I’d like to thank all of my readers who have been following this story of Skyrim.
Sometimes it’s been fun, sometimes it’s been frustrating, and sometimes I’ve wanted to scream at the game and at my computer. You’ve made it worth it.
Although the tale of Tel’kiira Kethrina and Tervesa Kaushad has ended, the tales of Skyrim have not.
I promise that soon I will begin a new tale in a new blog. Once I do, I will post a link of it here.
Again, I thank you.
2nd of First Seed, 4E 202
To General Tullius:
Windhelm has mostly recovered from the attack on the city. There are still those who still miss Ulfric Stormcloak, including those residing in exile in the Palace of Kings. Honestly, I don’t know how Jarl Brunwulf Free-Winter puts up with them. Nevertheless, the townspeople have managed to return to their lives.
Regarding your personal request, Legate Tervesa Kaushad is doing well for the most part. Last month she purchased Hjerim here in the city after a dragon burned down her house near Riverwood. Neither of us should be surprised, she grew up here.
She has now made Windhelm her permanent home. She often spends her evenings in the New Gnisis Cornerclub, talking amiably with Ambarys and entertaining the patrons. I’ve heard she’s become their resident bard.
She brings in this talking “space ball” from time to time. It seems to be very popular, until someone threatens to hit it with a hammer. I think it’s hilarious myself.
Every so often Tervesa travels around Skyrim, playing in many taverns and inns, hunting the occasional dragon, and helping those in need. Because of her reputation, she’s frequently inundated with requests for help … and marriage proposals.
This war was difficult for all of us, we have all lost friends, but thanks in part to Tervesa, we will recover.
As ordered, I will travel to the Dominion and attempt to gather intelligence on the Thalmor. From what we know of them, I suspect in time the Dragonborn will be called again to fight for the Empire.
Sincerely,
A.
Antonius
19th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
I wish I knew where Ambarys was, I wish I knew if he was all right.
We fought the Stormcloaks in the city. We took Windhelm, burned through the barricades, and reached Ulfric and his housecarl Galmar in the Palace of Kings.
They would not surrender. I focused my fire attacks on Galmar first, then when he went down assisted General Tullius and Rikke in defeating Ulfric.
Ulfric had one request before dying. He wanted me, the Dragonborn, to deliver the final blow.
Out of respect for him, I did so. General Tullius lent me his daedric sword to do the deed.
I whispered a prayer to Talos for Ulfric the moment the blade pierced his heart.
General Tullius delivered a succinct speech to his troops. Amidst their cheering, I heard him say “I hate giving speeches.” I had to admit, I found myself smiling.
And then the officers went about assigning troops to put out fires, begin clean up, and repair the damages.
Gods be thanked, the war is over. For now, I will lend my healing spells to help the wounded. After that, I’ll find Ambarys and share a few drinks.
I hope he’s all right.
(This letter was delivered magically, dropping onto the bar. The Cornerclub was empty at the time.)
We’ve taken Fort Amol. If you haven’t left or taken shelter yet, do it now!
Tervesa
(This letter was delivered magically, dropping onto the bar during the busiest time of the night. Its arrival nearly caused a panic when it was read.)
17th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
Dear Ambarys,
I know you’ve been preparing. I hope it’s enough.
I’m heading to the Imperial camp in Eastmarch. Soon we will attack Windhelm. Get everyone you can either out of the city or into the best possible shelter, but do it as discreetly as possible!
Good luck.
Sincerely yours,
Tervesa
17th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
We attacked Fort Sungard in the darkest of hours, yet the fort was lit brilliantly with mage lights.
By those lights, I saw who I had both dreaded and expected to see, Tel’kiira Kethrina, standing on the battlements above the gate. She was wearing Stormcloak armor, sans the helmet, and the mage lights reflected from her golden eyes. The other soldiers were giving her a wide berth.
Our eyes met, and we both knew the time had finally come.
I ordered the Legion soldiers to stay away from Kethrina and focus on the regular troops while I dealt with her. From the expressions on their faces, they were only too happy to comply.
The legionnaires rushed into the fort while I waited outside. Kethrina calmly descended the stairs and met me before the gate. We nodded respectfully to each other, and then we dueled.
We fought for hours. She had gained considerable power from vampirism, while I had cleansed myself of lycanthropy before arranging the peace conference. My magic skills were greater than hers, her melee skills were greater than mine.
But I had the the Thu’um. Her mastery of the Thu’um extended only as far as her basic education and what Ulfric could share with her. I, on the other hand, had been given instruction by the Greybeards, Paarthurnax, and the three great warriors of the first Dragon War.
That was then I did something I had never done except against dragons and their draugr servants, I used the Thu’um to fight, and I didn’t spare anything.
Even so, the duel was a difficult one, Kethrina was the most powerful and the most dangerous foe I had ever faced. It was only when I had called Odahviing and the valiant of Sovngarde that I was finally able to overpower her.
The sun’s rays were just beginning to rise when I looked down upon Kethrina’s broken body. She had sustained wounds that would have killed five men, yet she still lived, barely.
I knelt by her side and asked if she had any final requests. She whispered to me that she wanted to be buried next to Charlotte. I promised her that I would make that happen.
I then asked if she had any last words. She said she had none, save that she had no regrets. I nodded, promised I would see her in Sovngarde, then ended her life quickly with a stab to her heart.
I rose to my feet and looked around at the legionnaires who had been watching our duel with awe. I don’t think any had any idea just how powerful a Dragonborn was. All of them looked at me with fear.
I ordered two of them to prepare Kethrina’s body for transport and to treat it with respect. They quickly complied. Odahviing, who was still there, agreed to carry her and me to Solitude where Charlotte was buried, and I expressed grateful thanks.
It has been a long night, and a longer day. Styrr helped me make the arrangements, and now Tel’kiira Kethrina and Charlotte Corday lie side by side in death.
Alduin is dead. Kethrina is dead. The Reach is ours again. Ulfric is isolated in his hold.
I have no time to rest. General Tullius needs me to help prepare for the final battle and finally end this war forever.
14th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
Rays of the setting sun are drawing lines on the wall in my room. I watched them lazily as I bathed.
Now, with a goblet of wine in my hand and some bread and cheese at my elbow, I’m finally able to record the phenomenal events from over the past few days.
The conference went much as Balgruuf and Arngeir predicted. Ulfric demanded Markarth, and at this point in the war, he only had Winterhold to trade. He was receiving a major hold in exchange for a minor one, and he still insisted it wasn’t enough. If it weren’t for Esbern, he would’ve walked out of the room.
While I disdain Esbern’s and Delphine’s insistence that I kill Paarthurnax, I respect Esbern for what he did for me that day. The day ended with the Stormcloak possessing Markarth and the Imperials possessing Winterhold.
Esbern then taught me how to lure a dragon to Dragonsreach. He knew the names of many dragons, and taught me one of them: Odahviing. What I didn’t realize before then, but should have, was that each dragon’s name is a shout made up of three words.
With that knowledge, and Jarl Balgruuf’s preparations, we were able to call and capture Odahviing. We conversed for a while, and he politely answered my questions.
To reach Alduin’s portal, I had to be able to fly. Odahviing agreed to let me ride him, as I had proven my Thu’um to him. I took this to mean that I had earned his respect.
As I considered this and whether to free him, Farengar introduced himself to Odahviing. At first I thought the wizard was only going to ask him questions, but then he tried to take some of the dragon’s scales and blood. Idiot!
I prepared myself for a long journey, then set Odahviing free. True to his word, he allowed me to ride him. Flying through the skies was the most exhilarating experience I’ve ever had in my life.
And fighting the draugr in Skuldafn Temple was the most harrowing battle in my life. Almost all of them were deathlords. As if ordinary draugr weren’t bad enough. At the portal itself was a powerful dragon priest that wouldn’t hold still.
Afterwards though, the vision that greeted me made it worth it.
I’ve heard and read so many stories of Sovngarde, one of them written by Kodlak in his journal. None of them even remotely did justice to the reality. I captured dozens of images, but only one developed clearly.
But paradise was marred by Alduin’s mist, trapping the souls of the fallen, preventing them from reaching Shor’s Hall.
I managed to navigate to that honored hall after passing Tsun’s test of combat. Inside I met many heroes, including the three who banished Alduin, the three whose battle I witnessed: Gormlaith, Hakon, and Felldir. Together we dispersed Alduin’s mist, and then finally defeated the World-Eater himself.
His body incinerated into nothing, and his soul dispersed into Aetherius. I suppose his soul wasn’t meant to be taken. In the end, Tsun taught me a Shout that would allow me to call a hero of Sovngarde, then returned me to the Throat of the World.
I was greeted by a half dozen dragons. I felt humbled as they acknowledged me as the Dragonborn in their own tongue. Paarthurnax was there was well, and he told me he intended to teach the dragons the Way of the Voice. I pray he’s successful.
I am tired. My battle with Alduin left me aching everywhere, but I can not rest yet. General Tullius has ordered me to assist Legate Rikke in regaining the Rift.
The civil war continues.
12th of Sun’s Dawn, 4e 202
Dear Ambarys,
I’m not certain what I can tell you. Yes, I spoke with Kethrina. We both wanted each other to withdraw from the civil war, and neither of us could do that. I asked her to join me in fighting Alduin, but she refused. I still don’t understand why.
We claimed the Rift, although I doubt things will change in the capital. Maven was running things in Riften even before she officially became the Jarl.
We will win this war, but for now I need to concentrate on fighting Alduin. I was able to fight and defeat him at the Throat of the World, but he fled to Sovngarde. There he will hunt and eat the souls of the honored dead, stealing their strength.
To learn where Alduin’s portal is located, I need to capture one of his lieutenants and interrogate him. The best place to do that will be Dragonsreach. To that end, I asked Jarl Balgruuf for help, and he agreed on the condition that I help the Greybeards arrange a truce between the two sides so that his city will be safe from the Stormcloaks while we’re trapping the dragon.
I’ve been trying to arrange a peace conference during the past few days.
General Tullius wasn’t difficult to convince, skeptical as he was.
Jarl Ulfric was more difficult. Being in the Palace of Kings itself was a difficult experience by itself. Skald the Elder, Laila Law-Giver, their families, and stewards were dining at the long table before the throne. All of them were glaring at me, as if I were the sole cause of their problems. Nevertheless, I was able to convince Ulfric to come to the conference.
These will be difficult negotiations. Wish me luck.
Sincerely Yours,
Tervesa
8th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
Dear Tervesa,
My agent told me what happened during your meeting, what he could tell me anyway. He claimed he couldn’t understand much of what the two of you were saying, but I know that he could have transcribed your conversation phonetically, and I or any other Dunmer agent could have translated it for him. For some reason, he didn’t. I don’t suppose you know why?
What happened in that skooma den?
My patrons and I celebrated when we heard the Legion captured the Rift. Malthyr openly wondered if this means Black-Briar mead will be cheaper. From what you’ve told me about Maven, I’m pretty sure that will never happen.
This just leaves Winterhold and Windhelm doesn’t it? I can’t believe we’re so close to reunifying Skyrim. I wonder if the mages at the College will fight for one side or the other? What do you think?
You know you can always talk to me.
Ambarys
3rd of Sun’s Dawn, 4E 202
These last hours have felt so surreal.
When I arrived at at the Throat of the World, Paarthurnax instructed me to read the scroll at the “time wound”, the exact point where the banishment ritual took place. I could see it, a circle of air that moved differently from the rest of the mountaintop. It felt strange to step inside it.
I paused for a moment, prayed, and then unfurled the scroll.
I was immediately transported to the past, and yet I wasn’t. I was watching everything through a screen, as if the Elder Scroll had become transparent, with various symbols flying through my vision apparently at random.
Dozens of dragons flew through the skies, their roars surrounding me. A few feet from me, almost close enough to touch, two heroes fought and killed one of the dragons. I was able to hear their names, Gormlaith Golden-Hilt and Hakon One-Eye, faced it bravely even in the face of its fire breath.
Gormlaith delivered the death blow from atop its head, a move I felt was equal parts brave and insane.
After the dragon was dead, the pair were joined by an older Nord, Felldir the Old, who pulled out an Elder Scroll from his Greybeard robes.
Then Alduin himself attacked them, and it was that moment I heard the words of the first Shout created by mortals: Joor, Zah, Frul. It forced Alduin to crash land to the ground.
Alduin was shocked and furious, and I watched the trio bravely fight him, but the effects didn’t last. Alduin grabbed Gormlaith and threw her to the ground like a terrier would a rat, and soon Hakon was crippled.
Finally Felldir used the Elder Scroll to banish Alduin. There was a sphere of green energy around the dragon, then he disappeared, and vision ended.
I was still recovering from the experience when Alduin arrived. Paarthurnax distracted him long enough for me to regain my bearings, saving my life.
The words of power erupted from my throat, and Alduin crashed to the ground in front of me. After that I didn’t waste any time, throwing everything I had against him until he collapsed.
Alduin acknowledged my strength, and then he fled. Paarthurnax told me he went to Sovngarde to devour the souls of the dead and grow stronger, but he didn’t know the location of the portal.
The only way I can follow Alduin is to capture one of his lieutenants and question him. Paarthurnax suggested using Dragonsreach, where Olaf One-Eyed captured and held Numinex.
This will be a challenge. No sane person is going to be eager to have a dragon in his city. Nevertheless, I don’t have a choice but to ask.
First though, General Tullius has ordered me to help regain the Rift, and Legate Rikke has specifically told me that she needs me.
I will assist Rikke, then request leave to ask Jarl Balgruuf to help me capture a dragon.
