To Llewellyn Heron, Dragonborn:

I hope that J'zargo finds you in time. The Northern Maiden's runs to Solstheim are not as regular as they used to be, but I'm hoping the seal of the Arch-Mage will suffice to convince Captain Salt-Sage to make the trip.

I know you're dealing with Miraak on Solstheim, but something strange is going on here in Skyrim:

Farkas, Vilkas, and I went down into the catacombs of Solitude to get Potema's Skull and lay it to rest and we found… nothing. No vampires, no skeletons, no draugr. Her bones were removed, and each of the alcoves were empty.

A few days later, we received word that the Thalmor Embassy had been attacked. From the look of things, it looked like a Stormcloak attack (they marked the wall with 'Ulfric Lives'). But whoever attacked had taken on Thalmor mages head-on, and overpowered them. Most of the bodies were also dragged away. When we tried to track down the Stormcloak camp to investigate, we found only the scene of a massacre. Someone attacked the Thalmor, and made it look like Stormcloaks, and then attacked the Stormcloaks and tried to frame the Thalmor. Ancano has been sending messages back and forth to the Aldmeri Dominion, and swears he knows of no Thalmor plots to attack the Stormcloaks. For once, I believe him.

It gets worse: Only a few days ago, the Hall of the Vigilants was attacked, and Keeper Carcette is dead. Without the Vigilants to keep them in check, I fear the vampires and clanless wolves of Skyrim will grow emboldened. The watchers we had on Castle Volkihar swear that no vampires left the castle, but if it wasn't Harkon, then who?

It doesn't sit right with me at all. It's nothing like I remember from the games. Have you encountered anything drastically different from your memories of Dragonborn?

I've reached out to Karliah and Brynjolf, but they say they have heard no untoward rumors concerning vampires in their network. I have also sent word to Isran at that ruined fort of his, and he has agreed to send representatives to meet me at the College. I feel strongly that the vampires are behind all of this, but this doesn't remind me at all of Dawnguard.

Please, Lewis: come back as soon as you can. I hope and pray that I am wrong, but we may be dealing with another One. And if that is the case, we need to find him/her soon, before the timeline is damaged irrevocably.

Sarai Gellarus

Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold

P.S. – Remember: Don't trust Herma-Mora.

Author's Note: *WINK*

Reviewer Responses:

Lord Mortem- More to come!

Pietersielie: Hmm… which of the Daedra is also known as The Woodland Man? ;) In chapter 3, we saw that Tala absorbs ALL the power from the Standing Stones whenever she touches them. The same happened to her at the Lord's Stone.

LordCanadian, METALHELLSPWN – Oblivion is some scary stuff to anybody.

JimmyHall24, Raikaguken – Don't have any plans for a pairing, as of yet. Taking suggestions, though. ;)

Malhavoc Shadowlord – (see above sections for various answers) Madanach was killed by the Dragonborn, we read in Chapter 5.

ademolix – Arrogance can definitely bite anybody in the ass…

Deadly6, CecilRedwing, Ozymandeos – Thanks so much! I really do appreciate it!

ROCK on, everybody!

-Tusken1602