Embershard Mine & The Love Triangle

After upgrading my armor, I headed back out into the Wilderness South-West of Riverwood.

Along the road that I followed Ralof to Riverwood from, I found a path that lead to a mine of some sort, it was occupied by bandits with one standing on guard out front.

The guard lunged forward to attack me as but with a quick block I got around his side and sliced his throat open.

As I entered the mine, I spotted a tripwire trap which I avoid, then I came onto a corridor opening into a cavern where I heard two bandits talking

"Aren't you worried someone will wander in here? The entrance isn't exactly hidden you know."

"This again? I told you, we have someone standing guard out there. And don't forget the rock trap we rigged up. So stop your worrying and get some rest. Your shift is coming up and I don't want you dozing off again like last time."

One then walks towards a bedroll and the other walks up onto the catwalk and deeper into the cavern.

I managed to sneak down to the one sleeping, and then I tried to take his weapon but I was unsuccessful and he woke up and attacked.

He wasn't much of a challenge though, a quick parry and his weapon is gone and a sword is in his gut.

The other bandit heard the commotion though and came back, he then suffered the same fate.

Heading across the catwalk into the next room, I found an old journal lying next to a corpse, probably written by one of the previous inhabitants of the mine.

In the next adjacent area I found a lever which lowered the bridge in the cavern part of the mine

Two more bandits were alerted by this and came running across the bridge, I hid down so they didn't see me.

"What's this bridge doing down?"

"I thought we had a guard posted outside."

"We did! Keep your eyes peeled. I don't think we're alone. You check the entrance. I'm going to look over here."

One then heads for the entrance and the other is heading towards the room i'm in, so I wait around the corner so I can catch him off guard there.

As he came around the corner I drove my blade straight into him, running him through.

I then came out and it was time to deal with the other one that was checking the entrance.

He lunged forward swinging both his weapons at me like a madman and I was able to just kick him in his stomach staggering him backward, he then met his end by the blade of my axe.

Across the lowered bridge, I entered another corridor with an opening into an adjacent room where I could see a bandit sitting in a chair next to a doorway, I pulled out my Cyrodilic Steel Bow I got from Helgen and aimed for his head.

Bullseye. Right in the back of his head.

The room he was sitting in front of had a chest which contained some gold, lockpicks, a Silver Garnet Ring, and an Ingot of Silver, a weapon rack with a greatsword on it,

and a table with a coin purse and a spell tome on it.

I took everything in the room apart from the Greatsword and the Silver Ingot, then in the next room was another large cavernous area with two bandits in it.

I waited until the Khajiit on the bridge moved further into the cave, then I aimed my bow at the bandit working the forge below.

I hit him in the back of his shoulder instead of his head, and he yelled in pain alerting the other Khajiit bandit which came back into the room. He was wounded so I was able to easily jump down and finish him off with a sword before the other one came back.

Another bandit wielding a Greatsword then appeared and I was having to fight him while at the same time dodging arrows being fired from the Khajiit up on the bridge.

It was difficult, but with perseverance and some clever swordplay I managed to take him out, then head up to the archer

After killing the archer and taking his bow (It was slightly nicer than the one I had) I headed through the last section of the cave and reached an exit passage

Conveniently, it opened out into a wooded area right near Riverwood

Arriving back at Riverwood, I sold both bows to Alvor in exchange for a Crossbow

After leaving Alvor's, I had a chat with Gerdur about current events and Riverwood.

She told me that Jarl Balgruuf has been acting aloof in regards to the war. He's trying to stay out of it, but it can't last and he'll need to pick a side eventually, Gerdur thinks he'd

choose the Empire since him and Ulfric have been at odds for a long time.

Then I encountered that Bosmer who had been working the Lumber Mill I saw before. He was mumbling something about Sven "Stealing the affections of Camilla Valerius"

I asked him what he was going on about and he told me about a supposed love triangle between Him, Sven, and Camilla Valerius. Then he asked me to deliver a fake letter with rude writing in it so that Camilla wouldn't see Sven anymore.

I tried to tell him he was being ridiculous and that this wouldn't work but he insisted so I begrudgingly accepted and took the letter.

Though I didn't take it to Camilla.

I showed the letter to Sven and in response he made another fake letter himself as a turn-around and told me to give it to Camilla instead.

I took the letter he gave me and walked over to Camilla but I told her neither of what they wanted me to say.

They were both being ridiculous so I told her the truth.

"Faendal asked me to give you this letter and say it was from Sven."

"What is this.. Why that jealous idiot. Thought he could just manipulate me into never seeing Sven again? Thank you for telling me this, you should talk to Sven, he'll be happy you defended his honor."

"But wait. Sven also told me to give you THIS letter and say it was from Faendal."

"He what..? Oh.. those two.. Thank you for telling me the truth. It means a lot."

After that I turned in, it was late and I had a big day tommorow. Because it was time to travel to Whiterun.

(DAY OVERVIEW)

Stats:

Level 8

Health: 140

Stamina: 130

Gear:

Banded Steel Plate Armor (Stats of Steel Plate)

Orcish Battleaxe

Steel Sword w/ Banded Iron Shield

Crossbow w/ Steel Bolts