Assignment Skyrim Borders, Falkreath Cemetery, 24th of Last Seed

• Posted by Piper Jo April 7, 2012 - 847 views

  The jailhouse guard is pleasant to me in the morning, so I take that to mean I didn’t randomly transform into a werewolf in my sleep. Alternatively, I did transform, and he didn’t notice.  What with the local gendarmerie being entirely made up of crippled ex-adventurers, you have to wonder.

  Seriously, I’m beginning to doubt that there’s really a curse on this ring other than that the damn ugly thing won’t come off.  I’ll just tell people it’s a class ring. 

  I am determined to get to work today.  No more little side jobs for this surveyor.

  Having sold the arms and armor I took from the hunters in Sinding’s grotto, I finally had enough money to commission the making of my survey equipment, as well as some blankets and rolling papers from Grey Pine Goods. Without an assistant however, the work I can do is limited.  Surveying without a partner is slow and tedious (Some would say impossible, but they don’t work for the IGCS).  The best I may be able to do is confirm the work that has been done in the past.

  With that in mind, I find myself visiting Falkreath’s famous graveyard, looking for a particular marker. This place gives me chills.  Did you know that this is where the dead from Pale Pass were buried?  And that’s to say nothing of the Hammerfell campaigns of the Second Age. Each inscription is a personal story of heroism in battle.  I could spend weeks here.  Did you know that Falkreath used to host an Arena team?  The Dark Shadows—who knew?  Reluctantly, I tear myself away and focus on my job. 

  The stone I am looking for was supposed to be in the graveyard, but apparently it is not.  I find it set into a high outcrop of native rock overlooking the graveyard.  Its inscription reads, “FALKREATH 011 3E387.”

  Pulling out my IGCS Publication 43 (4E 165): “Benchmarks of Skyrim”, I look up Falkreath 011 and read the official record.

  “Falkreath 011, set in native stone north of temple, 59^o 01’ 43” N 07^o 05’ 00”W Elev. 4,324’.  Emplaced 3E 387; last surveyed 4E 133. Local mag. var. neg. 5 4E 133, adjust pos. 01 seconds/yr.”

  No official surveyor has visited this benchmark in 68 years. What’s more, this is a master, from which many of the surrounding benchmarks were measured.  No wonder they sent me here.  First thing is to triangulate its position off the surrounding mountain peaks. Easy to see why they placed it here.  The view is spectacular. The sun is high, the day is warm for the season, and I am doing my thing.  This is my best day in country so far.

  After confirming the location of the Falkreath benchmark, I consult my Pub 43. Nearly straight south of here is the triple border point between Skyrim, Hammerfell and Cyrodiil, and that’s where I’ll look for my next benchmark: Falkreath 043 (elev. 8,335’).  Blackcaster Peak (15,221’) is between here and there.  No surprises.  IGCS loves to put benchmarks in the hardest possible places to reach.  Time to pack up and leave.