Sixth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
The plan to get me into the Thalmor embassy succeeded, and my suspicions were confirmed; the Thalmor have absolutely nothing to do with the dragons and seemed to be under the impression that the Blades were the ones to blame. Were it not for the fact that one is an empire and the other is a group (used to be a group, anyway) of warriors, I would liken the two factions to children squabbling in a tavern.
However, there were problems as soon as I began to make my escape. They realised that I was not, in fact an agent of theirs (I'm amazed that my disguise lasted as long as it did, frankly. I don't resemble an altmer in anything other than the shape of my ears) and captured my contact, forcing me to kill a few of their guards.
After reaching Solitude I was greeted by a group of guards who seemed to think I would either fight them or surrender (the speed at which the Solitude guard were alarmed is truly remarkable). I ran from Solitude to Dawnstar, across the northern coast of Skyrim, whereupon I rested and hid. The taigas of Skyrim look as though they would be difficult to hide in, and there's a modicum of truth in that. It is indeed hard to break line of sight when you're fleeing over a flat, white, landscape while wearing clothing that can only be described as conspicuous; really, however, it is more a matter of having the stamina and determination to keep running from your pursuer. The wind and snow will tire any man quickly, and once your pursuer ceases pursuing you, there's no need to continue fleeing.
Nonetheless, I got the information that Delphine wanted. As I said, the Thalmor believe the blades to be behind the dragons returning. Obviously then, neither side is responsible. In addition, I found a dossier regarding the civil war; the Thalmor wish the war to continue for as long as possible, presumably so that they have an easier time conquering Skyrim when the time comes. This doesn't surprise me, and I remain ambivalent regarding the entire thing, though I'm sure it will cause me some problems. Politics find a way to hinder everything.
Seventh Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I made it to Riverwood and spoke with Delphine. I neglected to point out that I had been correct all along.
Amongst the dossiers that I acquired was one which mentioned that the Thalmor are after a man called Esbern, another member of the blades, who they believe to be hiding out in Riften's sewers. I'm heading there to "visit" him now. Delphine was surprised to hear that he may still live, apparently she had expected him to have perished during the Great War, during the sacking of Cloud Ruler Temple. Why any agent would have remained there as they saw the Imperial City burn is beyond me; I feel as though I should refer to my previous comments regarding her intellect.
I feel as though by the end of this campaign against the dragons (if it can even be called a campaign, the extent of our actions so far seems to be some mockery of an identity parade) will leave no place in Skyrim unvisited by me, a notion I do not enjoy entertaining, the less travelling I must do, the better.
I am unsure about Benor's health, or more specifically his resistance to this cold. He is a Nord, though we have been trekking through snow all day for the past two. His armour is far less padded or substantial than mine, and he does not seem like the type to complain, leading me to think that maybe he could be suffering, but choosing not to say. I may have to buy him something with fur lining.
Eighth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I made it to Riften and found the city rank with poverty, more so than Bravil in Cyrodiil, though at least one can walk around Riften without tripping over skooma fiends. Despite the minute respite provided by the meadery, I find this place revolting. I shall make every effort to leave as soon as I am able, and to not return. Despite this, the "Rat way", where the lowest of the low here in Riften live can only be worse. How people could live in conditions worse than this is a mystery to me for now, as is how exactly someone could arrive in that kind of financial pit. Sadly, as much as I would love to never discover the answer to these questions, I'm afraid that they will have to be answered soon.
Ninth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I entered the rat way and found Esbern. It was as disgusting as expected; it's a pity that I can say that the sewers of the Imperial City, a city a hundred times the size of this one, were far less repulsive.
I had to fight my way through numerous Thalmor soldiers, they must have realised Esbern would be our next port of call, given the dossiers we took. After retrieving him and his most important belongings (irritatingly, "most important" seemed to encompass everything but the walls of his quarters), we mercifully left the city, and are heading back to Riverwood with full haste. Whether we're moving so quickly because of the nature of the town we're leaving or because of the fear of being pursued by Thalmor agents is a matter for debate.
Tenth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I got Esbern to Delphine in one piece; and according to him, our next step is to find "Alduin's wall", an ancient akaviri sculpture, which contains all the ancient blades' knowledge about the large black dragon, Alduin and his return. It sounds far too good to be true.
Regardless, Esbern believes it to be located in Karthspire, in the Reach.
I feel that time is running short. Alduin has been at large for almost a month, and we still have no clue as to how to defeat him, though hopefully this "Alduin's wall" will relinquish some knowledge that can be used to our advantage, unlike everything else we've done so far.
Apparently this Alduin, the dragon which attacked Helgen, is some kind of half-deity. Related to Akatosh (obviously, I suppose, given that he's a dragon) and who's duty it is to end the world. All in all, things look grim.
Twelfth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I met up with Esbern and Delphine at the old blades' fortress of Sky Haven Temple, where we discovered Alduin's wall. After studying it, Esbern came to the conclusion that Alduin was defeated by a shout, like those the Greybeards have insisted on teaching me at every opportunity. None of us had any ideas as to what that shout may have been, so me and Benor will be heading back up to the Greybeards at the soonest opportunity.
I recognise that I was wrong about the Voice serving no purpose, though I do retain the sentiment that it is something of a one trick pony. I doubt I will find a use beyond using it to battle dragons. Regardless, it would appear that the Blades have no love for the Greybeards. I hope that this doesn't lead to unpleasant confrontations, though I'm sure it will; the hubris of both is tangible. I'm reminded of the relation that the Blades and the Thalmor seem to have.
Given their evidently antagonistic nature, perhaps I shouldn't have sided with the blades!
Thirteenth Heartfire, Two Hundredth and First Year of the Fourth Era
I stopped a mile or so outside Whiterun to make camp and rest. It seems sometimes that even the weather objects to our campaign against Alduin.
I have neglected to speak about Benor in any detail in this journal since he joined me, for reasons I am unsure of. He seems to do his job so well that I hardly notice him, which is undoubtedly a good thing. I spoke to him a little in camp, wondering how he felt about all that was happening. Remarkably, it would seem that he has no concern for his own wellbeing, and is more than happy to merely follow and fight when he's needed. He's a nord through and through I suppose.
I think the only reason my people never enslaved the nords to the same degree that they did the khajit and the argonians is that we simply couldn't establish a good enough foothold in Skyrim. With the right conditioning, a nord would make a fine slave. He'd never say anything, and he'd take up arms in a moment.
