9 The Noob God Wakeths V

"Halt! The town is closed with news of dragons about." A Whiterun guard says as he moves to block my path before I stare him down with a ferocious killing intent.

"Grrr, Stand... Aside..." I growl at the guard making his legs almost buckle in fear as he stands aside letting me pass.

"Damn Boss, I forgot how scary you could be!" Lokir laughs clasping me on my back.

"Very true, remind me not to get on your bad side!" Faendal heartily agrees.

"It's called, aggressive persuasion, live like I have for a few years and you'll be a master in no time!" I laugh back.

"Sorry Boss, I'd like to keep my good looks." Lokir jokes as I wrap him in a headlock and wrap my knuckles across his head.

"Think you're funny huh?! Want to run that by me again!" I say while holding him and not letting him break my hold, gods I love these orcish muscles of mine.

"I said you're the handsomest mer in all of Tamriel! Now let me breathe!" Lokir finally says after tapping my arm to signal defeat.

"Damn straight! Now com'on." I say, finally letting him go as we enter the Warmaiden's weapon and armor shop.

"Welcome to Warmaiden's. Now don't let the name worry you, we got plenty o'steel for fightin' men." Ulfberth says beginning to sell us on his wife's latest war hammer.

"That's good, but I'm lookin' to get a good set of armor for my companion here. Got anything in her size?" I ask moving to browse his raw materials section while Ulfberth brings out a variety of armors that might fit Sofia.

"I don't know ya preferences lass, so I brought a few sizes and types in storage," Ulfberth says as he drops a crate he brought out of storage.

"Take your time getting the right set of armor. Here's 300 septims, and two sets of elven armor to trade in. You can keep what's left, but when you're done meet me at Dragonsreach. I must speak with the Jarl." I tell her as I turn to leave with Lokir and Faendal as Lokir drops off the armor he had packed up.

"Sure thing Silvy." She calls as we leave.

After heading out I speak with Adrianne Avenicci about delivering a sword she forged to gift to the Jarl in exchange for getting to use her forge later before we head into the Drunken Huntsmen to recruit another member to the company... Someone whose morals will let them be with me on my more... Illicit activities that I wouldn't want to force Lokir or Faendal into.

There she is, sitting in the corner cleaning her sword, she's a slightly aged dark elf with ashen skin, dark braided hair, deep red eyes, and golden face paint covering her cheeks, with a fairly standard light leather armor. She then calls out to me to advertise her services, "Blade and shadow, silence and death, these are my arts. And for a modest fee, I will make great art for you."

"Greetings, Jenassa. It just so happens my company is in need of a master artist such as yourself." I say while taking a seat and propping up my feet on her table as I flash my bloodlust-filled gaze at her. Gods, I love intimidating people! It's so fun!

"I can see the battle lust in your eyes. Doom will surely come to any who cross your path, you could be a worthy master... If you have the coin?" Jenassa says putting away her blade.

I draw out 500 septims and drop them in a bag on the table before standing up to leave, "Meet me outside Dragonsreach once you're situated. I will be departing within a couple of hours. Welcome to the Dragon's Maw Mercenary Company."

"I am your instrument, to command as you see fit. May you use me wisely my patron." I hear her say as she begins to gather her gear and close out her accounts at the bar.

It is then I make my way to the Bannered Mare to meet my final recruit in Whiterun for now...

Entering the Inn I speak to Hulda to rent a room for the night and as we walk to the stairs, the person I've been waiting for finally speaks up.

"Keep walking, soft-gut. I'm more woman than you could handle." A striking blonde-haired and blue-eyed Nord woman in her early to mid-thirties, covered in a full set of heavy plate armor sneers at me while downing her ale... Finally, took you long enough Uthgerd the Unbroken.

I turn towards her before slamming my fist down on the table leaving a slight dent while blocking her into her chair with my other hand, "Really? I think I'm much more man than a milk drinker like you could handle." Finishing her ale with a big swig before glaring at me.

"Care to put your money where your mouth is stranger? 100 septims says I can knock your tusks out in six seconds flat." Uthgerd cockily says throwing down a pouch of 100 septims.

With this Lokir and Faendal begin to draw their weapons before I turn to them and shake my head signaling them to stop and put their weapons back.

"Deal." I say slamming down a pouch of 100 septims that I have prepared for this fight as I back away, reading myself for her first blow as the Inn patrons begin to stand aside and shout, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" As most of them begin placing bets greatly favoring Uthgerd as I see Faendal quietly place a bet on me. Making me smile.

Uthgerd sees this and smiles back to me before saying, "Want a bit of Nord wisdom? You don't really know a woman until you've had a strong drink and a fist fight with her." She says while throwing a quick jab to my face which I block.

"Really? Then I'll by you a strong drink after I win!" I shout to her while moving to the side and using a chair to jump up and bring a heavy hit to her head.

But this fight wouldn't end so quickly, despite not being able to block my hit, her head was hard enough that she was able to shrug off the dizziness and come at me with a heavy right hook forcing me to pull back.

I quickly move to her left and feint a strike to her face before bringing my knee hard into the gap where her thigh and waist armor connect knocking her off balance before I slip behind her and lock her in a head as she tries her best to break free before her struggle lessens and I hear a sigh as she stops moving.

"I think I'm ready for that drink now," Uthgerd says as she taps my arm in defeat.

"Me too, your hard head nearly broke my hand!" I laugh as I release her and toss her bag of gold back to her.

"What are you doing? You won that fair and square." Uthgerd says with a confused look as she begins to hand the bag back to me.

"I know I won, it's payment," I say with a cheeky smile before heading up to the room I rented to up my skills before the big fight.

"Payment for what?" Uthgerd shouts as I head upstairs.

"For joining the Dragon's Maw Mercenary Corps! Boys, help her pack and meet me at Dragonsreach! I'm going to take a nap!" I shout before slamming the upstairs door, flopping on the bed, and entering the level-up space. Now... What to get...