@macole - You have a recruit! Great, only 14 more to go! That's assuming you have SI, otherwise it's only a dozen.

Before my game crashed couple of years ago I had recruited Dawn in Bruma, the Orc gal near Kvatch, and Rosentia's niece Virgilia. After patching the game back together I got involved with vampire hunting to the point where I neglected returning Rockshatter. Also I need to look into where I am with the Bear Riders.

Acadian – We boldly go were we’ve never gone before.

20200109 Valenwood Islands, Marooned
The Dragonseye set sail and for the rest of the day it was a delightful excursion. Later that night we‘re awakened when we were violently thrown from our bunks. The ship is listing badly to one side and soon we were knee deep in water. Something is terribly wrong.

Sammanul is shouting instructions to abandon ship. Hurriedly we grabbed what we could and head for the top deck.

Once outside the captain attacks us. Here we are in the middle of a storm, on a sinking ship, trying to get to a lifeboat, and the fool captain wants to fight over a dumb sheep. My Ladies quickly teach him some manners, permanently.

Jumping into the shark infested water wasn’t my idea of a night of fun. A chest fell overboard and sank to the bottom of the shallow sea. Diving straight down, we found it stuck in the sandy sea floor. One of the keys we snatched from the ship opened it. Inside we found a strange book about a Bosmer and Molag Bal titled Epic Fail.

It’s a race to the lifeboat. First one to the boat doesn't have to row
Apparently I misunderstood the rules and lost by a 3-1 vote. I’d like to meet the sailor who outfitted the lifeboat with only one set of oars.

I don’t know how we did it but the next morning we found ourselves marooned on a deserted Abecean island. Question is where’s Mary Ann and Ginger?

“No, no, no!” Kaleah admonishes me as Pym palms me on the forehead. “It’s, ‘How do we get back to Cyrodiil?’”

Five others also made it to the island; Vuldon gro-Murlock, Craelius Marcus, Baldur, Olurian, and Sammanul. We speak to each. Vuldon gro-Murlock and Craelius don’t have much to say. Craelius seems to be a little addled going on and on about how blue the water is.

Sammanul just wants to find food and water. It’s like he’s ok with the situation and wants to stay here awhile.

Baldur plans to chop down trees to build a raft so we can sail back to the mainland. This would take some time but working toward a goal would be a good thing.

Olurion wants to steal the ship he sees docked at an island nearby. He’s willing to kill any islanders that get in his way. That seems to be a bit over the top and very dangerous. Somebody might get seriously hurt.

I’m not sure which of the ideas would be best to pursue. It’s late and we’re exhausted, after a crab feast we’ll get some rest and explore the islands tomorrow. Then we’ll decide on a plan.

This post has been edited by macole: Jan 18 2020, 07:11 AM

Ha! Mary Ann was one of the first female television role models I had as a child, much more than Ginger, surely. Back in the days when there were only 4 or 5 channels on TV.

What an idiot that captain is, or was. What quest line is this from? I know it's modded, but is this Gweden Brothel as well? In any event, that island looks really small. Maybe there aren't any enemies!

The mod is Valenwood Islands on the Nexus. So far I've found that it has a rather complex quest line with 3 or 4 faction options. What you do and say does make a difference.

Mary Ann was a sweetheart, Ginger was, um, I was too young.

macole, what fun! I'll be fun to watch your gang figure out their plan of action from the available choices.

20200112 Valenwood Islands, Archen and the Heart Coral

Waking early in the morning the Ladies and I began our exploration of the islands. Maybe afterwards we’ll have an idea on which plan to enact. The island we were marooned on didn’t offer any clue. There was a small cave at one end but a brief exploration led nowhere.

Crossing over to the next isle, we were approaching a small village when we were stopped by a Bosmer Hunter. At his insistence we followed him to the third island where we were introduced to Archen, his leader.

“Careful Feayche,” Kaleah urged. ”This one has been too long away from the forest. He follows all the tenets of the elder Boiche but his mind is clouded. He has forgotten the bond between ‘che and Fey.”

“What Bosmer hasn’t? Eons of Altmer, Dunmer, and Nord self-grandiose lies drown out the truth,” I fumed.

Maeva the Cute Elf warns against asking to join Archen’s tribe. There’s something about him that makes her uneasy.

Archen took exception when he learned we wanted to cut down trees to build rafts. The harming of the plant life on the islands is a criminal offense punishable by death. That included cutting trees to build a raft.

Just great, another faction to deal with. In our defense I argued that we hadn’t done anything yet. Besides, how were we to know since we had just arrived and not by choice to boot.

Archen relented somewhat and charged us with plucking the fronds of the Heart Coral to feed the trees. We need to return and speak with the other survivors about this.

The sun was setting when we arrived at the Dragonseye survivors’ camp so we bed down for the night. Thank the goddess, we didn’t see what went on later after we fell asleep.

In the morning we explain the situation to the group. Baldur wished us luck in finding the heart coral. Olurion wants us to kill the Bosmer and cut his heart out to use for something. Again with the necromancy.

When Sammanul, Vuldon gro-Murlock and Craelius couldn’t be found to get their opinions, my Ladies and I began exploring the coral reefs between the islands for the heart coral. Hours go by with no luck. Then seemingly from out of nowhere The Shrike shows up (how long had she been standing there laughing at us) and offers to show us where it is. We follow The Shrike to a location near the Boiche’s boat.

“Swim out there and you’ll find it,” she says. Leaving my Ladies with The Shrike I swim out to find the heart coral.

I found it but as soon as I harvested the fronds three sandbar sharks attacked.

Funny how she didn’t mention anything about sharks.

Turning back to shore, a tin key caught my eye. Find a key, pick it up, the rest of the day you’ll,,, drive yourself crazy wondering what it unlocks.

The Shrike was shocked (yeah, really?) that I was still alive when we told her that the ritual had been completed. Well now at least we have full permission the roam the three islands.

This post has been edited by macole: Jan 19 2020, 07:33 AM

The island adventure continues! Don't let me get started on the silly Green Pact. Lol.

Sharks! Where are Hooper and Chief Brody when you need them!

Sure could have used them but I'd rather have their boat. I have no idea what I'm doing. Would say that the Jaws theme would have been perfect fight music for this part.

Also, I haven't fully got the hang of posting here. Somehow I lost a couple lines just before the last picture.

Well at least those islands aren't totally deserted. If there's a key, there's also shelter somewhere I think.

That pic with the skeletons while they're sleeping.... how did that happen?

the party returned to camp late one night and there they were standing staring out to sea. when the skeletons didn't attack everyone choose a sleeping bag and went to sleep. hasn't happened since.
This mod has 3 or 4 different paths you can take. one is siding with Olurion. I think he is a necromancer and the skeletons may have something to do with him.

20200120 A Dream

Returning to camp, the skeletons were quiet when we bed down for the night. The sand still warm after day in the sun was a comfort to our tired muscles. The scent of the ocean breeze and the rhythmic sound of the waves softly caressing the sandy shore lulled us quickly to sleep.
I dreamed of pack of goblins following a woman through Cracked Wood Cave. She led the goblins to a large room with a throne. Sitting herself on the throne the goblins danced an intricate haka while chanting "Tschoo ... Jayne gahlin ksharra!"

Most amazing.

A pleasant night dreaming of Jayne the Goblin Lady!

Yeah, I was reading Renee's story the other night. In one chapter she included a short YouTube video. Kind of neat I thought.

I should have said that;

As I sat down on my bedroll a dark spot appeared on the horizon. Growing larger by the second the black spot soon became a black horse and rider. Galloping across the sea faster than any corsair a courier streaked straight as an arrow toward me. One of the famous couriers of Tamriel had tracked me down to deliver back issues of the Black Horse Courier.
I complained about the late delivery. The burly courier demanded payment of overdue subscription fees. Rats, they had sent the 'Collector'. Nothing I could do but pay up.
I was in the middle of one feature article when I fell asleep.

20200122 Valenwood Islands, the grotto
Feeling good at our success we went to the Water Drake Tavern to celebrate. After several drinks we ask the publican about beds for the night. To our surprise he has none. The second floor sleeping room is being remodeled but due to lack of tourist it’s not needed.

Well, there has to be a story behind that. Another round of drinks and Gvarni the Sea-Drake and his wife Brundeba agree that it’s Archen who’s at fault.

Gvarni claimed Archen has set a magical barrier around the islands to keep strangers and tourists from overrunning the islands.

I’m getting the impression that sinking ships and killing the crews for their cargo is probably more like it.

Brundeba suggested that if we want information on Archen go search the coral reef around the islands.

We left the tavern to investigate what the reef as Brundeba’s advised. We spent the rest of the day and most of the night searching the coral reef. The sea floor around the reef is littered with the remains of sunken ships. Chests holding valuable treasures were scattered everywhere.

An unusual item was discovered in a small grotto on the outer rim of the reef. It was a large intricately engraved sapphire. Thinking that it would fetch a pretty penny back in the Imperial City we stuffed in the sack along with scores of other trinkets.

By the time we got back to camp we were feeling rather dejected over the late night search. It was after midnight, and other than the remains of several sunken ships and their treasure we found nothing that could be tied directly to Archen.

The bright sun woke us way too early. Still tired from searching the coral reef the night before, we awoke to find that someone new had arrived, Captain Volus Mesperides. His ship the Prosperous has been wrecked in the same manner as was the Dragonseye. He and some of his crew are hiding deep in the flooded cave safe from prying Bosmer Hunters.

Volus leads us to his hiding place in the small flooded cave. There he tells us he knows how the ships are being sunk. The Bosmers are using a Wrecking-Stone. As Captain Volus explained it is a Falaithrun Laidrul an Aldmeri device Aldmeri navigators used to control the weather in the shipping lanes. He knows where the device is and once I finish talking to the ‘loons’ he wants us to help him get it.

Yes, we need to find out more about this guy. Something doesn’t sit right about him. We make out excuses and leave the cave.

macole wow, whoever that mod author(s) is or are, they really put a lot of mystery into this situation your party is in. I mean, you're actually exploring underwater and whatnot!

Yeah I wouldn't trust that captain guy either. 30+ years of playing videogames (on and off, but mostly on) have given us some sort of sixth sense when it comes to NPCs like this guy

Good theory that the islands of paradise are really a trap for ships. Looking forward to how this develops.

Hmm, it seems your two above posts are duplicates of each other? Let me know if you'd like me to delete one of them.

Edit/Update: Post above deleted as requested.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jan 26 2020, 01:00 PM

Yes, please delete post #1177 dated Jan 22 2020, 09:56 PM. Thank you for spotting the error.

This post has been edited by macole: Jan 24 2020, 10:50 PM