A Question of Fate Options

[ThatSkyrimGuy]

Brief Intro By The Author

A Question of Fate would be the title of my piece.

I have been back and forth about trying to start and post a fan fic piece. The idea has always intrigued me, but I never considered myself to be a writer, let alone a good writer. I have read a sampling of some of the works that are posted on this site, and quite frankly, it is intimidating. The material is amazing. I must say say that despite the intimidation, it is also inspiring. So I am willing to throw caution to the wind and go for it. There are a few provisos. I work for a living. Often times, the hours I work are long. There may be periods of dormancy in this thread. I will apologize in advance for that. Life outside the internet does have it's restrictions. Also, I am sure that there is an unspoken etiquette that states, "You read mine and comment, and I shall do the same". This is also where I could run into trouble, for the same reasons that there may be dormant periods in this thread. There are stories on this site that I could never hope to read all the way through, with triple digit page counts, while I try to keep posting my own story and work through everyday life. So, with all that being said, I will wait to start posting chapters until I get a sense of what the audience demands. Please let me know if I should start posting a fan fic piece, based on what you have just read.

Thanks.

EDIT - This was originally posted in "General Discussion"

This post has been edited by ThatSkyrimGuy: May 4 2013, 04:41 AM

[ThatSkyrimGuy]

Let me start by apologizing for not getting to post in The Commentasaurus thread this week. RL prevented me from doing so, but I will get back at it on Sunday.

@ SubRosa - I am glad you can appreciate Valrimor's short-comings. I agree that perfectly behaved characters can be perfectly boring.

...like Over The Hills and Far Away, which I have seen several different sets of lyrics for. -- One of my favorite Led Zeppelin tunes!

@ Grits - I agree! Ale should never go bad in Skyrim!

Despite his troubled heart and drunken behavior (and history of thievery) he does not seem to be an anti-social person. -- Indeed, as long as he is sober...

@ Acadian - Good catch on the nit and appreciated. It has been picked.

A very clever way of revealing Val’s age! Merely a young elf in his fifties it seems. -- Actually, the math had already been given in the Interlude when he was born, but I'm glad you liked that.

@ mALX - Val does try to clean up before moving on...or sometimes he just gets out of Dodge!

...Also liked his references to troubles he'd gotten into in Cyrodiil! -- Mostly a result of the author having loved the other game too.

*****

Thanks again to all of you for your great comments, compliments, and continued following. Here is the next installment...

*****

Previously - Valrimor had cured his hangover and devised a set of plans to get started with his new life in Skyrim. He had made a “to do” list and was well on his way to completing it…

Chapter 10 – From Straight and Narrow to Crooked for a Cause

19th Last Seed, 4E 201

My room at The Sleeping Giant only had a few small windows set high on the wall above the head of my bed. When I awoke, scant light was coming in through them, and I was unable to discern whether or not the sun had fully risen yet. So I just lay there, reflecting on my plans. I had accomplished three of my four goals. I was down to the last one…get coin. Normally, this would require less than a full day’s “work”. But I had promised myself yesterday that I would try to gain the funds I needed honestly…legally. How to do that?

Hunt…

Hunting was probably my best bet. It played to my strengths, as I have had to stay keen with my bow skills. More often than not, it provided my food when I traveled. After bagging some deer, I could tan the hides of my kills and sell the leather, or even better, make armor and sell that instead. It seemed like a lot of work.

Concoct...

Alchemy was another option. I had certainly seen plenty of alchemical reagents during my walk from Helgen’s back door to Riverwood. And where one mushroom grows, so do more. I would have to ask Orgnar about using the inn’s alchemy table. This was certainly less strenuous than hunting and working at the forge, assuming there was a local demand for potions.

Time’s-a-wastin’…

With that thought, I rose, splashed some water from the basin on my face, and got dressed. The main hall was deserted, except for Orgnar behind the bar. The unmistakable aroma of bacon hung on the air, whetting my appetite. Delphine was talking to Orgnar from the kitchen. All I caught of it was something about the Riverwood Trader being robbed. Taking a seat, I ordered some bacon, cheese, and toasted bread with a glass of milk. There were breadsticks in a ceramic crock on the bar, so I helped myself to one and waited for my food. Orgnar soon returned with my order.

“I heard you talking to Delphine yesterday about some ale going bad,” I said to kick off a conversation while I ate.

“Yep, it’s turned alright. I already have a batch that I started a few weeks ago. Should be ready to serve in a couple days,” he replied, in his usual monotone and to-the-point style.

“So you brew your own ale then?” I asked.

“All of the inns in Skyrim brew their own ale. It doesn’t have the shelf life that wine and mead do. So having it shipped in is dodgy,” Orgnar explained, “The ales that are shipped over distance are quite hoppy and tend to the bitter side. An acquired taste for sure.”

“That’s interesting. So the selection of ales must be widely varied here in Skyrim,” I said, reaching for my milk to wash down some toast.

“Indeed. In the larger cities, the variety of ales, wines, and meads available to the palate of the discerning drinker is immense,” Orgnar said, “Right now, all I have on hand is my own brew, Sleeping Giant Ale. Up north, where temperatures stay much colder year round, they brew lagers and pilsners as well. It doesn’t stay cold enough in my cellar, so I only brew ale.”

There are lagers and pilsners in the cities to the north?

My mouth was watering. I had heard tell of these beers, but never tasted either one. Brewing ale could possibly be another source of income, or at least save me from spending as much money in taverns. Not for the immediate future, but certainly a consideration once I had a foothold here. For now, I needed to change the subject so I could get moving.

“So, Orgnar, is anyone around here looking for some hired help?”

“As a matter of fact, some of the Jarl’s men were passing through and left this notice with me,” he replied while rummaging under the bar. Then he handed me a wrinkled sheet of paper and said, “Here, check this out.”

The note stated that there was a reward for taking care of a bandit problem at a place called Valtheim Keep. I could ask the Jarl about it when I go to see him about the dragon, but that didn’t help my immediate situation.

“Do you need this back?” I asked.

“Keep it. No one around here is going that far down river.”

I folded the note and put it in my breast pocket, and then stood and asked, “What do I owe you for breakfast?”

“It comes with the room,” he replied.

As I turned to leave, the alchemy table caught my eye.

“One more thing,” I said, “can anyone use that alchemy table?”

“It works like this. You pay a two Septim fee per elixir. That covers the cost of the vials and lets me have a little pocket money. Clean up after yourself when you are done. Of course, you pay for any damage caused by explosions,” Orgnar replied. I bade him thanks and went out into the morning sun.

It occurred to me that, even though I had used it several times, I had never thoroughly examined my weaponry. I sat on the bench outside the inn and spun my quiver around to inspect my arrows. They were of low quality with iron heads.

The Empire sure did skimp when it came to outfitting their archers.

Two of the arrows were warped and useless. Three more needed some adjustment to the fletching. That left me nineteen acceptable shots. I turned my attention to the bow. It was just a simple long bow. Again, low quality, but serviceable. Either way, it would have to do until I could afford better. I stood and started toward the south entrance of the settlement. I was starting to get into a hunting frame of mind when the sign for The Riverwood Trader squeaked on its chain and caught my attention. Then I remembered what Delphine had said. Out of curiosity, I stepped into the shop, and apparently at a bad time.

“Well one of us has to do something!” a woman yelled at a man behind the counter, presumably the shopkeeper.

“I said no!” the man railed back at her, “No adventures! No theatrics! No thief-chasing!”

“Well what are you going to do then, huh? Let’s hear it!”

“We are done talking about this!” he yelled, and then noticed I had walked into the shop, “Oh, a customer. Sorry you had to hear that.”

The woman turned toward me, her face still full of fury, and then stomped off to a table near the fireplace and sat without saying anything else. I walked up to the counter and said, “No worries.”

“Welcome to the Riverwood Trader. I’m Lucan Valerius, proprietor and ever the target of my sister’s ire. I don’t know what you may have heard, but we are still open. Feel free to shop.”

“Well sir, it is about what I have heard that brought me in. Delphine was telling Orgnar this morning that the Riverwood Trader had been robbed,” I told him.

“Yes, it’s true. Damn thieves! They must have picked the door lock. Only one item was stolen. They left behind all of these treasures as if they were mere trinkets,” he said, spreading his arms as if to present his wares, “As I said, feel free to shop.”

I looked around the shop from where I stood. It was small by most standards, but there were several shelves filled with all manner of bric-a-brac. Some of it was useful, some of it not so much. I did notice some traveling gear.

“What was it they stole?” I asked, turning back to face Lucan.

“It was an ornament, a golden ornament in the shape of a dragon’s claw,” he replied.

“Was it worth a lot?” I pressed, while my mind turned this into a possible business venture.

“I have never had it appraised, but I would think so.”

“Would it be worth a lot to have someone retrieve it for you?” I queried, making my pitch.

“I do have some extra coin,” he mused, and then asked, “Would you be willing to try?”

“I would at that. But I can’t leave today. Alas, I am strapped for cash and will need to build my assets over the next week or so, to allow for the purchase of provisions…” I bemoaned, letting the words trail off and dropping a hint at the same time.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll pay half up front if you will leave today. I’ll even throw in a bedroll,” he offered, taking the bait.

“You, my good man, have a deal,” I said with a smile, “Now, what can you tell me about these thieves? Any detail can help.”

“I can tell you where you will most likely find them. They will be in one of two places, either Embershard Mine or Bleak Falls Barrow.”

Bleak Falls Barrow was the place Ralof had showed to me, up on the mountain.

What was it he had said? Naught but evil…haunted by draugr…

“I know where the barrow is. Where is this mine?” I asked.

“If you head out of Riverwood to the south, you will eventually see some steps going up a hill to your left. Follow them and it will take you straight to the mine,” Lucan directed as he tossed a small sack of coins on the counter, “Here’s half. You can have that bedroll over there on the shelf.”

I took the money and bedroll, said a farewell to the two of them, and left the shop. I stopped at Alvor’s, hoping to purchase a better bow and a few more arrows. Unfortunately, I was still short of cash for the fine hunting bow that he had for sale. So I resigned to make do with what I had, adding five more arrows to my quiver to make my arsenal an even two dozen.

This was going to work out perfectly. I had promised myself that I would not steal to gain cash, but now I was going to steal anyway. Now I was going to rob some thieves.

****

EDIT - Nits picked.

This post has been edited by ThatSkyrimGuy: Jun 13 2013, 12:50 AM