Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Chapter 212 My Little Iya

As for the mountain path, the Hosga Trail isn't difficult to traverse; the entire route is passable by vehicle. Akari's tiger-man caravan, pushing small carts, followed Eric and Angie along this road from Ivastead to Helgen. However, Maggie and I didn't drive the oxcart; after all, we were focused on fighting at the Blacklight Tower, and naturally, we couldn't take that precious ox to dangerous territory.

Hiking has its advantages, namely, the ability to take on side paths. Sometimes, using only your hands and feet to climb over a small hill can be equivalent to walking for several tens of minutes on a winding mountain road. However, it is indeed a bit more tiring.

Surprisingly, although Maggie was a woman, older than me, and wearing an inconvenient robe, she didn't hold me back during the climb. She tried her best to keep up with me, and she was even talking non-stop, but she only wanted to know one thing.

"Lord Locke, how can you be so sure you'll bring a young woman back with you?"

"What young woman?"

"When you said those things to Madam, weren't you implying that you would be traveling with a young woman? Please don't misunderstand, Madam?"

"Didn't Lady Esmeralda send me to pick up one of her disciples?"

"Among your students, there are some who are quite old; some of them could even be considered your elders."

I quickened my pace, climbed a mountain ridge, and shaded my eyes with my hand, gazing eastward into the distance.

"Last time I walked this road with Hailji, it didn't seem this far. Today, it feels like we'll never reach the end?"

"Helge? That clever little girl?"

As before, Maggie followed up on my conversation by talking about other things, but she didn't give up on probing, only in a more roundabout way. From the details of meeting Helgi—I've omitted the awkward scene after escaping into the cave, of course—to her first meeting with Moira—which still feels extremely unpleasant to recall, and whether I knew her teacher before, etc.

Watching her subtly probe and try to piece together answers from my experiences was a pleasant part of the otherwise boring journey. Therefore, adhering to the principle of "saying only the truth, but never telling the whole truth," I patiently and meticulously answered all her questions.

We jogged down an easy slope, where melted snow had formed several streams that flowed quietly along a deep canyon. The snow-covered landscape of the Hoska Trail was finally left behind, and before us stretched the birch forests of Rift Valley. Maggie, leaning on a thick branch she'd found sometime earlier, let out a heavy sigh. Her eyes were slightly moist, like a traveler returning to her long-lost homeland.

She stood silently for more than half a minute, then raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, her face once again filled with that signature smile.

"Every time I come to Rift Valley, it feels like coming home. Has Lord Locke ever visited this place? Do you have any interesting stories to share?"

Is your mouth rented? You'd be at a loss if you didn't speak, right?

“Rift Valley, I’ve not only traveled here, but like you, coming here feels like coming home…”

Maggie leaned closer, looking on with curiosity.

This was certainly the truth, but the "I" he was referring to was Lockel himself. He had been trading horses with his Uncle Sunil since he was a boy, and his most frequent destination was Rift Valley.

Skyrim has horses, and there were originally two main production areas.

One is the Loristed region, the mountainous grasslands between Whiterun and Rych. During the time of the Dragon Cult, this was an important breeding ground for warhorses, but it is now abandoned. Not because all the horses have died, but because several Forsworn tribes roam the area, making horse herding an extremely risky occupation.

The other is the heart of Riften. Horses are still bred there, though the yield is low, the quality is quite good. The local Blackthorn family owns a prized horse named Frost. Before I traveled there, Locker, along with Stormcloak, was captured by General Tullius while trying to steal a horse from Riften to sell, and ultimately lost his life.

Besides Rift Valley, Hammerfall Province is also a major source of goods for Sunil.

Skyhorse are very gregarious animals. They are gentle, short and sturdy, hardy, and resistant to harsh conditions, adapting well to their environment. While their speed is average, their exceptional endurance allows them to traverse long distances and they excel at navigating mountainous terrain. Besides being a means of transportation, they are also excellent draft horses. As pack horses, they can cross mountains, but due to their small size, their load-bearing capacity is limited, making them less suitable as draft horses.

In contrast, the Hammerhorn horse is large, well-built, agile, and possesses exceptional intelligence and a valiant character, making it an outstanding warhorse or draft horse. Like the people here, the horses are stubborn, proud, and difficult to tame. However, they always show unwavering loyalty to those they trust, willing to obey orders without reservation, even to the point of death.

Different breeds of horses each have their own merits. Sunil would usually select horses from one of these two locations based on the customer's requirements, and also purchase some lightweight, portable, and in-demand small items. He would then sell these along the way until the horses were delivered to the buyers. Sometimes, the horse sellers would ask him to carry goods, thus becoming customers themselves.

Small business owners like Sunil never pick and choose; as long as it's not contraband, he accepts everything, which earns him a very good reputation among his business partners in Riften. As his uncle's sidekick, Lockel can sense the goodwill emanating from these businessmen, whether rough or shrewd. Sunil has also mentioned more than once that he hopes to retire in Riften.

To be fair, if we only consider the natural environment, Riftlands is the most habitable of the nine territories in Skyrim.

Needless to say, the Plains and Winterhold are cold and barren, with the north wind howling all year round and the damp, cold air from the Ghost Sea causing heavy snowfall. Anyone with even a little ability flees in a hurry, leaving only two kinds of people in these two territories: the great nobles who can live well anywhere and the poor who starve to death wherever they go.

While not as harsh as the previous two, the Yar border territory was a vast swamp shrouded in miasma, teeming with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, completely unsuitable for human habitation. As for the Ruichi territory, the phrase "poor mountains and treacherous waters breed unruly people" suffices to describe it. These four territories were unable to produce enough food for themselves and had to purchase it from other regions.

The Eastern Territory and Hafingart Territory also needed to purchase grain. The capitals of the two major factions in the civil war coincidentally shared similar climates. Both regions had mountains and rivers, with each forming a relatively independent area, like the balance of yin and yang—completely different yet interdependent.

The Kilcreth Mountains shield the land from the chilling winds of the Ghost Sea, dividing the climate of Hafengal Territory in two: to the north lies a barren, frozen wasteland, while to the south stretches a warm, narrow plain along the lower reaches of the Cass River. Despite the limited arable land, Hafengal Territory rarely faces food crises. This is because Solitude is the political center and largest port of Skyrim. It receives tribute not only from the territories of Skyrim but also from the Imperial City.

Of course, it's easy to imagine that settling in such a city would be very expensive, so people from small families should probably forget about it.

Unlike Hafingar, where a single mountain divides the territory, the Eastern Territory is bounded by water. The north bank of the Yomrin River lies the Ansol Mountains, bordering Winterhold, a perpetually cold and snow-covered region; Windhelm is situated on its southern slopes. South of the Yomrin lies the Blackwater River basin, dotted with hot springs due to the geothermal remnants of Morrowind Province. Such a place would be ideal for a vacation retreat. However, for a permanent residence, the question of where to obtain food would become a concern.

The responsibility of growing crops falls on the remaining three territories, with Whiterun providing the most.

This territory, located in the heart of the sky, is flat and fertile, with vast fields stretching for miles. However, its overly flat and open terrain leads to drastic climate changes with the seasons. Warm summers often bring torrential rains, while cold winters are exceptionally dry, and strong winds, the kind that can blow roofs off, frequently occur in autumn, winter, and spring. Snowbound doesn't support idlers, but those willing to work hard can live a good life here.

The terrain of Falkriss Territory is similar to that of Rift Territory, but it receives more frequent rainfall, has a more humid climate, and is plagued by numerous mosquitoes in the summer, which is extremely bothersome. The territory is divided into four parts: mountains, rivers, fields, and forests. With my assistance, Danger spent two years managing to control less than a third of the entire territory. During this time, I raised pigs, fished, mined coal, and fired bricks, but I never considered farming.

It wasn't that I didn't want to, but rather that I couldn't. In the end, it was Granite Village, which theoretically belonged to Whiterun, that fulfilled my desire to explore new lands. Falkreath's advantage was its abundant resources; however, if we only considered food production, it could only rank third among the nine territories.

Let's take another look at Rift Valley.

Surrounded by the Verodie Mountains, the Jerol Mountains, the Hosga Peaks, and the Northwind Mountains in the four cardinal directions, the territory is bisected by the Blackwater River. As a tributary of the White River, its course within the Rift Valley territory is very gentle, allowing large ships to pass, irrigating the farmland on both banks, and nurturing two large lakes rich in fishery resources.

Climatically, the area experiences four distinct seasons. Thanks to the Blackwater River's vast capacity, rainfall is plentiful yet avoids flooding. The presence of northern hot springs effectively blocks cold air, with snowfall only occurring occasionally during the coldest months of the year, Morning Star Moon. The territory is densely covered with birch forests, resulting in fresh and pleasant air.

From a military perspective, as long as Shur Watchtower on the eastern side of the Northwind Mountains, Triwa Watchtower on the upper reaches of the Blackwater River, and Rifthelm Valley southeast of Riftdale are controlled, two-thirds of the entire territory will be safe. This safe zone includes farmland, horse ranches, ports, logging camps, fishing grounds, and mines. It's practically an independent kingdom. As long as the ruler isn't too incompetent, the people can live in peace and prosperity.

Unfortunately, Sunil's wish to spend his final years in Riftlands vanished with his death.

In Lockle's own memory, everything related to his uncle was always joyful and heartwarming. That genuine emotion not only touched me, the narrator, but also seemed to move the listener. Maggie stopped pressing for details and instead shared several of her experiences in Rift Valley.

We boarded a ship in Ivastad and sailed up the Blackwater River to the Treva watchtower. After showing Eric's letter of introduction, we accepted Staleo's warm hospitality. I declined his offer to send someone to escort me and instead took a small boat to the Heartwood Mill further upstream.

In the game, there's only one wooden house where a mother and son live. The woman asks the player to find her husband. The poor man was out delivering goods when he was captured and brutally murdered by bandits. In this alternate world, this place is a sizable village with hundreds of households. Besides a lumber mill, there are farmlands, fishing grounds, and a small shipyard that can produce fishing boats or manufacture parts for larger vessels.

Where there are industries, there are naturally merchants coming and going, and inns to provide lodging for them. After a short rest, Maggie and I continued southeast, venturing into the wild forest.

Ahead lay untouched wilderness, devoid of any paths. Even Maggie, their guide, had to frequently stop to determine their direction. It was clear she possessed extensive experience exploring the desolate landscape, able to discern animal tracks and thus avoid them in advance.

Actually, I really hoped to encounter one or two bears or tigers. That way, I could test Maggie's fighting abilities and avoid feeling uncertain in a fight. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance until the dilapidated walls of the Blacklight Tower came into view.

"We've arrived. Lord Locke, please go ahead."

Maggie turned to the side and gestured for them to proceed.

"You go first. I'm a stranger, and it wouldn't be good if it caused misunderstandings or conflicts."

If you want to backstab someone, you have to stand behind them first.

Maggie nodded slightly, her smile unwavering, and gracefully stepped forward to push open the castle gate. As she turned, the steel dagger silently slid from its sheath and was placed face down in my hand.

The dim, yellowish light, like a thin mist, filled the cramped hallway. The room was a mess, with two women, one standing and one lying down. The one lying on the floor, dressed in a black robe, was convulsing in her final moments. The one standing, wrapped in a dark blue robe, clutched a bloodstained fork tightly in her hand, her body trembling uncontrollably.

I'd seen these scenes countless times in the game, and should have remained calm. But the moment I saw the killer, I was struck dumb, frozen in place. That tall, shapely figure, that flowing, jet-black hair, and that beautiful face... Who else could it be?

"Irina! It's you?!"

Aside from attending the banquet at the Treva Watchtower, I barely wasted any time, even deliberately choosing the expensive but time-saving method of taking a boat. When I set off, Irina must still be in Helgen. How could she possibly arrive at the Blacklight Tower before Maggie and me, and even kill someone?

"Ma...Maggie? You...you stay away!"

The woman was startled, but she recognized Maggie and began brandishing her fork wildly. However, I could tell she had little fighting experience and was just bluffing. As she turned, the light shone on her face, and I finally realized this was definitely not Irina.

The two women were almost identical in build and looked seven or eight parts alike, the difference being their demeanor. Irina exuded a mature, composed, and serene aura, while the woman before her appeared somewhat naive and immature. Though flustered, she possessed an untamed wildness, like a cat cornered against a wall, ready to pounce at any moment.

Maggie was clearly caught off guard by the murder, but she quickly regained her composure. She glanced back at me, who was staring in shock, and burst into laughter like a hen incubating its eggs.

"Oh dear! My little Iya, look what you've done!"

Now that things have come to this, what is there that I still don't understand?

One of the most powerful mages in the game is actually my sister-in-law.