Unbound is the first quest in Skyrim, meant to ease the player into the game. The intro shows the main character being dragged into Helgen's execution block, before a dragon attack allows an escape.
Helgen[edit]
When the dragon attacks, enter the tower ahead of you. Head up the stairs, then jump through the hole the Alduin opens to reach the inn. Head to the far side of the inn, and jump out the window. Follow the sole path forward, which will eventually lead to the keep. Once in front of the keep, you have a choice of joining Ralof (the Stormcloak) or Hadvar (the Imperial). Ralof will take the door on the right, and Hadvar takes the door on the left.
Picking Ralof gives earlier access to heavy armor, while Hadvar allows taking the iron/steel ingots near the blacksmith in Riverwood.
If you want to skip this section, you have the first chance when Alduin breaks open the tower. Jump onto the wing on your left, then onto the ledge surrounding the tower, then onto the walkways giving a shortcut to Helgen's Keep.
Helgen's Keep[edit]
If you followed Hadvar, he will cut your bonds. You will need to obtain gear (from the marked chest, not the one he approaches), and take everything in it. Equip the items, and go through the door he opens. In the next room, you will fight a few Stormcloaks, and remaining enemies will mostly be Stormcloaks.
If you followed Ralof, he will cut your bonds, but you will have to wait for a few moments before imperials approach from the left. Defeat them, find the key, and unlock the door ahead.
The following encounters are as follows:
- A room with some furnishings, with two opponents attacking. There is a barrel with a few potions that you should take.
- A torture chamber, with a combat in progress. In this room, your companion gives you 12 lockpicks to unlock the door, where you can collect a Sparks spell tome, some gold and a few other items.
- A cavern with five opponents, two of which use bows to attack.
This leads to a bridge which is lowered by a lever. After you and your companion cross it, a rockfall collapses the bridge and the path back. The remaining encounters are against creatures:
- A large group of frostbite spiders, from which you can extract poison.
- A single sleeping large bear. If your companion is with you (if not, backtrack to convince him to continue), he will give you a long bow and 12 arrows. You can sneak past the bear, although it is easily killed by entering sneak mode and using the bow.
The tunnel's exit is just ahead. When you head outside, the companion will head toward Riverwood after a short comment about the dragon leaving. You may follow him to continue with the main quest, or explore the world as you desire.