Chapter VIII

Level 1

Health: 95

Magicka: 105

Stamina: 100

I couldn't believe my eyes. Yet here he is, right in front of me is Redcap, the Riekling! A follower from mods that grew incredibly popular with every Skyrim fan that plays PC!! He was so much fun to have around! I already knew mods were already part of this world but If he's here, could that mean—?

Redcap coughs and looks at me pitifully.

Redcap: Please...help.

Alexander: Ah! Sorry little fella, I wasn't expecting to find you down here!

I go up to the cage to open it and the yellow riekling runs out excitedly, stretching his arms out and jumping with glee.

Redcap: Me. Thank you. Name?

Alexander: Alexander Skyfield. But I'm guessing that's too much of a mouthful for you. So you can call me Alex. And yours?

I say as if I don't know. He probably wouldn't be suspicious if I reveal to already know who he is, but I'm not going to risk underestimating Redcaps intelligence.

Redcap: Me. Redcap.

Alexander: Redcap eh? So why exactly is a Riekling like yourself in Skyrim?

Redcap: Me. Stolen. From. Home.

Alexander: Your home? I assume you mean Solstheim?

Redcap: Home. Ash Rock!

Alexander: Right, got it. So why did they steal you? Because you can talk unlike other Rieklings?

Redcap: That's. Right. Witch. Took. Redcap. After. She. Do. Things. Terrible. Things.

Alexander: What kind of things.

Redcap winces and shakes, and hesitantly points at something behind me.

I turn to a table that had the journal explaining all of the experiments and discoveries Anise had about Redcap. Going up to it I pretend to read it in front of Redcap, already knowing full well the situation he's in.

Alexander: This is...terrible. Anise has kept you here, all this time?

Redcap: Witch. Evil.

Alexander: She is, Redcap, let's strike a deal. If I help you escape, will you come with me?

Redcap appears suspicious.

Alexander: I promise this, if you come with me, I'll help you kill the witch.

Redcap: You. Kill. Witch?

Alexander: Definitely.

Redcap nods excitedly.

Redcap: You. Friend.

I go to the latter signaling Redcap to climb onto my back. I reach the door and as I open the hatch, my hand was stabbed with a dagger.

Alexander: GAH!!!!

Redcap: Friend?!

Redcap is grabbed and lifted out, I open the latch wide to see Anise standing over me with anger.

Anise: Well, well. What have we here? A thief comes to steal my pet?

Alexander: Agh! He-he's not your pet!

Anise moves her dagger, widening the stab wound she created in my hand.

Anise: Shush deary! Your elder is speaking.

She turns to Redcap.

Anise:...And you, how dare you get out of your cage, and try to leave me! After all I've done for you!!

Redcap shudders, he tries to look away but Anise just keeps turning him towards her gaze.

Redcap: You. Hurt. Redcap! Me. Want. To leave!

Anise: Oh? And how do you know you can trust this pathetic man groveling at my feet?

Redcap: He. Say. He. Help. Me. Escape!

Anise: And you believe that? Redcap darling, you're smarter then that. How do you know he won't take back his word? How do you know he won't betray you? Look at yourself, you're a rare specimen for your species. He'd probably look to sell you to the black market!

Redcap: Betray. Redcap?

Anise: Yes, you don't want to leave me! I gave you a home, I fed you! I gave you gifts! So stay with me Redcap!

I've had enough of this villain monologue bullshit! I grab Anise's leg and pull her down with me into the basement, causing her to drop Redcap. We both land on the ground and before she had the chance to get up I grab her from behind and wrap my arms and legs around her, completely restricting her movement.

Anise: Damn it! Unhand me you large brute!! Any other situation I'd like this but not right now!!

Alexander: Christ, lady! I didn't need to hear that!!

Redcap opens the hatch and sees both me and Anise.

Anise: Help me now you idiot!!

Alexander: Don't listen to her Redcap! Run away! Now's your chance!!

Redcap: Redcap. Run? Not. Help?

Alexander: That's right Redcap! You don't owe me anything, so you have every right!

Redcap looks scared and confused, and Anise scoffs.

Anise: Are you really going to listen to the words of a man you just met and not to the one who has kept a roof over your head?!?

Redcap gets jittery, it's clear to see he's too scared to do anything, and Anise isn't making it easier for him, what the hell else did she do to this poor guy before I got here??

If I don't do something Redcap is going to live the rest of his days with Stockholm from a gaslighting witch! Alright, I was going to be doing the main character friend speech sooner or later so here goes!

Alexander: You have every right to be skeptical of me Redcap! I was wrong to ask of you to come with me! After all, we've only just met! But I'm giving you the chance! Go now and be free! But if you choose to stay, I promise that I will never treat you the same way this bitch did! I promise you won't just be an ally! Not just a friend! But part of my family!!

Redcap: F-Family? You. Promise. Not. Hurt. Redcap?

Alexander: I PROMISE!!!!

Redcap stands still, takes a deep breath, he takes glances around the cabin and in the basement, then grabs his spear.

Anise: You little disgusting creature! I gave you a home! I gave you a purpose! And you'll choose to abandon that!?!

Redcap: Redcap. Choose. What. Redcap. Wants! And. Redcap. Choose. To. Kill. Witch!!!

Redcap jumps down to the basement with his spear in hand.

Anise: PATHETIC MONGREL!!! I'LL KILL BOTH OF YOU!!!

Anise activates a powerful spell pushing me and Redcap back. She stands over Redcap, using telekinesis to lift him up. Wait a minute when could she do this?!?

Anise: Before I punish you for disobeying me, I'm going to make sure to torture and kill your new friend! Too bad, I get upset having to kill such a sexy face.

Gag me with a spoon, was she always this flirty?!?

Alexander: PUT HIM DOWN!!!

I attempt to tackle Anise but before I could connect she grabs me with her Telekinesis.

Anise: Now then, time to punish you.

Think Alexander! Think! How do I get out of this! I can't die now! Not to Anise of all people!!! I would've been ok dying to Uram!!!

Anise: Any last words before I put you down deary?

Anise looks at me with fluttering eyes as her face goes closer to mine. Oh no, she's actually trying to do this? Here?! Is there no other way for me to get out of this?!?

Author: Nope, this is to keep the comedy up. Sorry, I warned ya last chapter though.

If I could I'd kill you!!

Alexander: Fine then, if I'm going to die might as well do it on my terms!

Ok, I'm not going to go into detail what's about to happen, but basically this sadistic bitch likes the way I look a little too much so to get me and Redcap out safe with her dead, I...oh God I feel sick just saying it. I-I reel in for a kiss. And God help me this is sickening. I thought I could at least pretend to like it, like maybe I'm kissing a beautiful maiden if I closed my eyes but I could practically feel the wrinkles on her face drooping! She keeps gasping for air and I could taste the disgusting odor of her breath! Like a dead squirrel that's been dipped in toilet water and roasted over a burning bag of shit! Like she gnaws on carcasses like chewing gum!!

But I couldn't waiver! I tried making this the best kiss I could possibly give to this old crone! Making it so that she's completely distracted and her magic starts to wane! And thankfully it looks like it's working! Her telekinesis begins weakening unbeknownst to her, and Redcap floats gently back down! As he lands he jerks his head up to see me in this awkward state not knowing what the hell is going on! But I point to the spear urging him to make the move!

Redcap sees the spear and nods, grabbing it and slowly approaching. By that point Anise stops the kiss and looks at me seductively.

Anise: My oh my, you certainly know how to make a woman feel 60 years younger.

I swear I'm about to throw up.

Anise: I think I'll keep you after all! You'll make a perfect toy for me when I'm stressed!

Alexander: I wouldn't hate that...

I move in closer to her ear.

Alexander: I've got some tricks myself that you'll love.

Anise: Oh? And what's that?

I grab her hands,

Alexander: A nice long spear from behind!!

And I squeeze them so hard they break! Causing Anise to scream in agony! By then Redcap jumps and delivers the final blow, throwing his Riekling Spear directly through her chest! She's falls down, bleeding out continuously. And I move away from her as quickly as possible!

Alexander: Excuse me while I make myself hurl in this corner.

Anise coughs, and spits out blood.

Anise: You fools...you may think you've won...but I can promise you this...this is nothing, death is but a door!

Anise finally takes her last breath. She is now dead. Me and Redcap both go back up the ladder and open the hatch, then when we finally come back up, we both look at each other.

Alexander: What do you think she meant when she said that?

Redcap shudders.

Redcap: Nothing. Good.

I nod and look ahead of the forest.

Alexander: So Redcap, what will you do now?

Redcap glances at me in confusion.

Redcap: Huh?

Alexander: You said it yourself that you choose what you want. So I want to respect that choice, what is it that you'll do?

Redcap stands there thinking hard, but then nods.

Redcap: Me. Choose. To. Be. Friend.

Redcap gives me a brief hug before looking back up to me, a wide smiles is seen on my face as I give Redcap a head pat, and we both walked through the forest together back to Riverwood.

Alexander: Do me a favor won't you Redcap.

He looks towards me and tilts his head to the side.

Alexander: Let's...never speak about anything that happened in that cabin, especially how I got us out of it? Ok?

Redcap: Ok.

We continue to walk down to Riverwood until we finally reach the inn. There Orgnar is still waiting while reading a book. He looks up and isn't even phased by Redcap.

Orgnar: Back from your walk? You can still sleep in the room you left. Your friend can join too, free of charge.

Alexander: Thanks.

We walk into the room and I drop on my bed while Redcap lays on a mat Orgnar brought in.

Redcap: Thanks.

Orgnar: Don't mention it.

Redcap looks at me and smiles with a cheeky toothy grin.

Redcap: Thank. You. For. Being. Friend. Now. Me. Sleep.

Redcap places his head down on the mat and starts to snore. Meanwhile, as tired as I am, I try closing my eyes too, that is until I remember one thing, I forgot to level up. Which means that whole moment with Anise I was only level 1. Yet she was strong enough to use telekinesis?!?

Alexander: IS THERE NO SCALING?!?!

A pan is thrown into my face and I see that it was Orgnar across the room telling me to shush as he continues reading his book.

While rubbing my head I try to figure out how to level up so I don't get a repeated predicament like before. Thinking back to all the other things I was able to do I just have to imagine the action and it'll happen. So I close my eyes and think of the level up screen and the skill trees. Finally I open up my eyes and there before me is a status window giving me the options to increase my stats. I don't know how many levels I could've gotten so I first put 10 into my health to get it over 100 along with my other stats, I still had more points so I click stamina, then magic, and health again until finally I was done. And to my surprise during the time I spent I gained a helping of 4 levels reaching level 5.

After that's done the status window disappears and when that happens, the whole world I'm in goes black, by that time stars begin to flare and my surroundings took shape, forming clusters of stars and galaxies in my point of view. And in front of me were each of the constellations, ready for me to pick.

Alexander: I'll have to think about this carefully, I mean what could I do. This is for my survival, how do I even select it? Is it like a touch screen?

I tap the speech constellations first perk point and it was added. Giving me 10% from the haggling perk.

Alexander: Shit...I didn't mean to pick that. Actually, I have been doing pretty well with my speech so far, but I can't risk using that alone without perk, so it works out. But now I'll have to think about what else I can use.

I start thinking back to my older gameplays and look at my archery, which is still at 15. I decided to put a point in that, and finally a point in alchemy. I know I should pick more combat based skills but this isn't just about making me stronger. I need to think harder too. And in order to do that I'll need to make sure I use these perks earlier on. I put my last perk into heavy armor so I can tank more damage, and then the galaxies and stars disappear, until I'm back in my room, still sitting in my bed as if nothing happened.

I lay myself down, thinking about what had happened today, If not for my Berserk ability, I would've died, and if not for Redcap I could've been a pleasure item for a hag.

Alexander: *shudders*

One's things for certain though. I need to play things smart, and I need to gather as much resources and allies as I can, as well as train myself for combat.

Alexander: Suppose I can thank Anise and those bandits for helping realize just how badly I need to prepare, to survive this world.