Location Taken: Banff National Park, Alberta
Time Taken: June 2010
There I was, 1 AM, starting to feel a bit tired, been playing Skyrim for hours, when I decided “Just one more quest, and I’ll get off, write this post, and go to bed.”
I’d already been pretty deep into Raven Rock Mine by that point, had to turn back when the game decided to throw a Draugr Deathlord at poor little level 12 me. Those are enemies that you normally fight around level 30, by the way. But! I’d gained a few levels! And figured out a few ways to fight enemies that can kill me in two hits! Mostly by exploiting weaknesses in the AI, by hiding behind a wall waiting for my Magicka to come back and occasionally popping out to toss a fireball or two at the enemy just standing there. This only works against ranged enemies, but hey, I’ve got potions to fight the melee ones.
Alas, the enemies inside the mine had respawned since the last time I was there. That’s what I get for going off, doing several major quests, building a house, things like that. At least it meant the loot respawned as well, and that place has some nice loot.
So getting back to where I was took some extra time, and then there was the fight with the Deathlords. Yes, plural, I just hadn’t lived to see the second one. And they still could kill me in two hits. Alas, hiding in a corner waiting for my Magicka to recover for the next fireball takes a lot of standing around, which takes a lot of time. Two AM had come and went. But hey, Deathlords are a major threat, surely I was close to the end!
Oh look, intricate puzzle. Using a unique mechanic. And look, hallway of swinging blades of insta-death right behind it. Oh look, I forgot to save before attempting that hallway, now I have to do the puzzle again… And there’s a big boss fight and oh look, he can do massive damage to me! Time to hide behind a pillar for more waiting…
I really need to get items that speed up my Magicka regen…
But the day was won and the loot was collected! But oh, wait, that’s a Black Book, isn’t it? Touching it will take me to another realm, and another quest. But I don’t want to have to come all this way back to here just to grab the book later… Ah well, it’s only 3 AM!
One quest later, and several other tough battles later, and I finally leave the mine! Oh, hmm, I’m walking right past that other quest to heal the Earth Stone and free the minds of the villagers, aren’t I… Ah well, what’s another tough fight! Ok, a bit tougher than I expected. Wonder where that second Lurker came from, didn’t see it spawn…
Phew, done. Just have to head back to town and turn in the quest-
Wait. That’s a dragon shadow. Attacking the town. Darn it!
One dead dragon later, and a quick stop in the local jail (Sorry, Mr. Guard, I didn’t mean to hit you, I was aiming for the DRAGON right next to you!), and I finally turn in that quest! Phew.
And now it’s 4 AM. Joys. So much for “one last quest and then bed”.
But at least the town is saved. A few times over. Physically, from the dragon, mentally, from that stone, and economically, from it being tough to mine when a Draugr’s eating your face. I know that last one from personal experience.
