INTRODUCTION
Ja’dasha’s father always told her that scholars are like an awning on a cloudy day: unheeded and unneeded until the rains begin to pour. And while this one is no scholar, she has learned much over the years: how to survive blinding blizzards, how to make your way through the desert’s heat, and how to bind wounds and scavenge for meals. Such are the necessary skills for the Baandari, after all.
Tamriel is like a patchwork quilt. To the west lay deserts and crags. To the east are volcanoes and swamps. Islands, oases, jungles, and tundras … the nature of this land shifts more often than the phases of the moons, and so too shifts its dangers. This is why Ja’dasha’s survival guide is so needed, and why your septims were well spent on this book. In these pages, this one will speak of the dangers that lurk in every corner of Tamriel, and how you can weather such threats on your travels.
A word of caution before we begin. There is little that can be done for those who shun all aid. Read carefully, yes, but also know that the greatest advice is simple: You are in trouble, walker? Seek help. Whether it be healers or knights, priests or merchants, always look toward others in your times of need. They will be your greatest assets, even greater than this magnificent book penned by the wise Ja’dasha. But if no help is near? If you are all alone? Then this survival guide may be all that stands between you and Sands Behind the Stars.
SKYRIM
The land of Skyrim is known for its snowy mountaintops and frigid climates. Even in the middle of summer you will find snow in these lands; Ja’dasha has seen this. The southern reaches host more mild temperatures and green forests, though even those comparatively lush places host bitter winters. To the north you shall face the Sea of Ghosts, filled with glaciers and icebergs. And wherever you travel in Skyrim you will find many caves and ruins, filled with Dwemer technology and bloodthirsty Falmer. The land’s beauty is very much matched by its dangers.
The Nords of Skyrim are a people as unyielding as the land they live in. They are a proud group who face dangers every day, from caves filled with giant spiders to harrowing blizzards. This resolve is matched only by their merrymaking, for their celebration songs hold as much passion as their battle cries. You will find few races who are as quick to laugh as they are to rage. And the Nords prefer it that way.
Traveling safely through this land requires proper preparation, keen instinct, and the wisdom that lies within this guide. So have no worries, walker. The pages to come will teach you all you must know to face the threats of Skyrim.
THE PROPER SUPPLIES
Let us start our discussion by considering what to prepare before you take the first step of your journey. The proper supplies needed for any journey will vary depending on what land you are traversing. In these first splendid pages, Ja’dasha will cover the basic supplies specifically needed to journey through Skyrim. Any specific supplies needed for different lands will be covered in later chapters.
WATER AND FOOD
Only a fool would leave for a journey without first supplying themselves with water and food. So take into account how much you will need each day, and the number of days you plan to travel. Simple, no? The best food is that which will not spoil. This may take the form of such portable consumables as saltines, jerky, or nuts. If you are unsure how long your foodstuffs will last, consult one more experienced than you.
While some less traveled may be tempted to fill their packs with tasty delicacies like sweet rolls and mudcrab legs, it’s far better to pack hearty, filling meals that are well preserved. Charred skeever meat, horker and ash yam stew, and mammoth cheese were staples for Ja’dasha during her journey in Skyrim. These provisions can be found in most towns and cities in the snowy kingdom.
For all of Skyrim’s dangers, water will never be in short supply. The terrain features many lakes and rivers, and should the need arise you can always melt the snow. Some may be tempted to eat the snow directly, but this is a fool’s choice. The snow’s coldness will freeze your bones, leaving you thirstier than expected. The healers call this dehydration.
Depending on where you travel in Skyrim, options for hunting can be plentiful. Deer, rabbits, and other game may be your main source of food, should your own supplies run short. Hunting will take precious time and energy, however, and will delay your journey. So plan to hunt only if there is naught else to eat. Otherwise, it is best to conserve your energy and continue onward.
TOOLS AND OTHER ITEMS
Ja’dasha could write an entire book alone on tools and equipment you may need to bring with you while journeying in Tamriel. Perhaps one day she shall. For now, the fundamentals. Tents to keep you dry in the rain are a good start. A blanket or mat to sleep on will save you from lying on the frigid, muddy, or otherwise unpleasant ground. Flint can help you start a fire, and a knife can help with everything from building shelters to creating even more tools. Below, Ja’dasha lists the most useful tools for travelers to bring on their journey.
- Torches
These will light your path in both the darkness of night and any caves you may be foolish enough to explore.
- Sleeping mat
Especially important for colder lands, for a freezing ground makes for a freezing body. And let us not forget the comfort it affords.
- Tents
The moons may be pleasant to look upon, but they are often hidden by rain clouds or snowfall. You will be more comfortable, warm, and protected within a tent. Flax and cotton tents are best, for these sturdy materials will protect you from rain while still being breathable during warm weather. Some wealthier travelers may be tempted by tents of spider silk or silverweave, but these make for poor cover, and tend to rip and tear after only a few weeks of use.
- Flint and kindling
Unless your traveling party includes a mage, it is best to have flint available to start fires. Kindling may be easier to come by should you pass through wooded areas.
- Extra clothing
Too many walkers choose to journey with just the simple shirt on their back. Should your clothes become wet or sullied—as they surely will—you will be grateful that you listened to the wise Ja’dasha on this matter. To this end, make sure that the clothes you pack are suitable for the hardships of travel. Though shadowhide may be too pricey for most, leather jerkins and boots can endure the harshest of journeys.
- Rope
Whether you need to scale down a cliff or bundle your kindling, rope offers all manner of uses. Keep it dry, keep it close, and keep it away from idiots.
- Waterskins
One of Ja’dasha’s wisest purchases was her superb hide waterskin, which has seen her through thick and thin. Everyone in your party should keep their own waterskin, and keep it full whenever possible. Thirst will kill you quicker than starvation.
- Map and compass
The map tells you to go north. The compass tells you which way is north. Should you have neither, prepare to be lost.
- Sturdy pack
Where are all your supplies to go without a pack to carry them? Unsurprisingly, the sturdier the better. A pack will do you little good if it decides to tear midway through your journey.
Though these are the basic supplies one may journey with, this is by no means a complete list. What is most important is that you prepare for whatever lies ahead. This means studying the land where you will travel, and noting what tools may be useful.
CLASH WITH THE COLD
Listen to Ja’dasha: The winter in Skyrim? This is no joke, walker. Many who fail to take precautions have frozen to death atop some moons-forsaken mountaintop. Even we Khajiit, with our beautiful coats of fur, must prepare for the icy winds and endless snow. So too must you prepare before you travel, yes? Or you will not be traveling much afterward.
EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS
For those who possess the arts of magic, warmth is as simple as casting a flame spell or protecting yourself with alteration magic. But most of us folk in Tamriel have no magic or mages to call upon during our travels. And so Ja’dasha will concentrate on the more mundane means of keeping oneself warm.
DRESS IN LAYERS
A single coat, ...
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