Welcome to Skyrim Luke Skyrimwalker Caro. A former Impie himself? That's not too unusual. Ulfric and Galmar fought for the Empire in the Great War as well. A lot of Stormcloaks appear to have.

Grumpily, the burly Nord brushed chill water from off his forehead. Dripping from the dank ceiling of the tunnels beneath the old fort, it was chill upon his skin.
"Damn Kat." He muttered, hefting his axe and clicking his neck, face set in an expression of angry determination.

Starting forward again, he headed further down the tunnel towards the dimly flickering light of the tallow candles in the bandits' main rest area. It should have been empty, however it appeared that they had a visitor; "Here kitty kitty." He whispered, entering the room and turning slowly around, eyes scanning the shadows. "C'mere kitty, I got somethin' for ye..."
Nothing moved. All was still and silent.

He sighed and grimaced. "Stupid Kat." Then smiling, he remembered something Regus had said just before The Boss had sent him on this damn fool errand.
"Heh, been a while since I had me some pu..."

Something, very quietly, shifted at his back. Turning his head, the muscles in his neck creaking in the silent chamber, he looked behind him. Two green and black-slitted eyes stared back, a pair of furry be-ringed ears swivelled forward and slowly began to flatten backwards against a sleek, cat-like skull. There came a very quiet hissing, snarling noise.

"Fu..."

Lopov, I love your start for the noble Lucius Caro! Plus Lucius is an awesome name.

PHON!! Welcome back. I’m delighted to see a Khajiit!

Yes, welcome back, Phon! And a feliniously mysteriously introduction to a kat and, it would seem, farewell to an axe-Nord.

Heh, you guys should know I can't keep away!

Indeed she is a Kat, name of Alaie'eesa; a mysterious one to be sure. A bit of a rogue, but not a harsh one...

Your cat looks good.


Indeed, there's no joking with them. I like to picture them as such, especially the annoying Captain.

I didn't know this, interesting.

Thanks, I think so too. It was actually the name I came up with first, I didn't have any character's traits or backstory set yet.

--

Lucius was carefully stepping up blood-smeared stairs of the abandoned Falkreath watchtower. Something felt very wrong in this place. Blood skulls outside, bloody bones inside and bloody footsteps all over the staircase. He was clenching the sword, taken from his former Captain, in his right hand, trying to move without making any noise.

"May you walk on warm sands," he heard a rough voice from above. This was certainly not what Lucius expected. He looked up and saw a muscular black Khajiit sitting on a ledge atop the tower.
"You can put that sword away. This one has already cleared the tower."

"I see," said Lucius and put the sword in its sheath. "So what happened here?"

"There was an evil necromancer hiding here, practicing his foul arts on unsuspecting travelers. This one got rid of it."

Lucius came up the stairs and saw a corpse of a black-robed High Elf lying behind the friendly Khajiit.

"Well...good work, Khajiit. Do you mind if I join you? I should really warm myself up and this fire here might be just perfect."

"Approach, human, Keiko bids you welcome. How shall this one call you?"

"I'm Lucius. Pleased to meet you, Keiko."

"Pleased to meet you too, Lucius. This one assumes that something bad happened to Lucius, right? You look exhausted."

"It’s so obvious, it seems. The bard, I met a few hours ago, said the same. Yes, let's say that I've been through a lot today."

"You should find some warmer clothes, Lucius. This shabby tunic won't protect you against cold nights of Skyrim. This is a cold and harsh land and one should be ready to face it."

"Thanks for your concern, they'll do for now. I can tolerate cold quite well...I've spent the last few months in snowy regions so I got used to it."

"Ahh, a stubborn one? As you wish, Lucius, but I suggest you find some warmer clothes. And boots! Look at your feet - they are wounded!"

"I'm fine, really. But maybe..." said Lucius and looked at the dead necromancer, "maybe I just found a pair of new boots." He stood up, approached the dead High Elf and took his boots off. "Yes, these will do fine, just fine." He smiled and looked Keiko: "It's better than nothing, right?"

"But of course! Now join this one by the fire."

Lucius and Keiko sat by the fire and ate some vegetables, some wheat and some honey. As Lucius found out, Keiko has been in Skyrim for a few months, living as a mercenary, traveling the land without any real purpose but to enjoy life.

"Not a bad attitude at all."

And as Keiko found out, Lucius arrived to Skyrim on this very day and he survived the dragon's attack on Helgen. Keiko saw the deadly creature flying in the distance but was surprised to hear that the entire town got destroyed.

"This one thinks that bad times are coming for Skyrim."

They were chatting for a while but exhaustion quickly overcame Lucius and he muffled into a warm bedroll. He fell asleep immediately. Keiko remained awake for a while, watching Masser and Secunda elegantly moving through the night.

*Keiko is added by one of the companions mod which I'm using. It was nice that he cleared the place by himself.*

This post has been edited by Lopov: Nov 13 2014, 11:32 PM

Nice that Lucius found a friend. Luvs Khajiit!

Somebody in Falkreath doesn't like Kats, it would seem.
It was going well for Alaie'eesa - (apart from the dragon, that is) - hunting around the settlement for trinkets and loot and then selling it on in either the trading post or the blacksmith. They seemed glad of the business to be honest.

Who hired the thugs she supposes she'll never know but now she's back on the road, chased out and headed for the next place. She'll try to avoid the big cities if she can, though they'll tolerate Kats in places like Solitude, she's found a better reception in the smaller settlements.
It's a shame that the people of the northern province are so conservative about folk with tails, but there you have it.

Musing upon her luck as she moves lithely over the rocks abutting the road, she supposes her current predicament could be linked to the fact that someone in Falkreath found out that she was selling the merchants goods she had in fact stolen from Falkreath's residents...
...or maybe it could be something to do with her appearance. She never could understand that, many of Skyrim's residents went around in furs, and so did she, it just so happened that she was born with a fur covering rather than having to drape herself in something else's.
What was the problem with that?

Yup, the mod which Grits recommended, is great. It adds many potential followers and although Lucius and Keiko don't travel together, it's good to have more NPCs with actual schedules out there.

Heh, turns out someone spotted her nighttime activities.
The thugs may have been persistent and considerably larger than she, but they learnt a valuable, and fatal, lesson about gaining and holding the high ground...
...and what happens when you don't...

This post has been edited by PhonAntiPhon: Nov 14 2014, 01:34 PM

Makes you wonder though, how many tailless Skyrimmers are wearing Khajiit furs?

Well indeed.
It's not something she likes to think about, though she has her suspicions...!

Tirdas, 3:33 AM, 24th of Sun's Dusk, 4E 202

Lord Haaf-Mersey is in Winterhold, making that pilgrimage all my magic-using characters make; the pilgrimage to find some more advanced spells.

He just finished his first radiant quest: killed a master vampire in Brittleshin Cave. The fight was over way too quickly, with Rayya the Overkiller at his side.

This post has been edited by Renee Gade IV: Nov 15 2014, 01:46 AM

She's not a bad Kat, is Alaie'eesa, she just has "urges" - for instance, she'll happily chat with the hunters and barter with them, but equally steal their gold. She'll help a desperate and wounded bounty hunter out by fixing it so he can retrieve his friends, but also fleece said friends of all of their loot and take everything else and "forget" to mention it.
She'll happily join the Thieves' Guild, but off one it's members if he/she steals from someone they shouldn't - (by her reckoning).

It's got her into trouble, Falkreath is currently off limits and at least one trader has taken out a hit on her; but hey-ho, a girl needs to survive, especially if she's a Kat - and Alaie'eesa is better at surviving than many.
Currently she's on her way to Riften, where she knows some people. She's bypassing the major towns, at least until the heat wears off a little but she'll doubtless have a poke about on the way - all loot is good loot and also, well, she's not really a bad one and should she happen upon a body needing help then she'll probably oblige.
...that body may find themselves short some gold or "this and that" but hey, it is what it is, right?

--

Sometime later, still heading east, past Whiterun.
She's always had an understanding with the giants, or at least a tacit agreement. They are peaceful creatures and she likes that about them. All that power they have and yet it's held in check - not wastefully spent like the humans do.
Speaking of which, the Stormcloaks in the camp above the road came up snake eyes again for barter, she doesn't know why she bothers with them really but they are at least easier to trade with than the imperials, and there's the advantage they seldom try to kill her or treat her like a curiosity.
For all their "sophistication" down south, the only imperials she's ever met in Skyrim would rather do nothing more with most Kats than try to feed them milk or watch them fight with wolves, when they are aren't attempting to behead them for <ahem> a little horse-trading that is. Maybe the cold air up here does something to their brains...

Speaking of stupid humans, the bandits on the river fort still haven't learnt to look up into the mountain cliffs above the road they so assiduously guard. The occasional pot-shot of a guard is often one the highpoints (literally) of Alaie'eesa's journey...

--

Hilgrund's Tomb.
Alaie'eesa does not remember this joker from the last time she was here...

--

Even later:
The human woman looked faintly disgusted as Alaie'eesa dropped the Bandit Leader's severed hands onto the ground at her feet. The kat cocked an ear quizzically at the other.
"Is this not correct...?"
"Ummm, well, it's... unexpected." Replied the woman, stepping away from the grisly trophy.
Alaie smiled. "It was nothing for this one, he was trapped by his men."
The other looked horrified. "You mean you shot him in captivity?"
Alaie looked puzzled. "Well this one would hardly have let him out I think."
"But that's hardly fair..." Replied the other dubiously. Alaie narrowed her eyes. "Fair?"
"Um..." Struggled the ex-adventurer. "Not a fair fight."
"Oh! No indeed! It took several arrows before he went."
"That's what I mean!" Exclaimed the woman.
Alaie shrugged and smiled; "This one cares not." She tapped her chest. "This one would have quite happily have dealt with him had he been on the job when found..."

--

This post has been edited by PhonAntiPhon: Nov 15 2014, 02:20 PM

Turdas, 2:34 PM, 26th of Sun's Dusk

Lord Haaf-Mersey is on his way to... hold on.... Volskygge, where he hopes to find a copy of Black and White Souls for the orc librarian back at the College. They met some wicked necromancers along the way, and Haaf-Mersey had to deal with some friendly fire!

Rayya the Overkiller can handle ranged attacks (bow or staff-magic) while Haaf-Mersey deals only in melee / only fights with 1-handed swords + shield. So my Crusader tries to run up to the necrodudes, but one of them gets some good frost attacks. Haaf-Mersey's speed is slowed, and he needs to heal up. Because the thing is IF (and that's a very BIG IF) he can actually reach an enemy, there's no hope for that enemy, as Haaf-Mersey begins his shield-bashes. But he has to actually make it there first, you see?

So he heals up, and finally gets in range of one of the necromancers. Starts his thing with the shield-bashes, and once this action begins, the wizards can't throw any more spells; they must switch to their crappy daggars or whatever. So Haaf-Mersey begins getting an advantage, but then BOOM goes this giant fireball right in front of his face. He keeps his attack on the necromancer and BOOM goes another fireball.

The necroguy eventually fell, and so we finally get a look at what's going on with Miss Overkiller. She's apparently picked up a staff of firebolts, and is using it like it's 4th of July. This is all good, but don't fire it in my Crusader's face, Miss Overkiller!

Phon - Yay for giants! If you look at their ears (pointy like an elf), I think it helps explain why they're a lot wiser than they look.

Renee - That is so funny about Miss Fireballer, the staff abusing follower! I really like the radiant quests in Skyrim. In fact, Buffy normally has two from the College librarian active, one from the Companions and a bounty one from one of the jarl's open.

Heh, I love the fact that Rayya picked up the staff and put it to some good use. She lives up to her nickname.

So Alaie'eesa has a companion, not that she's complaining mind, she likes a bit of company in the road. it was just unexpected is all.
Upon informing Annekke Crag-Jumper of her success with the bandits that the other had mentioned to her, Annekke promptly asked outright if she could come with her.
"Take me with you, please."
Alaie is not one to refuse company where it's offered, and where the individual involved is... interesting and experienced, and has tales to tell. Alaie LOVES tales and stories and Annekke has many. Besides, having met Annekke's husband, the Kat can well understand why the poor woman would want to get back to her former occupation.

--

Riften, some days later...
Annekke has more than proven herself in the field and her assistance, and advice, has certainly been useful. The two have struck quite the friendship, and are in the process of developing a healthy respect for each other. Annekke for her part is fascinated by the Kat; leading to some awkward moments...
"You are touching Khajiit, hmmm?"
"Sorry I, er, that is..."
"Yes?"
"Well I wanted to know what you felt like..."
"Oh?"
"Um... a bit like a cat, really..."
"Ah."

The pair have arrived in Riften, a town that Alaie'eesa is very familiar with, Annekke less so - recently at least, though she obviously passed through many times during her earlier adventures.
There will be some shopping, and a few jobs, before the pair set out again. Khajiit is thinking of going into the pelt trade, no?

--

Well the horse was delivered, although not without incident and a few deaths. Louis was put out that the animal was at the stables but Alaie was not. She had arrived and not finding him, left the horse and went back for Annekke, who was waiting at an old ruin recently vacated by a couple bandits.
Annekke was nervous due to the presence of a dragon in the area.

When the two returned, they found Louis. He was threatening to leave with the horse and no payment, until the Kat pointed out that she still had the paperwork. Things worked out alright after that...

--

The girls are currently exploring at the extreme eastward points from Riften; the Morrowind border and the Imperial outpost there, and the various mines and Troll caves dotted about.
Riften may be a bit rough around the seams, but it makes a decent base and they've done well; Annekke has rekindled her love of the Bee and Barb which she first visited some 20 years before, and Alaie'eesa is making much progress, in many areas, not least of which is the acquisition of gold and information; useful commodities both.

She's still considering the pelt business but Annekke is doing her level best to push her in the artefact direction, namely those of a Dwemer nature. Khajiit is not unenthusiastic in this regard, and travel does broaden the mind, so they do say, yes?

--

As an aside, Annekke it turns out, is very much a "True Nord" and as such takes a keen interest in the civil war. Alaie has never been one for politics but has often considered the Stormcloaks to be the better of the factions. She has always had better dealings with them and it us their country after all; as an outcast from hers, she can see their drive not to lose theirs. Also, they've never tried to behead her...
My point is here that Alaie could very well convert completely to Annekke's way of thinking, and the two of them could go off and join up.

--

This post has been edited by PhonAntiPhon: Nov 18 2014, 04:31 PM

The girls left Riften towards the dog-end of the day, looking to head north and west, to places where Annekke said she had heard tell that there were Dwemer ruins.
Thing was, they had had some wine, perhaps more than was good for them and, having tracked a Troll down to Fort Greenwall, had proceeded to stock up on sell-able items...
...then Alaie'eesa found the nearly completely covered entrance to a level below...

--

A while later, some way north of Red Belly Mine and just below Northwind, Annekke's badgering of Alaie finally saw a result and - albeit reluctantly - the Kat agreed to join her private war against the Imperials.
They kicked it off with an attack on a patrol that was passing.

It did not go well.
They got the soldiers, but also two Vigilants. Alaie told Annekke to keep watch whilst she stripped and hid the bodies, but they were attacked by bandits and so ended up making even more of a spectacle. On the hunt for witnesses they headed up to the mine at Northwind, irrevocably locked now onto a path.
Sure enough they found a third Vigilant amongst the rocks.

Telling Annekke to wait for her at the mine entrance, Alaie did what was necessary...

--

This post has been edited by PhonAntiPhon: Nov 19 2014, 07:31 AM

So much has happened that it's difficult to know where to begin.

The girls had an eventful stay in Windhelm, many secrets were revealed and many questions raised which remain unanswered. The Dunmer are terribly ostracised and the Kat, given her prediliction for outsiders, had to use all of her natural diplomacy and balance when dealing with a couple of thorny and potentially problematic issues.
Things appeared to work out and she and Annekke also managed to explore certain ruins below the city that provide no small amount of income for the more marginalised inhabitants...

--

Philosphically, Alaie found herself at something of a crossroads with regards to her participation in Annekke's private war on the Imperium. It led to some regretable exchanges but, ultimately, the two women came to a mutual understanding with regards to motive and feelings and have developed a workable understanding.

Be that as it may, they now find themselves in the far north of the province, picking their way amongst the pack-ice searching for the elusive Dwemer ruins that both of them have heard are about the place.
In the back of Alaie'eesa's mind though hang heavy the words of the priestess of Azura, whose magnificent shrine she had taken her sidekick to see...
...it appears she - Alaie'eesa - has a destiny to fulfill.

--