Outside Bleak Falls Barrow, the tomb sits as restful as ever. Not a sound is made from the dilapidated stones nor freshly fallen corpses. Inside, the echoes of shifting and sliding stones bring life to the halls of the dead.

Elyvaea: Alright! That should do it

Gerruck: It better!

Gerruck: It's my ass on the line after all.

Gerruck sucks in a breath and wraps his hand around the handle. Making sure to look away from the holes in the walls, loaded with poisoned darts, he heaved on the lever. To his relief, the sound of scraping metal hinges rang in his ears rather than the pinging of darts.

Elyvaea: See? Nothing to worry about.

Elyvaea: Well... At least for now.

Gerruck: You'll never learn will you? With me around you never have to worry!

Elyvaea: And you'll never learn that it is exactly that attitude that-

Strange Voice: Is... Is someone coming? Is that you Harknir? Bjorn? Soling? I know I ran away with the claw, but I need help!

Gerruck: Nope! This is Gerruck and Elyvaea, and last I checked your friends weren't breathing.

Elyvaea: Was that really necessary, Gerruck?

Gerruck: It absolutely was. All the other bandits died so fast I never got the chance to really scare them.

Gerruck: Speaking of being scared, looks like I found the cause of the little bandit's predicament.

Elyvaea: Ugh... I hate spiders.

Gerruck: Well I'll be the one in it's face anyway...

Gerruck draws his sword and slices through the thick webbing, sending pieces flying and drifting back onto the stone floor. As the final strands are cut free, Gerruck slowly creeps through the doorway, keeping his sword drawn. As he enters the tomb, a subtle clicking emanates from above and a great shadow looms across the floor.

Gerruck: Alright, ugly, let's fight!

Elyvaea: Try and be a little careful...

The Frostbite spider hisses as Elyvaea's arrow pierces it's body, causing it to shriek and writhe before falling to the ground in a heap.

Gerruck: Nice shooting, love.

Elyvaea: Big spider, big target.

Gerruck: Speaking of targets...

Gerruck: Let's say hello to our little friend over here.

Bandit: Thank goodness you're here! Let me down, please!

Elyvaea: Awww, you sure? Looks quite comfortable up there.

Bandit: I have the golden claw, let me down and I'll show you how to use it. You won't believe the power the Nords have hidden there.

Elyvaea: Now why would I let you down for that? I could just take the claw while your stuck...

Gerruck: Or I can just kill you and take the claw from your corpse.

Bandit: Wait wait wait wait, no need for that. Uh, just cut me loose and I'll give it to you. Just don't kill me...

Gerruck: You sure? I really wouldn't mind killing you.

Elyvaea: Gerruck.

Gerruck: Oh fine.

Gerruck hacks away at the webbing, not bothering to avoid hitting the bandit. After multiple hacks at the webbing and a few "accidental" ones at the bandit, the bandit drops to the ground, the golden claw landing beside him.

Elyvaea: You may want to run now. And leave the claw.

Gerruck: Look at him go... I doubt it would have been a good fight, but it would have been one none the less...

Elyvaea: Oh, don't whine. Besides, with this claw I believe we'll be doing a lot more fighting from here on out. Wanna find out what this ancient power is?

Gerruck: Well I think Lucan can wait until we find the exit...

Gerruck: However long that may take.

Elyvaea: You Nords sure did know how to make things creepy...

Gerruck: What? This isn't creepy at all!

Gerruck: I'd say it's rather nice

Elyvaea: Well let's stop enjoying the scenery and focus. We have been in enough tombs to know what's coming.

Gerruck: Ha! Very true. About time I got a good fight.

Elyvaea: I'll never get used to those things...

Gerruck: Draugr are nothing. It's these traps that I'll never get used to...

Elyvaea: Looks like it's my time to shine

Elyvaea: So after I do all that work, I just pull a lever so you can come through easily?

Gerruck: Yes...

Elyvaea: Hmm, fine. I guess you deserve it.

Elyvaea: Ready to keep going?

Gerruck: Of course. I smell rotting corpses ahead, so its bound to be fun from here on.

Gerruck: Well, that was one way to do things.

Gerruck: You better not hit one of those again though!

Elyvaea sighs.

Gerruck: Alright, about time!

Gerruck: Let's dance!

Gerruck: Woo, thanks for not killing this one, love.

Elyvaea: Yes, well, don't get used to it.

Elyvaea: Please don't ever do that again.

Gerruck: Haha! As you wish.

Gerruck: Sometimes I think you just wait to kill them right before I do.

Elyvaea: Hmm, very strange thing to think.

Gerruck: Ugh... not again.

Gerruck: This time though...

Elyvaea: Oh boy...

Gerruck: Woohoo! See Elyvaea, I don't ne-

Gerruck: Huh?

Elyvaea: Great. Be careful, Gerruck, there are a lot incoming.

Gerruck: Damn. You're sure right about that.

Gerruck: Unfortunately for them, this is exactly what I've been waiting for!

Elyvaea: Is that all of them?

Gerruck: I think so...

Elyvaea: Well then, lets keep going. I have a feeling we are getting close.

Gerruck: Incredible...

Gerruck: The history of my ancestors. Every time I see these I'm amazed.

Elyvaea: Uh...

Elyvaea: You can actually read these markings?

Gerruck: I don't have to be able to.

Gerruck: And you don't have to be a Nord to appreciate this

Elyvaea: Maybe so... but I think that is what really interests me

Gerruck: When was the last time we ran into one of these doors? Two years ago?

Elyvaea: Something like that. Emerald Claw, right? Still regret selling it...

Gerruck: Well hopefully Lucan will pay us more in gold than the claw itself is worth. Speaking of which, you still have it, gonna stick it in?

Elyvaea: Isn't that your job, Gerruck?

Gerruck: Huh?

Gerruck: Oooh, heheh...

Gerruck: Hahaha!

Gerruck: Hahahahahahahahaha!

Gerruck: Woah...

Elyvaea: Oh wow

Elyvaea: Even after all our adventures, I can't believe I'm still put in awe at some sights.

Gerruck: Indeed...

Gerruck: Are you seeing what I'm seeing?

Elyvaea: Seeing what? Gerruck?

Gerruck: That... glowing.

Gerruck: What is it?

Elyvaea: I don't see anything...

Gerruck: Just wait there

Gerruck: Wait... what? It's gone.

Elyvaea: Gerruck? Are you okay?

Gerruck: Uh, yeah...

Gerruck felt flustered. Not from any effect from the strange magic, nor exhaustion from the journey, but rather the opposite. He felt nothing; just confusion to what he had just witnessed.

Gerruck: This crypt just has me on edge is all, ha ha!

Elyvaea: I hope that's all, love. You tell me if you start feeling strange, though.

Before Gerruck has a chance to speak, the lid of the coffin beside him is thrown off with a loud thud. As the lid hits the floor, a massive draugr rises from slumber, brandishing the largest great axe the two of them had ever seen.

Gerruck: Brace yourself...

Gerruck: Something tells me this guy won't be as easy as the others

Elyvaea: He wasn't that bad.

Gerruck: No... no he was not

Gerruck and Elyvaea trudge away from their fallen foe. Muscles aching and heads swinging. Not only did they complete the job given to them, but they delved deep into an ancient nordic ruin. However, despite that, Gerruck couldn't shake the feeling it wasn't quite over.

Whatever the magic was that he saw, it had something specific to do with him. What he couldn't quite figure out though, was why.

In the mountains near Windhelm, a rushing wind howls across the ridges. Passing through an old dwemer lift, the air whistles like an alarm.

Malkor: Grrr... the sun is worse than I remember.

Malkor: Fortunately, I came prepared.

Malkor: I guess this will have to do.

Malkor exits the lift, his eyes still burning from the glare. Behind him, the centurion follows, as obedient as ever.

Malkor: Now, where have I arrived?

Malkor: It seems my calculations were correct... I'm very close.

Malkor: Time to pay the cult a visit. After five years, I'm sure they'll be thrilled by my return.

I know this Act was long, but it would have been even longer is I included text and the other 200 or so pictures... Sorry there wasn't much to read in my last two posts. Don't worry, it won't become a theme, it just happened to end up this way. Thanks so much for reading and the support!