I have learned so much in the last few days. And yet I feel filled with so many more questions than before. The lore and tales of this land are only surpassed by it's actual history. To think that I may get to play an essential role in these tales is both awe inspiring and frightening.
I found Esbern, the old Lore Master of the blades camped out in the rat-way as I had suspected. I did have a little trouble getting to him, Riften is a most unscrupulous town. I found Brynjolf easy enough, he was the man I'd been told would know Esbern's location. He did seem to know, but he refused to tell me anything unless I helped him out. Well I was considering helping him until he revealed that what he needed help with was petty thievery There is no glory in stealing from the poor for ones own amusement. I turned him down flat, hurt his feelings a little actually I think, at least he got a very hurt tone of voice.
With that door closed firmly, I wen to my next best bet to find information, the innkeeper. She is a lusty Argonian maid, and indeed she did know, or at least had a suspicion as to where Esbern was hiding out. She told me that there was an old man who lived down in the Rat-way Warrens who matched my description. She also eluded to the fact that I was not the first to ask for his location. That was my first clue that the Thalmor were closer than I had thought.
I was apprehended on my way out of the tavern by another Argonian, I had thought he was the mate of the innkeeper from the way he followed her around, but it turned out he was not quite her mate yet. He timidly asked me if, in my adventures I should happen upon any flawless amethysts that I would let him have three for a wedding band. Apparently is is Argonian tradition to have three flawless amethysts, two representing the bride and groom, and the center one representing the Hist. I told him I would do my best. I actually have the stones on my person right now, I retrieved them on my way back from Riften by stopping at my house, I have many precious stones there. Now I just have to find time to get them back to him.
I helped out another citizen as a matter of fact before venturing down into the rat-ways This one was a dark elf, with a strange, black marsh sounding name. Talon-Jei or something if I remember correctly. I stopped at his stand in the market to sell off a few trinkets, and upon hearing his name, inquired why he carried such a strange title. Apparently his parents were refugees who were slain many years ago when he was but a child, he was adopted by Argonians and brought to Riften. His story meant nothing to me, until he mentioned that he had been wrapped in a blanket of House Telvanni. Then suddenly my memory was jarred. I have been carrying this little dusty diary around with me for months now, mostly just because it's an interesting read. I found it in a shipwreck up by Windhelm The Dunmer's story matched up almost perfectly with the chronological account contained in the diary. I gave him the book on a whim, asking if it looked familiar. He was exuberant. I was glad I was able to help, but I miss my book. I'm going to have to find something else to read now on dark Skyrim nights to help me sleep.
After that I finally had my opportunity to sneak into the rat-ways As all the good (of which there are few) citizens of Riften had told me, the rat-ways were populated with vermin. Both animal and human. I was hesitant at first of what to attack, but the further we moved through the tunnels, the less I held back. By the time I reached the Ragged Flagon, I was killing everything that moved.
Inside the Ragged Flagon I was greeted less than hospitably. It was filled with what I assume were a bunch of thieves, since I've heard they're holed up in the rat-ways. They were able to point me in the right direction however. On a side note there was a certain woman by the name of Vex who called herself an appraiser. I've been carrying this unusual gem around with me for months, hoping that someone could identify it. On a whim I showed it to her. It was obvious from her tone of voice that she recognized it, but she refused to tell me anything about it because I was not a member of her 'guild'. I would really like to find out what this gem is worth, it's not the first of it's kind I've found, I have several more sitting in my manor. It may almost be worth getting into their group just so I can figure out it's value. Later of course.
On my way out of the Ragged Flagon I had my first run in with the Thalmor. Seems they had a contact on the Riften streets who had blown my cover. Between Erandur and I, we disposed of them quickly. The thieves were no help. I suppose they are run by Mavin Black-Briar, and she is friends with the Thalmor...so it makes since. Anyways, I managed to find Esbern after that with little trouble. He is a paranoid old Nord, but he finally let me in and spoke with me.
After much convincing he agreed to come back to Riverwood with me. We got out of the rat-ways as quickly as possible, hired a carriage and went straight to Riverwood. I had no desire to have any more run-ins with the Thalmor.
Once we got to Riverwood the four of us locked ourselves down in Delphine's secret cellar and held conference. As we had hoped, Esbern had some ideas about why the dragon's are coming back, and potentially how we can stop them. Erandur told me he's with me to the end, and added ruefully, whether he wants to be or not. I suppose he's right, the Thalmor have him down as my accomplice now. Nowhere is safe for him. We're better off sticking together for now. I'm secretly glad though, I enjoy his company and dark sense of humor. Very dark for a priest of Mara...
According to Esbern our best bet was to travel to Sky Haven Temple, an old Akaviri fortress by Karthspire. I knew the area well, and offered to meet them there. I wanted to scout ahead, clearing the path and making sure that all went well on the journey. Erandur agreed it would probably be best if he stayed with Esbern and Delphine and made sure that they got to the ruin safely. Neither of them liked the fact that we thought they needed a bodyguard...but they accepted his assistance in the end.
As I had expected, Karthspire was once again populated with Forsworn. I cleared out the camp about three months ago, but those people populate and spread like rabbits, so I wasn't surprised to see it once again crawling with them. A dragon attack surprising aided me in clearing the camp, as I was able to let it wreak havoc and also take damage before I stepped out of the shadows and cleaned up. Just as I had hit the beast with the final fireball, Erandur and his party arrived. Esbern was in awe when he saw me absorbing the soul of the beast. He kept going on about it until I silenced him with a harsh word. I don't see the point in belaboring over every detail. We need to focus more on how to end these dragons returns, and then perhaps study the light pattern that a soul being absorbed by a Dunmer makes...
We found the entrance to the temple easily enough, it was just through the entrance to Karthspire. The door was locked however with a mechanism which I found foreign. Esbern however recognized it immediately It was a blood seal. He said to open this seal only the pure blood of a dragonborn would work. I realized that meant I would have to sacrifice my blood to allow us entrance and that it had to be done. So I did the only thing I could think of that would give us enough blood to fill the seal. I borrowed a short dagger from Esbern and slit my hand side to side. It hurt terribly, the worst part was just kneeling there, having to deal with the pain. Of course I've experienced a fair share of pain in my day, but it's so much easier to take when your in the midst of a battle. Its not your main focus. With this it was my only focus, and not just mine, all eyes were silently watching me. The moment the seal was filled Erandur was beside me, casting a healing spell over me. The pain was instantly lifted.
My blood worked. The door opened, and the interior of one of the only remaining Akaviri temples was revealed to us. Esbern began blabbering in glee as he scanned the beautiful stonework surrounding the temple. He kept telling me to 'look at this' and 'do you see that!' I was beginning to get ready to slap him into some common sense when Delphine thankfully spoke up. She asked him what exactly we were actually looking for, and he finally came back to his senses. Our target turned out to be a huge, ornately carved stonewall depicting both Alduin's first coming, and his second. According to Esbern the wall showed that Alduin was defeated the first time by a shout. And that he would be defeated by the same shout again this time. That seemed strange to me that we should use this same shout again on him even though it obviously isn't a hundred percent effective since he came back...but it is our best bet, so I decided to pursue the matter.
I told them that I would go and speak to the Greybeards to see if they could teach me this shout. Erandur offered to accompany Esbern and Delphine back to Riverwood, but it seems both of them wish to stay at the temple. We agreed to leave them there as there was no changing their minds.
Upon arriving at High Hrothgar I was disappointed to learn that the Greybeards although knowing OF the shout, had no knowledge of what the actual words to it were. Arngier was very persistent that I should drop the matter, but in the end I convinced him to allow me to finally speak with their leader, Paarthurnax. He taught me a shout which helped me to ascend the treacherous mountain to its peak. And that is where I learned that the leader of the Greybeards is no man, but a mighty, ancient, dragon.
Although he is a dragon, Paarthurnax is perhaps one of the most level headed individuals involved in this dragon business so far. He was very reasonable, he spoke to me as an equal, even though he in an immortal beast. I find that already I have a great amount of respect for this mighty creature. He informed me much more about Alduin's original defeat, and how I might replicate it. He also answered my question regarding why I should use the same shout again that did not completely destroy Alduin the first time. Apparently the early Nords who used the shout on Alduin were not Dragon-born only versed in the Thu'um. They were not able to absorb a dragon's soul and end it for good. I can. If I can use this shout, Dragonrend, to bring Alduin down, and then slay him, I will absorb his soul permanently, thus ending his life forever. Hopefully.
Unfortunately Paarthurnax was also unaware of the words of the shout. Apparently it is a shout that dragons are not able to learn, since it was created by mortals, for the express reason of making dragons experience the feeling of mortality. In essence, when one learns a shout, they absorb all of the meanings and connotations which that shout carries with it, I understand this much very well. Therefore a dragon cannot learn the Dragonrend shout because they have no way to understand the concept of mortality.
Paarthurnax told me that in order to learn the Dragonrend shout needed to defeat Alduin I was going to have to travel back in time and learn in first hand from the early Nords. And the only way he could think of to do that was via an Elder Scroll. Needless to say I am a bit nervous about that idea. I've heard of the Elder Scrolls, they are incredibly powerful artifacts with the ability to change the past, the present and the future, some have described them as existing, 'outside of time'. I've also heard they cause blindness. Ha ha.
I will talk to Arngier in the morning, hopefully he knows or at least has an idea where I might be able to find one of these relics. For now I am focused on warming back up and clearing my head. Erandur is already fast asleep, I envy him.
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