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

Yeol Clumsy #30 - Party at the Thalmor Embassy

Fredas, 10th of Frostfall 4E201

All arrangements where taken. I asked Sofia to go home. Delphine took all my stuff, and I went to the Thalmor Embassy Party with just a fancy suite, and an invitation. Nothing else. Totally crazy!

Making preparations to leave for the party

The cart stopped, I was nervous. They let me in. Elenwen received me. Luckily her attention was taken by something else. I slipped in, and manages to stay aside. When people were distracted, I slipped into kitchen, and further into some rooms where I found Thalmor clothes with hood. Disguised I managed to cross the court yard, and enter Elenwen's Solar.

Elenwen received me at the (boring) party

Following the Bosmer's directions I found some interesting documents, but I had to go further into the basements to find real proof about the Thalmor not being behind the dragon appearances.

I had to kill two Thalmors who were torturing a poor guy. He appeared to know possibly something about someone who might know something about dragons... or something like that.

Two Thalmor torturing a guy

We (the tortured guy and the bosmer) managed to escape through the dungeons below, kept by a huge troll ... (not anymore).

Coming out of the dungeon, by a cave exit to outside, I had to run all the way to solitude. It was freezing, I was getting very cold. I had NOTHING except a party suit. I was hallucinating from the cold: a headless gost rider passed us by... the statue of Merida talked to me... I was dying from freezing! I ran, ran, and found just in time the heat of the Winking Skeever open fire. Frost in Skyrim is one's worst enemy!

Hallucination: the statue of Merida talked to me.

Hallucination: a ghost rider past me by during the descent.

The next day I was like a bagger, selling some found stuff lying around, to pay a cart ride to Riverwood. It was the first time I saw Delphine smile: "You're back, live!"

Back in Solitude, in my party suite.

Riverwood: first time Delphine seems to smile.

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 54,level 23

Yeol Clumsy #29 - Secret Meeting with a Bosmer

Turdas, 9th of Frostfall 4E201

How does one fight a god? I didn't had any clue what to do. I decided to hear what Delphine came up with, and headed for Riverwood.

Delphine was still obsessed about the Thalmor involvement, and asked me to sneak in the Thalmor embassy, and steal some documents to proof it. Me! I'm lousy at thieving, and all of Skyrim knows about me, I'm the Dragonborn! But Delphine insisted this was the best plan, and that I had to meet a Bosmer at The Winking Skeever.

Delphine develops her plan...

Nice weather in Riverwood

So I left Riverwood for what I though would be a boring long walk to Solitude. But just after Half-Moon Mill, I had another encounter with Alduin, who, again, rose a dragon out of its resting place. It was a tough fight, I was better protected against the frost flames of this dragon than the fire flames of the others before. So after all, the dragon went down rather easy.

Alduin rose another dragon from the earth. I had to fight it... again.

It was almost midnight when I continued the road to Rorikstead. Then, I got totally terrified! I saw a werewolf, ripping apart some guys! Three Thalmor soldiers nearby also attacked these poor guys. It was horrible. When the battle was over, the werewolf was dead, as were the 4 guys. They seemed Silver Hand members, whatever that means.

I was horrified to see this monster ripping apart people. It died in the fight.

I ran to Rorikstead's Inn, and slept the rest of the night. The next day I had another tough battle at Robber's Gorge. It was again occupied by outlaws,... not anymore. At noon I arrived at Solitude, and met the Bosmer in a dark corner of the Inn.

Meeting with a Bosmer

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 53, level 23

Yeol Clumsy #28 - Looking for a Book

Tirdas, 7th of Frostfall 4E201

I am the Dragonborn! I have to be... Too much has happened that otherwise wouldn't have. But who is the Dragonborn? Why did the Dragonborn revealed himself just now, and not when I was born, or during my childhood? I had too many questions.

My first reflex was asking the court wizard of Whiterun, because he studied dragons after all for a long time.

Consulting the court wizard of Whiterun

But the court wizard didn't knew more. He referred to a book entitled "The Book of the Dragonborn", but the only copy he knew, was at the Winterhold's College.

The next day I packed for the cold north: Winterhold. Halfway weather became bad, freezing cold, wind and snow slowed my progress. I had to halt several times to warm up at a camp fire.

Sheltering against the cold

I arrived at the College. I never used magic my entire life, but using a simple healing spell (they sold!) was enough to be admitted. Remarkable! Immediately I headed for the Arcanaeum, the library of the College. I found the book by coincidence quickly, and read it with utmost attention.

Entering the College

The Book of the Dragonborn

I read about the origin, the history, the people who were Dragonborn and lots of theories... and then... one line about me: the Last Dragonborn! A book written many ages ago, mentioned my appearance:

... The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn...


So, my appearance is because of The World-Eater. Alduin came to devour the world, I have been send, maybe by Akatosh himself, to be some kind of an answer. ... But.... Alduin is godlike... more then just a creature, a beast, a monster... I have to fight... a God?!

When I left the College, and came outside, I saw Azura. It felt as a sign. As I saw the statue, I had to go there, visit the shrine. So I did...

The Shrine of Azura in the distance

Next day I came home, at Breezehome. Home, where nothing matters. Home where I'm safe, where time doesn't exist, where I can be myself... I am Yeol the Clumsy!

Breezehome, my home! (Sofia preferred to stay at the Bannered Mare... because, you know... Lydia)

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 51, level 22