This is NOT how I wanted to find Markarth!
Spoiler!
So there I was looking for a guy in a bar in Whiterun. I don't frequent this bar often, so I figured I'd take the opportunity to get to know the regulars a bit.
First guy I talk to looks like a monk, but he challenges me to a drinking contest. Me? I'll admit, I do have some major issues with men constantly thinking that because I'm a woman I can't hold my ales, so I am easily goaded into drinking too much, but there's no way I'm letting this pansy in a dress out drink me! And he claims he'll give me a staff if I beat him. He's on!
He starts the contest and I quickly match him. He goes again and already he starts complaining of not being able to hold his drink. By the 3rd round, I know I have this in the bag.
And then BAM! I'm out like a light. That bastard had to have put something in my drink. No way am I that much of a light weight.
Next thing I know I wake up in a temple in Markarth with some snotty woman blaming me for things that I have no recollection of.
So then begins the long trail of retracing my steps and finding this Sam guy.
As I'm walking my hungover ass back to Riorkstead (I've been told I was there?!?!), I come across a cave that required an ivory claw to proceed, a blood dragon, and a couple of Forsworn camps. Then I find a man who may possibly be married to his goat, or at the very least, he's in love with her. Awkward...
That blood dragon about kicked my ass, but I overcame! Still haven't found Sam yet, but I'll get to the bottom of this today.
In the end Markarth was a very cool looking city, but I had hoped to hike there on my own one day, not end up there after a night of drunken mishaps.
As for the crashing, I'm on ps3 and we've had one crash (it was more of a freeze lol). We've got two saves with 30ish and 50ish hours on them.
And I'm an Imperial. I tend to play this over and over, so I'm sure I'll be something more exciting next time.