The Letter from a Friend

[Gorgopis]

Two of us have speculated that this Letter from a Friend is a "breaking of the fourth wall" from the "makers of Tamriel" to the player-character, cleverly, to 1) reward finding and using shouts; and to 2) steer the player toward areas on the map. (The voice of The Dungeon Masters.)

 

We can't see the "friend" being an NPC "in-game," as who would know the map that well? Miraak? He's DLC. Mora? Ditto.

 

And the Greybeards would not necessarily be shy about signing the letters. Someone in Sovngarde? High King Torygg? Speaking from the beyond? Jurgen Windcaller?

 

Paarthurnax? Writes letters?

 

Talos?

[Algabar]

Ah, one of the last secrets of our times.... :cool:

 

Actually, this has been debated since Skyrim was released. If you search the internet a bit, you'll get dozens of conflicting theories - some more likely, some not so much. Entertaining stuff for a whole evening or even a day, if you want.

 

I'm still undecided if the letter is clever gamedesign - or rather poor storytelling. Mysteries are fine and all, but at some point there should be an option to actually solve the riddle...

[7531Leonidas]

Sounds like an opportunity for a mod-maker, to me...

[IsharaMeradin]

It is obviously meant to be your horse (provided you have one). After all chickens can report you for committing crimes.

[HeyYou]

It is obviously meant to be your horse (provided you have one). After all chickens can report you for committing crimes.

So can your horse.... even though he was complicit in the crime..... (not necessarily willingly, granted....)

[anjenthedog]

I'm convinced that it's M'aiq. M'aiq is wise and all knowing. ;)

 

(and he has nothing better to do)

[Gorgopis]

It beaks me how those chickens report those crimes, the yolk's on us, while they earn a feather in their caps. :pinch:

 

The horses just don't live long enough to write the letters.

 

Why do the enemies target the horses first, who rush into battle, just to die, and can't be thralled?

 

It took us a long time to learn to dismount our horses well away from a difficult pending battle.

 

We never did investigate getting a mod with smarter horses. . . .

 

Nonetheless, hmm, a mod for the DB to search for and discover the (enchanted) chickens and horses working together with their human translator to write and send their special letters to urge

the Dragonborn(s) toward some Word Walls. . . .

 

++

[IsharaMeradin]

Unless it is Alduin himself. Surely the Dragon Priests still worship him. And there are probably a cult or two who follow them. So down through the chain goes the instruction to write a letter to the Dragonborn.

 

The end result is to Alduin's benefit either way. Either the Dragonborn is killed by a dragon or a useless dragon is killed. Not to mention that the Dragonborn gets stronger and thus may give Alduin a more challenging fight.

[Gorgopis]

We like the idea that Alduin seeks only the strongest opponent, and must guarantee the toughest opposition!

 

We also found the old thread on this, and discovered the theory about how Psijic Monks might know!

 

Quaranir?

[Algabar]

Other suspects, that are often discussed, are Delphine (or the Blades in genera)l - or Hermaeus Mora.

 

The "friend", who sends you the letter, must know a lot. They basically need to have their eyes and ears everywhere - otherwise they wouldn't know about someone using shouts somewhere in Skyrim... The Blades are a powerful secret organization. Do they have intel? OFC they do. And Hermaeus Mora is a supernatural creature obsessed with knowledge, usually depicted as a mass of tentacles - and eyes... Both also have a personal interest in the Dragonborn...