SSE 1: Escape from Helgen

Herewith inscribed the journal of Alistair, a Breton who found himself in Skyrim in these interesting times. It is unfortunate that I stumbled upon an Imperial patrol at the border and was brought enroute and under guard to small town called Helgen. The party were also escorting a group of Nords - I gather that this Ulfric Stormcloak they have captured (and gagged) is an important leader in the current rebellion against Imperial rule... there's obviously a price for his head and the head of those men that followed him. 

This is perhaps not the best party to be captured with.

True enough, Helgen was meant to be the execution ground for Ulfric and his rebels, and so it would seem any other riff-raff these Imperials caught along the way.

As luck would have it, a fell creature appeared from the sky and interrupted the proceedings; and in the ensuing pandemonium, I escaped - not without some help from Ralof of Riverwood, who happened to be one of Ulfric's bodyguard. Ralof confided that the beast was a Dragon - a creature of legend, tied to the end times... surely it's too early for that?

Regardless, escape remains foremost in our minds - through a series of tunnels under the fortifications of Helgen, we found our way out of town and on the road to Riverwood, where Ralof's sister Gerdur and her husband Hod lived. Ralof offered the idea of sheltering there, which seemed prudent. We had lost sight of Ulfric in the escape, but Ralof seemed confident that his lord would escape Helgen.

The walk to Riverwood was blessedly uneventful, and Gerdur's welcome was more than a stranger in Skyrim can hope to expect.

Brother and sister re-acquainted and discussed Ulfric's capture and escape, and the sighting of a dragon from the old tales. Gerdur was obviously a supporter of the rebellion much like Ralof. They agreed that regardless whether Riverwood itself was in danger of the dragon, the local liege lord - Jarl Balgruuf - must be informed. And since Jarl Balgruuf had yet to choose a side between Imperial and Rebel in the civil war, it seemed best that a Stormcloak adherent like Ralof sits this one out. The task was fallen to me carry the message to the hold of Whiterun.

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