Rescue Mission Pt. 1

When I got up in the morning and came upstairs, I spoke with Vilkas about the Companions' history and traditions.

"What brings you to me? Find some strange creature in your travels?"

"You said I could come to you with questions about The Companions?"

"Like what?"

"Tell me about our history"

"Well.. where to start.. After Ysgramor's Five Hundred Companions defeated the elves up north, he set them to explore deeper into Skyrim. One group came here. They saw the Skyforge, and that the elves didn't like it, so they decided to make their home here. Was that duty, I wonder? Or were they just tired of fighting?

Those Companions never discovered what the Skyforge was for. And nobody has in all the years since, either. But we guard it still, although we don't know from what, because it is traditional. And we train in the traditional ways. All in memory of those who came before us."

"What do the Companions do these days?"

"We train ourselves, and we train newcomers like you, to fight. Then we fight others battles. For glory, for coin. We fight until we die. And after that we keep fighting, it seems."

I also talked to Vignar about the feud between the two houses and why he was once a companion after observing a conversation going on between him and Brill.

"There's a chill in the air. Ysmir's beard, it gets colder in here every day."

"That's just you getting skinnier every day, old man. You're losing your padding. You need to eat more."

"Well if my layabout manservant fed me more, that wouldn't be a problem."

"Oho! Manservant? Is that what I am now?"

"My mistake. A manservant wouldn't let me starve or freeze. I let you live here, and now I'm two steps closer to the grave."

"Old man, without me, you would have withered away a long time ago."

"Hmph. Damn you for being right."

"Hi, Vignar." I said.

"What is it, pup?"

"I just wanted to ask about the feud that has been going on in Whiterun."

"We Gray-Manes have been feuding with the Battle-Borns for years. There's no more bitter enemy than an old friend."

"Your clans used to be friends?"

"Aye, they're an old clan like ours, but they cast their lot with the Empire when the uprising began. Olfrid Battle-Born made his money from farming, an' got himself some new friends among the Empire's nobles. Now he's in the Emperor's pocket like the rest of 'em, with no regard for honor an' tradition.

We used to be fast friends, though it was long ago. We were two of the city's oldest an' most-respected clans, an' we could trace our histories all the way back to Ysgramor's companions. But then Olfrid got rich an' decided he an his kin were too good for us simple, backwards Nord folk. When the troubles began, he took the Empire's side. We haven't spoken much since then."

"So, why did you join the Companions all those years ago?"

"When you get to be my age, you don't remember why you did much of anything... Only that it happened.."

"What does it mean to be a Companion?"

"My advice? Don't overthink it. Fight well and the rest takes care of itself."

Maybe the old man's words were true, but I was still a bit skeptical anyway..

A passing conversation between Ria and Vilkas goes on as I walk over to Aela to ask if she has any work for me.

"Should I be holding the blade further away than I would a smaller one?"

"If you keep it in close, you'll have more control, but it can be harder to balance a strike."

"So I guess all that just comes down to foot work then."

"Exactly. When you have a big heavy weight swinging around your upper body, your lower body has to compensate, or you'll fall right over."

"I'm looking for work" I tell Aela.

"We've got some traders coming in, and are short on Bear pelts. See if you can find some, and I'll try to find some more interesting work by the time you get back."

"Actually, I already have a lot of pelt here I got from that last job. There was a lot of pelts sitting outside the den."

"Oh, excellent. These look like good quality too. I know it's not the glamorous, heroic work, but don't be surprised if I ask you to do this again."

She gave me my pay, then I walked over to Vilkas to see if he has any work for me.

"Got anything for me today, Vilkas?"

"This is something serious, I'm willing to trust you with it but I'd ask that you take this with the utmost urgency. We've received a desperate missive. A citizen of The Rift has been kidnapped. The Companions have been asked for assistance. And we shall answer.. Particularly when the pay is as good as this.."

"I'm on it. You can count on me."

"I hope so. Now get moving, I shudder to think what might happen if you're too late."

And with that I left. Ran down to the stables and got a ride to Riften, this was too urgent to go on foot.

While on the ride, I pondered to myself the importance of the task at hand.. This was the first serious mission I had been given by The Companions, so I had to do my best.

We arrived at Riften by mid-day, outside the stables.

I checked my map right quick to see how close the cave was to Riften. It was just north-east of Shor's Stone.

And with that I headed out into the forests of The Rift.

Encountered some Frostbite Spiders along the way.

ᴺᵃˢᵗʸ ᵉᶦᵍʰᵗ⁻ˡᵉᵍᵍᵉᵈ ᵇᵃˢᵗᵃʳᵈˢ⋅⋅

Then ran into a Khajiit Caravan fighting off some wolves.

I decided to assist and took out the wolves with ease.

The leader thanks me and asks if I wanted to purchase anything from them but I told her I didn't need anything and probably didn't have time anyway before asking her what they were doing out in such a secluded part of The Rift when there are much safer roads they could've taken.

The bodyguard of the Caravan chimes in and says

"We're here because we've been tracking bandits in this area."

"They giving you trouble?"

"One of them stole my Moon Amulet, given to me by my mother when I was just a cub. It is my only memory of home in this cold land."

"I could get it back for you, I'm heading to a bandit den nearby to rescue a kidnapped citizen of Riften."

"You are kind to offer. We believe the bandits are a part of a group headquartered here."

"I'll get it back for you. Don't worry."

"Be careful. I miss my amulet, but a life cannot be replaced as easily."

With that I nodded and ran off toward the nearby cave.

But not before fighting MORE GODS DAMNED SPIDERS.

DIEDIEDIEDIE!

Upon entering the cave I looked upon a grim sight. But I soon swallowed my discomfort and moved on.

I came across a long, dark, narrow passageway leading deeper into the cave.

Toward the end I could see what seemed to be the figure of a person, so I treaded lightly.

Reaching a fork in the cave, one dark passage following the river, and the other up a wooden bridge, I heard a voice coming from the right. I thought maybe the voice was coming from a bandit guarding the kidnapped citizen, so I decided to go that way.

An orc was sitting on a ledge singing to himself. Right in field of of view of the walkway.

So I pulled out my crossbow and fired a bolt to the back wall behind him as a distraction.

It worked and he went to check out what the noise was shortly before coming back.

It gave me just enough time to go and sneak underneath the ledge he was sitting on.

After a stealthy takedown, I got caught by two bandits patrolling the river pathway.

A fight ensued

And I was knocked out cold.

When I regained consciousness, I was in a temple being healed by a priest.

I profusely thanked the priest and asked how I could repay her and she told me a donation would suffice, so I gave her 30 septims for her services. I wish I could've given more.

After exiting the temple, I felt terrible. I had failed to do the one thing everything was counting on me to do.. All because of one blow from a lowly bandit..

So I did what anyone else would've done and went to drown my sorrows in a bottle at the local tavern.

As I entered, a priest from the Temple of Mara was giving a speech to the people in the tavern.

"People of Riften, heed my words. The return of the dragons is not mere coincidence. This is one of the signs. The signs that Lady Mara is displeased with your constant inebriation. Put down your flagons filled with your vile liquids and embrace the teachings of the handmaiden of Kyne!"

Keerava: "No, no... Maramal... we talked about this. Talen!"

Maramal: "Keerava, certainly we can come to an understanding. These people must be made aware of the chaos they've sown!"

Talen: "Enough, Maramal. We've all heard of the dragons and their return. There's no need to use them as an excuse to harass our customers."

Maramal: "Very well, Talen. I'll remove myself from this den of iniquity."

Talen: "We're not kicking you out, just keep the sermons at the temple and let us all sin in peace."

Hearing more and more about people being shook up due to the rumors of dragons made me even more uneasy. I couldn't even take on a few lowlife bandits much less a crypt full of Draugr.

Sitting at the bar, I pondered why these tasks rested upon me..

"Welcome to the Bee and Barb milord. If I can interest you in one of our special drinks, let me know."

"Special drinks..?"

"Three in fact. They're my own recipe. Brought them over here from my days as a bartender in Gideon.

First is the 'Velvet Lechance' which is a mixture of blackberry, honey, spiced wine and a touch of nightshade... perfectly safe, I assure you.

Second, we have the 'White-Gold Tower' which is heavy cream with a layer of blended mead, lavender and dragon's tongue on top.

Last, and only for the bravest of souls, we have the 'Cliff Racer' which is Firebrand Wine, Cyrodiilic Brandy, Flin and Sujamma."

"White-Gold Tower please."

"Coming right up.."

What if that kidnapped person dies because of my incompetence? What if Farengar never completes his research and Whiterun is burned to the ground by that dragon..

After I (attempt to) enjoy my drink, I noticed a note laying on the bar in front of me.

I assumed it was probably just someone's bill or something like that, but it turned out to be some kind of note about a debt written by someone in the Riften Jail.