Sundas, 29th of Last Seed, 4E 201

Solitude sure knows how to make a gal feel welcome.

First thing we see when we come through the gate is a beheading!

Getting here wasn’t too exciting, although we did have to lay low under some rocks to hide from a dragon, and we found a shack in the woods with a dead man in it. His journal said that Rockjoint finally got him, and that he hoped Meeko would be all right. No idea who Meeko is, but the place only looked big enough for one person, so who knows?

We also passed through a town called Dragon Bridge, named after the large bridge that leads to the town with a dragon head carved on it. Creative.

So, we come into the city, and see a man named Roggvir being beheaded. Turns out that Ulfric Stormcloak challenged Torygg, the High King of Skyrim, to a battle for the throne. Ulfric won, and killed Torygg. Roggvir was beheaded for opening the gates and allowing Ulfric to escape.

Hmm. If the match was well and truly a fair one, why would Ulfric run?

Anyway, I learned all this by talking to some of the people gathered to watch. Opinions were mixed, but one man, Sorex Vinius, was louder than the rest. He said that Roggvir was a bully, and used to taunt him all the time, especially when it came to girls.

He then asked me if I would make a little delivery for him. Jarl Elisif’s steward, Falk Firebeard, ordered a bottle of imported Stros M'Kai rum, and he didn’t have time to rum it over to the Blue Palace. It wasn’t very far – He gave me directions – so I agreed.

The steward has good taste. If he wasn’t expecting it, I’d take it for myself!

On the way, we could hear a blacksmith, so I followed the sound up a curved walkway and found the forge, run by a man named Beirand. I was finally able to trade all the armor and weapons we’d been carrying, and there was a fletcher nearby, so I got us some more steel arrows. The fletcher scoffed at me when I asked for arrows fit for taking down a dragon.

Given his attitude, part of me hopes he gets an order for those from the army, but part of me hopes he never has to think about it.

We could see the Blue Palace from where we were, so we went back down to the main town level and started on our way. We walked by the Bard’s College and could hear discordant music through the windows, which were thankfully shut. Outside we saw students and teachers going on about practicing and whatnot.

The Blue Palace is… Blue enough, I suppose, for the name. It’s pretty – but still easily defensible, Lydia pointed out - and looks the most palace-like of any building I’ve seen so far in Skyrim. It’s very elegant on the inside, with two curving stairs leading up to the court area.

We walked in on a man asking Jarl Elisif for help regarding trouble at Dragon Bridge. Travelers were disappearing, and dark forces were feared to be at work in Wolfskull Cave. She was going to send some troops, but her steward, the man I was there for, cautioned against it – Imperial sensitivity, again. She listened to him, and he offered to handle it.

She then went to speaking about taxes with some other members of her court, and I got the attention of Firebeard. I delivered the rum, complimenting his good taste, and got some gold for my trouble. I asked about the cave – smelling more gold – and he confessed that he was going to just ignore it! Probably bandits, and he was probably right, but Lydia and I had just taken out a vampire den a half day’s walk from here.

Last thing we need are vampires this close to a major city. If they got in, who knows what would happen?

I offered to take care of it, and Lydia shot me a look. I knew I’d get an earful later – and I was right, we were on a rescue mission, after all - But oh, well. I didn’t promise to take care of it right away! The cave isn’t going anywhere.

He did say that there’s a connection to Potema, the Wolf Queen. I had heard tales of her when I was little. I remember that she was said to be a fearsome necromancer, with an incredible thirst for power. She’s been dead for hundreds of years, but the cave was said to be one of her old hideouts

Well, she wasn’t a vampire like Movarth, so she’s not coming back to reclaim her old haunt. I’m siding with Falk on this. I think it’s bandits using superstition to keep people away.

It was getting late, so I left the court, and we walked back to the main part of town. We passed a trader, Bits and Pieces, and hopped in to sell off the rest of what we’d picked up. The shopkeeper, Sayma, is a nice lady, who mentioned that Beirand is her husband. She complained about never seeing him because of all the orders from the army stationed in Castle Dour.

Ah – So that’s what that big castle is for.

As we headed for the inn – The Winking Skeever, no points on guessing why it’s named that – I literally ran into a Bosmer lady who insulted my clothes.

I mean, she’s not wrong. I’m wearing my magician’s robes, traveling gear, weapons and armor. I’m clearly not out for a social call. What else does she expect?

She said that I’d need to dress better if I planned on going to the Blue Palace (oops) but I decided to humor her and asked what I should wear, then? When she realized I was serious, she said that she ran Radiant Raiment, a clothing store here in the city.

By the Eight, I could have wept with joy! I haven’t seen a clothing store anywhere in Skyrim. I’ve been wearing what I take off dead bodies. Yes, they’re clean, but still – Clothes without scorch marks or hastily-patched holes from arrows or greatsword slashes would be nice.

She said that if I wore one of her dresses to court and told Jarl Elisif where I got it, that she’d pay me to wear it, and let me keep the outfit. I agreed in an instant. Pay me to wear new clothes? I’m in!

Admittedly, these clothes aren’t my favorite, but they’re new and they don’t have the musty smell or weirdly smooth spots where the previous owner rubbed at them that never quite match up with where your elbows or knees are. I’ll take them over what I’ve looted any day.

I do want to set out as soon as possible, so once I collect for wearing fancy clothes in front of the Jarl, we’ll stock up and be on our way. It looks like we have a long, cold walk ahead of us.