Aravi in Skyrim, her video story Options

[SubRosa]

So innocent Maggie was not quite so innocent after all. She's an Imperial agent!

"The bloodiest beef in the Reach!"
That is something to brag about? What does he think his customers are, vampires?

Don't go that way Aravi, the Vigilant of Stendarr is that way, he'll try to drag you into another annoying Daedric quest! Uh oh, too late. That guy gets so tiresome, stopping you every time you walk through there.

A speechcraft of 59? Aravi does have honeyed-words!

Ahh, good old Thonar Silverblood. There is a family that competes with the Black-brairs for the title of vilest scum in Skyrim. Don't you love how he blames you, the Empire, and everyone else for the fruit of his own corruption? I see Aravi took the same route as Neith! I wish you could kill him. But you do get the option to do it later.

[Grits]

Lumpy bed? That thing is made of stone! Looks like Aravi is expecting trouble, changing into armor. Hogni Red-Arm has a sales technique that could create a lot of temporary vegetarians. Ooo, did Aravi buy a present for Kharjo?

OK, I guess Markarth is not the most relaxing place to visit. Aravi seemed very on edge, and for good reason. This quest definitely makes me paranoid.

How tactful for Aravi to put her weapons away when she entered The Treasury House. Poor Rhiada. She’s the pregnant wife that Eltrys was talking about. I love that Aravi gave Thonar a good smacking. You do NOT call her an animal, especially not a hound! (Well, there is the wolf thing, but Thonar was just rude!)

This quest makes more sense to me watching than it ever did playing. It's a confusing fight in The Treasury House with all of the summoning and explosions. Aravi knew what to do, though! I'm really enjoying this!

[King Coin]

@mALX: The people that attacked killed Thonar’s wife first before Aravi got down there. Aravi wanted to kill him when he said he was having the Forsworn kill people for him. Everything was his fault. Since she couldn’t kill him, she had to settle for taking her claws to him.

Who’s selling what? Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Going wolfy isn’t even on the table inside of a city, she’d be killed and so would Kharjo. I hope a trip to the mine isn’t in order. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: I’m sure the Imps want that mine!

Aravi’s more effective with words than she was in Cyrodiil. Thonar is scum and Aravi let him know it! Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: No kidding on the beds! No nothing was bought at the stall.

Oh no, Rhiada was Eltrys’ wife? I didn’t think I could hate the Silverbloods anymore than I already do. Thonar really deserved Aravi’s claws. Thanks Grits!

##################################

Aravi’s eyes sparkled at the treasure before her. Her ears perked forward in excitement and her tail twitched with nervous energy. Her heart beat a little faster. She had searched for so long, and here it is, lying upon a table at Ghorza gra-Bagol’s smithy. An ebony long sword.Aravi heard the smith’s rough chuckle behind her. She glanced back and saw a very pleased looking Orc woman. Turning her head, she saw Kharjo was close to laughter. Her face burned, knowing that they were enjoying her goofy behavior, but she was too thrilled to care.

The black metal was as much a work of art as it was a weapon. The graceful curve of the blade was both beautiful and deadly in shape. The tip was sharp for stabbing and the curved blade ideal for slashing. The blade was thin enough to slip in between a couple of ribs easily and strong enough to hack through armor. It was decorated with exquisite golden swirl designs. Someone took pride in making this weapon.

She turned to Kharjo, trying and failing to not smile. “I do need a new sword after that meeting with the Blades.”

Kharjo started laughing and said, “This one knew you would buy as soon as you laid eyes on it. The look on your face!”

Smiling, Aravi turned to the Orc. “May I?” she asked, reaching tentatively for the sword, tail swishing behind her.

With the Orc’s approval, Aravi lifted the black blade and could tell immediately that this was an excellent sword. After a few swings, excited energy built up in her and she craved more. I’m going to really test this sword! She selected her glass short sword as her other weapon. The familiar with the unknown.

After moving to an open platform where she can fight without worry, she started with some simple swings. She built up to more complex maneuvers, getting a feel for the heavier and longer weapon.

She started to imagine an opponent. At first she only imagined a shadow, just giving her something to focus on. As she fought with it, it started to get more shape and detail. She stopped her practice and watched as the shadow resolved into another Khajiit with disturbing clarity.

Her fur bristled. The other Khajiit looked like herself, except it wasn’t. You are dead. The beast took you. The demon, the fragment of a vampire that lived inside of her for so long, showed its fangs in a perverted imitation of a smile. Its molten eyes bored into her, and Aravi wanted nothing more than to cut its head off. The world around them disappeared, leaving only the platform and the two of them. Everything else was the blackness of the void. Swords appeared in its hands.

From far off she heard Kharjo call out to her. “Is something wrong?”

Aravi charged her vampire and attacked. You are not here. This is not real! She fought with ferocity she didn’t know she possessed, moving faster than she had ever before. No matter how quick she was, each slash was blocked, every stab diverted. She couldn’t penetrate its defense.

Then it started fighting back, and Aravi found with alarm that she was on the defense. It was faster and stronger than she was; each blow she blocked made her arms numb. She backed away to buy time as she kept its swords from touching her skin. She was pressed to the edge of the platform, out of space and nowhere to go.

She bared her teeth in a snarl. You are not REAL! Out of options, she steeled herself. When it swung for her head, instead of defending herself, she went for its neck. She felt her own blade tug as it sliced through her vampire’s neck just before freezing cold pain exploded across her face. The vampire’s sword caught her right cheek and disintegrated into smoke with a hiss. Aravi fell to the platform. She brought a hand to her face and felt only smooth, cold bone.

She looked up and saw the vampire levitating before her; its head floating approximately where it should have been had it been attached still. It started transforming into something even more hideous, spindly wings tore from its back. Aravi felt the werewolf within her surge from where ever it lived…

…She was under the bright sun again, laying on the platform holding her cheek. It was tingling, but she felt her fur, whiskers, and the old scar. It wasn’t real, she told herself.

Something touched her back and sent a jolt through her. “Calm Aravi!” Kharjo stood with his hands held in front of him. “What happened?” He offered her a hand. She took it and let herself be hauled to her feet.

“Nothing.” Kharjo’s ears flattened. “I mean not here. I’ll tell you later.”

“Ok. But you are telling this one.” He eyed her warily.

“Yes, of course.” He knows me well. A feeling of dread gripped her. There’s no way it’s still alive. And yet there it was, more vivid than ever in a waking dream. Is that what that was? Her instincts told her that something was happening. The world was going to get even more dangerous.

Ghorza’s presence snapped her out of contemplation, a strange look on her face. “That was some display. Now, are you going to pay for the sword?”

“Yes, of course, how much is it?” The price was high, but Aravi paid without question.

“Fight well,” Ghorza said by way of farewell. Aravi repeated the phrase and turned toward Understone Keep where Markarth’s court wizard would be.

“May you always walk on warm sands.” She heard Kharjo bid the smith farewell in the traditional Khajiiti way before catching up with her quick pace. “Where are we going?”

“I need to enchant this sword with fire. Then we go down to the warrens and find more about this murder.”

##################################

Aravi has a new outfit! One & Two

Just a note, there is a belt that takes the tail slot which is why she doesn’t have one in the second screen. I’m ditching the belts since it looks like a fix isn’t as easy as it was in Oblivion.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Nov 4 2012, 05:52 PM

[mALX]

Ghorza is the one that I did a favor for, and one day I got a note saying she died and left me her inheritance. I think these random acts of kindness net you inheritance if the NPC dies - at least it did with her. I liked her too, was sad she died (and don't know how or why/what happened).

Looks like those vampires followed Aravi to Skyrim, URK! Love that outfit, and the chapter! Great Write/update!

[Grits]

That’s a nice dress! I love the sleeves. The thigh exposure is of course Nord-approved.

Wow, Aravi’s shopping trip turned very disturbing. That sounds like a Vampire Lord in her vision. I wonder if a daedric prince could be messing with her. I love how her beast spirit responded. She carries darkness around with her, but it could be a lot worse.

What a neat scene, KC!

[Acadian]

A wonderful segue from ‘girl gone shopping’ to Aravi’s fascination with the wonderful sword to a dark encounter with her vampiric past. I wonder if the werewolf’s ability to ward away her vampire problems is waning?

I loved how she so quickly corrected herself when Kharjo asked for an explanation. You did a fabulous job here of gently letting us know she realizes that what she has with Kharjo means sharing – the good and the bad.

Her new outfit is wonderful. The easy flowing lines suit her, green is a great color for her and I like the almost oriental feel the outfit has. Very nice!

[SubRosa]

Oooh, that is a fancy dress. I like the scaled pattern down the tummy.

What started out as a fun sword shopping expedition turned into something much worse. Aravi's old nemesis has returned: the vampiric nature that has so long tormented her. Bad enough that she has to fight the wolf in her, now this is back too! The inclusion of the vampire lord form was a good touch. Perhaps this means Aravi will be joining the group of vampire hunters headquartered in Fort Dawnguard?

[King Coin]

@mALX: That’s really weird, I wonder why she died? I think Aravi randomly got an inheritance note too, but in Morthal. Thanks mALX!

@Grits: That dress/armor (its actually considered armor, don’t look at me though) shows a lot more leg than I expected. Aravi will hang onto it still. The beast spirit had to do something right? Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: I’m very glad you liked Kharjo’s part. Aravi’s getting used to having him to rely on for more than fighting. The outfit is definitely an unusual style but I liked it. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: Like I said above, the outfit is supposed to be armor. Looks much more like a dress, so Aravi will use it like one. The Dawnguard is definitely on the horizon! Thanks SubRosa!

##################################

The murderer in the market lived in the warrens. Aravi looks down there for clues…

7:13

##################################

Walking in the Rift

Sunset

You’re not so tough

Volley

[mALX]

"Walking in the Rift" is my fave screen, but "Volley" ran a very close second! Love that area, everything is colorful there!

Holy Cow, I love this vid! First, never knew about "The Warrens" - haven't seen them before. Really cool everyone gets their own room, wonder if the Player can live in there?

Then that guy said he was going to teach Aravi a lesson - and did nothing, ROFL!! She asks him a question and he says "Back for another lesson?" ROFL !!! LOVED that!

Next Nepos - Holy Cow! WOO HOO! Now that is a great character and dialogue, too bad he has to die so quickly! Loved that scene - and if Aravi didn't loot them in the vid, can you just tell me what she found there?

Also - I wasn't sure about this, in Skyrim if you kill someone, can you take over their house without problems like in previous games?

Nice house Nepos had, if you can I'll be heading over there to get a new home, ROFL !!!

Nepos turned into a pile of ash, how did that happen?

AWESOME VID !!!! LOVED it !!!!!

[Grits]

I think that guy in the leather armor was supposed to pick a fight with Aravi. I remember poor little Denelle getting a surprise beatdown right in that doorway. Did he just call Aravi MANGY?! She was kind to let him live!!

That’s a great scene with Nepos the Nose. Now it’s easy to understand why Eltrys pounced on Aravi for help as soon as she walked through the city gates. I really like this conspiracy quest.

Wow, this is another group of screenshots where I just can’t pick a favorite. The birch trees are a great backdrop for Aravi. She and Kharjo make quite a contrast! These are great, KC!

[SubRosa]

So Aravi is back to poking her nose where it does not belong.

So "N" sent Weylin to assassinate Margaret? Now who might "N" be? Uh oh, looks like Aravi needs to learn another lesson! This will not last long, even without the two swords. Yep, Aravi thrashed that milk-drinker but good. Kharjo looks like he about to spit his head open!

Now to Nepos the Nose. Wonder how he got that nickname. Oh, I guess it is obvious...

Aravi, a bloodhound? This guy should turn to look at who he is talking too!

I get the feeling that Aravi will be the last person to get that far... Wow, that was over in what, 5 seconds?

Walking in the Rift and Volley were definitely my favs. The lighting is just outstanding in the first. You can see every little detail of Aravi's face. The second is just an excellent action pick.

[Acadian]

Vid: Aravi snoops around the Warrens and finds her clue. Then some fisticuff laughs with that goon. Nepos made an all too common arrogant blunder – he telegraphed his intentions to Aravi allowing her plenty of time to be ready for him. Sure enough, when that time came, out came swords one and two, Kharjo and the spirit wolf. So much for the Nose.

Screens: ‘Walking in the Rift’ shows such beautiful detail of Aravi’s face and the bark of that tree next to her. ‘Sunset’ is a great shot of her new dress! Assuming that is Kharjo inside that helmet, ‘You’re not so tough’ is simply adorable! I love how ‘Volley’ catches the sun!

[Darkness Eternal]

KING COIN! I am so sorry I haven't been able to keep up. I lost internet connection, and hell, I moved away from my old house and I'm chilling at a hotel at the moment! But I will catch up! Aravi's escapades are too good to miss!

##################################

Aravi’s eyes sparkled at the treasure before her. Her ears perked forward in excitement and her tail twitched with nervous energy. Her heart beat a little faster. She had searched for so long, and here it is, lying upon a table at Ghorza gra-Bagol’s smithy. An ebony long sword.Aravi heard the smith’s rough chuckle behind her. She glanced back and saw a very pleased looking Orc woman. Turning her head, she saw Kharjo was close to laughter. Her face burned, knowing that they were enjoying her goofy behavior, but she was too thrilled to care.

The black metal was as much a work of art as it was a weapon. The graceful curve of the blade was both beautiful and deadly in shape. The tip was sharp for stabbing and the curved blade ideal for slashing. The blade was thin enough to slip in between a couple of ribs easily and strong enough to hack through armor. It was decorated with exquisite golden swirl designs. Someone took pride in making this weapon.

She turned to Kharjo, trying and failing to not smile. “I do need a new sword after that meeting with the Blades.”

Kharjo started laughing and said, “This one knew you would buy as soon as you laid eyes on it. The look on your face!”

Smiling, Aravi turned to the Orc. “May I?” she asked, reaching tentatively for the sword, tail swishing behind her.

With the Orc’s approval, Aravi lifted the black blade and could tell immediately that this was an excellent sword. After a few swings, excited energy built up in her and she craved more. I’m going to really test this sword! She selected her glass short sword as her other weapon. The familiar with the unknown.

After moving to an open platform where she can fight without worry, she started with some simple swings. She built up to more complex maneuvers, getting a feel for the heavier and longer weapon.

She started to imagine an opponent. At first she only imagined a shadow, just giving her something to focus on. As she fought with it, it started to get more shape and detail. She stopped her practice and watched as the shadow resolved into another Khajiit with disturbing clarity.

Her fur bristled. The other Khajiit looked like herself, except it wasn’t. You are dead. The beast took you. The demon, the fragment of a vampire that lived inside of her for so long, showed its fangs in a perverted imitation of a smile. Its molten eyes bored into her, and Aravi wanted nothing more than to cut its head off. The world around them disappeared, leaving only the platform and the two of them. Everything else was the blackness of the void. Swords appeared in its hands.

From far off she heard Kharjo call out to her. “Is something wrong?”

Aravi charged her vampire and attacked. You are not here. This is not real! She fought with ferocity she didn’t know she possessed, moving faster than she had ever before. No matter how quick she was, each slash was blocked, every stab diverted. She couldn’t penetrate its defense.

Then it started fighting back, and Aravi found with alarm that she was on the defense. It was faster and stronger than she was; each blow she blocked made her arms numb. She backed away to buy time as she kept its swords from touching her skin. She was pressed to the edge of the platform, out of space and nowhere to go.

She bared her teeth in a snarl. You are not REAL! Out of options, she steeled herself. When it swung for her head, instead of defending herself, she went for its neck. She felt her own blade tug as it sliced through her vampire’s neck just before freezing cold pain exploded across her face. The vampire’s sword caught her right cheek and disintegrated into smoke with a hiss. Aravi fell to the platform. She brought a hand to her face and felt only smooth, cold bone.

She looked up and saw the vampire levitating before her; its head floating approximately where it should have been had it been attached still. It started transforming into something even more hideous, spindly wings tore from its back. Aravi felt the werewolf within her surge from where ever it lived…

…She was under the bright sun again, laying on the platform holding her cheek. It was tingling, but she felt her fur, whiskers, and the old scar. It wasn’t real, she told herself.

Something touched her back and sent a jolt through her. “Calm Aravi!” Kharjo stood with his hands held in front of him. “What happened?” He offered her a hand. She took it and let herself be hauled to her feet.

“Nothing.” Kharjo’s ears flattened. “I mean not here. I’ll tell you later.”

“Ok. But you are telling this one.” He eyed her warily.

“Yes, of course.” He knows me well. A feeling of dread gripped her. There’s no way it’s still alive. And yet there it was, more vivid than ever in a waking dream. Is that what that was? Her instincts told her that something was happening. The world was going to get even more dangerous.

Ghorza’s presence snapped her out of contemplation, a strange look on her face. “That was some display. Now, are you going to pay for the sword?”

“Yes, of course, how much is it?” The price was high, but Aravi paid without question.

“Fight well,” Ghorza said by way of farewell. Aravi repeated the phrase and turned toward Understone Keep where Markarth’s court wizard would be.

“May you always walk on warm sands.” She heard Kharjo bid the smith farewell in the traditional Khajiiti way before catching up with her quick pace. “Where are we going?”

“I need to enchant this sword with fire. Then we go down to the warrens and find more about this murder.”

##################################

Aravi has a new outfit! One & Two

Oh my . . . .Aravi and her vampiric past, eh? The girl has been through both supernatural powers and yet lives to tell the tale! So, her Lycanthropy is negative towards vampirism, eh? Interesting. And it sounds like a VL! I can foresee Aravi joining up with the Dawnguard(she already did, didn't she?) and fight off Harkon!

As much as I am pro-vampire, anti-human, I still think that extremist madman needs to be taken down, and who other than Aravi to deliver the blow in her wolf form?

I always picture this scene . . .Bethesda has a way for copying things . . .

[King Coin]

@mALX: Aravi loves the Rift because it’s warmer than the rest of Skyrim, and also very pretty! I don’t think the player can live in the warrens. It’s a dump, so you really wouldn’t want to anyways. This quest was kind of glitchy. One of the people Aravi was fighting at the end tried to reanimate N’s corpse. Thanks mALX!

@Grits: The brawls are really difficult if you aren’t a Khajiit. Aravi’s claws took that guy down pretty fast. Aravi wanted to like N, but after hearing his role in the whole thing, she’s glad he’s dead. This town is worse than Riften. Glad to hear it on the screen shots! Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: Of course she’s poking her nose into things, that’s what she does! I thought the bloodhound comment was funny too. You named the exact reasons why I loved that first screen. You should try some of those ENB settings; you have the machine to run them. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Aravi even got to talk to N after he told her he was going to try to kill her. She had lots of time to get ready to move. That is Kharjo, he looks so big and intimidating in that screen and Aravi is just looking up into the helmet smiling. Thanks Acadian!

@DE: Oh wow, it sounds like you have a lot going on. No worries, it’s good to see you back. The whole reason Aravi took Lycanthropy is because it helped her against the vampire disease that ‘took root’ so to speak when she was in Cyrodiil. She was infected with the disease many times and she eventually couldn’t cure it. She could delay it, but not cure it.

I kind of want to see that movie now… lol. Thanks DE!

#####################################

Aravi returns to Eltrys to tell him what she’s found.*

7:26
*Yep, this one is glitched too. I worked around it but couldn’t totally edit it out.
Also, Aravi is a little emotional in the mine.

#####################################

Screens:

Low sun

Aiming

In the ferns

[SubRosa]

And now Aravi learns just how scummy Markarth is. The City Guard, the Silverbloods, and the Forsworn, all mixed up into a steaming cesspool of murder and corruption.

Borkul the Beast. Now there is a catchy name. Got to love those old fashioned orcs.

And there is Madanach. He and Thonar Silverblood make quite the pair of scum.

Of the pics, I liked In the ferns best. The others were good, but I just loved that one of Aravi being sneaky.

[Acadian]

How did I know Aravi was going to end up visiting that mine? I figured she’d slip in with her blades though, not get tossed in there only wearing a short dress! Yikes! You could tell she was thinking of Kharjo when she agreed to ‘go peacefully’. I feel for her – some of those dialogue choices make you want to say, ‘None of the above!’

Great screens and thanks for sharing! I love how the one of Aravi sneaking through the ferns looks almost like Blackwood near Leyawiin.

[mALX]

These screens are all wonderful, I can't pick a favorite among them! The vid - Holy Cow what a quest! Scary, you kind of don't know what you should be answering sometimes! I'll bet she didn't fight her arrest because of Kharjo too, I guess she couldn't sneak by the guard to get in, lol.

The AI really bothers me in scenes like the one with Madanach, it feels so unnatural that he doesn't look up from his writing while talking. I understand not getting up in your face like they did in Oblivion, just wish they had added head tracking for conversations.

Well, this vid is like reading a story that is a cliffhanger, not sure what is going to happen to Aravi! Awesome Update!

[Grits]

Argh, with Kharjo’s life also at risk she was trapped into going peacefully. Being told she was a slave and would never see the sun again must have been impossibly crushing for Aravi. As soon as she made the choice of Kharjo’s safety over her own, she was taken away for life.

Wow, Aravi persuaded the Beast! Madanach is quite a character. The choices he offers are bad or worse. But I don’t see Aravi giving up and mining ore until she barfs ingots, or whatever it was that the charming orc hostess said. What a gripping quest! I can’t wait to see how Aravi handles her predicament!


Aiming is lovely, but Ferns takes the prize! I love the way she’s sneaking with the swords. That looks like a great spot for a picnic! After the violence, of course.

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: There isn’t a side that you could even try to justify. All of them are scum.

Borkul has some really funny dialog if you ask him what he’s in for I hear. Aravi quite frankly didn’t want to know what any of them did. She could guess just fine. When I saw those ferns I knew I needed a screen of Aravi in them. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: This is definitely not how Aravi imagined this turning out. Kharjo is the only reason she went, otherwise she would have fought to the death to stay out. She wasn’t taking Kharjo with her though.

You are right about the ferns; it kind of does look that way. Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: Absolutely right about her reason of going with the guards. She could not sneak past the guards, it was difficult to see because she wasn’t able to get close, but Eltrys was murdered by the guards. Glad you like the screens! Thanks mALX!

@Grits: You are so right! That was crushing for her to go to the mine like that; it is too close to her experiences as a slave. If Kharjo wasn’t there, she would have fought to the death to stay out, but she wasn’t going to drag Kharjo with her. They would have been killed and she wasn’t going to make that decision for him.

I think that’s Jerric talking with the comment about picnics. Thanks Grits!

###########################

Aravi talks to the man Madanach, the King in Rags, told her to. Later, she manages to find some skooma and exchange it for a weapon…

9:41

Madanach’s note

###########################

Screens:
A new armor combo. Opinions?

This way

Sunset

[mALX]

Pretty armor, the green matches her eyes? Lol. "This Way" is my fave screen, really cute facial expression Aravi has here!

Aravi's indecision about what to do had me laughing, she kept going back and forth to them but backing out of conversations, lol. GAAAH! She killed him without getting that Awesome armor first! Urk! LOVE this update!