I finished the Dragonborn DLC awhile ago and I have just come to the realisation that Vahlok and his story weren't mentioned once in the MQ, by anyone, at all, it was instead relegated to the a self contained sidequest. This is made even worse because the only book he's mentioned in is completely contradicted by the very people, Skaal Shamans, who the author claims to have gotten Vahloks story from.

Whilst the Guardian and the Traitor says Vahlok had a one on one battle with Miraak which lasted days and just as Vahlok was about to win Miraak was snatched away, we are told in-game by the Shamans, Frea and her father, that the dragons swarmed Miraak's temple and destroyed him, they don't mention Vahlok, at all, even though they are meant to be his biggest advocates.

I think maybe it was planned for Vahlok to have a big role in the MQ, but this was later changed and parts of his story were just kept in as a minor quest, but now his story makes no sense and instead of Vahlok the Jailer we have Vahlok the Liar.

Isn't it obvious? Transcription error.

Maybe Bethesda decided Skyrim needs a lot of fridge logic since Skyrim is cold. Like a fridge.

I had to look up the term 'fridge logic' since it's the first time I've heard of it and oh my, it's very clever and describes Vahlok's story perfectly. I'm stealing that term btw

I'm pretty sure Vahlok's story is true. The whole dragons swarming his temple seems much less likely if Miraak is capable of returning without possessing someone else's body, which implies he never died.

Why can't the Skaal be wrong? The very fact that Miraak is still around and not destroyed, contradicts their beliefs.