Sundas 16th Heartfire

I have come to Chorrol to get the guild hall's recommendation.  A simple task - find out why a certain disliked mages is in town and get her to leave.  Earana, the mage, was here looking for a book - Fingers of the Mountain.  When the guild learned of this I was asked to retrieve the book and let the guild keep it safe.  I did get the book and hand it in to the guild, but I stole it back to take to Earana such that I might get the reward she offered.  My guild recommendation has already been sent and now I wait for Earana to translate the book before she rewards me.  In the meantime I helped repel a goblin invasion of a local farm and was rewarded with a magical frost blade - Chillrend. 

Fredas 14th Heartfire

During my sleep I was visited by tow people, each offering me a place in guilds.  The first man - a shadowy figure - told me that the Night Mother had been watching me.  She had seen me kill the women in the gang and had sent this man to invite me into the Dark Brotherhood.  All I need to do is kill a man, Rufio, who lives in the inn of Ill Omen, north of Bravil.  Surely I will not kill this man who has not wronged me! 
The second person to visit me invited me to join the Fighters' Guild.  Perhaps I will join this honourable guild when I am more skilled at fighting.  This could be soon with my new vampiric abilities; though they do seem less intense than they did yesterday. 

Fredas 14th Heartfire

After being unable to use my bow yesterday I have deemed it necessary to find an alternative way to defend myself in the daytime hours.  I have joined the guild of mages so that I may learn magics for when steel will not suffice. 
To become a full member of the guild I must receive recommendations from all of the guild halls in Cyrodiil.  Here in Anvil I can only get the recommendation if I help stop the rogue mage who is attacking traders on the Gold Road. 
I will wait until the sun has set before I complete this quest. 

Turdas 13th Heartfire

I ran into a Bosmer Ranger just out of town today.  I thought I would be able to dispose of her easily enough but in the light of the sun I was unable to grip my bow well enough to aim.  I had to retreat into the Abecean Sea.  Under the waves the effect of the sun was lessened.  I found an enchanted helmet that allowed me to breathe underwater and so that is where I waited for most of the daytime.
When the sun was lower in the sky I came back to dry land.  In the harbour I found a mysterious chest.  It was as if it were from a story.  The chest, it was almost speaking with me.  Is this a vampire trait I have not heard of?

Turdas 13th Heartfire

In the night I purchased a book from a travelling from a travelling trader.  I had done so because I thought it contained a spell that I could learn.  Instead it was a story about a petty thief that had been led into the grip of a vampire.  he was fed on occasionally, but kept alive to be fed on again in the future.  It seems like more than coincidence that I buy this book by mistake now. 
I will not feed on the people of this world.
I will resist. 

Turdas 13th Heartfire

I may have been rash in my decision to find a cure for my vampirism.  Instead of so rapidly shunning this gift I shall embrace it.  Surely I will be able to control the thirst for blood.  I will not drink from man or mer.  I will resist.  I will not become like those who turned me. 
I have stayed in Anvil.  It is morning now.  Tonight I will go to a nearby farm to meet with gang members of a group that has been robbing the men in town.  They offered me a place in the gang.  I don't yet know if I'm going to join or to stop them.  It feels like it should be an easy decision, but I do not know which path I will choose.   

Middas 12th Heartfire

I have come to Anvil, home of the mages guild hall of Restoration.  I had hoped they might be able to tell me why I felt so strange.  There were of no use.  However, in the Anvil chapel a woman told me I should go to the Arcane University in the Imperial City and speak with Raminus Polus. 
She told me why I feel as I do. 
She told me that I am a vampire.  
It makes sense - why I don't need to eat or sleep, why I feel so weak in the day, why the snow felt warm, why I crave the night and the darkness. 
I will go to the University to seek a cure.  I shall leave tonight when I am strong.  In the hours until then I will see what there is to occupy me in Anvil. 

Middas 12th Heartfire

I was out all night. 
I am not tired. 
Instead I just feel weak. 
Worse than when I suffered from the illness, but I do not feel ill. 
Now I am sat in the chapel in Bruma. 
There is no one here. 
I can feel eyes on me. 
A hidden presence radiates its disgust and hatred towards me. 
I will not succumb to its pressures. 
I need to close more Oblivion gates. 
The thought of the fires terrifies me. 
I have not eaten since I was at Weynon. 
I am not hungry. 
I am not well. 
I am not aware. 
I may see what the mages have to say about my condition. 
Tonight. 

Middas 12th Heartfire

I am back at Cloud ruler Temple.  It took me only a few hours to get here.  I ran.  I ran all the way from Weynon Priory into the Jerall Mountains.  I did not even have to stop for breath, a simple apprentice level stamina spell was all that was necessary. 
I am outside.  The air is strange.  It is snowing but the flakes feel warm against my face. 
I passed a trader on the road to the temple.  He ran from me in fear.  I do not know why.

Middas 12th Heartfire

My illness caused me to not wake at all yesterday.  I wonder what has transpired since then. 
Today when I awoke I felt much better.  Better than I ever have before, even.  Certainly better than before I became ill.  It is most strange.  At the priory I was surprised to find Brother Piner alive and well.  It would seem I mistook him and Brother Maborel for one another.  It is the case that Maborel was the one to die, and his horse that I owned for a brief time before it ran away. 
Piner lies asleep now. He attacked me when I woke from my long slumber.  Perhaps he did not know I was here and then thought I was a thief.  I will leave now.  I feel strange.  I can hear my heart beating, but it almost sounds like the noise is coming from Piner's chest...

Morndas 10th Heartfire

I went back to Hackdirt to let the man who helped me find Dar-Ma know she was safely home.  However, he did not seem interested.  I decided to see what treasures awaited a brave adventurer in a nearby ruined fort.  There was some very average loot guarded by some rather week vampires.  I was able to kill them easily enough.  Then what I did next was very strange.  I explored an ancient Ayleid ruin.  I don't know what compelled me to do so - I knew how dangerous those ruins were and this one was no different.  I found myself putting myself in more and more dangerous situations.  Upon escaping the hordes I disturbed I made it to Weynon Priory.  I believe I may have contracted an illness.  I will have to get lots of rest. 

Sundas 9th Heartfire

After today there is one less portal to Oblivion in Nirn.  At least I wish this were true, but I suspect many more gates have opened to negate the closing of a single one.  Still, the practise of fighting daedra can only benefit me.  I did not find any bandit camps as I had hoped, but instead I found the daedric shrine to Hermaeus Mora.  I was unable to communicate with the Lord, unfortunately.  I have read that those who complete a task for a Daedric Lord are granted a mystical item.
After walking through the Jeralls I found myself in the Colovian Highlands near Chorrol.  Dar-Ma had gone missing in Hackdirt.  She was being held in the caves.  I brought her back to her mother, who taught me a thing or two about bartering as a "thank you".

Loredas 8th Heartfire

Tomorrow I shall attempt to find another gate to Oblivion and close it.  I shall head west from the temple towards the Skyrim Bandit Camps.  If I am unsuccessful in finding an Oblivion gate then perhaps I will be able to shed some light on why these bandit clans have come into Cyrodiil. 
I will not take my new horse friend with me to these dangerous locales for fear it will suffer the same fate as Brother Piner's horse.  On foot it will take a long while to navigate the treacherous Jeralls, so I should leave early in the morning. 

Loredas 8th Heartfire

Brother Piner's horse is not at the temple.  It is sad indeed, but I can only assume I will never see it again.  The only other place I can imagine it would have ran to after the Frost Titan attack is Weynon Priory, but that is so far away that it seems unlikely it would make it unharmed.
Having lost one horse; fate, it would seem; smiled on me and I was blessed with another.  There has been a beautiful Chestnut horse wandering about outside the main gate to Bruma for a few days now.  It is clear that it has no master, as if it did it would be kept safely in the stables.  It cannot belong to a passing traveller who did not want to hassle the stable workers for a brief stay in town since it would not still be here.

Loredas 8th Heartfire

When I was attacked by the Frost Titan Brother Piner's horse, that I had been riding, understandably galloped away.  It was headed in the direction of Cloud Ruler Temple, probably as it recognised it as a place of safety in the area.  I do hope he made it without incident.
I stayed in the Jerall View Inn in Bruma last night.  It was a long journey up into the mountains after closing the Oblivion gate and I didn't much fancy making my way all the distance to the temple.
After praying in the chapel today, a man invited me to have an audience with Countess Narina of Bruma.  She has asked me to seek out an ancient Akiviri artifact.  I said I would try to find it, but in truth I shall not begin my search now.  Perhaps I will in the future.

Fredas 7th Heartfire

It occurred to me after writing my previous journal entry that the best way to improve my skills in fighting daedra  might be to go into Oblivion and simply fight them.  Of course I dismissed this idea as foolhardy - I would be putting myself in the way of a harm I am not prepared to deal with.
When a Frost Titan attacked me on the road near Bruma, I barely escaped alive.  I had read about these beasts.  The northern people fear them above most else.  Only thanks to the arrows of an Imperial Ranger did I survive.  It would seem that Nirn is just as perilous as Oblivion, and when I found a mass of bodies on the road near a flaming gate I was overwhelmed with the urge to close it and make these roads threatened by only what the people have learned to deal with.

Fredas 7th Heartfire

The rumours are indeed true.  The librarian was not present when I looked for her in the University lobby so I made my way back to Cloud Ruler Temple.  On the way I rode past no less than three open gates to Oblivion.  The roads are becoming increasingly unsafe. 
After nearly two weeks out of prison my skills are slowly returning to the level they once were at.  I shall continue my Blades training until I feel confident enough to go to the location highlighted on the map of the tomb in the Imperial City.  Hopefully I will make it there safely, but I realise the risks.  Gates to Oblivion have even opened near to Cloud Ruler Temple.  These are dark times indeed. 

Fredas 7th Heartfire

I have read the commentary for clues as to where to find the Mythic Dawn but have not found much.  I went to the librarian in the Arcane University and she said she would think on the matter.  I have come to Green Emperor Way in the heart of the Imperial City to await a flash of inspiration that may point me towards my goal.  It is peaceful here among the tomb stones  and graves of people of high importance.  There isn't the noise and busyness of the Market District of the Elven Gardens.  There is neither the roars and cheers from the Arena.
As I have sat here I have noticed markings on the tomb before me.  I wonder what...

There appears to be an image of the rising sun and a map of Cyrodiil.  The map has various markings across it, but attention is brought to one to the east - I believe near where Cheydinhal would be located.  I shall speak with the librarian again to see if she can offer any insight.  If not then I shall ride back to Cloud Ruler Temple and consult with Jauffre.
I fear that the situation worsens with each passing day.  I have overheard rumours of Oblivion gates opening in the countryside.  It is beyond my abilities to close them.  I would not even want to attempt to enter one as I fear I would not make it out alive.

Fredas 7th Heartfire

Last night was not as dangerous as I had expected. 
To acquire the book we needed I posed as someone wanting to join the Mythic Dawn.  Baurus and I crawled through the sewers beneath the Elven Gardens district of the Imperial City until we found the meeting place.  I insisted that Baurus go up to the high ledge to cover me, rather than attend the meeting as was his wish.  I thought I might be able to get the book without violence, and without placing us in unnecessary danger, but at the first sign of a Mythic Dawn cultist Baurus jumped from the ledge and attacked.  More cultists came to the aid of the one Baurus attacked but we were able to kill them relatively easily.  I searched the dead bodies and found the fourth volume of the commentary. 

Turdas 6th Heartfire

I have been in the Imperial City since a few hours before noon.  My journey was made swift on the back of Brother Piner's horse.  This was to my fortune, as there are many savage beasts on the road through the Jerall Mountains near Bruma.  On my own feet the trip would have been long and perilous.  I met Baurus in the Luther Broad's Inn, as Jauffre had suggested, and in some short hours we have acquired the first three volumes of Mankor Camoran's Commentary on the Mysterium Xarxes.. We go now in search of the fourth volume, with which we hope to learn the location of the hidden Mythic Dawn shrine.  They are a cult who worship Mehrunes Dagon - the Daedric Lord.  This could be a dangerous eve. 

Turdas 6th Heartfire

I spent all yesterday reading.  The books about Queen Barenziah of Mournhold are extremely interesting.  I should very much like to meet her one day.  Indeed, I wish she had had a companion in me in her youth, though I do not envy the fate of Straw - her childhood friend.  I speak very seldom, but I could not imagine losing my tongue!  Today I journey to the Imperial city.  It will be my first time inside its walls since before my time in prison.  I shall find Baurus in the Luther Broad's Inn, says Jauffre, and he will help me, and I shall help him, to find the Amulet of Kings.

Middas 5th Heartfire

On arrival at Cloud Ruler Temple early yesterday morning we were given a warm welcome.  Jauffre - the Grand Master of the order - invited me to join the Blades and continue serving the Emperor.  I accepted.  I spent much of yesterday reading in the library until I became hungry.  After I had eaten I went to bed and slept for fourteen hours.  Now, hopefully, I have fully recovered from my night in Oblivion, as well as the long cross-country treks I've been doing lately. 
Although retrieving the Amulet of Kings is urgent, until we have some idea where to look for it I feel that I can have a break from this whole ordeal.  I shall spend some more time reading books in the library and I may travel into Bruma to do some shopping.  There doesn't seem to be much food in the temple. 

Tirdas 4th Heartfire

I read most of my books yesterday and was able to sell them so the trip to Chorrol was much lighter than the one to Skingrad had been.  Just as we got to the Priory the Dunmer farmer who tends to the sheep and vegetables was running towards Martin and I.  He told us that the priory was under attack.  Indeed we turned up to find the lifeless body of Brother Piner under the arch and a sword fight raging in the chapel.  Martin and I showing up distracted the attackers long enough for Jauffre to land some fatal blows.  Although we were safe then, the Amulet of Kings had been taken.  Jauffre decided it would be safest for Martin to stay at Cloud Ruler Temple near Bruma.  I went ahead of Martin and Jauffre and met them at an inn in Bruma late last night.  We spent the night there and climbed the steep hill to the temple early this morning. 

Morndas 3rd Heartfire

Today is Tales and Tallows.  I hear the Mages Guild is offering special prices to celebrate.  I shall see if there is anything worthwhile before we make our way to Weynon Priory.  I think Martin is safe here in Skingrad for a short time so I will spend some time today reading the books I have been collecting.  Then perhaps I can sell them and not have to carry their weight to Chorrol.  I barely made it to Skingrad with all these books in my pack.

Sundas 2nd Heartfire

I left Skingrad around three yesterday afternoon.  It was almost seven when I arrived at Kvatch, or what was left of it.  Last night, when the people were in bed, gates to Oblivion opened and daedra poured out and razed the city.  A lot of people died, but some managed to flee to an encampment and some, including Martin, took refuge in the Chapel of Akatosh.  There was still a gate to Oblivion open outside the city and I was asked to go in and try to find a way to close it.  Inside the sweltering plane of Oblivion I found scamps, clanfear, atronachs, dark seducers and dremora.  I did find a way to close the gate and then the guard captain asked me to help retake Castle Kvatch.  I did have more combat experience against daedra than any of his men, and I couldn't let them go alone - I had to help!
The castle was overrun.  Despite our best efforts, by the time we had won back the castle, we had lost every member of the guard, as well as three Imperial soldiers who came to help when they saw smoke from the road.  They were good men, and they saved my skin more than once before they were brutally slain.
I found Martin at the encampment  with the other survivors.  By now it was early this morning and I had not eaten or slept.  We made our way towards Weynon Priory but I was in desperate need of rest.  I slept all day and shall sleep again after I have finished this entry and had some food and water.

Loredas 1st Heartfire

It had been my hope to be at Kvatch by noon.  How overly optimistic I was!  It is now almost two and I have only recently arrived in the grand city of Skingrad.  The journey from Battlehorn Castle has been welcomely uneventful compared with my usual journeys, though there has been the odd crazed imp attack.  There was also another highwayman that threatened to kill me unless he was paid 100 gold. This time I did not fight him, I gave the gold away.  Then when he turned away I shot an arrow into his back.  It did not kill him and he turned around ready to attack me, and ready for a second arrow to his him between the eyes.  The second arrow was enough to kill him.  I took back my gold and continued on towards Kvatch.

Loredas 1st Heartfire

I decided that it was too late to head toward Kvatch last night, especially since I am unsure where it is, so I slept in a comfortable bed in my new castle.  I can't quite believe I am the owner of this magnificent place.  I have awoken early this morning and I hope to be at Kvatch before noon.  That gives me about six hours.  I might have travelled last night but I felt that it would be safer to go by day - especially with my skills still not at their full potential, or even close to what they were before my time in prison.  It has been under a week since my escape, yet it feels like a lifetime has passed since Dreth was telling me I was going to die in there.