6 The Noob God Wakeths II

I make my way to Faendal's house as that's where we would crash since we started adventuring together, banging my fist on the door I shout out, "Wake up lads, we've got a golden claw to rescue!" Quietly listening for their response.

Faendal and Lokir finally trudge out of the house dressed and ready for adventure, albeit very tired, both just nodding along as we begin to make our way up the mountain. After taking out the first group of bandits in the crumbling tower, and looting everything in sight on our way up the mountain, Lokir finally asks, "I don't get it, Boss, why're we fighting through all these bandits?"

I laugh as we make it further up, before crouching and taking out my bow, and whispering "Didn't you listen? We're getting the golden claw so Faendal can be Camilla's dashing Hero before we head out to the Jarl of Whiterun to warn him about what happened to Helgan."

This elicited a small chuckle from Lokir and an embarrassed cough from Faendal, before whispering, "I think it's best we clear out these bandits like in the mine, they're a threat to Riverwood anyways."

Faendal pauses before turning to me with a knowing smirk, "And just think of all the loot you could get from stripping these bandits!" Faendal exclaims before losing an arrow down range nailing a bare-chested bandit in the heart as I follow his lead and begin launching arrows at the sparsely armored bandits as well, and Lokir charges forth with a mighty yell.

Archery Level Increase to 26

Man, I wish this thing came with a damned mute butto-... Hold up... I quickly close my eyes and focus on the settings menu and I find a lot of things and options that are blocked out... But, a few options are available, most importantly is the notification mute button. Thank the Nines this shit won't keep popping up!

"Come at me, Rogues!" Lokir shouts, banging his sword against his shield, taunting the bandits and drawing their attention away from me and Faendal.

Letting us sweep the floor with them before taking a breather. While Lokir and Faendal rested up, I began stripping the bandits of all their valuables, armor, weapons, food, and the like before placing it all in a nice pile next to the entrance of the Burrow.

"Seriously, Boss! Why're you so obsessed with looting everything?" Lokir asks, propping himself up from the crumbling pillar he was resting against. Causing Faendal to perk up as well.

I smirk while stacking the last of the loot in a tidy pile, "Let's just say... I've got big plans for the future, and every septim counts. Stick with me long enough and you'll see a whole new world of possibilities."

They both look to me with confused glances before shrugging it off, Faendal asks preparing to open the door, "So just like the mines then, friend? You lead, checking for traps, Lokir getting your back, while I do overwatch and grab all the loot?"

I smile, barring my gorgeous tusks, before heartily laughing, "Ha, ha, ha! Keep it up Faendal and I'll just have ta tell Camilla you're a permanent addition to the crew!"

This makes Faendal and Lokir pause, before Lokir speaks up a little choked up, "We're a crew? Never had one before..."

I frown before clasping him on the shoulder, "Of course, we made it out Helgan together didn't we? If that's not a bond strong enough to make battle brothers out of us, I don't know what would! Ha, ha, ha!"

This makes Lokir bust a big toothy grin and clasps my shoulder back, "Never had a battle brother before! Never had a brother for that matter either! What should we call our crew Boss?"

I grin, before taking my arm away, lifting my foot to kick open the Barrow's door and shout at the top of my lungs and activate my Shockwave ability, "Surrender your valuables or your lives in the name of the Dragon's Maw Mercenary Company!"

This elicits a rousing cheer from Faendal and Lokir as we charge forth into battle, swiftly dispatching the three bandits huddled around the campfire in the ruins, as they were shocked by the sudden interruption and had barely any warning to prepare a proper fight.

After gathering all the loot like before, I break into the chest and use it to store our spoils before going further in, and taking everything that isn't nailed down.

Especially the linen wraps for making clothes and armor padding, coupled with the potions and coin offerings, we're left with a tidy sum. I warn them of what we are about to face with the thief, "Alright lads, the thief we're looking for must be up ahead since the claw isn't here, be prepared for any tricks he may pull, cause who knows what's down there."

I warn them, taking the lead to get all the loot I can before finding the most terrifying monster in all of Skyrim, something that terrifies me to my very core...

The giant frostbite spider! I pull out both flaming hands as a whining Arniel begs to be set free as I pump myself up and charge in with both hands blazing as Lokir and Faendal cover me with their bow, while I shout, "Die you disgusting abomination! Return to the bowls of Oblivion with which you belong!" Quickly dispatching that foul creature, before freeing Arniel.

"You fool, why should I share the treasure with anyone?!" Arniel shouts while running ever deeper into the tomb which would seal his fate.

"Quick! We can not let him escape with the claw!" Faendal shouts before starting to pursue Arniel, before I clamp an iron-like grip on his should causing him to nearly stumble with the force of his stopping.

"Don't worry, he won't get far. Let's sneak from here on out." I smirk, drawing my bow and crouching down before advancing slowly looting everything as we go before seeing a shriveled old walking cadaver looming over the body of Arniel.

Sneak Level Increase to 52

"Alright lads, pick your targets and if you get overwhelmed, run back, never forward. Don't want you getting impelled on some trap." I whisper, drawing a bead on one of the draugr.

The two of them drew back their bows as well, despite being slightly shaken by the presence of the undead. Before quickly shoving that fear deep down as we let our arrows rain down on them, dispatching them with little fanfare as I begin clearing the traps ahead.

"My friend, we have the claw. Why do we continue advancing into the tomb?" Faendal asks after securing the loot in the area.

"I've been wonderin' the same thing, Boss." Lokir chimes in as he cleans his weapon.

"Don't worry lads. There's things of much greater value left to be discovered here... Let's just say I've got a hunch that something invaluable to our company's future is here." I say mysteriously as I move to more traps leaving the two confused.

Once I slip through the swinging blade traps and disable them to allow Faendal and Lokir in, the draugr awake and I wait for them to enter the perfect spot before dropping the oil vases hanging from the bridge with two quick arrow shots coating the shambling corpses in flame.

Leaving them in smolders as me and the boys clear this room of valuables as we make our way deeper into the tomb. After repeating this process several times, we come to the final chamber, where a nostalgic musical chant draws me closer to the dragon shout wall.

"Huff, huff, huff, Boss, what's that noise?" Lokir says while slightly out of breath as we take a short break.

"The sound of fate. Be ready!" I shout back as I reach my hand forward, brushing against the dragon wall. Feeling a strange force flow in from the stone through my arm all the way into my heart that begins to feel as if it was on fire. And it is then the language inscribed on the word wall becomes clear and I can read it...