Previously, Orc named Gargaz (me) is on execution when suddenly evil dragon Alduin interrupt, making opportunity for him and Stormcloak rebels to break free. After stocking up (by trading and stealing), Gargaz heads for nearest city Whiterun to warn about Dragon’s attack. To learn more about the dragon, Court Wizard of Whiterun asks Gargaz to retrieve dragonstone in Bleak Falls Barrow which inhabited by bandits, skeevers (giant rats), spiders, and Draugrs (Ancient Nord zombies). Eventually he gets the dragonstone from boss Draugr. He also learns Word of Power or whatever is that, from strange wall. Time to head back to Whiterun…
...but first let explore around near the exit of Bleak Falls Barrow. It’s partially the compass’ fault because it can detect nearby landmarks. I find this The Lady stone sign which boosts speed of my health and stamina regeneration. But I don’t want to take off The Warrior stone sign’s effect just yet. Faster leveling up still good thing to have.
Near The Lady stone sign, there’s flowers and butterflies around. All of them are chemistry material! Picking flowers is no problem. But picking those damned butterflies, is bloody difficult. I try using flame magic hopefully make them drop dead so I can pick them easier but to no avail. I wish I have bugnet like in Monster Hunter. The compass not only able to detect landmark but also enemy. See that red dot inside the compass. That’s enemy. I might be in danger.
Oh, it’s just mudcrab. Although
they’re fairly adorable, they’re aggressive animal in wilderness. They’re
barely wolf or tiger but they’re eager to kill me with that small pincer of
their. If they fight with knife like in meme, they’re bigger threat. But
just a bit. I like fighting these small gits. Not only they’re easy to kill but
also yield lucrative loot. There’s their meat that I can use to cook creamy
crab bisque or crab stew. Then their legs that I can eat. Lastly their claw
that’s good for alchemist material. Hey,
is that a trap door that I can enter?
Ilinata’s Deep…
Yes, I can! This place is full of necromancers and their skeleton servants. Look at that guy that barely notice me even with my semi-competence sneak skill and we’re practically close to each other. There’s various factor that determine stealth: 1) Lighting, the darker the place you’re in the more concealed you are. As you can see that I’m “hiding” in dark area so this git can see me. It works! 2) Noise of armor you make. Moving with heavy armor makes the most noise. 3) Motion. The slower you move the stealthier you are. Standing still is the maximum way to be stealthy.
If you feel lost in a dungeon/tower/maze/etc. you can see local map by pressing “L” button when open the world map. You can see the terrain detail although it’s bit indecipherable to me.
Wow! This guy can take 2 arrows in the face while some Whiterun guard keeps complaining getting arrow to the knee thus they stop become adventurer. So, the enemy on Skyrim has level or rank based on their name. This Necromancer Adept certainly stronger than Novice Necromancer that I encounter so far. Another example is Draugr < Restless Draugr < Draugr Scourge < Draugr Deathlord.
This shortcut menu is pretty handy. You can put anything on it: weapon, shield, spell, potion, etc. You need to tag them as “Favorite” in inventory/magic menu by pressing “F” button. While you browse you shortcut or inventory menu, the game pauses allow you to use item in very critical situation.
Another crafting besides smithing and
chemistry is enchanting, which has the most complex procedure but level up
relatively fast upon successful crafting. First, you need to learn enchantment.
The only way to do so is by disenchanting item you have and destroy it in
process. Naturally, enchanted items are pretty rare. You get them from either
lucrative looting or trading. You only need to learn the enhancement once. Next
you need unenchanted item which is easy to get. Lastly you need soul gems which
is quite hard to get. You can buy them from general store or Court Wizard. The
soul gem determines the power of the enhancement. The stronger the soul gem,
the greater the enhancement.
I successfully clear Ilinata’s Deep and I’m ready to head back to Whiterun. But suddenly, I’m attacked by these 3 Skyrim cosplayers. Normally with my current level right now, I can’t defeat them. But luckily terrain is on my side, they can barely walk up to me on that slope. I can pick them off one by one with either my bow or my mace. One of them carries a letter that someone wants them to punish me for stealing and the person is Arcadia who assume the shopkeeper of Arcadia’s Cauldron, the alchemist shop in Whiterun. I broke in there in previous part, remember? I would love to confront her or maybe murder her but she provides me with alchemist material daily through fair trading. So, I give her a break.
Brittleshin Pass…
I know I said I want to go back to Whiterun but I can’t pass the opportunity to find this cavern pass near the last encounter. Lockpicking not only useful to open lock on chest or door but also to disarm trap. The mechanism is similar. The trap trigger is pretty small thing that latched on chest like this. It’s not only in chests but also in doors on dungeon/lair/maze. If you find chest that’s not locked, you should suspect there’s trap trigger on it.
So, Gargaz reaches level 9. I decide the point goes in this perk. I remember “Fist of Steel” perk is located upper than in current position. I think this perk switch place with “cushioned” perk (which minimize fall damage when wearing heavy armor) from what I remember back in the day. This perk is essential to win fistfight in some quest.
I clear Brittleshin Pass. It’s pretty brief maze. This time, I’m really going to Whiterun with manual travel. Suddenly, I meet this Orc who call me milk drinker. How dare her!
Yup! This is how real orc settle their dispute even it’s just over simple mock. To be fair, I tried intimidation first but she’s not buying it so we fight.
After few walks from that encounter, I fight a Vampire and their mind-controlled slave. Gargaz’s luck turns bad if he walks at night. There’s general rule: don’t travel (manually) at night especially at wilderness like swamp or forest. I thought it’s safer to travel in grassland besides I’m still near road but apparently, it’s not so safe.
Eventually…
I give him the dragonstone but he’s more interested in actual dragon who is about to attack Whiterun. But his enthusiasm is cut short as Jarl Balgruuf tells him to stay at the palace to learn about dragon in safe way. Besides his robe looks highly flammable. Instead, The Jarl orders his trustful bodyguard Irileth (the dark elf on the screenshot) to investigate the dragon’s presence on western tower with some Whiterun Guard of her choosing. Also, he insists that I have to go there too because I have experience with dragon’s attack. I think The Jarl is barking at the wrong tree because the only experience that I had is run away from Dragon. Not related to fight dragon, I must say.
We arrive at the western tower and soon ambushed by the dragon. Oh, I forget they can speak English.
I’ll be honest with you. I have hard time defeating the dragon. When I played as Breton, I had small problem in this fight, which confuses me. Why Gargaz with heavy armor have really hard time compare to The Breton guy with measly armor. I finally figure why. Any elemental attack (including dragon’s fire breath) will bypass armor power. No matter how heavy armor that Gargaz has, it doesn’t protect him from the fire breath. It goes without saying that dragon like to breath fire a lot instead of does physical attack. Meanwhile the Breton guy has racial ability: Dragon Skin which makes him resistant to magic attack which I assume including dragon’s breath. I though Breton only good for mage character but turns out they’re pretty good against dragon. Other good candidate race for fighting against dragon is: Nord which has natural resistance against cold and Dark Elf which has natural resistance against fire. It’s kind of 50-50 whether dragons can breathe either fire or ice.
Finally, Gargaz perform the special melee animation on the dragon where he jumps on top of his head and beat it several time with mace. Look at that bloody wound on the dragon. It’s gorgeous detail.
Suddenly, I absorb the dragon’s soul which left him as skeleton. Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat should feel envy on me. Remember that mysterious word of power that I learnt at Bleak Falls Barrow? Now I can cast it because I have acquired Dragon’s soul. The power word or shout is special power that can knock back target a bit. Even though it doesn’t deal damage, I think it’s pretty handy to have. The button to activate the shout (and also racial active ability), is “Z” button (default). While in Oblivion, “Z” button is to cast magic. The special power doesn’t use Magicka (the blue bar) but requires cooldown time before I can cast it again. You can see when the shout is ready to use by looking at the compass. The blue bold border represents the cooldown time. Once the compass is clear from the bold border, i can cast the special power again.
Some of the guard tells me that I am Dragonborn (or Dovahkiin in Dragon’s language) who is someone born with Soul of Dragon and destined to bring down evil dragon Alduin which is the dragon who interrupt my execution. I want to comment 2 things. First, why Alduin is marked as evil? He helps me escape the execution (which is ironic thing to do because I’m destined to kill him later) take aside of burning a whole village and killing dozens of Imperial men. But screw Imperial anyway. Second, it’s ironic for someone with soul of dragon destined to be dragonslayer. Huge irony.
As I return to Whiterun, a huge thump can be heard. Turns out it was The Greybeards on the highest mountain summons me to their place. It’s said Greybeards are the masters of the special shout. I assume they want to teach me more about the special power. I can’t decline this opportunity.
As I report the Dragon’s demise on The Jarl, I try not to be stand out by saying it’s thanks to Irileth that we won. But The Jarl suspects there’s more than that and I’m forced to admit that I am Dragonborn. Knowing that The Jarl happily appoints me as Thane of Whiterun and gives me Axe of Whiterun (which is Orcish axe with lighting element enhancement). Heavy_thanks03.wav
The Jarl also assigns Lydia as my
housecarl which is personal bodyguard much like Irileth. I can take her on my mindless
jaywalking quest, but I don’t do that just yet because I think I can level
up faster if I’m alone. Also, I don’t want honorable warrior like Lydia seen
helping me stealing in someone’s house.
Before I go to Greybeard’s place, I want to sell these Dragon Scales and Dragon Bones. They’re heavy yet expensive commodity. This is why I don’t like the trading system in Skyrim because vendor can run out of gold if I sell too many expensive items. In Whiterun, only Belethor who owns general shop, can buy these Dragon Scales and Dragon Bones. The Court Wizard isn’t interested to buy them. He wants to study living dragons and not their dead remain.
I just notice that speechcraft is
leveled up faster if you trade more expensive item. So enchanting your loot is
pretty useful to level up speechcraft and your pocket. Other important thing that i have to say is: you should pick "Merchant" perk in Speechcraft branch because it allows you to sell any kind of item to any vendors. It will makes you sell dragon scales and bones easier. Plus vendors will sell item outside their expertise.
In the Whiterun’s inn, I’m betting 100 gold that I can defeat Uthgerd The Unbroken in fistfight and I win thanks to the “Fist of Steel” perk. There’s minor factor to win fistfight such as health and stamina (to execute more strong punch). But still Fist of Steel is the major factor. In fact, you will get sure victory in fistfight if you have the perk. There’s no in-depth mechanism in fistfight unlike Call of Juarez. All you need to do is hit your opponent with strong punch (either hand is fine) as much as your stamina allow. And -again- make sure you have the “Fist of Steel” perk.
Not only I get her 100 gold but also she become willing to accompany me for free. Uthgerd here has interesting story. She’s disqualified to join the companion (the equivalent of fighter’s guild) because she’s so strong that she accidentally killed her opponent in her trial. I know Lydia is my housecarl but Uthgerd here is more interesting to recruit because of her backstory, steel plate armor (which is stronger than steel armor like worn by Lydia’s), and her two-handed axe.
I also don’t forget to return Golden Claw to Riverwood Trader and the shopkeeper is very happy about it. So happy that he allows me to take gold on the table. When you become friend of someone, you are allowed to take their stuff within certain value. Gold always useful but your friends don’t mind you take it because its value only 1 (gold coin, certainly). But be careful! They will not be so willing to depart with more expensive item though.
Now I’m on way to The Throat of The World mountain where The Greybeards live. I witness a sabretooth tiger fights a mudcrab. The mudcrab clearly no match for the tiger and coming for me. What’s this? I also have ability to absorb tiger’s soul, all along? Not really. It’s thanks to special bow that I bought at “Drunken Huntsman” shop in Whiterun, which has ability to trap soul of my deceased prey within 5 seconds and store it to soul gem. Yes. I’m talking about the same soul gem that’s required for enchanting process. It’s kind of grim fact that you need to trap poor soul to fill soul gem. I bet those soul gems that are sold by Court Wizard, are filled with soul of animal that he can get range from house rat to wild wolf. Hopefully, he doesn’t use domestic cat’s soul.
Anyway, I didn’t know that I can fill soul gem from wild animal (or even someone’s pet or livestock). Armed with this knowledge, I can extend the benefit of hunting besides for their meat, hide, or sometime chemistry material such as antler and claw. Filled soul gem is noticeably more expensive than the empty ones. To fill the empty soul gem you need either weapon with soul-trap enchantment or “Soul Trap” magic spell which is from “Conjuration” school. Here’s the power tier of soul/soul gem: petty < lesser < common < greater < grand. Stronger soul gem can store weaker soul but not the otherwise. Soul of human’s opponent can’t be trapped, in normal circumstance. You need Dark Soul Gem to store human’s soul and it’s extremely rare.
I stray from the correct route a bit to discover The Ritual stone sign which allow me to resurrect nearby corpse. You most likely think: “That’s what necromancers do” and that explain why there’s a hostile necromancer in this area. So, I have to kill him and his skeleton slaves. Speaking of necromancy, I feel like “Conjuration” school is evil because it only consists 2 “style”. Either you summon demon (or demonic equipment) from Oblivion plane or you’re into necromancy reanimate dead bodies. In Oblivion game, the antagonistic cultists are adept at demonic conjuration while necromancy is banned in Mage Guild. See what I mean about Conjuration is deemed evil?
Now we’re at inn in a peaceful hamlet called Ivarstead which is located at the base of Throat of The World mountain. So we’re not far from main objective. In Skyrim, innkeepers are the source of rumor/information or just straight local quest that you can pick at your leisure. It goes without saying they provide you with temporary sleeping place that last for a day, which mean you can use the bed for 24 hours counting time when you rent it. Since the effect of sleep is not affected with how long you sleep, it’s a waste to take long hours to sleep on the bed. Unless you want to wake at around 8:00 AM where shops begin to open. The sleep’s effect is pretty useful which is “Increase experience rate by 10% for 8 hours”. While sleep on bed at random tent, shack or camp only provide you with half of the effect. Innkeeper also sell you salt pile which you can use for either cooking or chemistry.
Now all I need to do to reach where The Greybeards live, is climb the 7,000 step of the mountain. But the path is not peaceful as I encounter snow sabretooth tiger which is stronger version of plain ones that I encountered. I need to reload several times for this fight but eventually I can defeat the tiger by using the special Orc’s power “Berserker Rage”.
But then I encounter Frost Troll which is much stronger than the snow sabretooth tiger. A loading screen’s tips says that Troll has powerful health regeneration but vulnerable to fire. Unfortunately, Gargaz’s magic skill is quite low and don’t do much to fight this beast. I wish I have fire melee weapon. “But aren’t you into Enchanting, Werdito? You can enchant fire element to weapon on your own”. Yes. But the problem is I haven’t learned the fire enchantment yet. Maybe I should find fire weapon either in store or dungeon/maze/lair and get some level up while at it. Besides this fight is impossible to win with my current level and I already use the “Berserker Rage” power anyway.
But then…
While I walk around in Whiterun, I get some idea. Why I just invite companion to assist me? Just for this main quest. Instead of leveling up as planned (which consume more time), I decide to take Uthgerd The Unbroken and try my luck again. We have easier time fighting the snow tiger but Frost Troll is still too strong for us. Luckily any companion can’t be killed. If their health drop to 0, they will be incapacitated for a while (like Uthgerd there) and rise with small health restored so I don’t need to worry about my companion. I do have some poison that I can imbue to my arrow and weapon but it’s still too weak in my current alchemist level. But on some lucky occasion, the ice troll runs away from the path presumably to chase wild goat. So, our path is clear and we can proceed!
Finally, we have reached the temple where The Greybeards live. It’s called High Hrothgar. They’re willing to teach me of this shout power called Thu’um. After I show them the only shout I got, one of them teach them the second word for that Thu’um. Demoman_thanks02.wav
Now I can cast the stronger version of Thu’um by holding the “Z” button but the cooldown time also increase. The Greybeards want to me to demonstrate my newly learned power to that holographic target that one of them create. I know you’re dumbfounded with this strange power, Uthgerd. But would you kindly step away from the target practice for your own safety, please?
Next, they teach me a shout that make me dash very fast. They’re so kind. :)
Now, they want me to demonstrate it by passing that automatic gate. It was easy trial. Next trial is retrieve horn of Jurgen Windcaller in place called Ustengrav. I’m on it, master!
Back to Ivarstead, some cultists attack me accusing me fake dragonborn or something like that. I always have bad relation with any cultist in Elder Scroll game that I play so far. Luckily, not only Uthgerd but also local guard helps me defeat these cultists. They’re clearly outnumbered and now they are dead also naked. I take their cloth to sell later as compensation for attacking me.
Before I go to Ustengrav. I decide to check nearby tomb because it’s so freaking close to Ivarstead or to be more precise it’s within Ivarstead itself! The innkeeper said there’s ghost guarding the interior of the tomb. I get deep fear for ghost from Oblivion where I checked tomb which is located near main road. I couldn’t fight ghosts inhabit there because ghost can only be harmed with silver weapon or magic and I have neither.
But this time, I have Axe of Whiterun with lighting element and shout power. I’m not afraid of ghost now. Also, there’s Uthgerd to accompany me, just in case. Turns out the ghost is fake. This Elf made potion that make him glowing like ghost and use it to scare local people and securing his treasure searching. But the deeper part of the tomb is locked with Sapphire dragon claw. With nothing to do, he turns crazy and keep pretending to be ghost to guard the tomb as if he’s habitant of it. Now he’s. This tomb become his as well now that I kill him.
I told the innkeeper that the ghost is fake and shown him the diary of the fake ghost. He’s happy with my work and reward me with Sapphire Dragon Claw itself! Man. If only that Wyndelius the fake ghost, traded nicely with the innkeeper for the dragon claw, he would success the treasure hunting that he really obsessed with. But he choose to play stupid deceit and now he’s dead.
As per usual, the code for this door is engraved in The Dragon Claw itself.
I am prepared to fight ghost but the tomb is just filled with usual Draugr. This should be easy.
Hark! I find door with Master lock level. There must be something really precious behind it. There’s no shame to reload many times in attempt to open high-level lock. It’s valid way to do it especially if you don’t have many lockpicks. Note that breaking lockpick can fill experience bar on lockpicking skill but only a little. Successfully opening lock yield more experience even more for higher level lock.
Uthgerd is stuck somewhere behind me but I don’t need her. I can take care of myself. Those animated skeletons stand on the puddle of oil, I can ignite it either with fire magic or dropping lamp with my bow. Pyro_laughlong01.wav
Here’s some tips when you explore tomb in Skyrim. Some Draugr pretend to sleep or remain lie in their chamber and they will ambush you later. You can stealth kill them while they’re still in their chamber, with either bow or melee weapon. It’s pretty good to level up your Sneak skill.
I can also trap Draugr’s soul. It’s their fault for coming back alive. I guarantee they can rest for good and never get back to live because I steal their soul for making of scrappy enhancement item. I love the lightning effect upon successful soul steal. The thunder sound is so radical.
To draw a bridge, I have to rotate the pillar in correct picture and order. This time the code hint is hidden within this chamber. There’s lever that can rotate the cover. You can bid your time by stopping the cover one by one when the statue is clearly visible for all of 4 statues. Or you can use my lazy method: let those cover rotate and memorize the symbol on the statue one by one.
Shroud Hearth Depths…
We’re in deeper part of tomb. Good news is: Uthgerd is magically teleported near me at the entrance of this part. Bad news is: Uthger is stuck again. But this time it’s not her fault. As soon as take step in this area that portcullis close up preventing Uthgerd to regroup with me. But no worries. These Draugrs are push-over as always.
After I defeat more Draugrs and their Deathlord, all of the gate up in that big room are open. So, I can progress further and Uthgerd can regroup to me. I get to loot this reward chest that contains madness ore and a magic robe, which I will sell all of them because the ore is just one and not enough to make an ingot. Even a single ingot can make any equipment even the smallest like bracer or dagger. I assume this madness ore is essential to craft Daedric equipment which I can’t make due to lack of smithing skill. Suddenly poison darts flies at me from above because I didn’t notice there’s trap trigger on this chest. However, I’m fine due to my heavy armor.
I’m encumbered because I carry anything above my carry limit, again! I figure I should transfer some of the loot to Uthgerd. She immediately equip that old heavy axe that I got from the last Draugr Deathlord. Good for her.
However, the real treasure is new shout power for me to learn! Because to me, Thu’um is the most special feature of Skyrim. You can find these new Thu’um from the similar wall at the end of Bleak Falls Burrow. These walls can be found in crypts that have entrance door with spider head’s symbol or dragon’s lair in overworld. Absorbing new Thu’um is not enough, you have to learn it by spending a Dragon’s Soul and you can guess where you get it. By killing a dragon, obviously. This Thu’um probably useful for hunting in wilderness. Calming tiger or bear for a while or preventing deer or elk from running away. But to be honest I haven’t tried this Thu’um yet. Anyway, I have escaped from Imperial execution, stripped bunch of dead humans, killed a dragon, stolen dozens soul of Draugrs and animals, learned some Thu’um, concocted hundred poison/potions, and solved “ghost” case. I think that’s enough showcase from me.
Bethesda’s The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016) is a long game but enjoyable especially when I play this after finishing Blasphemous, twice! It has fewer social interactions with NPCs than in Oblivion. You can no longer ask direction or get juicy rumor from random citizen. Only innkeeper can provide you with that. However, Skyrim has better combat aspect. Melee weapon categorized as one-handed and two-handed. Unlike in Oblivion where it’s categorized as sharp and blunt weapon. I still can’t get over with axe categorized as blunt weapon in Oblivion! Clearly, axe is deadlier when sharp! Then there’s also unique perk for sword, axe, and mace. Sword’s perk is ability to critical strike with chance. There’s also perk with same effect but with bow. Axe’s perk is ability to make enemy bleeding, causing damage over time. Undead clearly can’t bleed so it doesn’t work to fight undead. Mace’s perk is ability to ignore armor power of enemy’s. Animals don’t don armor so this perk is useless against them. Archery also important to level up. Naturally, it’s useful for hunting (along with sneak skill for stealth shot). I like the special animation on killing blow but enemy can do the same to me. So i feel paranoid whenever my health drop below 50%. Also for fighting dragons because they are flying most of the time and they only on the ground when they’re about to die. Because magic is assigned to either hand, you can combine spell casting with other spell casting or one-handed melee weapon. You can even two-handed spell casting to cast bigger magic but only if you have acquired the related perk first. The hit detection is pretty adequate. Although I notice that one-handed weapon hit detection is bit lackluster.
Someone argues that Sneak skill only to make combat longer unnecessarily. I like to disagree with that. Sneak skill is necessary in some quest in town where you have to sneak into people’s house to take or put something. Surely, you can’t just barge into their house and swinging your weapon. I mean you can but you end up having bounty on your head. You can’t solve anything with combat, you see? I usually use sneak for first deadly stealth attack but I end up leveling up the skill at 90 per this date. Naturally, Sneak skill will support lockpicking and pickpocketing because it’s mandatory to be undetected or you end up having bounty. Although lockpicking skill can be leveled up legally by opening lock chests in dungeon/maze.
I suggest you should level up crafting skill. There’s no reason not to do that. There are tons of chemistry material everywhere. Chemistry in Skyrim can only be done in alchemist table usually in chemist shop or court wizard’s room. Whereas in Oblivion, you need to buy mortar, pestle, etc. and you can do chemistry practically anywhere. At low level, your potion/poison won’t be as strong as the ones in store but you can have multiple effect on them. Potion/poison in store only have single effect so you have some sort of advantage with your crafted concoction. Even your concoction is not coherent (e.g. potion that can damage your stamina), the multiple effect will add value to it. The more effect in your-made potion/poison, the more expensive it is. Smithing probably less useful if the skill is low. However, the perks unlock your ability to smith better and stronger equipment which can potentially allow you to perform more task that level up your skill and character. The smithing skill will be leveled up faster as you make more item. Enchanting is useful to either enchant equipment you have or add value on your loot. About the fishing. It’s quite well implemented, I think. You need fishing rod and you can only fish in a spot where there’s fishing bucket/basin and other fishing equipment. The compass is very useful element on HUD. It can track quest objective and nearby landmark. It's also serves as Thu'um cooldown indicator. The visual effect in this game is quite pretty except when I’m absorbing Thu’um from the wall. It becomes dark and I can barely see anything. No fun.
The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016) is better than Oblivion in combat and character build. I appreciate that Bethesda implement Skill tree, stone sign, and various passive benefits which is more interesting than birth sign, major and minor stats in Oblivion. Then there’s Thu’um which is special power that any player’s character can have. Whether they’re warrior, thief, or mage. So it goes without saying that Skyrim deserve my recommendation. Although I believe Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is better than Skyrim but that’s for another story. :P
