Treasure Hunting

Tirdas, 20 Heartfire

Though my intention had been to return to Roriksted and continue searching for the bandit lair at Bilegulch, an unusually vivid dream I experienced while sleeping in my home in Whiterun sent us off on a short detour.  I dreamt that I had returned to Bonestrewn Crest, where I had slain a dragon.  I was searching for some unknown item I knew to be there.  Something drew me up to the crest itself, which I hadn't ascended to during my previous visit.  Just as I reached the crest, certain the unknown thing I sought would be there, I woke.

The dream was so convincing that I decided to revise my plans and make another trip to Bonestrewn Crest.  I had the same feeling I experienced at Lost Valley, as if something was drawing me there.  Once we arrived I clambered up to the top of the crest.  Though I didn't know what I was looking for, as soon as I saw the curved wall with its engraved characters in the written language of the dragons I knew I had found it.  One word drew my eyes, seeming to glow with an inner fire.  As I stared at it my mind was filled with the knowledge of a new word of power in the draconic tongue.  There must be another such word at Lost Valley, but that will have to wait until I am better prepared to face the hagravens.

Armed with this new knowledge, I returned to Roriksted to continue the search for Bilegulch.  No sooner had we set out on the road north than I heard the roar of a dragon overhead, followed by cries of alarm from the villagers.  Lydia and I rushed back to combat the dragon, which was setting the fields and thatched cottages alight with its breath.  Despite my resolve to pursue magical studies, I found I had to resort to my axe to slay it.  Once it was dead the villagers seemed quite awed as I absorbed its soul.

When we had gathered up the bones and scales we set off again.  Not far from the hamlet we spotted a band of Forsworn occupying a rocky outcropping beside the road.  I decided I would prefer to come on them unaware, so we veered off the road to look for a way to approach the outcrop from another direction.  This eventually led us to discover one of the dragon burial mounds.  Making our way back to the road, we discovered a small inn called Old Hroldan nestled in the hills.   The location seems a bit remote to me, but it isn't far from a mine, so it must be handy to the miners and anyone coming to do business there.  

Continuing on, we next encountered a small campsite where a sabercat aggressively attacked us.  I found a combination of the new power word I had learned and a well-prepared flame spell adequate to slay it.  The cat had viciously slaughtered the two people who had set up the camp, a youth and a young lady.  I found the girl's journal and learned that she and the young fellow had run off together in defiance of her family.  I kept the journal.  I'll ask at Roriksted and perhaps also at Old Hraldon to see if anyone knows who they are.

While we were still in the vicinity of that sad spot I decided to take a look around the area from a higher vantage to see if I could identify any landmarks.  I could see several ruined towers perched on the rocks overlooking the mine entrance, and when I climbed down to a cliff edge beyond the campsite I found a second dragon mound.  Neither this one nor the first we had discovered were opened.  I don't know where the dragon we fought in Roriksted came from, but clearly not from either of these mounds.  I could also see the spires of Lost Valley in the distance, overlooking the river.  But there was nothing I could identify as our goal, Bilegulch Mine.

Eventually we made our way back to the Forsworn camp, though by the time we had cautiously crept up to it darkness had fallen.  I decided it was better for me to put on my armor and wield my axe than try to defeat them with my burgeoning magic.  There were six or seven Forsworn in the camp and they proved difficult foes.  Two of them either hid or fled and came back, and when I thought we had slain them all we were suddenly set upon again.  After we had eliminated them we spent the night resting in their camp.

The next morning I realized we were so laden with their weapons and armor and the dragon's scales that we would have difficulty traveling.  I had also seriously depleted my supply of healing potions.  I didn't want to carry so much equipment to Bilegulch, so we made our way to Falkreath to dispose of it and to acquire some additional potions. 

Our load lightened and supplied with more potions, we returned to the Forsworn camp.  The rocky outcrop where the camp lay turned out to hide an old ruin, still guarded by a sturdy wooden door.  I've determined that it might be worthwhile to explore it, as there may be more Forsworn hiding within, or equipment that could be useful when we finally locate Bilegulch. 

As for finding Bilegulch at last, I intend to work our way around to the other side of the mountain to avoid Lost Valley.  There is also the matter of some trouble at the mine near the Old Hroldan Inn; perhaps it would be worthwhile to pursue that before seeking out Bilegulch.  The Jarl of Falkreath's bounty may be won by another adventurer, but this land is so full of ruins, caves, and crypts that there must surely be plenty of treasure to be taken if one is bold.  In any case, I realized I have another bounty notice from Jarl Siddgeir in my pack.  There are more bandits to be sought at Embershard.  I wonder how the Nords are able to conduct any business when their land is so thick with bandits and Forsworn.