With the sack in hand, Aerion and Lupin walked away from Warmaiden's. He made his way to the back of Breezehome, a secluded spot where he was sure no one would see him. He quickly pulled the Master Robes of Destruction, Adept Hood, Boots of Carrying, and Gloves of Magicka from his inventory. The items materialized in his hands. He carefully folded them and placed them into the sack, ensuring they were hidden from view.
The reason for this careful concealment was simple. He couldn't just walk into the Bannered Mare wearing brand new enchanted gear without raising suspicion.
He had just arrived in the city, supposedly a poor traveler with dwindling funds. To suddenly appear in expensive, mage like attire would be a red flag. It was a simple precaution, a way to maintain his cover as he played the part of the unassuming High Elf.
He walked back to the Bannered Mare, the sack clutched in his hand. He went straight to his room, locked the door behind him, and let out a soft sigh of relief. This was the moment of truth.
He took off his simple, worn clothes and put on the enchanted gear. The moment the Master Robes of Destruction settled on his shoulders, he felt a powerful, almost electric surge.
The power wasn't just a number on a screen; it was a physical sensation, a tingling energy that coursed through his veins, making him feel both lighter and more powerful. He pulled on the Adept Hood, feeling a subtle hum of magicka fill his mind, and then the Boots of Carrying and Gloves of Magicka, each one adding a new layer of power and readiness.
With his new clothes on, he then took out the enchanted rings. He wore the Silver Ring of Health on his thumb, the Rings of Alteration, Conjuration, Illusion, and Restoration on his other fingers. He felt a final, subtle surge of energy as the enchanted items began to work in harmony, boosting his mind and body.
He mentally opened his main panel to check his new stats. As expected, his health had increased to 150/150, and his magicka had soared to 230/230, a truly staggering amount for a low level character.
The increase in his carry weight to 360 KG from the boots was also a welcome addition. He then put his old clothes into the small sack and placed the sack back into his inventory, where it registered as a mere 0.1 KG, another testament to the convenience of his system.
Feeling completely transformed and ready for action, he unlocked the door and headed downstairs. Hulda, who was at the counter, saw him immediately. Her eyes widened slightly at his new appearance.
The simple, humble traveler was gone, replaced by a mage in finely crafted robes. She didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes was one of clear, unspoken curiosity. Aerion just smiled, gave her a small nod, and walked out of the inn. He was ready.
Stepping out of the Bannered Mare, he was greeted by the bustling sounds of the Whiterun marketplace. The sun was higher now, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold, calculating purpose in his heart.
It was time to act. He pulled out the bounty notice for Halted Stream Camp, his first official quest. As he read the simple text, a sudden, new notification from his system popped up.
[Map Function Unlocked! You have started your first official quest, the world map is now available for you to use!]
Aerion's heart leaped with excitement. This was a game changer. He immediately opened the map function in his mind. The map that unfolded before him was not a blank slate, a testament to his other mod, but a fully detailed rendering of all of Skyrim.
Every major city, every ruin, every landmark, and every cave was already revealed. He could even see the distant, snow covered mountains and the grand, imposing silhouette of Castle Volkihar off in the cold northern sea. It was a complete and total revelation of the world, with no hidden corners or unexplored territories.
He grinned, a wide, genuine smile that felt a little strange on his face. This was better than he could have ever imagined. No more wandering blindly, no more worrying about getting lost.
He could see it all. He immediately placed a marker on Halted Stream Camp. A small, glowing arrow materialized in his vision, pointing him directly toward his destination, a perfect navigation system.
Lupin, sensing the surge of happiness from Aerion, let out several happy yips, bounding around his feet. Aerion knelt down and gave the fox a thumbs up. "This is going to make things so much easier, Lupin. Our work is just beginning."
Following the glowing arrow, Aerion and Lupin walked out of the marketplace, passed the main gate, and crossed the stone bridge leading out of Whiterun.
They passed the stables, their destination now clear. Instead of following the worn stone path, he cut a direct line, walking over the green plains and small hills, the arrow in his vision guiding him unerringly. The journey was uneventful, a pleasant walk through the countryside.
He saw a few deer, a few rabbits, and the occasional mudcrab near a stream, but nothing that posed a threat. He was a mage now, and the world felt less dangerous with a full mana pool and a new set of gear.
After a walk that felt much shorter than it should have been, the glowing arrow pointed directly to his destination. In the distance, he could see it, Halted Stream Camp, a rough hewn fortress made of sharpened logs and stone with a small rocky hill with a cave that leads into the main base of the camp, its walls a testament to the bandit's crudely efficient construction.
Aerion, now with the mindset of a general, approached with caution. He hid behind a large boulder, its cold surface a stark contrast to the warmth of his robes. He peered out, studying the camp.
He could see several bandits patrolling the outer perimeter, their iron or leather armor and weapons glinting in the morning sun. He knew from the game that this was a sizable group, a difficult challenge for a low level character in the normal game.
But he wasn't a low level character anymore. He was a low level character with a cheat and mods accompanying him, a powerful mage with an even more powerful secret.
This was it. His first real challenge, unlike the three bandits he had previously met. He took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and began to formulate a plan of attack, a cold, calculating smile on his face.
The bandits of Halted Stream Camp were about to learn a very painful lesson, in a world of magic and steel, the most dangerous weapon was a mind that knew how to break all the rules accompanied by otherworldly power in the form of system and mods.
Aerion peered around the massive boulder, the cold, smooth surface a stark anchor to the chaotic scene before him. He had a plan, a simple but effective one, born from a lifetime of virtual experience.
He took out the Iron Mace from his inventory, the heavy, spiked head and crude handle feeling surprisingly balanced in his right hand.
This would be his main weapon, his ticket to unlocking the One Handed skill, and a useful tool for parrying attacks when the inevitable close quarters combat began.
He looked down at Lupin, who was sitting patiently at his feet, his ears twitching as he took in the surroundings.
Aerion spoke to him in a serious, low tone. "Alright, little guy, listen up. This isn't a game for you. You stick to the shadows, hit and run. Your body is small, so you're fast, but you're also fragile. I need you to prioritize staying safe. I can't heal you yet, so don't get reckless."
Lupin, as if understanding every word, tilted his head and let out a single, confident yip. It was a sound that said, "I got this."
Aerion nodded, a small, grateful smile on his face. The plan was set. He would approach silently, using the camp's natural shadows due to the sun in the right position and obstructions to his advantage. He needed to get the Sneak skill, and a stealthy approach was the perfect way to do it.
He would take out the first one or two guards with a swift, surprise attack using his mace to the back of their heads. After that, all hell would break loose, and he would rely on his devastating dual wielded fire and lightning magic.
He also wanted to experiment, to see if he could create more advanced spells, like fireballs or lightning bolts, by just imagining them. After all, his modded skills and his increased magicka capacity were supposed to make the impossible possible.
"Showdown time," he whispered to himself, standing up and taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
He began to move, his feet silent on the grassy ground, his body low and pressed against the wooden palisade. He slid along the wall until he reached the main gate, where he peeked inside.
Just as he remembered, a tripwire was set up between the two gateposts, a crude rope tied to a series of rattling bones.
A perfect, simple alarm system. He silently unsheathed his iron mace. With a single, calculated swing, he severed the rope. The bones clattered to the ground, a loud, attention grabbing noise.
"What was that?" he heard a gruff voice ask.
"It's our tripwire, probably some animals trip on it," another voice replied, "go check on it, you lazy sod."
Aerion crouched down, pressing himself flat against the wooden wall. He watched as two Nord bandits, their movements sluggish and their attention elsewhere, walked right past his hiding spot. A notification flashed into his vision.
[Skill Unlocked: Sneak (Level 1)!]
[Description: The ability to move unseen and unheard. You are a ghost, a whisper in the wind, a ninja in a medieval fantasy world. It's a skill that makes murder slightly less awkward.]
[Due to your Fast Skill Levelling, Sneak has increased to Level 11!]
Aerion ignored the notifications, his focus entirely on the two bandits. They had their backs to him. This was his chance. He crept up behind the first bandit, the one who had complained about rocks.
With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, he swung the iron mace, hitting the man directly on the back of his head with a sickening thud. The bandit crumpled to the ground without a sound, a silent victim.
The second bandit, hearing the sound, began to turn, but Aerion was faster. He shot a focused burst of fire from his open palm, a small, controlled flame that hit the back of the bandit's unhelmeted head. The bandit let out a choked scream, a guttural shriek that was cut short as his body went limp, a small wisp of smoke rising from his hair.
[Skill Unlocked: One Handed (Level 1)!]
[Description: The ability to fight with single handed weapons. You can swing a mace, a sword, or an axe with a single hand. It's perfect for when your other hand is busy with a magical fireball, or a sandwich.]
[Due to your Fast Skill Levelling, One Handed has increased to Level 7!]
[Your Destruction (Fire) skill has increased to Level 16!]
The screams, however brief, were enough to alert the rest of the camp. Aerion's carefully planned stealth approach had a very short lifespan. He heard shouts of alarm and the sound of heavy boots running toward his position.
"Get 'im!" one voice bellowed. "It's an elf!"
Aerion braced himself. This was where the real fight began. He stepped away from the wall, his iron mace still in his right hand. Lupin, meanwhile, darted away from the gate, his small form disappearing into the shadows of the camp, ready for a hit and run maneuver.
From the gate and the surrounding buildings, a group of four bandits emerged. A hulking Orc in rusty iron armor wielding a greatsword, a smaller Nord with a one handed axe and shield, a Breton in leather armor with a sword, and a fourth bandit, a Nord bowman, who immediately took up a position on the nearby watchtower, nocking an arrow to his bowstring.
Aerion's heart pounded, but his mind was cold and calculating. He didn't have time to use the dual wielding mace and magic just yet. The archer was the first priority. He had to use the terrain to his advantage. He dodged behind a large, wooden crate just as the first arrow whizzed past his head, burying itself in the wood with a loud thunk.
_____________________________
[Main Panel] Name: Aerion Race: High Elf (Altmer) Health: 150/150 Stamina: 120/120 Magicka: 230/230 Level: 6
Skills: Animal Affinity (MAX LEVEL), Fast Skill Levelling (MAX LEVEL), Fast Magic Mastery (MAX LEVEL), Destruction (Fire/Lightning) (Level 16/17), Persuasion (Level 15), Smithing (Level 9), Sneak (Level 11) - NEW, & One Handed (Level 7) - NEW
[Inventory Panel]
1x Small Pouch = 330 Septims
1x Iron Dagger, Iron Mace, Steel Dagger, Iron Battleaxe, & Small Sack
3x Silver Garnet Rings
2x Gold Garnet Rings
Weight: 25 KG / 360 KG
Septims = 25,000