Evening, Nineteenth of Last Seed, Fourth Era Two Hundred and One

I didn't think I'd be writing again so soon. But so much has happened in the last day. And...I have so much to think about...

It didn't take long to walk from Riverwood to Whiterun, the capitol of Whiterun Hold. That dipshit Sven could have made this trip; would have actually been of use for once. But, for the most part, the people of Riverwood have been good to me, so I owed them.

I met with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater, the leader of Whiterun and the Hold at large. He seems like a decent enough man. Nord, respectful of the old ways, cool-headed. It's the company he keeps and the decisions he makes that I question. His personal bodyguard, Irileth, is an Ash-skin; his chief advisor is a Breton that lacks any respect for Nordic tradition; he has a court wizard who's a Nord, but didn't have any shrines to Jhunal in his office. And, even worse, he's trying to play a vague neutrality in the war. The ultimate act of cowardice, if you ask me. Either stand up for your people, or betray them. Don't act like this won't eventually involve you.

Anyway, I told them of the Dragon at Helgen, and that last I saw, it was flying towards Riverwood and Whiterun. I didn't even need to convince him to send guards to protect Riverwood, so that's at least one point in his favor. I was compensated in armor, and hired for a new job. It turns out that Balgruuf's court wizard - Farengar Secret-Fire - has been casually studying Dragons for years.

Farengar was a complete dickhead when I first met him. Made me out to be some mindless brute. But I made him respect me, with my swift completion of his job.

He was after this thing called a "Dragonstone", and said that I'd be able to find it in Bleak Falls Barrow. As it so happens, I had the exact item on me. I got it from that Draugr Overlord I defeated when I got Lucan's claw back. I didn't think it was more than an ornamental stone, and was gonna try and find someone to sell it to anyway, so it ended up working out. But not long after that, Irileth charged in and told us of a Dragon attack nearby!

I don't know why, but Balgruuf wanted me to go help deal with it because "I survived Helgen". Yeah, I survived Helgen. I didn't defeat the damn Dragon! But I was offered compensation, and was going to have backup from the Whiterun Guard, so I agreed. I joined Irileth at the main gate and listened to her rally her troops. And...for an Ash-skin...she almost sounded like a Nord. The way she was able to get everyone's spirits up...I can almost respect her. Almost.

We made full-speed to Whiterun's Western Watchtower, and found one survivor. He was scared shitless, spoke of a Dragon that just carried off (and likely ate) two of his comrades, and was likely coming back for seconds. He was right. The Dragon returned...and it spoke. "You are brave. Balaan hokoron. Your defeat brings me honor."

The fight was quick, but brutal. Though this Dragon wasn't the same one that razed Helgen, I still fought like it was. The archers and battlemages were able to force it to land, and it spoke again. "Brit grah. I had forgotten what fine sport you mortals can provide!"

I charged in, and began beating it's wings with my hammer. That got it's attention, and it said something else to me. "Thurri du hin sille ko Sovngarde!" I just bashed it's face in while it babbled. It spit fire at me, barely giving me time to dodge away. It took all of the training and experience I've had to end it. And with one last babbling, it died. It said something, something about me. It called me..."Dovahkiin". I didn't really have time to ponder what it was talking about before...something happened.

It's body began to glow like fire, and a strange energy flowed into me like streams of rushing wind. I was paralyzed, I couldn't move, it felt like my soul itself was set aflame! And when it was over...I knew things. I knew it's name. Mirmulnir, Allegiance Strong Hunt. And I knew the word I saw in the Barrow. Force. It still freaks me out that I could suddenly know these things. And the new power I had.

One of the guards ran up and called me "Dragonborn". But that couldn't be right! Mother told me stories of the Dragonborn, and that the last true Dragonborn was Talos himself! I couldn't be such a legendary warrior! But he told me to try "shouting", like the Dragons do. And...I could. I don't know how I knew, but...I knew that by concentrating and shouting the word from the Barrow, I could create a shockwave. The guards all believed that I was Dragonborn, and one even knelt before me, though Irileth was skeptical and wanted us to focus on here and now. I can't believe it, but I agreed with her.

I made my way back to Whiterun to inform the Jarl of what happened. On the way, I heard a chorus of voices. I'm sure all of Tamriel could. Even you, reading this now, probably heard it if you were alive that day. A group of old male voices echoed from the mountains, shaking the very air itself, calling out: DOVAHKIIN.

Back at the Jarl's keep, he told me that was a summons from the Greybeards, directed to me. I insisted that I couldn't be that important. I'm just a poor mercenary from Black Marsh! But he insisted that I go; said that nobody can refuse the summons of the Greybeards. Though his advisor called it "Nord Nonsense". I could have knocked his head from his shoulders, if it wasn't for the Jarl being there.

Regardless of Dragonborns or Greybeards or disrespectful Bretons, Jarl Balgruuf named me Thane of Whiterun as recognition for me protecting the town, and gifted me with a special axe and a Housecarl - a Nord woman named Lydia. Apparently, she does the same thing that Irileth does for Balgruuf; a bodyguard, confidant, and protector of my family and property. I don't necessarily need a bodyguard, but I guess it'll be nice to have the company.

We now rest at the Bannered Mare, the local tavern and inn. I know Balgruuf advised me to go to the top of the mountain and see the Greybeards, but...I don't know. I need time to think about it. I think best while working, so I'll be taking odd jobs from around the city before I decide what I'll do about the summons.

I never thought I'd get caught up in something like this when I set out to find my father...