The Unabridged Journals of Nerussa, the Last Dragonborn

• Posted by Gnewna May 1, 2015 - Filed in TSC: Skyrim - #Altmer  #Skyrim  #UJON  - 1,375 views

  Preface to the First Edition (Abridged)

  By Viarmo, Headmaster of the Bards’ College, Solitude
  
  For the darkness has passed, and the legend yet grows,
  You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn comes 
  “The Dragonborn Comes”, Trad.
  
  Just as each Bard in the land has his or her own treatment of this well-known ballad, so the majority have written their own versions of the tale of the Last Dragonborn, Nerussa. As Nords are fond of allowing their children to accompany them to the tavern of an evening, every man, woman and child is now likely familiar with the major events of her time in Skyrim. Nobody reading this book, for example, will be surprised by her fortuitous escape from the executioner’s block. However, even a full rendition of Talsgar the Wanderer’s (it must be said, rather workmanlike) epic poem will miss several key elements of her story, as well as many smaller, but in some ways no less important, details.
  
  It was Nerussa herself who approached the College about this book. When she revealed the extent of her note-keeping, I was both excited and, I’ll admit, a little daunted. The Complete Journals are so lengthy that the only two copies of each book to be printed fill an entire bookcase in the each of the Libraries of the Colleges at Winterhold and Solitude. (Students of either College may of course view the Complete Journals, and enquiries may be made to the Bards’ College by non-students who wish to refer to them for academic purposes. The College of Winterhold cannot, for obvious reasons, oblige such requests.) This much abridged collection, available for general purchase, will run to three volumes, and, at the request of Nerussa, will include both major events and more personal recordings of the time she spent among the people of Skyrim. It is hoped that this will give the reader a better understanding of the Time of Dragons, as well as the Last Dragonborn.
  
  For reasons which will become clear in the text, Nerussa’s journals were largely written in a cypher of her own devising, in the language of the Altmer. Certain passages are also written in Daedric script. Nerussa was personally responsible for much of the translation, however (again at her request) we also enlisted the support of Reman Turinus, a specialist in codes and cyphers from the Imperial City, and a team of Altmer translators. This both enabled us to complete the translation in a much shorter time, and to verify that the translation was a true reflection of Nerussa’s notes made during her time in Skyrim. They are, by and large, written in a conversational tone, as is to be expected of what is, after all, a young woman's private diary. There are also more formal pieces written specially for this publication, linking certain of the excerpts and covering major events, along with other documents such as letters.
  
  Although Nerussa has never been secretive about her background, certain aspects of her story may shock some readers. I would caution them not to judge her too harshly, for everything she did ultimately prepared her for the moment when, surrounded by the Heroes of Sovengarde, she finally slew Alduin, the Eater of Worlds.
  
  Viarmo, 4E 221

   

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