Atreyu’s Photo Diary – Skyrim Part 36

Part 35 Here
Chapter List Here

WARNING: ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM SPOILERS!

Beasts and The Beastly

I had to swim back to the mainland but found the shore to be a dangerous place.

Werebears were slaughtering horkers. Perhaps their way of hunting.

The trouble was, that once the hunt was over, I seemed to form the shape of a reasonable meal too…

I showed them the error of their ways by revealing my own beast blood.

Now having to wait my transformation to wear off, I went on my way towards the Skaal village.
Not far along the path, I was attacked by a madman.

A true madman to take on a werewolf barehanded.


Though, he carried another note about a Black Book.

I wondered how these men were coming across the volumes.

I passed close to the Word Wall I had previously visited where another dragon was on guard.

This one had little in common with its powerful predecessor though.

I decided to take a look at this source of Stalhrim before delivering the map to the Skaal, in case more danger presented itself.

The path fortunately took me past the place I would find Glover’s acquaintance and retrieve the stolen formula from him: Castle Karstaag Caverns.

Inside was a huge Riekling settlement.

I took a breath, preparing for the eventuality of having to slice my way through hordes of the little people.
Luckily though, the body of Esmond Tyne, the man I was searching for, lay just by the entrance.

I took the formula and left.

Shortly afterwards, I made my unconventional way to the Stalhrim source.

Travelling to the Skaal village was more eventful than I thought it would be.
I passed White Ridge Barrow, the known location of a Black Book. Priorities suggested that I go in straight away.

I entered to a horrible sight.

These bandits had clearly wanted to keep something locked inside here.
I went in and found a number of dead bandits and spiders strewn everywhere.

Among a few live beasts.


Further inside I heard the voices of survivors.
As I rushed to meet them, I found that these bandits seemed to have something terribly wrong with them and were not in the slightest pleased to see a human face.


Whatever curse was upon them seemed to lift on their deaths, though an eternity in the Soul Cairn might not be much better…

It should not have been a surprise that the ruin also held Draugr.

Strangely, the scene I had met at the barrow entrance was repeated with a minor change in detail.

On the other side of the door was a large hall in which I could make out more of the cursed bandits.

I attempted to sneak by, looking to find what was going on here, but inadvertently walked into one I had not noticed.

He alerted his allies to my presence, so the battle commenced.
I was surprised that one of their number was throwing flaming spiders at me.

Despite the distracting and blinding spider explosions, I was able to overcome my attackers.

The woman had some more of the weaponised bugs left on her person.

She, Merilar Rendas, also carried a diary.

Seemed like some madness was taking hold here.
In another chamber, I found the safety cage she had mentioned holding the dead body of whom I supposed was her partner in this.

Servos Rendas note revealed more about the project.


So, they were in fact creating these spiders using the apparatus here and the bandits were being mind controlled.

I decided to do some experiments of my own having a number of the spider pods lying about from the population here and carrying a number of gems from my travels.
An spider pod and flawless ruby gave me some Jumping Flame Spiders.

While a Flawless Emerald produced Jumping Poison Spiders.

A Flawless Sapphire imbued Frost.

Trying a few other combinations of pods, damaged pods, salt piles and gems gave more results.



I finally attempted a pod with Stalhrim, but that did nothing.

With no sign of a Mind Control Spider I left the machine, remembering I could return at any time now I knew its location and carried on searching for the Black Book I had come for.
I found a room where more of the mind controlled bandits were being kept with spiders in a form of horrific torture jail.

This barrow was proving to be quite a find as I located another Word Wall within it…

..though guarded by the Dragon Priest Dukaan.



The Word Wall showed me the Dov word for Unleash as part of a Cyclone shout.

A short way off, I finally located the Black Book and the routine began.

In The Sallow Regent, I would learn yet more secrets to use against Miraak.


It was unusually dark in this place.


I had Kenny give me a helping hand.

Together we found the book…


…which allowed me to cast spells while using less magicka.

Back to Solstheim, where I still needed to reach the Skaal village, I pressed on.

I passed a small riekling settlement, another rival tribe.
Had they attempted artwork?

They had made a home about an upturned boat patched with Dwemer machinery. It was strange, but the loot was minimal.
I found another pendant however.

Continuing on my way, I was distracted by a bloody mess outside a cave.

This was the Altar of Thrond. I did not know what Thrond was about, but I knew that I did not much like human sacrifice. (conveniently forgetting that one time I did it..)
A cave by the altar might hold clues to what was happening here.

Inside was a number of dead creatures, other sacrifices perhaps.

In the largest part of the cave I found the culprit… a hagraven.

Or three.. this made sense now.

Defeating these three hopefully ensured the safety of some maidens elsewhere. I assumed that along the line I would meet someone who might reward me for this, but I was happy to rid the world of these monsters for nothing.

On the last leg of the journey to the Skaal village I passed Miraak’s temple.
This was the last stone still corrupted by his power, so I attempted to undo it.

My shout had no effect.

Finally I was back at the Skaal village where I met Baldor at the blacksmiths.

In thanks for bringing him the map, he showed me how to forge stalhrim myself and was happy to let me use his forge. I didn’t have enough of the material to make anything, so I passed.

Before I could approach Storn, Tharstan, a local historian visiting the village approached me asking for my service.

He wished to explore a tomb belonging to someone named Vahlok and wished for someone to provide protection.
I agreed to meet him when I had time, but for now I really had much more important things to do.

I found Storn in his usual place.

Having cleansed the stones, he agreed it was time to give Herma Mora the secrets he wanted.
His daughter pleaded with him to reconsider, but he was sure that this was necessary.

He borrowed my Black Book and began to read so that he may meet the Daedric Prince.

I expected him to disappear for a while, but it did not happen as I thought.
Tentacles reached out from the book and impaled the shaman.

Hermaus Mora himself appeared and gloated over his victory.

The secrets meant little to him. Simply the fact that secrets were being kept against him was what he disliked.

Having got what he came for, he left the lifeless body of Storn at the feet of his daughter and passed on the Word I would need to defeat Miraak: Dragon.

Part 37 ‘The Dragonborn Vs The Dragonborn’ Here
Chapter List Here