Tag: zana’s journal

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 6, 18th of Last Seed

After parting ways with the Thalmor yesterday, I turned back northeast towards home. On my way, however, I was unexpectedly assaulted by a necromancer’s summoned skeleton archer. I felt confident enough to dispatch it and a couple of its fellows—the necromancer himself was much more of a proper battle (now that I know what proper battle looks like, anyway), but fortunately I had a store of frost resistance potions and was able to defeat him, as well. His robes and staff have interesting enchantments on them that I plan to study when I return to the Hall.

I am camped at Stonehills again tonight. Pactur was happy to hear that Thane Bryling was happy. He tried to offer me a bribe of ingots again, but I have such little use for them (and bribes seem too dirty for a Vigilant to be accepting, right?)

I will return Kharjo’s amulet tomorrow, if Ahkari’s caravan is near Dawnstar. Then home to my—much quieter and calmer—duties.

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 5, 17th of Last Seed

This morning I walked down the road with a solemn determination in my heart to seek out a group of bandits and…have a very stern conversation with them?

However, as it turned out, I didn’t need my strength of will, or even my arm, only the strength of my faith in Stendarr’s everlasting Mercy. For, as I steeled myself to round the bend and attempt the rickety ramparts of the bandits’ obvious ambush, I encountered a group of Thalmor. Their lead Inquisitor saw me and gestured me over to huddle with them—they were strategizing for an attack on the very same bandits! She asked me to give them Stendarr’s Blessing, which I did gladly, and then told me that I could join them, if it was my desire.

I cast Oakflesh on all the Thalmor I could before my magicka was depleted, and then I fell in with the mages striking the western end of the encampment. The archers were defeated quickly—I barely even sustained any injury, save for a slight cut where an arrow grazed my shoulder. We crossed the bridge to aid the Inquisitor in rousting the rest, including the bandits’ chief, an Orsimer wielding a huge Warhammer. Stendarr knows that I certainly would have fallen under its mighty blow.

I found Kharjo’s amulet among their loot. I plan to turn back towards the Hall tomorrow, as Keeper Carcette must be informed about the vampire court wizard in Solitude soon.

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 4, 16th of Last Seed

I left Solitude in a hurry yesterday, after deciding to wait and tell Keeper Carcette about the court wizard. Sweet little Minette snuck a pie into my bag while I was packing up and now there are crumbs sticking to the pages of my new books. I suppose generosity isn’t a bad trait to have in a budding innkeeper. Just…snowberry stains!

I passed through Dragon Bridge on my way to where Kharjo said the bandits robbed the caravan. The eponymous bridge is magnificent. I squinted into the sunset over the mountains at the trees—they look quite different than the pines around the Hall. Another thing to examine when I’m not…doing whatever it is I’m doing.

Oh, right. I should write down that I cleansed two people today. It was just after I left the southern half of Dragon Bridge. There’s a farm nearby, and I was hoping to barter directly for some milk—it’s always expensive or going sour when I can get it at home, and I saw their lovely cows…

But the farmers saw me, and I think they saw my robes and the light of Stendarr’s Blessing about me, because they attacked.

Daedra possession is hard to spot, but their eyes definitely glowed in an unnatural way. The Imperial patrol that passed me shortly, after the farmers were cleansed, definitely agreed that there was always something strange about the pair. I prayed to Stendarr for their souls after I buried them.

Fresh cow’s milk goes wonderfully with slightly crushed snowberry crostata.

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 3, 15th of Last Seed

I think the court wizard of Solitude is a vampire.

I don’t know what to do about it.

She caught me staring, and I panicked and bought two spellbooks from her—Divines, what did I do that for?

I can’t accuse her in front of everyone. And I can’t confront her by myself. Court wizards don’t exactly get where they are by just casting a couple of fancy illusion spells.

Oblivion take me! I don’t have enough gold for the room tonight after I bought those books.

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 2, 14th of Last Seed

Last night I made camp at Stonehills, among the miners. Pactur, the husband of the mine owner, asked me to take a message to Thane Bryling, all the way up in Solitude. Solitude! He was quite abashed to be asking at all, but apparently there hasn’t been a courier come by in weeks, and he’s anxious that the Thane will be angry. He made some joke about her breathing fire, which wasn’t really that funny what with the dragons having returned.

I said I would certainly help, though.

I’ve got to stop doing that. Keeper Carcette would say I’m not focusing on my true task.

I walked to Morthal and took a boat to Solitude, through the marsh. There are so many interesting plants in the marsh—after the first two stops to let me harvest a few pods and bits of lichen, the boatman got exasperated and wouldn’t let me off again. I’ll have to go back on foot.

Solitude harbor is beautiful, with Blue Palace overlooking the water. I’m anxious to go there tomorrow—I asked around when I reached the city, and of course Thane Bryling spends her waking hours at court. Some eavesdropping Altmer caught me after I talked to the guards, told me I shouldn’t go dressed like I am, and tried to point me in the direction of her shop. The robes of a Vigilant of Stendarr aren’t good enough for the Jarl? How presumptuous of her.

I’m staying at the Winking Skeever. I should have enough gold for two nights, I think, though if Corpulus Vinius keeps pressing his daughter’s precious pies on me I’ll run out sooner.

I haven’t forgotten about Kharjo’s amulet. I’m still not sure how I’m going to deal with bandits. If they’re not compelled or possessed by Daedra, how can I cleanse them?

Journal of Zanamivir, Vigilant of Stendarr
Day 1, 13th of Last Seed

This morning, I set off on my first solo Vigil. I’ve never been farther away from the Hall than Dawnstar, but Keeper Carcette thought it was “more than time that I pursue the other duties of being a Vigilant.”

I went to see if Ahkari’s caravan was on the road near Dawnstar. Keeper Carcette said I could keep the gold from selling some of the potions to fund my Vigil. I don’t know how much a room at an inn costs, but I hope this is enough. Ahkari was glad to buy up nearly everything—their potion stock was getting low. Dawnstar folk are buying up all kinds of cures, apparently. I’ll try and make some more to sell when I come back home in a week.

Kharjo was acting uncharacteristically upset, pacing and lashing his tail—I asked him what was wrong, and he told me the caravan had been robbed on its path north, before the turn to Morthal. Though most of their supplies were easily replaced, he had lost his moon amulet. I offered to get it back without thinking—who am I to take on a den of bandits? But I swore to Stendarr, so I guess I have to try.

I keep thinking about Celann. Is he out here somewhere, with Isran? I hope to find them on my Vigil—maybe Celann will even be happy to see me.