Some days ago I met a
Redguard citizen in Whiterun called Amren.
He asked me to help him with a matter of his. His father’s sword was stolen and was kept in
a bandit stronghold named Valtheim Towers. Yesterday I had a talk with him in
the evening at the Banned Mare and he shared all the details about the place.
In the recent time he explored the area and collected a lot of information
about the stronghold and the bandits within. The stronghold consisted of two
towers and a passage between them over the river. The bandits were many in
numbers. That was not an easy assignment.
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| Valtheim Towers |
There was a back-door
approach to the towers which might surprise the thugs though. I promised Amren
to attempt to retrieve his sword if the plan works. He told me that he would
have liked to join me but his wife did not let him undertake such a risky
adventure. I did not blame him.
At first light I
exited Whiterun and started my journey. The late summer weather was mild and I
hoped I could make it through the day unharmed.
 |
| Dawn in Skyrim |
I planned my route to arrive at
Valtheim Towers from the top of the cliffs nearby and descend to the Northern
tower which was supposedly less guarded. First I went north till I reached the mountain
side North-East of Whiterun. I found a
cave entrance with some strange fence around. I noted the place and went on.
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| Shimmermist cave |
I then turned East and
started climbing the mountain side. After a time I reached a strange stronghold
named Fellglow Keep. I must have approached too close as two hedge wizards
suddenly attacked me. Fighting mages is a nasty business. They can either
freeze or cook people in their own armor unless they are rushed very fast and
cut down immediately. One of them
attacked me with fire spells the other with frost spells. I dodged the fire and frost balls. Soon I got
near the frost mage and quickly put him down.
 |
| Fellglow Keep home of hedge wizards |
The fire mage was the more
experienced one. I needed to dodge his attacks for quite a time until his
magica was exhausted. Luckily for me his magical resources depleted faster than
my stamina while jumping side to side. The blasted thug then drew his short sword and
charged at me. That was a wrong move from his part and ended in his
death.
 |
| We had an exhausting fight |
I also noticed a fiery
abomination at the fort entrance. As I approached it turned out to be a fire
atronach. The atronach hit me once with his fire spell and that almost knocked
me down. I was not able to charge and finish it off as I would have died in the
hail of fire. I could not flee because the atronach would have hit me with its
spells. I took cover at the side of a big rock. I caught up with my breath and
rested for a moment. Then I came to an idea. I put my sword into the scabbard
and took the bow. I dodged aside the rock shot a bow at the atronach and dodged
back. The fireball just flew besides the rock and me. Then I dodged to the
other side of the rock shot an arrow and dodged back. I repeated this until the
atronach was destroyed. I was safe for the moment.
 |
| The atronach almost defeated me |
I did not enter the keep,
instead I left Fellglow keep as quickly as I could and went on eastward. I have
to inform Proventus about this place and he should warn the citizens not to come
to this place.
After an hour I
reached the point above Valtheim Towers. It was time to descend as silently as
I could in my heavy armor. The thugs
did not expect anybody from the mountain side and only an archer was on guard.
As I just got halfway down, the blasted archer heard me approaching and alerted
the thugs in the tower.
 |
| Valtheim Towers, approaching the back-door |
A bandit chief ad his Nord lieutenant run out from the
Northern tower and charged at me. They were both in heavy armor. I quickly
moved to the side and hit the chief. While they turned to me I changed position
again and hit the Nord. I moved around them and stroke one of them, and blocked
their blows a few times. Both the chief –a Redguard woman- and the Nord were
hardy brawlers but had crude fencing skills. The archer stood back and dare not
to shoot in order to avoid his companions being hit. After a time both of them
got exhausted and in an unwary moment the Nord opened his stance too much. With
a stab I put him down. Seeing that the chief charged in anger but I blocked her
last strong blow and got in her back. Soon she lied dead. The archer started
shooting at me but was quickly rushed and cut down.
 |
| The bandit chief and her lieutenant |
I entered the Northern
tower and nobody else was there. It looks like the bandits at the southern side
did not notice what was going on at the far bank. I searched the Northern tower
and found the chest with Amren’s family heirloom. It was time to leave.
 |
| I found Amren's family heirloom |
At first I wanted to
leave the way I came but had a second thought. This stronghold is near the road
to Whiterun. These thugs might kill many innocent travelers if they are let loose.
I decided to put them down all. Instead of leaving I stepped out on the narrow
passage. Then the thugs in the Southern tower noticed me. Two outlaws charged
at me and they were shortly defeated. A third one was shooting arrows at me. I
entered the Southern tower and rushed up the stairs with my shield above my
head. As I closed on the last bandit he drew his dagger in vain attempt to save
his hide. His struggle did not last long. The fort was finally cleared.
 |
| Outlaws were charging wildly |
I
collected the valuables and left, this time on the road leading to Whiterun. On
my way home I discovered many other places.
At first I spotted a
camp that is was different from those bandit camps I ran into the past weeks.
As I approached it became clear that I found one of the hidden Stormcloak
camps. I was leaving when I was approached by a Stormcloak patrol. I was ready
for fight when the guard greeted me and went on his way. I also left in peace.
 |
| Stormcloak camp |
After leaving the camp
I found another Guardian stone and a necromancer was defending it. The necromancer
was down within a few heart beats. I was approaching the bridge leading to the
Whiterun farmlands when I discovered another cave White River Watch. Two
bandits were guarding the entrance and were not happy with me being around.
Their unfriendly welcome resulted in them being quickly sent to Oblivion. After
defeating the thugs I left immediately and soon crossed the bridge and reached
Honningbrew meadery. I bought two bottles of beer and had a nice chat with
Sabjorn the Nord owner of the place. Finally I reached Whiterun.
 |
| Bandits at White River Watch had a bad day |
Khajit traders were
outside the city and I took the opportunity to sell the majority of my loot to
them. After entering Whiterun I sold the remaining loot to Adrianne and
Belethor. I gave Amren his family heirloom and he was very glad to have it
back. He taught me a Redguard sword and shield technique in return. He also
agreed to tech me the Redguard fencing for a fee. The rest of the afternoon we trained. It cost
me a lot of gold to acquire the knowledge of the one-hand sword techniques but
it was worth it.
 |
| Amren |
Imperials like me are
professional soldiers wielding the sword in a classic way. Redguards on the
other had always used surprise and unexpected moves in their sword-play. No
wonder so many Redguards were recruited among the Blades. Many of my fellow
legionnaires wished to learn this kind of sword fighting but the few Redguards who
served in the legion kept their secret. I am happy to have such an opportunity to
finally master the Redguard techniques. I will certainly use some of the faints
I learned. I will also be able to counter the savage Redguard sell-swords if
need be.
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