Birds, Skyrim, and Decisions

My son sent me a couple pics he took I thought I'd share. This first is a Western Tanager, very unusual for these parts...

And a hawk who has caught a dove.

Everyone has to eat

Now on to happier things...Namely, Skyrim.

This screen shot is me looking at someone called Astrid.

Previously I was happily at home with Inigo and Lydia, my two faithful companions. I went upstairs to bed, and when I woke I found myself in this abandoned shack. I had a good idea what had happened since I sorta kinda took a job intended for the dark brotherhood. But trust me, that horrible woman running the orphanage in Riften deserved to die. And I don't say that lightly. Still, when the kid started talking about the dark brotherhood I should've walked out then, completely disabusing him of the notion I had anything to do with them. But by taking up the boy's cause (revenge upon the horrible woman who abused him and all the other orphans), I attracted the notice of the dark brotherhood, landing me in the situation I currently find myself.

And in order to get out without harm to myself, Astrid informs me I must kill one of these three people.

I can talk to them first, maybe guess which one deserves killing, and assuage my conscience. Or, I could try to kill Astrid (which won't be easy - I've already tried it once and she kicked my ass) and let them all go.

And therein lies the decision. I know. It's just a game. But I generally don't go around killing and robbing people in Skyrim (unless they're bad guys, Imperials, or Thalmor - hey, I have standards!), and since I don't know these people I don't really want to kill any of them. That's not my job. But...the dark brotherhood path could be interesting...and yet it seems so diametrically opposed to the path of the dragonborn (which I am, btw). What to do?

Of course, the great thing about the game is that I can explore the dark brotherhood path and then if I don't like like it, revert to the earlier game save. Just like I can go back and play having joined the Imperials, rather than the Stormcloaks. Which is why I love Skyrim. So many paths to follow!

Meanwhile, I've also been enjoying American Horror Story, Season 2 Asylum (which I found very satisfying), and Sharp Objects on HBO. Next up will be the latest season of Supernatural. Gotta love those Winchester boys.

As for books, I finished Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis, and I think I'll tell you about them next time. Currently reading Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline.