2.18

To read up to 15 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

-------------

Do you know the best thing about Draugrs?

Their weapons!

As I moved past the funeral room, I found myself in the real tomb, where the dead were placed. And the dead were not very dead, as five of them rose to fight the intruder. Me, that is.

But more importantly, one of them had a black, Ancient Nord Sword.

They sounded awesome, and were, admittedly, pretty awesome, as despite their old age, they were the equivalent of Steel Weapons, so better than my Iron Sword.

Using the fact that they were still quite far from each other, I rushed to the closest one, sending the one next to it flying with a Force Push as I attacked the lone Draugr, who used a large axe.

It was slightly stronger than the average bandit, but I still managed to make quick work of it as I separated its head from its shoulders. As I did, however, I felt a pain coming from my back, and a feeling of coldness.

I was confused at first, as I was sure the Draugrs wouldn't have had the time to reach me, but turning around, and getting blasted in the face by a beam of cold energy, I realized I was right. They hadn't reached me, but one of them could use magic.

Ice Magic was particularly annoying to fighters as it not only did damage, but it also slowed down and ate away at my stamina.

Using a Force Pull, I interrupted its casting, and finished it with a clean strike to the chest, before turning to the others. Without the mage, they were a nuisance at best as I quickly finished them.

Picking up the Ancient Nord Sword, I looked at it with admiration. Despite thousands of years passing, it could still cut. I couldn't help but wonder how these weapons had been made.

I did remember, however, that one could restore them at the Skyforge in Whiterun, with a good enough Smithing Skill and relationship with the Companions.

Well, it wasn't worth it, unfortunately, as it would only give weapons as efficient as Elven or Skyforge Steel Weapons, but still, it was interesting.

Going through the rooms filled with undeads, I did feel the difference between my new sword and the old one, as cutting into them had become somewhat easier, which wasn't nothing as the dungeon turned out to be bigger than expected.

---

Three. Fucking. Hours.

That's how long I have been dragging myself through these tombs. And I hadn't just been facing endless scores of undead, no, they also had to fill the place with traps!

There were actually so many undeads that the first sword I had picked up had ended up breaking against the chest of a stronger Draugr, who could use Magic.

Silver lining is, Draugr means loot, and after three hours, I had managed to fill the entirety of Arvel's bag with Septims. I had stopped counting them, but there must be around a thousand Septims in there, which did make me question how people go around with anything more than 100 Septims.

Anyway, after three hours of rooms that looked essentially the same, I had finally reached a different zone, one that I recognized. Instead of the human-built crypt, this one was much more natural, and lit up by bioluminescent mushrooms.

This made me happy, because I knew I was reaching the end of the dungeon.

Moving forward, I followed a stream of water, which ended in a deep hole in the ground. And looking down in it, I was surprised to see a man's corpse at the bottom of the hole.

This, I noticed, because while there is a corpse in the game at the bottom, it's a skeleton, not a fresh corpse. Moreover, that skeleton was down there, next to the dead bandit.

Strange.

If I remember right, there was also supposed to be a Draugr up here, yet there were no enemies in sight. Strange.

My curiosity sparked, I carefully walked down the hole, reaching the bottom without too much difficulty.

There, I first searched the chest, breaking it open with my fist rather than a lockpick, and found some more Septims in there. Then, I turned to the corpse, and after patting him down, I found a letter.

Thomas,

You know the Troll Pit we discovered the other day that everyone's been talking about? Hit the beast with one of your fireballs from the top, climb down, and bring back his head. That should prove once and for all that you deserve to be the number two man. Good luck and be careful, you know how slippery it is up there.

Loraine

So the leader was called Loraine? Isn't that a girl's name? I think I understand why he became a bandit now…

And what did he mean by Troll Pit? There were no trolls…

*Roar*

Raising my head so fast I almost broke my neck, I looked at the origin of the roar, and was terrified by what I found.

An ape-like body covered in snow-white fur, with long, muscular arms that almost reached the ground, ending with long claws, and jaws packed filled with sharp teeth, some of which poked out of its mouth. It also had a third eye on its face, around the glabella.

It was a fucking Frost Troll!

The beast punched its chest, displaying its dominance as it looked down on me. However, seeing it hadn't moved, I had an idea. Extending my hand, I used Force Pull, and unbelievably… it worked!

It wasn't very powerful, but it was powerful enough to force the Frost Troll to take a step, and fall down.

The mighty beast fell all the way down the hole, knocking against the rocks as it fell down.

As it reached the bottom of the hole, its left arm was bent out of shape, and it's right leg was bleeding profusely. But more importantly, its neck looked broken.

Yet as I thought the Frost Troll had died, it suddenly spurred from the ground, making me take a step back as a giant claw passed by right where I was a second ago.

What was more unbelievable though, was the Frost Troll rising from the ground, its neck fixing itself back in place as the cuts caused by the fall shut themselves. In a matter of seconds, its injuries had already healed.

Frost Trolls are a more powerful version of Trolls, and have a strong regeneration. However, this went beyond anything I thought possible.

Not even hesitating this time, I started climbing back up, while fishing out the Fireball Scroll from my bag.

Opening it, I aimed at the Troll, and as the Fireball was fired, I realized my aim had been a little off, fault of being my first time using a Scroll.

However, even as it impacted the stone next to the Frost Troll, it happened to be close enough for it to be in the explosion radius.

The spell hadn't done as much damage as it could have done, but it was good enough already.

I had stepped back out of reflex earlier, and although I don't like to admit it, fear, but I remember that the tactic against Trolls in general, and more particularly Frost Trolls, isn't to attack from a safe distance, but instead to be aggressive, and deal as much damage as possible, to negate their regeneration.

Jumping on top of the Frost Troll, whose entire right sight was charred, I punched it across the face with my free hand, stunning it for a moment as I slashed at its right leg, where it had been injured earlier.

I managed to reopen its wound, but the Frost Troll also managed to attack me, its claws slashing across my chest, digging three deep cuts across.

Roaring in pain, I brought my hand close to its throat, using Force Choke, while piercing my blade through its chest.

The blade went through, but I must have missed the heart as it did not drop dead. Moreover, even as I tried to get my sword back, the Troll's muscle clenched so hard on the blade I found it impossible to take it out while using Force Choke.

Not willing to let go of its throat, I simply left the sword into its chest, and started pummeling its face with my right hand. Fortunately for me, the Frost Troll had the same instinct of trying to take off the formless hand strangling it, and I used the opportunity to wrap my legs around its arms, firmly keeping it in place as I both choked and punched it to death.

I'm not sure what killed it yet.