Atreyu’s Photo Diary – Skyrim Part 21

Part 20 Here
Chapter List Here

WARNING: ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM SPOILERS!

Dragon Priests, Dragon Masks, Dragons and a Dead Damsel

I left the cowering Vampire alone, feeling it improper to kill someone in such a position.
It was not long however before I found more vampires battling a werewolf.

I took on beast form and helped the other wolfman defeat the bloodsuckers. Once they were dead, it fled from the scene.

I hurried on to where I had been told to look for the Dawnguard and came to a cave opening in a cliffside.

I passed through the passage and found myself in a secluded area which seemed naturally hidden from view.

I redressed and carried on. As I followed the path I met a man named Agmaer, who also sought to join the Dawnguard.

We walked together and approached the enormous fortress.

The place seemed deserted. No one greet us, no one could even be seen until we got quite close to the entrance. It was quite unnerving. I felt as though I may be ambushed.

Fortunately it didn’t happen.

We entered together to find Isran, the leader of the Dawnguard, speaking with a leader of the Vigilants of Stendarr by the name Tolan.

The Vigilant wanted an attack on some Vampires it seemed, but Isran wanted to convince him it was too dangerous.

When they finished speaking I approached Isran and asked him about the rumours that he was hiring.

Isran suggested I help Tolan with his problem. The vampires that had attacked the Hall of the Vigilants were apparently after something in Dimhollow Crypt. I was to investigate. Tolan told me he would meet me there.

To help, Isran gave me a new unusual weapon, a crossbow.

He said it was one of the best things for dealing with vampires.

As Tolan set off, Isran began training Agmaer.

He told me to have a look around the fort and take anything I might need, so I had a little look around.
I didn’t find much, but I played with some dogs for a little while.

I set off, intent on getting to the bottom of this vampire crisis. Outside the cave I met M’aiq again.

I wondered if he had any business with the Dawnguard.

I decided to visit Lakeview before going on the mission, to drop off some things.
I found that my basement had an infestation.

My other reason for dropping by was to collect the Dragon Priest masks.

I could possibly stop by Labyrinthian while I travelled.
I set off.

As I travelled north I came across a skeleton stood by itself among some ruins.

It did not advance or attack, but seemed to stand guard over something.

I let it be. It offered no challenge or threat, so I saw no harm in letting it carry on.

Not long afterwards a dragon flew overhead. Strangely, it seemed to have no interest in me. I assumed it was hungry as it went for a mammoth.

As I watched I was almost taken off guard by a Skeever.

A second mammoth came to it’s friend’s aid.


The battle raged, but the dragon was beaten.

Having enjoyed the spectacle I carried on my way.
Heading towards Labyrinthian, I fought a dragon myself, which oddly did not lose its soul to me.

I came into Labyrinthian from an unorthodox direction.

I found the place..

and put on the wooden mask.

When I placed the Dragon masks onto the altar, another was revealed.



This must have been the leader. Konahrik.
I retrieved them all.

As I removed the wooden mask, I was returned to my time.

Now that had closed the final chapter on the mask hunt, I ventured on to find new trouble with the vampires.
I found Dimhollow.

I entered and before long was attacked by horrid dog beasts…

…along with their vampire masters.

After clearing the room, I found that Tolan had already made his way inside before I had arrived.

I moved on. I still had to find out why the vampires were here.
I went through a few rooms, whose only sign of life was that there had been some here not long before. The recently dead draugr were my clue.
Deeper inside though, the vampires were fighting the draugr that yet lived.

Other vampires were using the draugr and skeletons to their advantage, attacking me from afar, while the melee combatants closed in.

Deeper still, skeletons gave way to spiders.

I summoned Flamborghini to assist me.

Alone I went on and saw a powerful vampire defeat a giant spider, before raising it from the dead and having it turn on me.

I quickly dispatched the spider, but the Nightmaster was a tougher opponent and fought well.

Though he was a rare challenge, it gave me satisfaction to cut him down.

I found a great cavern where the vampire Lokil was preparing to do something. My arrival interrupted that and he came at me with his undead allies.

The vampires were proving powerful opponents, but fortunately I overcame.

He had captured another Vigilant and killed him as I arrived.

He carried a book with him, which I skimmed through.

I had noticed the odd gargoyle statues too.

Strange that they were nowhere to be seen elsewhere in Skyrim.

I approached the large platform in the centre of the cavern, intending to find out what the place was about.

In the middle of the platform was a button.

Tentatively, I pushed it, only to be rewarded with a sharp spike through my hand.
I must have cursed in dragon tongue, as when the button was released the spirit of Gormlaith Golden-Hilt approached me.

I figured out that I needed to push some pedestals about until the magic flame lit them all.


On finishing, the centre of the platform rose to present something new.

It opened, and out of it came.. a woman…

A vampire woman!

She seemed almost as unsure as to what was happening as I was, but introduced herself as Serana and asked that I escort her home.
I couldn’t help but notice the Elder Scroll she carried, but she was not happy to answer my questions yet.
We started to move but found that the gargoyles had come to life!

We fought the fearsome beasts and for a while Serana even had one under her command.

The next room looked like a gladiatorial pit.

It was apt as we approached it, a number of skeletons and a dragon priest rose and challenged us.

I had wondered why the priest was present until I noticed a word wall.

Strangely, it taught me how to drain vitality. Appropriate for the vampires dwelling here.

Before taking Serana home, I decided to return to my own house. Rayya had clearly been busy decorating.

I put away the collection of masks (except Volsung) and set out with Serana.

As we neared the place where she told me we would find a boat, we were assaulted by more gargoyles. It was as though they knew we would be coming.

The castle lay in the distance and we had a long row ahead to reach it.

As we arrived, the building loomed overhead.

More gargoyles sat in wait, like guards. They did not move, but I suspected that they might.

Serana warned me that she should lead the way once we were inside. She wasn’t sure how my presence would be taken.

The old watchman at the gate didn’t seem to be a vampire. I wondered what his story was.

Inside, a vampire elf named Vingalmo was surprised to see us.

Serana led the way into a large hall, where many vampires were feeding on human corpses. My stomach turned.

Lord Harkon, Serana’s father welcomed me upon hearing that I had saved his daughter and returned her to me.

He offered me a reward for my service. I was a little excited to hear what he had to offer.

I wasn’t happy with the result.
He said he would make me a vampire with a gift of his blood. I would be one of them and lose my beast blood in the process.
I looked around.

I felt sick at the sight of these…people… eating men as though there was nothing wrong with it. I could not be like that.

I refused the offer.

Harkon was displeased, but did not kill me out of gratitude for returning his daughter. He warned me that I may leave this once, but should I return, I would be treated as prey.
With a wave of his hand, I was transported outside, waking in a daze.

I would have to return to Isran and tell him what I had learned.

Part 22 ‘Dawnguard, Dragons and Designs’ Here
Chapter List Here