Bandit's Journal
Middas, 9 Midyear 4E 204
My cohorts and I have recently stumbled upon a rumor of a powerful blade hidden somewhere in the Pale. We've been searching everywhere, asking innkeepers and scholars, but we've only been able to gather what hold it was located in. We attempted to visit the Arcanaeum, but the college wouldn't permit us to enter the premises. An innkeeper in Morthal, Jonna, told us that we could travel to Markarth and visit Vlindrel Hall. It's supposed to be the largest source of general knowledge in Skyrim. We set off for Markarth tomorrow.
Fredas, 11 Midyear 4E 204
We arrived at Vlindrel Hall today. The curator there was odd, to say the least. For one, she was a Khajiit, something that was still not common in Skyrim, even after the war. Secondly, she had the glowing eyes of a vampire. Despite her oddities, she proved highly useful. She disappeared behind a corner for just a second before returning with a book. She permitted us to study the book under supervision. We weren't allowed to take the book, but we did learn the location of the blade. It is located in Frostmere Crypt. Rumors told that the sword was guarded by a powerful ghost of some kind, but my group is confident that we can kill it. We decided to stay in Markarth to revel before we go to the Pale.
-The next several pages are filled with wobbly, illegible writing pockmarked by smears and mead stains.-
Tirdas, 22 Midyear 4E 204
We left for Frostmere Crypt today. We made it here in excellent time, but decided to set up camp in the entry of the crypt to regain our strength. We plan on exploring further tomorrow.
Middas, 23 Midyear 4E 204
We were making good progress earlier this morning, but our efforts were bested by a door. The lock on it is quite difficult to pick, and we ran out of lockpicks trying to unlock it. We sent one of the sellswords we hired to go out and get more, but we don't know when, or if, he'll be back.
Morndas, 28 Midyear 4E 204
We made it through a fair bit of the dungeon after that sellsword came back and picked the lock. We decided to rest at a door we had come across, and we plan to go through in a few minutes.
...
It was terrible. Everybody, dead. I tried to fight her, I really did. The Pale Lady, she isn't a ghost, she's a woman, a Nord! Her skin is as pale as the snow, and her blade as cold as it! She ripped through the others, tore them ribbons! She froze them in their tracks, and killed them all! I was coward. I couldn't fight her, I was such a coward! Maybe they wouldn't all be dead if I wouldn't have ran away! I have to tell somebody, the Jarl, the guards, somebody!