Yeol Clumsy #37 - Into the Depths of Alftand

Tirdas, 28th of Frostfall 4E201

The Elder Scrolls are located somewhere inside the Dwemer ruins of Alftand. So, I decided to go from Winterhold to Heljarchen, from where a path is leading to the ancient site. I left early, the weather was bad. Heavy snow slowed our journey.

I won a battle... and a dragon soul.

And it was precisely then that a frost dragon attacked: a named dragon which I forgot his name. It was cold, and it was important to deal fast with the beast, before I would freeze to death. It was a tense fight were I used my newly learned flame shout as much as possible. The dragon burned to dead before I froze...

Arriving at night at Heljarchen

I overnighted at Nightgate Inn, and left next day for Alftand. The exterior betrayed a failed expedition with dead corpses. I entered the ruin. Soon I stuggled with ancient Dwemer mechanoids and looting bandits.

Fighting our way down, deeper and deeper into the ruins

I fought my way down, deeper and deeper into the ruins. Falmer were a real challenge. I almost died there, but luckily I had found here enough health potions to save me from utter failure. After many hours (I lost count if it was day or night) we arrived at the main chamber. I heard heavy battle noises, but when I came close all was silent again. On the floor I found many dead Falmer and a motionless Centurion. I escaped a very tough fight.

Point of no return: to jump or not to jump.

When I approached a weird Dwemer puzzle, two adventurers were fighting. I heard them argue about who would be the first to discover Blackreach or something... It seems now I will.

...when I arrived, all was quiet again.

A mysterious Dwemer puzzle lock.

But I was too tired to continue. I decided to go back to Heljarchen, and take a deep rest before adventuring beyond...

Arriving at Heljarchen tired... but alive!

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 72, level 28

Yeol Clumsy #36 - Roaming the Northern Ice Sea

Sundas, 26th of Frostfall 4E201

I left the College with only a vague description to find "a scolar", "somewhere north", who might know something about Elder Scrolls. So first thing I did that same day, was to explore the coastline at Winterhold. A blizzard made the prospection not easier.

Camping at Winterhold's shore to prospect the coastline

 When I came back to Winterhold late afternoon, a frost dragon attacked the ancient city. After a few hours of battle, the wounded dragon landed. I rushed in, and did what I never did before. I jumped upon the beast, and planted my sword deep into it's skull. The dragon fell flat dead.

I, the dragonslayer...

I was tired, but I had to prepare for a journey of multiple days to explore the northern ice sea area. I needed enough firewood, water, food and warm clothes to survive at least a couple of days and nights in the frosty open. We left the next day...

Searching the coast for a location to pass north, into the sea of ice

The day was clear, and we progressed quiet smoothly. Jumping over floes, exploring the area. Later that day we discovered a large ruin, much like Bleak Falls Barrow (later I was told it was Estar Outpost). Looters were heavily armed. The men outside attacked us without mercy. We had to deal with them, which took quite some effort. We went inside, but the guys there were too overpowered for us. We ran outside and fled the place.

Roaming the islands, hopping over ice floes....

Estar Outpost

Not knowing if this ruin really was the location we were looking for, we went roaming again. Maybe, or better hopefully, it's another place. Dusk came, we set up camp, and could admire a wonderful play of night sky lighting.

Camping on an isle in the northern ice sea.

Next day we continued our search. Jumping from floe to floe, between the horkers, looking for... something. And then, after hours of searching, we found a tiny doorway into the ice, with a small boat waiting outside. We entered, and there he was: Septimus Signus in front of a gigantic mechanic lock of some sort. He seemed a little disconnected from this world, but gave us all information about where to locate an Elder Scroll. He asked me to fetch it for him, so he could get his information from it. I agreed of course...

I'm telling Sofia what mister Septimus told, and what our next mission is.

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 70, level 26

Yeol Clumsy #35 - Steaming Baths and Freezing Paths

Fredas, 24th of Frostfall 4E201

Paarthunax send me on a quest to find an Elder Scroll, although he did not knew were to look. We camped for the night in front of High Hrothgar, and descended the following day. After a hot lunch at Vilemyr Inn, we went further down to Darkwater Crossing, silently hoping to enjoy a hot spring bath together.

Camped for the night in front of High Hrothgar

I managed to kill the frost dragon at Darkwater Crossing

But once we arrived at Darkwater Crossing, a frost dragon put my plans on ice. I needed hours to finally take the upper hand in combat. At evening fall the dragon was beaten. A relaxing bath in the hot springs was more than welcome. We both were quite uneasy with this new situation. Friendship stood between us, and held us from diving into an uncertain adventure.

We slept (separate) at the camp site. Next day we went to Whiterun. Voltheim Tower proved again to be a real challenge to be cleared from the occupying outlaws.

We did not stay long at Whiterun, enough to get organized for a trip to the far north: Winterhold.

Up to Nightgate Inn all went well, but not much further I saw a dragon circling in the sky. It was bitter cold. This was a fight I never could win. I would freeze to death in the time of battle. So I sneaked into a side valley, and kept out of sight of the dragon. I'll get back another day.

Dragon sighted, but the freezing cold makes fighting a suicide.

At Winterhold College, I talked to the Orc librarian. As expected he did not have an Elder Scroll. He only knew someone who has studied the subject. Unfortunately this person left Winterhold many years ago, inspecting a Dwemer ruin far north, somewhere in the sea of ice.

Nearing Winterhold

Speaking with the librarian at the College.

I have no clue where to go now. "North" and "Somewhere in the ice sea" is very vague. I'll probably need to stay here in Winterhold for quite some time...

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 68, level 26

Yeol Clumsy #34 - Master Paarthurnax the Wise

Tirdas, 21st of Frostfall 4E201

Esben read from Alduin's Wall that a shout defeated Alduin, but I had to talk with the Greybeards to see if they knew more. So I went back, the long way home, from Old Hroldan to Whiterun; to my sweet, sweet Breezehome. I rested a day, arranging things, buying new supplies, reading a book or two...

Leaving Old Hroldan ruins, heading for Whiterun

Next day I headed for Helgen, but halted a few hours at Riverwood to say hello to friends (no, not Delphine). The night at Helgen's Arms Inn was short but pleasant.

Passing by at peacefull Riverwood

At early morning I went for Ivarstead. The road over the snowy pass was easy, and early afternoon we (indeed, with Sofia) arrived at the small town. People at the inn were talking about ghosts from the barrow. I went to inspect, and found the cause... The inn keeper was very glad to see this ghost thing had being dealt with. It was bad for business.

The imposter... a real ghost?

Next morning I started the climb the 7000 steps. After having dealt easily with two frost trolls, we arrived at High Hrothgar. The Greybeards were reluctant to aid me, but finally they told me to visit their master: Paarthurnax.

The Greybeards were reluctant to my intentions to kill Alduin

I went to the summit of the Throat of the World, and there he was, an ancient dragon, master of the Greybeards, Paarthurnax. We talked for hours, he taught me many things, and he told me what to look for to defeat Alduin. Paarthurnax impressed me deeply. He had a timeless wisdom, I felt like infinite small...

The meeting with Paarthurnax

Paarthurnax taught me many things

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 65, level 25

Yeol Clumsy #33 - Deepest Darkness

Frirdas, 17th of Frostfall 4E201

The void devoured all around it. An endless blackness grew, and from the depths rose a dragon's head, big as the Earth, rushing at me. I swang my sword trying to fight it, but all it hit was nothingness. I felt hopeless and terrified...

I woke up from the nightmare. It was late morning. I felt worried. Delphine and Esben already left for Karthspire. I packed and left Whiterun at noon, with Sofia.

It was a drowsy day. The road was long, without mentionables. We got soaking wet. Approaching Old Hroldan, I had set my envy upon hot soup at a warm fire, until a frost dragon appeared above the ruins of the old village. The beast was tough and the fight took us deep into the night. At the end I won. At midnight we ate at the fire, and went to bed.

A frost dragon welcomed us at Old Hroldan

The next morning, we left Old Hroldan Inn after a short breakfast. But once outside we were attacked again, by another frost dragon! I would have run and hidden in the dark, but I could not abandon the Inn folk, so I fought it. The fight took all my arrows, all my potions, and again, after a long fight, I won. I didn't know how long I would be able to keep on fighting them. I felt like weakening.

Second frost dragon that gave me his soul in Old Hroldan

A little further, on the bridge, we met Delphine and Esben. They seemed anxious, we followed them. Not much further we encountered a Forsworn camp. Delphine and Esben charged in, shouting: "KILL THEM ALL!". Sofia followed with adorning fury. I tried to shout back to not attack, but... It was too late. The battle became a mess. It was horrible. The Forsworns were enraged, my fellows blinded by their prejudgement. I had to defend myself, but did not take active part in the massacre. I felt ashamed.

The site of horror... I'm so sorry.

When all was quiet, we went on. Soon we came to the entrance of a cave: Karthspire! Inside it was like magical. Structures from another age overwhelmed us. The few puzzles to trick and deter intruders where of a laughable easiness. Soon I entered the temple's inner sanctuary. There it was: Alduin's Wall. At that moment my last torch dimmed. I sank into the deepest darkness. ... I remembered my nightmare ...

Entering the inner sanctuary of Karthspire

Alduin's Wall

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 61, level 24

Yeol Clumsy #32 - The Ratway Race

Tirdas, 14th of Frostfall 4E201

I woke up at the Vilemyr Inn, fresh and well slept. After a quick breakfast we set foot to Riften. The road was calm, the weather clear and comfortable. We arrived at Riften at noon. I went first at the Bee and Barb Inn, to ask for a man called Esben, but they told that I would probably have better luck asking at the Ragged Flagon, if I managed to not get killed entering the Ratway.

Entering the Flagged Inn

Entering was not a problem. At the Flagged Inn I had to persuade the inn keeper with some cash to talk, and talk he did. He pointed me to the Ratway Warrens, but warned me that I was not the only one to look for the old man.

Asking the in keeper for Esben's whereabouts.

It was immediatly clear what the inn keeper meant, because while entering ther Ratway Vaults, we were attacked by the Thalmor. We had to rush, hoping to find Esben first!... And we did.

We met Esben in his hideout.

After some convincing (and using the Delphine's pass phrase), he let us in his hideout. We talked, and soon he was convinced we needed to go to Riverwood fast, and meet with Delphine.

Leaving Riften in the night

While leaving the hideout, we had a hefty fight with more Thalmor. We managed not getting killed, got out of the Ratway, and walk very quietly into the night of Riften. We took the night cart to Riverwood, silent and unnoticed.

In Riverwood the encouter of the two Blades was touching. They had not seen each other for ages. We went to the basement, and there Esben reveiled his knowledge. I was too tired to pay much attention. I had not slept in two days. I heared something about Alduin's Wall... Sky Heaven Temple... Karthspire... Sitting at the table, I was satisfied to see them reunited, and fell asleep...

Reunion of the Blades in Riverwood

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 58, level 24

Yeol Clumsy #31 - Blood Dragon and Nettlebane

Sundas, 12th of Frostfall 4E201

With my clumsy, but at the end successful mission at the Thalmor Embassy, I managed to obtain 3 interesting Thalmor dossiers concerning Delphine, Esben and Ulfric. Judging the content, it's clear that the Thalmor are playing power games upon the highest echelon, and are actively manipulating all and everybody to gain control over Skyrim, and having the civil war ongoing. Also clear is that they have no idea why the dragons have returned at this date, but judged the Helgen incident as fortunate for them.

A day at home, reading...

Delphine suggested me to find Esben in Riften before the Thalmor do. She, herself, had to keep very low profile for a period. Esben might be the key person in obtaining information about the rise of the dragons, and so my role as the Last Dragonborn in that matter.

I collected my gear in Riverwood and went to Whiterun. When I saw the dead Eldergreen tree, I remembered a priestess mentioning that a "Nettlebane" would be necessary to tap sap from the legendary Eldergleam. People of Whiterun would draw hope from a reborn Eldergreen tree. I needed to pay a visit to a Hagraven, and ask politely if I could borrow the Nettle-thingy.

The dead Eldergreen tree at Whiterun

I picked up Sofia, who was very glad to see me, and prepared for the next mission: Riften, with first stop at Helgen. Early morning we headed to the Hagraven camp. Reception was a bit below expectation. The witch, with some acolytes, attacked us on sight. Before I realized what was happening, Sofia had rushed up the rock, and engaged the Hagraven with vigor. The old witch did not had a chance.

At Orphan rock, looking for the dead hagraven...

Finally found the dead witch, behind her tent.

We took the Nettlebane, warmed ourselves up at a fire (it was cold and snowing), and continued our journey. We passed Ivarstead early afternoon, thinking that we had enough time to reach Riften before midnight. But a Blood Dragon decided differently.

We were alone against de beast, but this time Sofia crumbled behind a rock from utter fear. I fought the beast alone. It took me hours of archery work to get the dragon wounded enough to stay at the ground. Then a bear attacked me from behind. It became a real struggle with both the bear and the dragon, but finally both beasts were death.

Bear and Blood Dragon are beaten

I rested for a while. Evening began to light the sky purple. In stead of heading to Riften, I decided to return to Ivarstead, and stay the night at Vilemyr Inn. Journeys which seem easy at start, often are not...

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 56, level 23