Well, this is a fine mess. Olfar is not going to like this.

 

Ah! A newcomer! I’m sorry the shop isn’t in a better state. Skratches knocked over some books.

 

(if already met)

 

Ah! It’s you!

 

Skratches?
My pet skeever. He got a little too excited about the cheese I brought him and knocked over an entire shelf of books.

 

I can help you pick them up.
You will? By Ylldra, I’m really sorry to put you to work like this.

 

You can just hand the books to me when you’re done.

 

Well, that’s unfortunate.
It’s fine. I’m sure my brother will be more than happy to help. And maybe build a new bookcase for them while he’s at it.

 

Sorry, I don’t do manual labor.
Oh, that’s fine. Lucky for us, my brother does.
But since you’re new, I would like you to have this book about our founder, Ylldra.
I give it to every new visitor who comes to our humble village. Ignore the skeever bite marks.

 

(optional if picked up) But since you’re new, I would like you to keep the book about our founder, Ylldra.

 

 

Here’s all the books.

Thank you! It was a short task, but no small thing to help a stranger.
As for your reward, I’d like you to keep the one about our founder, Ylldra.

Thank you! For a second I was worried when you walked out the door with the books, but I’m glad I didn’t call the guard.

(optional if player just leaves without helping)
Sorry about the mess last time. But by Ylldra’s blessing, I managed to clean it up.

Sorry about the mess last time. And don’t worry about the books. You can keep them.

 

How did you come to this island?
Many of us didn’t come here by choice. Rather, we’re here because the village chose us.
My brother and I have a similar story. We were orphans from the Riften Ratways, who bought passage on a boat.
All we had to pay the fare was a single token a blind man gave my brother when he was but an urchin.
That token brought us here.

 

What do you have for sale?
Everything you see here.
Ah, so you’re an alchemist then?
Just your everyday potions and ingredients.

 

How did you learn to mix potions?
When I saw the village had a need, I taught myself. I like to think it’s what Ylldra herself would have done.

 

Do you know anyone named Nifram?
Now that is a name you rarely hear, but you did well to ask me. Visit Ylldra’s tomb north of town, at the top of the hill, and you will learn more.

I go there often myself to clear my mind. Maybe we will cross paths next time you do.

 

I want to ask you about your pet.
Well, I was out picking ingredients by the hills, when I heard this scratching noise by a tree.
The poor thing had been attacked by wolves, barely alive, literally scratching and clawing for his life.
I nursed him back to health and set him free, but he followed me back home. Olfar wasn’t happy about it, but I decided to keep him.
I named him Skratches because of how we met, but he does like to scratch things a lot.
Posts, barrels, people…it’s like he knows I’ll come running if he does.

 

 

 

(at the tomb)

 

I never get tired of hearing the tale of Ylldra. They say she came upon a land barren and wicked.
But through her wisdom and magic, she made the crops grow, and the seas bountiful. She tamed the wilds and calmed the storms.
But most important of all, she brought others to reap the rewards of her work. The Stranded, as they’re called.
They are, in many ways, her children. Orphaned souls searching for a home.
And that is what Ylldraheim is. A home for the lost.

Except I’m not lost.
Perhaps. But often times we do not know we are lost, until we are found. This is what Ylldra reveals to us.

She sounds like an amazing person.
She was. I know this because I can see the fruits of her labor stretch across this village.
She protects us and guides us in ways the Divines never could.
After all, how can a god teach you to stand if they themselves have never fallen?

You worship of her is blasphemous.
We do not think of her as a god. But that is precisely why she is special.
She was not perfect. Like us, she was capable of making mistakes. And for that reason, it makes her life all the more inspiring.

There’s no guarantee she even existed.
Yet she must have, for this village is all the proof one needs. For Ylldra watches over us even now.

 

I want to know more about Nifram.

Nifram was Saint Ylldra’s court wizard and most trusted adviser.
But he was a selfish man who took advantage of that trust, and betrayed both Ylldra and her people.
When the Saint attempted to expose his wicked heart, he used guile and trickery to turn the village against her.
So to save them, she sacrificed her own life, knowing that in their guilt and sorrow, they would see the truth.

 

I was told I needed to help him make a choice.
Then you are hundreds of years too late, I’m afraid. And you will find nothing save the bones of a traitor.

 

Are you sure there’s not another Nifram? Someone with the same name?
Not on this island. To even speak that name is an affront to all of us.

 

Sounds like my kind of guy.
I hope you jest, for the wicked have no place here. We lost Ylldra as a result of his avarice. It is not a cost we can pay again.

 

Do any of the Divines hold sway here?
The gods are the gods. They hold their place above us all.
Saint Ylldra is different. We love her the way one loves their mother. We admire her the way one admires a war hero.
Surely that is a feeling you can understand?

 

I understand it perfectly.
Then we understand each other, and that is a welcome thing.

I don’t understand it, but I respect it.
Thank you. You are new here, so it will take some time to fully understand are ways.

You lost me. You should speak slower and use less words.
I apologize. But I have faith you will learn over time.

I love and admire no one save myself, so no.
Nifram was the same. To love oneself is not a bad thing, but be wary not to fall victim to its darker elements.

 

That’s all the questions I had.

Very well. And I’m glad you’ve taken an interest in our founder. Not many newcomers do.
And if you’d like to talk more, about Ylldra or anything else, I’m usually in my shop.

 

Scene at the inn

 

I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of anyone burying people outside the village.
And whoever wrote this is clearly unstable.

 

Listen, if I thought they meant the tomb on the hill, then I’d just go get a shovel.
There has to be somewhere else on this island that matches the description.

 

Well, the source it’s referring to could be the divide. It may be dry now, but the Dead River flowed at one time.
And based on the older maps we have here, there used to be a canyon behind it, and a passage.

 

Where did the passage lead to?

 

Sadly, there are no maps from Ylldra’s time.
But based on the descriptions in the stories, I’d venture it would go straight to Hjarskygge. The Heart’s Shade.

 

Interesting.

 

What? Is that supposed to mean something?

 

You need to learn more of the island’s history.

 

Why should I when I have you?

 

Ugh. (this is a groan)

(bard enters)

 

Excuse me, I just wanted to check in and see if you needed anything.

 

We’re fine, thanks.

 

(bard leaves, his presence is ostensibly meaningless but important for a reveal later)

 

So, back to the topic at hand. What in Oblivion is Hjarskygge?

 

Hjarskygge is where the dark sorcerer Nifram was sealed away after Saint Ylldra’s death.
The village had been blind to his schemes, but her sacrifice awoke them from his spell.
Having lost his control of the people, the coward fled to the ruins of Hjarskygge, to raise an army of the dead.
But rather than fight the mage, Ylldra’s charges sealed the passage between them, forever damning the sorcerer to a coffin of his own making.

 

I’ve been to this cave while hunting. It’s west, just down river. She’s right about the seal though. Nothing can get in or out.

 

Well, we should still scout it. See if there’s a way to open it.

 

I would advise against it. Even if you found a way, opening the door to Hjarskygge sounds extremely dangerous.

 

Your concern is noted and ignored.

 

Sigh.

(to player)

 

I pray you’ll show more caution than Ylldi. That ruin is sealed for a reason.

 

 

 

Hellos

 

I love to read. In fact, I’ve read all the Barenziah volumes. Well, except the racy ones.

 

Are you feeling all right? You don’t look so well.

 

If you plan on exploring the island, be sure to get Ylldra’s blessing at the shrine. It’ll protect you from the fog.

 

(if player has blacksmith become the innkeep)
My brother running the inn is going to take some getting used to.

 

Before he betrayed Saint Ylldra, they say Nifram made his home in lands to the south to study the fog.

 

It’s best for newcomers to stay inside the village boundaries. It’s not safe out there.

 

Beyond the divide the lands are treacherous. If you see a river dried up and dead, you should turn back.

 

I’ve read stories that Saint Ylldra can take the form of a stag, roaming the hills.

 

They say time can heal all wounds. But you should definitely see me first.

 

My brother doesn’t like it when I get too close to the forge. He’s not usually so over-protective, but I guess he doesn’t want me affecting his work.

 

Hm?

 

Need something?

 

Yes?

 

What can I do for you?

 

Take care.

 

Ylldra’s blessings be upon you.

 

By Ylldra’s wisdom.

 

Ylldra watch over you.

 

Ungh!

 

Ah!

 

Be careful!

 

Stealing is frowned upon in this village.

 

Skratches and I both love books. For different reasons, of course.

 

Scene 1 with brother Olfar

I was thinking you should let me help out with the smithing now and then. You shouldn’t overexert yourself.

I’m fine. You stay clear of the forge. It’s dangerous.

 

Scene 2 with brother Olfar

I was reading this book the other day on Saint Ylldra.
She really lived a fascinating life. It’s a shame more people don’t know about her.

 

Personally, I’d rather they not know this island even exists.

 

True, there’s only so much housing.

 

And only so much food.

 

Scene 3 

Do you think in another life, you could’ve been an alchemist, and me a blacksmith?

 

That’s not how it works. We are what we are. This is my place, the store is yours.

Scene 4

Ylldra watch over you on your patrols, Inska.

 

Thank you. With her blessing and my blade, no law-breaker on this island stands a chance.

Scene 5

How are things with you?

 

reply

I’m sorry to hear that. I will pray to Saint Ylldra that things improve.

 

(alt) That’s good to hear! I will pray to Ylldra for your blessings to continue.

Scene 6

That “pet” of yours did its business on my bed the other day. 

 

Oh, I’m sorry! Skratches is usually so well behaved. Are you sure you didn’t have a nightmare?

 

What are you saying?

 

Oh, nothing. Just thought it was strange.

 

if revived from ghost state

I don’t know what happened. One moment I was here, and the next I wasn’t.
But whatever it was, I thank Ylldra for returning me to my brother.