Tag: Skyrim Playthrough

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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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Twelve

The Dragon at Kynesgrove

Day 12 of the Skyrim Survival Mode playthrough. A desperate march through a blizzard leads to a deadly encounter with Sahloknir at Kynesgrove.

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Skyrim Survival Day Eleven

[Interlude Recap – The Road to Riverwood]

Because I forgot to make a note of what happened

After surviving a High Elf ambush near Honningbrew and realizing I’d accidentally sold my only torch (a true survival pro, clearly), I made the chilly trek from Morthal to Riverwood. My goal? Track down whoever had politely stolen Jurgen Windcaller’s horn and left a cryptic note about it.

Upon arrival, I met the mysterious individual behind the theft — who, thankfully, turned out to be more “cryptic guide” than “bandit with a flair for calligraphy.” They handed over the horn without a fuss, which was nice… right up until they asked me to go kill a dragon at Kynesgrove.

Because obviously, if I can survive wolves, hypothermia, and poor decision-making, dragon-slaying is the next logical step.

Chasing the Dragon (Literally)

There are days in Skyrim where you feel like destiny is calling. Today was one of those days. I could have taken a brief detour to drop off the horn with the Greybeards, but when you know there’s a dragon waiting to be resurrected, priorities tend to realign.

Vampires, bandits, assassins, wild animals—they all tried their best to slow me down along the way. But I was focused. The true fight lay ahead.

A Grim March Toward Kynesgrove

The journey itself was tense. The air grew colder with each step closer to Kynesgrove. Was it the dragon’s presence? Was it simply the Skyrim weather being its usual cruel self? Hard to say. I stopped several times to check my bearings and steal a few glances at Loki. It crossed my mind more than once that this might be our last trek together.

As I neared Kynesgrove, the weather fully descended into a blizzard. Visibility was almost nonexistent. I encountered a lone villager who confirmed the obvious: a dragon was circling above. No kidding.

A Brief Respite Before the Storm

I found the local inn, empty. Either everyone had fled or were smart enough to avoid the place entirely. With no one around and no real chance for rest, I left Loki safely behind and pressed on alone. Loki didn’t need to be part of this.

The Resurrection of Sahloknir

At the burial mound, Alduin made his grand appearance, resurrecting Sahloknir right before my eyes. The cold gnawed at me, my health bar already looking dangerously low before the real fight even began.

And then the battle was on.

The Fight for Survival

Sahloknir wasted no time unleashing his icy breath, shredding what little health I had left. I knew I couldn’t survive many hits. Then Delphine arrived, drawing the dragon’s attention long enough for me to slip back and start unloading arrows.

When Sahloknir refocused on me, one more breath could have ended everything. But I kept firing. One arrow after another. Finally, the beast collapsed.

Victory, Barely

With Sahloknir slain, I spoke with Delphine. A Blade in the Dark was complete; Diplomatic Immunity had now begun. I staggered back into Kynesgrove, found the first available bed, and collapsed into it.

I live to fight another day.

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Eleven

Loki the MVP, and Ustengrav Gets Sneaky

Day 11 of my Skyrim Survival Mode playthrough on Nintendo Switch. I cure my vampire disease, nearly lose the run to disconnected controls, and finally become the stealth archer I keep pretending to be.

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Skyrim Survival Day Ten

Cured, Not Cursed

After some internal debate, I decided to cure the disease before I fully turned vampire. I’m not ruling out the vampire lifestyle forever, but for now I prefer my Argonian warm-blooded and not photophobic. Maybe next time.

Ustengrav Ambush: Hooves First, Questions Later

Outside Ustengrav, I’m ambushed by three bandits and a necromancer. Could’ve been the end of the run—especially when my Joy-Cons disconnected mid-fight. Nothing like fumbling for a controller while enemies swing for your skull.

Luckily, Loki stepped in. I dismounted and used hit-and-run tactics while my horse quite literally stomped the threat out of them. Between the panic, arrows, and hooves, we made it through.

Depths of Ustengrav: Stealth Archer, Finally

Inside, I finally commit to the stealth archer lifestyle I keep pretending I’ve mastered. Draugr fall one by one to well-placed arrows, never knowing what hit them. This is the dream.

For a brief moment, I wonder if there’s a way to bring Loki into dungeons. Probably not. Still, the mental image of a stealth horse sneaking past Draugr is one I’ll cherish.

The Horn Is… Missing?

Reach the end of Ustengrav, expecting to claim the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Instead, I find a note. Great. Someone’s stolen it and wants a private meeting at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood. Because that’s not suspicious at all.

Back to Morthal

With the dungeon cleared and no horn in sight, I head back to the inn in Morthal to thaw out and call it a day. I’ll deal with mystery notes and secret meetings tomorrow. For now, I’ve earned some warm food and sleep.

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Ten

Vampires, Arrows, and Question Footwear

Day 10 of my Skyrim Survival playthrough on Nintendo Switch. I finally track down the Master Vampire, get cursed, loot a backpack, and question one vampire’s strange obsession with boots.

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

Cave of Arrows and Errors

I picked up where I left off—tracking down the Master Vampire who’d been making Morthal miserable. The cave wasn’t far, but it was full of surprises. The first being how embarrassingly bad I am with a bow.

Two frostbite spiders greeted me, and I introduced them to about fifteen arrows—most of which missed. Somehow they didn’t notice. Either I’m too stealthy or they were too busy being creepy in the dark.

Thralls, Vampires, and the Great Boot Hoard
Things picked up after that. I managed to sneak around and take out two thralls without them raising the alarm. They dropped quietly, like they knew it was their time.

Then I stumbled across a vampire sleeping off the night shift. One solid sneak attack and it was nap time forever. They didn’t have much, but their bookshelf was packed with boots. Not books. Boots. One of them boosted my sneaking, so I took the hint and left the rest.

Alva, Infection, and Indecision


Further in, Alva reappeared—clearly still in a mood after her last defeat. A thrall decided to help me by attacking her, which made things easier. But before I could finish the job, she tagged me with Sanguinare Vampiris. So now I’m infected. Not thrilled, but not rushing to cure it either. Still weighing the pros and cons of turning undead.

Mission Complete, Bonus Backpack Secured
Eventually I found and eliminated the Master Vampire. No dramatic boss fight—just a clean, quiet finish. I headed back to Morthal, where the Jarl thanked me and promised the Thane title if I helped the locals.

While doing some casual burglary—I mean, investigating—I came across a backpack enchantment that boosts bow damage by 10%. I took it as divine intervention for my earlier archery shame.

Rest, Recovery, and Ustengrav Awaits


With the vampire threat handled (for now), I rested at the inn and prepped for tomorrow’s journey to Ustengrav. Hopefully no more spiders. Or at least fewer boots.

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Nine


Day 9 takes me from ancient tombs to icy swamps. I dodge frost magic in a wooden shack, fight a dragon on a mountain, and uncover a vampire plot in Morthal. Janessa doesn’t make it.

Missed day eight? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Eight


Draugr Light: Dustman’s Cairn (Not That One)

The plan for the day? A classic dungeon crawl through Dustman’s Cairn. The reality? I walked into what might have been the world’s most disappointing annex. One room. A handful of draugr. Zero dramatic ambushes. Either I wandered into the wrong entrance, or the rest of the dungeon had a day off.

I poked around for secret doors because this is Skyrim and you never know, but found nothing. Just cobwebs, bad lighting, and the distinct feeling that Todd Howard was laughing somewhere.

Loot? Forgettable. Mood? Slightly stabby.

Bear vs. Blade at Greenspring Hollow

Onwards to Greenspring Hollow. As expected, it came with the usual occupant: a bear with severe anger management issues. True to form, it attacked on sight and asked no questions.

A few solid strikes put the beast down. I looted what little there was and handed the haul to Janessa—my trusted pack mule and silent partner in crime. I didn’t realize at the time that this might be her final job.

Drela’s Cottage: Hospitality Denied

A bit further along, I stumbled across Drela’s Cottage. Hopeful for shelter or at least a warm fire, I stepped inside.

That was my mistake.

Without so much as a hello, Drela greeted me with frost magic to the face. Fortunately, this wasn’t my first time dealing with homicidal wizards. I chugged a Resist Frost potion, ducked behind the suspiciously durable wooden pillar in the center of the room, and played peek-a-boo until Drela ran out of breath—and life.

The loot was unimpressive, but I left with my body temperature (mostly) intact and my life expectancy extended for at least another few hours.

Goodbye Janessa, Hello Dragon

At this point, I decided to cut across the mountains instead of following the road. Direct lines are always faster in theory—less so when those lines involve climbing sheer cliffs in sub-zero weather.

Halfway up, the weather turned, and I heard the familiar sound of a dragon announcing its presence.

The battle was brutal. I managed to land the final blow, but at a terrible cost: Janessa was gone. Whether she was roasted or knocked off the mountain mid-fight, I’ll never know. There was no body, no dramatic final words—just an empty follower slot and a heavy sense of loss.

RIP Janessa.
Overburdened. Underpaid. Better than most.

Welcome to Morthal: Population, Suspicious

I limped into Morthal alone. Freezing. Exhausted. Perfect conditions to stumble into a vampire conspiracy.

The innkeeper filled me in: rumors of bloodsuckers, a burned-down house, and strange happenings. The Jarl, apparently too busy to care, delegated the matter to me after some light investigative work revealed Alva wasn’t quite as human as advertised.

Following a brief round of sleuthing, a confrontation, and the discovery of vampire tomfoolery, I returned to the Jarl. With the truth exposed, she finally took notice—and handed me a new assignment: eliminate the so-called Master Vampire controlling things from the shadows.

Because of course, there’s always a hierarchy.

End of Day Nine

No warmth. No Janessa. And now I’m tasked with taking out a vampire overlord while half my gear capacity disappeared along with my companion.

Classic Skyrim.

If you want to know more, please check out The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Survival Hub

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Eight

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Seven

You Can’t Just Plant Cabbages & Hope For The Best

The day began innocently enough: me, a farmer. I planted crops. I surveyed my new property. I even admired the way the fence sort of stood up straight if you squinted.

Then came the harsh truth: someone needs to run the place. A steward, apparently. I considered Janessa. But I’ve seen what happens when I leave her behind — bandits get braver, and I get deader. So the plantation gets to manage itself for now. I’ve got adventuring to do.

Rorikstead Road Trip & Unwanted Job Offers

headed west toward Rorikstead, thinking I might find a decent recruit or just a quiet village to loot — I mean, explore.

That’s when the courier found me. Another letter. This time from the Jarl of Falkreath, who has apparently heard great things about me. Which is wild, considering I’ve never been to Falkreath. Either he’s got spies, or the Skyrim rumor mill is on fire.

The jarl wants to make me his thane. Which I’m sure is perfectly normal and not part of some elaborate trap.

Also in Rorikstead: the Alik’r warriors from Whiterun were waiting to follow up on the Redguard woman situation. They asked me to lure her to the stables. Classic bait job. I agreed because gold.

Quest Cleanup, Sneaky Illnesses & Ambush Season

I polished off the “While the Cat’s Away” questline and handed some newly found armor to Janessa, who continues to be my personal vault and bodyguard.

Then I realized I had ataxia, which explained why I suddenly couldn’t pick locks to save my life. One quick sip of a cure disease potion, and we were back in business. No need for a healer when you carry your pharmacy.

On the road again, things took a turn. First East Empire guards ambushed me. Then bandits showed up, probably thinking I was weak from the first fight. Joke’s on them — I was just angry.

I took a torch off one of the guards. Light is life out here. Especially when you’re a lizard.

Broken Fang Cave: Mistakes Were Made

For reasons even I don’t understand, I went into Broken Fang Cave. It looked vampire-y, smelled vampire-y, and yes — it was vampire-y.

Two of them. One was a master vampire, which seems overkill when the total staff is two. I barely made it out alive, with Janessa doing most of the heavy lifting. I now hate caves even more than I did yesterday.

Also: I lost my horse. Twice. I parked it near the cave, then it vanished. Reappeared later. Skyrim horses operate on pocket dimensions. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Whiterun Wrap-Up & Moral Ambiguity

Back in Whiterun, I sold off excess loot and completed the Redguard woman questline. Yes, I lured someone into a trap. No, I don’t feel great about it. Yes, I took the 500 gold. We all have bills to pay.

That should’ve been the end of the day. It wasn’t

A Red Horse, A New Bond, & Horse Armor

On my way out of town again — this time for Ustengrav and the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller — I got distracted. Again. By a red horse. A wild one.

Naturally, I tamed it. Took it back to Whiterun. Named it Loki, because it’s clearly a chaos beast in horse form. Gave it armor. Declared it mine.

Silent Moons Camp: I Finally Stealth Archer Properly

I made one last attempt to head toward Ustengrav, but Silent Moons Camp was too close to ignore. And finally — finally — I had a stealth archer moment worth writing about. I took down bandits without being spotted. Just arrows in the dark and confused grunts. Beautiful.

Found good loot. Gave it to Janessa. Called it a night.

What Actually Got Done Today

• Planted some vegetables

• Discovered I own a farm I don’t want to manage

• Was scouted for a thaneship I didn’t apply for

• Got ambushed — repeatedly

• Became a vampire hunter (reluctantly)

• Caught a chaos horse named Loki

• Lived the stealth archer dream

• Delayed the Greybeards. Again.

For more information, please check out The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Survival Hub

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Seven

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Six

Where Am I and What’s a Spellbook?

I set out from Ivarstead with big plans: make it back to Whiterun, restock, maybe actually figure out what I’m doing. Instead, I quickly discovered that I had absolutely no idea where I was going.

Rather than rely on my highly suspect sense of direction, I remembered I’d picked up a spellbook for Clairvoyance at some point. I read it, learned the spell, and just like that, I could now cast Skyrim’s version of GPS. A glowing blue trail lit the way toward my next objective—assuming I had enough magicka to keep it active, which I didn’t, but the principle was there.

A Lonely Cabin, a Note, and a Rabbit Named Thistle

While following the vague trail of clairvoyance (and mild panic), I came across an abandoned alchemist’s shack in the woods. Inside was the usual—alchemy gear, some scattered ingredients—and a rabbit. The note next to the rabbit revealed its name: Thistle. The game then offered me the option to feed Thistle a carrot, which I did.

Now I have a rabbit.
No dramatic bonding scene, no magical contract. Just: “You fed me, I guess we’re friends now.”

I decided to leave Thistle at the cabin for now. They’re safer there than following me through wolf-infested terrain, and I’m not quite ready to explain rabbit-related injuries to guards.

Wolves, Hunters, and the Temptation of Horse Theft

Continuing toward Whiterun, I encountered the usual:

A few wolves, which I dispatched with mild irritation.

A hunter on horseback who offered to trade. I was tempted to take the horse, but noticed they only had 10 gold to their name. Figured they needed it more than me.


Took the high road. The game didn’t reward me for it. Standard Skyrim.

Back to Riverwood and a Missing Torch

I passed through Riverwood and unloaded some gear. Remember the torch I accidentally sold to the Riverwood Trader earlier? Gone. Apparently, it was in high demand. Either that or it spontaneously combusted.

Sold some junk, didn’t freeze to death, counted that as a win.

Thieves and Stable Investments

Just outside Whiterun, a thief jumped me. Bad call on their part. I’m increasingly well-armed and increasingly done with nonsense. They dropped a few coins and a reminder that Skyrim has no shortage of opportunists.

At the Whiterun stables, I finally bought a horse. Cost me a chunk of gold, but now I’m mobile. Then I saw I could buy armor for the horse and, well, I’m not made of stone. Gold well spent. The horse now looks like it could take on a sabre cat solo.

Meet Jenassa: Professional Help for Hire

Instead of chasing down the Companions again, I walked into the Drunken Huntsman and hired Jenassa, a Dunmer mercenary with a very straightforward business model: pay her and she’ll stab things. I like her.

She joined up, and we set off toward Rorikstead, where I figured we could find some peace and maybe not be attacked by anything for five minutes.

Haunted Houses and Unexpected Assassins

On the way, we found a run-down plantation with a ghost standing out front. Naturally, the ghost was hostile—because nothing in Skyrim is just there for atmosphere. I dealt with it and went inside, triggering the Unquiet Dead quest.

That’s when an assassin ambushed me inside the house. Because of course they did.

Turns out the Dark Brotherhood wants me dead. Not sure what I did. Maybe I fed a rabbit that was on their hit list. Either way, they failed. I looted a contract from the assassin’s corpse confirming someone wants me very much gone.

After dealing with the ghost problem, I was handed the keys to the plantation. I now own a haunted house with no furnishings, no heat, and no privacy—but it’s mine.

Day’s End: Horse, Home, Henchwoman, and Homicide

So to recap:

Learned to use Clairvoyance to avoid constant map-checking

Adopted a rabbit

Resisted temptation to steal

Bought a horse and upgraded it

Hired Jenassa as backup

Survived an assassination attempt

Acquired real estate via murder and ghosts


Not exactly restful, but it’s progress.

For more information on this, please check out: The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Survival Hub

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Five

I return to Shroud Hearth Barrow to face a “ghost,” discover it’s just a deranged frost mage, clear out undead, remember how to zoom with a bow, and miss Lydia more than I expected.


—

The Ghost Isn’t Real, But the Frostbite Is

The day begins with a voice echoing through the ruins of Shroud Hearth Barrow, telling me to turn back. I don’t. Obviously. If I turned back every time a disembodied voice told me to, I wouldn’t have left Helgen.

Inside, I find frost-covered halls and a frost-wielding “spectre” who turns out to be a man in a robe with a superiority complex. I resist the urge to shout, “You’re not even undead!” and settle for fire spells and potions instead. Frost resistance does most of the work. A few spells later, he’s dead—and not the kind that gets up again.

Turns out he snapped from isolation and decided to LARP as a ghost. His journal’s full of ramblings, paranoia, and bad decisions. I should probably relate, but instead I loot his body and move on.

I can’t help thinking Lydia could’ve handled the distraction while I circled behind. She was good for that—charging in recklessly while I fired off spells and arrows from the shadows. It hits me again that she’s gone. Permanently. Not resting in Breezehome. Just gone. And for the first time, that feels like more than an inventory loss.


—

A Quick Detour to Town

I return to the inn with the ghost-faker’s journal. The innkeeper’s relieved to learn the place isn’t haunted and rewards me with the Sapphire Dragon Claw—because apparently the correct response to surviving a haunted dungeon is to send someone deeper into it.

Not one to refuse free ancient loot access, I eat some food, warm up, and head back in.


—

Back to the Barrow

The second half of the barrow is more undead and more danger. I find a sleeping bag tucked beside some barrels and take the opportunity to rest. One hour’s enough to regain stamina and level up. I put the point into Health and choose Light Armor for the perk—mainly because I’m tired of dying in three hits.

The claw fits the puzzle door and grants access to the barrow’s inner sanctum. I shift into stealth mode and start clearing the area with arrows and fire spells. It’s during one of these fights that I finally remember: I can zoom in with my bow. (Hold ZL to aim, click right stick for zoom.) This information would’ve been helpful literally four days ago, but better late than dead.


—

New Magic, New Words, Same Cold

Along the way, I find an Oakflesh spellbook. Boosted armor without metal? Yes, please. It pairs well with my current sneaky-bow-mage playstyle, especially since I’ve yet to find decent armor that doesn’t clank.

At the very end of the dungeon, I’m greeted by a Word Wall. I approach and learn Kyne’s Peace, which… sounds like something the Greybeards might want to chat about. I haven’t seen them since I shouted at a mountain goat near Whiterun, so I imagine they’re still waiting patiently on their high stone perch.

Before I leave the crypt, I rest again and hit another level up. Health gets another boost (cold and axes both hurt), and I drop a perk point into Sneak. Because what’s better than being hard to kill? Being hard to find in the first place.


—

Day 5 Summary

Defeated fake ghost in Shroud Hearth Barrow

Acquired and used the Sapphire Dragon Claw

Cleared out all skeletons and draugr

Remembered I can zoom while aiming with a bow (finally)

Picked up Oakflesh for magic armor buffs

Learned Word of Power: Kyne’s Peace

Leveled up twice: +2 Health, Light Armor +1, Sneak +1

Missed Lydia more than expected

—

The barrow’s empty, the loot is mine, and the Greybeards are probably wondering if I’ve died in a ditch. They’ll get their answer tomorrow—assuming I don’t freeze to death first.

Check out the full series here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Four

Missed Day 3 – Read it here

Started the day the way all great stealth archers do—by pretending to care about politics. Found the Redguard woman in Whiterun that the Alik’r mercs were sniffing around for. She gave me the classic “they’re lying, I’m innocent” speech. Naturally, I decided to investigate further, because I’m not just a deadly ghost in the shadows—I’m also weirdly nosy.

So I paid a visit to the dungeon. Not because I enjoy the ambiance (mossy rocks, chain rattles, general despair), but because that’s where the Alik’r prisoner was holed up. On my way through the cells, I stumbled across a conveniently placed letter that kicked off While the Cat’s Away—because apparently jail is where people keep their treasure maps now. This new breadcrumb trail pointed me to Rorikstead, so that’s now on the ever-growing “places I’ll forget to visit” list.

I bribed a guard to release the Alik’r guy. Ten gold down, but the man refused to leave. Said he liked it there. Who likes jail? I left him to enjoy the damp stone aesthetic and moved on.

Decided to get serious about transport and talked to the guy at the stables. Instead of a horse, I got a map to horse locations. Look, I may specialize in ranged combat from the shadows, but even I think this quest design is a bit rich. I considered stealing a horse parked outside—because what’s stealth archery without a bit of stealth theft?—but resisted. Barely.

Set off for Ivarstead, because apparently walking from town to town is now my main questline. Took a scenic route through White River Watch, because I saw bandits and my inner archer whispered, “free loot.” Cleared the place, looted some arrows, and—big moment—found a replacement torch. Goodbye darkness; hello slightly less darkness.

Further down the road, a local asked for help clearing out some spooky ancestral crypt. I said yes, mostly because ghosts are easier to shoot than bandits. Lydia followed me in. She didn’t follow me out. Somewhere in the middle of a draugr-infested hallway, she stopped tanking and started dying. I mourned just long enough to loot her stuff and whisper, “you took too many aggro points.” I may join the Companions soon, if only to get a fresh meat shield with less emotional baggage.

Finished the tomb, claimed some loot, and resumed the long haul to Ivarstead. Got lost twice. Almost turned back three times. It wasn’t clear if I was heading east, west, or straight into existential crisis. Eventually, the town showed up and I dragged myself into the nearest inn.

Dropped into a bed with no torch dropped this time. Progress.

RIP Lydia. You were loud, clunky, and bad at staying behind me. But you absorbed a lot of arrows meant for me, so thanks for that.

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

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Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Three

Missed Day Two. Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival – Day Two

Day 3 started with an ambush. A random High Elf jumped me on the road for reasons unknown—maybe they didn’t like my face, or maybe Argonians owe them money. Either way, I fought back with confusion and mild panic, which worked surprisingly well.

I eventually made it to Honningbrew Meadery, still torchless, and only then realized I must have accidentally sold mine to the Riverwood trader. A true survivalist moment.

Whiterun itself was a whirlwind of activity. I did a lot of trading and cooking (still no torch, sadly) and picked up a handful of miscellaneous quests just by talking to everyone who would listen. After reporting the dragon attack to the Jarl, he asked me to speak to his court wizard, Farengar, about retrieving an item from Bleak Falls Barrow. Luckily, I had already picked it up after dealing with the draugr overlord the day before.

When I returned the item, another dragon sighting interrupted the conversation—because of course it did. The Jarl asked me to help defend the watchtower. On the way, I stopped at a farm and took as many cabbages as I could carry. Nutrition first, dragon-slaying second.

The dragon fight was… spirited. I may have only shot one or two arrows during the entire battle (accuracy still pending investigation), but I stood my ground and somehow survived. When the dragon fell, I absorbed its soul and unlocked the first word of Unrelenting Force. The Greybeards, apparently impressed by my sheer proximity to heroism, summoned me with a thunderous shout across the land.

After the chaos at the watchtower, I returned to Whiterun as a newly minted dragonslayer—well, sort of. I may have only fired one or two arrows during the entire battle (accuracy debatable), but I was present, which apparently is enough to get called Dragonborn these days. I’ll take it.

Back in the city, the moment I stepped through the gates, I ran into two Redguards asking if I’d seen a mysterious woman. Naturally, I nodded vaguely and moved on—I’d just absorbed a dragon soul, after all. Priorities.

Then it was back up to Dragonsreach, where I was rewarded by the Jarl for my “bravery” with the title of Thane and a housecarl named Lydia. I’d barely gotten the words “Unrelenting Force” out of my mouth before I was already poking around the keep, looting any gold, potions, and cheese wheels that weren’t nailed down. Let’s just say I was making the most of my new noble status.

Exhausted, mildly traumatized, and still without a torch, I wrapped up Day 3 by heading to the local inn for some much-needed rest—and to contemplate how one becomes the hero of Skyrim while barely lifting a finger in combat.

Read the full jouney here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival

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