A Realization

Dear Diary,

While doing some shopping and running of errands in Solitude, I went to sell some gems to the court wizard Sybille.  As I reached out to collect her payment I looked into her eyes and realized they were a fiery orange.  A vampire!  My heart skipped a beat and I quickly excused myself from the room.  Without raising suspicion I asked around and no one seemed to know about it.  Call it a coincidence but the Vampire problem in Skyrim is worse than I thought.  This will have to wait.

Until next time,

- ST

Mistwatch

Dear Diary,

We left Riften and headed north.  I had traveled this way before but it had been quite some time. This time I was after Gunmar, a man Isran insisted on recruiting to the Dawnguard.

Other than a few wild animals the first half of the trip was fairly uneventful.  Lots of reagent picking and watching a dragon circle to the west carefully.  At one point we came to a ridge, and laughing back at Belrand I slid down the side of the craggy slope.  To my surprise I landed on the top of some very old battlements of some forgotten ruin.  Right in front of me on the round tower was a hatch to go lower, and to my right tucked into the mountain wall was a door that looked to go further up into the ruins and mountain.

I peeked over the edge of the tower and saw nothing and heard no one around, so I tried the door.  It was locked, so I opted to go down into the tower.

I snuck quietly down the ladder and around the corner. There was a open gate with a dead farmer woman inside, I searched around but saw no evidence other than a note mentioning she had put up a fight. Through the darkness only lit by a campfire, I could hear a bit of rustling around the curve of the tower.  I carefully crept forward and hard a rustling, some shouts, and then the clang of battle.  The unmistakable call of Stendarr and a familiar's wolfish howl made me realize I had forgotten all about Belrand and he had tromped his way through the front door.  I whispered to myself for him to hold on and drew Void.  Coming around the bend I spotted my first target, a bandit with bow drawn.  I quickly loosed an arrow, shocking him and dropping him to the ground.

I pushed forward just as the two other men got the upper hand on Belrand and pushed him down the stairs.  I saw an open opportunity and as they turned to investigate this figure that just stood their eyes went wide.  I shouted them not only down the stairs, but their bodies went airborne and flew to the other side of Belrand.  As the meaner one landed I put an electric crackling arrow into him.  Belrand rose, and with a massive clang of magical energy, steeled his conjured armor and charged with his ebony axe.  The man reached up for forgiveness and out of fear, but Belrand was angry.

His conjured wolf disappeared, and he sheathed his weapon muttering something about foul bandits.  We pressed on and found another door.  This one went outside and to more ramparts and another tower-top hatch leading lower. I peeked over the edge again and saw a man leaning against a battlement half-wall.  I knocked an arrow and let loose.  It his it's mark and he cursed - drawing his own bow and looking for us.  The three of us traded arrows for a few minutes, all missing, until Belrand's wolf almost knocked me off the edge, and I thought to forget it and meet this man outside.  So we waved a white flag and went down into the tower.

Coming from a hallway to the side of the hall - an unusual break in the architecture from the rest of this building, we saw some lantern light and I peeked around the corner.  There was a man sat huddled there.  He seemed rather wimpy and in despair so I snuck up and talked to him.  Turns out the bandits here had kidnapped his wife and were holding her here. I worried that the woman in the prison cell before was her, and was about to say something when he handed me a key he had stolen.  I figured I was going to check on that top door anyway, so I would wait and report on the way back down.  I mentioned the bandits outside and told him to hide.

We ran back up to the very top and entered the door I could not before.  A woman was sitting there indeed, but she was clearly a bandit.  She saw us instantly and spoke - turns out she was the wife of the man, and she had seen him creeping around outside.  She wanted nothing to do with him, gave me her wedding ring and told me to tell the man whatever I liked.

As I turned I considered killing the woman, since if I had to tell the man she was dead it might as well have been the truth, and she was a bandit after all.  However I decided against it while he was still around, and went back down to him.  I told him we found her but she was dead, and there was her ring.  He was saddened, but at least he had closure.  I would rather have told him the truth, but I just couldn't find the words.  We left ahead of him and saw the bandit out front was dead.  The wolf must have made it all the way down and taken care of him without me knowing.


We camped out in some bedrolls, as it was late.  I lamented for a second wasting almost a full day here, but quickly realized this man was safe and had closure, and that was worth it.  But time to steel my focus.  The next day we headed north to find Grunmar.  He was where Isran said he would be, hunting for some bear.  A bear I could certainly take care of, and did.  Grunmar was thankful and agreed to head south.


Seeing the next mark on the map being somewhere between Solitude and Markarth, I headed to Windhelm to catch a carriage.  We did so, doing a bit of shopping, catching up with friends and just enjoying the city before dusk.  The next day we took a carriage to Solitude and stopped at home for a bit.

Tomorrow - south to find this other person for Isran.


Until next time,

- ST

Blood or Skooma, Ma'am?

Dear Diary,

Milling about Whiterun, we were approached by an Orc in a strange leather outfit I had never seen before.  He said he was looking for recruits for his group - the Dawnguard.  He explained there was a new vampire menace in the world, and it was their duty to stop it.

It seemed pretty interesting, and I wanted a suit of his armor, so we jumped a carriage to Riften and searched out their home.  The castle Dawnguard was very impressive, dwarfing most architecture I had seen thus far in Skyrim.

I met their leader, Isran, who must be an avid pipe smoker.  Isran was adamant I check out a nearby cave along with Vigilant Tolan.  After dispatching some of the weaker fledglings, we came upon Lokir interrogating another Vigilant, but we were too late.  The vampire killed the man and set off for a strange structure in the center of the cavern.  Before his foot could hit the nearby bridge, I skewered his throat with an arrow, and felled his companions as well.

Belrand wasn't keen on this area of the cave, and I agreed it looked quite strange. After solving the riddle of the central area, the middle of the room dropped down and revealed an enclosure.  Upon opening a woman fell out, gasping for air, seemingly asleep previously.  She introduced herself as Serana and asked who I was.  She was obviously a vampire and it surprised her that the one releasing her was not.  I also noticed the Elder Scroll she carried with her.  She seemed very nice so I offered to lead her back to her home - a castle to the west of Markarth and Solitude.

We went south, as it was now dusk and out of consideration of our companion we decided to travel at night, and walked quietly around the eastern side of Whiterun and quickly grabbed a carraige to Markarth.  When we arrived, we wasted no time with the town and started north.  The mountains were treacherous and I often became separated with my companions.  But by dawn we had met at a small jetty and crossed to the castle.

The castle itself was quite impressive and had a ominous feel to it.  The gate keeper who looked of scurvy allowed us in once he saw Serana.  The inside was grand and beautiful, but tarnished by ghastly sights.  These vampires were not the classy type I had heard of in Cyrodiil, but were quite bestial and made a mess of all of their meals upon the tables and floors.

There was much celebration.  I was offered the "gift" of becoming a vampire, but I realized my mistake in leading this woman here and quickly and politely left the castle.  I think I have done something terrible, so I decided to officially join the Dawnguard to set this right.  We walked to Solitude and quickly took stock of our supplies at home, and then grabbed a carriage to Riften.

Isran was not pleased, and was more hoarse than ever.  He tasked me with finding a few important people to rally to the cause out in the world.  There was nothing else I could help with that was grander at the moment, and I felt guilty so quickly agreed.  Belrand and I left the castle and decided to stay in Riften for the rest of the day and night.  We did a good bit of shopping, selling off some treasure.  I have quite a bit of gold now, almost 6 digits.  I am not sure why I have this compulsion to horde money, but it is there.

We returned to the Thieves guild, sold some more goods and caught up with the locals down there.  I received more contracts from Vex and Malloy.  They sounded like fun!  I did enjoy sneaking around a rich person's house, if I had a reason to.  Otherwise, felt a bit guilty.  I also realized looking into the pool of water in the cistern, I had grown a bit older.  I am more beautiful, if I do say so myself, but since the last time I saw my reflection I am much more mature and regal looking.  Ah well.  Even I someday will look like the old hags in the cistern!

Returning to the surface and poking around a bit more, I heard rumors of Skooma and spoke to an Argonian in the Bunkhouse.  The poor woman had lost everything using Skooma, but fortunately had finally kicked the habit out of desperation.  The stuff can be dangerous, and Riften is likely full of it being a first stop from the land of the red mountain. She finally let it be known who her supplier was, so I spoke to Maven about it.  With her information and influence behind us Belrand and I went to a nearby cave where it was suspected it was being created.  We dispatched a couple of ragged guards in the entrance, and went deeper.  There was a group of people gambling over dog fights.  The poor things were tearing each other apart for a couple of coins for their masters.  I swiftly put each out of their misery, and this did not please the onlookers.  They charged up the stairs and were caught by Belrand, who flipped one in the air and over the rails, and then froze another to death before shattering him.  I supported Belrand with my bow, but was surprised from behind me by a huge brute of an Orc with a sinister looking hammer.  As he swung I heard and dodged his blow, his hammer sticking in the decking.  It was too close to Belrand to shout or use my bow, so I drew Thirsty and had at him.  I must admit he was tough, and I found myself forced to try a bit of the skooma in a lull.  It tasted horrible, but gave me a vitality unlike anything I had tasted before, which was more than enough to kill the man and come to Belrands rescue.  Belrand asked why I was so excited, but I waved him off and we gathered all the evidence.  There were tons of skooma and supplies to make it.

We headed back to Riften, and just as we entered we saw some guards being attacked by vampires.  We took care of them without loss, and the guards thanked me.  A stern reminder my next objective needed to be finding those two people.  No more getting distracted!

Until next time,

-ST

A New Beginning

Dear Diary,

- Narfi is a nice guy.  

- Defeated Alduin.

- Expected much more cheering when I returned to Whiterun.

After leaving Ivarstead, we went once again to the top of the Throat, and discussed the growing threat and a peace treaty.  I agreed to most of the Imperial terms.  It was also nice to see Mr. E again.  We had convinced Balgruuf of Whiterun to allow us to try and trap a dragon.

We succeeded despite some of Jzargo's classic antics.  The dragon and I agreed to the terms that he would be released and take me to where I could find Alduin.  A ride upon a dragon?  Of course I was very excited!  So excited I forgot poor Jzargo behind...

He flew me to Skuldafn, a place rucked away in the peaks of the mountains.  Through a portal inside, I made my way to Sovengarde.  I was distressed to be unable to help any of the souls making their way to the great hall, so I pressed on and made my way inside.  I was blessed with the company of three Nords, and the four of us shouted the evil Alduin into dust.  Not the most difficult opponent I have had to fight so far, and let the history books show the World Eater was defeated by a budding librarian.

I was brought back to the Throat, where Parthuurnax and others met me.  They said their goodbyes and flew off into the storm.  I climbed down in a fluster.  I missed poor Jzargo and did not want to leave him waiting any longer.  I hoped he had not thought I deserted him intentionally.

When I returned to Dragonsreach I was greeted by the steward.  Jzargo had left a note, which read:

"Dear Friend,

Jzargo must return to college.  Jzargo had many adventures and good fun, but studies beckon.  Jzargo remember always, and woman remember always - travel nose first!.

See you at Winterhold,

- Jzargo"

I must admit I was quite sad.  I did not expect him to leave my side so suddenly.  I took a cart back to Solitude and put away some of my items.  My house is quite a mess and could use a good cleaning.

But I was much too sad for that, and spent a few days milling about town and in the bar.  A man approached and offered me to join him in a drinking game.  I felt quite sure of myself having a couple already.  I seemed to be winning, and the next thing I new I was in a strange temple with two other people.  One, a priestess the other a scruffy bald man.

The priestess was yelling at the man, who was trying to calm her down.  He saw me awaken and ran over to me. 

"HELLO!" He yelled.

I replied in kind.  The priestess followed and turned her ramblings to me.  After a long while of explaining, I finally figured out I had lost the bet, and I was in Markarth in the temple of Dibella.  I was confused as to how I got here, so I asked this man.  He introduced himself as Belrand and said he had been watching the drinking game and decided to follow in case I needed help, although I could tell from his attitude it was more because he found whatever I did humorous.  Unfortunately he was quite drunk as well and did not remember how he got there either...

So we left the temple and hit the road.  Our first stop was somewhere east.  We puttered along at a slow pace, as he was quite bored and we both hung over.  I told him he was free to leave, but he insisted he was there to defend me and help.  Quite humorous, as I was the one in full Ebony plate whereas he had a butter knife and rags.

"We should stop at the next town and buy you some leather." I said.

"That'll do missy, I am quite fond of the lighter armors." he responded.

We went on our way.  As the sun set, we passed a strange looking Argonian who walked as one who was in a big hurry but was also trying to conceal that fact.  He looked sheepishly at us with a large bag tucked over his shoulder, and dressed in fancy but dirty full glass armor.  As he passed, I noticed jewels slipping out of his bag.  A thief! I quickly yelled at Belrand to grab him, which he did surprisingly quicky, and I clonked the slippery lizard on the head.

Belrand was quite transfixed by the hefty bag of jewels, and my slap over the head knocked him out of his daze.

"Hey doofus, glass armor."

"Oh.......OH!" He replied, and quickly stripped the Argonian and put on his new suit.  I must admit he looked quite the regal battle mage in his new gear.

Anyway, enough for today.  We made our way to Whiterun just as sun is setting.  My Breezehome is sometimes quite convenient!

Until next time,

-ST