Rorikstead; Grok

The hour or so spent on the road went by easily enough, with no animals or bandits trying to attack us on the way there.

Also, since it usually only took a few minutes in the game, but was an hour now...

Well, that meant that Skyrim was much larger than before, and considering the vastly different landscape around us, I was both excited and wary of this change, wanting to explore the new locations but also concerned about what may be lurking beneath the beautiful green grass around us.

However, that was for another time, as we were now staring at the sprawling farms and dozens of cabins and houses that created Rorikstead.

The lush fields of wheat, plump cabbages, healthy sprouts of potato plants, and many other crops were planted evenly around the land, and as we approached the village I saw an Altmer for the first time since Helgen.

{Pregnant Female Altmer, 78, Level 33 (Reldith)}

Standing beside her was a young Redguard man, nodding as she pointe towards the crops around them.

{Male Redguard, 24, Level 9 (Ennis)}

"See this? When a cabbage turns this color, it means that the soil is too rocky, so it doesn't get enough water. Remember that spell I taught you? Use it here."

Reldith's voice was low and melodic, and Ennis stared at her sharp features for a second longer, before raising his hand above the cabbage.

"Uhm... 'Beget the Rain Fall of Summerset'..."

His hand glowed blue, and an orb of water coalesced around his palm, before dripping down towards the cabbage.

"Good job Ennis!"

Reldith smiled at him, laying her hand warmly on his shoulder, making the Redguard grin at her.

"T-Thank you, mot- ahem, Thank you Reldith!"

Rolling her eyes, the Altmer smiled gently at him, saying "You can call me mother if you wish, my sweet~ I find it rather endearing~!"

Ennis blushed, scratching his cheek.

Aela gently let out a cough, making the two flinch.

"W-Who are you?!"

Smirking at the Altmer, Aela raised her pendant, making the woman relax.

"We're here because of-"

"That damn bastard Lemkil, right? Or well, the daughter he doesn't deserve? Sweet Sissel?"

We both nodded, and Reldith sighed, while Ennis sneered at the name Lemkil.

"Rorik is up at the longhouse with Jouane, waiting for you. As for Lemkil... well, last we saw him he was tossing Septims at one of the barmaids, likely in bed with her now."

Nodding again, we thanked the two before turning, making our way over to the longhouse.

The few guards on the roads stared at us, recognizing Aela quickly and saluting her.

"You're quite popular huh?"

Chuckling, Aela smirked at me, nodding.

"Of course I am. This is the Hold I grew up in, and many a day was spent on these plains. When I joined the Companions I took all the hunting jobs, so many of the common people revere me since I've helped them. Besides, I'm this beautiful, lethal huntress. Of course I'm popular, especially among the men~"

Rolling my eyes, we walked up to the longhouse, Aela knocking on the door.

Opening the door was an older Breton, his wrinkled skin even more apparent with the bags under his eyes.

"Are you..?"

"Aye, we're here to find Sissel."

{Male Breton, 48, Level 40}

Stepping back, he allowed us to enter the building, where we saw another bald man leaning over a table, staring intently down at a spread of papers.

{Male Nord, 39, Level 36}

"Rorik, the Companions have come."

The Nord looked over, nodding to us before gesturing towards the table.

"I hate to come off rude, but time is of the essence here. I have reason to believe that Lemkil sold his daughter Sissel off to a bandit group to the northeast, however..."

Sighing, he slid a paper forwards, which Aela lifted.

Reading it over, she sighed as well, before saying "I doubt they're the culprits. The Forsworn don't negotiate for things; they steal it. Besides, they live down south, not up north."

Rorik nodded, however he slid another paper forwards.

"Thing is, the Jarl of Markarth sent a missive that a band of Forsworn were scouting out the lands around Rorikstead since we're so close to their territory..."

Aela frowned, reading the next paper before sighing.

"Well, still, they never, and I mean never, negotiate. So maybe someone is using the Forsworn name to scare you into submission. Besides, this part here, about Jouane being the one to pay. Why?"

The older man sighed, his shoulders slumped as he said "Sissel is like the daughter I never had... I've tried many times to get Limkel to transfer custody of her to me, but the damn drunkard is stubborn! Hah... well, if he did sell her off, he'd have told them to try and wring out some gold from me in exchange, the damn bastard..."

Jouane sneered down at the table, Rorik patting his shoulder twice.

"Our hands are tied, but... no one knew I sent a message out to the Companions, so you should have a head start... hopefully."

"Why'd you assume she was northeast, with that Giant?"

"Tracks, about the size of a childs. Britte, Stephen, Julia, and Luke were all accounted for and had no reason to go towards Grok's camp. And none of the adults were seen that way either, besides Lemkil."

"Alright, we'll go meet this Grok, see if he knows anything. He's never caused trouble, right?"

Rorik shook his head, a small smile on his lips as he said "No, the opposite in fact. We trade some of our goods with him for mammoth cheese and any mammoth hair he had no use for. I'd dare say that we're friends with him."

Aela nodded again, before turning towards the door.

"We'll see if we find something. Pray for us."

"Aye, may Talos guide you."

"May the Divine's favor your search."

Nodding to the two men, I followed behind Aela, walking towards the hill to the northeast.

"What were those papers?"

Pursing her lips, Aela said "Conditions and negotiations for Sissel's release. The mark of the Forsworn was on one, while the other was a letter from Jarl Igmund informing Rorik that a large party of Forsworn were sighted heading this way."

Hiking up the hill, we drew our weapons when we heard shouts.

Reaching the top, we saw three Giants battling off over a dozen bandits draped in pelts, swinging around iron weapons towards the Giants.

"Damn! Jeleia, take the ones on the left."

"Got it!"

Nocking an arrow, I aimed for one of the shouting bandits, his blade slicing deep into a Giants calf.

Letting it loose, I moved to the next target, sending another arrow out.

The Giants swung their heavy clubs at the other bandits, one unlucky man getting crushed between two clubs, his chest turning to a sticky paste.

Watching my arrow sink deep into a woman's brow, I saw three bandits drop on the right, arrows lodged in their hearts.

Aela sent out another three swiftly, dropping the remaining bandits.

"Wow..."

Smirking over at me, she just winked before walking towards the Giants.

"Grok! Rorik sent me!"

"Rorik! What good man want?"

The only male Giant turned towards us, a confused expression on his face as he stared at Aela.

The other two were females, both with breasts larger than my head.

Seeing the ones bleeding calf, I stepped forwards, raising my hands as I asked "Can I try and help you?"

She looked down at me with narrowed eyes, before nodding.

"Human may help."

Placing my bow on my back, I channeled the magicka into my hands, creating a healing spell.

However, instead of allowing the magicka to wash over my body, I pressed my hands gently over her wound, pushing it outwards.

The deep gash slowly closed, and the Giant stared at me in surprise.

"Human heal well! Viaka thanks you!"

I nodded up at her, smiling before letting out a shocked yelp as she wrapped me in a hug.

My head was pressed between her surprisingly soft breasts, and as she hugged me tighter I wrapped my arms around her as well.

{Archery: 26 -> 27}

{Speech: 18 -> 19}

{Restoration: 17 -> 19}

{Level 8 -> 9}

Increasing my magicka, I was eventually released from her embrace, and I kind of wanted to ask her to continue it, as it was quite warm and soft...

Shaking my head, I turned towards Aela, who was still speaking with Grok.

"-child come this way? Or maybe where these bandits were from?"

"Child? No, Grok no see child. However, Bandits came from cave, that way. There many more, and they are threat to Grok, Wife-Tias, and Daughter-Viaka. You kill them?"

"We plan on it."

He nodded, patting his chest three times.

"Grok pay you. Have many goods to gift nice people! Cave this way. Tias, Viaka, home."

The two females nodded, turning around and trekking further up the hill, where a large outcropping of rocks could be seen.

Staring at the large, plump ass of Viaka as she walked away, I wondered what it felt like, before turning back towards Aela and Grok.

"Come! We kill bad humans! For friends!"