Atreyu’s Photo Diary – Skyrim Part 33

Part 32 Here
Chapter List Here

WARNING: ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM SPOILERS!

Standing Stones, Servants and Sunken Treasure

Once again, the Beast Stone which was located so close to Miraak’s temple was under watch of a cultist guard.

Having defeated the inept guard with the help of my Riekling ally, I then released the hold over the standing stone, freeing the enslaved creatures around it and causing a lurker to appear.

The Rieklings were pleased to have been freed and as they began their walk home I approached the stone wondering if it yet held any power.
On touching it, it imbued me with the ability to summon a werebear, though only once.

Having not realised the power of the stones, I detoured past the Wind Stone before continuing to my next destination where I learned another new magic.

I needed to talk to Storn at the Skaal village about Hermaeus’ request. A woman of the village spoke to me first and mentioned that her son Nikulas wished to become an adventurer. She did not want that for him, fearing the dangers of the world.

Having seen a bulk of the dangers for myself I agreed that it wasn’t wise to roam from safety unless capable of handling yourself.
I told Edla that I would speak to her son for her. He was not far off, so I went to him immediately.

I reminded him that his mother needed him and he agreed that he should focus on his duty to his people.

Edla had little to give me as a thankyou, but offered some scathecraw, ashen grass pods and emperor parasol moss. Maybe they would be useful, but I was not much of an alchemist.

I found Storn at his hut.

I told him what Hermaeus Mora had asked. He told me that for generations the Skaal had kept the secrets from him, but now it seemed that he would have to give them up.
He did not feel ready to confront the Daedric Prince however. He wished that I would cleanse the remaining stones before he agreed, which I was happy to do.
I asked his daughter if she would like to join me again.

She said that she would, but for now was needed in the village. So I bade farewell and set off.

Not far from the village, we encountered a stray dog who seemed to have recently killed a pair of wolves. I looked about for its master, but instead found a frost troll, which the dog handled quite effectively.

The animal was not interested in me so I went on my way.

Still on my round trip about the island I passed the place that the madman had mentioned on his note: Benkongerike.

As I was under the impression a Black Book may be here, I went inside.

In the cold caverns a group of Rieklings had made their home. I wondered if they were linked to my tribe.
Within moments I learned that they were not.

My Riekling Warrior made short work of some of the rival tribe.

These Rieklings had gathered a lot of jewels and trinkets, including a rare Dibella statue. I helped myself.

As we explored more of the cave, we found that the tribe must have lived here for some time, having constructed quite an elaborate set up.

Having to battle through a large number of the little people, I decided to try out my new power.

As we fought, I was surprised to find that some of my own tribe had joined the attack and we were in a fairly even battle.

Further into the cave we went, and found it became a Nordic ruin.

Someone here was clearly a fan of the Lusty Argonian Maid, having a pile of copies.

I found some unusual ore, the same that seemed to have forged the unusual weapon I had discovered before.

I was surprised to discover that a word wall was in buried here.

To reach it I would have to unlock the gate, which seemed simple at first.

But proved to be slightly less straight forward than it should have been.

There was no pattern to the arrangement, so a guess wouldn’t do it. I decided to have a look around, and fortunately found that the Rieklings had moved the missing face.

The word wall held the power of the dragon word for ‘Wind’ to use in a Cyclone shout.
Not much farther along was the Black Book we had come for.

The book was named ‘Untold Legends’. Here I hoped to learn more powerful secrets to use against Miraak.

The book offered me the choice of three abilities. I opted for the Dremora butler…

..who I called upon immediately on returning to Solstheim.

We were almost at the end of the island round trip. One of the last stops was to find part of the Deathbrand armour.
It was fiercely guarded by more rieklings…

..and mudcrabs.

Not the toughest of foes.

We approached the last standing stone which needed cleansing and found one of the workers being chased off by a cultist.

Once again, my tribe-kin came to the rescue.

The old man did not thank us though. He simply walked back to the stone, braindead as before.

At the Water Stone I went through the motions…



…until a dragon appeared to assist the lurker.


If this was some plan of Miraak’s, I decided to show them that I too had the power. I called Durnehviir to aid me.

These people would not be lost to his evil.



The Water Stone imbued me with a new magic.

I’m not sure why, but one of my tribe-kin began miming work on the stone.

The round trip was almost over. All that was left was the return to Raven Rock and to find the last part of the Deathbrand armour.
I discovered an abandoned fishing post with more of the unusual urns.

Nearby was the chest I sought.


Though in this chest was also a key.

I would have to investigate this later.

Reaching the Earth Stone and grabbing its power was the mark of my return to Raven Rock.

I told Captain Velith that I had done as he had asked and the General was dead.

He rewarded me with 10,000 gold, then asked that I find the source of some powerful wine called Emberbrand, which was causing many o his men to become addicted. He said it was likely that I would find it in one of the abandoned buildings on the outskirts of town.

Having completed my Solstheim round trip, I decided to head back to Skyrim. My pockets were getting heavy.

Part 34 ‘Minding the Mine’ Here
Chapter List Here