Skyrim Day 049 - My Home, Breezehome

3 Frostfall, 4E201

Whiterun

~~~

Returning to Whiterun was not only appealing to me, but Lydia as well, moreso after I admitted my intention to leave her there. This, she said, was a wise decision: in my absence she would be able to manage my affairs and my household, a duty she assured me she was well-versed in exercising.

That I had an estate to speak of was news to me and Lydia was quite surprised to hear I had no holdings in or around Whiterun. She firmly insisted that I make the acquisition of such a priority once we reached the city, stating that a Thane should not be without roots in the city they were sworn to serve.

I suspect she is simply just as eager to be free of me as I am of her, but having a (somewhat) permanent home again was an appealing thought. Inns get old after awhile, especially given that they largely all look the same in Skyrim. Nords are not known for their architectural creativity.

It was quicker to leave Ivarstead via the north road and remain off the road, along the hills, rather than take the road which starts to lead to Whiterun only at the sulfur springs. Along the way we had to cross a ravine via a large tree that had been uprooted and placed as a primitive bridge. Predictably a opportunistic bandit was lounging in the middle of the tree, loudly demanding a toll for us, two obviously well-armed warriors, to cross.

The Bosmer was armed with a bow, but Lydia had her own bow and I my crossbow. Why the man thought it a good idea to make demands is beyond my thinking. He managed to get off one shot before Lydia's arrow thudded into his middle and my crossbow bolt crashed into his skull, certainly killing him. His body tumbled into the river below and disappeared over the waterfall before Lydia and I had finished crossing.

Just before the road to Whiterun we came upon a tomb built into the hillside. Lydia said nothing and I was happy enough to walk past it, but a man came running out after us, asking us to wait a moment. Lydia was prepared to skewer him right then and there, but I figured the man to be a foiled would-be robber of the dead rather than a bandit.

He introduced himself as 'Golldir' and asked if we might be able to help him. Golldir and his aunt had traveled to the tomb, which was his family's, only to find that the seal on the entrance had been broken. They entered the tomb and were ambushed by a necromancer intent on using Golldir's ancestors as undead soldiers. Golldir's aunt, Agna, fell during the ensuring battle and Golldir shamefully fled with the necromancer's laughter echoing around him.

Golldir had good reason to flee the place: according to him his father had locked him inside the tomb as a child for three days, leaving him with nothing to eat or drink but the moldering offers made to the dead. Having survived, he swore to never return unless it was in death.

I told him that Lydia and I would enter the tomb, but only alongside him. He paused a moment, then agreed.

Whatever fears the man had of the tomb were evidently dispelled due to our company, for he fought just as bravely as Lydia, the two of them practically negating any requirement for me to draw my weapons. Draugr fell before us and eventually we came upon Agna's body, mercifully not raised by the necromancer. There Golldir swore revenge or death and we continued on.

As we entered a large room Golldir whispered that it was the resting place of his family's founding members and I was not surprised to see the necromancer atop the platform where two conspicuous coffins rested. Golldir shouted something at the mage, but just then the coffins lying about the room burst open and soon we were swarmed by a dozen Draugr.

Golldir and Lydia became inescapably engaged with the horde, but I was able to shove my way through the line and charged at the necromancer. The undead would fall with his death and skilled though the were Lydia and Golldir could not battle long against twelve adversaries.

The Dunmer had been brazen enough to paint a crude skull on his robes, but as I prepared to bury my axe in his stomach he abruptly disappeared. An illusion. His arrogant laughter alerted me to his new position, but that also proved to be an illusion. Frustrated, I ran to and fro, hacking away at illusionary Dunmer as Golldir frantically urged me to kill him before all was lost.

Finally I cornered the actual body of the necromancer and suffered greatly from the magicka of his ice spells before I was close enough to strike him with my axe. He had not the staying power to withstand much injury and crumpled against the wall, leaving a bloody smear.

Lydia and Golldir were almost as bloodied as the dead mage, but their wounds were not grievous and a few vials of healing elixir were all they needed between them. Golldir's fear of the tomb had been vanquished with the vampire, choosing to stay in the tomb to set "things in order", as he said. I wished him well and my housecarl and I continued to Whiterun.

Again we saw no Dragons flying about and arrived at Whiterun some time after most of the city had their dinner. Lydia pointedly reminded me of the need to acquire property so we walked up to Dragonsreach. The Jarl was busy dealing with someone, but I gathered that his steward would be the one managing deeds and the like. I was correct and there was a deed available for a small house within the walls which the locals dubbed 'Breezehome'.

The key to the empty dwelling cost me five thousand Septims, paid in five ingots, plus an additional twelve hundred Septims for the furnishings inside.

Breezehome appeared unassuming on the outside but bore all the signs of being rapidly vacated by its former occupants, including a roaring fire with a cooking pot. Fish, garlic, and herbs hung over the fire and along the walls were cabinets stocked with bowls, pans, and utensils. Plates were set on the table, with food on them. Someone had been living in Breezehome until apparently five minutes prior to our arrival.

When I asked Lydia about this she simply shrugged and said it was a Thane's right. I was not aware I was forcing someone's family out of their home when I bought it, but that begs the question as to why it was for sale at all. No point in worrying about it now, I suppose.

The bedroom is in the loft, barely lit and displaying more armaments than I find to be tasteful. Lydia was pleased with it and pleased with her room, which I suspect belonged to a child. I asked her to stay at Breezehome while I was away and she readily agreed, promising to represent my interests...whatever those are.

Tomorrow I shall travel, alone, to see about the many tasks that have been asked of me. Vampires, ancient relics, bandits, there seems to always be something to do that everyone else around the task has ignored.