Um.....spoiler alert. Don't highlight the rest of this post unless you want to be spoiled.

That's the downside of Dawnguard. It introduces new questlines, new creatures, new weapons, new armor, the best NPC follower ever (and so on ...) but your favorite NPC might get murdered. Vampire attacks can put a serious dent into a town's population.

It's very edgy, and very unlike Cyrodiil/3rd era, and sadly I'm not fully used to it yet.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 14 2012, 01:27 AM

Ugh, sorry to hear about the casualties. That (spoiler situation) does bring danger back to the night. And to the day sometimes too, unfortunately.

Yes, that is a common complaint I see about Dawnguard. Bethesda seems to have made the dlc for the sole purpose of killing off all of the NPCs in the world. Because it makes the game so much more fun that way. I do not think that is really a spoiler. More like an important warning to anyone who might be tempted to buy it!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 14 2012, 01:55 AM

the main problem is they always send a Master vampire in the towns, and a pack of Hell Hounds on the outside. These are very advanced-level creatures for an unarmed (sometimes a fully-armed) townsperson to handle. If something weaker showed up, the NPCs would stand more of a chance.

I'm hoping as the questline progresses that the vamp attacks eventually stop. I enjoyed the spontaneity of them at first, and I do still enjoy them if my character can jump in and help. The part I don't like is the fact that these random attacks are kinda like what happens in the rest of TES: they can happen at any time, even if our character is not there.

So in Whiterun, I've lost a couple stablehands. Meh, I can deal. Then I lost the Redguard who runs the outside forge area at Warmaidens, and that DID really bum me out. I like her. So did Haaf-Mersey.

Loredas, 3:33 PM, 8th of Sun's Dusk

Days Passed: 83

Lord Haaf-Mersey is back in Whiterun, and tomorrow is Sundas. He does some buying and selling before settling in at the Bannered Mare. He no longer stays in Jorrvaskr, now that he has quit the Companions, and Gunter Son of Talos stays in the Companion's hall (Gunter eventually became the Companion leader, Lol).

Haaf-Mnersey has a quick meal before going back outside. He grabs an apple right off of a table in full view of everybody, but they now trust this holy knight, so nobody raises a fuss*.

* I discovered long ago that if you chop wood outside the Bannered Mare and then sell it to the Innkeeper, everything inside the Bannered Mare becomes okay to touch, pick up, eat ....whatever! It's as if the ladies who run the place start to know our characters have become mainstays, and they allow us to act freely.

Unfortunately, this is where tonight's story ends, folks. Hearthfire is still saying there "isn't enough room" for Lucia, the Girl in Green. WTF? the place is huge now! There's plenty of room for her. *sigh* There are two beds at the manor now, and lord knows how many containers! I must be missing something, dangit.

Maybe it considers the fact that Marcurio is an active follower. He is staying at the Manor, and perhaps a third bed will have to be constructed (plus dressers, barrels, etc. for that room).

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 14 2012, 02:45 AM

Renee, I can give you a hint about the house if you like, but I’m keeping quiet in case you want LHM to figure it out. I think his frustration and growing urgency to get that kid off the streets is a neat part of his character.

Skyrim Jerric and Darnand (Marcurio) made a discovery when they returned to their temporary home. Here’s their version. Anyone care to guess what happened?

*

Kyne painted the sky over Whiterun with a glorious tundra sunset. Darnand walked through the city gate, Jerric at his side. Their latest adventure had taken them across the province and back again. It was good to be… well not exactly home, but close enough. Smoke rose from the chimney of their rented house. Uthgerd must have heard they were nearly back and started a fire for them.

As soon as he stepped into the cottage, something seemed amiss.

Jerric noticed it, too. “Those carrots,” he said.

A few things had been moved. A wine bottle. Leeks knocked to the floor. Darnand sucked in a breath. “My books!”

A quick inventory of his desk showed that the contents were intact, though the surface was not as he had left it. Jerric was executing a similar rummage through the junk cupboard. “All here,” he called.

Darnand checked the alchemy drawers. Everything was still arranged according to the Nord’s method of organization. Alchemy Necklace first, followed by Bear Claws, Canis Root, Dwarven Gauntlets of Minor Alchemy, and then Ectoplasm. He had no doubt that if they ever found the Ring of Pure Mixtures, Jerric would file it between the Pine Thrush Eggs and the Sabre Cat Teeth. It occurred to him that his friend might be messing with him.

Jerric flipped a chest open with a bang. “Oh,” he said. “Uh…”

Darnand felt the blood leave his face. “The soul gems?”

“Gone.”

“By the Nine! We’ve been robbed!”

“Burgled,” said Jerric. “This was just a break-in. Robbery is what that Dunmer tried to do out on the road. You know, the one with the little iron sword.”

“You are correct.” Darnand pinched the bridge of his nose. He had hidden two black soul gems in that chest. Only the gods knew when he would be able to get his hands on another one. Actually he hoped that the gods hadn’t noticed.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Jerric said. “I’ve been right before.” He opened the lid of the food barrel, then dropped to his knees. “Nooooo! One hundred thirty two portions of salt, all gone! Those swine thieving motherless dog-humping—”

Darnand needed to see inside the chest. Just to be sure. “I wonder if they went upstairs,” he said.

Jerric took the steps in a leap. “My old armor is here. And the spares. And those boots and gauntlets that you won’t wear. Ah, hells! The weapons are all gone!”

The enchanting supply chest was not quite empty. Darnand picked up a handful of coins. “Someone has a sense of humor. They left us five Septims.”

“They left thirteen in the weapons chest,” Jerric howled. “If I find whoever did this, I’m going to wear their bowels like a cape!”

Darnand tried to suppress that image. It was no surprise that the thieves had left behind the scraps of iron and hide that Jerric referred to as armor, but the weapons represented a loss. “I have our best staves on me,” he reminded his friend.

Jerric hopped back down to the ground floor with a crash. “It’s lucky I’m wearing my enchanted plate. Truth be told, I don’t really remember what I had in that chest. Still I guess we should inform the Guard. And get right to drinking away our sorrow. Over our lost… stuff.”

Darnand could stand a hot meal, a comfortable chair, and a bottle of wine in any order. He reviewed Jerric’s appearance. Greasy braids, blood spatter dried across his nose, and hands black with things unmentionable. No need to delay for washing. He might just be the best groomed Nord in Whiterun. “Jorrvaskr or the Mare?”

“The Mare,” said Jerric. “Sinmir will want to hear about the burglary, and we should speak to our landlord. And I have something I’d like to give Ysolda.” He opened the door and stood aside with a grin. “Say, do you suppose those ingots will still be in the Marmaiden’s barrel?”

Heh, That confused me...is that a glitch? All the stuff getting moved around? It's good to have Jerric back by the way!


Oh, and NO HINTS! I'm gonna figure this Hearthfire thing out if I have to! I'm trying very hard not to have a cheat and look on UESP. Every time I've ever cheated in the past (especially with Tomb Raider games), I always get this regretful sort of feeling .... like I feel stupid that I couldn't figure it out on my own! :facepalm: It also always feels 10X more rewarding once I get it right.

From what I have read on the other forum, the attacks are supposed to stop once you finish the DG questline. But in many people's games they never do, and the cities all turn into ghost towns.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 14 2012, 04:28 AM

Jerric “rented” Uthgerd’s house (got her as a follower, took key, gave gold, parted ways), and I know that not all of the containers are safe. I still used them since the guys are back in Whiterun every couple of days. (And it was hard to explain why they shouldn't use a barrel and two perfectly good chests.)

They were gone for a while this time, and Uthgerd’s house reset. Actually I think Whiterun reset. They lost everything out of the enchanting chest, weapons chest, and food barrel. When he realized that his tomato and salt collection was gone, the Nord nearly wept. He seriously had 132 salts in there. I remember seeing the number the last time he nipped over to Amren’s house to do some cooking.

Alright, I think I know what's going on. The Girl in Green (Lucia) must be Whiterun-only. Like I would have to buy the Whiterun house for her to move in. If that's the case .... guess Haaf-Mersey won't be adopting her. There's no way in hell I'm introducing the MQ (dragons) into his game. hamster cave dragons!



Well that sounds promising! (not)



Well that sucks. But at least you made a cool RP moment out of the incident..

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 14 2012, 07:50 PM

That is not it. Flavia built the house outside of Falkreath, and adopted Lucia (from Whiterun).

Okay I give up. I am desperate now, and cannot bear another second without knowlege that Lucia is safe.. What is the answer I seek? For I refuse to visit UESP.net, but from a friend, I can gather such information.

She needs a bed and a specific container built before she can move in. It’s the small beds and I think the small dresser upstairs in the Main Hall, it doesn’t have to be the bedroom wing. Has LHM built any dressers in the room with the small beds?

Dang I was so close! Ahrrrgh!!!! *bangs head*
Thanks though. I think if I hadn't asked, I would have just given up.

He has built a several dressers and 2 beds and lots of random things...I actually don't remember. I'll have to go to Falkreath in a few and find out.

~thanks again.

No problem! This is a great place for a specific answer without big spoilers attached.

Good luck with the building!

Yah it worked! Lord Haaf-Mersey built every container and furniture piece he possibly could. Rode his horse back to Whiterun and Lucia is pleased to move in. I was hoping she would become a follower, but that's not the case, she's going to meet her "father" back at Lackview Manor.

But it's Sundas. which means LHM is spending the entire day sitting in front of the Talos priest in Whiterun, getting yelled at again. Silly man. I enjoy his ritual....it's kinda cool having a character who actually pays attention to what day it is. But I also roll my eyes at his Sundas ritual!

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Tirdas, 4:41 AM, 18th of Sun's Dusk, 4th Era Year 201

Days Passed: 93

Level: 20

'Tis early in the morning. Lord Haaf-Mersey arises from a bed in the second story of his manor house.

"Only a true Lord should own such a house", he says, and catches himself.

Dyan phor a'Cauz, the Paladin who saved Cyrodiil from the wrath of Umaril 200 years ago, would never have said such a thing. She was known to have had several properties, though: including a cheap shack on the Imperial City waterfront, and a former skooma hideout (Greyland) near Leyawiin. Her third and final home was a middling-class dwelling in Bruma.

Overall, she never showed her wealth overtly. All her homes (like her townsclothings) were shabby and lacked the typical touches commonly found in the homes of others, despite the fact that Dyan wound up being quite wealthy during her adventuring days. But even without the wealth, it was known that none of her homes were decorated extravagantly, or with a woman's touch.

Lord Haaf-Mersey realizes he's nothing like his mentor. He will never be like her, not entirely.

"Faith, is one thing. But I cannot subscribe towards Dyan in every single way".

He plans to become wealthy, like a true lord. He shall own horses, he shall own land. And he shall build the biggest house in Falkreath hold! All of this is final.

"Be-sides, Dyan: you never did take in a small child as a refugee, in all your days".

This makes Haaf-Mersey feel .... not quite as guilty for this extravagance of a home he is building.

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4:59 AM

clomp clomp clomp....

Haaf-Mersey hears footsteps below, despite this late hour. He is relieved to find it is only Lucia, the Girl in Green from Whiterun.

"Paaa!" she says as he emerges from above, wearing hide armor and boots.

"How fares thee, little girl? I am not thine father, but 'tis okay if you want to make-pretend. You knoweth it is late of hour. Perhaps thee might see thine self off to rest?"

"Awww come on!" she complains, wanting to stay up a litte longer.

"Well...okay", Haaf-Mersey gives in (I do this with my own daughter too! sigh )

"You're the best!"

But it only takes a few minutes. Lucia wanders around her new home a little more, and then walks upstairs to crash on a double bed.

I am fascinated with Lucia. Haaf-Mersey tends to follow her around a bit, and it's really just because I am curious about every little thing she might do around the house. It's not quite Sims, but I plan on really going all-out with Hearthfire, buying everything possible for the manor. Mostly because I want to see if Lucia interacts with stuff, the way the PCs and NPCs do in Sims.

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6:30 AM
Lord Haaf-Mersey quietly leaves the house, to make a journey to Riften. He leaves a note for Lucia, and says prayer to Mara that Lucia will be safe. He hopes that she will not get bored. But things must be done. There are vampire attacks going on in the world of Skyrim, and his calling has been heard.

But before going to Dimhollow Cave, he must go back to Riften. Marcurio had probably decided to wander back there after Haaf-Mersey's long absense, and Haaf-Mersey needs Marcurio. He needs the man, for he fears that he will not be able to take on Dimhollow alone.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 15 2012, 02:34 AM

I am in the process of creating a new character, folks. Her first name is Sharon, can't think of a last name though....I'm looking for that perfect last name.

Sharon Myself

Sharon Mymoney...

It'll come to me. It always does. It'll be a flash of inspiration, too. She's evil, but in a different way than Skank. She's an Imperial, and she was also a member of Skank's original group of Necromancers, the one that got divided up by a couple holy knights.

But for now...

Turdas, 1:16 PM, 4th of Evening Star, 4E 201

Lord Haaf-Mersey

Level: 22
Days Pased: 109
Hours Slept : 847
Hours Waited: 803

Gold Found: 38,933
Chests Looted: 392

Skilll Increase: 241
Food Eaten: 591
Books Read: 58
DG Quests Completed: 1
Quests Completed: 7
Misc Objts Completed: 49

Spells Learned: 11
Favorite Spell: Candlelight

Items Stolen: 5
Assaults: 4
Murders: 5
Horses Stolen: 1

I don't get the Assaults and Murders, and the stolen horse. I can't see where these stats might have occured. In any event, I am proud of "Items Stolen" at just 5. That's the lowest of all my characters so far in Skyrim!

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"I thinketh I shall head to this College in Winterhold, mayhap. Have heard the place can teach many a thing of and about magics."

Marcurio says nothing. He merely stands in the shadows. The two men are in the manor house they built together, known as Lakeview. Lucia is around somewhere, too.

"Come hither, my friend! Why stand thee over there?", Haaf-Mersey calls.

"What do you need"? asks the master wizard. He starts walking towards the large rectangular dinner table.

"I said" ...Haaf-Mersey rolls his eyes. "I thinketh I shalt be going to Winterhold. To learn those sorts of spells I think will be necessary for our trip to Dimhollow".

"I'll just be here, then".

"NO!" Haaf-Mersey grows impatient. As boastful and skilled as his new companion could be, Marcurio was a little short in the head during everyday life. "I want you to come with me. I shall need you with me. I cannot make this journey alone. I have heard such tales of even stronger spiders, and stronger enemies upwards to the north end of Skyrim".

"Is that an Amulet of Mara? I'm surprised you haven't been spoken for."

The Lord is stunned. He did not expect the topic of conversation to be changed so fast. And... Marcurio is interested in him as a partner? Since when?

"Well, I guess I should not be of surprise, my friend Marcurio. I do have the attraction of Mara. But my love is my faith. I serve only the Nine, and shalt not betrothe myself before my time has passed".

Haaf-Mersey reaches up to take his jewelry off. He forgot he had been wearing Mara's Amulet all weekend, an effort to see if anybody in Falkreath would be interested in him. But he isn't about to tell Marcurio this.

"I liketh thee", says Marcurio, trying to let his friend down easily, "but I answer only to a calling from on high. This is the path of the Righteous, and of the Nine. I answer only the Nine's call". This is a lie, but a necessary one. He does want to meet somebody for his new manor house. Marcurio is not the one, though.

"I'll just be here, then" Marcurio repeats, while Haaf-Mersey goes in the other room to palm his face.

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6:18 PM
For tonight, the Lord decides he's going to build an Apiary, hopefully it'll attract the hawk that flies up above. He initially think that this is what the structure is for, but as he delves deeper into his project, he learns "apiary" is just a fancy Skyrim word for "beehive".

He feels bad about leaving Lucia alone all the time, and is devoted to keeping her occupied while he is gone. This is partially why he's been making beehives, and furniture, and shelves. He wants her to not be bored while he is gone. But he must go. He has to go. It's his calling.

Lucia seems to know how to handle herself though", he tries to reassure himself. She has a certain smarts about the streets; how else could she have survived in Whiterun for so long by herself? Just a few days before, Haaf-Mersey had been surprised by a trio of bandits, who attacked him right in front of Lucia. She had run off and hid somewhere, which was the right thing to do.

"She shall knoweth what to do", he tries to re-assure himself. "She knoweth where to hide" he says. He knows this, because he and she had played hide 'n' seek several times now. She is good at hiding.

(seriously, I couldn't find her one of the times he's played hns)

He builds and builds, the project takes the rest of the night. and he uses the rest of the lumber delivered from the town of Falkreath. Hopefully this project will be yet another thing to keep his girl busy.

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`

Loredas, 5:09 Am

Lord Haaf-Mersey and Mercurio had arisen early. It took several hours for the Lord to prepare for his journey; lots of his things are located all over his new manor. He has not come up with a system to properly organize it all!

There's so many barrels .....chests .....satchels....drawers...knapsacks.... It's more than he'll ever need!

He had decorated Lucias room with dozens of mountain flowers while she slept. Hopefully these flowers will cheer her, once she realizes her adult friend has departed for a long while.

As Haaf-Mersey and Marcurio leave their manor house, it is still dark outside. As they pass Pinewatch, the cottage just beside their property, they spy a man ... probably a dark elf, quickly go inside the place.

"'Tis a mystery, this man who lives in Pinewatch".

they have just spotted Khahkhayre!

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 20 2012, 12:53 AM

It must be raining in Maryland then...

I bet those assaults and murders are from fighting bandits or other NPC-type opponents. Often the ES games decide to interpret you fighting them as a crime, even when it is not. I just ignore those stats.

How about Sharon Car'in? Oh wait, with an evil character that will not do. How about Sharon Th'pain?

I love you, SubRosa. Haa haa you're cracking me up with those names! Thanks I needed some new inspiration

Here's the thing. This morning I was lying in bed, not wanting to get up (typical me), and I kept thinking about her. She wants to be created. I can tell. And I kept getting all these ideas of what she's gonna do. I know her name is Sharon. So I start obesssing over last names.

Now here's the really freaky part. I get my kid off, go to work, and the first thing I hear when I get to work is somemthing like this:

"....and when they were sharin' the pot...."

A co-worker of mine was talking about the game last nite (Ravens vs. Steelers) and she was also talking about a football pool, and how some folks doubled up on certain bets...I don't know much about football.... But that's how I knew I was on the right track.

Sharon the Pot wouldn't work, but know what I meean? It was weird that my friend said that.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 20 2012, 12:15 AM

That is typical me as well! I never want to get out of bed in the morning. Once and a while I call in sick to work just because I don't want to get up.

I am the same way with character ideas too. They just get stuck in my head, and after a while I just have to play them. I tend to do my best thinking when I am in bed in fact. It is when I am half-awake, half-asleep, that my best inspirations come to me. That and in the bathtub. I think because my unconscious mind is still in full gear, and my conscious mind has not quite 'woken up' yet. So that is when I get those lightbulb going off moments.

Oh yea...I am like 10X more creative in that half-awake / half-asleep period. I've recited poetry...really good intricate poetry in that state of mind. It is not really "me" reciting the poetry, it's like a higher version of me. Or maybe it's a nearby spirit.

What I mean to say is when I'm fully awake, I can't write or recite poetry at all. I've tried. :shrug: I've also had visions in that state of mind. I'll see a what looks like a photographic moment, and I'm not talking about dreams...it's like I'll see these visions with my eyes, behind closed lids. Know what I mean? The visions often involve people I don't know, in the middle of doing something. I'll see them in full detail, yet I'll have no idea what to make of this.

I've always assumed that this is how psychics do their work. They get these same sorts of visions as I do, only they are able to make sense of them, and then tell people what is going to happen in the future (or whatever.) To me, they're just really pretty, or dramatic photographic moments that I have in bed, and wonder about for awhile, until I forget what the vision was.

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Nov 20 2012, 03:28 AM