Walk into Whiterun

With no specific plans in mind, you decide to continue to follow the story for a while. Climbing the winding path, you make it to the front gates of Whiterun.

A pair of guards stand by, spears in their hands. They level the weapons at you as you approach. “The city is currently locked down, stranger. State your business or leave.”

“I’ve come to deliver word from Riverwood, as well as information on the dragon that attacked Helgen.”

“Let me see the message,” one of the guards said. You handed it to him, and he briefly skimmed it. “You may enter. The Jarl will want to speak to you personally. You may know things the other traveler did not.”

Other traveler? It seemed some NPC had come to talk about the dragon. Oh well.

Entering the city, you were greeted first by the ringing of metal on metal. A forge sat just inside the city, as well as a large number of houses and shops. You could even see a small marketplace and inn.

Heading upwards towards the towering Dragonsreach, you pass a bare tree with pale white bark, as well as a round building you know to be the base of the Companions.

Climbing the stairs, you are once again stopped outside the Jarl’s stronghold.

Giving the guards the same explanation as the previous ones, they allow you in without issue.

Inside, the room is tall and brightly lit, with long tables set up with people sitting about eating or working.

At the back of the chamber sits a wooden throne, with a stern figure atop it, clearly Jarl Balgruuf. At his side you recognize his dark elf housecarl, Irileth. There is also a robed figure, Farengar Secret-Fire you presume, speaking to a fourth figure facing away from you.

The person you assume is Farengar is speaking as you enter earshot. “So I will need you to go to Bleak Falls Barrow to retrieve the Dragonstone, in the hopes it will have the information we need to deal with this threat.”

Someone else was getting that quest? That seemed odd, weren’t you the Dragonborn?

“Do you mean this Dragonstone?” the figure asked seeming to summon a stone tablet from thin air. “I happened to go through Bleak Falls Barrow before I heard the dragons attacking.”

“Why, this is exactly it!” Farengar admitted in awe.

Wait, how did they know to get the Dragonstone? Unless…