Yeol Clumsy #39 - Eldergleam Sanctuary

Mondras, 3rd of Sun's Dusk, 4E201

When I intended to exit the ice cave of Septimus Signus's Outpost, I was held up by a deep purple void in front of me. It spoke, and out of the abyss came the voice of Daedric Prince of Knowledge, Hermaeus Mora. He tried to lure me to be his disciple, but his words were filled with filt. I refused, and the purple abyss disappeared, menacing me.

Hermeaus Mora, as a purple abyss talking to me.

The road from Winterhold back to Whiterun and further to High Hrodgar was long, but I ran it almost all the way to Whiterun. I'm getting very experienced in running. Late that evening I came home, Breezehome. I went to bed and slept vast and long.

M'aiq the Liar is everywhere, but has never anything to say...

Sweet home, Breezehome

Next day I used well, to get organized again: ordering, selling, crafting, ... the lot. Preparing for the next journey, to the Throat of the World. Lydia was bored, bored to death at home. I had pity with her, so I invited her along for the next mission. Sofia was not happy.

Early morning we picked up Maurice Jondrelle too, a scolar who liked to visit the Eldergleam Sanctuary. So we were four. The road was easy, but we circumvented Valtheim towers to spare Maurice.

At Darkwater Crossing we were again attacked by a frost dragon. With patience and a lot of arrows, the beast crumbled and was slain.

Another dragon slain at Darkwater Crossing

We entered the nearby Eldergleam Sactuary, and tapped a little Eldergleam sap, enough to revive Whiterun's Eldergreen tree. Maurice seemed annoyed and started to pray. We left him there, and returned to Darkwater Crossing, to spend the night.

Eldergleam Sanctuary

The next day was one of the long ascent. From the Darkwater valley we climbed to Ivarstead, and further to High Hrodgar. I have to admit that Lydia is also bored while travelling! Lydia is a thoroughly bored girl, and worse, a boring girl... I pity her.

Arriving at High Hrodgar

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 78, level 29

Yeol Clumsy #38 - Blackreach

Turdas, 30th of Frostfall 4E201

Next day I went back to Alftand, and descended further down to an underground world called Blackreach. When I entered I was overwelmed by the unearthly atmosphere of giant glowing and floating mushrooms, an endless deep black sky and the ruins of ancient civilizations.

Overwhelmed by atmosphere while entering Blackreach.

But my fascination was abruptly put to a halt when Falmer and Dwemer mechanoids attacked us at our first foot upon Blackreach soil. Slowly we progressed through the foreign world, guided by a paved path. It brought us to a Dwemer tower higher then the eye could see.

Blackreach, approaching the tower.

We entered the tower as guided by a natural force. I felt this was the place. Inside all was empty and silent. Things were as many ages ago, when the last occupant left: books, fireplace... Nobody came here in an uncountable time.

We went on, and there it was, a huge contraption. The mechanics, build by the Dwemer to capture the essense of the Elder Scrolls. I used the Cube, I touched the buttons, the machine activated, and there it was: The Elder Scrolls, a relic from beyond our time and space, from beyond our comprehension. I stared at it for a long time.

...THE ELDER SCROLLS...

But now what? I promised to return the cube to Septimus Signus. Maybe he can help to guide me with the Scrolls, and what to do with it. I took the Elder Scrolls and the Cube, and left Blackreach.

I came to the surface far from Alftand, and it took an unforeseen long journey to arrive at Nightgate Inn again. There I rested for the night. Next day we left early, but not far we had to fight a dragon again! "A dragon a day keeps the boredom away?". I killed it with ease somehow.

Again a dragon slain

Later that day we arrived at Winterhold. I warmed myself at the Frozen Hearth's fire, to continue the journey into the Sea of Ghosts. Again jumping from floe to floe, between the horkers to Signus's Outpost.

Arriving at Winterhold

Although he was joyed to receive the Cube, he started to speak in riddles, and did not mention anything about the Elder Scrolls. Instead he talked about needing elven blood, about curses and plagues. I decided to leave, with The Elder Scrolls in my back pack...

Septimus Signus started to talk gibberish, I left...

Yeol the Clumsy @ day 74, level 28

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