Online:Aerolf

Aerolf is a Nord who can be found his hut southwest of the Hunter's House. Now a farmer of a small failing farm, his life's work for almost thirty years has been hunting down a creature straight out of legend, until an injury restricted his movements.
 
Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
When approached he can be found outside his shack, going back and forth. He can be heard to mutter "Another day, another failure. It must be somewhere." Talking with him, he will bitterly talk about regrets. Aerolf will then ask if you can question some people for him about some disappearances.
:''"If you come to rob me, you will leave disappointed. All this land and only weeds to show for it. Do you ever regret your choices, wanderer? Ever feel certain you are on the just path, only it leads nowhere? That's where you'll find this old farmer."
:What brings you so much regret?
:"A lifetime of failure. For thirty years, I've hunted my brother's killer. Tracked it all across Skyrim, seeking justice. Somehow, it always managed to vanish. Tell me, have you heard any stories of a monster called the Pale Man?"
:No, what kind of monster is this?
:"Something that stalks the moonlit snows. It steals loved ones away without a sound. A couple folks sent letters saying they had new sightings. These old legs are much too ruined for travel now. Would you be willing to hear them out for some gold?"
:I'll talk to the survivors for you.
:"Find Eyfja in Morthal and Hautgerd in Dragon Bridge. Tell them Aerolf sent you. Ask them where they saw the Pale Man and who it stole. Thanks for hearing out an old man. Most just think I've lost my mind. But I know the truth."

After you agree to help him, you can ask him questions about the Pale Man and himself.
:Can you tell me more about this Pale Man? / Who is this Pale Man?
::"Caught your interest, did it? Maybe you're the person I need after all. Maybe Kyne decided to send me a blessing instead of a curse, for once in my damned life. All you need to know about the Pale Man is that it takes people. It took my brother."
::Your brother?
:::"Drendek, yes. My older brother, strong and hearty. A Nord's Nord! I thought there was no one in the world stronger than Drendek. Of course, I was only six at the time. Then, the Pale Man snatched Drendek up like a babe."
:::It's some sort of monster?
::::"Some say that. Most claim it doesn't exist at all. My father claimed that, and my mother, and the Swordthane of Morthal. They all said a bear took Drendek. They said a little traumatized boy imagined the Pale Man, made up stories. He's not a story."
:Why do you want me to talk to these people?
::"I hunt the Pale Man. I've been hunting the cursed thing for thirty years, but it's like a ghost. Comes in snowstorms every ten or so years, takes who it wants in a spree of abductions, then vanishes again. Every time it comes back, I get closer."
::That still doesn't answer my question.
:::"The Pale Man took their loved ones, as it has taken so many over the years. These people are witnesses, so I need to know what they saw. I can't return whoever they lost, but I can track the thing down and kill it."
:You said something happened to your legs?
::"A bad fall. While exploring a cave out on the northern coast, looking for signs of the Pale Man, when I ran right into a nest of frostbite spiders. I got out the cave, but slipped and fell down a hill. Damn near crawled back to Dragon Bridge."
::The healers couldn't help?
:::"You ever try crawling from the northern coast to Dragon Bridge? It took damn near three days! By the time I got back my wounds were infected, or so the healer said. Legs haven't worked right since. I can walk, but I can't run. Damned inconvenient."''

Once you have heard Eyfja and Hautgerd's stories, you can return to Aerolf and tell him what you learnt. He is surprised to see you back.
:''"You're back! Wasn't certain I'd see you again. Well, have you talked to Eyfja and Hautgerd?"
:They both saw the Pale Man past the mountains on the coast, north of Solitude and Dragon Bridge.
:"Along the northern coast, you say? Hmm. Yes. That might narrow it down. Here, follow me inside."
:Lead the way.
thumb|right|Aerolf consults his map
You can then follow him inside his small shack, where he will begin examining the map of Western Skyrim on the wall. As he does he will explain what he learnt from previous hunts.
:Aerolf: "Ever since it took my brother, I've tracked Pale Man sightings across Skyrim."
: 
:Aerolf: "See, on this map. Yes. There and there."

Afterwards you can speak with him.
:"For years, I have tracked the location of every Pale Man attack. Each one brought me closer to its lair. These last two confirm it—the Pale Man must be on the northern coast between Dragon Bridge and Solitude. It won't escape me again."
:How did it elude you before?
:"A decade ago, I tracked down a cave where the Pale Man brought its kills. For days, I waited. Eventually, I left to replenish supplies. When I returned, I saw loose rocks and an empty crawl space. The damned thing had watched me the whole time."
:Why didn't it attack you?
:"It only attacks the unsuspecting or vulnerable. And I was armed to the teeth. It's no mere beast. It's smart. Cunning. But, I have an idea on how we draw it out. Bait. Of an … unusual variety. Would you be willing to help out?"
:You want me to act as bait?
:"Gods, no. I'm not willing to lose the only helpful person I've met in a decade. I need you to collect the ingredients and bring them to me on the northern coast. Then we'll draw out the creature and avenge its victims."
:I'll help you. What do you need me to get?
:"The Pale Man likes to take people, so we'll make one for it. Using draugr parts treated with alchemy. This is where you come in. There's a crypt nearby. Dead Man's Respite. Chop up enough draugr parts for a body, then meet me on the northern coast."

You can ask him questions about the plan before you leave.
:Why do we need to assemble a draugr?
::"The alchemical mixture I plan to use is necrotic, for lack of a better term. It only reacts with dead flesh. If we doused a living person with it, they'd die, but not before their flesh melted and they screamed a whole lot first. It's nasty stuff."
::But why are you asking me to gather draugr parts instead of just one draugr?
:::"No one knows what make those walking corpses move, but we do know they stop moving if you hack them up enough. We need intact, non-moving parts to make a body that will draw out the Pale Man. One draugr won't do, but parts of dozens? That might."
:::Why send me to Dead Man's Respite? Is there something special about the draugr there?
::::"Well, no. It's just the closest place I know to find them. Any draugr will do, and if you know somewhere else to hunt them, their parts will work as well as any other. Just be careful. Those walking corpses look slow, but they're strong and mean."
:You mentioned dousing the body with alchemy?
::"After I failed to draw the Pale Man out ten years ago, I talked to every hunter and Reach witch who wouldn't slam the door in my face or try to cook my eyeballs. The hunters suggested bait, but it was an old clever woman who suggested the mixture."
::What type of mixture?
:::"I don't know how it works, exactly, only that it's something the hagravens created. Somehow, the clever woman stole it away from them.  When poured on dead flesh, it creates a scent that drives anyone who smells it mad with hunger."
:::How do you know it will work on the Pale Man?
::::"The thing eats, doesn't it? We know it's smart enough to move lairs, avoid people who can kill it, and use snowstorms as cover. I've tested the mixture myself. It was all I could do not to eat the dead flesh I poured it on. Still makes me nauseous."
:How do we find the Pale Man's lair?
::"While you're out collecting the draugr parts we need, I'll mix the potion, limp up to the coast, and find the lair. Once you have the draugr parts, run along the northern coast between Dragon Bridge and Solitude and look for me. I'll be waiting."

Once you have the body parts, you can find him outside the entrance to a small cave, dressed in his old armor.
:"This must be the Pale Man's cave. See the bones? Wolves don't make patterns like this. And I've seen this before, at its old lair. A location this remote is perfect to grab folks who are alone. Told you it was clever. Did you get the draugr parts?"
:I got what you asked for. What now?
:"You assemble them into a body that tempts the Pale Man. Take these sharp bones. Jam them into the torso. Then stick the arms, legs, and head onto them. Gruesome work, but it should hold. Pour on the pungent mixture I've made and you have your bait."
:Where should I put it?
:"Last time I found a crude table deep within its lair. There were … remains with gnaw marks on them. I think that's where it eats. Search the lair for a similar table, place the body on it, then pour on the mixture. And, uh, hold your breath."
:What if the Pale Man doesn't come out?
:"If this doesn't work, then come get me. I am not letting this thing escape again. It won't be killing any more people. If we have to … I'll be the bait. But I'd like to avoid that for as long as possible. Despite everything, I'd like to live."
:Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
:"I wish I could join you in there. Killing this monster is all I've thought about for thirty years. I've lost my friends, farm, and legs chasing this thing. But, if this is the end it'll be worth it. Kill it for my brother. Please."

The bait will be a success and you can kill the Pale Man once he comes out of hiding. Afterwards, you can search for anything belonging to the victims and bring them to Aerolf. He will recognize one of the trophies.
:"Was it in there? Were you able to kill it? What happened in there?"
:The monster you called the Pale Man is dead.
:"Then it's over. Shor's Bones, it's over, after so many years. That thing is really dead. I don't know how I can thank you. I lost everything and was ready to just give it all up. But now, finally, justice."
:I found these objects in the lair. Do you recognize them?
:"I don't … wait. That ring. It can't be. It's Drendek's Signet Ring! Our mother gave it to him shortly before our hunting trip, when the Pale Man took Drendek. I always felt she blamed me for losing it, and for my brother, but now…"
:What about these other items?
:"These must be from all the other victims. Trophies of the lives it snatched. That means it wasn't hunting for food. It was proud of what it'd done. I need to return these to the families. Eyfja, Hautgerd, all of them deserve to know it's over."
:Do you want me bring these items to the families?
:"You've done more than enough for a broken old man. I'd like to see the faces of everyone when I tell them. It'll take a while with this limp, but I've got something to live for now. All I can offer you is this. Thank you."

Once you have completed the quest, you can speak with him once more.
:"I'll search the lair for more trophies. Holding my brother's ring again feels like it validates him. His life. Everyone who lost someone should feel this closure. I'll send word to Eyfja and Hautgerd. If you ever come near the farm again, stop by."

Dialogue
After helping him with the Pale Man, you can meet him later at his farm.
:"It's good to see you, my friend. Please forgive the mess. The last thing on my mind these past thirty years has been farming, especially after my parents passed. I guess I'll have to fix the farm up now. Ha! I guess I no longer have excuses."''