No.37- Climax and Reflection

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 Back and forth, back and forth between Whiterun and High Hrothgar, thank goodness for fast travel! We popped into Whiterun near dusk, and it was raining with distant thunder in the background. Realizing the enormity of my near future endeavor, I stopped for a moment, looked up, and let the rain pat on my face. So much nicer than the frigid top of the mountain. Squeezing Lydia's shoulder, I watched the low hanging clouds drifted across the mountains and reflected upon the beauty of the world. I don't think I'd ever felt appreciation for this life as I did this evening, standing in the rain, despite the conflict and turmoil of Skyrim, realizing that it could all be over very soon. Life is an adventure with challenges and obstacles to overcome. I prayed I would rise to the challenge facing me.

Are We Ready?

Into Dragonsreach, we marched up to the Jarl and he told us he was ready to trap a dragon. The Jarl of Whiterun is a sly one. For all of his pretenses "it's been written in lore", there on the back porch of Dragonsreach was a giant yoke with no other purpose than to restrain a dragon. While I pondered, the Jarl got on my nerves asking every couple of minutes if I had a plan to call the dragon. My plan was to call the dragon with my newly learned Dragon Shout and then  knock it down with Dragonrend and remind everyone, we were capturing, not killing a dragon.

These Dragon Shouts are supposed to be different words, but they all sound the same to me, something like "A-WOOF"! Calling the dragon, I wondered if it had worked, but dragons fly fast and in a few minutes we heard the beating of large leathery wings. The belligerent dragon Odahviing appeared and attacked us. His mistake was hovering which all of the dragons I've fought and killed like to do. I hit him with Dragonrend and this grounded him, but as ornery as ever, he walked around snapping and following us into the large covered porch. Don't ask how I know you should avoid the teeth! Once inside, I hit the button and the giant yoke, fell on Odahuiing, snaring him. This changed him into a somewhat repentant dragon.

One Trapped Dragon

With a small band of witnesses, I asked where Alduin had retreated to. He agreed to tell me in hopes that I would release him. Alduin had retreated to Sovngarde, the spirit world where he had set a trap, to feed on lost souls seeking The Hall of Valor, the place where the spirits of Nord heros retreat to celebrate their lives.  The portal for Sovngarde is located in the ruin of Skuldafn and guarded by a Dragon Priest. When I asked Odahuiing to serve me, he declined, but as Skuldafn is only reachable by flying, he offered to transport me there. He also admitted he had lost faith in Alduin's Lordship and that if I defeated him, he would consider serving me.

Seriously, YAHOO!

They told me I was crazy, but I ordered Odahuiing released and he honored his word allowing me to ride on his back. When I realized that Lydia would not be able to accompany me, I gave her a hug and asked for her prayers. She agreed and with tears, waved good by. Launching into the night sky was the most exhilarating experience of my life, the altitude and speed, watching Skyrim pass beneath my feet on our way to Skuldafn to the North East. Once there, Odahuiing offered his dragon encouragement and departed.

Glorious Combat, That's Me On the Left!

I Hate Spiders

Soon after hostile Dragurs, dragons, and frack'n large spiders came at me, but I found my way to the portal, and with the help of my Flame Atronach, "Puff", defeated the Dragon Priest, activated the portal and found myself in a mystical land obscured in fog, Sovngarde, realm of the spirits.

Sovengarde, Spirit Realm

It was the fog Alduin had created so the spirits would become lost on their way to Shor's Hall, The Hall of Valor. I ran into several of them and offered to help by clearing the way using my Clear Skies Shout. If not obscured in fog, Sovngrde would be a beautiful place. After a long sojourn, I found myself at a dragon bone bridge and across the chasm was Shor's Hall.

Hall of Valor

 Guarding this bridge was Tsun who only allowed those worthy to cross and since I was alive, I had two strikes against me. I told him I was Dragon Born and he responded by challenging me to combat. I quickly learned I did not want to let this guy hit me. So in my normal frantic evade mode, launching pot shots and sicking Puff on him, although I did not defeat him, I was able to stay alive and this impressed him. He allowed me to cross the bridge.

Inside the Hall of Valor, I was directed towards the 3 Heroes who knew of my quest and volunteered to help me  with clearing the mist, by combining their shouts with mine and then defeating Alduin. Outside, it took several attempts for us to clear the mist permanently, but once we did, we heard Alduin's enraged voice as he came to smite us.

Alduin Grounded

Whipping out my Dragonrend Shout, I was able to ground him for most of the fight and in the end we prevailed and Alduin was consumed in a fiery explosion!

Death Throws

Celebrate!

 We cheered and after a brief celebration, I thought I might hang out in the Hall of Valor for a while. But I was reminded by Tsun, I should not be staying in Sovingarde too long. So I bid a fond farewell to Tsun and the Heros, expressed the hope of seeing them again, but not too soon, and was transported back to the Mortal World atop the great mountain, the Throat of the World, in the dreary snowy landscape, surrounded by dragons!

Dragons in Mourning

My hand found my mace, but I quickly realized these dragons were not in a fighting mood, but were mourning. Yes, mourning, the lose of Alduin, but they knew it was necessary. Overcome with mixed feelings of success and sadness, I reflected that we mortal humans and dragons alike are so close to the God(s), but so far from them with our petty quarreling and violence directed at one another. I spoke with both Paarthurnax and Odahviing. They bid me a due and Odahviing offered me help whenever I needed it. I knew without a doubt that dragons are intelligent, marvelous creatures, that forgiveness is possible, and I would never be able to make The Blades happy by killing Paarthurnax.

Gathering my emotions, I walked down from the Throat of the World, first stop High Hrothgar to find out if after lifting the dragon menace, and possibly saving the Mortal Plane from destruction, had anything changed for the better in Skyrim? Probably not...