Midas?

Just a not to remind myself that there is ore of the Moonstone variety in in Soljund's Sinkhole by Rorikstead.

Tirdas, 9:29 AM, 4th of Heartfire

Had a run in with the Daedric Lord Sanguine!  I thought I was participating in a mere drinking contest at the Bannered Mare but no!  Turns out I passed out cold and woke up a day later in Markarth!  Never even been to that god forsaken tower of stone, and hope never to return there!  Apparently I stole a goat and proposed to a Hagraven and fondled quite licentiously a statue of Dibella before regaining my senses.  Too bad I don't remember a damned moment of any of it.  Everything I know is based off of the rumors I'm hearing and the angered citizens who say I harmed them that night.  In the end, after I had righted all of my wrongs, (which took a good two days), Sanguine gave me this beautiful ornate staff which leans against my desk now as I write.  That's right I have a desk.  I have a house.  Here in Whiterun.  It's all very exciting.  I'm calling it Breezehome manor, even though it is anything but a manor.  I decided to purchase it when I got back from Markarth, mainly because owning a home and having a reliable place to crash every night that doesn't involve bandits or drinking should help prevent me trying to marry any more Hagravens (and by Mara was she a crone!).

Tonight will be my last night at the Bannered Mare, at least for awhile.  I'm going to kind of miss Saadia, ever since I killed her redguard stalker Kematu (best dual wielding swordsman I'd ever fought by the way) She's given me free drinks!  I'll probably still come back to the Mare often, I do like my spiced wine!

I'm thinking of heading to Riften and checking out the Thieves Guild.  I haven't seen a dragon in awhile, that makes me happy.


LATER,

Forgot to mention that I also found another obscure treasure map, this one labeled, "Lighthouse."  Am guessing it refers to Solitude?  though I have never been there myself, I know that it has one of the most used lighthouses in Skyrim.  I'm hoping it doesn't refer to some out of the way lighthouse in the back 40 of some yodels private property...

I copied the map down just in case I loose the paper before getting to Solitude.

Morndas, 8:14, 1st of Heartfire

Killed a bandit leader at Redoran's Retreat today.  While looting his den I found another Treasure map like the one I found by the bandit's in Riverwood (I did go back and find that treasure by the way, nothing to write home about, I was sorely disappointed).  Only this one is for a Treasure near Whiterun.  After several tedious hours of searching, and an attack by a saber cat, we found it.  Worth the search!  I am much closer to my homeowners ambitions!  I also got my 100 gold for the bandit's head and sold off most of his loot.  I'm hoping to buy some silver and hone Gugnir at the whetstone tomorrow morning.

Sundas, 7:42 PM, 31st of Last Seed

After retrieving Nettlebane I took the dagger to the cave/place of worship to gather sap from the Eldergleam tree so that my little priestess could heal her tree in Whiterun.  The tree was actually located in a shady grove/overhand.  There were several worshipers and a priestess of Kynereth there.  The priestess begged me not to use Nettlebane on the Eldergleam tree, foretelling some sort of dire consequences if I did, but I saw no other alternative.  I never even had to hit the tree, it's massive roots seemed to recoil in pure fear of the dagger. I wonder why?  After collecting the sap in a small vial, things went South quickly.  A small army of Spriggans ambushed us.  I swear that they had some kind of supernatural force too.  They broke my sturdy silver sword! If not for that I may have been able to save Kynereth's followers, but armed with only a steel dagger, even between Lydia and I we were unable to save any of them.  In fact we barely got out alive ourselves.

I have spent the last few days running odd jobs and selling off my loot to that I can afford a new sword.  The Jarl's steward informed me last time I was at the palace that as a Thane of Whiterun I can now purchase property in the city.  I will have to think about that.  Although I like the Bannered Mare, and it certainly is in my budget, it would be nice to have a place where I can keep certain things, this dagger named Nettlebane for one.  I may have to hack a few more bandit necks in order to afford a house though, property costs are ridiculous around here.

Just today I actually forged my new sword.  I'm calling it Gugnir, and look forward to trying it out, it's balanced excellently, and the silver coated blade is sharp and beautifully made.  I'm very proud of myself!

Morndas, 8:55 PM, 25th of Last Seed

Was going to go straight to Whiterun but decided to make a slight detour and retrieve this ceremonial dagger 'Nettlebane' for that cute priestess who I was hanging around at the temple in Whiterun.  Cleared out a bandit camp and am staying the night here.  Will continue to the Hagraven nest in the morning.

Sundas, 6:52 PM, 24th of Last Seed

Uh.  Why do things always become so damned complicated!  What was supposed to be a quick hike up to Azura's Shrine turned into an all day ordeal.  And yes, I suppose it is partially my fault.  I figured I could take a shortcut, shave off an hour or so--instead I wound up falling into a cave, much like the one Lydia fell into, only much larger, and having to fight my way through a huge underground Dwemer ruin filled with Falmer (yes they do exist!) and their poisonous pets.  On the upside I picked up some nice poisons off the Falmer corpses.  but on the downside I've already used them all...on those vicious little Falmer.  Upside!  Azura let me keep her cleansed star when I finally got it back to her.  Downside...attacked by an Argonian assassin from the Dark Brotherhood.  UPSIDE!  Argonian assassin from the dark brotherhood will never be bothering anyone ever again!

Lydia and I are going to stay at the Frozen Hearth one more night before heading back to Whiterun.

Loredas, 6:27 PM, 23rd of Last Seed

Just a quick note to say I found Lydia!  Quiet on accident, I fell down into the same cave she did while retracing our steps.  She's fine, except for a sprained ankle, she managed to kill three skeever from a sitting position with only the small shaft of light from where she fell to guide her blade.  The girl does have skill. I will admit that.  I took her to the Frozen Hearth inn in Winterhold for now to rest while I run that errand for the Daedra.  A man accosted me just now as I was leaving, saying he could put this broken Soul Gem to good use for me.  But I'd rather not cross a Daedra, silent as she may be.

One other note:  while she was staying here yesterday, Lydia managed to befriend the inn-keep and got an interesting story out of her about a local drunk's lost lover Isabelle who apparently run off with a thief named Vex to Riften.  I would like to learn more about this fabled 'thieves guild' and perhaps this bit of information will help.  For now I'm letting Lydia rest a little longer as I run back up the mountain to deliver this gem to Azura's Priestess.