I'm trying to make a monk-type character who doesn't use weapons (except for hand to hand) or magic. I've already set him up and everything; I found that I was unable to join the Mages Guild or Fighters Guild since I didn't have sufficient skill in weapons or magic, so I joined a knightly order and started questing.

The problem is that occasionally, I'll run into a dungeon that requires me to swim a long distance, but my endurance isn't too high and I don't have access to any potion makers or whatnot to get an underwater breathing effect. I also tried one of the story quests (one of the first ones, where you have to deliver a letter to the King of Worms) and fell into a pit that I wasn't able to climb out of (because the hole was in the middle of the roof, not beside a wall).

Basically, I need access to some utility spells, namely levitate and water breathing, but I can't cast them and I don't know of any way to gain access to a potion or item maker. Even if I only had access to a Fighters Guild, I could at least train up my swimming, but I'm only affiliated with this knightly order and they don't have any trainers, as far as I can tell. I also have no intention of joining the Thieves Guild since the character is not a thief.

My question is: is there something I'm missing, or do I need to grind up my swimming skill the hard way and/or hope to chance upon a magic item that lets me breathe water or levitate while I'm questing? Are there stores that sell magic items or potions? Is there some guild or faction that offers the services I'm looking for that I just don't know about? Do knightly orders have more services that I just haven't found yet?

I also have a different question altogether: I've been questing with a few of my characters, trying to rise in the ranks of their respective guilds (mages, fighters, and knightly order). The mage has risen one rank past his starting rank, but the fighter and this monk character have each done something like five quests for their respective guilds and are still at starting rank. I don't understand what the deal is; I read up on how these reputations work on UESP and the result seemed to be that doing two relatively involved quests should promote you one rank, as long as you have the appropriate skills. The fighter certainly has enough skill in long blade to advance, but is not advancing; the monk doesn't even have a question of skill since he's in a knightly order. Why is it taking so long for them to advance? Is this some kind of a bug, or is it normal?

1. Try joining a temple for a potionmaker, or the Dark Brotherhood. The Temple of Julianos has an item maker. You can find potions occasionally at pawn shops. Knightly orders don't have more services.

2. You can only get promoted in rank once every 30 days. There are two skills involved in promotions (high and low skill requirement), you can see those tables at many sites. Also, knightly orders still have skill requirements.

Aha, I see. I was looking at UESP but missed most of this information (found it now, though). Thanks!

wtf? a no weapon, no magic character? how would you escape the first dungeon?

Punching, man, pure and simple. Hand to hand does good damage if you put points into it and agility.

You're going to die...alot.
Remeber to save after EVERY enemy.

I dunno, I haven't been having too much trouble so far, and I've already raided a bunch of dungeons (I'm only level 5, though). I'll probably run into more issues once I start fighting serious spellcasters, though.

Become a werewolf that 40 point boost to strength, endurance, agility and speed is great plus you get a boost to hand to hand as well. Another bounus is while in wereform all human enemies can hurt you with melee attacks. Just make sure you kill one random townie every few weeks to keep your health from dropping.