u/Farstride14

TLDR: OP makes his way to Solitude

Morndas 24th of Hearthfire

Drake was uneasily reminded of Cyrodiil as he approached the massive gate into Solitude. The fortress city still had the rustic look of rough hewn stone rather than the precisely cut masonry of the empire's capital, but in terms of size and pressence the city dwarfed any of the holds Drake had visited in Skyrim.

Still, Drake had to reminded himself, that his trouble in the Imperial city was hundreds of miles away. In Cyrodiil he may have been a wanted man, but in Skyrim he was a respected Thane, and a property owner to boot. The ghosts of his past would fade, and in time the uneasy memories would cease to trouble him, or at least that it was he told himself as he made his way past the guards.

It had been evening when Drake and Lydia had arrived at Solitude, and Drake had sent his housecarl to stable the horses with instructions to meet him at the local tavern where he would have procured them rooms, but the sudden throng he found himself with as he entered the city square, made him wonder, if it had been wise to split up.

The square was packed as though it were holiday, and still more people were pouring in. What in Oblvion was everyone in such a rush to see? All the eyes were directed to a stone dais at the Eastern end of the square, where a stern looking official stood flanked by several guards.

Judging from the angry face of the official and the uneasy murmur of the crowd, Drake judged he wanted no part of whatever spectacle the people had gathered to see. He did his best to make his way Northward across the square, but it was slow going against the flow of the crowd.

"They Can't hurt uncle Rogvir," the high pitched voice of a child broke through the deep murmir, and Drake instinctively turned towards the voice only to see an old woman carrying a child away, as she continued to call, "Tell them he didn't do anything!"

Drake's throat tightened and he renewed his effort to push through the crowd, but before he had made any progress a roar went up through the crowd, and Drake saw a man in ragged robes being led by guards up to the dais and behind them, an axe-man wearing a black mask.

Angry shouts and jeers continued to fly as the man and his execution made their way onto the stage.

FIN

Drake and Lydia made it past Rorikstead and Dragon's Bridge, but it was getting pretty late by time we made it to Solitude, so Rather than trying to press on the rest of the way to Northwatch I decided we'd go spend the night in Solitude.

But entering the city prompted an event, and a reminder that there is a civil war going on. So Drake watched the unhappy event unfold before getting a room at the Winking Skeever (A much more upscale place than the bannered mare, but I guess Solitude is the big city of Skyrim.

Anyway. I imagine the sight of the execution would probably have given Drake some uncomfortable Deja-vu. Hopefully it doesn't interfere with his attempts to rescue Fralia's son from Northwatch.

Art is mine, the story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with the story telling for entertainment purposes.

TLDR OP finds a big crab on his way to Northwatch

Morndas 24th of Hearthfire

Drake took another cautious step closer to the creature, the leather gauntlet of his sword hand creaking under the pressure of his white knuckled grip on sword as he stood ready to strike at the slightest sign of life. But before Drake could take another step there was a loud splash of water as his house carl marched, unceremoniously into the water and directly into the reach of the crab’s massive claws.

“You DO know it’s dead, don’t you my thane?”

Lydia had the unique ability to sometimes utter Drake’s title in a way that seemed to suggest the words “milk drinker” were on her mind. A suggestion that Drake felt very strongly as the house-carl stared back at him incredulously.

Drake, exhaled and relaxed his grip on the sword. “How could you tell? How did you know it wasn’t just asleep?”

The house carl arched an eyebrow at her lord. “Have you seen these things sleep?” she asked as she stepped gingerly onto one of the claws and began hoisting herself onto the carapace. “They half bury themselves in the mud and hunker down in a tight ball”. She grunted as she pulled herself atop the monster and began dusting herself off “They don’t sprawl out like this,” she went on, gesturing down at the crab’s extended pincers.

Drake stared up at Lydia standing atop the creature, and nodded his head thoughtfully, hoping he didn’t look as foolish as felt. “I guess, I’ve never seen one this big before, so I didn’t know what to expect”

Lydia placed her hands against the small of her back, “Well I guess I can’t judge you soft southerners too harshly,” she said, stretching out her saddle worn back. She paused for a moment before continuing, “besides, there was another more obvious reason I knew it was dead.”

Drake raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and his housecarl gave one of her rare mischievous smiles. “I’ve been out this way before and already knew about this one.”

Drake shook his head as he re-sheathed his sword and slung his shield onto his back, doing his best to ignore Lydia’s smug grin.

“Old Grandpa Snapper” here is a famous landmark,” the Nord continued, “he’s been here as far back as anyone can remember,” She jumped down with a splash into the pool. “in fact, it’s a kind of right of passage for the kids from Whiterun to come out here and dare the younger ones to touch grandfather.”

Drake waited for his house carl to make it out of the pool before turning with her to head back to the horses. “I didn’t even know the mudcrabs could get that big”

Lydia shrugged. “I don’t think they ever stop growing, but once they get big enough to be a nuisance they get killed off” She stared distantly as they continued the ascent back up to the road and there was longing in her voice as she said, ” but back in the day, when men were first settling here. . . there must have been bloody big ones!”

FIN

So, Lydia and Drake are on the western road out of Whiterun heading towards Rorikstead and eventually Northwatch to try to rescue Fralia's son for the Thalmor. Along the way we had a few interesting discoveries, but far and away the most fascinating and terrifying of all was the corpse of the biggest mudcrab I've ever seen. There were several smaller mudcrabs in the vicinity and I thought for sure once I'd killed them all the "mother" was going to wake up.

Even after I was satisfied that the big one was dead I kept waiting for another one of the same size or larger to emerge, but nothing ever happened. It was just an interesting bit of landscape, and it felt like it could be the source of a fun picture (although I did exagerate the size a smidge)

Anyway, here's a bit of storytelling, because sometimes I like to write short stories for my pictures.

The art is mine and the story is from my game, but (Obviously) I'm taking some big liberties with the story telling for entertainment purposes.

TLDR: OP's prepares for a long journey.

Sundas 23rd of Hearthfire

So, Drake did his first theft, and stole the paper from the Battleborn house that tells where Fralia's son is being held. Fralia, understandably wants her son rescued from the Thalmor, and If Drake doesn't go Avulstein is going to do something big stupid and Fralia will probably end up losing both her sons.

I didn't really want Drake to get involved in the civil war questline, but I also don't want Fralia and Eorlund to loose both their kids, so I guess I will head up to Northwatch keep to see if I can't rescue Thorald (maybe without killing anyone else's sons)

Northwatch is INSANELY far away from Whiterun (I think it might actually be as far away as possible on the map) and I am trying to play without fast travel, so Drake and Lydia saddled up at first light and are heading to the extreme NorthWest of the map. I've marked the path I plan on taking if you're curious. I've learned sticking to the roads ussually works WAY better than trying to make a bee line. if it ends up being a multi day trip I figure Drake and Lydia can spend the night either at one of the villages along the way or even Solitude if we make it that far.

I'm trying to work on drawing more scenery, so hopefully this trip gives me some cool sights to draw on the way.

Art is mine, the story is from my game, but I"m taking liberties with the telling for entertainment purposes.

TLDR: OP over-prepares and learns the sad truth about invisibility potions

Loredas 22nd of Hearthfire

So, I really really like Whiterun. I love exploring ruins and dealing with bandits and traveling across Skyrim, but Whiterun just always feels like Drake's home, and it's extra cool that he is a Thane there as well. I say all that to say, It freaks me out to imagine him getting into trouble there or becoming enemies with any of his neighbors.

Other than warning that bard in the bannered mare to quit hitting on Carlotta, and accepting Uthergerd's challenge to a fist fight, all of Drake's interactions in Whiterun have been positive, so the thought of him getting involved in a feud between the two big families in the hold makes me a little nervous. In fact, I'd probably be tempted just to skip the quest, but I'm a huge sucker for women in distress plot hooks, and I can't stand the thought of just leaving Fralia forever unsure of her son's fate.

Which means I need to break into the Battleborn house. Judging from everyone's comments there are apparently a bunch of interesting and creative ways to go about doing so, but I guess I'm just a dummy, because I just went ahead had Drake break into the house, but I was super freaked out about getting caught.

Part of my head-canon for Drake is that he was a thief in Cyrodil and had to flee to Skyrim when he got in over his head and he is now trying to go straight. I don't think Drake's stolen anything in the game yet, and the only locks he's picked have been dungeon chests. So, while I was willing to have him break into the battleborn house, I was also really freaked out about getting caught.

I'm trying to do a no deaths and no-reloads game, and so far that's been a success (unless you count me reloading during the Kodlak funeral glitch). So, I tend to do a lot of preparation and planning (what gear am I taking, what standing stone do I have active, etc.

Anyway, I did a ton of preparation for breaking into the Battleborn house. I knew, no matter what I didn't want Drake killing anyone, so I changed him from his armor to normal attire (yes I know that is dumb, but I believe it's also easier to sneak when you're not wearing armor) I do a fair bit of sneaking in my game, but it's not the stat I lean into (I go more sword and board than anything else) so my normal gear isn't geared toward stealth, but I whipped up a ring necklace and boots that all fortified sneak (is muffle better than fortify sneak?), and also whipped up an extra strong potion of fortify stealth, and few potions of invisibility.

On a side note, I did NOT realize that every time you do literally ANYTHING your invisibility potion ends. So, I drank the first one before opening the door into the house, and then immediately had to drink another one once I was inside. and then another one to pick a locked door inside.

Drake eventually found the journal that said Fralia's son was being held as a prisoner at a place called Northwatch, but by the time he found it, he had used up all his invisibility potions and had to sneak out the old fashioned way. I think he saw one person in the house the whole time I was there, I don't think he was detected. But his stats show he has stolen once (the note about Thorald) but I think I'm ok with that.

Anyway, sorry for a super long description of a super short event. But it turns out Fralia was correct about her son, and I'm guessing Drake is going to be traveling to this Northwatch place.

Art is mine, the story is from my game but I'm taking liberties with the telling for entertainment purposes

TLDR: OP receives the typical Nord greeting

Fredas 21st of Hearthfire

Drake furtively opened the door into the Greymane home. After learning the house's location he'd waited till the street was clear of bystanders before going inside. It felt a little silly being so secretive, Whiterun was home after all, and it's inhabitants his neighbors. But Fralia had insisted it wasn't safe for them to be seen or heard speaking together, and while that might just be the paranoia of an old woman mourning the death of her son, there had been something in the earnest manner she had spoken to Drake with that made him wonder if there weren't some truth to what the woman had said.

Drake quickly stepped inside. He could see a cheery fire burned cozily in the open central room of the house just beyond the small entrance room. but there was no sign of Fralia.

Aside from the soft crackle of the fire and gentle bubbling of a cookingpot, the house was silent. Perhaps Fralia was still out. He took a step forward out of the entryway and into the hearth-room. He was on the verge of calling out, when a an iron grip seized him from the side and he was slammed into the wall so violently that the timbers shook and dust trickled down on him from the second floor.

But Drake barely had time to notice any of this as the chill of cold steel pressed into his neck, and a voice with a heavy Nord accent barked, "Are you working with the Battle-Borns? Speak now before I put you in the ground!"

FIN

So, I headed over to Eorlund and Fralia's house and was met by their son (mystery solved!). Except apparently this isn't the son she's looking for, but he is also in hiding from the Battleborns and the empire becuase he is also a Stormcloak.

Fortunately Fralia showed up in time to stop her son, Avulstein? from "putting Drake in the ground" and explained the situation. Apparently both Fralia and Avulstein are conviced that Thorald was not killed in battle, but captured by the Imperial army and is being held somewhere. They don't know where, but they are certain the Battleborns do (cause they're like BFFs with the emperor or something).

Avulstein can't investigate because he's a rebel and would get arrested if he showed his rebel face, Fralia can't investigate because she is old and might break her hip again. and Eorlund can't because he is in love with his mistress, the skyforge.

So, looks like it's up to Drake to find out what happened, and what he's going to do about it. How many dead bodies will leave in the wake of this rescue mission? You decide!

I'm excited about this mission, but I'm also nervous. I've been pretty careful to stay neutral on the whole civil war thing so far, and I'm afraid this quest might force me to make an uncomfortable decision.

Art is mine, story is from my game, but I'm taking some big liberties with the telling for entertainment purposes.

TLDR: OP is distracted from the main questline again

Fredas 21st of Hearthfire

So, the companions questline was a much larger and more drawn out story than I had expected. It was cool, but it also felt kind of weird to be dealing with the affairs of this local band of mercenaries when there is this earth shattering dragon threat going on, and I promised myself once I was finished with the Companions, I would put my head down and dive into the main questline.

But then I ran into Fralia. (Side note) I didn't realize she was Eorland's wife until I started this quest, I kind of assumed Eorland just lived at the forge, or with the companions, it's kind of weird now knowing he has and a son and a house in town. I don't think I've ever seen the skyforge empty (not that I get out much at night).

Anyway, I was treating myself to a sweetroll from the bannered mare as a reward for saving Kodlak from Hircine and becoming the Harbinger, when I ran into Fralia (her shop is right next to the Bannered mare) and she started talking to me about how she knew her son was still alive.

And then I remembered that WAAAAAY back when I first came to skyrim (I think the first time I left the Bannered Mare There was an interaction between Fralia and an Imperial soldier and one of the Battleborns, and there were arguing about her missing/dead son.

She asked Drake to meet her at her house to talk about her son in private, and I'm a pretty huge sucker for women in distress plots, so I guess the horn of Jurgen Windcaller is going to have to wait a hair longer.

Art is mine. The story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with how I tell it for the sake of entertainment.

TLDR: Lydia is ACKKK-chewily pretty cool!

I feel like Lydia is a super divisive character. Anytime I post a picture about her it seems like half the people say their favorite part of the game is murdering her, and the other half tell me she is S tier Waifu material.

I definitely get that like the other the two other followers I've had so far (Faendal and Serana) she can block her fair share of doors, and she is more than apt to go full Conan (1982 version) on enemies when I'm trying to sneak, but I do like her quite a bit as a follower.

I think I specifically like that in a game full of characters who are just waiting around for you to show up and solve their problems so they can shower you with praise and give you that oh so coveted shot of dopamine, You have this House Carl who was (seemingly reluctantly) assigned to you near the beginning of the game. She's not openly hostile to you, but it also doesn't feel like she's thrilled with you either.

And because she becomes your follower pretty early in the game, she gets to see you as a low level character while you are still figuring things out, and probably screwing a lot of things up. It definitely makes her "sworn to carry your burdens" sting a little extra when she says it after a particularly messy encounter.

On the flip side of that though, if you don't dismiss her right off the bat, she is also present to see you going from being a noob to a decent player. And I kind of think a part of how followers work in the game from a story telling perspective is they give the dragonborn somebody to witness them being awesome.

I realize they are just pixels delivering per-scripted lines and they don't actually form an opinion about you, but again as you are imagining the story play out, it's kind of hard not to image your follower growing to be a little impressed after you defeat that troll up on the mountain, or when you flawlessly execute a bandit horde or a draugr lord.

I realize this is dumb, but anytime I do something I consider impressive in the game, I'm glad my follower is there to see it. Lydia still gives me her snark when I give her the 500th item to carry, but I like to imagine there's less vitrol in it. Now if I could just get her to stop stepping on pressure plates.

Art is mine, feedback is welcome

Is there a good way to kill slaughterfish?

I recently got a necklace with the waterbreathing enchantment on it, and I feel like it's opened up a whole interesting new world of underwater exploration. Like I can't go by a body of water (except up in the icy areas) and not want to explore it.

And it's really cool that the developers apparently put some thought into including interesting little tidbits in the underwater world, mostly alchemy ingredients, but it's still cool.

BUT. . . I really hate the slaughterfish. They're not particularly dangerous to Drake at this point, but they are really annoying, and they are annoying difficult to kill. The only way I've found to take them out is to lead them all back to shallow water, and then bat blindly at them with my sword, before going back into the water and probably finding another slaughterfish that hadn't noticed me yet.

is there a way to actually kill them while you're underwater? Is there some non awful way of taking them out before you go in?

Art is mine, story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with the telling for the sake of entertainment.

TLDR: the Companions have a new Harbinger

Tirdas 18th of Hearthfire

Well, kids. I think the companions quest is pretty much done. Some of you mentioned there are some loose ends that can be closed up, and I'm sure I'll be exploring those, but both Kodlak and Drake's curse has been broken.

I was a little dissapointed that I didn't get to see the ghost of Ysgamir, but seeing Kodlak separate from his wolf form and then battling it was also pretty cool.

It was also very touching having Kodlak thank you for breaking the curse on him as a ghost, especially after having read his journal, and hearing his impressions of you. I don't love being the "leader" of the companions now, but I get how that wraps the story up nicely. I suspect the Companions are going to have to be ok with a largely absent Harbinger, but I have a feeling they'll be ok.

Several people told me the Companion's questline is their favorite, and while there were things that I wish were different, now that I've finished the main story of it, I can definitely see why.

Art is mine, story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with the telling for the sake of entertainment.

TLDR: OP is (supposedly) almost done with the companions questline

Tirdas 18th of Hearthfire

Well kids, I'm no fortune teller, but it looks to me like Drake is just about to the end of the companions questline.

Drake, Aela, and Farkas (also Lydia) made their way deeper through Ysgramor's tomb, with Vilkas left back at the entrance. We made it past the ghosts of the fallen Companions of yore and came to a section of Spider's that proved to much for Farkas. Apparently he and Drake had some encounter with spiders early int he game that I forgot about or somehow skipped. He mentioned that after Dustman's Carin he can't stand crawly things. So I guess I'm just forgetting something traumatic that happened.

So Drake Aela (and Lydia) made their way deeper into the tomb and past the spiders, and some more companion ghosts. I kept expecting the Aela was going to come to a point where she said she couldn't go any further, but she stuck with me all the way.

I'm really enjoying this stage of the companions quest line and this is a minor nit-pick, but it's weird to me that Aela is the one who accompanies you to the end and Farkas and Vilkas get left behind. Aela seems the absolute LEAST worthy of the circle to help the dragonborn break the spell. She's a huge part of the reason Kodlak died in the first place, she is all about revenge, and she doesn't even seem to agree with Kodlak about the nature of the curse. Like I said, not a huge deal it's just weird that she makes it to the end while Farkas and Vilkas are presented as kind of unworthy.

Anyway, Drake and Aela make it to what I assume is the final chamber and meet with the ghost of Kodlak, warming himself at a blue alter flame. Kodlak tells Drake what a great job he's done bringing honor to the companions, and Drake explains that he has come to break the curse, and now Drake is going to get a change to level up in witch burning.

There's a large Sacofoagus in the room so I'm guessing I'll also have to fight someone. Perhaps the ghost of Ysgamor himself?

One way or another, it looks like this questline is just about done. Wish me luck.

Art is mine, the story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with the telling for the sake of entertainment.

I wrote and drew a comic about a bard who tells dad jokes (and probably get's murdered by the rest of his party

Tirdas 18th of Hearthfire

So, Drake, Aela the huntress, Vilkas, Farkas, (and Lydia) made it Ysgamor's tomb. It felt like I had a massive party with me, and it was hard for me to imagine anything being a challenge with such a large party, but then Vilkas told Drake he was not going to go any further because of how he had let vengeance cloud his judgement, so our party has dropped from five down to four.

This make me wonder. Wiping out the silver hand was optional. If I had chosen to just retrieve Wuuthrad from the Silver Hand rather than wiping them out, would Vilkas still feel that way? Did I mess him up by wiping out the silver hand?

Anyway, now slightly reduced party made it's way into the tomb, where after a few annoying skeever's the real adventure began, with a new enemy type. The companion ghost. I'm really glad they didn't just have us fighting draugr, cause that would have been really weird to be chopping up the bodies of fallen companion heroes. I think it's also kind of nifty story element that they don't have animosity towards us, are even in a sense rooting for us to succeed, but are required to oppose as as a kind of test (that also makes Vilkas's decision to remain back make more sense).

The ghosts are not pushover's but so far they don't seem unmanageable, although I'm sure they will get harder before we reach the end.

A lot of people told me they were really looking forward to my playing through the companions questline, and I felt bad cause there were a lot of things I didn't enjoy about it, but I will say that as much as I didn't enjoy certain parts of the beginning I am loving the end so far. Going after the witches, avenging Kodlak, and now coming to Ysgamor's tomb are easily some of my favorite game elements so far.

Art is mine, the story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties in the telling for entertainment purposes.

I'm doing a kind of visual journal of my gameplay. Here's Drake Aela and Vilkas (I was to lazy to draw Farkas) at the entrance to Ysgamor's tomb.

Tirdas 18th of Hearthfire

It appears as if Drake is coming close to the end of the companions quest line, so I'm going to try to put a little more effort into some of the artwork.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Ria attacked Drake at Kodlak's funeral, and I had to go spend the night at the sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood. Drake returned to Jorrvaskr the following day, and Ria was no longer hostile.

Drake met with the circle in the underforge and turned over all the fragments of Wuuthrad to Jorland (who was also present) and was told that the last piece was in Kodlak's room (I had honestly thought getting all the pieces was going to be a more drawn out part of the quest line, but I'm not complaining). Drake went to Kodlaks' room to retrieve the final fragment and (because so many of you told me it was worth reading) I also had Drake find Kodlak's journal, which was indeed worth the effort.

Apparently the Harbinger was worried about dying from something called "the rot" and desperately wanted to be cured of his Lycanthropy before he died (makes it even more sad he died before you got back), and also break the curse on the rest of the companions.

It was interesting to read, Kodlak's take on the other companions (especially Skjorr since I had very few interactions with him. I was already not a huge Aela the huntress fan, but the journal definitely puts her in a worse light, but I guess a lot of the fanbase side with her over Kodlak.

Kodlak also dreamed of Drake coming to Jorrvaskr, joinging the companions, and breaking the curse. It's a pretty cool narrative device and I'm glad I had Drake read it, although it makes me even more frustrated with Aela.

Drake brought the last Wuuthrad fragment to Jorland and returned to the underforge and discussed the possibility breaking the curse of Kodlak posthumously at "Ysgramor's Tomb". (Question, is there a connection between Ysgramor and Talos? are they the same person? are they connected to each other in some way?)

unfortunately to enter the tomb you need Wuuthrad, Fortunately Jorland fixed it (good timing, eh?). So without much futhrer ado, Drake, Vilkas, Farkas, and Aela headed out for the tomb. I'd never been in that area of the map so I stuck with the companions and it was a LOOOOOONG run. We fought some bandits and wolves along the way, but it was otherwise pretty uneventful. I enjoyed having Drake travel with them and was planning to go all the way, but eventually they got seemingly stuck past a town called Dawnstar. I'm not sure if that is intentional or a glitch, but Drake had to go the rest of the way solo.

This feels a lot further North than Drake has ever been before, based on my limited experience in survival mode, I'm wondering how you even make a journey like this without your character freezing to death. (especially crossing the ice to get to the island).

In any event, Drake is at the tomb with the companions (who were suddenly waiting for him there). And we are about to go break Kodlak's curse!

Art is mine, the story is from my game, but I'm taking some liberties with the telling for entertainment purposes.

Morndas 17th of Hearthfire

So despite being pissed with Drake, Vilkas and the dragonborn headed for the Silver Hands headquarters in Driftshade Refuge to put an end to the Silver hand.

It was interesting to me that wiping out the Silver Hand was optional. It seems to me like with all the back and forth that has been going on between the Companions and the Silver Hand leaving them around would just mean further retaliation in the future, but the fact that they make eliminating them optional makes me question that. Vilkas and Drake definitely cleared them out, but i I do wonder if the story progresses differently if you leave them alive.

Anyway, Drake and Vilkas cleared out the hideout (including a feral werewolf?) and recovered the fragments of Wuthrod (and a fair bit of treasure) before heading back to Whiterun where Drake was told to come to Kodlak's funeral at the skyforge.

That's when things got weird. There was a good crowd up at the skyforge, including the Jarl. A funeral Pier was built over the forge with Kodlak's body, and it seemed like one of the more cinematic moments in the game so far, but while I am there essentially watching the interactive cutscene, Ria (one of the companions) starts attacking Drake.

I was insanely confused, and I assumed she was trying to attack some other hostile character nearby. I saw a red dot on my radar, but I couldn't find any enemies, the red dot was Ria and she was definitely attacking Drake.

I don't reload my game if something goes a way I don't like, but I thought it must have been some kind of glitch, so I reloaded and had the exact same thing happen. Ria wasn't much of a threat, but I definitely didn't want to kill her, so I just had Drake leave (although I'm kicking myself now for not using my racial ability, Voice of the Emperor to calm her down so I could actually see what happens at the funeral.)

I went to Riverwood, spent the night in the Sleeping Giant, and came back to Whiterun the next day, and Ria was no longer hostile. Again I was super confused about what had happened so I looked it up online, and found out it is in fact a glitch.

At first I was king of annoyed because it caused me to miss a cutscene, but I also kind of like the idea of Ria being angry at Drake and blaming him for Kodlak's death. It is kind of Aela and Drake's fault, and I imagine Drake himself feeling guilty, but for stirring up the Silver Hand, and for not getting the curse broken in time (a beautifully evil move on the developers part).

Anyway, Wuthrod's back and Drake is supposed to meet the inner circle in the underforge again. It will be interesting to see where the story goes now that the shards are collected, the Silver Hand are destroyed, and Kodlak is dead.

art is mine, the story is from my game, but I'm taking liberties with how I tell it for the sake of entertainment.

Sundas, 16th of Hearthfire

Drake made his way to Glenmoril Cave, and (even though the quest only required 1) I followed you all's advice and had Drake kill all 5 of the witches, and he now has their nasty heads in his pack . . . by which I mean Lydia is carrying them (sworn to carry Drake's burdens, eh?)

In any event, Drake's celebration was cut short when he made it back to Whiterun and found a commotion going on outside of Jorvasker. Lots of people milling around, and several slain Silver Hands lying at the doorsteps.

Apparently, they decided to strike back at the companions for all of Aela and Drake's shenanigans. Kodlak was killed in the fight, and Vilkas is understandably angry with Aela and Drake.

I have to say, it's pretty cruel of the game to have Kodlak dead just before you can cure him. I'm not a huge fan of the companions questline so far (I don't love that you have to become a werewolf to progress the story) but I was really liking the whole hunting down the witches who cursed the companions to break the curse. I genuinely thought that was a really cool story element, and I even like how some of the companions are split on whether it's a curse or blessing. But then to have Kodlak die as you triumphantly return to Jorvasker was a harsh blow.

Other than maybe Jarl Bagruuf, Kodlak is the only fatherly/mentor-esq character Drake has encountered so far, and while the companions aren't my favorite group, Kodlak is probably one of my favorite characters so far.

Speaking of Kodlak dying, why was he down to just his small clothes when you find him?

Vilkas was pretty pissed with Drake for being out when Kodlack died, and he wants to go after them to avenge Kodlak and reclaim the shards of Wuuthrad they stole. So, we're getting revenge on the Silver hand for getting revenge on us for getting revenge on them. I think that's how the story goes so far. Anyway, Vilkas and I are off to fight the silver hand again, and I guess Lydia is just stuck with the severed witch heads for the time being.

Sorry it's been so long since I updated, life is busy.

the art is mine, the story is from my game, but I am taking liberties with the story telling for the sake of entertainment.