Today in Skyrim..., Epic battles, mudcrab sightings, anything but spoilers. What did your Options

[Acadian]

I think the existing voices that come with the mod are just three 'filler' voices. I believe they are Japanese. The beauty of the mod is importing your own wav voice files.

[SubRosa]

Yes. The base mod only comes with actual sounds for one of the three available sets, and that one is all Japanese. So its a fixer upper mod, where you have to add your own. It is not difficult to do. Just time-consuming. So far I have made packs for Imoen, Viconia, Innocent, and a Sassy soundset, all imported from the Baldur's Gate games.

There are several voicepacks for it that people have posted on the Nexus. None of them have done anything for me though.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 3 2014, 09:54 PM

[Lopov]

Lopov, great to know your Redguard’s name. “Silence.” It sure suits him!

Thanks!

"I reeely meess traveling like these. Walking da breadth of Skyrim has always filled my heart with exciddement", said Mjoll as she traveled like this, walking the breadth of Skyrim.

The Redguard known as Silence raises his left hand, gestures toward his face, and slams his left palm upon his brow, covering his eyes.

--

When Angi woke up, Silence was still sleeping by the fire at the cooking place. As she silently passed him, careful not to wake him up, she noticed something unusual on his neck. She didn't see it before because of his thick beard but while sleeping, his head was slightly bent backwards and she saw it clearly. There was a scar on his neck, hidden in Silence's black beard. It was long and straight, as if someone cut his throat long ago.

Could it be that someone cut his throat, hurting his vocal cords?

Angi once again felt sorry for the mute Redguard yet decided not to show her compassion. She had bad experiences with being too friendly and trustful in the past, and she didn't intend to repeat her mistakes.

--

They both preferred silence, so they went along well. While Angi was doing her chores in and around her shack, Silence was practicing his archery skills at her makeshift targets. Afterwards he would wander around, sitting by the outside campfire or sitting on a tall ledge, overlooking almost entire Skyrim up to Lake Ilinalta. He could sit for hours, watching in the distance. What was he thinking and watching, Angi didn't intend to find out, yet she was curious nonetheless.

They "talked" for the first time when having a dinner - Angi had some venison stew from the previous day, and Silence had some raw pheasant breasts.

"So have you been in Skyrim long?"

He shook his head and continued eating.

"It's odd they let you through. Borders are closed. Unless you..."

He shook his head, then clenched his right fist, touched his right cheek as if hitting himself, pointed to the Jerrall Mountains and then pointed behind him.

"You...were beaten and brought to Skyrim?"

He nodded but shook his hands, probably "saying" that she's only partially correct.

"I see...you didn't come to Skyrim willingly?"

He nodded. Then he pointed at himself, made a walking gesture with his index and middle finger and pointed at the Jerrall Mountains.

"You...ehmm...were walking in the Jerralls?"

He shook his head, pointed at himself forcefully, then repeated the gesture from before.

"You want to go back? Pass the Jerralls?"

He nodded.

"Huh, that will be tough. Last I heard when I was down in Falkreath, borders are still closed. And with the civil war getting intense every day, they will stay closed for a long time. And you can't pass these mountains and hope to survive. Not only are they very steep, there are many frost creatures lurking up there. Who knows what you might run into."

He was looking at her yet didn't give any response.

--



Silence was getting ready to sleep at the warm cooking place when Angi came from her room, carrying a blanket in her hands.

Silence..."

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Do you...mind if I join you? It's very cold tonight in my room, I really have to repair windows tomorrow. And sometimes it's...it's easier to get warmed if laying next to someone."

His eyes widened and Angi saw surprise in them. Though looking confused, he nodded.

Angi laid down beside him and put the blanket over them.

"Good night," she said and turned away from him, towards the fire.

Now why did I do that? Was it really so cold in my room? Or was I just longing for some company. Whatever...at least I will feel safer tonight.

Angi felt his warm breath on her neck for a long time, and she wondered whether he's still awake or is he already sleeping. She was sure that she confused him with her action.

But Silence was a silent gentleman and he proved this by respecting Angi, and when she fell asleep, feeling safe and warm, he was still awake, watching her. He made sure that the blanket was more on her side than on his and then threw another log into the fire to keep it burning for the cold night.

[Renee]

Ah okay. That sounds complicated, maybe that mod can be for later.

[Acadian]

So we see that Silence is a gentleman and that Angi has taken a bit of a shine to him.

[Lopov]

You know, Acadian, you often "teach" me new English phrases. I had to look up what does it mean "to take a shine to" and some time back you mentioned a phrase "to get knocked up" when commenting a Blondie's story, and I had to look that up to. So just keep doing this, I'll learn many new English phrases / sayings from you.

--

"By Arkay, you were at that vampire-infested fort, have you not? The Bloodlet Throne?" angrily said Angi when she noticed two bite marks on Silence's neck.

He nodded.

"Hmph! Not to mention the smell. Well, don't just stand there! You have to get cured else..."

Silence gestured her with both hands to calm down and confidently nodded with his head, obviously aware of his disease.

"No, I won't calm down! You have to get cured now. There are already too many vampires in Skyrim, and I don't want another one in my...in my camp. Unless you have some curing potions or know how to brew them yourself, go to Falkreath - it's not far from here. There's a healer and a shrine next to a graveyard."

Silence nodded.

"Good. Just follow the path down, it's the only one, you can't get lost. It's the same path you walked some days ago, when I asked you to get some water from the stream below. Now go! Don't lost any minute more."

Silence nodded and silently wandered down the snowy path.

"Watch out for bandits!" she shouted behind him. Though she wondered where the warning was necessary. After all he just single-handedly cleared out a fort full of vampires.
--

Angi was woken up by footsteps.

Did Silence come back? She quickly checked the time on a magical hourglass on her end table.

Midnight.

The footsteps stopped not far from her room and she saw a shadow falling on the floor in the main room.

Bandits?

Angi silently opened a drawer and took her rusty iron dagger out. She silently stood up and tip toed to the main room. As she wanted to peek behind the corner, strong arms pulled her out, clenching her wrists until she dropped the knife.

Silence was there, standing in front of her, blood dripping from his mouth with two bloody fangs protruding out of it. The last thing she felt, was the Redguard biting his vampiric fangs in her pale neck.

--

"Noooo!"

Angi woke up, covered in sweat.

A nightmare.

Just a nightmare.

Silence woke up too, looking confused.

"By Talos, it was just a dream," she whispered.

Of course it was. Silence returned from Falkreath in a middle of the night, cured of his disease.

"It's alright. Everything's alright. Just a nightmare about you turning into a vampire. See, you shouldn't have gone to that fort! You sure that you killed every vampire there?"

He smiled briefly, then nodded confidently and lay back on his side of the bed.

"Good night," said Angi and lay down as well.

He exhaled loudly and Angi recognized this as a sign of saying good night.

They both slept calmly until the morning.

[ghastley]

Actually the American "knocked up" and the English are very different. In English English it just means "woken up with a knock on the door or window".

[Renee]

Interesting, ghastley I didn't know that.

You had me fooled with that nightmare, Lopov!

[Acadian]

Lopov, thanks! Please ask for clarification if we ever confuse you. English is an odd language and yours is so good that I forget that it may not be your first language.

Whew! You had me going for a minute there. . . until, like Angi, I realized it was a dream.

[Renee]

Another phrase we have in English (British and American) that you may not know is "silence is golden". In this case, this phrase can become quite the pun with your new character, Lopov.

People say "silence is golden" when they are sick of being around a lot of noise. Once this noise goes away, we say silence is golden because it's something which is treasured. But if Silence ever puts on a suit of Elven or Dwarven armor....

This post has been edited by Renee Gade IV: Nov 5 2014, 06:07 PM

[Lopov]

"You...you are leaving, are you not?" said Angi when she saw Silence putting some red apples to his backpack. He looked at her nodded.

"You still insist on crossing the border?"

He shrugged, then nodded.

"I see. Well...before you go...I want to teach you something."

He looked at her, surprise in his eyes.

"You any good with that bow?"

He nodded.

"Maybe I can teach you to be even better. Follow me to the targets and we'll practice."

The training was long and strenuous and Angi had no mercy for Silence's mistakes when he didn't hit targets with enough precision. Although he missed rarely, she always remarked him on what he did wrong and how should he improve his shoots. Sun was already setting when Silence completed Angi's final and most difficult task, hitting four targets in less than ten seconds.

"I think I've taught you everything I know. You might even be as good as me now. Kind of scary if I think about it."

They both smiled for a few seconds, like not knowing what to say or gesture, and then she continued:

"Thanks for sticking around and keeping me company. It was nice to finally meet someone out here who doesn't want to rob you or take off your head. I know it isn't much, but here, take this bow. It was given to me by my family. It's special to me, but brings back too many painful memories."

Silence took her bow, observing it carefully for some time, put it on his back, then slightly bowed.

"You're welcome...well, I wish you luck on your travels. Hope that you ever find a way back...wherever it leads. If you ever travel in these parts again, make sure and visit me."

He nodded, then pulled his black fur hood on his head and slowly headed down the hill. Angi was wondering if he'll turn around and wave in goodbye, like it often happens in old Nordic stories, yet he didn't. Maybe it was even better this way. She was looking him until he disappeared behind a snowy hill, then returned to her chores.

"Work is the best cure for keeping your mind busy," she said to herself and continued forging a dagger. Yet she couldn't help but feel an uncomfortable pain in her chest. Not far from her one Redguard felt the same pain. Yet he knew that it was time to go. He couldn't allow himself to get too attached to someone. He was a drifter, never calling any place his home, never staying in one place for too long.

[Acadian]

Nicely done, Lopov, as Silent Drifter slowly heads down Angi's mountain.

[Lopov]

Thank you. It's been nice staying at Angi's, I think they spent 10 or 11 actual game days together. We'll see what awaits him now...looks like he still insists of going back to Cyrodiil but somehow I have a feeling that borders aren't going to open for him.

[Grits]

I liked seeing Silence through Angi’s eyes. It kept him mysterious.

[Lopov]

Thanks.

This may sound unusual but after heading east, following a path from Helgen to Riften, Silence felt urge to return to Angi. So that's what he did. There was a bond between them and it didn't feel right when he left her in the first place. Although he's been active for a short time, it feels like he found his place in Skyrim. Whatever I'd try and force into his playthrough, would just feel wrong. So I'll leave him with Angi for now (or perhaps forever).

[SubRosa]

That must be frustrating on the level of wanting to play the character, but on the other hand how rewarding that Silence found where he belongs! It is really nice when your roleplaying just falls into place like that.

[Grits]

Lopov, I am not at all surprised that Silence wanted to return to Angi. In those pictures of him sitting and looking out over the mountains while the sun sets and the moons rise he looks very content. I’m glad he found a place where he is wanted and where he wants to be.

[ghastley]

Thanks.

This may sound unusual but after heading east, following a path from Helgen to Riften, Silence felt urge to return to Angi. So that's what he did. There was a bond between them and it didn't feel right when he left her in the first place. Although he's been active for a short time, it feels like he found his place in Skyrim. Whatever I'd try and force into his playthrough, would just feel wrong. So I'll leave him with Angi for now (or perhaps forever).

You need a follower mod that will let them go places together.

[Lopov]

"I will not do this!"

"Pardon me, Commander?"

"I said: I will not do this!"

"I won't repeat your orders, Commander. Execute these rebels at once!"

"I will not. Just because they're Nords, doesn't mean that they're rebels."

"I see...in this case...STOP RIGHT THERE TRAITOROUS SCUM! Your career in the Imperial Legion has come to an end! Soldiers, disarm him and strip him of his gear! Your commander is now declared an enemy of the Empire!"

"No need to shout, Captain. Not only I hear perfectly fine, I'm not going anywhere nor do I intend to fight you."

And so ended a successful career of stubborn and principled Commander Lucius Caro, who disobeyed his superior, refusing to execute some Nords that the Imperial Captain declared as Stormcloak allies. Caro was stripped of his weapons and armor, had to change to a shabby roughspun tunic and footwraps, then they put him on a carriage, intended for prisoners.

"Someone execute these traitors at once! As for you, renegade...you will be judged shortly! Are they dead yet? Good! Now let's get moving! We have to set ambush for Ulfric Stormcloak and his soldiers! Move, move!"
---
A few hours later Lucius got a company - Ulfric Stormcloak and his unit were captured along with an unlucky Nord thief who tried to unsuccessfully steal a horse of some Imperial soldier.

"And who are you, stranger? Another horse thief? Or did you try to cross the border illegally?" asked Ralof the Imperial sitting opposite of him.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Why not?"

But the Imperial didn't reply.
---
"You there! Step forward!" said Hadvar to the only remaining prisoner. "I haven't seen you before. Who are you?"

"You haven't seen him before because he was stationed in Cyrodiil until recently," said the Imperial Captain and approached. "This is Lucius Caro, once a commander in the Legion, now a renegade. That's all you need to know."

"Emm...what should we do, Captain? I mean...he's not on the list."

"Forget the list! HE GOES TO THE BLOCK!"

"I'm sorry, sold...prisoner. We'll make sure your remains are returned to Cyrodiil."

"Don't bother, soldier," replied Lucius.
---
Yet strange and twisted is a way of fate, and half an hour later, Ralof and Lucius, the Nord and the Imperial, the Stormcloak and the former legionnaire, were fighting alongside each other, Ralof wielding an axe and Lucius brandishing a sword. They made their way through the Helgen Keep, fighting Legion soldiers, narrowly escaping collapsing passages and avoiding sleeping bears. Bruised, cut, tired yet very much alive they emerged out through a natural cavern beneath the keep.

"I wouldn't have made it without your help today."

"Likewise."

"We better clear out of here. This place is going to be swarming with Imperials soon enough. My sister Gerdur runs a mill in Riverwood. I'm sure she'd help you out."

"Thanks but it's better if we split up. I don't want to be seen in your company and you don't want to be seen in mine, believe me."

"As you wish, friend. Then at least tell me your name so that I know who I owe my life to."

"I'm Lucius. And you?"

"Ralof. He he, pleased to meet you, Lucius. I don't often say this to Imperials."

"Especially not to those that used to serve in the Legion, I guess."

"What?"

"You heard me right. I disobeyed but I'll tell you the whole story some other time. Pleased to meet you too, Ralof. And now it's time that we part ways. Goodbye!"

"May Talos be with you, friend! We'll be seeing each other again, of this I am sure."

[Acadian]

Welcome to Lucius! Wow, the Legion has about zero sense of humor, eh?