PROTECTION OF THE NINE REDUX CHEAT SHEET

The second part of the Champion's Journal will tell you where the Champion of Cyrodiil left his powerful relics. However, two of them will not be so easy. So for those who do not wish to spend time going on a scavenger hunt, this readme will tell you how to find each of the relics.

SHIELD OF THE NINE
This is the first of the relics you are going to find, and the easiest. After you deliver the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller to Arngeir and he and the Greybeards perform their ceremony for you, Arngeir will give you the key to the chest in High Hrothgar, which contains the shield and various other items, including the Champion's second journal with tells the story of where the Champion left his relics for safekeeping. The key that Arngeir gave you will open the three lockboxes as well.

AMULET OF THE NINE
The journal will point you to the Temple of Talos in Windhelm. However, when you get there, instead of the lockbox, you'll find a letter to Lortheim from Jorleif at the base of the statue of Talos. This should lead you to the Palace of the Kings. In Ulfric's "war room", you'll find Lortheim's response on the map table, which will lead you to Riften. When you get there, you'll find Lortheim's letter to Brynjolf, and Brynjolf's undelivered response partially under a satchel by his stand. These will lead you to the Ragged Flagon. You'll find the strongbox on the table next to Vekel the Man's bar.
Now, to get the amulet, you will have to steal it. That's right, I said STEAL IT! After all, Ulfric's offering to pay handsomely for the contents of that box, so the Thieves Guild isn't going to take kindly to you just walking up and taking their potential paycheck. However, if you choose to take that approach, the guild members will not attack you, but they will notice and point out that they saw you, so expect a response in the form of an armed "lesson" later in the game. However, if you have a high stealth skill and maybe even some spells or objects from other mods that can make you invisible, you stand a better chance to taking the amulet without getting caught. However, either way, the amulet will be marked as "stolen".

RING OF THE NINE
This one is easier. You are directed to Whiterun. However, the priest of Kynareth 200 years ago decided to store the lockbox in the Eldergleam Sanctuary at the base of the Eldergleam itself. So to get the ring, you will have to do The Blessing of Nature quest.

CIRCLET OF THE NINE
This one is also easy to get. However, you'll have an obligation to commit to if you try to retrieve it. The journal directs you to the Temple of Dibella in Markarth... and the lockbox is stored in the Inner Sanctum of the temple. So if you break in to get it, you will initiate The Heart of Dibella quest.

BLADE OF AKATOSH
To get this, you'll have to play the Main Quest. The sword is in Skuldafn, being held by a corpse near the door in Skudafn Temple that leads to Alduin's portal to Sovngarde. So you will have only ONE CHANCE to retrieve this mighty weapon. Also, on the table that the corpse is lying on, you'll find a note that will show you how to make a heavy version of the Shield for heavy armor users.

Now in case you have installed this mod after completing the Main Quest, don't worry. I'll tell you how to still be able to get them.
To get the key, just hit the ~ key and type (without quotes) "player.additem xx008960 1". The "xx" being the number in your load order. This will allow you to get the other items except the sword.
To get the sword, type "coc Skuldafn02" and you will be placed almost right where the sword is. However, you will need the "coc" command to leave there as well. So I hope you know the name of another interior cell. In case you don't, try "coc WhiterunDragonsreach". That should tell you where you are going.

Enjoy the mod.