Tuesday, March 20, 2012

No.32- One Of A Kind Wall (Dragon 12)

Dragon Bridge, west of Solitude

After the revelation of Aduin's Wall in Sky Haven Temple, the Blades secret fortress, I agreed to meet Delphine and Esbern at Karthspire, a Dwemer ruin located in a river valley South West of Solitude in a mountainous area of Skyrim called The Reach. Sky Haven Temple was suspected of being located in the vicinity of Karthspire. However Solitude, the headquarters of the Imperial Legion and General Tullius was relatively close by and suddenly, I realized I had been carrying around the Jagged Crown for far too long. In a previous entry (No.29), I had seized this crown, preventing the Storm Cloaks from getting their hands on it. This was a perfect time to hand over the crown.

Lisette @ UESP.net

Lydia and I fast traveled to Solitude arriving there at night. Bestowing our presence on the lucky patrons of the Winking Skeever, we relaxed, drinking some brew, while being serenaded by the lovely and shapely Lisette, the local bard. After Lisette made several suggestions that we spend the night, I plunked down some gold for a spacious room and we invited her up for a night cap. The night turned out to be less restful than I had hoped, and in a short while daylight was peering in through our window along with the chirping of birds. After some moments of contemplating what a good life this was, I yawned whiling nudging Lydia. With persistence I finally got some life out of her. We arose to get ourselves presentable for the business of the day while Lisette burrowed deeper under the covers. Saying fond farewells to our favorite entertainer, I kissed her cheek, before heading down the stairs for a bite of something other than bard thigh...
Skeever Yumminess! @ESWiki.com
Feeling completely sated after a breakfast of goose eggs and skeever sausage we walked to the Solitude Castle in search of General Tullius. Compared to questing, this was easy, finding him adjacent to the map room. I turned over the Jagged Crown and Tullius seemed pleased. He responded by handing me a message for the Jarl of Whiterun. The essence of the message was that it was time to make a choice, Legion or Stormcloaks. More than not, Whiterun has been my home so I really hoped Balgruuf would choose my side.

Steward Falk Firebeard @ESWikia.com

Stuffing this message into my pocket, I had a niggle in the back of my brain realizing that some time ago, I had been summoned by Falk Firebeard, the steward of Elisif the Fair, Jarl of Solitude over at Solitude's Blue Palace regarding my previous action at Wolf Skull Cave. You may recall this is where we prevented the Wolf Queen, Potema from resurrecting herself. Turns out that Potema was still around trying to return herself to flesh and blood status.

Father Styrr in Solitude
Falk wanted me to fetch her bones from a catacomb to prevent this from happening and pointed me at Styrr the local priest who informed me that The Wolf Queen caused trouble 500 years ago and no one wanted her, the most infamous of necromancers, alive, much less returning to the throne, which as a direct Septon descendant, she would be entitled too. I slotted in this task at the No.2 on my important-things-to-do list after locating Sky Haven Temple with Delphine and Esbern.

I can say this for Skyrim, it's never dull!

Glimmering Falls in The Reach

Despite the shadows growing longer, Lydia and I left Solitude late in the day heading West, South-West for Karthspire. After passing out of the serenity of close proximity to Solitude, along the East-West road, we cut South into the wilderness. We were not disappointed coming across raging rivers and beautiful water falls plunging over jagged rocks, under a moonlit night. Along the way we fought hostile wolves, a bear, forged rivers, climbed mountains, tangled with bandits, and Forsworn until finally hitting the river that would take us to Karthspire.

Aftermath, Karthspire Camp

Walking up the shores of the running water, I had no idea of the firestorm we were approaching, until we were in the midst of it! We came across Karthspire Camp, a Forsworn encampment consisting of elevated platforms and walkways connecting both sides of the river.

Red Alert!

We had plunged into an undesirable three way, consisting of battle against effective Forsworn combat veterans and an aggressive Elder Dragon spewing frost across the landscape. Delphine and Esbern were there and immediately lept into battle upon our arrival. The Forsworn were mostly distracted by the circling dragon, while we kept our focus on them! One of the reasons this battle was tough was that I was surprised on multiple occasions tripping over Lydia's body. Stumbling over her after a night of debauchery was not bad, but I've been careful not to hit her with my Dragon Shouts during combat, and this was unacceptable! After multiple back-in-time spells (reverts-to-save), we finally eliminated the Forsworn and could concentrate on the Dragon who just happened to be the toughest beast to date.

Another Notch on my Belt

While it could not make one-breath kills, it was powerful and its health was legendary. I kept calling Lydia to me to keep her alive. One time, lacking situational awareness, the beast charged, seized me in its mouth, shook me like a rag doll, then spit me out against some rocks. Revert to Save, saved me multiple times that night! After tons of abuse,  the sucker finally laid down and died, whooshing me with it's soul! After such a fight, it felt especially good, tingling all over.

Karthspire Cavern

In fact, we all seemed invigorated and ready for more. Hiking up the mountain side to Karthspire Cavern, our party headed into this cool subterranean space with puzzles!

Karthspire Party

After a couple of not to challenging puzzles, we came to a large face engraved in a wall, behind an emblem inscribed into the floor that required the spilling of a Dragonborn's blood, my blood to open the door. Being a worldly person, I noted some similarity in appearance of this blood collector to one depicted in the original Hellboy Movie, but I guess it's mostly a good way to collect human blood sacrifices.

Authentication Via Blood

A few drops of my blood was all it took although I wondered if I'd ever get used to cutting myself if I wanted to visit Sky Haven on a regular basis? After hearing a disembodied "yummy" sound, the face pivoted back into the wall allowing us to pass into Sky Haven Temple, an ancient Blade refuge, fortress. Not having to fight our way in was a nice change of pace. Walking into a large hall, there was Alduin's Wall, an impressive pictorial representation of Alduin history! It revealed to Esbern that a Dragon Shout was required to defeat Alduin. Despite Delphine's protests, who would know more about Dragon Shouts than the Greybeards sitting high a top their snowy mountain?

Alduin's Wall

Now I was forced to consider which was strategically more important to handle first, the long trek across Skyrim and way up the mountain to the practitioners of the Voice or into The Wolf Queen's catacombs? Decisions!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

No.31- Looking For Esbern

Karth River Valley West of Riften

After my tirade about Skyrim marriage and having several honey meads at the bar with Lydia, I finally got over my disappointment and resolved to take care of more important affairs. After all I still had Lydia by my side and that is doing all right!
Brynjoff @ ElderscrollsWiki.com

Based on Delphine's tip, we hoofed it over to Riften in search of the Blade called Esbern that the Thalmor were looking for. In Riften, I met a a thief called Brynjolf, who might know the Blade's location, but he would not help me until I helped him. Intimidation did not work, so seeing no other way forward, I agreed to steal a ring and slip it into the pocket of merchant, setting him up to be accused of thievery. The things I do for the Empire. Maybe I can come back later and straighten out the mess I helped create.

Ragged Flaggon, Ratway, Riften

After doing my part, Brynjoff wanted me to do more but I declined, and still acquired the hiding place of Esbern who was living in the "Rat Way" the tunnel/sewers under Riften. The Rat Way was an interesting place. We met a variety of hostile types, found a pub in the sewer called the Ragged Flagon, and eventually located Esbern behind a door with a dozen locks on it. I convinced him I meant no harm, was there on behalf of Delphine, and finally he relented and opened up.

Esbern, The Blade
He told me quite a story about Alduin, the Dragon from the beginning of time who would devour the world. This was the dragon flying around Skyrim resurrecting dragon bones. Significantly, only a Drgaonborn, *cough* me could stop him. During our discussion, the Thalmor showed up and tried to butt in, but me, Lydia, Esbern, his Frost Atronach, and Sparky were not about to let that happen!

Fun in the Sewers!

Taking Esbern under our wing, we escorted him from Riften over to Riverwood, quite a jaunt, and this time I vowed to hoof it all the way over without any fast traveling. We got an early morning start and headed West along the South shore of Lake Honrich and along the Karth River Valley West towards Iverstad. Walking the length of Skyrim enjoying the sights really makes me appreciate the environment.

Treva's Watch@ UESP.net

On the way there we bumped into some forlorn people led by Stalleo. He told us that their home at Treva's Watch had been taken over by bandits and could we help by sneaking in the back way? Sure thing! Even Esbern did not mind the detour. The back way was sneaking through a cavern. The area was patrolled and we were discovered quickly, facing some tough fights from electricity wielding bandits. The good guys prevailed. I got the feeling that Stalleo and his people don't like magic wielders because before and after we took the fort back, they kept warning me to keep my magic to myself, lol.

Mountain Pass vicinity of Iverstad

It was still dark when we reached Iverstad, but instead of stopping we decided to forge ahead over the snowy mountain pass. Daylight broke and it was a wondrous Skyrim morning when the buildings of Riverwood came into view on the banks of the White River. Inside the Sleeping Giant in we rendezvoused with Delphine. She and Esbern had a happy reunion and then it was down to business.

Bleak Falls Barrow, adjacent to Riverwood

Esbern told us that he thought the key to defeating Auduin could be found at Alduin's Wall located in Sky Haven Temple. I suggested that Delphine and Esbern meet us there so Lydia and I could make a quick loot and enchanting run at Whiterun and the College. I was given a preview of the future and shocked when Delphine told her partner that she was giving him her share of the Inn and would probably not be returning!

Camillla Valerius @Elderscrolls Wikia. Relax Woman!

Before leaving Riverwood, I dropped into the Riverwood Traders and checked out the ready and willing prospective spouse, Camilla Valerius, sister of Lucan Valerius who is better looking in person.