The Dragon at Kynesgrove
Day 12 of the Skyrim Survival Mode playthrough. A desperate march through a blizzard leads to a deadly encounter with Sahloknir at Kynesgrove.
Missed the previous day? Find it here: Skyrim Survival Day Eleven
[Interlude Recap – The Road to Riverwood]
Because I forgot to make a note of what happened
After surviving a High Elf ambush near Honningbrew and realizing I’d accidentally sold my only torch (a true survival pro, clearly), I made the chilly trek from Morthal to Riverwood. My goal? Track down whoever had politely stolen Jurgen Windcaller’s horn and left a cryptic note about it.
Upon arrival, I met the mysterious individual behind the theft — who, thankfully, turned out to be more “cryptic guide” than “bandit with a flair for calligraphy.” They handed over the horn without a fuss, which was nice… right up until they asked me to go kill a dragon at Kynesgrove.
Because obviously, if I can survive wolves, hypothermia, and poor decision-making, dragon-slaying is the next logical step.
Chasing the Dragon (Literally)
There are days in Skyrim where you feel like destiny is calling. Today was one of those days. I could have taken a brief detour to drop off the horn with the Greybeards, but when you know there’s a dragon waiting to be resurrected, priorities tend to realign.
Vampires, bandits, assassins, wild animals—they all tried their best to slow me down along the way. But I was focused. The true fight lay ahead.
A Grim March Toward Kynesgrove
The journey itself was tense. The air grew colder with each step closer to Kynesgrove. Was it the dragon’s presence? Was it simply the Skyrim weather being its usual cruel self? Hard to say. I stopped several times to check my bearings and steal a few glances at Loki. It crossed my mind more than once that this might be our last trek together.
As I neared Kynesgrove, the weather fully descended into a blizzard. Visibility was almost nonexistent. I encountered a lone villager who confirmed the obvious: a dragon was circling above. No kidding.
A Brief Respite Before the Storm
I found the local inn, empty. Either everyone had fled or were smart enough to avoid the place entirely. With no one around and no real chance for rest, I left Loki safely behind and pressed on alone. Loki didn’t need to be part of this.
The Resurrection of Sahloknir
At the burial mound, Alduin made his grand appearance, resurrecting Sahloknir right before my eyes. The cold gnawed at me, my health bar already looking dangerously low before the real fight even began.
And then the battle was on.
The Fight for Survival
Sahloknir wasted no time unleashing his icy breath, shredding what little health I had left. I knew I couldn’t survive many hits. Then Delphine arrived, drawing the dragon’s attention long enough for me to slip back and start unloading arrows.
When Sahloknir refocused on me, one more breath could have ended everything. But I kept firing. One arrow after another. Finally, the beast collapsed.
Victory, Barely
With Sahloknir slain, I spoke with Delphine. A Blade in the Dark was complete; Diplomatic Immunity had now begun. I staggered back into Kynesgrove, found the first available bed, and collapsed into it.
I live to fight another day.
Survivor Incognito 