Yeah, Lord Haaf-Mersey got pretty good with Smithing, and also had three different articles of clothing / jewelry he would wear while improving armor / weapons. So he made the mistake of improving Rayya's scimitars. There is some sort of bug with Rayya and her weapons. I forget exactly what it is, but after LHM improved her weapons, she wound up doing an enormous amount of damage all the time. And it got to the point that sometimes having her around meant there wasn't much for LHM (who was much slower in his heavy armor) to do.

... ahh those were the days. Thank you for not revealing the secret of that tower. What is the name of the 2-room apartment? That'd be nice to have. Claire has access to your Bard's Cube whenever she's in Solitude, but it'd be cool for one of my others to have somewhere small to stay in that town, too.

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6:16 PM, Last Seed 30, 4th Era 201

Master Baytor has made it safely to the Frozen Hearth with T. Baggius, his friend from Cyrodiil. Here they have met their Thalmor contact, Yor Assizmyn. Yor is supposed to be from the Thalmor headquarters, but for now, he is meeting Baytor and Baggius here in Winterhold, and the three of them are going into the College to try to broaden their horizons. Baytor will hopefully pick up a spell or two; he'll have no interest in what's going on a Saarthal. Once he has what he's looking for, the three of them will begin to travel toward the Thalmor headquarters near Solitude.

Baytor is way too much fun to game with. I am thinking I might actually make up my own quest mod with him eventually. Like, maybe he and T. and Yor will be one of those silly Thalmor patrols that leads prisoners around. Who knows?

Yay, I’m glad Claire stays in her nook at the Bards College!

The apartment is Princess Solitude Barnacle Cottage by Princess Stomper. I just love it.

T. Baggius!

Awesome, thank you Grits. I'll install that one next time I'm gaming.

Last I saw, Master Baytor and his two Thalmor companions are outside of Robber's Gorge, that bandit camp which straddles the road between Rorikstead and Dragon's Bridge. This is always an epic battle, some of mine have had troubles here in the past, especially my Xbox characters, since it was difficult to have more than one follower in vanilla game. Things go smoother on PC.

Renee, Robber’s Gorge is one of my favorite locations. There are many ways to approach it, and it’s tough enough to make even my boldest characters slow down and think.


Jerric, Darnand, Mjoll, and Marcurio learned the secret of Arkngthamz with the help of the ghostly Katria. Jerric felt a real kinship with her, more than he has with most of the living adventurers he has encountered. He recognized right away that even dead she has a considerably bigger brain than he does, so for once he showed some caution when she warned him.

Arkngthamz is a genuine wonder. They explored it from bottom to top, and by that I mean Jerric dove into the muddy pool first and swam all over the place before they started the climb. Jerric is good at puzzles, so he was able to solve the Dwemer lock without asking for help or getting anyone hurt. Marcurio remarked that he would like to take apart one of the constructs to see how it works just as they were passing behind a big one that no doubt comes to life if the lock’s trap is triggered. Darnand enthusiastically agree. Jerric prepared to slap a mage silly if one of them tried. He didn’t need to check with Mjoll to see how she would feel about them waking it up.

On the way to Markarth with their spoils they stopped at Dushnikh Yal for Jerric to brawl with their chief, offload some random junk he had picked up, and ogle the chief’s ‘favored’ wife. She keeps her favors right out in the open so Jerric figures it’s OK to look. Jerric tried to get Ghorbash the Iron Hand to fight him while they were there, but Ghorbash just said he wanted to come along for an adventure. So Jerric gave him a nice bow and away they went. Jerric enjoys the company of Skyrim’s orcs. He never has to guess what’s on their minds.

Marcurio stayed at the Center for Dwemer Studies in Markarth where he got to work with Calcelmo’s team right away. Darnand took his warrior buddies on a tour of the Dwemer Museum. They all had the same idea about that. Then Jerric took them visiting his Markarth friends, wrapping it up with a stop at Dibella’s Temple. Jerric is always hopeful of getting a ‘blessing’ or even just a glimpse of something he’s not supposed to see there, but it seems he has too much of Sanguine about him to join the priestess party. This time he got into trouble, but with these ladies a punishment is as good as a blessing (he says). The priestesses kicked him out before any of his friends had to intervene. When he comes back he’s sure they’ll be happy to see him.

The adventurers camped outside Left Hand Mine rather than sleeping inside the city. Jerric grilled mammoth steaks for the regular appetites and a rabbit haunch for Darnand. Wine, mead, and stories were passed around the fire. The next destination is a Nordic ruin that according to Tolfdir holds a special dagger. But first they have a stop to make in Karthwasten.

Here is a picture showing Jerric’s new trick. The blue glow is from a Resist Magic on Self spell. Darnand finally got it through Jerric’s head that resisting magic will not interfere with absorbing spells, it just makes the spells hurt him less when he doesn’t absorb them. It is a testament to Marcurio’s Chain Lightning that this time Jerric listened.

Here is a picture of the crowd at Markarth’s stables. That’s a lot of sweaty socks and under-tunics. I’m sure Argis and Marcurio appreciate not having to smell all of them crammed into Vlindrel Hall overnight.

Oh, Buffy likes to take on Robber's Gorge as well. Grits is right in the challenges and variety of approaches one can take. In Buffy's case the choice is basically sniping or frenzy - either from very long range across the river or way up on the hills above.

Grits, what a fun update with so many followers! Your timing is perfect, as Buffy is currently traveling with both Jordis the Sausage Maiden and Mjoll the Motormouth. Both ladies have beautiful hearts and, thanks to FCO, it is a blast listening to them chatter away. That means also that Buffy's familiar is riding safely up in the saddle with Buffy to avoid 'too many cooks' in fights.

Calcelmo's research lab sounds like a perfect niche for Marcurio.

Ah yes, Robber's Gorge. Together with Treva's Watch and Faldar's Tooth, the most popular locations for Wilf's tools in my mod testing.

Why don't I get more Rift Watchtower?

----

My Dark Elf (I needed a break from Khajiiti) got lucky, and then unlucky, and then lucky again with her selection.

The first location she was sent to was the Rift Watchtower, but found another tool early in Valtheim Towers. You really don't have any option once the bandit running the toll intervenes. And there are only three guards at the watchtower, so that was easy so far.

But then the next was Faldar's Tooth. Unlucky, I thought, except that she was approaching it from the North, and it turns out to be much easier to pick off the bandits on the walls from above them, especially with some cover to duck behind that they couldn't scale to reach her. The bandit boss himself ran out and got stuck in the rocks, letting her pound him with fireballs (and arrows once her magicka ran out).

Her game revealed a lot of problems with the display and completion of objectives in the mod, so it all got a major revision before Cat Man Dhou checked it out for 0.4. It didn't stop her making her wagon, so her game continues.

Not sure what precautions Jerric is heeding her warnings on, looks to me like he is out on a limb!!!

Mjoll doesn't look real keen on being where she is, that is sure!

I didn't remember Calcelmo's Dwemer museum having display cases, how did I miss that?

I don't know how you keep up with such a large group, but I absolutely LOVE seeing them traveling together! That has to add a tremendous amount of fun to your game!

Awesome shots!

Cat Man Dhou! c-c-c-c-c-cat man dhou...

Grits: lovely update there, love that expression on Mjoll's face in that second pic. Is the Dwemer Studies place vanilla?

Acadian, I grinned at “sausage maiden.” Those two must be entertaining company!

ghastley, Lil likes to approach those fortresses from higher ground like your Dunmer lass did. She has even tackled Valtheim Towers that way, sneaking over the ridge across the river from the road rather than crossing the bridge under fire. I think Mojo has gotten the Winter War every time. This last time he finally learned how not to get mauled by the snowy sabre cat!

mALX, Mjoll made me laugh when I saw that look she was giving Darnand. It’s fun to watch the group. Here is another view of the shot in the Dwemer museum showing where those cases are. It’s a fun place to rob.

Renee, the Center for Dwemer Studies is Vlindrel Hall renamed with Jaxonz Renamer. I used My Home Is Your Home to give Marcurio a daily schedule so that he works in Understone Keep with Calcelmo and his nephew and then goes to Vlindrel Hall every night to sleep. If Jerric shows up at 6:0o pm where his friends work he can walk them home. It’s pretty neat.

Jerric is still debating what to do with Proudspire Manor. It has been suggested that a Dibellan order would like to keep a facility near the Bards College to keep their bards from falling under Sanguine’s influence. Jerric is imagining this as a continuous girl orgy at the manor with wine, lute music, Jerric, and drums, which is probably just the kind of influence that the priestesses are worried about.

This post has been edited by Grits: Nov 10 2015, 03:36 AM

Oh, that mod sounds Awesome!

I used to love the Markarth player house, but - the house carl feeding his face and demanding marriage every time Maxical walked in got on her nerves. She had visions of taking him for a long adventure off a short cliff, lol. Instead she moved out and left the place to him; never went back.

Is he there with Marcurio? Do they talk?

Jerric's imagination, SPEW!!!





This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 10 2015, 10:31 AM

Things went well at Robber's Gorge; Baytor and his two Thalmor companions have amazing teamwork. Unlike Claire, who mostly heals others up while she does a minimum of fighting, with Baytor & friends it's almost all destruction magic. The three of them hit Robber's Gorge like a hurricane.

The only down point was that Baytor got a little over-enthusiastic when he met the bandit chief here. This lady got a good power-swing on him, and nearly all his health was gone. But then Yor Assizmyne and T. Baggius stepped in, and that chief was as good as toast.

They also made it to Solitude's Castle Dour, where the Aldmeri Dominion mod kicks in. This mod will allow Baytor to officially join Skyrim's Thalmor (although I like to think he already is an agent of Cyrodiil's branch of Thalmor). The first thing they want him to do is murder Heimskr, the priest guy who's always ranting about "the mighty Talos" in the middle of Whiterun. That shoudl be interesting.

I can confirm also that Notice Boards is an AWESOME mod, for those who like fetch / kill / rescue (etc.) type quests. Baytor is really just looking for gold of course, so he took a "kill bandit leader" quest. He's in that phase during which he's constantly spending gold, fattening up his spell book, buying cheper soul gems, etc. His "Majors" by the way are going to be...

Destruction
Conjuration
Enchanting
One-handed
Alteration
probably Light Armor

I am trying to keep him like a true Thalmor NPC, choosing only skills they would use.




Yes, that does sound neat. Wow, a schedule for Darnand.



There ya go. *thumbs up*

This post has been edited by Renee: Nov 10 2015, 03:39 PM

Yor Assizmyne

mALX, Argis is there with Marcurio but I have never heard them talk. I suspect that like Jerric and Darnand the two of them would not hit it off right away.

Renee, Baytor and his Thalmor buddies sound like a lot of fun. They can go around blowing things up and not worry a bit about upsetting people! I was thinking about some way of giving them suspected Talos worshipers to investigate, but that Notice Board is perfect! Maybe the bandit lairs are secret hideouts for Talos worshipers! Thank you for the thumbs up on Notice Boards. I’ll give it a whirl in my games.


Jerric, Darnand, Mjoll, and Ghorbash also raided Robber’s Gorge today. Here’s a picture of Jerric storming the gate with support from the ridge. He loves having a team to work with.

After a fight Jerric likes to check in with his companions to see how they fared, share the looted mead and ale, and give them their arrows back. Here Jerric is still glowing blue from his battle spell and Mjoll is telling him that she is itching for a fight. Jerric is also subject to frequent itches, but this woman has him beat. Ghorbash is of the same mind as Mjoll. Right after this he told Jerric, “My blood is calm. I prefer it boiling.” These two make Jerric feel like a pacifist. It’s never long before he’s ready to go again, but they just don’t want to stop.

One thing to note in the picture is the bow on Mjoll’s back. That is no mere Dwarven bow, that is Zephyr the magical bow of ghostly Katria. Jerric is a loyal friend and holds several archers close to his heart, but after consideration he decided that Mjoll should be the one to bear it. At the same time he gave her two other very awesome bows including an ebony one so that she would have a choice. She started using Zephyr and never looked back. It’s hers now.

After Jerric stopped in at Jorrvaskr to see what Skjor wanted, he had to say farewell to his friends for a time. Of course Ulfe tagged along as usual. He’s on Companion business with Farkas. While he was at Jorrvaskr Aela informed him that she heard he might be stronger than he looks. So he stripped down on the spot and told her to take a good look for herself. Aela did not have further comment, so he changed into his armor and went to find Farkas.

On the way out of Whiterun they passed Lildereth sitting under the Gildergreen. She was dressed for hunting. Jerric wonders if she has plans with that elf Anoriath. He sees Anoriath out on the plains pretty often. He knows that if Lil is with Anoriath he will never see her unless she wants him to see her. That gave him something to think about on the walk with Farkas.

I have tackled Robber's Gorge from that ridge before. I think I have gone at it from every direction. The way it is situated on the map, it is difficult to avoid.

Jerric the Pacifist, Motormoth Mjoll, and Ghorbash the Boiling!

Have you actually seen Anoriath out hunting? I have never seen him outside of Whiterun.

Renee, you've lost none of your wonderful creativity when in comes to naming your characters! The three thalmorian amigos sound very. . . destructive. I don't even want to think about what their post-combat victory celebration might look like.

Grits, I love to hear the adventures of Jerric and company. I know what you mean about how boiling and itchy Mjoll and Ghorbash can be. And I love how you always weave so much mystery into Lildereth.

Acadian & Miss Florens: Yes I have tons of names I can give characters, which never get used. But now that I know how to make NPC followers, I can be as "creative" as usual.

Grits: Yes, Notice Boards (I think that's what it's called, but I will double-check this) adds a lot. It comes with an MCM, so we can adjust the payments we get, which is a really nice touch. I think there is a way to make Stormies always hostile to Baytor & pals (set faction to -1, right?) so I'll try that next time I'm

Who is the archer way up high in that first pic? Standing on the rock above RG?



Ha, I know the feeling. Claire would pay some Septims for a "stripped down" pic of Jerric.

This post has been edited by Renee: Nov 11 2015, 02:25 PM

Rosa, one of the mods I use gives Anoriath a hunting schedule, so I see him out on the plains pretty often. If memory serves the unofficial patch once restored his hunting AI package but the first attempt resulted in him rampaging through Whiterun on a killing spree. I missed that excitement, fortunately. I’m not sure if the unofficial patch worked out the issue or if Cutting Room Floor took over, but I’m pretty sure the result is Arthmoor’s doing.

Thanks, Acadian! Lil keeps the big guy guessing.

Renee, that’s Ghorbash the Iron Hand at the top and middle, Mjoll on the left wielding Zephyr with her armored boob sticking out, and Darnand flinging fire on the right. Jerric just led them over the top of the ridge and their AI took over. The middle fire ball is coming from a bandit mage inside the wall.


EDIT: A free one for Claire. (From before I gave him his tattoos.)

This post has been edited by Grits: Nov 11 2015, 06:27 PM

Aww, Buffy just wants to stand on a chair behind Jerric and braid the hair on his back.

That is priceless! It is also why I don't use the Unofficial Patch for Skyrim. It may fix some things, but I found it broke quests and other things in the bargain. Sort of like Bethesda's own patches...

Jerric doesn't have a six-pack of abs, but an eight-pack!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 12 2015, 05:51 PM

And the rumors were true! But...odor isn't everything... Just kidding. This was my favorite shot of the bunch, what a perfect catch of expressions on both faces! I love this shot!

I got a kick out of Mjoll and Jerric in close proximity both looking at each other with the same expression; same hair style; and it even looks like Mjoll has some facial hair matching in this shot! They look like they could be sister and brother or fraternal twins in that shot!

On Jerric storming the gate - really glad you clarified that was his support on the hill, I saw the archer and backup and thought Jerric had made a bad decision to storm the gate without scouting the hill first,

Great shots! I guess my perception is way down this morning for judging what is going on in a screenshot, lol. Sorry about that!