I've done very little of the MQ, I've just been wandering around doing odds and ends. I concentrated on the Thieves Guild quest line as I am playing a Nord who steals. Then I decided I wanted to get married so I was also working on the Mara quest line at the same time. As I wander around from each different hold I pick up other small quests. But, for the most part I ignore them unless I'm in an area where I have specific business.

Skyrim is great because you can pick up all of these various quests deselect them in your quest log and then wander around. Last night I had wandered into a cave and started killing bandits. But I came to a waterfall and could not go any further. I had gotten stopped. By what? The Alik'r. I had forgotten I had picked this quest up and didn't even realize I had wandered into a cave where they were. Where I was supposed to be. I was really refreshing. One minute I'm killing bandits the next I'm having a conversation with some schlub that I thought I'd kill about some other person in a different reach. This wasn't the first time this has happened but it was the first time it struck me as cool. Most other times its been I happen across someone that I am supposed to give/take something from and there is a dialogue option. Never has there been an instance where I'm on the offensive with my bow drawn or my schimitars at the ready and I've been stopped with a, "We'll lower our weapons if you lower yours. Let's talk this out." dialogue option. It was really cool.

I just thought I'd share and if anyone else has any stopped you in your tracks moments feel free to share as well.