Yeolius Coardus #4 - Running my Socks off

The Jagged Crown seems an important symbol for claiming the throne of Skyrim, and Legate Rikke asked me to join the group that will try to obtain it before the Stormcloaks do. She asked me to meet her at Korvanjund, the bural place of King Borgas, last wearer of the Crown. But surprisingly, I'm left to cross Skyrim alone. We are not traveling in formation, not even together. What kind of army is this?

...staying the nigth at the Frostfruit Inn...

So I ran almost all the way, but stopped at the Frostfruit Inn at Rorikstead for a short overnight. The next day I continued my cross country run. I was attacked by some bandits, by an assassin wearing a lettre ordering my execution (why, I do not know), and by a few packs of wolves.

At the Thirsty Mammoth I saw for the first time real Giants. They seem peacefull creatures, and walked slowly passed me, with their hurd of cows.

... the Thirsty Mammoth....

... giants with their hurd...

At Whiterun I stopped for more proviant, and continued the same day my run towards the meeting place. Although I ran all the way, Rikke and her men were already there, waiting for me. How did they arrive before me? ...hmmm...never mind. She began immediately to give instructions about the assault of the Temple of Korvanjund...

... a quick pitstop at Whiterun...

... Legate Rikke and her men waiting for me...

> to be continued

Yeolius Coardus #3 - Joining the Legion

Arrived at Solitude, I went straight to castle Dour to try and enlist into the Legion. Soldiers pointed me to General Tullius, which I found discussing Stormcloak strategies with a Legate Rikke. They saw me. Rikke began ranting about me begin different, a lot of blabla about her "guts" telling her so, and to test me by clearing a fort from bandits. It eluded me totally why I would be so "special", and why they did not sent real soldiers to get rid of those bandits. What was this all about? I didn't knew whether I should be glad or worried not being enlisted as anybody else.

...Legate Rikke gives me instructions...

I received the coordinates, and the orders to return once Fort Hraggstad had been cleared. After some hesitation decided to have at least a look. So I left the same morning, up into the hills.

An hour later I arrived at the fort. I spotted several bandits keeping watch upon the wall. I tried to get close to try and talk with them (what was I thinking?), but they attacked me the moment they spotted me. (duh)

... the walls and courtyard of Fort Hraggstad have been cleared...

I ran away, and hid behind a rock. And then, one by one I lured them, shot them or singled them out. One on one those bandits did not seem very strong and able. I managed to clear the court, the walls and finally also the inside of the fort. It took almost all night to get it done, but at the end I was victorious: Yeolius Coardus - Bandits of Hraggstad: 10 - 0. Game over.

... Fort Hraggstad is done, returning to Solitude...

I went back to Solitude, and reported back to Legate Rikke. She was not really impressed, but thanked me. General Tullius took my oath, I received Legion's armour set, and got the next instructions. Again something special concerning a Crown or something. I was too tired to pay much attention...

...I'm a Legionair!...

 >next

Yeolius Coardus #2 - Raining on the Road to Solitude

The afternoon at Riverwood I did some chores to gain some money for a bed, and food for the road ahead. I slept well although the bard kept on singing all night! The next morning it poured cats and dogs, but I was decided: the road to go was west.

...just left Riverwood during a grey, rainy morning...

Not far from Riverwood a first pack of wolves of maybe six attacked me. A ran upon a rock and swang wild my father's old sword. Finally half of them started to flee. The others I managed to kill before.

I went on, but at Half Moon Mill I was attacked by a bear. Again I ran, jumped over the river, but got attacked by a wolf. The bear jumped upon the carriage driver, while I killed the wolf. From far I arrowed the bear until it fled. The driver, wounded, thanked me for saving his life. At the small town of Northkeep I stayed the night.

...another rainy morning at Northkeep...

The next day it continued to pour.  I left early. The road until Rorikstead was quiet, very quite. It seemed the day after a big battle. Countless bodies of fallen soldiers were laying spread out over grassy plains. Many thoughts crossed my mind when passing through these killing fields. At the inn at Rorikstead I halted for a warm lunch.

...rain at Rorikstead...

The next part of the road was horrible. I was ambushed by four bandits, but managed to run away, up hill onto the rocks above, and took them off one by one. I killed a human, but I had no other choice then to defend myself.

I continued the road accompanied by three passing merchants. Half an hour further though, we were asked to pay for toll at "Robber's Gorge". I did not had the money, and they attacked us. Again I ran away, behind a rock, and started to arrow down the robbers. The merchants had also looked for cover somewhere. Surprisingly I managed to take out the robbers, and ran passed their camp. The roads of Skyrim are deadly dangerous these days.

...still raining at Dragon Bridge...

But the rest of the road was quite again. Night was falling slowly when I reached Dragon Bridge. I stayed the night, and the next day it was a short dry walk to Solitude. I made it! I made it alive!

...arrived at Solitude with the weather clearing up...

> next

Yeolius Coardus #1 - I'm Not a Coward!

At Cyrodiil, for all the time I can remember, they called me a coward. I call it being prudent, but they don't see it that way. All my childhood I had to face the mockery of the other children. Even my parents seemed so often ashamed of me, I could see it in their eyes. And thus I decided to show all that I'm not a coward! I want them to be proud of me. I'm going to join Skyrim's Imperial forces, the great army once created by Talos himself, to defend Tamriel from chaos and destruction. And I will return with honor and glory.

...arrived at Riften, heading for Solitude...

So, last week, in my fathers old rusty iron armour and armed with his old sword, I left home. My friend accompanied me until the Skyrim's borders at the Silgrad Pass. There he left me on my own, to find my way from Riften to Solitude. It's still a long road ahead, but I'm convinced I will make it. What danger might there be, while well staying on the road?

...traveling with my future battle brothers...

I was lucky to encounter a couple of Imperial soldiers heading the same  direction as I did. But at the mountain pass between Ivarstead and Helgen they got amushed by Stomcloak rebels. The fight was bitter. I slipped through, and rather shocked I continued my way.

... Helgen was destroyed, a strange giant bird rose up from the debris...

When I arrived at Helgen, the town was destroyed, laying in ashes, burning, and out of the debris rose a giant birdlike creature, and flew off south. The road west to Falkreath was obstructed by the burning houses, and I had to descent south to Riverwood, to regain the parallel road in westerly direction..

...detour by Riverwood, an idyllic place in a rough world...

Just before arriving at Riverwood, three wolves attacked me. Alone I did not had other choice than to fight for my life. I swang and hacked my sword. I got bitten and wounded, but one by one they fled. I survived my first fight.

> next