The journey from the shrine had been a rough one. My armour now sported an envious array of teeth marks across the breast and back plate. My back was aching from being tossed through the air and once again I had snot frozen in my beard. I wouldn't mind the cold so badly if it didn't make my nose run so dam much. I would have to take it easy going through the Nordic ruin now standing in front of me. I only had to find a book it couldn't be that difficult.
Dead Man's Respite was like most Nordic Ruins, a dome of stone with a iron door in an opening on the side. This one however was buried into the hillside. Only the door and a small portion of the dome could be seen protruding from the rock. In front a stone plinth lead down some stairs to a Embalmer's table. Scattered with old tools and books. Encircling it was a row of arches made from huge slabs of stone. In my wisdom I tied Drago up and entered the Ruin.
My tactic was to stay low bow drawn ready to strike the first hit in an instance. Creeping down the stairs I entered a tomb with graves lining the walls and another embalmer's table only this time in the centre was a Ruby Dragon Claw resting on a little plinth. Over the other side of the table as a gated archway. Stood in front of that however was the ethereal presence of a man. He stood and raised his arm pointing to the Ruby Claw. Turning he simply passed through the gate and disappeared out of sight.
Examining the plinth I couldn't see anything obviously rigged to it. Taking the Claw it's plinth immediately sank into the table. The gate raised but a stomach churning sound of stone breaking open all around me as four Draugr awoke from their tombs. Quickly shifting back into the entrance tunnel I sent one back to an early grave. This drew the attention of the others towards me. The Shield bearer rasped his weapon against the steel as the Archer let go an arrow. I side stepped as the Great swordsman swung his ancient blade upon me. Backtracking I managed to keep enough distance as I franticly fired arrow after arrow. All the arrows hit their mark but with my haste I couldn't recover most. I made a thorough search of the chamber finding a tidy haul of coin and a few potions.
Returning to my earlier tactic I pressed on following the direction of the spirit. In the darkness at the bottom of a flight of stairs I didn't notice a pressure switch. Screeching metal and a rush of air as two huge metal spears fired from holes hidden in the masonry. If I wasn't crouched at that moment I would of been impaled to rot for eternity. I quickly knitted the wounds back together with some healing magic before continuing down the second flight of stairs. The tunnel came to a dead end. The doorway carved in the stone was blocked by the rock itself. The spirit again just turned and walked through the blocked doorway.
Feeling around in the dark I ran my hands over the rock around the doorway until my gauntlet chinked off metal. I grabbed the chain and pulled. Stone grinding and chips flying as the stone blocking the doorway spun to reveal a gate which then opened to allow me to progress. More tight catacombs, bodies lining the curved walls only this time the tunnels were blocked like the first doorway, only one doorway remained open. I followed it round killing a couple of baby Frost Spiders. If there were babies it meant there were grown ups, big ones.
The catacombs lead round to another dead end. In fact I was now on the other side of the wall of the entrance I just came through. Another chain hung down to the side so I pulled. Grinding, spinning, dust and cobweb went flying as the entire catacomb reconfigured its walls. Where once stood a stone wall now a passageway lead off in front of me. Staring I realised a Draugr was stood with his back to me at the far end. It was a long shot but I steadied my aim and released. The arrow struck him through his left shoulder blade sending him to the ground.
The noise of him dropping caught the attention of more Draugr I sat motionless as two more ran out of a side passage. They fell just as swiftly. I found some good treasure at the end off the tunnel before doubling back. The new lay out of walls had revealed a new passage way leading down. At the bottom I only just noticed another pressure plate. What I did notice was two huge Spiders standing over two metal circular grates in the floor of the chamber ahead. I fired a couple of shots before switching to my sword making sure I remembered how I killed that Giant Spider back in Bleak Falls. Dodging their volleys of poison I pressed home my sword they fell quickly.
Pacing the room I couldn't see any obvious signs of where to go next until the squeak of rusted metal under my foot drew my attention to one of the grates. Looking through the bars it was a short drop, the bottom was filled with water flooding halfway up the doorway visible poking out of the surface along one side if the shaft. A chain on the wall opened the grate and I lowered myself to the edge. Steeling myself I plummeted into the icy water. Breath taking I scrabbled to find footing swallowing the rancid fluid. Foot found stone and I pulled myself out of the water into a semi flooded passageway.
Roots and Vines from above stretched down into the water. Standing knee deep I forced my way through towards the sound of water tumbling. The passage opened onto the middle of a high, long room. Waterfalls fell from the ceiling in a number of places flooding tombs. On the opposite wall a huge altar with a sarcophagus mounted in the middle stood blocked partially by a bridge connecting two pillars with helical ramps. I spotted a door at the very top of one of the pillars. Splashing through the debris with the roar of the waterfalls I didn't notice the sounds of tombs opening. I dealt with the Draugr with my bow. Moving in and out of cover of the pillars, circling round on them they nearly ended up striking each other they were that confused.
The walkway leading to the bridge was caged but I must have triggered something for eight huge double axes proceeded to swing across the open sections of the bridge. A bout of vertigo flooded my vision. These were games for lads not old men if I took a hit and fell I didn't think Viarmo would be getting his festival. I took a deep breath and watched for the gap. I would have to do two axes at a time. The first set went fine but once I was sandwiched I lost awareness of where to stand and took a grazing blow to my back. Falling forward I missed the oncoming blade and fell over the edge. Grasping on with all my might my grip held on and I shimmed to the next gap before skipping past the last set of axes. Up a second spiral ramp a little bridge connected to a door.
The broad tunnel wound down to a big double iron door. It seemed to hum with static and light obviously magically sealed in some way. The spirit appeared again and walked down a side passage into more catacombs. Few residents stirred until I made it down to another chamber with a metal grate in the floor. Three gated doorways connected to the chamber opened releasing a hoard of undead protectors. In my youth I found I could just plant my feet and swing away but in my later years I'm having to adapt my style especially with multiple enemies. Moving quickly I never stayed still, side stepping and weaving round the room scoring hits when available. I focussed on the Scourge they tended to use frost spells. It was bloody cold enough outside without them adding to problems inside. I had to use a few potions and exhausted my healing spell before they all fell with Ice crystals staining the walls and floor were they failed to freeze me.
Again a chain opened the grate and led down a spiral wooden stair case. At the bottom there was a hole dug through the ruins foundation to the solid rock. I must get a torch, I ran my hands all over the rock until I felt the nordic handle. The rock slid open revealing a small cave with the mummified remains of a man. The spirit was sat on a rock just next to him. He nodded down towards his remains. On closer inspection his fingers curled round the blue bindings of a book. Prizing them carefully off the book I turned it to read the title King Olaf's Verse. The spirit vanished leaving me in the bottom of the ruin in the dark.
Rather disappointedly I made my way back out but as I reached the sealed door the spirit reappeared. I hadn't really paid much attention to his spiritual attire but as he turned to face the door I realised he was wearing mage robe's. Focusing he began to cast a spell removing the enchantment. As soon as it fell he pushed the doors open charging forward down towards another puzzle door. I took out the Dragon Claw and matched the symbols again. Pressing the Claw onto the centre plate the door opened leading to a massive vaulted chamber. A larger circular pool sat at the bottom of a set of massive stairs, around the shallow pool thrones where arranged facing the middle with the remains of their obvious lordly hosts sat in permanent council. At the top of the stairs I could see another Nordic rune wall with the biggest and most decorated sarcophagus I've seen laid in front. With Nordic sculptures adorning the walls. It was a Grand Burial Chamber. The spirit had run into the middle demanding King Olaf show himself.
As if a ritual the ruin shook as the most Draugr I seen in one space awoke from slumber raising from throne and tomb alike. Before the onslaught poured on to my blade I noticed the lid of the Big coffin cracking open and something raising. The spirit was impressive with his blade slicing through the Draugr. I had to back into the tunnel to try to thin down numbers. As I fought my way back into the chamber King Olaf had heard his call and was heading down the stairs to engage the spirit. In fact the remaining Draugr turned their attention on him. I unloaded nearly a full quiver of arrows before charging in to finish off the King. As I closed the gap he lifted his axe to strike at me. Instinctively I felt that welling up inside, the deep intake of breath before the word blasted out, only this time it sounded different and rather than stun Olaf his axe was sent somersaulting to the floor. With no defence I swept his leg out dropping him to one knee finishing him off with a slash to the throat.
As his corpse dropped the spirit vanished. Olaf had a nice Ebony Hand Axe and a key to his treasure room. Approaching the wall at the top of the stairs again an illegible set of runes started to glow and impress on me. These Dragons and Runes were doing something to me. The urge to find out was becoming irresistible. To the side of the wall the key opened a iron door leading to Olaf's treasure. A lever on the wall opened a narrow passage that lead back out to the entrance of Dead Man's Respite.
I took a long, deep breath of the cool night air. I didn't care it was late. The Moon was huge and that magical green dance of light rippled and shimmied across the darkness. Drago snorted a hello as I clambered on to his back. I only made it to Dragon Bridge before my tiredness overtook the need to make it to Solitude. I was quite rude not really wasting time with niceties. My face slammed into the pillow and sleep enveloped me.
Comments
I feel he has def established himself in Skyrim now so I'm going to progress the story in the next bit argh lol
I also see where Larz is getting cur... more