I would like to say that I had a lovely time taking in the scenery but I'd be lying.
'Gods damned mother fucking blizzard! This is such bullshit!' I mentally cursed as we trudged against the piercingly cold snowfall.
Yes on the second day of my travels a freak blizzard showed up from over the mountains to our left forcing us to not only slow down but endure the harsh winds slapping us from the side with lethal intent. I was really thankful that my fur clothes were so tight or I would be almost certain that I'd freeze from the wind getting in the seams. -
You might be wondering why we were even trying to travel in a blizzard? The answer to that was pure stubbornness. Neither I nor my toad were willing to accept the whatever long delay in our travelling schedule. Maybe a stupid decision but you can't be a genius all the time with Nord blood. Don't get me wrong we did hole up to rest and recover after traveling for a certain amount of time for each of the three days this fucking storm lasted but it was unnecessary suffering technically.-
On the fourth day when this storm died down and returned to it's regularly scheduled snowfall we finally got back to full speed again once I checked to make sure we were going the right direction. Nothing for it really, it's hard to maintain a perfectly straight line of travel in a blizzard. We were a dozen miles off course but honestly it wasn't as bad as it could have been. As an added bonus we ran into our first Winterhold guard patrolling the hold. Miserable fellow by name as Jaskyr who apparently drew the short straw among the guards and got the long range patrol duty, Aka the really dangerous one.-
He was nice enough for being so miserable and asked if I spotted anything he should look out for. I was honest and told him only some wolves and a lone snow bear a bit too close to the road. He seemed relieved by this and wished me well on the rest of my journey. Thanks to him I also learned I was only about two more days out from Winterhold. These last two days were quiet all things considered. I found a nice elk grazing on the hearty snowberries that grew from the perpetually frozen ground that I killed for meat and hide.-
Given what I knew about Winterhold I assumed they'd appreciate the extra food. After the great collapse forty-ish years ago that caused most of the city to fall into the sea of ghosts the hold lost both the population and economic power needed to keep their import of food from other regions so consistent. This meant the food situation was always a bit tighter than they'd like and even if I technically poached the elk they'd look the other way merely out of gratitude for the meat.-
Speaking of the city it was one of those that you couldn't help but feel like the founders of it were sort of responsible for the collapse. Obviously it was the storm that was the final straw but the fact they built the place on the clifftop right next to a violent and cold sea didn't exactly mean the foundations were sturdy. The college at the far end of the once great city could be forgiven for that same mistake because it was DEFINITELY magically reinforced. The same was obviously not true of the city.-
On the final day I caught sight of the hold capital and couldn't help but wince. The parts that didn't collapse into the sea were the ones closest to the college and mountainous bits. The rest was flat out gone. For the first time since I woke up in this world the city in the game was accurately depicting the one in reality. Calling what I was seeing a city was not only wrong but even calling it a village was on the generous side. I counted no more then a dozen buildings and a tiny stone wall with a gate that looked like a joke.-
"Hold! State your business in Winterhold!" the guard at the gate demanded firmly and with a tinge of hostility as I noticed them eyeing my toad.
"I am here for the college. I have meat, hide and produce for sale as well." I said calmly.
"You some sort of conjurer then? Gonna pull that all out of thin air?" the guard said mockingly.
"Yes actually. I store it elsewhere as my bag is too small for it all." I said casually ignoring the mockery.
"Fine. But we are watching you, mage." the guard said spitting that last word out like it was bitter on the tongue.
'Ooph, the game made it sound like hostility against mages was strong here but this is ridiculous.' I thought as I rode my toad into the now open gate.
The rundown and nearly abandoned stables were the first building I saw and I wasn't surprised at it's state. The place could barely afford to feed itself much less any horses or cows. The part that wasn't abandoned had sounds of dogs coming from it which tracked. Winterhold had a proud history of breeding some of the finest hounds in the world before the collapse and even if it was a strain on them these same hounds were one of the few lifelines they had because they cost a high price.-
Each hound sold gave the place a brief but well needed breath of relief. I briefly considered buying one myself once upon a time but decided against it. I wasn't big on dogs in general and preferred more laid back animals like cats or lizards. Anyways I dismounted my toad and sent it back to Oblivion. I then headed for the general store located next to the Jarl's longhouse and all but pressed against the mountainous bit.-
'Birna's oddment's, quaint.' I thought as I looked at the frozen sign before pushing the door open.
Contrary to what you'd think the place was not always a shop and it showed. It was clearly a normal house that the lower floor had been converted into a shop front, there was even a hearth with a fire burning in it. Admittedly I appreciated the warmth this gave the place as the chill was all I'd been feeling for over a week now.
"A traveler? Don't see many of you these days." the woman sitting behind the table turned counter said with a surprised look.
"I have heard similar. Tale is the place is slowly dying. Seeing it for myself, I can't really say I disagree." I said honestly.
"We hit a rough patch ay, but things'll turn around eventually. You'll see." she said confidently.
"Time will tell, now then to business. I've got some hide, meat and produce to sell for cheap. Nothing wrong with it, just looking to earn some good will is all." I said honestly.
"We'd appreciate it, extra food is always welcome." she said with a much more friendly smile.