A Visit To Whiterun

Dear Kiya,

Thank you for inviting me to the city of Whiterun. I am honored to be in the city where the famous Companions are located, the capital of the once-strongest hold in Skyrim. Thank you for touring me around the city, showing me the sights and sounds and the beauty that the city beholds. It is truly a majestic city, and having you around as my guide made up for the harsh travel from Windhelm. Here are the illuminations I took of you while we were touring the city.

You can push those big doors? You've got some fists of steel.

From this angle, I can barely notice the legendary Gildergreen.

Good thing Whiterun isn't an Imperial city.

I wonder if they play a game of "who-crosses-the-fire-pit-fastest"?

The old man looks uninteresting, but I'm more than willing to follow his words to become a Companion.

Ahhh, the fabled Skyforge with the best smith in Skyrim. I wonder why it's called "Skyforge"? Can you tell me?

Dragonsreach looks like it can only reach a Whelp. Truly majestic.

No offense meant to Jarl Balgruuf, but do all Jarls sit like lazy slobs?

The only thing that's not pretty in the illumination is that housecarl of yours with that ugly helmet.

Oh, hi there Lucia!

I am now seriously considering our discussion last time in your house about joining the Dawnguard. They haven't been around for a long while now, and considering the letter you sent me before with illuminations, these vampires are becoming a real threat. Just the other day, while I was out looking for a giant with a bounty on its head, I heard a saber cat in the distance. I immediately went over to the sound and found that it was not just a sabre cat. This pale-skinned, dead-eyed woman started attacking me with ice spikes and the sabre cat was apparently her summon. I had no choice but to kill her, and from the descriptions you gave me in Whiterun, I was sure it was a vampire. Only this one was tougher than what you had described. I guess it is time for us to join the Dawnguard. We shall meet in a few days in Riften to discuss matters further, and to start the quest on purging this world from the vampire evil.

How old could this vampire be?

Best Wishes, 

Kousei

Yngol Barrow

Dear Kiya,

I am unaware of this vampire threat across Skyrim. In all of my travels after the Helgen incident, I have yet to encounter one. Your illuminations depicting a vampire and its death hound will help me recognize them when I see them. They certainly are a threat if they just go around killing people like they were nothing. It would do us good if we join this Dawnguard you are speaking of. (And thank the gods the goat was there to help you.) 

I would be very much grateful if we can meet in your house in Whiterun to discuss things. I have not been to Whiterun for fear of the Imperials there might recognize my face, although I've heard the Jarl there is quite neutral in this war. Strangely enough, I am starting to miss your company too, so ale and some food might be a nice change of pace from the harsh lands we live in.

I will be available in a matter of days. Please give me some time to fix my wares; my bag is full of ingredients right now, as I have been focused on studying alchemy these days. I do not want them all to spill on your floors. 

I recently came across this Nordic tomb near Windhelm. I was immediately caught off guard by this shining sphere of light. I thought it was going to attack me, but all it did was follow me everywhere I go. I kept on going inside the tomb. 

Glowing sphere, anyone?

One by one, as I got deeper into the dungeon, spheres of light kept following me. I took an illumination of four of them while I was walking inside the tomb. I think you'll find them pretty, if you were there.

Pretty spheres.

I did not know what they were; they did not make any kind of noise or heat, and did not radiate of any kind of magic (that I know of, at the very least). Little did I know what they were leading me to.

These spheres are creeping me out.

When I got to the last room inside the tomb, the spheres of light surrounding me immediately rushed in front of me where a corpse was sitting on its throne. It immediately came to life, a familiar aura enveloping it. It was a spectral draugr, or more accurately, the one called Yngol's Shade. I have heard that Yngol was the son of Ysgramor of the Companions, one whose death angered his father so. He was buried near the place where Ysgramor would build the city of Windhelm, overlooking the place where he had died. 

I had to kill his shade, unfortunately, for it was threatening to kill me. I did so with much difficulty, as he was using this form of language I do not understand which enabled him to disarm me. Lo and behold, I got his helm from his skeleton, may the Gods forgive me, but I think I am worthy enough to wield it.

It looks as fearsome as it is useful.

I had a guard take an illumination of me in the moonlight.

That is it for Yngol crypt. If you ever come across spheres of light, be wary. They might not be as harmless as they look.

Regards,

Kousei.

Breezehome and the Bloodthirsty

Dear Kousei,

I'm just as glad that I managed to make it out of Sanguine's mischievous antics alive. Your warning about the Daedra are noted, but I can't promise you I won't try to find out more about them. Adventuring is in our blood, after all.

I'm quite proud of you for having gone quite a long way on your alchemy! I, for one, have yet to to progress much beyond eating ingredients just to find out what they'll do to me. That's quite a shame about the White Phial artifact, though. As you mentioned, obtaining it was no walk in the park (and I see that you wielded the Ghostblade for a time). I do hope that that won't be the last you'll see of the Phial, too. If it could be fixed, it would be better off with a practicing alchemist like you instead of simply moldering away as some store display.

On the brighter side, I bring some good news. I have acquired enough gold to buy Breezehome in Whiterun! 

At last! Extra storage space!

As expected, my first visit to my new home revealed a house that's badly overdue for redecorating. But I had what I needed: a secure chest to store excess items so they won't take up precious carry weight.  

This will change soon.

There's more serious news on this letter, though. I was in Falkreath one night when we encountered a curious enemy on the streets. He had a malevolent aura about him that's different from any common bandit, and to make things worse, he had a pair of Death Hounds with him. I could hardly believe it at first -- this man was a Vampire! I found out later that he had taken out a pair of Falkreath guards before he started attacking us, and he would have killed more citizens if we hadn't dealt with him.

One of the Falkreath guards had an illumination machine on him.

Oh, and I remember you telling me in one of your previous letters that you often run into women who want to kill you while exploring caves. Well, if women in subterranean systems seem have a thing for sending you to the Otherworld, it appears goats have a thing for me. We had help from an unexpected source in slaying the Master Vampire's Death Hounds, as you can see in the illumination below. I swear, I've thoroughly disinfected myself and my robes in Lake Ilinalta to fully purge the scent of Gleda the Goat's feed.

Never underestimate the power of those horns.

But back to this eminent threat of Vampires, have you heard news of the Dawnguard? Guards are often talking about those Vampire-slayers these days, and I wonder if you're as interested in joining as I. We can meet in my house in Whiterun if you like, so we can discuss this and maybe have a tankard of ale or two. I promise it won't be as dreary as the illumination I've included in this letter. I am not so lonely in my travels because of the constant company of my Housecarl (and a canine follower I've just acquired recently), but our friendship is different.

You're not the only one with animal backup, Master Vampire.

I know we've only shared a meal once (and that we had a prior misunderstanding over an illumination, to boot), but I hope you won't think it strange that I find myself missing your company.

Hoping for your swift reply,

Kiya

P.S.

Don't worry, I've been keeping my fists to myself recently. I figured I had to improve my Destruction magic sooner or later, so I've taken to utilizing spells if my bow is not needed.

The White Phial

Dear Kiya,

I am relieved to find out that you made it out alive after dealing with Sanguine. He is mischievous, and we don't know what he might do to whoever he is toying with. Be careful with the Daedra--not all of them are to be taken as lightly. Some of them might want you to kill someone for their glory and dark works. It's a good thing he was amused at everything you went through (most of which aren't really of the laughing matter; Nobody would laugh if they were to go near a giant!) and gave you the Sanguine Rose, which will definitely help you in your journey. I hope the Dremora you summon won't turn on you.

I think you may be right in thinking that I have a knack for brewing potions and finding ingredients for them. Nowadays I try to gather plants and animal parts to make potions and poisons for use in my journey. You never know when you need them. Whenever I stop by the towns, I buy some hard-to-find ingredients in the stores. Recently, I am spending more time in the Eastmarch, and I came across the While Phial, a store in the capital of the hold. I immediately deduced that the owner of the store, Nurelion, was dying, as he looked very pale. He can still walk and talk, and he told me that he had a lifelong dream of finding this lost artifact, the one he dedicated his life to (even naming his store after). I was moved by his story (not by his attitude), so I was determined to find this White Phial for him. I set on my journey.

He sent me to the Forsaken Cave, west of Windhelm. It's quite far from the city, but I had my mind set on finding this Phial. Maybe he'll let me use it once I get it back to him.

Luckily I have markers on my map.

Once I enter, I am greeted by several Snowy Sabre Cat. They're not the typical cats you'd normally see on the plains of Skyrim. For some reason, adding an adjective hinting of snow or ice makes the animals fiercer and stronger. Maybe they're much hardened by the cold, harsh weather.

I wish I could stay and chat with you Rickard Horker but I have a phial to obtain.

Tens of draugrs later, I get to a big crypt loaded with traps. I survived them all, thankfully,  and came across this spacious tomb. It was, in fact, the resting place of Curalmil, the Legendary Alchemist. Nurelion might be right in thinking that this was the place where the White Phial could be found. Alas, as with all undead, he awoke from his coffin, and I had to take him down.

Oh a coffin! I hope nothing comes out of it THIS time.

Now, Nurelion gave me this weird mixture he was sure I was going to use in my quest to find the White Phial. I almost thought he was making a fool out of me, but lucky for him, I found a use for it. There was a bowl near Curalmil's coffin (and his now-lifeless-again body), and I thought of pouring his mixture on it. A door opened. 

Sometimes I don't know what I'm doing.

Lo and behold, the White Phial! I notice that it wasn't in a good shape. There was a large crack, and it won't stand to hold any kind of liquid at all. I deduced that it was not made from a regular material. Maybe Nurelion can fix it.

I won't get to use it today, then.

Nurelion tells me it just "matches every description of the Phial".  He was not sure of it, either, and if it's not the Phial, then all our work has gone to waste. He doesn't tell me if he can fix it or not. He takes it and gives me a few gold piece for my "trouble". I groan, but I pity the man, so I let it go. He then goes to lie down on the bed. I try to talk to him but he doesn't respond.

You can't tell me "There's no way of knowing"!

His assistant thanks me for all the help I did for his master, and he lets me browse the shop for ingredients. I have a feeling this won't be the last time I'll see the Phial. It would be a great addition to my study of alchemy. I hope to use it one day.

Safe Journeys,
Kousei.

P.S. I hope you're doing fine, and not getting into more drinking games or brawling. I know how much you like punching people in the face.

Roses are Red, Dremora are Black

Dear Kousei,

Congratulations on obtaining the Ghostblade! May more undead reach their death ("dead undead" -- that's just priceless!) at the blade of your new weapon. I'm quite sure you'll be able to wield it properly. You know you trump me anytime with one-handed weaponry. Lu'ah really did look like she was touched by madness, although I'm inclined to think she wasn't originally too out of it. Such things mortals do in the name of love. And such sadness war brings. She certainly wasn't the first person to lose a loved one in a war.

(That pinkish gem you pointed out really got my attention. I wonder if I can find one like that in my travels.)

As for the drinking fiasco... yes, yes, I know. I promise I won't get myself into awkward drinking games anytime soon. I'm not saying no to your offer of the occasional ale, though. A few drinks wouldn't hurt every now and then. But enough of that; I suspect you're wondering about the outcome of my search for Sam Guevenne and his staff. My Housecarl and I compiled quite a lot of illuminations during this particular exploit of ours, and some of them, admittedly, must be seen to be believed. I'll understand if even you find them unbelievable, but at least they would provide you with hours of entertainment.

Nothing good could come out of this.

Remind me to tell Ysolda that Witchmist Grove is not some kind of scene out of a storybook. Just some animal heads impaled on spikes, and a Hagraven waiting to meet you at the door of the lone hut in the middle.

The only thing we'll consummate here is our divorce!

Moira, Moira, are you sure you weren't as drunk as I when you accepted my "proposal"? As expected, she wasn't too keen on returning the wedding ring I gave her in my intoxicated state. After rambling a bit about some Esmerelda with "dark feathers" whom she believed had captured my attentions, it was time for a fight! She was easier to deal with than some Hagravens I have encountered, and to my grief (can you hear my sarcasm here?), I had to kill her to retrieve the ring.

Because sneaking at the primary entrance is too mainstream.

Returning the wedding ring to Ysolda led me to Morvunskar next. I suppose you have at least heard of it, because it is quite near Ulfric Stormcloak's stronghold. I honestly don't see why Ysolda didn't find it odd for a wedding venue. Morvunskar is crawling with mages, and none of the friendly sort, either. At least they were quite easy pickings for me in stealth mode, with bow and arrows at hand.

"Why forge weapons when one can simply rely on magicka?" THIS is why, my friend.

It's no secret that I am more mage than warrior these days, but that does not mean I am inclined to neglect my armor. Being sent to the otherworld with one shot of the arrow isn't exactly too fun, as the mages in Morvunskar must have realized. 

Morvunskar mages look like they have a chronic drinking problem.

And another thing: you couldn't navigate Morvunskar without tripping over empty wine bottles every now and then. I wonder if all that alcohol had addled their minds a bit, because I swear there was an instance when the mages ignored me in battle and just focused on my Housecarl instead. Sure, I'm wearing robes similar to theirs, but the fact that I'm shooting them down one by one was as plain as day. It's no small wonder Sam Guevenne marked this location for me; there must have been enough wine in Morvunskar to turn the White River into the shade of ale.

A portal right in the heart of Morvunskar.

Once I have judged the coast as clear, we turned our attentions to this peculiar sphere of energy. What is there to do but jump in?

How does Sam Guevenne find these places?

...and the inside wasn't too bad. A shame you weren't with me; it would have been nice to have you as company in that misty grove instead of my usual follower. I couldn't explore too long, however. I still had to find the source of all my troubles: Sam Guevenne.

He was nice enough to let Lydia join in and take illuminations.

And found him, I did. Along with some people I didn't know, whom he simply called "commoners." But we haven't even reached the strangest part yet!

Say what? I like your armor. I'll have one like that someday.

Presenting Sam Guevenne's true form, the Daedric Prince Sanguine. I was so thankful I didn't punch his alter ego at first glance, or I probably wouldn't be around to write this letter to you. Sanguine went on to explain that he simply wanted me to explore Skyrim and spread his brand of merriment. Well, he can't say I haven't done both! I was put in a forced field trip from Markarth to Windhelm chasing after something that may not even exist. At least my map has lots of landmarks now.

Could have been worse, I guess?

And as for the staff he promised me? After being teleported back to the Bannered Mare, sifting through my inventory yielded the peculiar staff aptly named the Sanguine Rose. I have yet to test it in battle, but at least it wasn't the walking stick I thought it would be. Kudos to you, Sanguine. Maybe this artifact will save me one day.

Best Regards,

Kiya

The Crazed Woman

Dear Kiya,

All I could think of today was how you were doing, until I received a letter from the courier addressed to me. I am relieved to find out that you do not mind my alliance to the Stormcloaks. 

I did not think you'd be one of those women who drink a lot. I myself try not to accept drinking challenges from strangers, as I have participated in quite a few before getting caught in Helgen and all of them did not end well. I wonder how you got close enough to the giant (while drunk, no less) without getting yourself splattered? You must be crazy-drunk back then. I am amused and relieved that you awoke unscathed, but I think you should try not to get into drinking games. Who knows what--or who--would cross your path while you're not in control of yourself. But now that I know you are not so averse to drinking, maybe we can get some ale together more often.

Speaking of crazy, I recently encountered a mad woman in Ansilvund near Windhelm. 

I first entered the cave without any idea what was in it. As I delved deeper into the cave, I felt a strange presence, one that gave me the chills. All of a sudden, a booming female voice (what is it with these women in caves trying to kill me?) announced that I was disturbing her work, and she will do everything in her power to stop me. A horde of draugr came at me. 

Crazy woman raising draugrs and all.

Not a few dead undead later, I finally found the source of the booming voice. It was then I immediately attacked her before she could attack me with her two draugr summons. 

I got quite scared of her, really.

Fortunately, I was able to paralyze her with my only one scroll of mass paralysis and I hacked her to death with my sword. The booming voice was gone, and the draugr army in that crypt was gone too; This was Lu'ah Al-Skaven, a woman who lost her husband during a battle between the Empire and the Stormcloaks not too long ago. I feel pity for her. And anger for trying to kill me. 

At least you'll get to see your husband again, in the next life.

As I was perusing through Lu'ah's things for loot, these two ghosts appear from the bodies of the draugr I unsummoned when I killed Lu'ah. I have read of them: Holgeir and Fjori were very much in love when Holgeir was bitten by a venomous snake. Fjori was able to save him by making an incredible journey to retrieve the elixir for him. She got back, and died immediately after she poured the last drop of the elixir into Holgeir's mouth. Holgeir, overcome by grief, built a tomb for her, and killed himself so he might join her in the afterlife. That is their tale, and Lu'ah has held them prisoners in their rotting bodies in order to defend herself from intruders. Such madness!

Fjori and Holgeir, from the book.

They rewarded me for releasing them from their earthly prison with the Ghostblade, a Legendary sword so light it almost doesn't weigh anything when held. I hope I am worthy of wielding it.

Look to the left, and you'll see something valuable.

There it is, my Lady Kiya. I apologize for taking quite some time to reply to your letter. As you can see, I have gotten into a lot of trouble myself. I hope to hear from you again soon enough.

Best Wishes,

Kousei.

P.S. Don't worry about your smell. When we met in Riverwood, you didn't smell of goat or of any animal. You smell really nice, like Mountain Flowers. That goat-smell might just be a repercussion of your getting drunk. 

Drunk Traveling, Never Again!

Dear Kousei,

I apologize for taking some time before I can send this reply. I will relate to you the reason for the delay in a while, but I'd just like to say thank you for the letter. All is forgiven regarding the Ulfric illumination fiasco, of course. And don't worry about my Housecarl; she won't bother you while I will it.

Your letter put a much-needed smile on my face, really. I find it amusing how you can carry around the illumination machine and still beat bandits (some of which have a grasp on lightning-based magicka, no less) into submission. Hah! You showed that Rigel Strong-Arm what it really meant to have a strong arm. She ought to have honed her skills prior to adopting such a name. And don't worry, I am already close to saving enough to buy a house in Whiterun. Go savor the rewards of your quest!

Now, as to why I was not able to reply swiftly to the message... I pray to the Divines that you won't think too badly of me after you've read this. I had a drinking game with a man called Sam Guevenne in the Bannered Mare. He promised me a staff as a reward, and I guess it was foolish of me to take on the challenge without even knowing what kind of staff he was talking about.

Will activating the shrine relieve me of my hangover?

Basically, a few tankards of Sam's special ale sent me to the Temple of Dibella in Markarth without so much a memory of what happened the night before. My Housecarl was strangely of no help in this matter, because she also remembered nothing of the events between the Bannered Mare and Markarth. But barely had I recovered my wits when the priestess Senna made me clean up the mess in the temple which she claimed I caused. To make things worse, Sam Guevenne (and of course, the staff he promised me), was nowhere to be found. I did set the inside of Dibella's Temple in order, both as a peace token to the priestesses and as a means to obtain the whereabouts of my erstwhile drinking companion.

Sneaking out in the open ain't easy.

My search brought me afterwards to the little town of Rorikstead. I was quite excited to reach that place, thanks to the song "Ragnar the Red" which I've been hearing from numerous bards in various inns I have visited. Unfortunately, I was confronted by yet another person on the grounds of my ale-induced activity. That man, Ennis, tasked me to retrieve his prized goat Gleda in return for information on Sam. Apparently, I sold the goat to a giant in my drunken state.

Playing cute won't do the trick.

I have yet to engage giants in combat, and I did not intend to engage one any time soon. I had to rely on sneaking to entice Gleda to follow me (oh by the name of Akatosh, did I really smell of her feed?), and even then, I had to run for my life at the last minute. Thankfully, I escaped unscathed with the goat at my heels.

You made me want to get drunk again, my friend.

But all my trouble got me was some advice to go to Whiterun and seek out Ysolda, that aspiring trader. Ugh, what she told me nearly made me black out again. Just to be clear, I am telling you the truth to prevent any misconceptions. I am not getting married, and I intend to cancel that wedding at all costs, even if I have to exchange blows with my supposed-to-be-fiancee (Fiancee?! For the sake of all the gods!) to return the wedding ring to Ysolda. I will be going to Witchmist Grove next; who knows what will confront me there?

I won't blame you if you'd never let me live this event down, Kousei. Yes, the joke's on me if it turned out that the "staff" I won was nothing more than a walking stick or something of that sort. Hopefully you won't ever get into a drunken fix like I did.

Wishing for the best,

Kiya

P.S.

I'm quite flattered that you address me by the "Lady" epithet in your letter, but I assure you it isn't so necessary. I'll gladly continue our correspondence even if you call me by my name only.

Pinewatch: A House of Surprises

My Lady Kiya,

I apologize for the illumination I posted of me and Ulfric; I did not know you were with the Imperials. I bear you no ill will, and I would gladly meet again with you one day, but alas, we have a lot of things to do first. Please tell Lydia not to write to me; I certainly did not intend her to think I am interested in her. 

You remember Helgen, yes? As it was the place where I first saw you, even for just a very short moment, it's a special place for me now that we've met each other once again. I decided to visit it. Once there, I saw that only destruction remained in it, and I had to leave again. I headed west, and chanced upon this inconspicuous house. Little did I know what lies in store for me there.

Who's holding the machine for me?

It was a normal-looking house, one filled with pots, pans, books, and shelves. As I was looking about, I notice this shining circular thing near one of the shelves. I found that it was a button. Being curious, and also because the button was shiny, I just had to activate it. Once I did, the shelf beside it moved and opened into a tunnel.

Ooooh, what does this button do?

Not very far from the secret tunnel lies a hideout. I was greeted by lots of bandits. I'm sure you would've beaten them up with your bare hands (and your heavy gauntlets) if you were with me, and Lydia might have gotten ahead and got herself knocked out (again). Man, is she one annoying companion of yours. She gets you into lots of trouble, doesn't she? 

I took this picture despite getting hit by lightning. Impressive, huh?

In-between killing bandits and clearing rooms of them, I kept seeing this letter all over the place. A treasure room! I have to find it! This "Rigel" doesn't scare me; I doubt you'd even flinch upon reading her threat.

I can read a letter AND take an illumination of it!

I delve deeper into the dungeon, and I hear some woman asking, "Is someone there?" I thought she was a damsel-in-distress (don't worry, my Lady, I'm here for the gold) until she spotted me, wielding her iron helmet and mace, screaming, "Now ain't this a surprise. Time to die, hero!!" I wondered if this woman was actually Rigel Strong-Arm. I had to fight her or die, although she didn't prove much of a match. I found out it was Rigel Strong-Arm, and apparently my arm was stronger than hers. I moved on to find this treasure room the note mentioned.

I can identify people and places by looking at them directly.

Gods! A lot of gold! Books, ingots, enchanted apparel, and gemstones! Even rare books! I hit the jackpot by clearing out this dungeon. In addition to this, hopefully I find someone who'd want to hire someone to eliminate Rigel Strong-Arm. I'll gladly announce that I already have and receive some more reward.

I thought the letter was a trap.

...which I can split with you, if you'd like. You've already told me you're planning to buy a house, and if it would make you happy I can share the loot with you the next time we see each other. I don't trust giving the courier some money to deliver, not when the last one gave my letter to the wrong person. (Okay, he gave it to the companion of the addressed, but that doesn't make it right.) I hope this letter gets into your hand correctly this time, and I hope you enjoy what I've written here.

Until next time,

Kousei