Forsworn... Elisif felt her blood chill at the thought. She'd heard of them, who hadn't? The bloodthirsty marauders who roamed the hills and valleys of the Reach, robbing caravans, killing travellers, attacking outlying settlements, known for their hatred of the Nords and for worshipping strange gods and consorting with Hagravens. They were tough, violent, fanatical and in addition to wielding primitive stone weapons with a deadly skill, they were nearly all gifted in the use of magic. Torygg had told her all about them, speaking of them with a viciousness and hate that she rarely heard him use for anyone else, calling them murderers and madmen, little better than animals. Now she'd have to fight her way past them?
“Why do we need to go to Sky Haven Temple?” she asked, wondering if there was a better option available. Yes it was a secure base from the sounds of it, but surely there were other options?
Esbern flicked the book open and tapped another paragraph.
“Because it's the home of Alduin's Wall,” Esbern said, looking triumphantly at them all as if that was supposed to mean something to them. He was to be disappointed.
“You mean you've not heard of Alduin's Wall? Any of you?”
Blank looks on all faces, but it was Delphine who answered.
“Let's say we haven't,” she said delicately. “What's Alduin's Wall and how does it help us with the dragons?”
“It's a great work of art, a legendary example of ancient Akaviri stonework – really, I'm surprised none of you have heard of it...”
“Esbern,” Delphine sighed. “Please. The point?”
“The point? Right, yes, of course, I'm coming to that,” said Esbern, recollecting himself. “The point is, Alduin's Wall is where the ancient Akaviri set down in stone all their accumulated dragon lore, including the defeat of Alduin himself at the end of the Dragon War. If we can find Alduin's Wall, it may tell us how they did it and we can use the same methods they did.”
A slim chance, Elisif knew, but it was better than nothing. There were five of them after all, and what were a few Forsworn compared to the end of the world? She nodded assent at Delphine.
“Sky Haven Temple it is then,” Delphine said, taking the book and gathering her things. “Come on, let's get going. We've got no time to lose.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a bit of discussion, they decided to take the long way to the Reach – south through Falkreath and along Lake Ilinalta before bearing north then west along the south road into the Reach. Delphine felt it best to avoid Whiterun and that five of them travelling together would attract attention, so the less populated Falkreath route would be better. Elisif agreed, although not for the same reasons. The Dark Brotherhood would never think to look for her in an out of the way place like Falkreath, surely?
They reached the famous Guardian Stones about an hour out of Riverwood.
“They say those favoured by the gods can change their fate if they pray at a Guardian Stone,” Aela explained as she patted the Warrior Stone. “I'm not sure if that's true, but I used to come out here to make offerings all the time. Who knows if it worked.”
“I left some septims for the Thief Stone first time I came out this way,” said Brynjolf, stroking the Thief Stone fondly. “I don't know if it worked or not, but I'm not dead yet so that's something, right?”
Thieving. Elisif knew it. Brynjolf was far too silver-tongued for his own good and certainly anyone else's. Still, he'd got the information they'd needed from the Thalmor and helped Delphine rescue Esbern, so he couldn't be all bad. All the same, she really couldn't condone thieving.
She could use all the help she could get though. So she patted the Warrior Stone, hoping for some of it to rub off.
“Help,” she whispered. “I need to kill Alduin the World-Eater or everyone dies, both here and in the afterlife and oh god, Torygg's in Sovngarde, I don't want Alduin to eat him! So please help because I'm not sure I can do this on my own.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.4
“Why do we need to go to Sky Haven Temple?” she asked, wondering if there was a better option available. Yes it was a secure base from the sounds of it, but surely there were other options?
Esbern flicked the book open and tapped another paragraph.
“Because it's the home of Alduin's Wall,” Esbern said, looking triumphantly at them all as if that was supposed to mean something to them. He was to be disappointed.
“You mean you've not heard of Alduin's Wall? Any of you?”
Blank looks on all faces, but it was Delphine who answered.
“Let's say we haven't,” she said delicately. “What's Alduin's Wall and how does it help us with the dragons?”
“It's a great work of art, a legendary example of ancient Akaviri stonework – really, I'm surprised none of you have heard of it...”
“Esbern,” Delphine sighed. “Please. The point?”
“The point? Right, yes, of course, I'm coming to that,” said Esbern, recollecting himself. “The point is, Alduin's Wall is where the ancient Akaviri set down in stone all their accumulated dragon lore, including the defeat of Alduin himself at the end of the Dragon War. If we can find Alduin's Wall, it may tell us how they did it and we can use the same methods they did.”
A slim chance, Elisif knew, but it was better than nothing. There were five of them after all, and what were a few Forsworn compared to the end of the world? She nodded assent at Delphine.
“Sky Haven Temple it is then,” Delphine said, taking the book and gathering her things. “Come on, let's get going. We've got no time to lose.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a bit of discussion, they decided to take the long way to the Reach – south through Falkreath and along Lake Ilinalta before bearing north then west along the south road into the Reach. Delphine felt it best to avoid Whiterun and that five of them travelling together would attract attention, so the less populated Falkreath route would be better. Elisif agreed, although not for the same reasons. The Dark Brotherhood would never think to look for her in an out of the way place like Falkreath, surely?
They reached the famous Guardian Stones about an hour out of Riverwood.
“They say those favoured by the gods can change their fate if they pray at a Guardian Stone,” Aela explained as she patted the Warrior Stone. “I'm not sure if that's true, but I used to come out here to make offerings all the time. Who knows if it worked.”
“I left some septims for the Thief Stone first time I came out this way,” said Brynjolf, stroking the Thief Stone fondly. “I don't know if it worked or not, but I'm not dead yet so that's something, right?”
Thieving. Elisif knew it. Brynjolf was far too silver-tongued for his own good and certainly anyone else's. Still, he'd got the information they'd needed from the Thalmor and helped Delphine rescue Esbern, so he couldn't be all bad. All the same, she really couldn't condone thieving.
She could use all the help she could get though. So she patted the Warrior Stone, hoping for some of it to rub off.
“Help,” she whispered. “I need to kill Alduin the World-Eater or everyone dies, both here and in the afterlife and oh god, Torygg's in Sovngarde, I don't want Alduin to eat him! So please help because I'm not sure I can do this on my own.”