The Tamriel Diaries

The Tamriel Diaries is a blog about the storylines of multiple characters in the world of The Elder Scrolls. Currently, we're following Maka'an, a redguard who has been picked up, mistaken for a Stormcloak, a rebel against the Imperial Army. His story will unfold over time.

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[Dragon Stone, and the Unrelenting Force]

The ancient door moves slowly, but on its own.  Dust still falls from the ceiling, obviously this has not been moved in a long, long time.  I pocket the golden claw, and proceed in to the cavern itself.  The room is gigantic, and open - an altar sits on top of a raised platform, with a half circular stone standing behind it, with a language I've never seen before written all over it.

I take only but three steps in to the cavern before I hear..

BANG.

The coffer lid breaks off, and slides over and on to the floor.  A draugr lord rises from the grave, puts a Nordic helmet on, and picks up arms to defend his crypt against all intruders - us.

Sven charges at the Draugr, however, within seconds we hear a deafening bellow from the old one, "FUS."

I couldn't believe my eyes, with a shout, a wave of energy pulses from the Draugr, and blows Sven back across the room, and in to a wall, knocking him unconscious.

An adrenaline rush takes over me, and I go in to a rage, swinging at the undead lord with full fury.   Swift strikes, and shield bashes make quick work of the old skeletal Nord.  On the ground, it doesn't even beg for mercy, despite having a mind of its own.  Being a Redguard, I will never understand the Nordic culture of battle - it's something completely different, with hidden complexity that few could truly understand.  The only thing I know is once I end the life of this tortured soul, he will finally be at peace, resting, and fighting in glorious combat among his brothers in Sovngarde, because in the end that is all a valiant Nord truly wants - Death is a small price to pay, to live an eternity in Shor's wondrous hall.

I come back to consciousness, finding the Draugr lord dead, Sven awake, and myself at the end of my blood-crazed adrenaline rush..  Sven picks up a tablet, inscribed as a "Dragon Stone".  I take it, and place it in my pouch.  Before we leave the hallowed halls of Bleak Falls Barrow, I hear the stone wall of etched writing calling to me..  As if it was speaking to me.  I walk over to the wall, and the letters begin to glow a very faint blue.  I touch the wall, and visions flash through my head at a thousand miles a second - I pull my hand back, only to realize a spectral force is transferring a spiritual part of the wall to.. me.

I felt dizzy, if not sick afterwards, it was as if I absorbed an unhealthy amount of magicka, but this.. this was different.  Sven helped me out of the caverns, and back to the town of Riverwood.  With the claw returned to Camilla, and Lucan, Sven told me we can make way for Riften in the morning when I am feeling better..

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[Puzzles, Keys, and Draugr Lords]

"HELP." exclaimed the man.

Arvel seems to be wrapped in the web of a spider, a massive one at that.  Stuck, bound to the wall, Arvel tells us "QUICKLY, RELEASE ME FROM THIS", then he goes on to talk about the Golden Claw, secret burial chambers, and many other things not mentioned to me by Camilla, and her brother.  

"The claw, it's a key!" he yells, "but I will not share it until you cut me free!".

I wanted to reason with the Dunmer, but as I opened my mouth, Sven tells the thief to give us the claw, then we will cut him free.  I turn to Sven with a puzzled look on my face, and tell him how are we going to retrieve the claw from him if he is completely wrapped in webs?

Arvel laughs, and claims whatever is in the burial chambers of this place, he will share with us, as long as we let him go.  Sven and I cut his webs as fast as we can, but as soon as he gained any mobility what-so-ever, Arvel attempted to make a run for it, that clever bastard.  Arvel makes it no farther than 10 steps before being cut down by a Draugr warrior.  Sword in hand, he was not taking me as easily as Arvel.

After making quick work of the Draugr, we took the claw from the lifeless Arvel "The Swift", and made our way deeper in to the cavern - if there truly was treasure here as Arvel said, and the claw is the key, I am not leaving that here for the Valerius family to claim for their own.

A stone door with a puzzle lock stands before us.  Sven tells me he has seen those markings before on the door, then it hits him.  He reaches in to my pouch and takes the golden claw from me.  Sven points out the markings on the palm of the claw, and to my astonishment, they are the same markings on the door itself.  I make haste to slide the locks in to place, to match the markings on the claw, then I place it in to the key hole it was designed for.  

The door shifts, dust falls from the roof of the cavern - the claw has revealed the way.  Arvel wasn't lying, the key was the claw itself.  If he wasn't lying about this, he can't possibly be lying about the treasure that awaits..

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[Arvel the Swift]

Sven, and I arrived at the massive wooden doors guarding the entrance to Bleak Falls Barrow.  We banded together to push the doors open, only to reveal a small camp fire with two bandits sitting around - by the looks of it, they're waiting for someone..

I snuck behind a pillar to listen in to what they are saying.  The bandits discussed someone named "Arvel", and how he should have been back by now.  Before I could have a minute to think this through, an arrow flies past my head, and in to the arm of one of the bandits.  An agonizing scream is let out, and the bandit falls on to his side, as the other draws his sword, and looks in our direction.

To my right, Sven is standing there - bow drawn, readying another arrow.  The bard is too heroic for his own damn good, for he can't even ready a second arrow and ready the shot as the bandit is rushing him, sword drawn.  Luckily I haven't been spotted yet..

I draw my sword, and impale the bandit as he tries to run past the pillar I am hiding behind - running towards the nervous Sven.  My boot relieves the peasant warrior from my sword, and he falls to the ground.  I look over at Sven and yell..  He could have easily got us both killed right there.  I am starting to believe he is more of a liability than a good companion..  Needless to say, our entrance in to Bleak Falls Barrow is now cleared, and we're off to find the golden claw.

Sven laughs, saying how this whole endeavor would make quite a heroic tale for his evenings at the Riverwood Inn.  I tell him people don't want to hear about a "heroic" Bard-turned-warrior, they want to hear stories of true legends, false kings, and diabolical evils.  

As I finished telling him that idea of his was complete and utter trash, we hear a voice screaming for help from the far end of the Barrow, it must be Arvel..

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[The Golden Claw, and Bleak Falls Barrow]

Camilla came to me with an urgent request.  She told me some bandits attacked her, and her brother's shop a few nights ago and took something from there.  Camilla claims they stole nothing but a golden dragon's claw, an heirloom that was being kept within the merchant's shop.  

Sven heroically said he'd rescue the golden claw for his lady, as expected, she blushed, and I sighed.  I told Sven he would be foolish to attempt to steal from a group of bandits.  "Ah, my friend, that is where you come in!" he exclaimed.  

I thought to myself for a minute, but before I could speak, Sven had told me that if I helped his lady-love in retrieving the golden claw, he would personally escort me to the city of Riften, and pay for my room at the inn when we arrived.  It sounded highly unlikely this was going to happen, but what choice did I have?  Besides, a Redguard warrior can take a few bandits, clean up, and bring the claw back to the Valerius family before the night is over.

"I accept." I said, and off we went when nightfall hit.

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[Onward to Riften]

There are tales of ancient evils within the dark caverns of Skyrim.  The Draugr's of Skyrim were once fierce Nords in life, but in death they are just mere skeletons - husks of a former brave warrior.

After giving it a few days of thought, I delivering the letter from Sven to Camilla, portraying this Faendal as an evil man, who wants nothing to do with her.  The plan worked perfectly, as Camilla practically dove in to Sven's arms.  He couldn't thank me enough for delivering the letter to her, and persuading her to choose him - it was obvious what the outcome was going to be, but he got what he wanted.

The bard offered me gold, jewels, songs of old, pretty much anything I wanted could be mine for winning him the affection of such a woman.  I sat down with him, and forced an iron dagger right in to the table in front of him.  I told him honestly, "I don't want your gold, or your songs, bard.  I want you to follow me.  You said you owe me everything, so I am claiming my just rewards.  You will accompany me to Riften.."

The blank expression on his face told me everything.  The bard was hesitant at first, but then he submitted, and agreed to follow me to Riften.  I claimed I couldn't go alone, and I needed someone who knew this land better than I did.  Then that is when Camilla came to me with a most urgent request..

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[Where To Go.. ]

I have a few options of where to go from here.  Heading home is not an option right now because the Imperials are stopping everyone from leaving the nation due to the Stormcloak rebellion, Aldmeri spies, and whatever other reasons they may make up.  

I have a few connections sitting in the town of Riften, if I remember correctly, they're still situated under the city, in The Ragged Flagon.  Although, who in their right mind would stay down there for all these years..

Another option is to head to the city of Whiterun.  My family owns land there which would be a place for me to stay for the time being.  I've heard Breezehome isn't much, but it's something.

Finally, my last resort is to head to the city of Haafingar - also known as Solitude.  There, I would be able to sign up for the Imperial army to fight against the Stormcloak rebels, and it would give me enough money to get by for the time being.

My mind is telling me to go to Solitude, but my gut instinct is to head south to Riften, and avoid all of this nonsense.  The more I think about it, the more I know if I avoid Windhelm, or Haafingar, I will be able to avoid all of this mess they call a civil war, and just keep my best interests in Riften.

After a few days of planning, I've decided to make my way to Riften.  I've sent word to the Ragged Flagon for my old friend to meet me there in a week from now.  Looks like I'd best be getting on my way..

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[White-Gold Concordat]

My family had always fought for the Imperial army.  My father was a part of the army, and his father, and his father before him.  As much as I agree with the Stormcloaks in their battle for independence, the Imperials are just doing what they believe is right.  The White Gold Concordat was signed when the Empire pretty much gave in and said "we've had enough.", with this, the Aldmeri Dominion banned the worship of Talos as a god, bringing them to the Eight Divines.

This has angered the people of Skyrim especially, and the Imperials are fighting to keep whatever they have left of the Septim Empire alive.  Many nations have already left the Empire, so I don't see why the Imperials are even fighting anymore for Skyrim.  They stopped a war with the Aldmeri Dominion just to begin one with the Nords?

However, the Imperials are trying to rebuild their nation, and I for one want to be a part of it.  I owe my life to the Imperial army, simply because they gave my family everything they have had for decades.  The least I can do is fight with them.

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[Riverwood]

After spending a few days in the cabin, I took the dog and we made our way to Riverwood once the snow storms died down.  I've never seen this before, the weather is intense, and goes on for days, and days.  

We found ourselves in Riverwood within a few hours.  I was greeted by a man named Ralof, one of the men I met on the cart on our way to be executed.  He recognized me right away, and invited me to the inn to grab a drink with him.

Ralof told me everything in a matter of minutes.  The king is dead, and Ulfric wants Skyrim to be independent from the Imperials.  Ulfric leads a group called "The Stormcloaks", a band of rebels whom I originally was mistaken for, the Imperial's assumed I was a Stormcloak scout, and tried to have me executed.

I sat and discussed with Ralof about what we're going to do about all of this.  He told me to depart as quickly as possible, and make my way to Whiterun, where I will speak to the Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater.  I replied "I will leave as soon as the sun comes up."

Ralof got up and left the inn in a hurry.  As I stood up, a man named Sven approached me, confidently.  He introduced himself as a bard, and regaled me with stories of the people of Skyrim.  After a few hours, I asked him why he was doing this?  Sven came out and said "There's this woman.. named Camilla.", and he went on to explain how amazing she is.  However, there is another, named Faendal.  Sven told me Faendal and him are competing for the love of this woman, and wants me to give a letter, denouncing Faendal to Camilla. 

I have to think about this. Should I tell her the truth of how Sven wants to ruin Faendal's reputation?  Or do I give her the letter, and let Sven win..

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[Day Two]

After making my way out of the dark, dank cavern, I realized the passage led me out of the mountains near a town called Riverwood.  Coming out of the dark, and in to the light, it took a minute for my eyes to adjust.  I stumbled over a dead Imperial guard's corpse.  The body was fresh, so the armour wasn't rancid, and decrepit.  I put on the armour, and sheathed my sword, as to not arouse suspicion to myself.  I tried to keep my distance from the town of Riverwood, because I have no idea if I am now a wanted criminal because of my escape in Helgen? I wandered off in to the wilderness, hoping to find shelter of some sorts.  Skyrim is a different place than Hammerfell.  The weather is cold, and the wind cuts right to the bone..  There are rarely any bandits, and I find myself wandering in these snow storms for hours with no end in sight.

The weather has beaten me to a point where it is hard to move.  The cold is taking over, and I feel myself slowing down.  I see a log cabin, and use what's left of my strength to run towards it.  I start to slow down, until I fall to my knees..  I crawl along the ground until I finally reach the doorway - It's open!

I struggle to get inside, kicking the door closed, I already feel my body becoming warmer; no one is here.

Lighting the fireplace, I take a seat on a chair in front of it, and take whatever food I have left from the house in Helgen and begin to eat.  The door nudges open, so I quickly unsheath my sword to reveal a stray dog just as weather beaten as I was. 

The dog was not afraid of me, so I brought him over to the fire, and placed a blanket on him I found in the home.  I think I've found myself a companion already.. 

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[Day One, part II]

After grabbing a rusty iron sword I found on the table in the villager's house, I scoured the home for any sort of way out that wasn't the front door leading back to the dragon.  The floor creaked, but sounded hollow.  I've seen this before, many villagers usually have a cellar, or something underneath their home, but I wasn't expecting to be as lucky as I was..

The floorboards were dilapidated, so they were easy to smash through with a few swings of the sword.  I glanced around the room to find a bit of food, and drink. As I took a seat, and began to take bites of the food, I saw a hole in the wall.  By the divines, it was a tunnel out of the city!

I scurried through the tunnel as fast as I could, carrying nothing but the sword I picked up, and some extra food for my travels..

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[Day One - Reckoning]

Being a Redguard, our natural talent is second to none when it comes to combat.  I was out in the mountains, hunting, when I was ambushed by some of the Imperial guard along the border of Hammerfell, and the land of Skyrim. Hastily I was overpowered by numbers, and knocked unconscious. I awoke several hours later on a caravan, dazed and confused about what was going on.  There were others around me, whispering about what was going to happen to us.  I stayed quiet, and listened to what they had to say.  They claimed some where of the Stormcloaks, a band of rebels who are against the Imperial army here in Skyrim.  Others, such as myself are just wanderers who happened to be on the border when all of this happened.  I was captured, and mistaken for a rebel, it had seemed.

One of the men screamed, constantly, claiming he was not a rebel, but just a hunter - the guards weren't having any of it.

We approached the town, and I stood in awe as they called us off the carts one by one, like sheep.  A woman said our prayers, and swiftly the first man was placed on the execution block, and was dead before the blink of an eye - his head rolled in to a basket, and his body was kicked to the side, as the guardsman waved for the next prisoner.  I couldn't believe how ruthless the guards were, just for some rebels, and some who weren't even rebels.  This was absolutely insane.

The next man placed his head on the block, it was horrifying to see such cruel and swift punishment to those so undeserving.  The Imperial army just wants to control the lands of Skyrim, and the people don't want to be under their rule anymore. 

Right before the axe fell on another victim's head, a gust of wind blew everyone in the town to the ground.  A dragon passed over the town, scorching a few of the houses, and some of the townsfolk.  The guards started yelling, and everyone made their way to a safe spot - a house, stone tower, or anywhere they could be shielded from the dragon above. 

Hands bound - I could not do a thing other than run.  I made my way in to a villager's home, and cut my bonds loose with a rusty knife on a counter.  The majority of the prisoners scattered, and ran in separate directions, but many of them died in the first sweep the dragon made. 

I need to figure out a way to get out of this mess, and find a way out of this town.  Hands unbound, it's time to find a weapon..

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OOC: Picking up Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

I, unfortunately, played through Oblivion a few times over, so I was never truly able to get in to this playthrough.  However, I will be restarting this up for Skyrim. I hope my followers haven't all forgotten about this, because it's a new game, and new experiences.  We'll have to see where the game takes me, I'm incredibly excited. 

I just need to sit with my friend, and decide what character we are going to make. What kind of character should I make?

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Aftermath..

Sitting around enjoying a flagon of mead, and a hot meal, I see Gromm stumble in to the inn - tired, restless, and upset.  I see the sorrow in his eyes, as he takes a seat next to me.  I quickly look around, and try not to act suspicious.  He orders multiple drinks, and says to put it on his tab, for he will be here awhile. 

As a thief, I never feel guilty for the one I kill - because they're dead, you know? 

But this.. this was different.  Taking away ones life is something very few can do, because it takes courage.  But how are you supposed to feel about taking ones life, when you don't truly "take" it from them.  I destroyed everything Gromm had.  A once barbarian raider-turned bodyguard now has no purpose in life.

I made small talk with the ogre of a man.  He told me that his master was killed by a freak accident, and he was going to wander the cold, northern lands of Skyrim until he dies - all because his life is forfeit, it has no meaning anymore.

Although I respect the man for devoting his life to Baenlin.  At the same time, I find it quite foolish how he speaks of death of himself, due to the death of another.  I guess I've just never had that kind of allegiance to someone..

I finish my food and drink, pay, and leave.  On the way out, I see Gromm drowning himself with a tall mug of ale.  What have I done...

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The Minotaur and the Pilgrim

I waited it out for a few days, learning the routine of Baenlin, and his companion Gromm.  Learning that the Bosmer likes to sit and rest in his chair for a few hours every night before he wanders off to sleep, I've devised a plan to make it seem like the minotaur head falls on the Pilgrim while he is sleeping in the chair.  This way, it will look like an accident - just as if the centerpiece had fallen on him, and while Gromm rushes to see what happened, I can make my escape back the way I came.

It was around eight-thirty in the evening.  I have been here for a few days, so I've grown tired, and hungry - A confrontation with Gromm in my current state would be incredibly one-sided, for I would not be able to fight him.  Only have one shot at this, I use my knife to cut the ropes with held the minotaur head in place.  

A giant *CRASH* was heard echoing through the house.   The cathedral ceiling of the mansion only enhanced the echo.  Gromm stood up fast, and rushed to his master.  While sobbing, he was devastating the wall beside him with his fists in a fit of rage, and sadness.  

My job, on the other hand, was complete.

I snuck back down the stairs, knowing Gromm was not facing towards the cellar entrance I made my escape, and back in to Bruma I was..

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Observations..

Days past.

Again, and again.

Same routine.

It shouldn't be long now.

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Thieves, murderers, and crawlspaces.

Beside the bed was a small door that slid to the side.  I moved it slightly to see what was behind it - it led to a crawlspace in the roof of the mansion.  From here, I could possibly find where that minotaur head is nailed to.

Laying my weapons at the entrance of the crawlspace, I closed the little door over, and began my way through it.  I could hear their footsteps below..

Thump.  Thump.  Thump.

Despite being a thief, and an assassin, I was scared for my life

Thump.  Thump.

Gromm had to have been one of the biggest Nord barbarians I had ever seen.  It was frightening just to be in radius of that beast of a man.  The footstep thumps take a piece of my sanity with them every time one happens.   I am in way over my head here..  I steal, I cheat, I bargain.  I don't kill people for money.. 

I've talked about this before, but I always, always have my doubts.  Gromm is a man who could end me in a second.  Once Baenlin is dead, he will be on full alert, and I have no way of leaving the house unnoticed, minus the cellar.

THUMP.  THUMP.

The footsteps became louder..  I tried to make my way through the crawlspace, mentally picturing that the farther I am from Gromm in the house itself, the safer I am.

and you know what..? It worked.

Not long after he took a seat, the thumping stopped, and my heart could slow down a few paces. 

I came across two planks of wood, with rope tied around it, and a small peep-hole.  I looked through it to see I was exactly where I wanted to be - the minotaur head.  I stayed, and observed..

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Slowly tapping the door open from the cellar up to the main floor wasn't easy.  Baenlin, being a retired pilgrim has nothing to do but spend his days at home.  Gromm, his bodyguard seems to be here night and day as well.  A mansion is large, but if there's people in it, the space seems so small..

I crept across the ground, and got up the stairs without a sound.  I can see Baenlin and Gromm standing on the main floor, talking to each other about some mundane thing such as bread being expensive this morning at the bakery.

Making haste, I use my time wisely to find where I can stay, where Baenlin would be, and what I can do to make this all look like an accident.  I can't kill Gromm either, it'd be too obvious, so he must remain unharmed. 

Skulking about the upstairs of the mansion, I found the floorboards under the bed where decrepit and old.  But the chances of a bed falling through the floor, AND Baenlin dying are highly unlikely.. There seemed to be a large minotaur head above a fanciful arm chair.  Perhaps it could fall on him, in a random act, crushing him as he sat in the chair? 

Brilliant.

I tried to find a way to loosen the minotaur head, but from what I could tell, it was bolted to the wall.  If I could possibly make it around to where the other side of that wall is, this could work.