Category: Skyrim

Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary – Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny

Cold-Blooded – Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny

Game: Skyrim Special Edition
Mode: Survival Mode
Difficulty: Adept
Survivor: Treads-Through-Cold (Argonian)

Gold doesn’t solve every problem. But right now, it would solve most of mine.

Money is becoming a recurring issue. Spells cost gold. Food costs gold. Staying alive costs gold.

With that in mind, I checked the local inn in Riverwood for work. They had a bounty available and pointed me toward a few other opportunities. None of them sounded safe. All of them sounded necessary.

I added everything to the list.

Cold-Blooded – Log 3 (No Commentary)

Full gameplay footage from Riverwood to Whiterun, including the Western Watchtower dragon fight.

The Road to Whiterun

On the way to Whiterun, I spotted a fight in progress. A giant. Several people. A lot of shouting.

I hadn’t decided who to help by the time the giant was already dead.

That earned me a mild scolding for not joining in sooner. Turns out the group were the Companions. They take jobs. Dangerous ones. For gold.

I made a mental note. I may need them.

As they left, I noticed something else. Crops. A lot of crops. Vegetables everywhere. Unattended. Unclaimed. No warnings. No angry NPC dialogue.

I harvested all of it.

I then walked past the farmer who owned those crops.

He’s in for a surprise.

Whiterun Business

Once inside Whiterun, I went straight to the inn. More work was available. One job stood out.

I was asked to retrieve something called Nettlebane.

I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s a weapon. But it sounds valuable enough to investigate.

From there, I spoke to the Jarl.

He asked if I could help his court wizard, Farengar. I handed over the Dragonstone. Apparently, I’d already done the hard part.

As a reward, the Jarl offered me the chance to buy a house in Whiterun.

Buy being the key word.

The Western Watchtower

A dragon had been sighted at the Western Watchtower.

I was asked if I could help.

I agreed, reluctantly.

The dragon stayed just out of spell range most of the fight. When I could hit it, I did. When I couldn’t, I waited and tried not to die.

I need better spells. That means gold. Farengar already suggested Winterhold.

No.

  1. I’m an Argonian.
  2. The clue is in the name: Winterhold.

An Unexpected Title

The dragon fell.

I took what I could from it. Then I absorbed its soul.

A Whiterun guard called me Dragonborn.

I don’t know what that means.

But I’m confident they’ve got the wrong Argonian.

Continue the journey:
Cold-Blooded – Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes |
Cold-Blooded – Log 4: Gold, Guards, and Bad Ideas
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Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary – Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes

Cold-Blooded – Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes

Game: Skyrim Special Edition
Mode: Survival Mode
Difficulty: Adept
Survivor: Treads-Through-Cold (Argonian)

Bleak Falls Barrow doesn’t rush you. The cold does.

Bleak Falls Barrow was the agenda for the day. I equipped the fur armour I’d picked up earlier and prepared for the climb.

I also made heavy use of Clairvoyance. Not because it’s elegant, but because I know I’ll get lost without it.

The cold took longer than expected to become a problem, which gave me time to deal with bandits along the road. Somewhere during this, I realised I could cast both equipped spells at once.

The urge to channel my inner Emperor Palpatine was strong.

I compromised.

Sparks in one hand. Flames in the other.

Entering the Barrow

I reached Bleak Falls Barrow and overheard a conversation involving Arvel the Swift. That answered the question of who had the claw.

Inside, I moved carefully. One bandit required preparation, so I cast Oakflesh.

They immediately pulled a lever and solved the problem themselves.

I examined the room, recognised a puzzle, solved it without incident, and continued.

Arvel the Swift, Briefly

I found Arvel stuck in a web, guarded by a giant spider. The spider nearly ended the run, but I survived long enough to win.

Arvel asked to be cut down.

I didn’t like his tone.

I killed him, took the claw, and read his journal. It confirmed this place had more going on than a simple fetch job.

Before leaving, I reanimated his corpse.

Not for strategy. For amusement.

He fought some draugr. They were not impressed.

Traps and Helpful Enemies

Further in, I encountered pressure plates that triggered spike traps.

I avoided them.

Draugr and my temporary undead companion did not.

This happened more than once.

Words of Power and Bad Timing

At the end of the barrow, I learned part of Unrelenting Force.

The Restless Draugr sleeping nearby demonstrated it immediately.

I attempted to use a Scroll of Harmony. In theory, this should have worked.

It didn’t.

Riverwood and Necessary Spending

I returned to the Riverwood Trader, handed over the claw, and proceeded to spend most of my remaining wealth.

He had Novice Robes of Destruction.

I sold a significant amount of gear, did some uncomfortable mental maths, and bought them anyway.

Worth it.

Nightfall and a Sensible End

I returned to Hadvar’s uncle’s place and called it a night.

Tomorrow, I head for Whiterun.

Progress Update

  • Levels gained: +3 (between logs)
  • Attributes: +2 Health, +1 Magicka
  • Perks:
    • Novice Restoration
    • Novice Alteration
    • Dual Casting (Destruction)

Video Log

No commentary gameplay:

Log 2 Survival Notes

  • Clairvoyance saves time and mistakes.
  • Let enemies trigger traps when possible.
  • Dual casting changes early combat dramatically.
  • Some scrolls lie.
Continue the journey:
Cold-Blooded – Log 1: Survival Starts After Helgen |
Cold-Blooded – Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny
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Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary – Log 1: Survival Starts After Helgen

Cold-Blooded – Log 1: Survival Starts After Helgen

Game: Skyrim Special Edition
Mode: Survival Mode
Difficulty: Adept (possibly dropping to Apprentice)
Survivor: Treads-Through-Cold (Argonian)

I could pick any race. I always pick Argonian. Some habits don’t need explaining.

I’m calling this run Cold-Blooded, which feels slightly unfair for an Argonian. But if the game insists on freezing me, I’m leaning into the theme.

Difficulty is set to Adept. That may change. I’m here to survive, not impress the weather.

Helgen (Skipped on Video, Not Skipped in Reality)

I didn’t record the wagon ride, the dragon, or the escape from Helgen. Survival Mode doesn’t matter until you’re out of the cave and the cold starts applying pressure.

I followed Hadvar through Helgen, grabbed what made sense, and moved on.

Once Survival Mode became available, I switched it on. At that point, the run was live.

Hadvar’s Advice and Immediate Doubts

Hadvar suggested we split up on the way to Riverwood.

We then took the same path.

He also suggested I join the Imperials. They did try to execute me earlier, so I’m undecided.

Mage Stone First, Because I Have Priorities

I detoured for the Mage Stone. If I’m going to struggle, I want my magic skills levelling efficiently while it happens.

From there, I headed straight for Embershard Mine.

Embershard Mine: Cold Prep in a Dark Hole

There was someone waiting outside. I dealt with that first.

Inside, I somehow avoided alerting the bandits after triggering their trap. I’m not calling it skill.

I cleared the mine carefully. Not stealth-archer careful. Mage careful.

The key find was fur armour. As an Argonian, warmth matters more than looks.

Loot was otherwise forgettable, but I did gain a level.

Riverwood: Familiar Faces, Familiar Problems

I reached Riverwood not long after Hadvar.

I spoke to the trader and learned about a stolen Golden Claw.

The thief ran off to Bleak Falls Barrow.

I don’t like the name. I like the location even less.

Apparently I’m Family Now

After speaking with Hadvar’s uncle, I was asked to warn the Jarl in Whiterun.

I was also told I could take food.

Not the bow. That stayed put.

Nightfall and a Sensible Call

I sold a dagger, watched the light fade, and chose not to push my luck.

Night meant colder temperatures and no margin for mistakes.

I returned to Hadvar’s family home and rested there.

Level-up went into Health and Destruction.

Video Log

No commentary gameplay:

Log 1 Survival Notes

  • Survival starts when the cold is allowed to matter.
  • Early warmth beats early damage.
  • Daylight is a resource.
  • Bleak Falls Barrow can wait.
Continue the journey:
Cold-Blooded – Log 2: Bleak Falls Barrow
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Survivor’s Log — Cold-Blooded: The Hub Page Is Now Live

Cold-Blooded: The Hub Page Is Now Live

Game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Mode: Survival Mode

This run needed a foundation before it needed a first entry.

The hub page for Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary is now live.

This series follows an Argonian mage in Skyrim’s Survival Mode, using the Apex Predator Rule: three deaths total, and the third ends the run.

The hub outlines the rules, the format, and why this run exists, without jumping straight into the diary itself.

What You’ll Find on the Hub

  • The full ruleset, including the three-strike system
  • Build focus and combat restrictions
  • Context from the previous Skyrim Survival run
  • Space for future logs as the run progresses
You can find the hub page

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Here’s What You Missed This Week on Survivor Incognito – Crashes, Farewells, and Frozen Toes

Another week of survival stories has wrapped up over at Survivor Incognito, and here’s what went live:

  • 🌴 Tuesday: Sunburnt & Sinking – Stranded Deep: Day One. A plane crash, some aggressive crabs, and the beginning of another deeply questionable survival journey.
  • ❄️ Wednesday: Customloper Diaries – Day Five. Moose encounters, torchlit panic, and the continuing battle to not freeze to death in The Long Dark.
  • 🦎 Thursday: Goodnight, Sweet Lizard – A heartfelt (and mildly roasted) farewell to my first Skyrim survivor. Gone, but not forgotten. Or fully thawed.
  • 🚚 Friday: SnowRunner Survival – Day Three. I made it to the top of a mountain. That was the easy part. Getting down? That’s Future Me’s problem.
  • 🛤️ Saturday: Day One Diary – Choo Choo Charles. A train with spider legs, eggs with suspicious importance, and absolutely no time to process anything.

🧭 We also updated the Start Here page with better guidance for new readers and easier access to key blog content.

It’s been a week of rough starts, fond farewells, and terrain I was never meant to cross — just how we like it.

Next week: the official start of the Subnautica permadeath run, a bit more trucking, and probably something trying to kill me with a leaf. Stay tuned.

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Goodnight, Sweet Lizard: A Farewell to My First Skyrim Survivor

After 13 in-game days of sneak attacks, harsh weather, and a deeply unfortunate troll encounter, my Argonian Skyrim survivor meets his end. This is his legacy — and a lesson in knowing when not to go into caves.

Read his full journey here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival

In Loving Memory of One Very Cold, Reluctantly Landed Argonian

He was cold-blooded. He was quiet. He preferred to solve most problems from the shadows with a well-placed arrow — because melee is for people with frostbite and regrets.

And yet, after surviving everything Skyrim threw at him, it wasn’t bandits, dragons, or starvation that claimed him. It was two angry trolls and one very bad decision to poke around in Darkshade Cave.

The Life of a Lizard Who Tried His Best

This wasn’t just another survivor.
This was a stealth archer, which is to say: a Skyrim classic.
He lived by the code of “snipe first, loot later, probably run if it doesn’t work.”

In just under two weeks, he:

Escaped Helgen

Lost Lydia

Hired and lost a mercenary

Earned Goldenhills Plantation the way every true adventurer dreams of: by completing a creepy quest and forgetting to farm anything afterwards

Rescued a horse he named Loki, who became the real MVP of the run

Became a part-time necromancer, part-time landowner, and full-time weather complaint generator

Climbed the 7,000 Steps in survival mode without dying of frostbite. Which is frankly a flex.


He even tried to get back to Riverwood like a responsible protagonist.

And then he saw a cave.

Final Moments: The Troll Toll

It started with a stop in Windhelm to offload loot and maybe warm up.
Then came the cave — just a quick look inside, a moment of curiosity.

The first troll nearly killed him.
He chugged potions like they were mead.
The second troll hit harder.
Somewhere in the middle, Gutworm joined the party.

And that was it.

No shouts. No slow-motion kill cam. Just two trolls and a regrettable sense of exploration.

What We’ve Learned

If there are bones outside a cave, leave them and the cave alone.

Gutworm is not an edgy band name — it’s a problem.

Owning property does not make you immune to stupid decisions.

Trolls are not “starter enemies.”

And stealth archery cannot save you if you’re cornered with no exit and 12% stamina.

Final Thoughts

He never had a name. But he had a farm, a horse, and a bow.

He stood on mountaintops. He summoned undead to do his dirty work.
He shot first, looted later, and almost made it to two weeks.

And then he did what every Skyrim player eventually does:
He got Skyrim’d by a cave.

Rest in peace, my scaly shadow-dweller. You tried. And in Skyrim Survival Mode, that’s more than enough.

And like they always say, I don’t know who they are, but they do: Finish on a song

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This Week on Survivor Incognito – Sinking In and Saying Goodbye

It’s a big week ahead on Survivor Incognito — we’re kicking off a brand new permadeath run, and also saying farewell to one of our longest-surviving characters.

  • 🌊 Stranded Deep: Sunburnt & Sinking officially begins this week. Expect sharks, dehydration, raft regrets, and poor life choices from Day One.
  • 🐍 Skyrim: The Eulogy will also be posted — a proper farewell to my Argonian survivor who gave it everything (except warmth, shelter, and a working torch).

It’s one of those weeks where we start something new and say goodbye to something old — which, let’s face it, is the rhythm of survival gaming.

Stick around. It’s going to be eventful.

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🌊 Announcement: Subnautica Will Be the Next Series!

While my Argonian my have fallen, it’s time to look ahead—and downward. Specifically, into the ocean.

I’m excited to announce that Subnautica will be the next full series featured on Survivor Incognito! The series will officially begin in a few weeks, once I’ve reacquainted myself with the controls (because I apparently forgot how to swim, build, and breathe). It’ll fall under the same permadeath-flavoured survival approach as the others, with a few sea-salty twists.

In the meantime, I’ve already launched the Subnautica Maps Page to help new players, returning survivors, and confused PDA AIs alike. Bookmark it, share it, or yell at it when you get lost near the Aurora again.

🎉 Celebrating 1,000 Views!

Also, a massive thank you to everyone who’s visited the blog—Survivor Incognito has officially passed the 1,000 views milestone!

To mark the occasion, I’m doing something a little different… something a little more classic horror. While I’m still getting my bearings with the controls again, you can expect a familiar mansion, limited saves, and enough tension to make a zombie blush. 🧟‍♂️

More on that very soon.

More updates coming soon, including the official Subnautica start date and a look at what else is on the blog horizon.

Stay afloat,
Survivor Incognito

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Here’s What You Missed This Week

It’s been a big week at Survivor Incognito: a new diary began, another series ended, and a milestone snuck up on us. Here’s the full breakdown:

  • Tuesday: Stranded Deep – Day One Diary (official permadeath run starts next week!)
  • Wednesday: The Cold Chronicles – Day Nine
  • Thursday: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Final Entry (eulogy coming next week)
  • Friday: SnowRunner – Day Two, where I somehow end up on top of a mountain… with no plan for getting down.

We also launched the Subnautica Maps page this week, with a Subnautica: Below Zero map hub in the works too.

And lastly — a huge thank you: the blog passed 1,000 views this week! I’m currently plotting something fun as a proper thank-you to everyone who’s been reading, lurking, or laughing at my survival misfortunes.

More survival chaos (and a few heartfelt eulogies) coming next week.

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Thirteen

A peaceful morning turns tragic as a detour into Darkshade cave leads to the end of the run. My Argonian meets his match in a brutal troll ambush, marking the end of this survival tale.

Missed the previous entry? Find it here: Skyrim Survival Day Twelve

The Long Road Home

I wake up in Kynesgrove, still alive after yesterday’s dragon incident — which, let’s be honest, felt like a miracle in itself. Looking at the map, I realise the trek back to Riverwood is going to be long. Possibly frostbitten. Definitely hungry. So, to lighten the load and my pack, I make a detour to Windhelm to sell off some loot and rethink life choices.

Gold in pocket and slightly less overencumbered, I continue south. I pass a black mage on the road and instinctively prepare for a spell-flinging ambush… but nothing happens. They just nod and keep walking. Huh. That’s… unsettling.

The Cave That Should Have Stayed Unexplored

Then I find it: Darkshade Cave. A delightful little murder hole nestled along the path. The bones outside should have been a clear warning, but I’m tired, curious, and suffering from a chronic case of “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Spoiler: everything.

The first troll nearly turns me into lizard paste. I’m chugging health potions like I’m in some sort of Nurnroot energy drink commercial. Somehow, I survive. Barely.

I breathe out. Relief washes over me.

That’s when the second troll appears.

Stronger. Meaner. Less camera-shy.

I dodge a few swings, land a few blows… but it’s a losing battle. I get hit with Gutworm, which sounds exactly as bad as you’d imagine. I make a mental note to look up what it does, assuming I live long enough to Google it.

I don’t.

The End of the Road

And just like that… my Argonian is dead.

After everything:

The chaos of Helgen

The bitter cold of the mountains

Losing Lydia

Hiring a mercenary only to lose them too

Gaining Loki, my summoned saviour

Battling dragons, undead, frostbite, and starvation…


In the end, it wasn’t fire or ice that killed me. It was two angry cave trolls with boundary issues.

Rest well, my scaly friend. You deserved better.

Final Thoughts

So ends my first attempt at surviving Skyrim.

Maybe it was foolish to enter that cave. Maybe I should’ve gone straight to Riverwood. Or maybe — just maybe — trolls need to be nerfed.

Either way, it’s game over for now. But don’t worry. I’ve got more lives than a Khajiit with a lucky coin. A new run is coming.

Eventually.

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