We got out into clean air driven by a cloud of black smoke, coughing due to the number of nasty things we inhaled. My homemade mixture turned out to be combustible for too long, by itself the flame was not too strong, but long-lasting paired with beautifully burning chitinous carcasses and an abundance of flammable cobwebs. In-depth the caves were already very dangerous.
The air in the cave became with each minute is getting shorter, and even these disgusting creatures need it if they want to live, they will try to get out of the mine filled with fire. So right after getting out of the smoke, we took a defensive position at the entrance. Waiting for them at the exit. And so it happened.
The remnants of big and small buggers tried to leave the mine which turned into a death trap. However, what we didn't expect is that huge, no not just a huge but an enormous spider, that alone occupied almost the entire tunnel. It came out of the smoke desperately viciously moving her paws as thick as my thigh and the base of the belly in our direction.
- Shor's bones! - two Nords swore in unison and retreated a couple of meters back.
And I could not blame them for that. As I too was scared shitless, with not enough Magicka left to even try to summon flame atronach. Next time will definitely buy a magicka potion even if it is expensive, better to be broke than dead.
-Fuck! Step back! -
I yelled, bringing those two back to their senses, and then driven by a crazy idea that just came to me. I hastened to climb onto the ledge above the exit from mine, before that, grabbing a heavy Dwemer ax that I put in the front of the entrance just in case.
I made it in time, several times I almost slipped back from nervous trembling, and fear in a hurry, but still managed to climb up and take a stable position. With a little crazy eye, I began to wait for this creature to crawl out of the passage.
I almost fell in disgust when the front part of the monster appeared. The moment it fully emerged and started to hiss at my companions I broke into action all of my remaining cocktails together with accompanying firebolts flew into the creature's eyes and legs.
Then while its huge body started to burn and it screeched much louder than any of its smaller copies. And then while I still had a chance with the creature still under me, I jumped raising a two-handed axe high above my head and bringing down a copper blade at the center of its burning head.
DIE!!! - the cry seemed to give me strength, and the axe felt a lot lighter than it really is. Taking advantage of this false delusion I continued to land blow after blow on the monster's head from above.
I came back to my senses only when the fire came too close to me, and my hands were too tired from a series of violent blows. What was the head of this huge spider was a green-purple mess that made me want to puke.
Gathering my remaining strength, I jumped through the fire, where it was least, leaving the axe on the corpse of a frosty spider, nothing will happen to it, but it will weight me down.
-I fucking hate spiders,- I croaked, sprawling on the ground. My hands ached and burned unpleasantly, it seems that I received slight burns while chopping the burning motherfucker.
- It was something, - falling on the ass next to me with a burning look of emotion exhaled the woman, — this is what I understand courage and ingenuity. It was a long time since I participated in such adventures, oh, what nostalgia.
- In my grave did I see such adventures, - I muttered, wincing from the pain in the burns.- This shit is obviously worth more than I agreed with you, Filnjar.
-I won't give you a septim more, a deal is a deal.
-Crap.-was all I could say in response.
-Stop sitting on your arse, we need to clean the mine to the end, this creature could be the last one, or maybe not, - he said, but to approach the dead carcass of the deceased the giant was in no hurry with me.
-Now, now, just let me come to my senses, exploiter.
About half an hour later, when the smoke from the bodies cleared, we again entered the mine, near which now a crowd of onlookers have gathered looking with interest and fear.
Honestly, I was proud of myself, I didn't shit my pants and acted like a man of this world. It was nice to feel victorious, almost monster slayer. This pleasant euphoria of victory is great and made me dizzy, but then I controlled myself as there was still work to do.
As it turned out, yes, there were a couple more nasty creatures inside, but that was all.
I did not even need to use magic anymore killing them with my sword alone. With the three of us working together, we were able to clear the mine without much difficulty.
Already at sunset, we, that is, I, a blacksmith and a former adventurer were done and sat inside the forge and drinking honey. Just enjoying ourselves after a job well done. My wallet was pleasantly warmed by the hundred and fifty gold pieces that I received for my honest, life-threatening work.
My worries about possible thieves had gone to the back of my mind with my riches being too big to be stolen in the shadows in its entirety, and not big enough to interest people in Riften to do it in the daylight.
I spent the reaming time in the Shore's stone practicing magic and listening to stories in the tavern and generally resting as my last adventure made me too exhausted to do anything else.
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-We have arrived, Riften.
The old Nord trader with whose caravan I spent the last two weeks boomed, - look out in this town, Vitki, here every guard is worse than a thief, - giving out his parting words and waiting for me to jump off his loaded wagon, whipped the reins and she moved the horse further, and I stayed behind him.
About two hundred meters from the existing gates that led into the city behind a stone wall and were now half open. And with a queue that stretched for the next few tens of meters before it.
I'll have to stand for quite a while though. Stretching my lower back, I moved to the end of the live line, it's not tricky, stand and wait until you become the first entrance to the city.
However, the next moment the strong gush of wind common from the direction of the city assaulted me with a strong fishy smell. Not terrible but quite unpleasant. Just as expected from a medieval town located on the shore of the big lake and with fishermen as a considerable section of the population.
So in order to distract myself from the smell, I decided to focus my thoughts on the enchanted axe that I had been able to finally properly estimate the value with the help of Filnjar. As he told me, my axe is worth a fortune, for which you can buy yourself either a house in the city or a plot in the province and equip it.
To be honest, it's a little scary to keep such an expensive thing with you, more so with me entering a city with a thieves' guild in its sewers.
However, once I sell it the money will help me to proceed with my plans. On top of that, I also need books on magic. And I need supplies: a tent, a raincoat, a mire, potions, especially ones that restore the magicka and food. Things to which I can spend money abound.
- Stop! - an impudent hoarse voice addressed me as I was heading towards the gate.
-What's up? - I turned towards the guard who approached me, who stared at me, assessing what I was wearing, what I had with me, and how big my purse is on my belt. For a particularly long time, he lingered on the blade of the axe, sticking out from behind me.
-If you want to enter the city, pay the guest tax.
-What is the tax for? - eh, and I was hoping that I could pass quietly.
-For the right to enter the city.
-Last week I went to Riften, there was no tax, but today there is, - I lied without blinking my eyes.
-Jarl's new order, there are too many crooks and beggars in the city, so in this way we weed out all insolvent and suspicious personalities, - the guard lied, looking closer, it became obvious that he was completely green, barely over seventeen.
-I see. So what is the tax? And what's your name?
-Fifty septims. - He simply answered in spite of his youth with a hoarse voice.
- What do you care about my name?
-Yes, I'm wondering whose name I will call Jarl Laila the Hand of the Law when I say that one of her guards is a complete idiot and tried to rob me of fifty septims hiding behind her name. Satisfied with the answer? - I said grinning guard that he did not like and he tried to reach for the hilt of the sword on his belt.
But before he could even finish his movement I took the Axe from my back and shouted. You decided to fuck me for money, but the trouble is, I can fuck you myself, the handle of this baby, - I took out an all-metal axe - will enter your ass and exits through your mouth, and then until the end of your days you're going to put shit in your pants. Is it what you want? I approached aggressively and loomed over the guard.
-Okay, just don't make a fuss,- the clearly frightened Nord tried to hush up the matter, but I had other plans.
-No, boy, you don't understand me. Now you're giving me money. Fifty septims or see what the jarl will do with you. I wonder what she will do with a thief among her employees? - my smirk became obscenely wide.
- You're fucking kidding... - the guard's eyes were filled with anxiety and anger.
- Do I look like a jester? Give me my money or you'll find out what an angry jarl is.
And don't even try to scare me with your toothpick, brat, - a bluff, but a bluff made with a high-quality enchanted axe at hand.
-Fuck, he growled, but climbed onto his belt.
-This is new,- I said, looking at a small bag of coins, -the honest guard. Hold on, - I threw the purse back to him, I don't need problems because of miserable fifty septims and a guard that harbors a grudge against me. Especially, if the said guard is a member of the thieves guild.
I added coming closer to him so that others would not hear us.
- Learn to listen to your elders and correctly evaluate your goals or didn't you learn anything in the guild?
-How did you know…- The young Nord's eyes opened wide.
- Nocturnal, -lie I can clearly see guilds uniform under his mail he should be a new member of the thieves guild. Or the guild is a lot more unprofessional than it seems from the games.
-I have something to do with your brethren, and I know a couple of names.
-Shit,- he cursed again.
-Look, if you want to get fifty more gold septims from me, then tonight you can find me in the Bee and barb, but not alone, - I immediately clarified,
-But along with someone who can talk about a big deal, a deal for at least ten thousand septims we love. Are you savvy? Do not be late
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With a quick and restless step, I headed straight for the market. Walkthrough took about half an hour at a brisk pace until I reached the market under the open sky with a bunch of stalls and wooden shops. I needed Brand-Shei as he was the only merchant recommended both by Hjalti and Fjalnar, according to them he buys almost any product at normal prices.
Finding a dunmer merchant, turned out to be more difficult than I thought because the number of such dunmer merchants in Riften turned out to be more than a dozen, as a result, an hour later I was finally able to locate him.
A large wooden awning and a roughly knocked together counter, behind which a dark elf, not young by the standards of people, stood with a tired face. gray skin and scarlet eyes created an interesting, but not disgusting, contrast, perhaps if I ran into him at night in an alley, I would have a different opinion, but now a day, light, birds sing.
- Something interests dear client? I have goods and rarities from all over Skyrim and Morrowind! - noticing my figure heading towards him immediately put on a much more welcoming face.
-Yes. First question, are you interested in Dwemer artifacts? - I started from the main.
-Hmm, the merchant's eyes immediately caught on the axe on my back, - there is a decree from Uriel Septim the Seventh prohibits the trade in Dwemer artifacts.- But this is Riften, dear client, and I would be a bad trader if I didn't manage to give a good price to my buyers, - Dunmer smiled broadly.
Excellent, - with these words, the enchanted axe migrated to the counter from which the trader for a second lost his hospitable face and opened his eyes wide, but then he walked appraisingly over my axe.
- Enchanted weapons. Rare and expensive item. This will not be sold simply, too noticeable, but of course, it will be possible.
-It is also obvious that it is made of very durable Dwemer metal and will serve more than one decade to its future owner with active use even without proper care unless, of course, he wants to hang it like a beautiful decoration in my house above the fireplace - I did not let him bring down the price too much.
- And the fire damage enchantment makes it even more deadly and desired by any warrior.
-That's right, - the merchant agreed, - I think the price is a thousand ...
-Two... - I corrected him.
-One thousand five hundred,- but he interrupted me in response.
-Two five hundred, I shaved firmly and sharply.
-That's a big price, I'm afraid I can't afford it,- he replied regretfully. Dunmer, with false regret -Two thousand is the maximum amount I can offer for this weapon.
- Two thousand five hundred. Two thousand septims and five hundred in goods.
-Hmm, depending on what goods, - he seized the opportunity to still pay less.
-Everything you need for a comfortable journey through Skyrim, to its northernmost and cold parts. After all, summer has ended and tomorrow the first day of Autumn starts
- I think we have come to an agreement, dear client, - the cunning Dunmer almost sang cordially.
- If you give me a reasonable price, then this is not our last deal. The Dwemer ruins are full of good things, and I have enough courage to go down there - I saw how the gears in his brain started to turn how they ignite new thoughts, how he re-evaluates me.
- Now show me what books on Magic you have.
After buying a couple of books on alteration magic and a spell book for iron flesh I moved to the nearest tavern to get lunch. My luck is really good as I ended up in the version of Nirn that has spellbooks that let you learn spells instantly like in the game.
As it turns out there are some mages that found a way of making money off their richer brethren by creating enchanted spell books that allow them to read them and learn the spell instantly if read while meditating in a specific way.
However, because such books are only one-time-use items the majority of magic literature is in the form of more conventional books. However, their mere existence meant that with enough cash I should be able to considerably speed up my learning process.