I'd picked up a set of mage robes from the torturer's dungeon when we passed through back in Helden. I figure they must have belonged to someone who had died down there. It turns out, according to Lucan Valerius at the general store, that they're novice robes from the College of Winterhold. I could feel the magical enchantments in the cloth, so I decided to keep them, to wear when I'm not conducting business in town. Lucan didn't have much to offer by way of magical training, apparently I have to go to the College if I want that, but he did have a few spellbooks. I purchased Oakflesh, a novice-level Alteration spell to turn my skin hard as bark, and Frostbite, a novice-level Destruction spell which allows the mage to channel frost towards an enemy.
I never received much proper magical training back in Cyrodill. Most if it consisted of a friend of the family telling me the basics of how not to blow myself up. But magic runs in my blood, and I'd managed to work out how to perform a few simple spells on my own. I knew Sparks, a novice-level Destruction spell that allowed me to channel a shocking jolt. I also knew Fury, a novice-level Illusion spell that caused some people and creatures of weak mind to fly into a mindless rage, attacking anyone or anything nearby. The last spell I knew was Healing, a novice-level Restoration spell which allowed me to channel healing energy through myself and heal my wounds. In addition to those spells, I'd found a spellbook in the torturer's dungeon, along with the robes, that taught me how to cast Flames - a novice-level Destruction spell that allows the channeling of fire through my hands. I found that spell especially useful during my escape.
As I approached the gate, one of the guards stopped me, telling me that nobody was allowed to enter the city now that dragons were about. That didn't - and still doesn't - make a whole lot of sense to me, but it doesn't matter as he let me in anyway once I said that my business concerned the dragons, and that I was coming to petition the Jarl to send aid to Riverwood. As I walked through the city, I tried to take note of the shops I was passing, noticing the Drunken Huntsman(what a name for an alehouse!) to my left and Warmaiden's blacksmith on my right. Then I entered a marketplace, with three stalls selling food and trinkets, Belethor's General Goods, Arcadia's Cauldron(as I found out later, it's an apothecary) and the Bannered Mare. Continuing up the stairs to the next tier of the city, I took note of the temple(and tried to ignore the raving madman shouting something about the divines), then set to work climbing the stairs to Dragonsreach. And believe me when I say that there's a lot of stairs.
I wasn't challenged by the guard at the door, so I went inside. The Jarl was sitting casually on his throne at the far end of the long room, and I walked quickly towards him, stepping around the long dining tables. However, a Dunmer guard drew her sword and stepped forward, intercepting me before I could get near the throne. She was Irileth, the Jarl's Housecarl, and she demanded to know why I wished to see him. I told her that my message was for his ears only, and I thought for a terrifying moment that she was going to strike me down where I stood with that sword of hers. But then, the Jarl spoke, saying that he wanted to know what I had to say. So I approached his throne, and gave my request, trying my best not to let my fear show. If it was apparent, he gave no sign, and after a brief discussion between himself, Irileth, and a man who appeared to be his adviser, he decreed that a squad of guards would be sent to defend Riverwood. I've seen a dragon in action, and I'm beginning to think that an entire army couldn't hold one of them off. But peace of mind for the villagers is something, I suppose.
Jarl Balgruuf then said that there was something that I, as one of the only survivors of Helgen, was uniquely qualified to help him with. I followed him to the room of his court mage, Farengar Secret-Fire. I really don't like that guy, he may be a Nord but he's got the ego of an Altmer. Thinks he's better than everyone else. But the Jarl asked me to help, so I will, no matter my personal feelings about the guy. He was reluctant to actually tell me anything, only saying that I should go to an ancient burial site called Bleak Falls Barrow(note: wasn't that the name of the ruins Ralof pointed out on the way to Riverwood?) and obtain a stone tablet called Dragonstone, which is supposedly engraved with a map of dragon burial sites. After I pressed him for more information, he eventually told me some of the stories of the ancient dragon wars, long before recorded history, a time when men and dragons battled for dominance over the world. Is that what we're returning to? But the dragons have been gone for so many years, why have they returned now?
I asked Farengar if I could receive magical training from him. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when he coldly refused, though he did offer to sell me a collection of spellbooks. I purchased a spellbook for Candlelight, a novice-level Alteration spell to create a ball of light that will follow me around wherever I go. Just as I was about to leave, he stopped me, and requested that I do something for him now. With no small amount of trepidation, I asked him what he wanted me to do. Fortunately, he only wanted me to make a delivery of Frost Salts to Arcadia at her apothecary. I gladly agreed, as I intended to visit there anyway, and departed quickly before he could come up with any other menial tasks for me to perform.
The apothecary was nice enough, very like the ones back home, even if the ingredients are strange to me. Arcadia was very nice, and gave me several free potion samples. She said that she was going to use the Salts in a love potion...to give to Farengar! I wonder if he knows? Well, I'm certainly not going to spoil her fun, Gods know the man probably needs a love potion. After the apothecary, I browsed the market stalls for a short time, and got to talking with the keeper of one that sold goods from a farm. Her name was Carlotta Valentia, and apparently some bard named Mikael had been harassing her as if she was a tavern wench. I've known that sort before, and I agreed to speak to him on her behalf, though she didn't seem convinced that it would work. I found Mikael in the Bannered Mare(the usual place to look for a bard) and, just as she'd predicted, reason entirely failed to move the oaf. Unthinkingly falling back on old habits, I slipped him some coin, and he agreed to leave her alone. Now, in my current financial state, that was a move which wasn't well-thought-out at all. But luckily, Carlotta was so happy that I got him to leave her alone that she gave me a reward four times what I had to bribe the bard with.
I booked a room at the inn for the night, got some dinner, and settled down with the books that Gerdur and Hod had given me for some quality reading time. 'Olaf and the Dragon' was a fine scholarly work regarding the ancient Nord named Olaf who allegedly fought and captured the dragon Numinex. This is apparently where Dragonsreach got its name, for after Numinex's capture he was imprisoned there. I would recommend this work to anyone who has an interest in old Nordic tales. 'Of Fjori and Holgeir,' on the other hand, was frankly quite boring. It was a short, rather pointless love story that ended with both people dead. I intend to pawn this one off on the first bookseller I come across. It's getting rather late, and I intend to leave for Windhelm at first light, so I will retire to my room now. It's a very nice room, even having a small balcony from which to watch the common room activities. I would stay at this inn again.
Notes: Still level 1. I'll get with the leveling soon, I promise! I linked to the text of the books he read at the unofficial elder scrolls pages wiki, so if you're unfamiliar with them or don't have the game you can read them there if you'd like. Next update should be coming soon, as it's pretty short, and not many pictures. The two after that are going to be satisfyingly long, though, so it makes up for it! In fact, day 5 might have to be two updates, I don't know...we'll see!
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