Talltalk

After Michael and his companions had acquired Birthsigns from the Mage Standing Stone, they head right back through Riverwood and towards Whiterun. The sky was dimming by the time they spotted a great city over the horizon, Tiffania herself almost falling off of the cart as she leant over to get a better look.

Michael had to admit, it was way more impressive than what the game made out. Dragonsreach towered over the city, leaving even the second higher building looking like a doorstop in comparison. The architecture itself was also a marvel, Michael making sure to explain to Tiffania that it was originally designed to capture dragons, something that both surprised and amused both her and Illococoo.

Illococoo more so because of how much larger the dragons in Skyrim must've been for Dragonreach to have been constructed. Indeed, her Sylphid from would only be around half the size of a Skyrim dragon if Dragonsreach was to be believed...

In the game, Dragons weren't that big either, but Michael suspected that things would be different here... In the game, even some guards with bows and arrows were able to slay dragons, which seemed highly implausible when you consider their intelligence, power, and durability...

They continue along the road, passing by many farms as they do. When they reach the outskirts of Whiterun's gates however, they run into what could only be called a traffic jam. Many carts were lined up, attempting to get inside the city. Strangely, all of these carts seemed to be carrying the same cargo.

"Hey, whats the holdup!?" Michael loudly inquires, only then realising just who the carts belonged to as a man in what could only be the Companion's Wolf Armour steps up.

"Sorry for the wait, but we've just come back with an entire mammoth... We'd already be inside by now but, something seems to be happening in the city." the Nord says, and Michael is quickly able to deduce his identity due to her physique and looks. This was Vilkas, the 'smart brother' who serves the companions... Notably, also a Werewolf...

"A mammoth? You must be one of the companions then, doubt anyone else would be stupid enough to try and take one... I'm Michael by the way."

The man nods, "Vilkas, and yes, I'm one of the Companions. Now, if you could just wait here while we sort this all out, we would be grateful." he says before heading to leave as abruptly as he came.

"The Companions? Didn't Valdr talk about them in Falkreath?" Tiffania asks, slightly embarrassed that she'd forgotten it already.

"Yeah, they live in an upturned boat in the center of the city... Maybe we'll meet them while we're here. I've been itching to see how I'd compare against one of them," he starts but pauses when he spots a familiar face marching towards them from further down the road. "Medresi?"

The Dark Elf marches up to their cart while glaring at Michael, "You've left in a tight spot, you know that!? Making me drag four bags of gold and jewels to Whiterun, only to then find that the city's been locked down due to some madman!"

"Madman?" Michael asks, ignoring her other words as he's determined to ignore her 'plight'... Who else would complain about having too much gold to carry!?

The Dark Elf nods, "The guards say that someone's going around murdering people, just earlier they said they found two bodies in a back alley next to the orphanage."

Huh... Michael wasn't surprised about the murders if he were honest, the thing that took him off guard was the existence of an orphanage in Whiterun, such a thing hadn't existed in the game, so... Either Bethesda cut it out entirely, or it disappeared before the dragons arrived.

"I'll go see if we can get the guards to hurry along..." he says as he hops out of the cart and heads to the gates.

"That won't work, the guards have their orders." Medresi states but Michael ignores her and continues anyway.

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At the gate, Michael was greeted by the sight of a few Companions conversing with the guards. Specifically, Aela the Huntress, Farkas, Vilkas, and a few others he didn't know or remember the names of.

The guards themselves were sitting on top of the gate, trying to reassure the Companions that the murderer would be taken care of swiftly... However, the fact that they'd apparently been out here for a day already didn't inspire much hope in them. The cut-up mammoth carcass they were transporting would soon begin to rot if they couldn't get into the city.

"This is ridiculous, just let us through so we can continue our business." Aela argues, clearly not happy with being shut out.

"My apologies, but the gates have to remain closed."

"You'd think that the town guards would pay more respect to the famous Companions. I guess all the respect is for Jorrvaskr instead of those who actually live there." Michael remarks.

The group's eyes trail over to him, Vilkas being the only one to recognise him, "You again? I thought I told you to wait while this was all handled?"

Michael shrugs, "I don't think 'hanging out' with the guards counts as handling it. Why are we locked out anyway? You're trying to keep a murderer inside, not your guests out. They'd only be able to slip out if you guys suddenly decided to jerk off and go to sleep."

"Be quiet stranger, we're following the Jarl's orders. No one comes in or out, you can talk all you want but that's final." one of the guards say.

Aela frowns in thought, "No, he's right. We also help protect this city, why would the Jarl keep us out? Go, ask the Jarl, see what he thinks. I'm not losing months' worth of meat just because you fools can't take action without being told!"

...

One of the guards lets out a sigh and nods to another who quickly rushes off to report to the Jarl.