Skyrim: Orebane

Now freed of hostility I final had enough space to really observe the town. It honestly reminded me quite a lot of Markarth from the game. By that I mean the entire town was built into and under the "dome" of red stone that existed around an oasis. At the top of this dome was a large jagged opening that allowed skylight in. The gate of the town was clearly carved out of the only other opening of the dome. The towns buildings were made of red and white stone blocks. Sandstone and whatever the red rock of the dome was called. -

The red stone made up most of the buildings with the white sandstone clearly having been used as a supplementary building ingredient. Each building had triangles and curves painted on the white parts in red while white versions were painted on the red parts. Other than that the entire place was built like a bunch of blocks protruding from the domes rocky walls. They even curved at the backs the higher you went up so while the faces looked perfectly flat the backs curved with the domes structure. -

If I had to guess the town being built like this actually reinforced the dome rather than weakening it. Like support pillars holding it up from the inside rather than purely relying on the stones natural resistance to gravity. It was pretty obvious at even a glance that the color red was used everywhere in the town as the cloth banners, carefully cobbled streets and clothes all seemed to use the color. The towns symbol was also clearly that of a fountain as literally everything had the symbol engraved on it somewhere. This was a town that knew what it was about and took pride in that knowledge.-

And in the dead center of the entire town was the oasis pool that the fountain symbol likely came from. The overhead sun outside the dome shone straight down on it and I had to admit it was quite the sight. Like a shimmering jewel of blue gently bubbling at the center but perfectly clear otherwise in a bowl of red and white. Whoever built the town clearly had a vision for this oasis as the entire thing had red bricks placed tightly surrounding it and a stone pipe of sorts right in the center of the part that bubbled up.-

From that pipes top water flowed out not in a grand geyser or anything like that but like an over flow being pushed up and out of it. This water was then sent five different directions by four arched stone structures that caught the overflowing water and carried it away. The excess simply flowed back down this pipe and into the oasis. The arches sent the water in them flowing across the entire town through channels carved in the streets. This created the illusion that the entire town was one big water fountain. Likely the reason for the symbol being what it was.-

The town despite it's desert locale was a vibrant place where you could see children of many races running through the streets laughing as they played and people shuffling about their daily lives. Finding the argonian named Shifting-sands was truly not hard. She ran the towns only general goods store located in a prime spot directly next to the oasis in the center neither far or close to the gate. She was not a young argonian by any means as her white scaled skin sagged slightly and didn't have the shiny luster most Argonians had to their skin.-

"Ah, a new face. I never tire of meeting new people. But goodness if you aren't something special. A half-breed, Nord and oh my, Altmer? At this point in time? You have my sympathy child." she said with a weathered but kind voice.

"I don't let it bother me. I believe that my actions should be what I am defined by." I say calmly.

"Wise words. I doubt you have come to this old lady to jabber on about that though. What can I do for you today?" she asked with curious green eyes.

"Looking to trade for a few things. A map of Hammerfell, local understanding of places that may contain treasures, perhaps a few other things as well. I don't intend to stay long in town." I explained honestly.

"A map? Forgive me if this is prying but how could you come so far into Hammerfell without a map? There are a great many towns between here and any border." she asked intrigued.

"Daedric shenanigans. I was originally in Skyrim, far from the border in fact. But because of a daedric whim I find myself in this province of Tamriel." I say frankly.

"I understand. Not an unusual tale when concerning daedra. Capricious and strange minded creatures that they are. Mild though, must have been a small bit of amusement for whichever sent you here. Not meant to be malicious, at least not overtly." she said giving me a pitying look.

"I'm not even upset about it to be plain. I was already on a journey to experience life so getting sent far from my homeland aligns with my goal." I say simply.

"Oh? Then you surely have good fortune. Hammerfell is a place steeped in legend and opportunity. The war with the Thalmor is one such thing that can bring experience. A strong looking man like you must be handy with a weapon yes? The resistance can always use more able bodies." she said as if trying to sell me the idea of fighting against the Thalmor.

"While I relish the opportunity to kill some Thalmor soldiers I can't spare the time to dedicate myself fully to that cause." I say politely.

"A pity. I have a good feeling you are just what the resistance needs to make the Thalmor bleed the most. Perhaps fate will smile upon us and lead you to that path in the end anyways. For now though what do you have to offer for what you seek?" she asked seemingly unbothered by my rejection.

"I have gold, ingredients from the Shivering isles and a few enchanted pieces that may prove of interest." I said honestly.

"Ah, that explains the hat. It does align with the things the Mad god enjoys creating and scattering about. You know I once held the first flute itself? Dreadful thing, but important all the same." she said and I was surprised by this.

"That thing is still around? I would have assumed it long since rotted to dust. It was made from a human windpipe after all." I said without hiding my surprise at all.

"Things like that have a power all their own. Rarely do they ever fully be destroyed. They slip through the world like memories that it refused to forget." she said seriously.

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