"Correct and now for the prize." I said kicking the lever.
"KACHA!"
The sound echoed slightly in the chamber as the lever moved and the ancient steel gate shook before lowering to allow us through.
"Thousands of years later and our ancestors stuff still work." Aela marveled.
"It's a matter of preservation really. This barrow is preserved by the cold and being buried below ground. The magic probably doesn't hurt either." I said with a chuckle.
"Magic?" She questioned confused.
"Oh yes, ancient Nords held great respect for the clever craft. This meant they almost all used magic if they could. These barrows are all built with enchantments meant to preserve what it inside them as well as animate it if necessary. Magic is in the very stone that surrounds us, though you'd be hard pressed to feel it without careful examination." I explained honestly.
"Then why do Nords dislike magic these days?" she asked with a frown.
"Picked up on that inconsistency did you? I'd like to say there is probably a good reason but honestly that's simply not true. The simple fact of the matter is becoming a decent mage is a lot harder than becoming a decent warrior. Over thousands of years this trend has evolved into our peoples current dislike of magic. We are raised to value strength and straightforward prowess in battle but magic is all about subtlety and smarts. Add on all of the magical based bad stuff over the years and you get the picture." I explained helplessly.
"So it's just snowballed into what it is today?" She asked as she understood.
"Correct." I said calmly.
I led the way as we walked through the spot where the gate was and into the cross section hall of the barrow. To the right the path ended abruptly as the ceiling had caved in and froze over. -
To the left the wind moved through the frozen path leading deeper into the tomb. I carefully examined the offer caches and cubbies in this area but everything had been picked clean. Not surprising really considering the claw key was supposed to be on the offering pedestal if no one hadn't filched it. The fact I got the claw from winterhold however made it pretty obvious someone had already gone through at least this part of the barrows and reset the puzzle on their way out.-
The path widened into a wide smooth stone and ice tunnel that turned into a frozen cavern with a hole in the top of the ceiling blowing in snow and fresh air. At the end of this chamber was an ancient stone bridge, narrow with candle receptacles that had long since burned out lining it's side. Water that wasn't frozen filled the space at either side of this bridge and an iron ancient Nordic door stood shut at the end. On the doors face was the ancient symbol for dragon with the seam going right through the center.-
We walked across this bridge with the few wisps we'd found so far hopping along at our ankles. The doors hinges were rusted to a small degree but with my strength made short work of forcing them open. Behind the door lay a short set of stairs that we walked down cautiously. at the end of those sat another gate though this one was more like the door we had just went through.-
"Eyes peeled, we are starting to get to the heart of this place." I warned seriously as we entered a warmer but all stone area with weeds and moss growing in it.
The stone path had only one way forward as the other had collapsed and I created a [mage light] to chase away the darkness. Unlike the game being so far beneath the ground meant that you couldn't in fact see where you are going. As for those candles from the ancient era still somehow burning? Reality didn't work like that, those candles were long since burned all the way through and extinguished. We checked the cubbies of this area and the offering caches but once again came up empty since someone else had already beaten us to it. -
The close to seven now wisps at our feet provided some light with their glowing forms but not nearly enough, hence the spell. Aela drew her bow from her back and had an arrow knocked and waiting with her bow held down for safeties sake. I myself drew out my blade from my chest.
"That normal for you mage types?" she asked seeing this.
"No, I am unique in this regard." I said frankly.
She took that answer and besides eyeing the blade appraisingly left the matter alone. Following the only way forward we carefully walked down another, longer set of stairs and I pushed open the ancient iron door at it's bottom. Behind that door was a carved stone hallway with a locked gate at the end and a hole in the wall that led to a cave that further led into the barrow.
"Give me a moment with this lock. There should be some intact loot in that chest back there." I said as I pressed my hand against the iron gate.
"How can you tell?" she asked curiously.
"Look there peeking out behind the chest, that's a ruby. Whoever had looted this place before clearly got stopped by this gate. Thankfully I know a set of spells for getting locks open." I said as I channeled the magic from my core and out my palm against the gate.
"CLICK!"
The sound of the gates lock unlocking was clear and easy to here and I pulled the gate open with a little effort. The ancient chest in this little area behind the gate was crumbling and not locked at all so I flipped the latch and winced at the high pitched squeak of the hinges and took a look inside.
"Cloth, powder and a few jewels? That's it?" Aela asked with a disappointed tone.
I pulled out the small roll of dark cloth and pulled at it curiously. The fabric not only DIDN'T rip but barely stretched at all.
"This is good cloth. Feels like silk almost but is far stronger, you try." I said tossing the roll to her.
She pulled at the fabric hard as well and looked surprised at how strong it was despite definitely being ancient.
"Not bad at all. Might actually be worth something. Still I expected better." she said handing the roll back to me.
I chuckled "This was an offering spot for communal use. Not the offerings for Yngol himself, that is bound to be FAR richer a prize." I explained.
"Ah, that makes sense." she admitted.