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The Fallen

Author: 
Fiore1300
Librarian Comment: 

This page is still a work in progress. Nothing here is a final edit.

Player Character

(After my battle with Alduin, Paarthurnax approaches me)

Paarthurnax

Lot krongrah. You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory.

Player Character

It wasn't really a victory, since Alduin escaped.

Paarthurnax

Ni liivrah hin moro. True, this is not the final krongrah - victory. But not even the heroes of old were able to defeat Alduin in open battle.

Alduin always was pahlok - arrogant in his power. Uznahgar paar. He took domination as his birthright.

This should shake the loyalty of the dov who serve him.

Player Character

I need to find out where Alduin went.

Paarthurnax

Yes... one of his allies could tell us. Motmahus... But it will not be so easy to... convince one of them to betray him.

Perhaps the hofkahsejun - the palace in Whiterun... Dragonsreach. It was originally built to house a captive dovah.

A fine place to trap one of Alduin's allies, hmm?

Player Character

The Jarl of Whiterun might not think so.

Paarthurnax

Hmm, yes. But your su'um is strong. I do not doubt that you can convince him of the need.

Player Character

Dragonsreach was built to hold a dragon?

Paarthurnax

Yes. This was ages ago, you understand. There were more of us then. Before the bruniikke - the Akaviri - came and killed all my zeymah.

I used to visit him from time to time. Nearly crazed by loneliness and captivity. Tiiraz sivaas. He did not even remember his own name.

I do not know how he came to be caught. But the bronjun... the Jarl... was very proud of his pet. Paak!

The hofkahsejun has been known as Dragonsreach ever since.

Player Character

I wish to meditate on a Word of Power.

Paarthurnax

Which calls to you, Dovahkiin? Fus, Feim, or Yol?

Player Character

Feim.

Paarthurnax

"Fade" in your tongue. Mortals have a greater affinity for his Word than the dov. Everything mortal fades away in time, but the spirit remains.

Ponder the meaning of spirit. Unslaad zii. Where mortal flesh may wither and die, the spirit endures.

That is "Feim." Let that meaning fill you. Su'um ahrk morah. You will find that your spirit will give you more strength.

Su'um ahrk morah.

(I leave Paarthurnax to his perch for the halls of Dragonsreach in Whiterun. I approach Jarl Balgruuf the Greater with the plan)

Player Character

I need your help. I need to trap a dragon in your palace.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

I must have misheard you. I thought you asked me to help you trap a dragon in my palace.

Player Character

You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

Of course. You already saved Whiterun from that dragon. I owe you a great deal.

But I don't understand. Why let a dragon into the heart of my city when we've been working so hard to keep them out?

Player Character

The threat is worse than you know. Alduin has returned.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

Alduin? The World-Eater himself? But... how can we fight him? Doesn't his return mean it's the end times?

Player Character

I'm Dragonborn. It's my destiny to stop him.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

I don't know about such things, but I heard the Greybeards summon you. That's good enough for me.

Now, what's this nonsense about trapping a dragon in my palace?

Player Character

It's the only way to stop Alduin before it's too late.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

I want to help you, Dragonborn. And I will. But I need your help first.

Ulfric and General Tullius are both just waiting for me to make a wrong move.

Do you think they will sit idle while a dragon is slaughtering my men and burning my city?

No. I can't risk weakening the city while we are under the threat of enemy attack. I'm sorry.

Player Character

What if you didn't have to worry about an enemy attack?

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

Then I would be glad to help you with your mad dragon-trapping scheme.

But getting both sides to agree to a truce will be difficult at this point. The bitterness has gone too deep.

Maybe... hmm... what of the Greybeards? They are respected by all Nords. High Hrothgar is neutral territory.

If the Greybeards were willing to host a peace council... then maybe Ulfric and Tullius would have to listen.

Player Character

Leave that to me. I'll talk to Arngeir about hosting a peace council.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

Aye, Dragonborn. Maybe you can stop the dragons - and this war into the bargain.

Player Character

Dragonsreach was built to hold a dragon?

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

According to legend. Although I never thought to put the tale to the test.

Jarl Olaf One-Eye it was, who later became High King.

They say he Shouted it into submission in single combat atop Mount Anthor and brought it back to Whiterun.

Numinex was the dragon's name. That's his skull decorating the main hall.

(once I have arranged peace in Skyrim, I return to Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun to ask he fulfill his end of the deal)

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

We're ready, Dragonborn. Just say the word.

Player Character

Are you ready to spring the trap on the dragon?

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

As I promised, my men stand ready. The great chains are oiled. We wait on your word.

Player Character

I'm ready. Let's go trap a dragon.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

My men know what to do. Make sure you do your part. I'm putting my city in your hands.

(we head out the Great Porch behind the palace. Its quite a large space. What looks like a large ox collar is suspended from the ceiling from impressive chains. We run out to the edge of the platform, overlooking Whiterun Hold and the mountains beyond it to the east)

Go ahead and call this dragon of yours. We're ready.

(I Shout into the sky: OD AH VIING! For a moment, nothing. Then a roar. Odahviing has answered my challenge! A giant red dragon swoops down onto the porch, sweeping a hapless guardsman to his doom)

Whiterun Guard

Shor's bones, here he comes!

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater

Steady! Steady, now! Keep under cover until it's down!

Hold your fire until he's close!

(we successfully force Odahviing to land on the porch. Now we must lure him inside)

Get back! Get back! We need to trap it, not kill it!

That's it! Now, wait until he's well inside!

(I retreat and Odahviing follows. Once he is under the giant ox collar, a guardsman pulls a lever and releases it, where it falls atop the dragon, pinning it down and trapping it within Dragonsreach. Odahviing, realizing his predicament, surrenders)

Odahviing

Nid!

Whiterun Guard

I think it's holding!

Odahviing

Horvutah med kodaav. Caught like a bear in a trap...

Zok frini grind ko grah viiki, Dovahkiin.

Ah. I forget. You do not have the dovah speech.

My... eagerness to meet you in battle was my... undoing, Dovahkiin. I salute your, hmm, low cunning in devising such a grahmindol - strategem.

Zu'u bonaar. You went through a great deal of trouble to put me in this... humiliating position.

Hind siiv Alduin, hmm? No doubt you want to know where to find Alduin?

Player Character

That's right. Where is he hiding?

Odahviing

Rinik vazah. An apt phrase. Alduin bovul. One reason I came to your call was to test your Thu'um for myself.

Many of us have begun to question Alduin's lordship, whether his Thu'um was truly the strongest.

Among ourselves, of course. Mu ni meyye. None were yet ready to openly defy him.

Player Character

You were telling me where to find Alduin?

Odahviing

Unslaad krosis. Innumerable pardons. I digress.

He has travelled to Sovngarde to regain his strength, devouring the sillesejoor... the souls of the mortal dead. A priviledge he jealously guards...

His door to Sovngarde is at Skuldafn, one of his ancient fanes high in the eastern mountains.

Mindoraan, pah ok middovahhe lahvraan til. I surely do not need to warn you that all his remaining strength is marshalled there.

Zu'u lost ofan hin laan... now that I have answered your question, you will allow me to go free?

Player Character

Do you promise to serve me?

Odahviing

Aam? Serve you? ...no. Ni tiid. If and when you defeat Alduin, I will reconsider.

Hmm... krosis. There is one... detail about Skuldafn I neglected to mention.

Player Character

Tell me what you know, then.

Odahviing

Only this. You have the Thu'um of a dovah, but without the wings of one, you will never set foot in Skuldafn.

Of course... I could fly you there. But not while imprisoned like this.