Novels2Search
Survivor of Nirn
Chapter 10 - Counting Septims

Chapter 10 - Counting Septims

I approached Riverwood's western gate. My boots crunched on the gravel path, kicking up little puffs of dust with each step. The familiar sight of the stone walls brought a small smile to my face - it wasn't much, but I was starting to relax just from the sight of Riverwood.

"Evening, Hlora," I called out, recognizing the guard on duty. She nodded in response, her face mostly hidden beneath her helmet.

Speech increased to 4

I blinked, caught off guard. Had I missed something? I couldn't recall seeing any notifications for Speech increasing to 1, 2, or 3. It was a pleasant surprise, sure, but a confusing one.

The cobblestone streets of Riverwood were not too busy at the moment, most folks being occupied with their jobs. I took advantage of the solitude to pull up my skill menu.

Everything looked normal at first glance, no other unexpected changes. But then I noticed it - Speech was glowing a faint green, sitting at 9 instead of 4. The Recently Washed effect, I realized. That explained the boost to persuasion, at least.

I leaned against a nearby fence post, lost in thought. Had Speech somehow jumped straight to 4? It seemed unlikely. More probable that I'd been too distracted to catch the earlier increases. Between bandits and wolves and trying to survive, it wasn't hard to imagine missing a few notifications.

In the grand scheme of things, did it really matter? Speech increasing was a good thing, regardless of how it happened.

"Count your blessings, Alex," I muttered to myself, pushing off from the fence. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

The bell above the door jingled softly as I pushed my way into the Riverwood Trader. Lucan Valerius looked up from behind the counter, his face breaking into a welcoming smile.

"Ah, if it isn't our newcomer!" he called out cheerfully. "What brings you in today?"

I returned his smile, shrugging off my empty backpack. The sudden addition of weight made me wince – I'd definitely greatly exceeded my inventory’s weight limit now that the +70 from the backpack was removed. My muscles screamed in protest as I lifted the pack onto the counter, careful to keep the opening turned away from Lucan's curious gaze.

"Got something special for you today," I said, trying to sound nonchalant as I fished around inside. My fingers closed around the cool, smooth surface of the aquamarine, and I pulled it out with a flourish. "What do you think? Flawless aquamarine, fresh from... well, let's just say I got lucky."

Lucan's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle as he took the gem. He turned it this way and that, holding it up to catch the light streaming in through the shop's windows.

"Now that's good quality," he mumbled, almost to himself. After a minute of careful examination, he set the gem down and fixed me with a appraising look. "I can offer you 110 septims. It's a high-quality piece, no doubt, but I've got to think about reselling it down the line."

I chewed my lip, mulling it over. I wanted to hold onto it, maybe find a jeweler who'd pay more money. But was that realistic? Who knew when I'd next run into a proper jeweler, and Skyrim wasn't exactly teeming with rich people looking to buy gemstones. Besides, 110 septims was not that bad, right? It was around a day’s wage, and that was absolutely worth it, wasn’t it?

“You've got yourself a deal,” I heard myself say, the words tumbling out before I’d finished thinking about the offer.

Lucan's face lit up, and he reached beneath the counter, taking out a small coin purse and handing it over to me.

I reached back into my pack. "While we're at it," I said, pulling out the two pelts I'd skinned from the fox and wolf. "What do you think these are worth?"

The moment Lucan's eyes fell on the ragged scraps of fur, I knew I'd made a mistake. His expression went from interested to pitying in the blink of an eye.

"Oh, no," he said, shaking his head. "I'm guessing you're new to skinning? Because these... well, they're not worth the space they're taking up in your pack. Too many holes, see? Can't use them for much of anything."

I felt my cheeks burning as I stuffed the worthless pelts back into my bag. "Right," I muttered. "Should've known. Thanks anyway."

My hands were about to close the backpack, when I thought of the books nestled inside my inventory – "The Thirteenth Stone" and that biography of Eslaf Erol. For a moment, I considered offering them up, but something held me back. The stone book was useful for letting me know what effects the various Standing Stones had, and who knew if I could get more Block skill levels from the skill book? This world felt different from the regular Skyrim experience, and I couldn’t be sure if skill books were one-use or not.

"Well," I said, forcing a smile, "thanks for the trade, Lucan. I'd better get going – got some business with the blacksmith."

Lucan nodded, already turning his attention to the gleaming aquamarine. "Come back anytime," he called as I headed for the door. "And maybe work on those skinning skills?"

I groaned inwardly as I stepped back out into the mid-day sun.

Speech increased to 5

Speech increased to 6

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden jump in my Speech skill. Huh. Guess spending money with Lucan had some unexpected benefits. A small grin tugged at my lips as I set off towards the smithy, hoping to level it up some more.

That's when I saw him.

An honest-to-god lizard man, scales glinting in the sunlight, just… strolling down the street like it was the most natural thing in the world. I'd known, intellectually, that Skyrim was home to all sorts of races, but seeing a literal walking lizard in the flesh... it was something else entirely.

Those horns jutting from his skull, the way his tail swished behind him with each step, the gleam of sunlight off emerald scales - it was fascinating and deeply unsettling all at once. I couldn't tear my eyes away, a shudder running down my spine.

Forcing myself to look anywhere else, I ducked behind the nearest house. Once hidden from view, I shrugged off my backpack with a grunt. Time for a little inventory shuffle.

I pulled out an assortment of armor pieces - fur bracers and kilt, hide boots and a rugged cuirass, some iron bits and bobs. Most of it I crammed unceremoniously into the backpack, wincing as leather creaked and metal clinked. The iron shield was a lost cause, too bulky to fit. I'd just have to carry the damn thing.

Shouldering the now-bulging pack, I retrieved my old iron sword from my inventory space. This too had to be sold off since I had looted a superior version from the bandits.

I kept my gaze locked straight ahead as I passed the Argonian, willing myself not to stare. The smithy came into view, and the acrid tang of the tanning rack made my nose wrinkle.

My eyes scanned the busy yard, settling on a burly man inspecting a freshly-forged blade. Something in his bearing marked him as the one in charge. Clearing my throat, I approached.

"Afternoon," I called out, plastering on what I hoped was a friendly smile. "Name's Alex. You must be Alvor?"

The smith looked up, giving me a once-over before nodding. "That'd be me. What can I do for you, lad?"

I gestured to my overstuffed pack. "Had a run-in with some bandits this morning. Came out on top, thankfully, but now I've got more gear than I know what to do with. Interested in taking some of it off my hands?"

Alvor's eyebrows rose a fraction. "Bandits, eh? Nasty business. But aye, I might be able to help you out there. Let's have a look, shall we?"

I set my pack down with a relieved sigh, hauling out my mismatched collection of armor and weapons. The old iron shield and iron sword joined the pile with a dull clank. "What do you think all this is worth?"

The blacksmith's calloused hands moved over each piece, his expert eye examining every nick and scratch. After a while, he straightened up.

"Well now," he began, "I'd say... 240 for the sword. 120 for the fur bracers, 324 for the kilt. Another 120 for those hide boots, and 410 for the cuirass." He paused, moving on to the iron pieces. "245 for the boots, 260 for the gauntlets, and... 530 for that shield."

I blinked, certain I'd misheard. Those prices were... astronomical. At least ten times what my inventory was telling me they were worth. Was this some kind of joke?

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Alvor must have caught my stunned expression, because he chuckled. "Aye, I know. Prices have gone mad lately. This damned civil war's got everyone scrambling for good steel."

I nodded dumbly, still processing. Then, remembering something else, I fished out the silver ingot from the ‘backpack’. "What about this? Found it with the bandits' loot."

The smith's eyes lit up. "Now that's a nice bit of silver. I'd give you 450 for it, easy."

My head spun as I did the mental math. That was... a fortune of 2294 septims, at least by my standards. I wanted to pinch myself, sure I must be dreaming. For that amount of money, I could sleep in an inn for 45 days straight!

"These, uh... these the normal rates these days?" I managed to ask, trying to keep the disbelief from my voice.

Alvor shook his head grimly. "Afraid so. Way things are going, might get even higher before long. War's good for business, I suppose, but I'd trade it all for some peace and quiet."

I nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. Alvor excused himself for a moment, returning shortly with two hefty coin purses. The weight of it in my hand felt surreal. The panel informed me that the amount matched what he'd promised. Not that I doubted him - in a small town like this, cheating customers would be a quick way to ruin your reputation.

I bid Alvor goodbye and stepped away from the forge, still dazed.

Speech increased to 7

Speech increased to 8

I'd come here intending to ask about work, but now... did I even need to? With armor and weapons fetching prices like that, wouldn't I be better off as some kind of mercenary, hunting bandits and other dangerous things?

I'd just earned the equivalent of nearly a month's wages as a lumberjack from two bandits. Sure, I might not be able to haul much more loot than that in one go, but if I could pull in 2000-3000 septims regularly... that was very promising.

It made sense, I supposed. With the civil war raging, demand for arms and armor was through the roof. And to get this stuff, you had to be willing to kill. Not just that, but drag heavy gear back to town - a difficult task if you were alone and didn't have a magical inventory to work with.

"Might as well make the most of this," I muttered to myself, eyeing the Riverwood Trader's sign. The bell above the door jingled merrily as I pushed my way inside, startling Lucan who was hunched over some ledgers.

"Back so soon?" he asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

I grinned, patting my coin purse. "What can I say? I'm feeling a bit spendy today."

My eyes roamed the cluttered shelves, taking in the goods. An iron cooking pot caught my eye, its sturdy construction perfect for campfire meals. Next to it sat a simple wooden bowl, and propped in the corner was a small leather tent that looked ideal for one person. And that Soothe spell tome I remembered Lucien talking about the first time I came here would be great when it’s freezing outside.

"I'll take those," I said, pointing to each item in turn. Then, keeping my close calls with the bandits in mind, I added, "Oh, and two normal healing potions."

Lucan nodded, gathering the items. As he set them on the counter, a glint of silver caught my eye. "Hold up," I said, leaning in for a closer look. "What's that ring there?"

A proud smile spread across Lucan's face. "Ah, you've got a good eye! That there's a Ring of Illumination. Enchanted, it is." He slipped it onto his finger, and after a moment of concentration, a small orb of light sprang to life above his head. "See? No more fumbling around in the dark or wasting torches."

I watched, fascinated, as the light bobbed gently, following Lucan's movements. My first instinct was to snatch it up right then and there – who wouldn't want their very own magical item? But I forced myself to pause, considering its practicality.

"It would be nice not to worry about torches," I thought aloud. "And in a fight, having light without occupying a hand..." I nodded, decision made. "Alright, I'll take it."

Lucan's grin widened as he tallied up my purchases. "That'll be 921 septims, all told."

I winced a little at the price but handed over the coins. As I slipped the ring onto my finger, a warm tingle spread through my hand. I couldn't help but smile, admiring the faint glow emanating from the engraved silver band.

Ring of Illumination

[Armor 0 | Weight 0.1 | Value 360 | Effect: Grants the ability to create a bright, hovering orb of light at will.]

"Thanks, Lucan," I called over my shoulder as I headed for the door, my new possessions safely stowed away in my backpack.

The Sleeping Giant Inn was my next stop. Delphine looked up from wiping down the bar as I entered, her sharp eyes taking in my new ring.

"Another night?" she asked, already reaching for the key to my usual room.

I nodded, sliding the 50 septims across the worn wooden bar with a lazy grin, enjoying the melodic clink of the coins now that I wasn’t so poor.

"Thanks again," I called over my shoulder as I headed for the door.

My room was just as I'd left it - a humble space, but clean and surprisingly cozy. I let out a deep sigh as I shrugged off my fur-lined backpack, the heavy weight leaving my shoulders with a relieving groan. Aching muscles protested from the day's exertions, but a night of rest would set me right.

I plopped down on the edge of the bed, taking a moment to transfer my new purchases into my inventory.

My gaze drifted over to the books section of my inventory. There it was - the Soothe spell tome I'd picked up, just begging to be activated. I was very glad that I didn’t have to study the spell manually, since that would probably take a while. I activated the tome, bracing myself for the rush of knowledge.

The mind's influence over the body became crystal clear. By manipulating my own perception of cold through magicka, I could deceive my physical form into feeling warmth despite the bitter chill. Mind and body were entwined, two halves of the same whole, and illusion was the ultimate expression of that principle, bending that union to my desires.

Soothe (Rank I): Exposure is reduced by 10 for 30 seconds. When the effect wears off, the exposure is gained again.

The tome crumbled to dust between my fingers, its knowledge fully absorbed. Wasting no time, I lifted my hand, letting my new spell take form. Emerald tendrils of magicka gathered around my fingertips, swirling in hypnotic patterns as I focused my will. The spell took shape, a green spiral of energy that rushed forth to envelop my head.

At first, I felt nothing. Then a gradual warmth began to spread through me, as if I were basking in the first rays of morning sunlight after a long winter's night. It was a delicate, soothing heat that seemed to radiate from somewhere deep inside rather than an external source.

The chill still nipped at my exposed skin, but it had lost some of its bite. Like dipping your feet into a hot spring after a day of trudging through snow drifts.

"Not too bad for a novice spell," I chuckled. "It’s not much, but this will definitely help a little in the freezing cold."

Illusion increased to 1

Illusion increased to 2

I smiled at the notifications, and tossed the book 'The Life of Eslaf Erol. Part III: Warrior' onto my lap. I wasn't sure if these skill books had a limited number of uses or not, but I figured it was worth giving this one another read through. Maybe I could squeeze out a little more experience for my Block skill.

An hour later, I set the book down with a frustrated sigh, massaging my temples. Words and sentences seemed to blur together on the aged parchment. My mind felt oddly foggy, like I'd just spent the last few hours studying for an intense exam. Frowning, I pulled up my Effects panel to see if anything was amiss.

Training Fatigue: Your recent training and study sessions have left you fatigued, reducing your magicka by 10 points. Sleeping for several hours will recover your magicka.

"Well, that explains the mental fuzzies," I muttered. So these skill books did have a limit of some kind when it came to absorbing their knowledge. Interesting. I made a mental note to space out my reading sessions from now on.

I glanced out the window - the sun was still going to be up for a few more hours. Not late enough for bed, but I wasn’t in the mood to go wandering out in the wilderness either.

Maybe I could check out the common room downstairs? The Sleeping Giant Inn always seemed to have a lively crowd in the evenings. A bit of people-watching could be just the thing to pass the time.

I swung my legs off the bed and slipped into my boots, heading for the door.

The common room wasn't too crowded when I arrived. A handful of locals nursed mugs of ale or mead, while Delphine was at the counter writing something down with an intense expression. Orgnar was nowhere to be seen, probably out back chopping wood for the fires.

My gaze was immediately drawn to a small group gathered around one of the larger tables. Loud laughter and the occasional burst of cheering drifted over, along with the sounds of coins changing hands. Some kind of game seemed to be going on.

I wandered over for a better look. Four men sat hunched around the table, cards fanned out before each of them. In the center was a small pile of septims that seemed to grow or shrink with each hand played.

I blinked in surprise as one of the players flipped over his cards - they weren't quite the same as a standard deck of playing cards, but the suits and numbered values were unmistakable. One man had a spread showing a nine and a six of diamonds. The other grinned, revealing a hand adding up to twenty-one on the nose.

"What the hell?" I mumbled. They were playing blackjack. Actual, real-life blackjack, here in Skyrim!

One of the spectators must have noticed my slack-jawed expression. He leaned over, eyes twinkling with amusement. "First time seeing this game?"

I could only nod absentmindedly. The player who'd busted let out a gruff curse, shoving his cards aside as he drained his mug of mead to drown his frustration. The winner, grinning like a madman, raked the small pile of septims toward himself with a greedy hand.

"It's called 'Dragontail' in these parts," the spectator continued. "Simple enough rules - get as close to twenty-one as you can without going over. Dealer gets an automatic win on all ties, and players can risk extra coin for a bonus payout if they've got the stones for it."

I watched as the dealer skillfully shuffled the deck, the worn cards blurring in his hands. The dull thump of each one hitting the table made my heart skip a beat. Some deep-buried reckless impulse, itched to throw a few septims into the pot and join the game. But prudence won out - I'd need every last coin for supplies if I hoped to survive out in the wilds. Maybe someday, when I had more coin to risk, I'd test my luck at the Dragontail tables. But not tonight.

"Looks like quite the thrill," I said, tearing my gaze away from the table. "But I'll sit this one out for now. Need to keep a level head on my shoulders."

The spectator shrugged, seemingly unsurprised by my restraint. I took a half-step back, content to simply observe the game for a while. But a nagging thought suddenly wormed its way into my mind.

That flawless aquamarine... I'd sold it to Lucan for 110 septims, hadn't I? A frown creased my brow as I mentally compared it to the day's other transactions. The small leather tent I'd bought cost 120 septims - more than the gem had fetched. Had I just let myself get thoroughly scammed by the crafty shopkeeper?

The more I thought about it, the worse the deal seemed. I'd essentially traded a rare gemstone for barely more than a day's wages. It didn't make sense - I wouldn't normally be so careless with valuables. A chilling thought occurred to me: was I being influenced by some sort of merchant's charm, like Lucan's equivalent of a speech perk? Because I definitely wouldn't have sold it off for 110 septims if I'd been thinking clearly...

If such merchant charms or persuasion abilities existed, how could I protect myself against them? I wracked my brain, trying to come up with a solution. The only thing that came to mind was that increasing my own Speech skill might help offset the impact of such influences.

"Maybe that's why Speech is so important," I muttered to myself, eyeing the Dragontail players warily. "It's not just about getting better prices or improving my skill at the Thu’um, but defending yourself against others' manipulations too."

I made a mental note to focus more on improving my Speech skill in the future. It might not be as flashy as magic or as immediately useful as combat skills, but if it could help me keep a clear head in negotiations, it could be invaluable.