Bloated man's grotto

The climb up was actually pretty fun. However my arms were sore as hell. I stopped on the top of the mountain to enjoy the view. I could see the cave from up here. No signs of any hunters arriving could be seen.

Climbing down would be harder. The thing abut Bloated Man's Grotto was that it had no roof. This was no reflected in original Skyrim. However here I could see directly into the cave or I guess Grotto.

I couldn't see Sinding however. Eventually he did show up. In his human form, he had been collecting wood for a fire. I decided to set up my own camp. I was in a good position to wait and watch. 

Most of what Sinding did was just prepare a place to camp. However from the entrance of the cave I saw it before he did. An arrow was sent flying into his leg. Two khajiits stepped out of the entrance. 

Sinding the moment he got shot began to transform. His roar echoed in my bones all the way from up here. Yet the two hunters of Hircine walked forward. It was truly impressive to see what people would do for a god.

It didn't mean much though since Sinding tore through them instantly. However I could see his breathing was a bit slow. It seemed they poisoned that arrow. Perhaps that's where their confidence came from.

I stood on the edge. It seemed more hunters would be coming soon. Sinding was traveling further into the Grotto to recover from that poison a bit. I called out, "Sinding!"

The man in wolf form looked up. "Huh, Who are you? Are you here on Hircine's behalf? I wi-"

That was enough of that and interrupted him. "No, I'm here to help you. I got this damn cursed ring after killing the guy you gave it too." I held up the ring and Sinding had a look of understanding then confusion.

I continued, "Before you ask, he was making deals with the daedra and I'm not a fan of being under their servitude like him."

Sinding seemed to freeze in thought. However Sinding seemed to understand what I meant by them serving Daedra. "So you are here to help me by overturning Hircine's hunt?"

I nodded, "That should also appease Hircine and get me a fix for this curse."

Sinding paused, and looked toward the entrance of the grotto. "Are you gonna come down here or?"

I gave a shrug, "I don't know are you gonna maul me?"

He sighed and shook his wolf head. "No, I just want to live in peace. If you are willing to help. I could use it."

Well, that was simple enough. I slammed the pickaxe into the ground and tied the rope around it. After a few good tugs I slipped down he rope and landed neatly on the ground. After that I casted the spell harvest. My hands glowed and the rope and pickaxe appeared into my inventory.

Sinding seemed shocked. "Where did the rope disappear too?"

He saw that normally? I gave a shrug, "Magic. Here have a healing potion." 

I tossed the red potion to him and he caught it in his claws. "Ah, thanks."

I nodded, "I'll be trapping the area."

Sinding watched me worked, "Who are you?"

I poured some oil along the ground as I answered Sinding. "Vek Frostwane, A simple freelancer."

Sinding looked even more confused. "I see..."

I picked up a few rocks and looked them over. I used the spell splinter and it broke apart into sharp fragments. They had formed into caltrops. exactly as I wanted. I scattered the rocks around the ground where I covered in oil.

I rubbed my chin, Sinding spoke over my shoulder. "What a vicious trap."

I laughed, "Hardly, the oil can be put out easily. Only the dumb ones will be tricked into hurting themsleves on the caltrops."

Sinding looked at me confused, "Caltrops?"

Right I guess those were uncommon. I didn't answer though, I still had more work. I thought about using alert or dark vision. However I doubted those would help much. I paused, "Have you searched the rest of this place?"

Sinding blinked, "Uh, not really."

I smiled, "Great!"

I moved deeper into Bloated Man's Grotto. Eventually I found the two things I was looking for. Bolar's Oathblade and a treasure chest. Bolar's Oathblade had the fear enchantment and damaged stamina. The treasure chest had some gold, some gemstones, jewelry and a couple of scrolls. Putting it all into my inventory. I picked up the chest and started dragging it toward the entrance of the dungeon.

Sinding ended up helping me move it over. "What will you do with this?"

I gave a shrug, "Trap it."

Sinding's eyes were pitch black, but they gave off a look of worry. "You are a very serious person."

I raised an eyebrow, "Serious? I mostly just focus on being as efficient as possible." Actually I guess that was somewhat serious.

Once the chest was in place I got behind it. "Now we wait, I would suggest sitting somewhere open, but not dangerous."

Sinding nodded, "You are a strange individual."

I shrugged as Sinding moved into place. It wasn't long before the sun began to set and the moon shined down on the grotto.

The moon shined with a red glow. Soon I started to hear the stomping of hooves and the distant howl of wolves. Sinding whispered, "The hunt is on. Hircine has begun his call."

I pulled out the scrolls and looked them over. My eyes widened, I was hoping for something different. However a firebolt scroll was far better then what I was looking for. I wanted a scroll of frenzy or an atronach summon. Firebolt would work though. The other scroll was a fucking soul trap spell. So it wasn't useful here. 

Now how do I use this damn thing? I guess I tear it up? I tore it apart and my hand glowed with the power of a firebolt. The other scroll was a fucking soul trap spell. So it wasn't useful here. The sound of hooves grew closer and eventually hunters began charging forward.

A man with a greatsword ran forward, I let him pass. I watched a woman with a sword and shield move forward afterward. Sinding was hiding past some trees watching them step into the Grotto. A wood elf spotted the chest and smiled. As soon as he opened the chest I threw the firebolt at the spilled oil.

He called out, "It's a tra-"

I grabbed him and pulled him into the chest. I shoved the lid closed, and quickly casted a spell. "Lock." A green light flashed across the chest. I looked up to see the chaos I had caused. Some of the hunters were trying to put out the fire by rolling on the ground. others tied to run for the small pond of water.

However as soon as those hunters got close Sinding pounced out of his hiding spot and shredded them. I had never seen so much gore, I actually felt sick. There was so much blood. Sinding called out, "Watch out!"

I realized the man with the greatsword was charging at me. I ducked under his blade and stabbed him in the stomach with Bolar's Oathblade. His eyes went white and he screamed, it startled me and I realized what was happening.

The fear effect on the blade didn't cause one to flee. it caused terror that made them stunned in fear instead. After all I had clearly scared those necromancer at Ilinalta's Deep without a fear effect. I dug the blade through the man. It cut through him quickly and I made a mental note. Don't use leather armor if the enemy has an enchanted weapon.

Sinding looked over, "Are you alright?"

I gave a thumbs up. Looking at the carnage though, "Damn."

Sinding looked around. "Ah, well that fire of yours was effective. Most of them either ran to the water or rolled in those caltrops. Made it easy for me to pick them off. If they weren't already dead from rolling around in the caltrops and oil."

The fire was still burning, but was dying out rather quickly. Sinding looked over, "Is the ring?"

I responded, "Huh? Oh, no I need to speak to Hircine one more time. You can still hear the hoof beats."

Sinding nodded, "I can still hear them too actually."

I paused, and then looked over at the chest. "Uh yeah, i don't think its hoof beats actually."

Sinding realized what I had done. "Oh. Wow."

We jumped as a white stag came through the entrance. "Color me impressed! Not only have you overturned my hunt. You have left me in awe. No hunter, no beast has ever shocked me in a way like this." The Stag marched past us and sniffed the chest. "A trap, that is no trap. Hilarious! You, Vek Frostwane. I shall bless my ring once more."

He tapped his hoof on the ground, "Sinding will also be free from my wraith. May this serve as a lesson. Whatever it may be." I couldn't help but look at the Daedra in the form of a stag.

He tapped his hoofs once more, "Truly impressive. If you were my hunter I would be most pleased. It is a shame. May we meet again Vek Frostwane. Atmora is one of my favorite places still to hunt. So few of you mortal decide on such interesting choices."

The stag moved in a slow pace and then suddenly a light I didn't know it had faded. The stag bleated and ran in fear from me and Sinding. For my part, I looked at Sinding and then at the ring.

Sinding just shook his head. He turned to me, "Vek, thank you. Truth be told I expected to die here. Even when I gave that ring to that Morth fellow. I believed, no I hoped I could get away. However i knew Hircine would begin a hunt. So I was prepared to die, if you ever need my help I will aid you."

I nodded, "It was no effort on my part Sinding. Honestly I just wanted to fix the ring."

Sinding laughed, but as a werewolf it was more like growling. "Even still. I would be happy to help. Just nothing that involves a daedra."

I chuckled at his joke, but asked. "What will you do?"

He sighed, "Atone, I killed a little girl when I had the ring. So I will atone here."

I nodded, "I hope you find peace then Sinding."

He smiled a doggish grin. "Good luck, friend."

I wandered out of the cave, as I check Hircine's ring. I was not the type to atone for his sins. So I couldn't relate or sympathize with Sinding on that part. I could only wish him peace.