Lost Valley Redoubt

[SonicSong]

Hi! I'm having trouble with the Forsworn creating a Briarheart in Lost Valley Redoubt. My sneak and pickpocket are okay, not great, and I've used up a large portion of my inventory already, so I have plenty of items to re-up my stamina but not much for my health. I have invested in restoration spells, so I can heal pretty quickly, but can't really use them if I'm fighting. I'm only up to level 8 right now. Unfortunately, my horse ran away somewhere down below fighting the first Forsworn in the valley (anyone know where they run during that fight?). How can I beat them? I'm sick of burning to death. =P

[rettshift]

I would suggest not doing that. Level 8 is pretty low, and it sounds like you haven't invested in any offensive skills. Since you seem to be going a stealth route already, I suggest training with a bow and possibly one-handed weapons.

Briarhearts are notoriously difficult at low levels. I suggest doing quests such as the main quest. Or join the Thieves guild if you want to be sneaky. I recommend doing the thieves guild early as a general rule of thumb because it's an easy way to make lots of money.

Also, try getting a follower. At the beginning there are a few that are easy to get. Lydia by doing a few of the main quests. There's an archer in Riverwood that can become your follower if you side with him instead of his rival. He's a wood elf, and I think his name starts with an F, but I can't be sure.

[maidofmanynames]

Ouch. The Lost Valley at level 8? Not easy. Or even fun as you've found out. I'd suggest that you come back to it once you've gained a few levels. I'd also suggest that you always keep your chosen offensive and defensive skills, at roughly the same level as your highest non-combat skills.

[gnomeicecream]

Frankly i would find somewhere else to explore. Forsworn are one of the most difficult human enemy types in the game. Most them dual weild and the casters dual cast as well. That particular group your faced with is among the worst. If you are set on it i would advise scrounging up a bow and trying to whittle them down with arrows from a distance while stealthed. Some distance also helps to dodge fireballs since they have some travel time. Eneimes always aim at your body so if nothing solid is behind you and you sidestep, fireballs do no damage.

[Brandybuck]

You've made it all the way there, which is great level 8. (Don't forget to jump off that diving board!) If you've got a bow, use poison and try to take out one of the hagravens, then run away, then sneak back. Get the other one. They'll be weaker than the briarheart. Summon something to distract them. And at your level you'll need to KITE!

Oh, and if you can manage to sneak behind the briarheart, try pickpocketing his briar. Seriously. It's great fun at parties.

As for your horse, if you fast travel to a city, it will end up back in the stable (if it's not dead).

[SonicSong]

Okay, I'll probably try to go somewhere else is sneaking still doesn't work. I do have a follower (the archer guy, Faendel?) and poison. I've been kiting and trying to sniper while sneaking, and I did try to pickpocket a briar heart, but had no luck. I think my level is just too low. Brandybuck, do I need to have full health before going off of the diving board? I've trained pretty high in archery (I just keep 'stealing' my money back from Faendel) and two-handed (the steel warhammer). I've also tried magic. Nothing seems to be working after 2 days.

Thank you for all of your suggestions!

[la_nague]

flee and come back when you had some training and murder them all

[rettshift]

You don't have to have full health just make sure you land in the water. If you manage to sneak to the top where the stone bridge goes out over the edge of the waterfall as high as you can go and jump into the pool below you complete a quest that you may as well do while you are there if possible.

[SonicSong]

Whenever I try to flee Faendel and my super heroic horse get all gung-ho and go after the Forsworn, even if I run away. Hopefully I don't have to go back to an earlier saved game to prevent them from their show of heroics.

And great, thanks. I will see if I can sneak there... if not, I will just try to go somewhere else. I'm tired of burning to death...