Stray Chapter 164: Talent
Snowman City.
The capital city of Xueman, one of the nine chiefs of Skyrim, is located in the center of Skyrim and has unparalleled strategic value. Most of the terrain is relatively flat, and in the southeast corner stands the highest point in Tamriel, the Throat of the World.
It can be described as a superior geographical location, complex political power, prosperous economic and trade, and consolidated military strength.
Only now, it seems that this ancient city has experienced some devastation. The large plains outside seem to have been used as battlefields. The farm areas have been burned by the fire, and the solid outposts outside the city. It was also basically destroyed, leaving only the ruins...
There are even the remains of a catapult, corresponding to the collapsed part of the city wall in the distance, plus the vultures that are still circling in the sky, the crows in groups, and until today, all the bodies have not been converged. , seems to be reminiscent of how brutal the war of that day was...
It's not like the expressiveness in the game at all. What kind of war between the Stormcloak and the Emperor, the full-scale civil war in the sky... It's just two villages fighting, or to put it more vulgarly, that is, two villages The scene of the fight may have more people than they dispatched.
In this real world, the concept of "war" is finally worthy of what it should mean - cruel and tragic!
The group of people walked slowly, the ground under their feet seemed to be dyed ominously dark brown by some liquid, the air seemed to have a faint smell of blood and rancidity, and they couldn't help but hold a complicated feeling. Feeling.
The large plains outside of Snowman City were originally designated as farms, but only a small part of them have resumed production... To be honest, this is already very good, after all, it is a magical place. noodle.
For example, using magic or alchemical potions to quickly ripen crops or something is not a good thing in the long run, and it won't last. But at least in a short period of time, it is beneficial, that is, you can quickly harvest a large number of food crops with a small number of people and a small amount of arable land.
"It feels a bit cruel..." A newcomer looked around and muttered to himself, he seemed to have changed his mind at the beginning, "I suddenly don't want to do war missions..."
"If you don't do it, others will do it... But if you don't want to, just choose to give up. It's not the only way, there's no need to make yourself mentally burdened." That strengthened the fire control ability The senior man said indifferently beside him.
"Actually, that's fine. Now Xueman City belongs to a neutral force outside the third-party faction, and the lord is still the stalwart Balgruuf... But compared to the beginning, the situation has changed slightly. No support for Stormcloak, no support for the Empire, and now both sides are very annoying."
Uncle mt sighed and talked about a piece of information.
"Because both sides wanted the city before, Stormcloak chose to capture it from the outside, while the imperial forces infiltrated and controlled the forces in the city, launched a coup, and almost succeeded..."
No matter how good-tempered a person is, it is impossible to assume that nothing has happened, and it is no wonder that Lord Balgruuf has a particularly bad impression of both parties.
However, if you don't want to participate in the full-scale civil war in Skyrim, Snowman City is a good choice. The tasks you can get here are basically irrelevant to the war.
Most of them are related to resuming production and rebuilding the city. Even the tasks related to combat are often to clear and attack those nearby gangs of robbers who feel that there is an opportunity and are ready to come over to harvest wool.
Occasionally, there will also be a task of repelling the dragon——
Because this legendary creature has truly returned to Skyrim, although it is impossible to fully invade due to the small number, once it appears, it will be a disaster.
Ordinary villages and towns can't hold their strength and anger at all, and probably won't be able to hold on for ten breaths of time, and they will be completely burnt down. No human and animal will be spared, and chickens and dogs will not be left... Yes, they even Even chickens dare to kill, one can imagine how ferocious and powerful this legendary creature is.
Only a major city that gathers a large number of elite warriors, heroic characters, and powerful spellcasters can resist the dragon's attack and have the opportunity to kill this terrifying creature.
The lost person will also not refuse such a high-level task. Even if it is just assisting the dragon slaying, he will often be able to obtain a few free attribute points and a point. If you are lucky, you will have the bloodline material.
Many people would not rashly strengthen low-level bloodlines, but the dragon bloodline can't be said to be low-level no matter how you look at it, and in many planes, it can be regarded as an existence at the top of the food chain, and there are related legend concepts.
If there is a chance, many lost people will not mind choosing this bloodline enhancement.
"Those seem like... giants? Are they actually helping?"
Xia Ran didn't care what other people were saying, just squinted and looked at several huge figures slowly approaching on the road not far away. They were two humanoid figures nearly four meters high, and A mammoth covered with long hair, the same tall.
Giants are an ancient and primitive race with thick grey skin, powerful limbs, huge palms and soles, and bushy taupe hair, which adorn their braids with beads.
Xia Ran doesn't have much of an impression of this race, but the only thing she didn't think about was that the giants seemed to be helping transport stones or something, and rebuild Xueman City? Is this an exchange of interests after communication, or is it the result of forced slavery?
"Very normal, they are not real beasts, as long as they have the heart, they can always communicate... and according to the data, they have no fundamental conflict with human beings..."
One meter four luoli said noncommittally, she had heard of this kind of thing before.
Perhaps it was the whims of some lost person, who also had the ability to communicate with giants, to make such a thing happen?
After all, in order to accumulate meritorious service, they can come up with all kinds of bizarre ideas, and their ideas are not limited. There are many things that the indigenous people in the world have never thought about, but they will seriously study the possibility. .
In addition, because of the previous war, too many people died in Xueman City, and the labor force must be in short supply. So don't call it a giant, if it can be driven, even if it is a giant dragon, Xue Mancheng will pinching its nose and recognize it.
After all, it is an extraordinary period, everyone is walking on thin ice, and naturally it is necessary to fight for all the forces that can be fought for...
And the giants are usually peaceful and harmless, roaming the plains more often, stocking mammoths, as long as others don't get too close to their territory, or hurt their mammoths... just like mammoths have the same temperament Mild, generally not aggressive.
However, because mammoth ivory is very valuable, it is a very high-quality handicraft and alchemy material, so many people will die.
They take their actions for granted, and once the enraged giants and the threatened mammoths fight back, endangering their lives, then these savage primitive races are themselves so dangerous and hostile to humans...
Over time, many people have a certain prejudice.
Perhaps this time, it will be an opportunity to increase mutual understanding between the two parties? It's hard to say whether the results are good or bad.
……
……
It was a little troublesome when entering the city, because everyone had no identity, so the interrogation was very strict.
It is also fortunate that everyone has made relevant settings in this regard before. In this era, it is impossible to verify identity information online, so it takes a little more time...
As for appearance, it's not a problem. There are all kinds of strange races in this world, such as tiger people, Yalong people, etc. Compared with black hair, black eyes, strange clothes and other characteristics, they are not worth it at all. One mention.
The city is also a bit messy, probably the traces of destruction left by the original civil strife——
As the most concentrated commercial area, the wilderness area originally had large-scale shops and markets, but now it is deserted, and many buildings are left in ruins. The houses in the upper wind district were partially destroyed, and only the shrine remained intact as a sanctuary.
But it's not very lifeless, and there's no crying everywhere. After all, the war has passed for a while, and those who are alive must come out, whether they want it or not, and continue to work hard for tomorrow.
"Okay, here we are... Our mission is complete, although there are some accidents along the way."
Standing in front of the inn called "The Mare Banner", the one meter four luoli seemed to finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
"According to the agreement at the beginning, we will take you to the nearest main city near the starting point, and then you can move freely. You can leave the team and act according to your own ideas..."
"Next, as long as you walk along the main road, or hire a carriage with other people to go to another city, there will generally be no problem... But I hope you don't reveal each other's secrets, this is subject to space Supervising, I won't say that because I quit the team, I will not be restricted."
Everyone is very aware of such a thing, and they nodded in agreement.
The confidentiality contract witnessed and supervised by White Space is not a game of words, and there is no loophole to exploit. If you can't do it, you can't do it. If you have any thoughts, you can just give up.
When everyone walked into the hotel one after another and was about to find a place to stay, the luoli looked at Xia Ran and asked:
"What are your plans next? Going to the College of Winterhold?"
"I thought so before, but I can't do it now, I still owe you a B-grade crystal..." Xia Ran shook his head, "I have to find some tasks to do, and make enough money... …”
A B-grade crystal is not a small amount, and he suspects that it will take a long time before he can get it together.
"Actually, you can consider learning from that Farenjia for a while..." Luoli, one meter four, pondered for a while and made a suggestion, "He is a court mage who serves the lord, and his level is actually not low."
"I heard he is best at alchemy and enchanting..."
"After all, I serve the lord, and I rarely need to do it myself. It is normal for it to gradually develop into a sideline specializing in these two aspects, but the academic level of other aspects can definitely teach you."
"That's right..." Xia Ran thought it was very reasonable, but here comes the question, "But the court mages live in the Longxiao Palace in the Cloud District, I think by the time I can enter there, I'll probably have already made up my mind. Enough crystals to go to Winterhold."
"There's no way, this world can't always say what you say, what it is..." One meter four Luoli shrugged, "Try to do some high-contribution tasks."
Xia Ran sighed deeply: "If only a giant dragon came to attack the city at this time..."
"Quick, quick!"
"Follow me all!"
At this moment, the street in the distance rushed through the rows of armored and heavily armed soldiers, the footsteps shook all around, and some people shouted-
"The wolf smoke in the western outpost is rising. This is the signal of the dragon's attack. Everyone, get ready! If others are confident, they can come to me to sign up, immediately! Immediately!"
“…”
“…”
Xia Ran looked at the silent luoli in front of her, and said politely, "Do I have any talent that I haven't discovered yet?"
"Go away! I don't want to talk to you."