Lightning storm. That sounds fun.



Are you new here? May I be the first to say "welcome" to Chorrol. There's warm drink, warm foods, and warm bed. And yah! I'm not the new girl here anymore.



Thane of Solitude. Crystal Beth is on her way to making this title. Only 9,000+ gold to go! : Speaking of...

Crystal Beth made her way back to Winterhold on horseback, her gold now totaling somewhere over 15,000. This journey started in Falreath, and it didn't take long for her to get to Winterhold. She's sad her partner is gone, but she misses his Nordic ways a little less with every battle she wins, and every dungeon, fort, and bandit camp she eliminates. Like many a true mage before her (Igodah Go^Pe and The Grey Wizard being a couple earlier examples from Cyrodiil's great 3rd era), Crystal is starting to get a little arrogant about her power.

On her way from Falkreath, she made a quick stop at Helgen, which other than a few bandits is now totally deserted. Wow. It's weird to think she almost was executed right here in this town, this town which is not really much of a town anymore. Though she feels a little bad about it, Crystal can't help but thank the dragon who saved her.

As she stands in the middle of what may have been Helgen's town square, the overcast night sky actually cleared, treating Crystal to one of Skyrim's rare atmospheric treats.



The Northern Lights came out of nowhere, and only lasted a few minutes before the sun started to rise. I got lucky to get the picture above.
.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 9 2012, 08:44 PM

When my Breton necromage Babd uses shock spells, I always think of the Emperor: "You have paid the price for your lack of vision!"



She looks like a superhero in that pic!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 9 2012, 09:08 PM

Beth has heard your kind words, and it pleases her. Careful, though, you don't wanna feed her ego too much now! Just kidding.


...."Also, their placement around Skyrim does not correspond to any known magics...."

...said the dark elf named Drevis Neloran. Crystal Beth came out of her fugue, looked behind her, and saw a group of the College's mages standing near the entrance of the Hall of the Elements.

"Oh Azura!" Beth cried. not fully aware she had just used the name of a daedric demi-god. She had missed most of the lecture because she had been practicing Illusion spells, throwing Calm after Calm until her magic ran out, then she'd cast some Clairvoyance. She's recently realized she uses Conjuration and Destruction far more than she uses Illusion.

I was spamming Illusion spells while reading some posts here, and missed most of a lecture about some sort of "stones". I'm not sure if it's quest-related or not. Probably is. Dang!


As a true mage, Beth is starting to realize that Invisibility is where it's at. If she could make herself invisible, she would never need a partner's help ever again. She'd be able to go solo on any adventure, possibly becoming the best magic-user in all of Skyrim!

....Yet she's not powerful enough to attain this sort of magic, yet. If the "Candlelight" spell was of the Illusion school, this would not be a problem. She's always casting Candlelight in dungeon areas. But Skyrim's mages apparently were not making an illusory effect when they cast light spells like 3rd-era Cyrodiilc mages did. Skyrim's "Candlelight" spell actually altered tiny particles in the air, making them glow somehow, and firmly placing Candlelight in the Alteration school.

In other words, if Beth were a 3rd era Cyrodiilic mage, she'd already be able to make herself invisible, and become near-invincible in the process. But in Skyrim, mages did things differently.

As the meeting breaks up, Beth is now looking for the Arch Mage. She keeps missing him, and she's supposed to tell him about something mysterious happening at Sarthaal. But she's tried the last couple times she's been back to the College, and he's never around. In both cases, she's decided she just can't wait for him forever! If he's not going to be where he's supposed to be Beth has real opportunities for quick money on her agenda.

"I think the College is due for a change in leadership" a snotty Breton mage-lady says. She always says this,

:Well, I don't think that's gonna happen soon.." Beth says neutrally, and immediately walks away.

As she (once again) searches the Hall of the Elements, the Library, and finally the Arch Mage's quarters itself, though, she starts to wonder if that snotty mage is right somehow, for the Arch Mage is (once again) nowhere to be found!

,,,,Seriously, what is the deal with this guy? What sort of an Arch Mage hides all the time? Even Beth's Clairvoyance spell is of no use.

.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 9 2012, 11:17 PM

Middas, 8:09 AM, 10th of Evening Star

"BEHOLD THE WRATH OF CRYSTAL BETH! FOR I SHALL TAKE YOU DOWN!!!"

she screamed this as the final Thalmor agent stepped across a strategically-placed Fire Rune and was thrown to the ground. Beth now is proud. Proud to have eliminated four Thalmor agents all by herself, even as some of them were obviously skilled at magics.

"Ah, takes care of that" she says, looking around. She could have sworn there was final agent hiding out there somewhere. If he or she was here, he/she apparently was retreating or planning something. No additional lightning bolts, flew, however.

Just before this random attack, Beth had come across a lone Imperial soldier, running and running down the road. Getting curious, Beth dismounted her horse and confronted the soldier, who spouted nonsense (literally....his voicings were all glitched, so he kept saying a word or 2 and then stopping speech).

As Beth started to walk back to her horse *BANG* went a lightning bolt. Beth took no damage, so perhaps the soldier took the brunt of that voltage.

She got on her horse, rode about a quarter mile, dismounted, and went back to confront the enemies. It was Beth against four of these Thalmor. One of them seemed to be a pure melee type, chasing Beth with an axe, the other three were mages. A nearly 10 minute battle ensued while Beth took a high position amongst a crag in a nearby rock wall, and summoned up fire elementals to combat from a distance. If one of the enemies got too close, Beth would then ZAP him with her Staff of Sparks!

Occasionally, the Thalmor would wander off, either admitting defeat or simply giving up on trying to get Beth. She'd then come down from her hiding place and throw a firebolt There! That'll get your attention.

After looting a body, Beth looked at the "robes" they were wearing. These robes provided a very small bonus to Destruction magic, Beth could sense. Very unlike her "Apprentice Robes of Illusion Magic", which allowed her to cast Illusion spells at a lesser cost to her magic pool, and provided a hefty magic-regeneration rate as well.

"Ah haaa haa!" she had a laugh. "Such cheap magics! Such cheap fabrics as well! Who are these Thalmor?" Beth asked the trees. Looking through a pocket of one, she found a "Justicar Execution Order", which said...

Be on the look out for the High Elf called Crystal Beth. She is an enemy to the Thalmor, and has actively disrupted our activities, and caused great harm. If spotted, you are to destroy her with extreme hatred.

Be advised, she is extremely dangerous, and quite able to defend herself. If caught by the local autoorities, we are unable to offer you any assistance.

For the glory of the Aldmeri Dominion!

Beth smiled, and folded the letter into her pocket.
.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 12 2012, 12:36 AM

Lordas, 6:09 PM, 13th of Evening Star, 4E Year 201

"Stendarr's mercy be upon you, for the vigil has none to spare!" says a mean-looking Dunmer female to Crystal Beth.

Beth had been walking her horse along, keeping a slow pace with this Dunmer and her magic-using companion. Well, Beth assumed he's a magic-user, simply because of his tan and green-colored robes. As he walks by Beth, he says nothing, only glares at her.

Beth had hoped these two would be friendlier, but no matter, she is excited! Why?

Her horse is carrying a small fortune, including a glass bow, an Apprentice set of Alteration robes she could wear, and the usual assortment of gemstones, rings, potions, and so on. She planned to sell the bow and OH...almost forgot about her staff. She managed to find a Staff of Chain Lightning. Something about lightning from a staff really turns her on, makes her smile with anticipation!

The Staff is difficult and inefficient to use, Beth discovers, since it fires off a single bolt at a time. It also uses lots of magic to operate. But if it happens to hit an enemy BOY does it pack a punch! Although she hadn't witnessed this yet, this sort of staff is also supposed to be able to have its charge jump from one enemy to the next. So far, she's only managed to hit a bandit, and the staff DID one-shot him. But there were no other bandits around for the voltage to jump to at that time.

Beth can't wait to use it in a safe location! Safe for her, that is. It won't be so safe for whatever enemy she faces, though. She tends to use a staff only at certain times. Not only will it not use up her own available magic, the staff was also just something solid to use.

plus, I like the whole staff thing in Skyrim. It's weird that in Oblivion, none of my magical characters ever really used staves, except for very briefly here and there


She had just eliminated some bandits at a Forsworn fort called Harmugstahl. Their leader was too tough for Beth, though. Located strategically in a room with a narrow entrance, he cast several Ice Storm spells at her, and finally summoned an Ice Atronach. Beth simply could not get a good shot in, and as the Ice man stumbled towards her and slammed its fist on her back, Beth gave up. It's one of the rare times she's ever given up.

She managed her goal, though...finding some of Shalidor's writings. The orc at the college wants this.

On her way to Solitude once again, Beth came across yet another bandit encampment. More money, more money...

But before entering town, Beth decides to shadow the mean dark elf and her surly companion. (I'm really curios where they'll go)...

They walked down the path that goes under Solitude's arch, far below the town itself. Beth soon walks past a door which she recognizes as the little-known secret passage into town, walks a little further, and decides to call it quits. Its' getting dark, and it's possible these two are not even going to stop anywhere. Beth needs to get in to town.

She walks back to the door and goes inside.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 12 2012, 11:08 PM

Tough luck at Harmugstahl. Perhaps Beth will go back some day when she stronger, and finish that dastard off once and for all? This happened to me when I was playing a character in Oblivion named Nykteria. She faced off with the Lich in Lost Boy Cavern when she was low level, and literally could not harm it. She had to flee, but vowed to return one day. The rest of her gameplay became dedicated to that one goal. Finally, after clearing every necromancer dungeon in Cyrodiil, she went back, and finished the job. It was very satisfying.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 12 2012, 11:26 PM

Cool!!! It's like Nykteria kept her seething desires bottled up until she was ready to return and exact her vengance.

Beth is working on her Illusion magic. Once she's able to go invisible (like her historical mentors from the 3rd/early 4th era Igodah Go^Pe and The Grey Wizard), she'll be unstoppable.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 12 2012, 11:13 PM

Crystal Beth is back in Solitude again, selling more wares to make her ultimate goal of 25,000 gold. She has spent quite awhile up in the Blue Palace. For some reason, the court wizard no longer stays in court. The last couple times Beth has tried to consult with this wizard, she's been found sleeping in her room, despite the fact that it's day time.

Beth spent several hours training her Illusion magic (I pushed "clairvoyance" spell over and over while I read some posts here and at Bethsoft. Lol.) and when she walks outside, she's treated to yet another display of Northern Lights! These ones are mostly reddish and gold.

She's become a bit of a Northern Lights junkie. Whenever she sees one, she usually stops for the night, gazing up at the skies in wonder.

Despite the fact that she's so attached to Solitude, Beth has also been keeping a keen eye on Falkreath. Something about this location that she also likes. And she's got 2 out of 3 Falkreath requests taken care of. Hopefully soon she'll get her 3rd out of the way, and possibly make Thane of Falkreath.

.

I had this sort of thing on Skyrim...Wulff Olfsson got that amulet, you know, the one with the three brothers?...Amywho, he got his a$s handed to him by said trio, good and proper...I may have mentioned at the time...So once I'd done the MQ and I was (Olfsson was)...Oooh, a God...I went back and flattened the three of them... ...Sooo satisfying... ...


Lady Saga...loving the journal...Nice one... ...

J'Zirlo managed to get his Smithing finally to 100 by finding three skill books in a row!!...Booyah!!... ...

He also became Orc-Friend, so there may be some story milage there...He made a friend that said he'd come along when I needed...I felt really pleased by this... ...

We then went to another Orc Strongold by Windhelm to get to that Gloombound Mine...Where if you mine all the veins, you get enough free Ebony to make an entire suit btw...Oh damn...That's a hint isn't it?...Oh no ...*Slaps wrist*...

Aaamywho...J'Zirlo then went to the College to grab his brother J'Zargo and give him said armour...




'Zargo - "Oooh look, my hammersome brother has come to give J'Zargo gifts...We did not think it our birthday?"

'Zirlo - "Quiet you glorified night-light...I...*Sigh*...Need your help."

'Zargo - "Haaa!! Noooo, surely we did not just hear that...Let Khajiit sit down a moment...Now, please say that again..."

'Zirlo - *Growls*...*Sighs*..."Please, J'Zargo...My brother...I apologise...I need your help...We need your help..."

'Zargo - "We?...Who is we?"

'Zirlo - "You know very well who I mean..."

'Zargo - *Sighs*..."Very well...We shall follow...Though J'Zargo trusts you are taking him somewhere warm..."

'Zirlo - "Could be...Could very well be..."





We's off to do the main quest.... ...

KIW DE DWAAGON!!!, KIW DE DWAAAGON!!!!... ...

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Apr 16 2012, 05:42 PM

LOL you're funny McB. I have no idea what a Welsh accent sounds like, but in my mind you come across as almost Monty Pythonish. very vibrant. Don't take that as an insult please, I'm one of many who grew up on the other side of "the pond", awaiting every new Monty Python episode my father allowed me to watch.

I know what you mean about training...sometimes it's the best thing you can do to advance. Crystal Beth recently paid the Illusion trainer at The College plenty of gold just to get her Illusion nearer to the next levels of advancement. Sometims it's better just to read a book (or pay a trainer) so you don't have to spam spells or skills over and over.

Yay, the Brother'Z are together! Here's hoping that neither of them succumbs to a self-inflicted eye-rolling injury during their joint adventures.

The Brother'z (excellent Grits!! ) Khajiit...Kiw De Dwaaagon!!!...Got shouted at by some dudes on high...And then decided to completely ignore the summons and run all the way to Markath...

Just outside Rorikstead they discovered a giant Forsworn camp with an Giant sacrificing Hagraven...Sadly, there's a pile of ice shooting, yet wonerfully attired wenches that seem determined to off our cool cats...

And they did...Twice... ...



'Zargo - "Brother, let me introduce a new concept to the proceedings."

'Zirlo - "What now?"

'Zargo - It's this thing that we once heard Mother talking about...They're called Tactics."

'Zirlo - *Rolls eyes* "Yes, here's one for you...Stop getting filled with arrows so Khajiit does not have to keep healing you, damn fool Kitten."

'Zargo - *Sighs* "Should J'Zargo tell you what to you can do with that bow of yours?"

'Zirlo - *Flattens ears* "Oh..."

'Zargo - "Aaaand there it goes. Can we get on now?"

'Zirlo - "After you."

'Zargo - "I do so enjoy our time together, my brother."

'Zirlo - "Well, keep doing your impression of a pincushion and it will be over all too quickly, won't it?"



I think it's that big Forsworn camp that you get to with them two later on in the MQ...

I like dealing with Forsworn. They're fun to fight.

Crystal Beth lost her temper!

She's in the Dead Man's Drink, the bar/rooming house of Falkreath. She just rented a room, but there's a guy sitting in a chair and he won't leave. Beth had already met this guy before. As she engages conversation with him, he starts talking about a lost one or something. Since she had already met him, this means this is old conversation.

At the moment, she could care less what he went through. She can't help him. And right now she just wants to get to sleep. Oh...what's with this "no door" policy in Skyrim? Why can't she rent a room with a door? Granted, nobody's gonna mess with her or anything, but ...she needs her privacy. Ya know?

She loses her temper, just then. She doesn't want to attack the guy, though. Instead she casts a Fear spell at him.

"It'sokay, I'll let you live.....this time" the guy says. Then he sits back down! The nerve! The audacity

"Why won't you leave? Why won't you leave me in peace?" she says, casting another Fear at him.

Now, he gets up and runs away! Good. Absolutely great! But after a minute, he comes back, brandishing a daggar! Before Beth knows it, he's attacked her! Like 3x in a row. Beth was unprepared, and it took her a few moments to run off to a corner, gather up her Calm spell from her quick-tome (the blasted Favorites system), and cast it at the man.

He calms down. And sits down again!! ARRRGH....

This entire time, the NPC's out in the main room are running around 'HELP!" but they apparently don't call the guards.

Beth decides to just wait it out. Maybe the man will leave. But as soon as the Calm wears off, he's back at Beth again. This time, she was prepared!

She runs outside, hoping a guard will take aim at the man trying to attack Beth. But the guard strings up an arrow and then aims it at her. WTF?

He misses his shot, and Beth stops running. The guard now tells her she's got to "pay for her crimes". Fine.

"That man would NOT leave my room. I rented it, and asked him to leave. But he would not!"

"You've commited crimes against Skyrim. What say you in your defence?"

There's no way Beth is ever going to jail. She's rich. The fine is only 80 gold. Fine. I'll pay the fine. The guard takes her to the Jarl or whatever. The screen goes black.

After the scene starts again, Beth is being attacked by a VAmpire Thrall! Right in the middle of town! How random is that?

This time, the guards come to Beth's aid. She could have taken that Thrall out herself, but she rather enjoys being protected once in a while. It's nice to see somebody trying to do something to help her, for a change!

Hahah! Those days can be a burden. Maybe he just wanted some alone time with Beth, or he wanted a friend. The fear spell always has reprocussions! Karma just took a huge bit on Crystal haha. Glad she didn't try to resist arrest, otherwise she would have to pay a greater fine!

What's with the random wannabe-vampire in the end? Rite of passage? Good read.

Oh that is just insane! I guess the Fear spell is considered a crime in Skyrim. That would explain the reaction by the inn-goers, and had the guard. The vampire thrall is totally out of left field though! Did Beth do a vampire dungeon recently? It could have followed her from there. That sort of thing would happen with some monsters in Oblivion as well.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 17 2012, 11:19 PM

Darkness Eternal, I have a feeling you said some other word than "days", and the swear-filter caught it?

Yes, Beth did go thru a vampire dungeon, it was kinda near Falkreath, too. I forget its name, though. I would say it wasn't super-recent. This would have been 2 or 3 adventures ago.

Anyways, it just happened again! This time, Beth bought a horse in Whiterun, and then took a carriage to Winterhold. That's where the bulk of her money is saved. She's slowly saving up for that house in Solitude.

So she gets to Winterhold, and the game puts her right in the middle of town. She's standing next to her horse, and everybody is being attacked by draugrs!!!! Her horse is in mid-battle, which really annoys me because she just bought this one. That a thousand gold right there! Her previous horse got killed recently. Killed by a bunch of bolders being released underneath one of those bandit bridges.

The draugr fall easily, of course. Theyre just basic types, low level material.

Crystal Beth decides to go inside and speak to the Jarl of Winterhold now. He's not there. But she sees an NPC she's not met before. He's wearing an oragne shirt. She goes over to talk to him.

His name is Malur Seloth. He's a dark elf. He says he's "not associated with the College, but since he's a dark elf, everyone assumes that he's from there. He quickly gets down to business with Beth. This isn't exactly the conversation, but close enough.

Malur: "There's a staff up in the Arch Mage's quarters. I've been wanting it for a while. Can you get it for me?"

Beth: Get it for you? I am from the College, you idiot! I am a student of the College! You're asking me to grab that staff for you? No way!"

Malur: Suit yourself then (he said something mildly insulting, I forget what it was

Beth turns to the guard now, who was witnessing the entire conversation.

Beth: Did you just hear what he asked me to do? He wants me to break the law!"

guard: "hard to believe I ever complained about Riften being cold.

W. T. F> ?

Beth decides to take matters into her own hands. As Malur takes a seat nearby the guard, she crosses the room to a safe location, readies a Fury spell at Malur, and fires! She makes her dice roll YES a DIRECT HIT!

"SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!" several NPC's say at once!

Beth ducks into a nearby room and shuts the door. There's a couple NPC's on the bed in there. Oops!

As she puts her hands down, she turns to the couple on the bed...IT's the Jarl and his lady!!!

"It's being handled. Go back to bed", she suggests.

MEanwhile, outside Malur is now in combat with the guard!!!! Two guards!!! Just as he falls, the Fury spell wears off....

"You have commited crimes against Skyrim and her People. What say you in your defence?"

:facepalm:
.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 18 2012, 12:07 AM

The draw distance is amazing in this game. Beth just left Fellglow Keep (MG quest stuff) and way in the distance down the hill I could see these little fires going back and forth. Then I realized I could see two necromancers going at it. Was pretty cool. Beth just stayed in the distance, watching the whole thing.

One of them eventually kills the other, and Beth starts walking. The guy sees Beth, from what seems to be several hundred feet away! He fires an ice spike. He eventually also fell, of course.

I am Lady Saga, tonight, I'm going to add the latest addition to the Saga of Crystal Beth.

By the way, it finally rained today (where have all our April showers been?) and I've created a brand-new character. It's my "Son of Talos Stormcloak" idea. He'll basically do the Stormcloak Civil War quest, whatever that may be. I haven't started gaming with him yet. I just created him.

His name is unofficially "Gunter". I wanted to name him Gunter, Son of Talos, but the stupd game wouldn't let me. So his official game-name is "A Son of Talos". I was torn between A Son of Talos and just "Gunter". A Son of Talos is more unique as a name, because I doubt anybody has named their character so plainly! Yet at the same time it's almost a generic name as well. He's just another Stormcloak, it seems. Right?

I haven't gotten into his game yet, but I'm glad it was rainy today. I really wanted to make an Aries fighter, you see. A large percentage of Aries people love to fight, all the astrology books say. I've seen it to be true in real-life. Not that every single Aries out there is a fighter, but I've amongst the people I've known throughout my life, there is a larger percentage of Aries who are hot-headed than cool-headed.

Anyways, back to Crystal Beth. I'm going to run through some bits of her gameplay, in no particular order.

She just trained up to Level 50 in Illusion with the College's Illusion trainer, but after her lesson was sore to find he didn't have any "Adept" Illusion spells to sell her, yet. Dang! She really wants to see if Invisibility is going to be in her roster of spells in the near future (no spoilers, please).

but she did get a spell which even Cyrodiilic mages from the 3rd Era rarely possessed: Paralyzation: 10 seconds! Her Alteration skill is at 67, and I guess she's good enough to paralyze enemies now.

She's got just under 20,000 gp stored up at her room in Winterhold. There's also money stored in Solitude, she might just have enough for her house, then.
.

Welcome to Skyrim GSoT! This means that those Thalmor/Dark Brotherhood missives will say: "you are to eliminate A Son of Talos by any means necessary."

And Cyrstal Beth can now paralyze for 10 seconds? Yikes!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 19 2012, 03:53 AM