Okay, so I'm trying to get the Oblivion Walker achievement out of the way on my first file so I don't worry about it later.

I just have two questions.

1. In The Break of Dawn, I have been tasked by Meridia to spread her holy light through her temple and rid it of undead. No problem! Except I can't figure out how to get into the dungeon. I have no key, and I'm assuming to open the door I need those light tower thingies lit up to hit the door and unlock it. However, I don't know how to do that exactly. Interacting with the Gem Pedastal again after I've returned it, does nothing. Any ideas?

2. I'm a little... anxious about Boethiah's Calling. I know I gotta sacrifice a follower to continue the quest. My problem? I like all the characters I've met on my travels, and I don't want to lose any of them! My question is, does the sacrifice have to be a person? Or can it be like a dog? I have Ultimate Follower Overhaul, and while I guess I could have a guard from Whiterun or something follow me to the alter, I'd rather not have a bounty on my head.

Also, off topic question. When am I allowed to post links on this board? I'd really like to get some plugins to be recognized by BOSS, thank you very much as it'll make my game that much better.

1) With Meridia, you have to have her "gem stone." When you get it, you need to place it in the "hands" in front of her statue.

2) I believe it needs to be a person. I only did this once and spent 500 for the hired guy in Windhelm. Never tried any other follower

5 posts will allow "linkage"

2. You can hire a mercenary for it.

You can't post links because you haven't posted enough. It's one of the mods' ways of preventing spam.

@ AlBQuirky

Uh, I DID put it in the pedestal. I kept trying to interact with it again after I placed it and I didn't get anything. I'm either not getting the hotspot right with my crosshairs or it's a glitch. Earlier when I tried it, I died when she floated me back down. THAT was a glitch, and the next time I tried it, I lived. Weird, huh?

True. Still, their presence will be missed in the taverns.

for the pedestals it should all be in order but i suppose its possible you missed one somewhere. are you at the one with the light currently beaming to it? if so you should be able to just walk up to it and click it and it raises and light shines out to the next one and a door opens.

1. Once you've placed the gem and talked to Meridia, all you need to do is enter the dungeon, which is off the platform and to your right (if facing where you placed the gem).

2. Since you've mentioned mods, I've used this one to get around the "kill a friend" part. http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/22818/?

Weird that you died. Definitely a glitch. Or... Meridia decided she did not like you?

After placing the gem in her hands, the door is actually back down the stairs and on the path towards the Solitude/Dragonbridge road. Originally, it is blocked when you first pass by it.