Recent Entries

  • Now We Are Five

    When I was one I had just begun. When I was two I was nearly new. When I was three I was hardly me. When I was four I was not much more. But now I am five I am alive alive! And when I am six? Who knows? But it will be clever. Perhaps I'll be five forever and ever. Apologies to the great AA Milne
  • Dragonborn Alone, Part 5

    My task complete, I hurried back to Whiterun as quickly as I could. My wounded arm - with the help of potions and healing magic - healed quickly on the way; I just wish I could say the same about my heart and my mind.  At least the lying demon Mephala was true to her word: she told me where Lydia &a...
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  • Dragonborn Alone, Part 4

    Mephala! What a seductive, devious, deceitful Daedra she is! I was right about her, at least: it was my refusal to pay her price at our last encounter that motivates her; although she didn't admit it.  Her price? The same as before: "Kill someone who trusts you." This time I agreed. I want my family...
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  • Dragonborn Alone, Part 3

    Author's note: apologies if this desecrates any Elder Scrolls lore. Which it probably does. I try to stay true to lore, as I know it, but I make no promises... "Come with me, now!" she cried, frantically. "I have summoned Mephala!" I join my friend Danica as she sprints up the road towards her temp...
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  • Dragonborn Alone, Part 2

    So there I sat in my big house, the mansion I built for myself - the Dragonborn  - & my family. Now it's no more filled with the laughter of young children & the beautiful voice of a loving wife: it's just me. My family were cruelly taken from me, taken by the Daedra Mephala: the Prince of D...
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  • Dragonborn Alone

    What do you do after you save the world? Alduin the World-Eater, the all-powerful, the invincible, the immortal; that dread dragon of legend, is dead. I - with a little help from my friends - overpowered him, I beat him, I killed him. The world is saved from his evil hunger. I rid the world of that ...
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  • Hybrid, Chapter 7: A New Beginning?

    "Where in the name of the eight have I been?" he echoed back softly to the important-looking man sitting opposite, then, to himself, "'Lieutenant' then, am I?"  "What? Speak up man: I don't have time for your craziness!" the man barked in reply, commanding, impatient.  Dazed, confused and frightened...
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  • Hybrid, Chapter 2

    As usual, Flavius slept fitfully. Fleeting images, disembodied sounds, strange smells violated his sleep: echoes of a forgotten life. But that was every night; this night was different than most, even worse. Fearful visions of the day ahead combined with his fragmented memories, nightmares of past a...
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  • Journal of a Survivor (Part 3), Chapter 32: Ice and Fire

    Sundas, Last Seed 23rd: Whiterun - The Pale As we walk on quickly, away from Stinks and his stinks, the terrain gradually changes. The tundra plains become undulating, then hilly; grass and vegetation gives way to rocky ground, and we start climbing. It's getting colder, and soon we're trudging thro...
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  • Journal of a Survivor (Part 3), Chapter 31: Potatoes

    Sundas, Last Seed 23rd: Whiterun Hold Faendal and I have - finally! - left Whiterun city and are walking through the tundra and farmlands of its hinterland, along the path that leads to Azura and - I hope - answers. It's a typically pleasant and mild Whiterun day, and the feel of the fresh breeze a...
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  • Journal of a Survivor (Part 3), Chapter 30: Existential Crisis

    Sundas, Last Seed 23rd: Whiterun  Faendal and I are in the Bannered Mare in Whiterun, lingering over a few drinks.  We've had a disagreement about where we - I! - should go next. He thinks we should climb a bloody great mountain to shout at some bearded old hermit weirdos. I disagree. The drink is g...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 29

    Loredas, Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun  The wind is fresh on our faces as Faendal and I continue our slow walk back to Whiterun.  Having narrowly avoided another 'archery training incident' we walk as quietly as the night is still, lost in our thoughts of destiny, purpose, mysticism and legend. We walk e...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 28

    Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun  I let out a sigh. A long one. We're on the road back to Whiterun, having killed a dragon. And I shouted at a crazy old Nord and sent him flying. After he was raving about me being 'Dragonborn', or something. Now these mad Nord guards look at me as if I'm some sort of god. I...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 28

    Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun Don't forget: 'If you like it then you oughtta put a 'click' on it'... And if you don't please tell me why, or how else will I get better? Also if you do! Thanks  Table of Contents
  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 27

    Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun My head hurts. As I regain consciousness there's chaos all around: guards are jumping, shouting, running in excitement. "You did it! You killed the dragon!" "It wasn't just me; I just..." I start to say, then immediately think better of it. If they want to give me all the cr...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 26

            Author's note: contains violence Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun A bloody dragon, again?! Just when I thought things were starting to go my way for once! Irileth has rushed into Farengar's study, shouting "You need to come at once; a dragon's been spotted near the Western Watchtower: let's go!" an...
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  • SHINBIRA: NOTES

    bE;LEHOR: EVERY things for slae! I;d even buy o yr rellies of they were 4 sale! yeah...  Thats, thats, thats , er.. a little joke, ahem "Yes, it is a lkittle joke" Heimsjar: "I. LOVE. YOU!" "I dont love you: I sjut find you annoying" Lu-Tze says "Oh-oh" and I don't need a translation. He'd been wa...
  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 25

    Last Seed 22nd: Whiterun Back walking through the Whiterun market we get the now-familiar smatterings of half-heard conversations, and everyone trying to tell us something or sell us something. Leaning on a post outside Belethor's in what seems to be his 'spot' is a familiar and not unfriendly looki...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 24

    Last Seed 22nd: Riverwood - Whiterun Well, this is awkward. Faendal and I are doing our best to be as masculine as we can. We'd talk about girls: their merits, their assets, our conquests, etc., the way young Mer do, but both of us seem only to be able to think of one girl. Camilla. Or 'Milly', as I...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 23

    Last Seed 22nd, Riverwood          Author's note: may contain sexiness I manage to stagger to Faendal's house and into his bed. I presume he's around somewhere but I'm too tired and too drunk to notice, or care. Maybe he stayed at the Inn. I fall asleep quickly, but I'm restless. That encounter with...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 22

    Last Seed 21st, Riverwood When we feel ready we slowly stagger to our feet; it's more than time enough that we were back out under the open sky. I feel like a changed Mer. The great loot I took from this strange place, the joy of killing, the satisfaction of doing what I came here for in finding the...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 21

    Last Seed 21st, Bleak Falls Barrow Facing this ancient Nord puzzle-door, I find the golden claw in my pack. Turning it this way and that, I see it! Yes, it's unmistakable: animal symbols on its 'palm', three of them. Wasn't that what Arvel said: "The key is in the palm of your hand"?  Bear, moth, ow...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 20

    4E 201, Last Seed 20th, Bleak Falls Barrow I think I feel …. happy. Down here in the depths of the dreaded Bleak Falls Barrow. The awful smells, the treacherous flooring, the dust, the rubble, the traps, rotting corpses, skeletons, giant rodents, ghoulish undead warriors intent on keeping the likes ...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 19

    4E 201, Last Seed 20th, Bleak Falls Barrow Skeevers! We were right to be wary, and to descend the spiral staircase with our weapons drawn. "I've had enough of you!" Faendal shouts as he shoots. He seems to be finding the barrow too stressful already. "If... " whack! "you..." chop! "find - ow! - this...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 18

    4E 201, Last Seed 19th, cont. The trip to the Barrow is uneventful. We have to walk back nearly all the way to Riverwood before beginning our climb to the gloomy old ruin overlooking the town that so frightened a young Hadvar. On the way we are attacked by a lone wolf, which I killed and skinned. W...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 17

    4E 201, Last Seed 19th In our room at The Bannered Mare we take our time starting the new day, both still nursing sore heads but at least feeling rested. There's plenty of food and drink in the room so I take my fill. Whether or not it's free? Probably not: I don't care. That'll be Hideous Hulda's p...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 16

    Faendal and I find our Inn! 'The Bannered Mare'. As soon as we walk in the proprietor, Hulda, welcomes us and offers us food and drink: an offer we don't refuse.  As she's serving us she gives us some gossip from around town; she seems a friendly Nord, and all seems well. Then I ask her where I can ...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 15

    Faendal and I walk nervously through the vast expanse of Jarl Balgruuf's Great Hall. It seems to take an eternity. As we pass the enormous dining tables we are again accosted, this time not by an oafish Nord guard, but by a Mer - a Dunmer, no less: one of my own kind! "What is the meaning of this in...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 14

    Faendal and I descend the hill and walk across the farmland plains to the great city Whiterun without further incident.  Conversation had been slightly awkward, and we walked in silence a lot. Despite being brother Mer he and I seem quite different. He spent some considerable time telling me the sor...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 13

    Camilla and I find Faendal back at the mill, lustily chopping away at a log of wood, a whistle on his lips. My discrediting his love rival has made me very popular with him! It wasn't exactly the hardest thing I've ever had to do: the bard Sven firmly planted his big fat Nord foot in his big fat Nor...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 12

    I'm now nearly ready to go. There's just one more thing before I leave Riverwood. Hadvar. Where is that crazy Nord? I find him back in Alvor's house. Thankfully, I don't see Sigrid there. What I'm about to do goes against my every instinct, everything I've believed for most of my life.  "So, Hadvar,...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 11

    I reach the safety of the shop across the road from Alvor and Sigrid's house: the Riverwood Trader. Inside a man and a woman are arguing as only two people who know each other very well can. Married, I'm guessing, or brother and sister. Apparently they've had a break-in but the robbers only took on...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor (Part 2), Chapter 10

    By the time Hadvar and I reach Riverwood it's dark. My fight with the wolves has somehow left me feeling stronger and tougher. Maybe it's something to do with that strange encounter with the 'Guardian Stone'.* As you'd expect for the time of night the town is quiet. One or two people wander the stre...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor (Part 2), Chapter 9

    Hadvar & I run on together, our footsteps crashing heavily on the stone pathway loud against the gentle sounds of evening. I'm surprised to see, after coming out of the Keep where we kept going further down underground, that we seem to have come out on a hill. The path before us heads steadily d...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor (Part 2), Chapter 8

    Now here I stand, blinking in the low light of the evening sun, outside the tunnels and caves of Helgen's Keep. With my fellow escapee, my fellow survivor Hadvar. Hadvar the Nord. I hate Nords! Nords killed my mother, & made my young life in Windhelm so very bloody awful!  Yet here I am, standi...
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  • A funny thing happened on the way to the market...

    Author's note: contains Skyrim Main Quest spoilers My sense of triumph was somewhat deflated. I, Idesto, vanquisher of Alduin the World-Eater, Hero of Sovngarde: I saved the world! After being sent back to Nirn, to the Throat of the World, I returned to High Hrothgar to inform the Graybeards of my v...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 7

    Exitting the cave, our strength at least somewhat restored, Hadvar & I travel through the Keep’s tunnels. We come to a drawbridge controlled by a lever. I instinctively put my hand on my sword and tense my muscles in readiness as Hadvar pulls the lever: experience has taught me that things opene...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 6

    We come into a cavern where there’s a narrow bridge spanning a shallow stream. On the other side of it there are more Stormcloaks, the largest group yet. Hadvar & his friend charge in, just ahead of me. I draw my sword… There are more of them than there are of us, many more. And they seem organi...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 5

    Author’s note: contains violence and adult themes I follow Hadvar - Hadvar the Nord! – warily now, reluctantly. He does seem to know where he is going. On the other hand, I’ve got out of worse places than this on my own before… Coming out of the storage room I enter a passageway. Out of the corner...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 4

    Author's note: contains violence Inside Helgen Keep I have a sword, I have armour. I feel ready, ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. We hear voices. “Got what you need?”, my Imperial companion asks, urgency in his voice. “Then come here by the door!” Weapon drawn, I run to join him. Noticing t...
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 3

    Once again I come to. My head hurts even more than before. But at least it’s still on my shoulders. I am not dead! But how? And what is happening?! Did I really see a dragon?! All around me is mayhem! Explosions, shouting, destruction, fire, dead bodies littering the ground. Fire. Fire from the sky....
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  • Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 2

    We’re in a town somewhere; “Helgen”, I thought I heard someone say. We’re pushed off the cart & lined up in front of some Imperial captain. She seems angry. Ulfric is gagged as well as bound. At least the gods have granted me that mercy. Some petty official has a list, a list of names, and he be...
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  • Journal of a Survivor. Part 1, Chapter 1

    I don’t remember much of my childhood. To be honest, I don’t want to. My ancestors - so I’ve been told - fled Morrowind when Red Mountain exploded. And came to Windhelm. Windhelm. We Dunmer are not liked in Windhelm. I often wonder if we wouldn’t have been better off staying in the ash-laden ruins o...
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