I put on my clothes and then decided to leave the room I rented to get moving… working for Roose Bolton was out of the question. That kind of guy would be better dead, but he was on the rebellion side, so it was better to leave him alone for the time being. Recalling how the story went, there were other guys that I could kill and I wouldn't have to waste a single night worrying about it.
Stealing from drunkards might've worked once, but it wasn't something I could rely on all the time. First, it depended on luck—finding someone drunk enough, slow enough, and alone enough to not notice me. Second, I didn't have time to wander around every night looking for easy marks. Not only was that risky, but it wouldn't get me much in the long run. A few coins here and there wouldn't make me stronger or keep me alive in a real fight.
There were better, more sustainable ways to grow. Hunting, for example, was one of the most practical. It would let me sharpen both my stealth and archery skills while bringing in meat, pelts, and materials I could sell or use. But to start hunting, I'd need a bow, and not some splintered training thing either, a proper one that could take down deer or wolves. Getting one would take some coin or the right opportunity… maybe both. But if I could get my hands on a bow, that would open a whole new path to getting stronger, faster.
I headed to the trader of the town, and soon confirmed the price of the cheapest bow. It was 150 Copper Penny coins. I had nowhere nearly enough to buy it. I could be armed if I decided to join Roose Bolton's army, but that would be a problem.
'Why do I have to worry so much about money already… why do I have to start as a broke mercenary?'
The second option that I could think of was to look for some bandits and loot their bases after defeating them. The third would be to loot enemies after a battle… that would do the trick.
'Even as a dragonborn, I am not strong enough yet to handle a group of bandits… at least not under normal circumstances.'
I headed to the exit of the town while trying to recall the map of westeros in my head. I didn't memorize that before coming here, but Bronn had a good idea of how the whole land looked like.
Westeros is a vast and diverse continent divided into several regions, each ruled by powerful noble houses with deep histories and traditions. In the far north lies Winterfell, the ancestral home of House Stark, surrounded by snowy forests and unforgiving terrain. Beyond that is The Wall, a massive structure of ice guarding the realm from the dangers of the far North, such as wildlings and White Walkers. Key landmarks in the North include White Harbor, the North's only true city, and The Dreadfort, the grim seat of House Bolton. Heading south brings you to the Riverlands, home to Riverrun and The Twins, and the Vale of Arryn, dominated by the impenetrable mountain fortress known as The Eyrie.
To the west lie the wealthy Westerlands, ruled by House Lannister from Casterly Rock, with the bustling port of Lannisport nearby. Across the waters to the northwest are the Iron Islands, where the harsh seafaring Greyjoys reside at Pyke. The fertile and populous Reach stretches to the south, anchored by the magnificent castle of Highgarden, seat of House Tyrell, and the ancient city of Oldtown, home to the Citadel and its order of maesters. East of the Reach are the Stormlands, a rugged coastal region ruled from Storm's End, one of the strongest fortresses in the realm. Farther south lies Dorne, isolated by the Red Mountains and culturally distinct, with its capital Sunspear and proud House Martell.
In the heart of Westeros lies the Crownlands, home to King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms and seat of the Iron Throne. Overlooking the city is the Red Keep, the center of royal power. Off the coast lies Dragonstone, a volcanic island and former Targaryen stronghold. Far beyond the Wall, in the mysterious lands of eternal winter, lie places like Hardhome and The Frostfangs, where few Southerners dare to venture. Understanding this vast landscape isn't just about geography—it's about knowing where power lives, where rebellion stirs, and where opportunity waits for someone bold enough to take it.
'The Starks will reunite the north to march with the Baratheon house… the first big conflict should take two weeks. I need to use this time wisely to get stronger.'
I began to follow the road toward the south and east. there was someone there that could be useful for me and I could be useful for him as well… one of the best partnerships of the series. Bronn and Tyrion Lannister.
'He should be fourteen by now… not as experienced and as clever as he was supposed to become in the years to come, but the potential was still there. With the right support, he could become even better and a better ally as well. Oh, what is this?'
As I continued down the road, something caught my eye off to the side, a splash of color in the grass that didn't belong. I slowed my pace and moved toward it, curiosity piqued. Nestled among the weeds and rocks were a few delicate, vibrant petals swaying in the breeze. Blue Mountain Flowers. That was a surprise. We weren't anywhere near the mountains, but somehow, these had taken root here. Maybe my memories were sharper than I gave them credit for, or maybe it was just luck. Either way, it was good to know I could find ingredients like these outside their usual zones.
Back in Skyrim, Blue Mountain Flowers were incredibly useful. Combined with the right ingredients, they could be used to brew Restore Health potions, one of the most essential brews for survival. Pairing them with ingredients like wheat or blisterwort made for a solid, dependable healing elixir. Beyond that, with different combinations, they could also be used for Fortify Conjuration or Fortify Health, depending on what I mixed them with. I plucked a few carefully and tucked them into my pouch. No sense wasting free resources. If I could find more like these, I'd not only improve my alchemy, but also give myself an edge in this brutal world, one flask at a time.