Sundas, 28^th Evening Star, 4E 201

& Morndas, 29^th Evening Star, 4E 201

Rigmor and I had a spa followed by breakfast in Aurane’s tavern. We then retreated to my private rooms.

Aurane is never cold, but sitting in front of an open fire relaxes us. I was eager to discuss something Rigmor did not mention and wondered why.

“Rigmor, did you have a vision last night?”

“What makes you ask? Was I talking in my sleep?”

“Yes. After I had awakened from a vision, you talked to our daughter. I think your vision was different and the day after mine, whenever that is.”

“Yes, I was with our daughter, but she was older than the little girl in the wheat field. You were about to leave for the frontline of some war.”

“In my vision, I met her outside. I did not recognise the location, but it seemed like a country lane. I can share it via an Empathetic Link if you want.”

“Oh, we have not done one of them for some time. Okay, go ahead.”

I replayed my vision, and Rigmor soon smiled.

She remarked, “Lucky our daughter has my good looks.”

“I do not recognise the road. It looks like a country lane, not a main thoroughfare.”

“I do not recognise it either. Hey, when our daughter asked about the peace, you discussed a vision inside a vision.”

“Well, I am weird, according to you.”

“I like the answer you gave. It is a possibility, not a promise and may still occur.”

“Somebody could drown in those eyes.”

“Yes, Wulf, she is beautiful. I wish I knew her name.”

“You will choose it when the time comes. That is something I will leave to you.”

“You do not want to be blamed if she hates it later.”

“Yep.”

“Hey, have we ever tried the other way around? Can I share my memory or, in this case, vision?”

“Yes, the link is two ways. You remember it, and I accept it. It is guaranteed to work with visions. Not so with memories.”

“Gobblygook?”

“Sort of. It has to do with the way our brains work.”

“Okay…here goes.”

Rigmor looked worried. Our daughter looked cheerful.

Rigmor asked, “Doesn’t Sir Weirdo look resplendent in that armour?”

“Too bad it will get covered in blood and gore.”

“Your humour, or lack thereof, is Weirdo’s fault.”

“Father is laughing, so you are the odd one out, Mother.”

“Okay, enough procrastinating. Kiss your father goodbye.”

I bent over, and as my daughter went to kiss me on the cheek, I grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around.

When I put the giggling girl down, Rigmor was smiling.

The young girl asked, “Can I watch the parade?”

“Yes, you can watch till he exits the city gates. However, after that, your lessons will be as usual, starting with algebra.”

Rigmor said, “That was the end of the vision.”

I ended the Empathetic Link, as it can cause headaches.

I asked, “You were both dressed in expensive robes. Do you know where you were?”

“Mede’s private conference room. I had a long discussion with him in that room shortly after arriving in Cyrodiil.”

“It does not signify much, Rigmor. If I were going to war on The Empire’s behalf, I would likely be with a force that leaves from The Imperial City.”

“I wonder how old she was? She was only a couple of inches from my shoulders.”

“Then I would say she was three years of age.”

“Ha de ha. I am not that short!”

“We would only be guessing. There is no strict rule to how quickly children grow.”

“I would have spoken about it eventually. I was still trying to, I dunno, put it into perspective.”

“I understand. We shall both have to think about it a bit more. There is also something else we did not discuss. With all the talk about the assassins and Red Diamond, I forgot to ask about the Stormcloaks.”

“Which is remiss of me because I think there may be a connection to the Guardians.”

“How?”

“There have been two recent murders in Bruma where the victims may have been Guardians. Like any large population, numerous murders are reported to us by The Penitus Oculatus or Bruma Guard. We do not have much to do with the investigations, but we hold a trial if a crime is considered Bruma’s jurisdiction. Thank goodness we hand over executions to Imperial authorities who do them in the capital.”

“Yeah, I have heard that a good headsman costs a fortune.”

“Wulf!”

“Sorry. Please continue.”

“Both murders that may be related happened within a day of each other. The first was eight days ago. An Imperial scholar from The Arcane University was murdered close to the smuggler’s entrance that I used to enter Bruma.”

“That now acts as a proper border and is manned by The Penitus Oculatus.”

“Yep. And Penitus Oculatus agents found the victim. His name is Professor Delonius Calver. The Penitus Oculatus report said expensive books and other possessions were not stolen, so the motive for the murder is unknown. The likely weapon used was a Battleaxe.”

“I have read some of Professor Calver’s work. He was an expert on the different aspects of AKA. He proposed that Lord Akatosh is AKA and other time gods are aspects of Lord Akatosh. Most scholars argue that AKA is a separate entity and that Lord Akatosh is an aspect like the other time gods.”

“Do you know the truth?”

“No, because my parents refuse to discuss it, as does Silah.”

“Why are they hiding the truth from you?”

“I think the answers to some of my questions will reveal things about my parents I cannot yet accept or put into context. They may fear some knowledge will change me. That is a possibility if I have been living a lie.”

“There was that incident when you tried to summon Lord Shor. But there was another to do with The Eye of Magnus you hinted at but never explained.”

“When The Eye was open, I could sense, and knew I could use, the Creatia contained within it. That is not something possible because I am Dragonborn or Ningheim.”

“Have you asked Lord Talos about it?”

“I didn’t tell him, but sometimes, when shocked by something, my mind barriers fail, and I transmit my thoughts to The Divines. Father didn’t know the explanation, and I believe him.

“Well, what do you think is the truth about AKA?”

“I think Lord Akatosh is AKA. I believe he is the oversoul of the other time gods. Each god is independent in thoughts, priorities, and the physical appearance of their aspect. For instance, Auri-El is a bipedal Mer, not a dragon.”

“The second murder is where the Stormcloaks enter the picture. A day after Professor Calver was murdered, an Imperial Priest of Akatosh named Adantus Mantar was also murdered. He was staying at the Tap&Tack.”

“Oh, did your friend Colin find the body?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Colin has never seen much violence, so he was horrified to find Priest Adantus with a big hole in his chest and blood all over the place. He told me that he is having nightmares.”

“No doubt.”

“Colin said Priest Adantus arrived in the middle of the night exhausted and barely able to make it upstairs to his room. Less than an hour later, shouting from the Priest’s room could be heard. A Dunmer woman shoved Colin out of the way on the stairs as he went to investigate. Poor Colin could hardly express to me what he found. It was not just the violence that has disturbed him. He cannot understand why somebody would do that to an elderly Priest of Akatosh.”

“You said Priest Adantus had a large hole in his chest.”

“Because the murder occurred within the city, and Colin is my friend, I inspected the scene. I have seen similar damage many times before when travelling with you. I would say Priest Adantus was killed with an Ice Spear spell.”

“Was anything stolen?”

“Colin asks his guests to list their possessions when signing in. This precaution protects Colin if they claim something was stolen. He can also offer to store items in the inn’s safe. Priest Adantus was travelling light and only listed a moneybag with about 100 septims, some toiletries, and a few pairs of undies. The money was on the body and not taken by the killer.”

“Do you think the killer was a Dunmer Wizard?”

“From the description Colin and other witnesses provided, I concluded she was a Telvanni Wizard. Their robes are unique, and nobody not from that Great House would dare wear them.”

“What other witnesses are there?”

“We could not wait for The Penitus Oculatus to send agents, so Captain Grimbold did the preliminary investigation. Many people noticed her, not on the way into Bruma but on the way out. Colin never noticed her entering The Tap&Tack as we get all sorts of people passing through the city. On the contrary, when somebody is in a hurry and barges people out of the way, they get noticed. The witnesses were not as numerous out in the countryside, but it soon became obvious where she was headed. The main entrance into Bruma from Skyrim is Pale Pass, which, as you know, was blocked by an avalanche during the civil war.”

“The Jerall Mountains are riddled with tunnels and caverns. The tunnel leading from Bruma to Pale Pass was named Serpent’s Trail by the invading Akaviri.”

“Captain Grimbold was certain that the woman entered Serpent’s Trail, so he and six Bruma Guards followed. They did not want to confront her but trail her so they could report to the Penitus Oculatus.”

“That was a wise decision because they could not know how powerful she was.”

“Long before they saw them, Grimbold and his men heard many people. They did not know if they were soldiers or bandits. They slowed down, and so did the woman. When they eventually saw her, she was staring at many Stormcloaks. She cast a spell and became invisible.”

“Did Captain Grimbold get a good look at the Stormcloaks?”

“They are guards, not scouts. He got close enough to estimate their numbers in the hundreds and perhaps over a thousand, then they hastily returned to the castle.”

“They are probably the same Stormcloaks who displaced the Minotaur from caves near Sancre Tor. But why would they be in Pale Pass?”

“Oh, I thought you knew. His Imperial Majesty was concerned about how easy it was for the Stormcloaks to stop traffic between Cyrodiil and Skyrim. As they repair the main Pale Pass route destroyed by an avalanche, they also work on clearing other passes. Several Legionnaires, mainly engineers and artisans, have been repairing Fort Pale Pass. We know their numbers because, during peacetime, Legion forces must ask permission to enter a County. They numbered four dozen.”

“That is not enough to defend against the large Stormcloak force.”

“No, it is not. So, as soon as Captain Grimbold reported what he saw, I wrote a message to the Legate of the nearest Legion outpost warning them of the danger. He did not believe our estimation, as only three platoons were sent to garrison Fort Pale Pass. They entered Serpent’s Trail two days after Priest Adantus’ murder.”

“If they encountered the Stormcloak force, we would have heard about it.”

“I agree. I told Malesam and Freathof that the Stormcloaks were probably waiting for their numbers to be large enough to besiege the fort. Therefore, they would not confront the Legionnaires prematurely but allow them to garrison the fort.”

“Do you have any old forts the Stormcloaks might want to use?”

“Yes, there are many ruins, but few could hold the numbers that Captain Grimbold estimated. I have stationed guards, with fast horses, at the larger ones.”

“What do the Stormcloaks expect to happen? Even if they took Fort Pale Pass, The Imperial Army would soon take it back.”

“Perhaps they are hoping one heroic victory will reignite the rebellion.”

“They are outlaws. No mercy will be shown if they clash with The Imperial Army.”

“This is a grim subject. Can we walk the gardens before you return me to Bruma?”

I stood and held out my hand. Rigmor took it and did not let go as we wandered the gardens. Everybody knows who she is, and Rigmor has been learning their names.

We ended our walk near one of the many waterfalls.

Rigmor asked, “Who are you taking with you today?”

“I like to take a senior Dragonguard with me when recruits are on their first outing. Therefore, the squad will be Vayu, Inigo, Felix and Urdr.”

“What do you think of Felix?”

“Trust Freathof to trace his family back to Abnur Tharn.”

“Freathof says it is only a theory but based on research by other Abnur relatives.”

“Abnur bred like a rabbit. He had seven wives, and his sixteenth daughter was Empress for a short period.”

“I wonder how many of his wives died in childbirth?”

“Some people regard Abnur Tharn as a villain. On the other hand, I think a person’s entire life must be judged and not snippets. Abnur made mistakes and had to pledge allegiances to arseholes, but in the end, he sacrificed his life to save Elsweyr from annihilation. I believe he was a good person.”

“Felix is probably unsure what people might think about his distant relative, so he keeps it a secret.”

“That is possible.”

“Did you repair his old armour?”

“Yes, it now has the same dweomer as everybody else’s armour. Only a few Legionnaires wore that type. It is supposed to look more Bretonic, but I think the colours are dull. I will work on his Bruma Knight armour soon.”

“I haven’t met Urdr.”

“She is brash and speaks her mind. You will like her.”

“Well, it is time for me to look pretty as I struggle to stay awake on that damned throne!”

“Some nobles have clerks who vet the supplicants and only allow certain ones to bother them. Nobody is neglected, but other officials take care of some cases.”

“We have been considering implementing similar. However, it is best to wait a few months so we do not give the impression that I do not care.”

I took Rigmor home and sat down briefly to speak to Sigunn and others. It was just a courtesy chat and nothing of import.

When I returned to Aurane, I recruited Inigo.

“You are with me today,” I told him.

“Are we hunting special gems?”

“Yes, and hopefully live Guardians.”

“Who will be with us?”

“Vayu and two recruits. Felix is a Legion veteran, and Urdr, my Winterhold Housecarl, is a powerful mage.”

“Is Felix Rigmor’s new guard?”

“Yes, that is him.”

“And where are we going?”

“We shall start at the museum and see if Auryen has discovered any information on the shards.”

I spoke to Vayu via Corb earlier and explained the Guardians and shards. He knew I would be collecting him and the other two.

We teleported into the Safehouse and found Vayu sitting before the fireplace.

He asked, “What is the plan for the day?”

“At the moment, nothing beyond speaking to Auryen. Depending on what he says, we may have other places to visit.”

“I have told the Dragonguard about the situation.”

Aranea had been helping clean the breakfast dishes and was putting them away when I approached her.

• Wulf: Priestess Aranea, this is my friend, Inigo.
• Aranea: I am pleased to meet you, Inigo the Brave.
• Wulf: I meant to erase that name from my journals or change it.
• Inigo: What would you change it to?
• Wulf: Inigo the Brave Except When Dealing With Zombies.
• Vayu: What about changing it to Inigo the Spider Smasher?
• Inigo: Are you positive you want to travel with these people, Priestess?
• Aranea: Just Aranea. Nobody else uses their titles. And I am unsure about everything now!
• Inigo: But you understand my friend’s need to be so secretive.
• Aranea: Yes, I do. I do not think Lady Azura knows a fraction of what I have learned about Wulf and Rigmor. Despite her claims to the contrary, I was also shocked at how little she aided Rigmor.
• Inigo: Lady Azura aided Rigmor via Sethri and Baa’Ren-Dar. She also kept Wulf’s soul connected to his body. So, she provided invaluable assistance.
• Vayu: We discussed how gods deceive. It is illogical to think they are incapable of lying. But Lady Azura’s mistruths were not designed to cause grief or harm. That cannot be said for other Daedric Princes.
• Aranea: Still, Vayu, accepting is difficult for me. I am even more resistant to the idea that gods make mistakes.
• Vayu: Once you accept that they are not omnipotent, logic dictates they must make mistakes.
• Aranea: Are you a devotee of The Reclamations, Inigo?
• Inigo: I am not a devotee of any god, Aranea. Lady Mara did cure me of a disease, so she is my current favourite.
• Wulf: Aranea, I will allow you another couple of days to acclimatise and ask Vayu and others a million questions. Then we shall arrange your room at The College of Winterhold.
• Aranea: Do I have to wear mage robes?
• Wulf: No. As Arch-Mage, I will decree that you can wear your Azura robes. I will provide extra protection via gloves, boots, a good weapon, and several staves. Also, I will create one of my rings for you. All Dragonguard mages have them.
• Vayu: The dweomer that Wulf places on items is more potent than any we have seen on any famous artefact. Dragonguard members have exceptional skills. The dweomer makes them formidable.
• Wulf: I do not envision you being at the College for long. I think you will soon master unfamiliar spells.
• Aranea: Including teleportation?
• Wulf: Yes. The statue in Bruma is almost complete. I have sourced a marble altar, and you can help Rigmor decorate your new rooms.
• Aranea: The last time I had a private room was before I became an acolyte.
• Wulf: You and Felix will provide needed protection and advice. I think Lady Azura will appreciate that service.
• Aranea: Doesn’t Rigmor already have advisors?
• Wulf: It will be beneficial for Rigmor to hear other viewpoints.
• Aranea: I look forward to getting to know Rigmor better.
• Inigo: We all love Rigmor. You will, too.
• Aranea: I have been told that by many people
• Wulf: Blessings of The Nine, Aranea.
• Aranea: Azura’s light guide you, Wulf.

 We soon found Felix

• Felix: Vayu said I am going to accompany you today. Where are we going?
• Wulf: We need to speak to Auryen and go from there. Nothing has been planned yet.
• Felix: I cannot believe this is my old armour. You are not a blacksmith, yet it is as good as new.
• Inigo: Smithing is another part of Wulf’s smartarse skill set.
• Wulf: It is too dull. I thought Bretons liked uncoordinated bright colours.
• Felix: Some bureaucrats in Cyrodiil said this is as flamboyant as they will allow Legionnaires to wear. It is not too bad since you polished it and redid the gold bits.
• Vayu: Felix has fallen in love with his new sword.
• Wulf: Do you know who owned that sword, Felix?
• Felix: No. I tried different swords from your impressive collection. This one suited me the most, even though it is not the most adorned.
• Wulf: We have a duplicate of it on display in the museum. It belonged to Sai Sahan. The gold that once covered the sword wore away with use, and he never replaced it.
• Felix: Sai Sahan? The Redguard member of The Five Companions?
• Wulf: Yes, that Sai Sahan. The Five Companions had much to do with The Amulet of The Kings. It is fitting Sai’s sword aids in its retrieval once more. It is more fitting it is in the hands of another Dragonguard.
• Felix: Is that what we are doing?
• Wulf: Yes. We are gathering the parts of the amulet before an unknown enemy does. You will learn more as we go.
• Felix: Do you two suspect something about me?
• Vayu: You are rightly proud of your family’s ten generations of service to The Empire. But you are also related to Abnur Tharn via Emperor Duke Varen.
• Felix: How would you know that?
• Wulf: Family trees of high-ranking nobles are not always complete or accurate. But they have more providence when the source is of the same generation and family.
• Vayu: When he was known as Duke Varen of Kvatch, he stayed in Bruma with the legendary Second Legion. The Bruma scribes at the time recorded what they knew of dignitaries visiting Bruma. When he heard you wanted to be Countess Rigmor’s protector, the current historian did some digging and found the old records.
• Felix: Yes, I am related to Abnur Tharn.
• Wulf: Are you ashamed of that blood connection?
• Felix: Abnur did some questionable things but also a lot of good. He is difficult to judge. I am many generations removed from him, so I should not be subject to any stigma others apply to Abnur.
• Wulf: I agree, but you should realise, after reading my journals, that I judge a person’s complete life, not snippets. In the end, Abnur sacrificed himself. Overall, I think he worked for the good of all, not just himself.
• Vayu: Abnur had seven wives and dozens of children. Who knows how many people can now claim a blood relationship with him?
• Wulf: We found it interesting, Felix. It is not something we judged you on.
• Felix: What about me picking Sai Sahan’s sword out of your hundreds?
• Wulf: That is just a coincidence.
• Vayu: Kinda spooky, though.
• Wulf: Vayu, when you say something is spooky, that is not an average level of spookiness.
• Vayu: Good point.
• Wulf: We are leaving now, Felix.

Urdr was the next to be rounded up.

• Wulf: Are you ready for travel, Urdr?
• Urdr: I feel like I could run a lap of Nirn in this robe.
• Vayu: Have you tried casting a Destruction spell yet?
• Urdr: No.
• Vayu: The power will be at least three times what you have achieved in the past.
• Urdr: Will I need that power? What enemies do we face today?
• Wulf: None at first. An unknown enemy is trying to gather shards of The Red Diamond and reconstruct The Amulet of The Kings. We are trying to stop them. Who they are, we do not know. However, they have been using Morag Tong to hunt down those who have the shards.
• Urdr: Then we had better get to it.
• Wulf: We shall speak to Auryen first. He has been researching the shards for me.

We entered the museum.

I asked Avram, “Do you know where Auryen is?”

“Guildmaster, he has not left the library all night. He will still be there, happily reading some dusty old manuscript instead of sleeping like sane people do.”

“Doing such research without good wine and cheese is insane. Otherwise, it is bliss.”

“Ahh…if you say so.”

We entered the library as Auryen was about to exit it.

• Wulf: Good morning, Auryen. Did you discover anything useful?
• Auryen: I strongly suggest you do not approach Master Urag today. We cooperated via the Corbs all night. He is even grumpier than usual after having no sleep.
• Urdr: I pity any apprentice who earns his wrath.
• Wulf: Well, have the pair of you utilised thousands of years of experience and found something I can use?
• Auryen: Thousands of years? Perhaps one and a half thousand between us.
• Wulf: Ahh, information, please.
• Auryen: Master Urag agreed that you seem to have a shard of The Red Diamond.
• Wulf: Really? So, The Nine Divines and my senses were not deceived? Amazing!
• Auryen: Master Urag also agreed there are five shards. We could not find a reference quoting a different number.
• Wulf: That is good to know.
• Auryen: We think far more information is buried in our libraries, but one thing we discovered early on is significant.
• Wulf: Which is?
• Auryen: The Guardians believe that Dragonfire is needed to repair the Chim-el Adabal and reforge The Amulet of Kings.
• Wulf: That is what I thought. However, I think more is needed after mulling this over for hours. I can breathe Dragonfire, but I do not think that would be sufficient. As some things can only be created using The Atronach Forge or Skyforge, reconstructing the Amulet of Kings might require a unique forge.
• Vayu: So, gathering the shards and making a new mounting would not be enough.
• Inigo: The enemy is wasting their time.
• Wulf: Possibly. Let us pretend they can do it without a unique forge.
• Vayu: Possessing Lorkhan’s and Akatosh’s blood is dangerous, even if in crystallised form. An Arch-Necromancer can probably do bad things with the shards if given time.
• Inigo: Very bad?
• Vayu: Very, very bad!
• Wulf: Perhaps Guardian Byron intended to request my assistance with Dragonfire rather than give me the shard.
• Auryen: Urag and I believe all the Guardians will be in Skyrim or headed towards it.
• Wulf: There is a chance that two recent murders in Bruma are related to this. Both victims might have been Guardians.
• Auryen: Who were they?
• Wulf: Professor Delonius Calver was killed close to the smuggler border we used to sneak Rigmor into Bruma. The Penitus Oculatus now controls that, and they discovered his body.
• Auryen: You have undoubtedly read his works on the nature of AKA and Lord Akatosh.
• Wulf: Indeed, I have, and I agree with his conclusions. The Divines will not speak of it.
• Felix: Are you saying Lord Talos does not know something?
• Vayu: Felix, you read the unredacted journals. There are many things that gods do not know. And there are things they will not discuss with me, such as Father’s transformation into a Divine.
• Felix: I am sorry, but I am trying hard to come to terms with Divine ignorance.
• Inigo: Wulf often declares gods are not omnipotent. It is a common misconception that they are.
• Wulf: Professor Delonius was killed by a battleaxe. That is not the weapon of the Morag Tong. But nothing was stolen, so they doubt robbery was the motive.
• Urdr: A third party could be involved.
• Wulf: Or the murderer is working for the same people who hired the Morag Tong. We do not have enough information to conclude Professor Delonius was a Guardian.
• Auryen: But it is suspect when someone with such specialised knowledge is killed when heading for Skyrim.
• Wulf: The other murder occurred in Rigmor’s favourite inn. A female Telvanni Wizard killed an Elderly Priest of Akatosh within an hour of his arrival.
• Felix: Why would somebody kill an elderly priest?
• Wulf: The innkeeper reported raised voices seconds before the killing. If the priest was a Guardian, and the wizard demanded the shard, he may have refused to hand it over.
• Inigo: To avoid interception, the wizard killed the Guardian rather than argue further. She then took the shard and ran.
• Wulf: We believe that was the scenario. We think the murderer made her way into Serpent’s Trail. That connects to Pale Pass, which leads to Skyrim.
• Vayu: Was the priest robbed?
• Wulf: No. Like the other murder, the killer did not take expensive goods and money.
• Felix: So, the enemy may have two of the shards.
• Urdr: If they tracked those two, plus Byron, there is a good chance they know all five Guardians.
• Inigo: There may be many enemy agents with a description of the five.
• Wulf: This is fine speculation, but we need facts. So, Auryen, what is your and Master Urag’s advice?
• Auryen: Byron might have sought you, but others may want to speak to The Greybeards.
• Wulf: Only people who have never spoken to them would want that.
• Felix: You were not very complimentary about them in your journals.
• Wulf: Should I have been?
• Felix: No.
• Wulf: Byron’s letter indicates the Guardians know their peril. All of them would be paranoid and careful. If the Morag Tong had been hunting them for very long, they would all be dead, no matter how paranoid. Once they have a Writ, they employ many sources to track their quarry. I will ask the Greybeards if any Guardian has been in contact.
• Auryen: Master Urag will inform us if a Guardian approaches the College.
• Vayu: We have a starting point, even if tenuous.
• Wulf: You know how my luck works. Do not be surprised if this proves helpful.
• Auryen: We doubt the name on Byron’s letter, Guardian Theros, is real.
• Inigo: It would be silly for paranoid people to use their real names in correspondence.
• Auryen: Despite his fatigue, Master Urag will continue to scour the College’s archives. I will continue here.
• Wulf: Felix and Urdr, you are not alone in not knowing what Auryen and I discussed.
• Inigo: Vayu and I are also trying to catch up with yesterday’s developments.
• Wulf: For now, come with me to High Hrothgar. If we must travel further, I can answer questions as we do so.
• Vayu: Wulf has teleported you both several times, so you need not have physical contact this time.
• Wulf: Auryen, I shall contact you via Corb if we have updates.
• Auryen: They are an excellent device, Guildmaster.
• Wulf: The Psijic Order has many wonderful devices, not all of which are from this realm. They gifted me my Journal Case.
• Inigo: Psijic Order monks are almost as weird as Wulf.
• Wulf: Nobody is to speak when we are in High Hrothgar. Treat it as a Temple of Kynareth, for that is what it is. Although I was not pleased with The Greybeards and thought little of The Way of The Voice, it is their home.

We teleported into High Hrothgar, and everybody remained silent.

Arngeir was meditating, so I waited for him to finish.

After a few minutes, Arngeir stood and waited for me to approach.

Arngeir greeted me, “Welcome, Dragonborn. Are these people Dragonguard?”

“Yes, so we can speak freely.”

“What brings you to High Hrothgar?”

“Have you heard of Imperial Cult members who call themselves ‘Guardian’?”

“No, and if memory serves me correctly, the Imperial Cult was a well-armed charitable organisation that worked strictly within the law.”

“These Guardians are not breaking any laws but protect shards of the Chim-el Adabal. They have voluntarily performed this perilous duty since the end of the Oblivion Crises. Unfortunately, somebody has hired assassins to hunt them down and retrieve the shards. One of the Guardians died at my feet yesterday when ambushed by Morag Tong.”

“Why would they come to see us Greybeards?”

“The Guardians want to reconstruct The Amulet of The Kings. They believe, as do I that Dragonfire is required to repair The Red Diamond. The enemy we are yet to identify may want to do the same thing.”

“This is very worrying, Dragonborn. A Dark Lord likely seeks The Red Diamond to tear down Martin’s barriers. We would either be enslaved or destroyed.”

“If any Guardian appears at your front door, please keep them safe and contact me via the Corb.”

“Perhaps you should investigate the pilgrim camped outside. It is not unusual for pilgrims to use such a camp. I often approach such pilgrims and enquire if they have questions. He is the first I recall who did not ask a single question. Also, he seemed very nervous.”

“Perhaps he is a Guardian and knows that assassins are hunting him. But that would make you likely to ask for asylum.”

“As you know and are not pleased about, we rarely get involved with outside issues. However, we would not turn away a person who risks all to protect The Red Diamond.”

“I shall talk with him and see what his story is.”

“Kynareth, guide you, Dragonborn.”

“And the blessing of The Divines on The Greybeards.”

We exited High Hrothgar. The mountain was not shrouded in fog or a snowstorm for a change.

Urdr whistled and then remarked, “What a view!”

Inigo replied, “It is even more impressive on the summit. However, I did not have much chance to enjoy it when Alduin appeared.”

“Wulf detailed that battle in his journal. I doubt any of the knuckle draggers in Sovngarde could match it with their exaggerated boasting.”

“The Ancient Tongues who exiled Alduin and fought beside us in Sovngarde could match their boasts. But we are proud we defended the people of Nirn and do not glorify our expertise in combat. Have you ever fought in a large battle, Urdr, such as when we faced Ulfric’s army or that of The New Order?”

“No.”

“If you ever do, you will realise how shallow the afterlife in Sovngarde is. There are better things to discuss and celebrate about your time on Nirn.”

Silah swooped down from the summit and talked to us telepathically. Odahviing hovered at a higher altitude.

• Silah: Wulf, Lord Akatosh told me of your task. He is so concerned that he asked me to take time off from repairing the timeline you are determined to tie into knots.
• Wulf: I could just put my feet up and relax till Alduin has no choice but to swallow the world.
• Urdr: Woah!
• Felix: What the fuck?
• Silah: New Dragonguard always have that reaction.
• Wulf: Understandable if they have never communicated via telepathy before.
• Vayu: Introduce yourselves to Silah. Use your minds, not your mouths.
• Felix: Ahh…I am Felix Decimus Varrus. Ex-legionnaire and soon-to-be Countess Rigmor’s bodyguard.
• Urdr: I am Urdr, the Fateweaver. I am a Master Mage and Wulf’s Winterhold Housecarl.
• Silah: I am pleased to meet you both, but pleasantries must wait.
• Wulf: Do you have information for me, Silah?
• Silah: I did not know you were headed for High Hrothgar. I visited the summit to speak to Paarthurnax and the other Dov. Many have heard of the Guardians, but none have dealt with them.
• Wulf: Can you detect the shards?
• Silah: Not as you can. If we touched a shard, we would recognise what it is.
• Wulf: I will investigate the person in the nearby camp.
• Odahviing: If that mortal is a Guardian, why has he not sought shelter inside High Hrothgar?
• Silah: Many Dov want to interrogate him, but I have told them to leave it to you.
• Vayu: Urdr and Felix, the other Dovah’s name is Odahviing. There are usually a dozen or so Dov at the summit.
• Inigo: Silah, have you been observing the camper?
• Silah: Yes, and if he is one of the Guardians, I am a rabbit. However, he does act as nervous as somebody being hunted.
• Wulf: I will talk with him and perhaps lay some traps.
• Vayu: You act ignorant, and I will be the smart one.
• Inigo: It sounds like you two have done this before.
• Wulf: Yes, and I would invite you to be the smart one, but nobody would believe that charade.
• Inigo: So, you are Lydia’s substitute for today.
• Vayu: I think Wulf and I will take turns. It is highly entertaining.

Odahviing and Silah hovered and watched.

The stranger wore costly Alik’r armour. He also wielded a Battleaxe. The type of weapon that was used to kill Professor Delonius Calver.

When I got within fifteen feet of the stranger, a powerful red light emanated from my gem bag. Simultaneously, a matching light came from the stranger’s chest area.

The stranger saw us approaching, stood, and moved to a boiling pot. He started stirring its unappetising contents, a poor attempt to convince us he was not concerned. His shaking hands told us otherwise.

“Good morning. I am Lord Welkynd, The Dragonborn, and these are The Dragonguard. May I ask your name?”

“Ahh… I am Argus Fenneric. That is with a ‘c’ not a ‘k’.”

“Argus, you must listen carefully, so stop stirring and pay attention.”

Argus moved away from the pot, and I got closer to him.

• Wulf: Argus, we are investigating a heinous crime on behalf of The Empire. Yesterday, Morag Tong assassins committed a murder most foul close to Dawnstar and in the light of day! We believe the victim sought assistance from dragons or those knowledgeable about dragons and travelled from Cyrodiil for that purpose. Logically, I sought the wisdom of The Empire’s ultimate authority on dragons, The Greybeards. Unfortunately, they could not assist with my enquiries.
• Argus: What can you tell me about the victim? Perhaps I have seen him on my travels?
• Wulf: We believe he is a member of a group that calls themselves ‘Guardians.’ They are an offshoot of the old Imperial Cult. We believe other Guardians might be in danger and have also travelled to Skyrim. Therefore, my highest priority is to find these Guardians and provide protection. Only then will I pursue those who hired the Morag Tong.
• Argus: The title of ‘Guardian’ seems familiar. What is the name of the victim?
• Wulf: Byron is his given name. We do not know his last name.

 A flicker of recognition crossed Argus’ face at the mention of Byron’s name.

• Wulf: Argus, I can sense some uncertainty and perhaps fear. Think logically! Morag Tong assassins do not work out of uniform.
• Vayu: They would not have the gall to pretend to be Lord Welkynd.
• Inigo: My friend is the most famous person in Skyrim. Don’t you recognise him?
• Wulf: If you are one of the Guardians or know where we can find them, cooperating may save lives, including your own.
• Argus: Was anything recovered from Byron’s body?
• Wulf: We recovered a few coins and a red gem. The gem does not look valuable. It is more of a keepsake, I think. Have a look.

I retrieved the glowing shard from my gem bag and handed it to Argus.

Argus looked at it briefly, then handed it back. I returned it to my gem bag.

• Wulf: As I said, the gem is not very impressive and is only worth a few septims.
• Argus: If you cannot trust The Dragonborn, who can you trust? I am one of those whom you seek. I am a Guardian of Akatosh. I cannot express how relieved I am that Byron’s shard has been kept out of enemy hands, but his passing deeply saddens me.
• Wulf: Am I missing something? Is the gem valuable?
• Inigo: It must be for somebody to hire Morag Tong! That is obvious, Lord Welkynd.
• Wulf: Is somebody with a smart mouth seeking a week of latrine cleaning duties?
• Inigo: No, thank you. I dislike smelling like Felix.
• Felix: Hey, that is not fair!
• Wulf: Argus, please explain the gem’s significance.
• Argus: It is part of The Red Diamond, the central gem of The Amulet of Kings. It is priceless!
• Wulf: It is a piece of something. Therefore, it is likely that other Guardians carry one or more pieces.
• Vayu: Lord Welkynd, I think you missed the significance of what this gentleman just told you.
• Wulf: Not at all. The shards might be historically significant, but I doubt they are priceless!
• Inigo: Argus, please tell us who your enemy is and why they want the shards.
• Wulf: They are rare relics, and the enemy is likely a collector of such! That much is obvious.
• Argus: You are far from the truth, Lord Welkynd. We want to reforge The Amulet of Kings. We suspect our enemies are Dunmer Daedra worshippers who do not want that done.
• Wulf: Why do you want to reforge The Amulet of Kings? Why would they object to you doing so?
• Argus: We hope it will solidify Martin Septim’s sacrifice and forever seal Oblivion from the world. Cutting communication with the Daedra Lords for eternity does not sit well with many Dunmer who worship them.

I glanced at Vayu, who gave a subtle hand signature. We had him trapped. A Guardian would know the purpose of The Liminal Barrier is to prevent Daedric Princes from manifesting on Nirn. You cannot strengthen it to prevent all communications with them, and you would not want to. Denying a large portion of Nirn’s population access to their chosen deities would negatively impact society.

• Wulf: Don’t Khajiiti also worship some Daedric Princes? Many Imperial citizens legally worship Daedric Princes. I have a liking for Lady Azura. I think there would be many others who would want to stop you.
• Vayu: What makes you think Dunmer are your enemy?
• Argus: With Morag Tong after us, it was merely a logical assumption.
• Wulf: Why have you come here? You have not asked questions of the Greybeards or sought their protection. They would offer sanctuary to a Guardian of Akatosh, and you would be infinitely safer inside those walls than out here.

Argus struggled to produce an answer and started to panic.

• Wulf: Do not stress, Argus. I understand that you are paranoid and frightened. May I ask you to clarify something for me?
• Argus: I can try.
• Wulf: If my memory serves me correctly, the bits of The Red Diamond were kept under constant guard within The Temple of the One. Is that right?
• Argus: Ah… yes… yes, they were.
• Wulf: The Dominion occupied The Imperial City during the Great War. When the Dominion forces were defeated and the city liberated, the shards were found to be missing from the Temple. Everybody assumed The Thalmor had stolen them. I am not ignorant and remember some of those boring history lessons!
• Inigo: I cannot believe Lord Welkynd got something correct. Are you positive he is not mistaken, Argus?
• Argus: No. I mean, yes, he is correct. The…ahh…bits of The Red Diamond were safely locked away in that temple, but we took them for safekeeping when The Dominion occupied the city.
• Wulf: Argus, I am Champion of The Divines and The Dragonborn. Do you think I would be ignorant of what occurred during and after The Great War? Don’t you think I know all about The Red Diamond and Amulet of The Kings?
• Argus: Well…umm…
• Vayu: The shards were never kept in The Temple of the One.
• Wulf: I can detect the shards from a distance, and you have one under your armour, over your left breast.
• Argus: Shit!
• Wulf: Argus Fenneric, with a ‘c’ not a ‘k,’ you are under arrest. I suspect you murdered Professor Delonius Calver as he tried to leave Bruma and enter Skyrim. The shard you carry was retrieved from his corpse.

Argus turned and tried to flee.

I yelled, “Stop him. He may have a Ring of Recall or similar.”

Argus vanished, then reappeared further away.

We were trying to capture, not kill, so we pursued him. Inigo tried to slow him with an arrow to his calf.

Silah said aloud, “We cannot risk losing the shard.”

She then killed Argus with Dragonfire.

I retrieved the shard from Argus’ corpse. He also had a journal protected from the flames by his armour. Inside the journal was a letter. A ring on his right hand had a dweomer that teleported the wearer short distances.

Silah landed a distance away. The squad moved closer to her.

I placed the shard into my gem bag and approached Silah, who knew I was angry.

I demanded, “Why did you kill him?”

“As you said, he may have had a Ring of Recall. He managed to vanish and reappear, which can happen if a Ring of Recall is not activated properly. The priority is to retrieve the shards, Valdr.”

“He had a journal which survived. Perhaps that may tell us what we need to know.”

“Please, do not be angry with me.”

“You did what you thought was right. I have no business being angry. Forgive me.”

“I know you well, Valdr, and what these people are doing insults you in a way few things could. It is beyond blasphemy. You must put the anger aside and concentrate.”

“You sound so much like Mother on occasion.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I might have more information after I read Argus’ journal.”

“I will be enjoying the thermals. Telepathy will reach me from here.”

Inigo and Vayu dragged the other two away, as Silah’s downdraft could blow them over the edge.

As Silah flew to the summit, I silently read the journal and letter.

After the snow flurry from Silah’s wings settled, I told the squad, “Listen as I read Argus’ journal. We now have a way forward.”

“It seems like years have passed chasing these fools around the northern territory, though it has only been a few months. Chasing down these silly shards had better be well worth it.

Ezra and I were lucky enough to come across two of the Guardians before they reached Skyrim and retrieved their shards.

I managed to track down that bookworm from the arcane university, Delonius Calver. He was heading to The College of Winterhold. I almost split the little guy in half! It was not as elegant as a Morag Tong kill, but I recovered his shard.

Ezra found her quarry, a Priest of Akatosh, in a Bruma inn. She said he was trying to reach The Greybeards.

However, when I arrived in Skyrim, my luck had run out. I was informed that the Morag Tong managed to find a jeweller to recreate the setting. They are now well fortified in some old Nordic ruin called Raven’s Rest. The jeweller was paid with a slit throat, so we cannot use his expertise.

They were also on the trail of the Breton Guardian named Byron, who has a shard. Unfortunately, I could not find him. He is likely already dead.

Then I had ill luck with another Guardian. He is an Orc named Ulgarg and quite the slippery swine. He was laying low in the western reaches. I tracked him down and could have sworn that I had him cornered, but he eluded me twice. Perhaps we can get to him when Ezra finally leaves Pale Pass. Then, we must figure out how to weasel the setting away from the ash bastards. I hope whatever treasure she is on about in the dungeon beneath Fort Pale Pass is worth it.

I will have to wait for her at High Hrothgar as planned. I hope she gets here soon! This place has a nice view, but I am freezing my balls off, and I swear the dragons are looking at me like a juicy steak!”

I told the group, “Wait until I read a letter I found inside the journal. Then we can discuss their contents.”

“Argus, I am pleased with your overall progress, but if you choose to double-cross the Morag Tong and it gets back to them, I will do nothing to protect you. It is a fool’s errand, and they will have no mercy.

That said, I do not care what means people choose to use. I will pay whoever provides me with the shards as requested, no questions asked.

O.”

• Felix: As usual, some bad guys try to cheat on other bad guys.
• Inigo: This ‘O’ person is correct. You do not double-cross the Morag Tong.
• Vayu: The two murder victims you mentioned to Auryen were Guardians.
• Wulf: Rigmor thought they might be. I have learned to trust her intuition.
• Felix: Can you give us more details on the murders?
• Wulf: The Imperial scholar was Professor Delonius Calver from The Arcane University. He was trying to reach The College of Winterhold and was found close to the smuggler’s entrance that Rigmor used to sneak into Bruma. The Penitus Oculatus now man that entrance, and they discovered Delonius’ body. As per Imperial Law, The Penitus Oculatus must inform a County’s leader of crimes being investigated. That is how Rigmor heard of that murder.
• Urdr: Is Bruma safer than Skyrim?
• Wulf: They do not have large bands of bandits. However, smuggling via the many entrances to Bruma from Skyrim is a problem that can only be solved by more guards. For obvious reasons, a limit on guard numbers exists. Counties should not have armies!
• Felix: What about the other murder?
• Wulf: The Priest of Akatosh, murdered by Ezra, was an Imperial named Adantus Mantar. Rigmor could not wait for The Penitus Oculatus to arrive, as Ezra would have escaped by then. Ezra is a Telvanni Wizard dressed in their colourful robes. Therefore, witnesses remembered Ezra and Bruma Guards were able to track her to Serpent’s Trail, an ancient pathway to Pale Pass from Bruma.
• Felix: Was Captain Grimbold in charge of the pursuers?
• Wulf: Yes, and I have found him to be competent. He served for many years in The Imperial Army.
• Felix: Captain Grimbold interrogated me like a father suspicious of his daughter’s new suitor. Rigmor smiled as he did so.
• Wulf: The guards were cautious and did not want to tackle a Telvanni Wizard. Their objective was to track her as far as they could. However, Ezra and the guards found a sizeable Stormcloak force camped in Pale Pass. Ezra cast an invisibility spell, so we can assume she made it past the soldiers. Wisely, the guards returned to Bruma and reported what they saw.
• Vayu: I assume Rigmor informed the nearest Imperial garrison.
• Wulf: They thought Captain Grimbold’s claim of at least a thousand Stormcloaks was an exaggeration.
• Felix: That is typical Imperial Army arrogance. They have little respect for guards, even though many of them served.
• Wulf: The garrison commander sent three platoons to investigate.
• Urdr: Is there a reason the Stormcloaks are in Pale Pass?
• Wulf: I cannot be sure, but it may have to do with Fort Pale Pass. His Imperial Majesty is concerned about troop and supply transport between Cyrodiil and Skyrim. While an avalanche blocked Pale Pass, Ulfric’s forces blocked the more minor routes during the civil war. Therefore, Mede wants Pale Pass not to be the only major route and is working to clear and widen others. Before clearing the avalanche debris, Mede wants Fort Pale Pass repaired to house a suitably sized garrison. Currently, Imperial Army engineers and artisans are repairing the fort.
• Felix: That makes strategic sense.
• Wulf: Stormcloaks have been declared outlaws. However, there are still idiots who think Ulfric was right. Recently, a sizeable force of them forced a large population of Minotaur from caves near Sancre Tor.
• Vayu: Do you think the ones in Pale Pass are the same Stormcloaks that displaced the Minotaur?
• Wulf: I would hope so. One large group of Stormcloaks is disturbing. I do not want to think there are enough idiots to populate two large groups.
• Urdr: Would they attack Fort Pale Pass?
• Wulf: They might try to take the fort to gain a victory that reignites the civil war.
• Felix: The enemy seems to have an efficient way of communicating. Argus was aware of recent developments.
• Wulf: That indicates we are dealing with an enemy with substantial resources.
• Urdr: I think we should visit Raven’s Nest first.
• Wulf: And why is that?
• Urdr: From Argus’ journal, it seems the Morag Tong is headquartered there. Logically, that is where a leader, if not O but somebody high on the ladder, is based. We may get further helpful information and not just the amulet’s setting.
• Wulf: Yes, that is what I thought. It is not far from Windhelm.
• Urdr: Are we dealing with a cult?
• Wulf: We do not have enough information yet. Hopefully, the answer is in Raven’s Nest. Please search Argus’ camp while I speak to Rigmor, Commander Maro and Silah.

I contacted Commander Maro via Corb.

I explained, “Yesterday, I told you that Morag Tong killed somebody carrying an important relic. There are other assassins involved. One of them, a Telvanni Wizard named Ezra, murdered a Priest of Akatosh in Bruma. Ezra is trying to reach Bruma via The Pale Pass and then make her way to High Hrothgar. She wears traditional Telvanni robes, making tracking her easy.”

“I will let our various outposts know. Should we arrest Ezra?”

“You can try. Telvanni Wizards are dangerous individuals!”

“Okay, Lord Welkynd. I will send the pigeons as soon as I can.”

I then talked to Silah.

“Are you enjoying the thermals?”

“Immensely, but I could not do this for hours every day like Odahviing.”

“A Telvanni Wizard called Ezra was to meet Argus here. Hence, the two tents. She murdered a Priest of Akatosh in Bruma who was a Guardian. She was travelling via Pale Pass but might not have made it to Skyrim yet. Ezra is wearing traditional Telvanni robes, so she is easily identifiable.”

“I shall inform the other Dov here. Soon, most Dov in Skyrim will know to be on the lookout for her.”

“The Morag Tong have a base near Windhelm. We are heading there soon.”

“Do you know who hired the assassins?”

“He used ‘O’ to identify himself in a letter to Argus. Hopefully, we shall find him with the Morag Tong.”

“Did Rigmor know the priest?”

“No, but he was murdered in the Tap&Tack, her favourite tavern.”

“Take care, Wulf.”

“You called me Valdr earlier. You do that when being a mother substitute.”

“Saint Alessia only called you Valdr when scolding you.”

“Which was never because I was a good boy.”

“Who mixed aphrodisiacs into the different potions she supplied to locals?”

“I have never seen so many smiling faces.”

“You, Valdr Septim, caused a population boom on that island.”

“What? I did not do the boot banging!”

“Alessia scolded you. Lord Talos could not stop laughing and got an earful.”

“They were simpler days, Silah.”

“Odahviing just flew by at a rapid pace. I cannot let him think he can outfly me!”

Silah roared a challenge. Odahviing replied.

Via Mara’s Rings, I asked Rigmor, “Can we chat quickly?”

“A quick one as the next supplicant has entered.”

“You were correct. The scholar and priest were Guardians. We killed the scholar’s assassin near High Hrothgar. The Morag Tong have a base near Windhelm, which we are about to raid. Then we shall see if Ezra is still in Pale Pass. She was after a relic somewhere in Fort Pale Pass.”

“Is the relic associated with the shards?”

“I do not know.”

“Okay, tell me more when you know more.”

“Our daughter had a lot of freckles!”

“So did I when a child. They would appear when I spent time in the sunshine for a few hours.”

Nothing of use was found in Argus’ camp. The squad gathered close, and I teleported us to Windhelm’s bridge.

We talked as we walked.

• Wulf: Raven’s Nest is next to Sahloknir’s grave.
• Vayu: Alduin watched Wulf and The Dragonguard fight Sahloknir. He wanted to assess the power of Wulf’s Thu’um.
• Wulf: If Alduin realised how weak I was in The Voice, he would attack us. We could not have defeated him because Alduin was invulnerable whilst airborne. I did not know the Dragonrend Shout. Therefore, I could not make him land.
• Inigo: When Wulf did make Alduin land at The Mouth of the World and in Sovngarde, it took a long time to defeat him.
• Wulf: Alduin witnessed me killing Sahloknir within seconds of his restoration. Alduin did not see the strength of my Thu’um but witnessed my martial skill.
• Urdr: What do you know about Raven’s Nest?
• Wulf: It is a typical Nord burial tomb. Whatever the Draugr guarded, it is long gone. I do not think a scholar has visited it in centuries.
• Inigo: Hopefully, the Morag Tong were killed by the zombies!
• Felix: Are you Inigo the Not So Brave?
• Inigo: I will sit and tell you how I got these scars. Then you can make fun of my fear, knowing you are a bastard.
• Felix: I apologise, Inigo. We all have memories that can generate strong emotions, including fear.

When we entered Raven’s Nest, we heard somebody using a pickaxe. Heat Vision showed that the person was a fair distance away.

Near the end of a long corridor, we came upon the body of a Nord.

I inspected the corpse and then whispered, “He died from a knife to the kidney recently. I estimate a few days at the most. The Morag Tong always have guards, as this unfortunate person discovered. I do not know why there are no longer guards. I am also curious why somebody is using a pickaxe when this place was never a mine.”

We crept towards the pickaxe user. It was a Morag Tong member trying to clear an entrance.

I snuck up on him and then assassinated the assassin.

I used Night Vision and inspected what he had been doing.

I said, “A recent avalanche had blocked the entrance. The assassin was close to removing the gate. Vayu and I should be able to move it so we can proceed. This blockage is why there were no guards. He was stuck out here by himself.”

With a bit of effort, Vayu and I managed to wrestle the gate free. Then I crawled over the rubble and pulled a chain to open the next gate.

A bit further along, Heat Vision showed multiple people in different rooms. We decided to tackle those ahead and then return to others on our right.

We did not bother creeping but killed everybody we encountered without pause.

It did not take long for us to eliminate one group of assassins.

Among those I killed was a Mythic Dawn cultist.

Piles of Draugr suggested the Morag Tong and cultist had to fight a pitched battle when they arrived.

I inspected the dead cultist.

He was an Altmer, and from his corpse, I retrieved the recently created setting for The Amulet of Kings, a key, and a note.

I read the note to the squad.

“Camorac, the amulet’s setting is accurate according to the craftsman we hired. When he finished making it, I arranged a little accident instead of handing over the large payment he expected. We cannot risk loose ends.

Always keep the setting with you!

O.”

• Vayu: It seems we have another Mehrunes Dagon scheme to deal with.
• Wulf: Mythic Dawn cultists are like cockroaches. You think you have eliminated them, but then more crawl out of nooks and crannies to ruin your day.
• Felix: The armour is different on one of the Morag Tong.
• Wulf: She is a Lieutenant.
• Inigo: That is a lot of zombies! They would have lost a few assassins fighting them.
• Felix: This O person needs my sword in his belly!
• Wulf: It would be good to track him down, but that is not our primary objective. We must concentrate on ruining his Lord’s plans. For now, O is just another Daedric worshipper with misguided loyalties.
• Urdr: Did O hire the Morag Tong, or did Camorac do it? And I thought they only took assassination writs?
• Wulf: Sometimes, they are hired to kill whoever possesses an item and bring it back. O hired the Morag Tong.
• Urdr: Then the Morag Tong subcontracted Argus and Ezra to help with the search and provided them with information regarding the Guardians. Argus and Ezra took that information and went rogue.
• Felix: I find it difficult to believe some idiots want another Oblivion Crises!
• Wulf: An infinite queue of mortals think their chosen Daedric Prince should be allowed to cause havoc on Nirn and Mundus. The New Order was a recent example. Do you know of Mythic Dawn’s theology?
• Felix: No, yet another hole in my education is exposed.
• Vayu: It is a hole in many peoples’ education!
• Wulf: I warn you that I will rattle off a list of facts. If you want to know more, there is a lot of material available.
• Felix: Please, go ahead.
• Inigo: I will wake you if my friend sends you to sleep.
• Wulf: Mythic Dawn believes Lorkhan is another Daedric Prince and the rightful ruler of Nirn. To his followers, Mehrunes Dagon is a patriot trying to rescue Nirn from foreign occupation, and The Divines are traitors who murdered Lorkhan. Since Nirn seems to be in constant war, turmoil, and change, Mythic Dawn argues it is more suited to a Daedric Lord’s rule. They regard Daedra as strong and Aedra as weak. They believe their afterlife will be in a pocket realm of Oblivion called ‘Paradise.’ Strangely, their souls do not go to Sovngarde, where Shor, Lorkhan, rules. Paradise was destroyed when the founder of the Mythic Dawn, Mankar Camoran, was defeated by The Hero of Kvatch. Current cultists seem willing to ignore that fact. When it existed, Paradise was never a utopia but a hell where Daedra hunted loyal deceased. Felix’s grimace warns me I had better stop before his head explodes.
• Felix: I have a thick skull. Keep going.
• Wulf: Mankar was a Dragonborn. In his writings, he talks about learning a new language and breathing fire. He could also wear The Amulet of Kings but was not descended from Mother. He was not a cousin of mine.
• Felix: Okay, that last bit hurt my brain.
• Inigo: My friend, you will have to explain that gobblygook. How did he fool The Amulet of Kings if he was not a descendant of Saint Alessia?
• Wulf: In the hands of a powerful mage, Mehrunes Razor was capable of incredible transformations. Mankar used it to transform his race from Bosmer to Altmer. I can do that temporarily with a spell the Psijics taught me. However, his transformation was permanent.
• Vayu: The surviving et’Ada that helped make Mundus are the Aedra. The ones who did not help create it are the Daedra and Magna Ge. Therefore, the Dark Lords have no legitimate claim of ownership or authority as they did not sacrifice to build it.
• Urdr: Are Mythic Dawn members stupid?
• Vayu: Urdr, you are applying logic to religious fanaticism.
• Urdr: Yeah, that was silly of me.
• Wulf: Raven was the name of Mankar Camoran’s son. This place was not always called Raven’s Rest.
• Vayu: There are many Lord Arkay symbols and flags here.
• Wulf: This tomb was dedicated to Lord Arkay. Why, I do not know. Sometime in the past, Mythic Dawn renamed it in Raven’s honour.
• Felix: Why do mortals always succeed in stopping the schemes of the Daedric Princes?
• Wulf: Mortal greed, ambition, and free will are a Dark Lord’s worst enemy. Their champions turn against them. Other times, a mortal hero has powerful allies, including other Daedric Princes. For instance, Boethia and Azura aided me against Malacath. Not that I regard myself as a hero!
• Urdr: There is a Mythic Dawn Museum in Dawnstar.
• Wulf: There was. Dremora, summoned by Mehrunes Dagon, killed its proprietor.
• Felix: That is covered in one of the more recent entries in Wulf’s journals.
• Urdr: I have almost finished reading them.
• Vayu: Urdr is a bit slower than others as she pauses and asks far more questions.
• Urdr: Did the Oblivion Crises weaken Mehrunes Dagon?
• Wulf: Logically, he must have been severely weakened. But we do not know how much because The Divines and other gods cannot see into his realm.
• Inigo: What is next, my friend?
• Wulf: We search this place, then eliminate the other assassins.
• Felix: Where do we search for the Orsimer?
• Wulf: Argus’ journal said Ulgarg was lying low in the western reaches. I will ask if the Chieftain of Dushnikh Yal, the Orsimer Stronghold in that region, can help. Ulgarg may have sought assistance there.

We found an exit but nothing else of use. We backtracked to the corridor leading to the other assassins.

Near the intersection, we heard the unmistakable voices of Draugr, the Thu’um being used and screams.

We rushed to the skirmish.

Some assassins had already fallen victim to Draugr.

We eliminated all remaining enemies.

• Felix: I think the Morag Tong thought more of us were waiting outside the main entrance and knew we were near the other exit.
• Urdr: In desperation, they tried to find another exit.
• Inigo: Then the zombies got mad and attacked.
• Wulf: Look around and see if anything is helpful. Then we shall hunt Ezra.
• Felix: How do we get to Fort Pale Pass from Skyrim?
• Wulf: The only viable route I know is Pale Cave. It will be a long walk from Helgen to reach it.

We did not find anything of consequence. I always like to use an exit that is different from the one we entered. Therefore, we headed to the exit we found earlier.

A snowstorm greeted us, so I quickly teleported the group to Helgen.

The walk started in pleasant, sunny weather. When it is a Dragonguard’s first outing, I like to take Vayu and Inigo along. They have a way of easing other people’s worries. The mood was light, and squad members chatted amiably about many subjects. That is what I hoped to see.

A brief snowstorm did not dampen our mood. It cleared not long before we reached Pale Cave.

I told the group, “This way into Pale Pass is not used often by smugglers or bandits. There is a large breed of Atronach that calls it home. I doubt Kyne’s Peace will stop them wanting to tear our heads off.”

We entered and stopped.

• Inigo: My friend, can you hear the battle?
• Wulf: Yes.
• Vayu: It seems the Stormcloaks have decided to take the fort.
• Wulf: The exit to Pale Pass is not far. We shall emerge close to Fort Pale Pass.
• Urdr: It must be more than a skirmish if we can hear the fighting.
• Vayu: Urdr and Felix, you are about to witness Wulf do his ‘Dance of Death.’ While doing so, remember that he hates killing.
• Wulf: I suspect there will be a sprinkling of veterans amongst the enemy. However, like Ulfric’s army that we destroyed outside Whiterun, most will be young and should be raising a family, not dying for a lost cause.
• Vayu: These people were offered the chance to go home and resume their lives. Instead, they have chosen to attack our soldiers. They are outlaws.
• Wulf: No mercy is to be shown. I shall summon another squad before we exit. I shall warn them via Corb.

I removed my Corb from my Journal Case and activated the one in Aurane. Jordis answered.

“Jordis, please tell Celestine that I will soon summon your squad. We will fight a large force of Stormcloak Outlaws near Fort Pale Pass.”

“Will two squads be enough?”

“I do not know. Tell everybody to be ready for summoning, just in case.”

“We are always armed and armoured, Wulf, but I shall warn them.”

When I finished with the Corb, Rigmor contacted me via Mara’s Rings.

“Darkness threatens. Why?”

“It seems we shall have to deal with the Stormcloaks.”

“Let your Dov do the killing!”

“I cannot afford to keep doing that, Rigmor. I must learn to accept what is needed to protect the innocent. I do not want to become insensitive to the killing, but neither do I want to ignore its necessity.”

“Remember our daughter’s face. That is one of millions of innocents who you are fighting for.”

“Imagine a world where she does not have to fight for survival. I will think of that as I carve through those who prefer chaos.”

“I love you.”

“And there is nothing more powerful than that love.”

We quickly disposed of numerous Atronachs and Ice Wraiths.

After ten minutes, we stood at the exit of Pale Cave with the familiar sounds of battle echoing.

I summoned Celestine, Jordis, Iona, and Lydia.

I told the squads, “No mercy is to be shown. If you see them with a weapon, they are to die. Their chance to surrender ended long ago. Urdr and Felix, remember not to get in front of me. I suspect I shall be using The Voice quite often. Wait just outside while I make our presence known.”

We exited into Pale Pass and halted.

I used the full strength of my Thu’um so everybody in the valley and fort would hear me.

“I AM LORD WELKYND, DRAGONBORN AND CHAMPION OF THE DIVINES. ULFRIC STORMCLOAK WAS A TRAITOR, A THALMOR PUPPET AND BLASPHEMER. LORD TALOS TOLD ME HE DID NOT WANT PEOPLE FIGHTING OVER THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP HIM. ULFRIC LIED. YOU WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO GO HOME. NOW YOU ARE OUTLAWS AND NO MERCY WILL BE SHOWN. IF WE SEE YOU WITH A WEAPON, YOU WILL DIE!”

We rushed down the hill and joined the fighting.

It was not long before Stormcloaks tried to run or beg for mercy. As promised, no mercy was shown.

I often caught glimpses of my friends carving through the enemy as quickly as I did.

The slaughter was relentless. Those who faced me had no chance. Still, some met their death with courage. I did not think less of those who cowered.

One last group of Stormcloaks swarmed the entrance to the fort. The battle was nearing its end.

Only minor skirmishes remained eighty minutes later.

I said to Celestine, “Help the injured from both sides. Still show no mercy to Stormcloaks who wield a weapon.”

“These must be the last Stormcloaks!”

“Well, we just slaughtered their breeding stock.”

“Wulf, we did what was necessary.”

“Whenever I think I have accepted my role, I question it again.”

“You would not be the Valdr Septim we follow out of love if you didn’t.”

“Two hundred and five added to my list. But that was with a sword and bow. I have no idea how many fell to The Voice. Many of them were running away or begging for mercy.”

“Wulf, we did what was necessary!”

“Attend to the injured and see if you can lessen today’s toll somewhat. We will enter the fort to find a murderer and another shard of The Red Diamond. You can return to Aurane at your discretion.”

When we entered the fort’s courtyard, I was approached by a Lieutenant.

“Lord Welkynd, thank The Divines you and The Dragonguard arrived. We were being overwhelmed.”

“Perhaps if the Bruma garrison’s commander believed the numbers reported, that would not have been the case.”

“I was sent with three platoons. We needed four times that many.”

“I am looking for a Telvanni Wizard.”

“She ran into this courtyard pursued by several Stormcloaks. I advised her that the fort was also full of rebels and she would be better off in the West Tower until the fighting ends.”

“There are Stormcloaks inside the fort?”

“A few dozen managed to enter before we were organised. Since then, none have made it to the entrance alive.”

“Okay, we shall enter and help remove the scum. But first, I must have a friendly talk with the wizard.”

I told the squad, “Wait for me here. It should not take me long to exact justice.”

I had not considered Urdr’s reaction to her first battle. The three others huddled around her as she cried. I wonder what she thinks of this killer.

I entered the West Tower, which was used for storage.

Heat Vision showed me where my quarry stood.

I approached Ezra with weapons sheathed.

She saw me and demanded, “Hold on, stay right there!”

A red glow came from my gem bag. An answering glow came from Ezra’s left sleeve.

I stopped and watched Ezra’s eyes widen as she saw the evidence of my handiwork. Some viscera slid off my armour and hit the floor with a disturbing splat.

My Dovah remained silent during the battle and did not urge me to kill the innocent-looking young mage. Being Dunmer, she could have been several hundred years old for all I knew.

Ezra screamed, “Oh no, you are one of… THEM! Get away from me!”

“I am not one of them, whoever they are. I am Lord Welkynd, Dragonborn and Champion of The Divines. Argus was roasted alive in his armour by my dragon ally, Silah. We slaughtered the Morag Tong and Camorac. Now I will kill you and retrieve the shard that belongs to Lord Akatosh and not some murdering lowlife. I am sure Lord Nelos will have your name removed from the records.”

Ezra tried to draw her sword. I drew mine and cut her down.

I recovered the shard and then exited the tower.

I asked, “Are you alright, Urdr? You can wait outside if you are tired of killing.”

“It must be done, Wulf. I have never shied away from hard work or unpleasant tasks.”

I told the squad, “I have the shard. Now let us delouse the fort.”

As soon as we entered the fort, we were set upon by Stormcloaks.

After we killed the last rebel, I asked a Legionnaire, “How do we get to the basement?”

He pointed to an unlocked gate.

We made our way downstairs.

A Legate saw us and aimed his bow at me.

I growled, “It is not good for a soldier’s career to fire an arrow at a General.”

“Are you Lord Welkynd?”

“Yes, and these are The Dragonguard.”

“We heard The Voice, and a cheer erupted, for we were losing. When some enemies entered the fort, we were concerned they would defile the heroic fallen. I rushed down here, but there are no rebels.”

“The fort is clear of enemies.”

“Thank you, Dragonborn and Dragonguard.”

The Legate headed upstairs. We toured the basement.

The place was being used as a Hall of the Dead. We wandered the aisles, looking for the relic Ezra sought.

An out-of-place glazed pot caught my attention. On closer inspection, it was hiding a pull chain.

The nearby wall contained a hidden, pivoting door.

Felix asked, “Is something strange about that wall you are studying?”

“Yes, look at the one opposite.”

We stood before the opposite side, and I said, “This wall is the same as every other one. However, something was missing from the one I was studying. Can you tell me what that may be?”

Felix looked puzzled for a few seconds, then said, “All the other walls have support beams a third of the way up.”

“Yes, now take a closer look at the opposite wall.”

Felix did so and remarked, “It looks like some stones are cracked. But the crack is through all the stones. Is this a secret door?”

“Yes. Look around and tell me what is out of place.”

After a few seconds, he said, “I cannot recall seeing any other glazed pots.”

“Look behind it.”

Felix moved the pot out of the way and then exclaimed, “There is a pull chain!”

I told the group, “Move away from that wall. It will pivot outwards.”

I pulled the chain, and the hidden door slowly opened.

I entered the room. On the back wall was a stone mural of Kyne. Before it, a shield was on a pedestal. Akavir script surrounded both.

When I approached, the shield and my gem bag were briefly lit by a bright red flash.

I picked up the shield and then spoke to the group.

• Wulf: The shield briefly glowed red in response to the shards.
• Vayu: Do you know why that would happen?
• Wulf: No, but I sense a connection between them. I wonder if Ezra knew of the connection.
• Inigo: Is the shield special?
• Wulf: Yes, it is. Who knows the story of Reman Cyrodiil and the Akaviri?
• Urdr: Their final battles occurred here, in Pale Pass.
• Wulf: This fort was the headquarters of the Akaviri during their campaign in Pale Pass. The Akaviri invaded Tamriel not to conquer but to find a Dragonborn. They heard Reman use the Thu’um in battle and immediately surrendered, for they had their Dragonborn. Thus, Reman never had to attack or lay siege to this fort.
• Urdr: After that, the Akaviri fought beside Reman and helped him create a new empire.
• Wulf: Narina Carvain was the Countess of Bruma during the Oblivion Crises. She was a renowned scholar on the Akaviri and an avid collector of their relics. Just before the Oblivion Crises, she funded an expedition to find this fort. When the expedition found it, they discovered much damage caused by landslides, not battle. They spent months excavating this place yet never discovered this shield.
• Inigo: It looks like it was placed there as a shrine.
• Wulf: It is a shrine to a man revered by the Akaviri. The stone mural is of Kyne, who gifted mortals the Thu’um. The writing on the walls and floor is in Akaviri script. The shield belonged to Reman Cyrodiil, a Dragonborn.
• Felix: Did the shield and shards respond to you being a dragonborn?
• Wulf: That is a possible explanation.
• Urdr: The shield had been in that room since the Akaviri invasion, yet nobody else discovered the pull chain.
• Felix: If I were the suspicious type, I would suggest The Divines have something to do with that. An avalanche almost demolishes a fort, yet a fragile ceramic pot remains intact on a shelf where it should not be. Coincidentally, the pot hides the pull chain needed to open a concealed door and reveal the shield.
• Wulf: Welcome to my world, Felix.
• Inigo: It is well past midnight, my friend. Are we still visiting the Orsimer stronghold?
• Wulf: Yes, but I will try not to wake Chief Burguk and his many wives. There should be guards on duty who may be able to help.

We teleported into Dushnikh Yal. It was pitch black, so I had to use Night Vision.

An Orsimer wandered over to me.

He said, “Lord Welkynd, I would not advise disturbing our Chieftain at this hour.”

“Chief Burguk’s slumber is safe. However, we are on an urgent mission. What is your name?”

“Skuld.”

“Has an Orsimer from outside of Skyrim visited Dushnikh Yal recently?”

“Yes, his name was Ulgarg, and he came from High Rock. He stayed for a couple of days but then decided, for our safety, he should leave.”

“Did he explain why?”

“He said assassins, including Morag Tong, were hunting him. He did not say why they were after him but felt his presence in Dushnikh Yal endangered us all. He said he was heading east and that we should tell any strangers asking that he went west. That was five days ago.”

“We know an assassin injured him but could not find him to finish the job. Hopefully, we shall get to him in time to save his life.”

“May I ask why they pursue him?”

“Ulgarg is one of five Guardians protecting important relics from a Daedric Prince and his mortal henchman. The other four Guardians were assassinated. They are heroes.”

“He is Blood-Kin and should not be left to the beasts if dead.”

“If we find him, I shall arrange for his remains to be sent to his family in High Rock.”

“I shall tell our Chieftain of this. He thought Ulgarg was brave and honourable.”

“Thank you for your help, Skuld.”

We headed directly east, and a few miles from Dushnikh Yal, we found a camp. Somebody had been attacked from a distance by a bow, and blood was smeared on a rock.

I inspected the blood, as did Vayu and Urdr.

• Vayu: It is Orsimer blood.
• Wulf: I concur. It is hard to tell how old it is with the rain rehydrating it.
• Felix: That coward Argus used a bow!
• Inigo: Ulgarg may be a warrior and alert for trouble. Argus was wise not to try sneaking up and tackling an Orsimer.
• Felix: It is still cowardly, if wise.
• Wulf: Night Vision makes a blood trail relatively easy to follow.
• Inigo: My nose will help. This blood has a strong scent.
• Vayu: Who needs Meeko when Inigo’s nose is so sensitive?
• Wulf: With fewer fleas, better bathing habits and more brains, Meeko is superior.
• Vayu: Lydia will appreciate that one.
• Inigo: Do you see the dangers of uncontrolled envy, Felix and Urdr?
• Urdr: Yes, but I am sure you could overcome that jealousy if you tried.
• Inigo: Luckily, Inigo the Brave has a thick skin. Such insults bounce off his sense of self-worth.
• Urdr: The hollow sound is when the insults bounce off his skull.
• Vayu: I officially name Urdr as Lydia’s apprentice.
• Inigo: I will have to think of a new strategy.

We followed the blood trail for half a mile. Ulgarg had entered a cave.

• Wulf: I know nothing about this cave.
• Vayu: Ulgarg would not survive such blood loss.
• Felix: I have seen Orsimer survive horrendous injuries in battle.
• Vayu: Yes, but like Nord berserkers, once the battle is over and bloodlust is gone, they often die.
• Wulf: If this is Ulgarg’s blood trail, reaching here would have taken great determination. Not bloodlust, but the desire to protect the shard would have allowed such a feat.
• Inigo: There might be zombies in there.
• Vayu: Even worse, there could be a family of furry bunnies!
• Felix: Now I have wet myself with fear!
• Wulf: There could be a massive nest of giant spiders.
• Inigo: Let us enter and perhaps indulge in some spider splatting!

We had not gone far when I turned to the disappointed Inigo.

• Wulf: With my smallish nose, I can smell the decay of Draugr.
• Inigo: There might still be spiders.
• Vayu: Draugr Spiders!
• Inigo: My friend, is there such a thing as Draugr Spiders?
• Wulf: I do not think so, but they would pose a dilemma for you.
• Inigo: I could ignore the zombie bit if they made a satisfying, crunchy sound.

We had to eliminate a couple of Draugr before I could inspect Ulgarg’s body.

I told the group, “He has a shard, as I can see its red glow.”

I could not find the shard, so I removed Ulgarg’s armour.

I warned, “You may want to turn away. Ulgarg swallowed the shard, so I must cut him open.”

Despite witnessing horrible wounds inflicted in battle, all but Vayu turned away. Desecrating a corpse is a taboo they could not stomach. Forgive the pun.

By feeling around, I knew precisely where the shard was. Therefore, I only had to do a small incision to remove it. I then closed the wound with Magicka.

• Wulf: There are probably more Draugr further in, but we have been travelling for almost twenty-four hours, and I have no desire to explore this place.
• Inigo: My friend, we have all the shards and the amulet’s setting, thwarting Mehrunes Dagon’s plans.
• Wulf: Perhaps part of a plan, but intuition tells me this is far from over.
• Vayu: A connection between the shield and shards needs understanding.
• Wulf: Auryen may know, so let us ask him!
• Felix: Will he be up at this hour?
• Wulf: Who needs sleep when you have a mystery and dozens of dusty tomes and scrolls to read? But it is almost time for breakfast, so we will probably find him in the dining room.
• Inigo: What is that rumbling?
• Urdr: It is not an earthquake.
• Vayu: It is Felix’s stomach!
• Felix: I was not hungry till Wulf mentioned breakfast.

We teleported into the museum, and as I predicted, we found Auryen at the dining table.

He stood to greet us.

• Auryen: You are back. Were you successful?
• Wulf: I have all five shards, a reconstructed amulet mount, and Reman Cyrodiil’s shield.

I handed Auryen the shield. He studied it for a couple of minutes, then handed it back.

• Auryen: What makes you think it is Reman Cyrodiil’s shield?
• Wulf: Have you ever seen Alduin’s Wall in Sky Haven Temple?
• Auryen: No, but I have very detailed sketches.
• Vayu: Wulf, seeing one of those sketches would have saved you a lot of trouble and wasted time!
• Wulf: I did not think of asking at the time. We are always wiser after the fact.
• Auryen: Ah… the same craftsman did the carving on the shield and Alduin’s wall!
• Wulf: That is one fact suggesting it is Reman’s shield. The place we found it, Fort Pale Pass, is another.
• Auryen: Although Reman never besieged that place, the Akaviri most likely received it as a gift from him.
• Wulf: It was in a hidden room that was a shrine to the Dragonborn they invaded Tamriel to find.
• Auryen: Anything else?
• Wulf: There was a flash of red light when I approached the shield with the shards. Nobody else could see the flash. I also feel a resonance between the shards and the shield.
• Auryen: Do you think that is due to your dragon soul and blood?
• Wulf: That is a possibility. Or it may just be responding to the shards and not me.
• Auryen: Did you find anything to suggest a Daedric Prince is involved?
• Wulf: We retrieved the setting from a member of Mythic Dawn. He also had a letter from ‘O.’
• Auryen: Do you think this is Mehrunes Dagon’s plan?
• Wulf: I have no evidence that Dagon is instructing ‘O.’ The only significant person in history who had something to do with Dagon and whose name starts with ‘O’ is Orthe. He is a Dremora Kynreeve and was Mankar Camoran’s chief torturer.
• Auryen: I have a hunch but will need a day to investigate further.
• Wulf: That is fortunate, for we will need a day of rest. Also, I am in less of a hurry now we have all the bits.
• Auryen: Be prepared for a lengthy tale on your return.
• Wulf: And you should be prepared for me to argue against false history and questionable metaphysics.
• Auryen: I have no doubt my hunch will generate much scepticism.
• Felix: A gobblygook duel! That is something to look forward to.
• Urdr: Wulf, I think Felix is ill!
• Wulf: I am optimistic he will come to his senses after a hearty breakfast.

We teleported into the Safehouse.

• Wulf: I would like to use this squad again. So, eat and rest. Tomorrow, we shall listen to Auryen’s theories.
• Vayu: Urdr and Felix, you have done exceptionally well.
• Urdr: I know from your journals that significant battles are a rarity.
• Wulf: They have been in Skyrim. We were involved in many such battles in Akavir.
• Inigo: As I told you earlier, I was as upset after my first battle. I do not think you get used to them, but the shock will be less the next time.
• Wulf: They are always repulsive because they oppose the basic wants of virtually all mortals. We want family, friends, employment, shelter, food, and peace. A battle sees those values challenged and ripped away. Today, we killed many young people, and I cannot understand why they chose Ulfric over normal wants.
• Urdr: So many of them ran and were frightened.
• Vayu: We gave them the option of going home. They were warned that once declared outlaws, they would no longer be protected by the laws they fought against.
• Wulf: The destruction of Ulfric’s army and quick resolution to the civil war was not enough. What happened today will be dramatised and exaggerated in the new newssheets. Hopefully, it will be the catalyst to end all Stormcloak activity.
• Felix: It is difficult to believe Rigmor led armies into battle.
• Wulf: Rigmor is sometimes like a Warmaiden of popular fictional tales. We are fortunate she is not fictional.
• Inigo: Like you, my friend, Rigmor is one of the kindest and most compassionate beings on Nirn.
• Wulf: Rigmor and I are a mystery to The Nine. Other gods are unsure why they have a fascination for Rigmor. I think the reconstruction of The Amulet of Kings will reveal secrets that explain many things about me. I do not look forward to uncovering them.
• Vayu: But you will uncover them, for you have always championed the truth, no matter how uncomfortable.
• Wulf: That is a far easier mantra to follow when the truth is not about yourself or those you love.
• Felix: What do you fear may be revealed?
• Wulf: Truths that have been hidden by the gods I revere.
• Vayu: I know what you suspect, Wulf. Let us see what unfolds and deal with the consequences as always.
• Wulf: Are you ready to go home, Inigo?
• Inigo: My friend, I would like to stay here and share a meal with my new friends.
• Wulf: Okay, but do not clog up the spa with fur!

I teleported to Aurane and quickly explained our success to Celestine and what was next. She will inform the other Dragonguard.

I grabbed some plates of food and went to my private quarters. Other people know when I want privacy, so nobody asks questions. Meeko is the welcome exception.

As I ate, I read many books and manuscripts on what I feared. Meeko sidled up to me, and the occasional scratching of his ear was soothing for both of us. I think he knows the truth, and it is hard for him to keep it from me.

I put the books aside, and then Rigmor and I spent an hour discussing my fears and suspicions via Mara’s Rings. In the end, she convinced me to summon her.

I knew I had transferred my fears and doubts to Rigmor. For that, I am sorry.

Our Quiet works over Mara’s Rings, but I needed Rigmor in my arms to still my thoughts further. That was the only way I could enter a fitful sleep where several discussions with Mother repeatedly played in vivid dreams.

Mother often hid lessons in conversations that only made sense later in life. She knew what I would face and tried to prepare me for it.

I do not know if I can remain the same if my suspicions are confirmed. One of Mother’s lessons said I can.

We shall see.