21st of Evening Star

I went up to the Skal village and started poking around looking for more things to dive into. We finally found one but the Reiklings had moved into it. I wish that they'd just let me pass through. I don't like killing them but they keep attacking me so there's not much else for it. I tried to tell them to just let me pass but either they don't understand or don't care. Either way, Eric and I mowed through them. Finally, we were past them and into the parts where the draugr still roamed around. I don't know that we killed off all the draugr but we certainly put a dent in their numbers. I finally ended up in room with a pedestal and, yes, another black book. I got another boon from this that might be more useful in fight. There's drum that plays that apparently only I can hear but it replenishes my stamina for a time. I can bash and slash my enemies without slowing down. That's useful for me. My stamina is pretty good after the conditioning program that Farkas put me through, making me chase him around wearing my armor until I could catch up to him. After you run far enough, often enough in armor, you barely notice that you're wearing it. Farkas says that's the point. Skor told me once that you can win some fights simply by being in better condition than your opponent. I think this will be helpful. Eric still says he wishes I'd quit reading them when we find them, but I can't let Miraak win. I haven't said this to Eric, but Miraak is dragonborn. I have a dragon soul. I think Miraak means to try to take it from me. I don't intend to give it up.

22nd of Evening Star

We were out wandering around looking for caves, crypts, whatever we can find to dive into. We found another barrow and yes, yet another black book. This new black book gives me better battle prowess and better smithing skills. I wonder if I should go home and forge a new set of armor. When we wandered back into to Raven Rock to get a room at the inn, I ran in to the Guard Commander again. He's got a problem with some of the men sneaking in an addictive beverage. He's asked me to keep an eye out to see if I can find where they've got it stashed. I asked the local smith if I could use his forge when he's done at the end of the day. He offered to make what I want but mostly I've been watching the guards. I'm also no slouch at smithing myself. Anyway, all the guards seem to be interested in this barrel which seems odd. I just wanted an excuse to hang out and keep an eye on it until they're not watching me anymore so I can have a peek to confirm my suspicions. It took some time. I forged half a dozen flawless steel swords. I left a couple of them for the smith as a thank you for letting me use his forge. Once the guards weren't paying any attention to us anymore, I had Eric wander over and peek in. He wandered back over and told me it's full of bottles and it's got a sickly-sweet smell. We'd found the stash. We wandered off to sit on top of the bulwark, which was the signal I'd agreed to with the Commander. After we'd sat there for a few minutes the Commander wandered over and I told him where to find it. He's grateful to be able to deal with it without formal discipline for any of his men, so I count that as a win. It never hurts to curry favor with the local guardsmen.

23rd of Evening Star

Gods above! I've been scouring Skyrim and Solstheim for words. My dragon vocabulary is pretty big now and I've got all three words for almost everything. I've also killed enough dragons to unlock most of them, but I still can't find this one. Not a scrap of it seems to remain anywhere other in than Mora's archives. I've had Esbern looking too. I had him get Urag to help him start cataloging everything and a couple of the mages to help rummage through all of it looking for any hint of this. We still haven't found anything that hints at what it is Miraak knows that I do not.

I made it to the end of the first black book this time and Mora wants to make a deal. He's said that he'll teach me if I agree to replace Miraak. Bah! He told me to reopen the book when I'm ready. I haven't told Eric, but I don't see another way around it. Damn you, Miraak, for creating this mess. We should be shoulder to shoulder, bring our foe to bay, not tearing at each other and forcing each other into impossible choices. I still can't see any other option. I had to strike a deal with Mora himself. He's given me the second word to Bend Will but won't give me the third until I can convince the Skaal to give up their secrets. I'm certain that he doesn't have good intentions for the old Shaman. They've been keeping what they know from Mora for generations. If I'm right in thinking that the Seekers and Lurkers were once his mortal servants, what's Mora going to do to someone who actively annoyed him? I suppose that I get to find out.

24th of Evening Star

We went to the Skaal village to consult with the shaman. He seems willing to attempt this but I'm not sure that he should. I don't like it but I don't know what else to do. I went into the wilds and vented my frustration on some werebears. Eric, wisely, let me go blow off steam alone. When I came back later, the shaman took the book from me and opened it. Mora showed up almost instantly and started shoving tentacles all through Storn. Storn... Storn didn't survive the process. Mora gave me the third word of Bend Will and told me that I'll either be a worthy opponent for Miraak or his replacement. I managed to keep myself together until Mora left but I had to run to a tree at the edge of the village and puke. Now I have yet another reason to win this. Storn's sacrifce will not be in vain. I spent the night forging a new blade. This is the first one I've named. It's name - Storn's Sacrifice. That will be the blade I put Miraak down with. Double damn you, Miraak. I could have been your ally. None of this has to be this way. Your prideful foolishness has cost both of us dearly.

25th of Evening Star

I stocked up on potions, rings, amulets, soul gems, and scrolls. I was rested and ready to go front Miraak in his lair, when I opened the book again. I found myself on a big platform where I could see Miraak's other temple in the distance. You'd have to fly to get there so I shouted at a passing dragon who landed and let me ride him. He had to fight a couple of Lurkers and some Seekers but most things let us pass by, unhindered. When he landed on top of the temple, I leapt off, downed some potions, and drew Storn's Sacrifice. We were on platform on the roof with one of the black acid pools in the center of it that seem to be common here.

Miraak wanted to talk and posture so I let him for a time. First, he chastised the dragon who'd given me a ride for being so easily swayed. "Her Thu'um is strong." the dragon replied. He was going to say more, but I waved him off and so the dragon kept the rest of his comment to himself. Oda already told me that my Thu'um is stronger even than Alduin's. I didn't need Miraak finding that out just yet, if he didn't know it already. "So the first Dragon Born meets the last. I suppose we shall see which is stronger." He seemed unsettled when I didn't respond at all to any of his comments. Hard to tell when he's wearing a mask like that but body language said he was nervous. Thanks to all the work with the Companions, I am not nervous. The time for nerves is long past when you step onto the field of battle. When he started I trying to question me, I refused to answer. I could tell he was growing frustrated with my silence. Finally, I decided to ask my own question. I shifted my stance to set myself for an attack, grinned at him and banged the flat of my blade against my shield. That seemed to rattle him. He didn't seem to be ready for an opponent that isn't cowering in fear.

That's when we got down to it. He kept using his magic and I kept using my blade. He kept trying to run but even with his Whirlwind Sprint, but the top the temple wasn't large. No point was so far away that I couldn't catch him and drain more of his life and magic before he could get away again. He had a sword, but it's more of a thing of magic than a real blade. Ysgramor's shield and my armor held against it so he didn't get very many strikes against me. I'd never hear the end of it from Vilkas if I allowed myself to be beaten by a puling mageling, even if he is a dragon born. I am most definitely not prepared to spend my afterlife explaining THAT to Kodlak.

My time in the training yard held me good stead once again. I had more than a few strikes that landed on him. His robes were sliced to ribbons. It looked like it wouldn't take much more before the enchantment on them failed when he devoured one of his pet dragons that had stayed to watch us fight. That started the whole process all over again. He ran from me so I started reading scrolls, summoning creatures to help me box him in. While he was busy dealing with them, I got behind him and skewered him, leeching out his magic and his life a second time. That's when the second pet dragon died. I chugged down some more potions and closed in on him again. He tried shouting at me to no effect so I shouted back and it staggered him. I charged in bashing and slashing until I could skewer him a third time. When he consumed the third dragon, the rest that had been flying around, watching the fight, wisely left.

With all the dragons gone, it was just the two of us. I took a moment to charge up Storn's Sacrifice and closed in. He attacked with fire, frost and lightening. Pfft! My armor turned most of that. I managed to get him pinned against the wall started carving my way through all his spells. While I held him there, killing him, I explained to him just how foolish he'd been by forcing me into this bargain with Mora. We, who should have been allies, were fighting for Mora's amusement. He managed to shove my shield aside and ran for the black pool in the center, meaning to dive in and escape me somehow. He was nearly dead, and I was thundering after him, when Mora shot out a tentacle and skewered him. I stopped short and got to listen to their exchange. Mora does indeed see me as his replacement and thinks that I will serve him. I also watched him consume Miraak. I think he's absorbed all of Miraak's power. Somehow, I think Mora has become Dragon Born. The way Mora consumed him was the same as way Miraak consumed the dragons. It's the same way I consume a dragon's power. Miraak's last words were that he hopes Mora serves me the same way. That's something to think on.

At the core of my being, I'm a dragon and Paarthurnax said it best, "Dov wahlaan fah rel. We were made to dominate. The will to power is in our blood. You feel it in yourself, do you not?" We are not exactly the kind of thing one keeps for a pet. We'll see how it goes but I don't see it going anywhere good. Eric's right, these black books are dangerous and I hope to never see another for the rest of my days. I think I might start spending a bit more time up at High Hrothgar and maybe have a chat or two with Paarthurnax about Mora.

26th of Evening Star

I went to see Frea today to let her know that I'd won. She told me that she already knew because she could sense the "wholeness" of the land. I gave her Storn's Sacrifice and asked her to have the Skaal keep it and keep the story of it. She's agreed. She advised me to stay as far away from Mora and his machinations as I possibly can for the rest of my days. That sounds like good advice to me. I'm certain that he'll be back around to try to interfere in my life again, but honestly, he'll have to fight it out with all the other Daedra and the gods. Azura, Dagon, and Meredia all name me as their champion. I am touched by Akatosh, Kyne and Shor. I can't imagine they'd be pleased to allow Mora to steal their toy. Having seen Hircine's Hunting Grounds, Apocrypha and Sovengarde, I know where I'd rather spend my afterlife - pranking Tsun the Mighty. I wonder if anyone's ever given him a wedgie. I know that I certainly plan to try. I have no doubt that many of the Companions currently living in Jorrvaskr will be there or that Lydia, Eric, and maybe the girls will be there too, eventually. I know Eric worries about become a draugr but I'm the only dragon that man worships.

We stopped in Raven Rock on the way home. House Redoran is intensely grateful for the reopening of the ebony mine. The Second Councilor offered a permanent position there but I can't accept it. I had to refuse since both the Companions and my girls are in Skyrim and neither is likely to want to move. I told him that I'll be back from time to time to check on things and he can always send a courier, if they need my help or find more ruins. I've run into more orphans and I want to get back to see how Esbern's doing with the school.