7 Chapter VII

I exit the cave through the other exit and back to Riverwood, Alvor was the first to see me covered head to toe in blood, bruises, and swells and is quite shocked.

Alvor: By the Eight, boy! What happened to you?!?

Alexander: You should see the other guy. Actually scratch that, you probably shouldn't.

I sit down on a bench near his forge to catch my breath as Alvor grabs Hadvar. When Hadvar sees me he's even more shocked then his uncle.

Hadvar: Alexander what happened?!?

Alexander: Bandits in Embershard mine, I went to grab some iron and saw them, don't worry though, I killed em. But they had a chief with them, he was the toughest to take down. If you can, get someone over there to loot his corpse. His body is near the back exit of the mine.

Hadvar: I thought you said you didn't know how to fight??

Alexander: Call it luck and desperation. I had to use these chains to choke the bastard out.

I grab the chains still stained in blood from my bag and show them to Hadvar.

Hadvar: You need to be healed right away!

Alexander: I'm fine. Just need some potions, I'll be ok.

Hadvar: You should consider resting instead.

Alexander: Can't afford to rest. I've still got preparations to make before tomorrow. Please trust me Hadvar.

Hadvar continues to look at me with worry, but hesitantly nods, handing me several healing potions and leaving for the mine.

I drink up the potions, at first I didn't take notice but I start to realize, these potions tasted awful! It was bitter, sour, and somehow tasted like it was burnt! But I kept guzzling it down.

Soon enough my wounds begin to close and my swells were all gone.

Alexander: This stuff is better then Vapo-rub.

Alvor: It's good to have on hand, but how come you didn't use healing magic? That would've been far easier to use.

Now how the hell do I explain to him I don't know how to use magic yet in this world? I clear my throat.

Alexander: Unfortunately my studies in magic are severely limited, where I came from getting a spell tomb and studying the arcane was rather difficult. So I don't have healing, nor would I know how to use it.

Alvor stares intensely at me, so much I start to get really nervous that he thinks I'm lying.

But then Alvor goes back to his smithing and says:

Alvor: Makes enough sense, I don't know any spells myself so I can't really judge.

I relax a bit, God is every Nord going to make me nervous in this place?

Alvor polishes an axe and then looks at me.

Alvor: Are you sure you shouldn't be resting? It's not fair if you lets the others rest but you don't.

Alexander: Maybe so, but I'm the one leading this mission I must be in tip top shape to make sure I can carry the burden.

Alvor: Didn't know "tip top shape" meant killing some bastards and winding up looking undead. Well, I won't meddle, seeing as i'm just a simple blacksmith, so what would I know.

Alexander: You sell yourself too short Alvor. Any blacksmith is worthy of great things. You especially.

Alvor chuckles as he dips his sword into a basin of water.

Alvor: And how do you figure that?

I get up from my seat, grab a hammer, placing my hand on Alvor's shoulder.

Alexander: You can start by teaching me how to smith.

Alvor turns to me with a shocked and confused look for some reason.

Alvor: Teach you??

Alexander: Yep.

Alvor: You want me...to teach you...how to smith??

Alexander:...Yes?

Alvor: Ya do realize that's like asking a Nord to teach an Elf how to use magic right?

Alexander: I…I don't follow?

Alvor: Your half orc aren't ya???

Ooh shit that's right, half breed orc. Damn it I keep forgetting that!

Alexander: Oh! Uh…Yes! Of course! But…um you can't just assume every person who's an orc to know how to smith!

Alvor gives me a look of doubt.

Alvor: You can't use magic? Fine, but you don't know how to smith or fight properly? Is there anything you actually know how to do?

Alexander: Well when your parents die at an early enough age you don't have time to learn new craft when also making money to survive.

Alvor's eyes widen as he looks away awkwardly. Yeah even I have to admit that was a bit much but it needed to be done.

Alvor: That's a fair enough point. Alright then, I've got time so let's get started.

Radiant Quest started: Blacksmith tutorial

Reward:

Improved Iron Dagger

Improved Hide Helmet

Knowledge of Smithing

Time to learn how to craft some weapons.

1 hour later…

Alvor: NO NOT LIKE THAT!!! YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT IN THE HEAT FOR AT LEAST TWICE THAT LONG!!!

Alexander: But I thought it was until the blades red!

5 hours later…

Alvor: DAMN IT BOY!!! ITS NOT THAT HARD TO CONNECT CHAINS TOGETHER!!!

Alexander: I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW YOU DID IT FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!

Are they finished yet? No? Christ…

Alexander: Alright...I made an improved dagger and an improved hide helmet. What do you think???

Alvor stares at the items for a while, observing every minor detail he can see, then he places them down, stares at me intently, and crosses his arms.

Alvor: Good job.

I take a deep breath and sigh in relief, before Alvor hands me the dagger and helmet.

Alvor: Keep those, they can serve as a reminder of these lessons so you can practice more.

Alvor goes back to his smithing table and I place the items begrudgingly inside my inventory.

Alexander:(mockingly) Reminder so I can practice more!

I walk out of Alvor's house and see that it was dark, how long did I spend doing all that smithing??? What time is it?

A status window opens showing the time and to my surprise it took 9 hours to do all that smithing, even in the mine I only took 50 minutes!!

I walk over to the inn to sleep. As I enter I go to where Delphine is, reading a book about the Dragonborn. Real subtle.

Delphine: How can I help you stranger?

You can always start by being less of a bitch, that'd be great.

Alexander: I'd like a room to sleep in please.

Delphine: It's yours for the night. That'll be 100 gold

She points to an empty room and I walk inside. I lay myself down ready to conk out, unfortunately I'm not the least bit tired at all. I toss and turn and try to sleep, after a while I check the time to see if I was even in bed for a few hours but only 5 minutes have passed!

Alexander: DAMN IT! I can't sleep! Too much is on my mind! Maybe I'll go for a walk.

I exit my room, taking the place of Delphine is Orgnar sitting at the table, who sees me and raises an eyebrow.

Orgnar: Thought you were trying to sleep.

Alexander: I can't, I'm too restless. Sorry about that.

Orgnar: Don't be, your the one who spent the gold.

Alexander: Yeah, yeah.

I walk over to the bridge and make my way out of Riverwood into the forest, walking around I take the time to admire the beautiful night sky, back home you could never see this many stars, even in this war torn land filled with magic and murder, it's hard to deny this planet has a lot of beauty within it.

As I walk I make my way to Anise's cabin. She sees me and smiles.

Anise: Oh hello deary. What's a handsome young man like you doing in this neck of the woods.

A chill went down my spine when she says this and I try to act as normal as I could so not to make this evil witch suspicious.

Alexander: I...um, *cough* just came from Riverwood, couldn't sleep so I figured a walk in the woods would help clear my head.

Anise: Oh I see, well be careful, there's many unforeseen dangers in these woods.

Unforeseen my ass, it can be "seen" right in front of me. She gives me a weird wink and waves goodbye as I continue walking forward but I stop myself in my tracks when I hear a large thud. I don't know what it was but a loud noise came from Anise's cabin, I turn around and see her attention is away from me and decide to go to her cabin through the window. There I make my way to a latch in the floor. I open it carefully so as not to alert Anise.

Alexander: There's no way, it couldn't be right?

I lift up the latch, climbing down the latter slowly, as I descend I hear heavy breathing until I finally reach the bottom. I look to see an old decrepit room, with cobwebs all around, with an alchemy table, an Arcane Enchanter inside, and loads of alchemical ingredients as well.

This was originally in the game anyway. Maybe it was a quest taken out, Anise is a witch, trying to keep her secret, and in here she would do all sorts of experiments in here, away from prying eyes. If she finds me here, I'll have to fight her.

Despite the risks though, this mysterious noise within the basement is driving my curiosity to high gear, because in the game originally, nothing alive is down here, that is unless a certain mod was downloaded.

As I continue looking through the basement I hear the breathing again, over at a corner where I couldn't see. Upon moving closer the noise, it started to grow louder, until I could finally make out a small iron cage, inside was a small figure, and as I slowly got closer I could make out the figure to be a yellow creature that appeared scared and wily.

When I moved closer I could finally recognize the scared creature. With his red colored hat and his brightly lit necklace. This wasn't just any creature this was...

Alexander:...Redcap?