my Skyforge Steel Battleaxe, though the enchantment gives me no buff against them. Charus (6 so far) seem to go down with a few ranged attacks and then some shock therapy. Dwarven Spheres (6 so far) go down pretty easily with sparks too.

Level up! 18 - Magicka and two handed, please!

This seems like a long awaited stopping point, so I'll leave it here for now. Farewell, gentle readers, see you soon!