Chapter 27 - Ancient's Ascent
This chapter is Bonechill Passage and the dragon fight after it, and other stuff
The people of Falkreath watched in muted fear as the dragon started to swoop lower and lower upon the village, until it roared, flapped its wings, then went into a dive.
It landed in the middle of town, in the open area before the Longhouse, sending dust in all directions as the white-grey creature snapped up a nearby unfortunate guard in its maw and shook them like a dog's chew toy.
The dragon then discarded the guard's body by tossing it at a nearby stone wall, then quickly focused on the lone figure standing nearby.
"Dovahkiin." The beast snarled, crouching a bit and raising its wings. "Mu fent die grah!" (We shall do battle)
Link raised Dawnbreaker in answer and ran towards the dragon, who decided to breathe some sort of ice shout.
The Hylian couldn't make out the Words of Power for the shout over the noise, and he only just managed to dive to the dirt to get out of the way, a nearby guard wasn't so lucky as they were pelted by large chunks of ice and snow.
The body fell to the ground and the dragon immediately picked up the dead guard, then threw the corpse in the air and caught it, then swallowed the body whole.
"Pruzah, bovul ko faas, fah fenti nak hi pah!" (Good, flee in fear, for I shall eat you all) The beast roared afterwards.
The dragon's tail swung around and knocked down a wall of one of the nearby houses. This caused hot coals from a fireplace to rain down upon the beast's body. The dragon snarled in anger and turned to face the regiment of guards nearby.
The guards all raised their weapons, let out various battle cries, and charged the beast, who took to the air and began to breathe fire upon those in the square.
Link was taking cover behind a currently untouched house. He took out his bow, notched an arrow to the bowstring. took aim, and fired. The arrow launched through the air and sank into one of the dragon's eyes, which caused the beast to scream in angered pain as it started to circle Falkreath.
Link stayed where he was, thinking of how to deal with the dragon. 'There's only so many ways I can attack with the Clawshots, but they may be my best option.'
He took out the two Clawshots and fired them at the dragon's throat. Both weapons sank into scales and muscle and bone, spraying blood in all directions as the dragon let out a choked roar, the beast flailing around in an attempt to dislodge the things piercing its throat.
Numerous guards then ran forward, using their weapons to attack the dragon as it collapsed to the ground.
Link ran out from behind the building and retracted the Clawshots, then shook them free of blood and put them away in his pack.
Then the dragon breathed frost, burning and freezing several guards in the process as those that were uninjured braved the shout to drag the wounded guards away.
Link, however, only had time to raise the spiked wooden shield before he was caught in the Shout's effects. He felt intense cold on all sides and he could have sworn the shield was splintering and freezing at the same time…
The frost shout eventually stopped, which allowed Link to lower the shield. He then ran forward, Dawnbreaker held high, and he brought the sword down on the dragon's neck.
Link was knocked back by the dragon wacking him with one of its wings. He soon regained his senses and got up.
He then ran forward, and stabbed the beast in between the eyes while the various guards distracted it.
The dragon let out a death roar as Link retreated, the beast throwing its head back, then it fell out the ground, it's eyes glazing over as the body began to burn away…
And with it, multicolored shimmering tendrils appeared, flowing all around the dragon's body as it quickly became a skeleton. These tendrils sought out Link after a time, and he closed his eyes and braced himself.
He felt sheer power and knowledge a second later.
Yol. It meant Fire.
And then reality returned, Link realized the people of Falkreath had gathered around the skeleton, and as he turned to face them, he suddenly felt exhausted. But he couldn't rest yet.
Link left those standing around the dragon skeleton to talk about what happened, and he slowly made his way to the longhouse. Once there, he entered and approached the throne at the end of the hall.
"You killed the dragon?" Siddgeir was sitting forward in his chair, his full attention on Link.
"I did."
"Fantastic. That's one less thing to worry about." Siddgeir tapped his chin in thought. "Let me see… I received word that you helped my uncle and Runil… I did hear about the werewolf incident. And you also saved Falkreath from the dragon. I think that's far more than enough."
The young Jarl got up from his chair, then left the room. He then returned carrying a bow. "I think you deserve this. It's the Bow of Falkreath." Siddgeir faltered. "Not a very good name… Anyway, I'll also give you the title of Thane. There still is the property offer, and you'll also be given a housecarl."
"I'm not so sure I need another bodyguard, and I already have Breezehome in Whiterun… Balgruuf gave both to me when I became Thane."
"Oh, you do? Well then, I…" Siddgeir frowned as he absentmindedly tapped a finger on the wood of the bow he was holding. "Tell you what, I'll hold off on the house and housecarl for now, and give you the bow and title."
"Sounds good to me."
Siddgeir smiled. "Then it's settled." He paused. "…I've never liked ceremonial things, so… You're now Thane of Falkreath, and if you ever decide to take up the house offer, let me know." The Jarl handed Link the bow he was holding. "Go on, try it out. Just don't… actually fire it…"
Link accepted the bow, then inspected it for any damage. Not finding any, he mocked raising and pulling back on the bowstring. "…Whoever made this knew what they were doing."
"Glad to know you like it." Siddgeir smiled, sounding a bit relieved.
Link lowered the bow and hooked it on the lantern at his side, he then turned away from the Jarl as he started to walk towards the door.
"Wait."
The Hylian looked back. "Yes?"
"I have information that may be useful to you." Siddgeir said as he returned to his chair and picked up a glass with some sort of dark liquid in it. "There's been reports of a dragon - one of a different color than the one that attacked Falkreath - close to Helgen. Apparently its lair is called Ancient's Ascent."
"How do I get there?"
"There's a place nearby Helgen called Bonechill Passage. Go through that, and you'll find the dragon's lair."
Link continued to look back at Siddgeir, then he turned and walked up to the Jarl. "Do you mind marking this Bonechill Passage on my map?"
"Sure." Siddgeir replied as he waited for Link to show him the map. "Well, this is pretty filled out on the right side and up north…" Siddgeir used his free hand to mark a location near Helgen with a quill. "There." He then picked up a nearby bag that was filled with Septims and offered it to Link. "I decided to pre pay you with the bounty now. 1500 Septims."
Link inspected the marked location as he waited for the ink to dry, then he put the map away and accepted the bounty Septims. "Thanks."
"Of course, anything for a new friend of mine." Siddgeir raised the glass he was holding. "Do visit sometimes if you're able, or at least write letters."
"Writing letters may be easier." Link responded as he waved a hand in farewell, then left the Longhouse…
As Link followed the path from the road that led to Helgen, he passed a small house that had been attacked by something. He became curious, so he wandered up the dirt path towards the ruined house.
Two charred corpses were found outside, Link didn't bother to check them, and instead stepped inside what remained of the house.
A note to the authorities on the end table revealed that the owner assumed if the dragon was simply ignored, it would leave him and his wife alone. The two corpses outside presumably proved the owner of the house deadly wrong. Next to the note on the end table were a lantern and silver necklace.
A copy of the book Purloined Shadows was lying next to the bed. When read, the book was about what happened to someone who attempted to steal Nocturnal's Cloak.
Between the bed and end table was an unlocked chest that contained 500 Septims. Link took the book, Septims, and necklace, then left the house.
From the house, he followed the path to the east around an outcrop of rock.
As Link approached, he saw a huge stone square arch over the steps leading up to the entrance. There was a silver ore vein just west of the base of the steps.
Upon entering, Link was in an ice tunnel heading south.
There was a skeleton to the left with a coin purse beside it that contained 100 Septims. Opposite the coin purse was a pair of elven boots. A lone Skeever was wandering the path ahead.
Once dealt with, Link took the Septims and boots, then moved on.
Further down the path, on the right, Link passed a mammoth skull with a dead bandit and a major potion of healing lying beside it. He took the potion and continued walking.
Further along also on the right, there was a knapsack next to another skeleton and a copy of the book 2920, MidYear, v6. When read, it detailed various happenings of someone by the name of Vivec, as well as the Empire. Link took the book for later reading.
The tunnel narrowed and turned to the east, then opened out into an unroofed section with a bridge across a chasm with a skeleton on the far side.
On the left at the start of the bridge was a dead goat.
Under the bridge were two skeletons, one of them having a minor potion of stamina beside it. These and the one across the bridge were taken out by three carefully aimed arrows. Link carefully maneuvered down enough to grab the Stamina potion, then he returned to the bridge.
Once Link walked across the bridge, the tunnel rose quite sharply and after a couple of turns led to the exit.
There were three snowberry plants to the right of the path after exiting Bonechill Passage. There were a couple wide flights of stairs leading up to a plateau in front of the word wall, with lit braziers at the bottom and top of each flight.
A green scaled dragon soared overhead, then noticed Link and banked, turning around in mid air before landing before him.
"Dovahkiin." The dragon briefly acknowledged his presence before it used a single word that caused an ice storm.
Quickly thinking, Link decided to try to counter the Shout with one of his own.
"Yol!" Breathing fire wasn't what he expected it to be. He was amazed that it even worked, and then realized that he didn't want to know how it worked.
The dragon reared back and snarled, sending Link backwards with a wing swipe.
Link hit the ground and rolled, then blocked a bite with the spiked shield and slammed it into the deagon's face.
The beast retreated, which let Link stand.
He had to dive out of the way as the beast used Unrelenting Force, an earth shaking boom sounding off somewhere behind Link as he got up and drew Dawnbreaker, then turned as the dragon reared up on its hind legs.
The dragon then took off into the air, and began to swoop and dive as it used various Shouts on Link.
Link took out his bow and notched an arrow, then took aim and fired it at one of the beast's wings.
The dragon roared as the arrow pierced a wing and it dropped altitude slightly, but it soon regained height. It then flew down and hovered before Link, then used the ice storm Shout again.
Quickly thinking, Link braced with the spiked shield and held firm, skidding back a bit against the snow and stone ground as the force of the Shout bore down on him.
The dragon then decided to land, and it snapped its fangs at Link, who managed to dodge.
Link then ran forward, choosing to Shout "Su!" This allowed him to strike at the dragon quicker than he normally would, and the dragon couldn't avoid the attack.
The Dragonborn got a lucky hit in, striking Dawnbreaker against the beast's upper chest, before he was knocked back by another Unrelenting Force Shout.
Link got up, then kept his distance as he fired another arrow, striking the dragon in between its eyes.
When this happened, lightning came down from the sky and struck the dragon.
'What was that?' Link thought. 'Did the bow somehow cause it?'
The dragon growled, then shook its head as it tried to fly off, but the arrow had disoriented it, so it stayed grounded.
Link approached, then slashed the dragon a few times before he stabbed it in the chest.
The dragon's scales became covered in blood and it roared as it tried to pull away from the sword embedded in its body.
Too exhausted to fight anymore, the dragon collapsed and closed its eyes, its breathing slow and labored.
"Hi lost pruzaani, Dovahkiin, dreh ol hi fen. (You have bested me, Dovahkiin, do as you will)", said the beast as it made an effort to open its eyes once more and locked on to the lone human standing before it.
Link looked at the dragon, then pulled Dawnbreaker free from the beast's chest. He then leapt up and stabbed it in the head, which caused the dragon to finally die.
Its body began to burn, and as the scales and flesh faded to ashes, colorful tendrils emerged from the charred bones.
After he received the dragon soul, Link then walked past the dragon skeleton and up the flights of steps to the Word Wall. Link placed a hand against the fold, worn stone surface, and closed his eyes as the Word of Power entered his mind.
Raan. It meant Animal.
Due to the dragon he had just killed, he also gained knowledge of what the Shout did.
Raan would allow him to gain an animal ally for a short period of time.
Link circled back to the stone arch and found a large, ornate chest. It was unlocked, and inside was 100 Septims and two sapphires.
He didn't need to heal himself at this time, so Link slowly made his way back down towards the passage, walked through it, and eventually emerged near the path to Helgen.
Epona was still nearby, so he vaulted on her back and the two took off in the direction of Whiterun…
As Link left the dragon lair, he heard a voice. "Hey. You. Do you have a minute? It's really important."
Link looked around but didn't see anything.
"Down here." The voice responded. When Link looked down, he saw a dog standing before him.
"You can talk?" Link assumed.
"'Can I talk' - of course I can talk! Skyrim's host to flying lizards and two legged cat-men, and you're surprised that I can talk? I'm not Barbas, the Hound of Clavicus Vile, for nothing after all." The dog growled.
"What do you want?"
"It's simple, really, even someone like you could understand - Vile kicked me out, cast me to the side. He has forsaken me out of annoyance, forcing me into the body of this dog, to roam Tamriel. Being forsaken greatly limited my power." Barbas growled as his tail lashed back and forth.
"What do you want me to do about it?" Link asked.
"Straight to the point, as usual with you mortals. I want you to help me in my redemption. Help me reconcile with Clavicus." The dog said.
"How do I do that?"
"We have to go to his shrine, isn't that obvious to you?" Barbas responded.
"I won't be able to help you for a while, I have a lot of tasks I need to fulfill first. It'd be more convenient if I helped you then, after I've dealt with some obligations."
Barbas seemed to think about this. "Sort of makes sense. Plus, with who you are, you're probably being sent on errands all over Skyrim. Listen, when you're ready to do something useful for once and help me out, meet me outside Haemar's Shame, near Falkreath. 'Till we meet again, Dragonborn." The dog ran out of sight, and Link was left to ponder over the conversation.
'How does he know I'm Dragonborn?'