Does this thread belong here?, pieces of quest Options

[King Coin]

Just got done reading all of them, good back story. I am looking forward to the completed mod.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Mar 31 2011, 04:06 AM

[mALX]

GAAAH!!! Your links are broken to the mod now!!

Timo's Tale is hilarious !!!

Gudrun has me in stitches with all her shopping !!! This sounds great so far !!! I've seen your bears in action in one vid, but they were acting up that day, lol.

[ghastley]

GAAAH!!! Your links are broken to the mod now!!

They were broken, because I temporarily had no fixed IP address. I have fixed that and you can now find everything again via ghastley.org*. I have already updated the links in my posts, but I can't change the quoted versions in others' posts. There are a few updates to the content, but it will be clear what's still in progress, as quite a few of the quests will just be outlines.

*Yes I registered a domain and connected that to my new fixed address.

http://ghastley.org/oblivion/docs/bear_riders.html

see also Gweden Brothel - I started building that mod after the Riders' one, but it's close to full release now, just needing a few bugs squashed.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Apr 6 2011, 11:46 PM

[Grits]

Looks great, ghastley!! Lots of fun.

[mALX]

GAAAH!!! Your links are broken to the mod now!!

They were broken, because I temporarily had no fixed IP address. I have fixed that and you can now find everything again via ghastley.org*. I have already updated the links in my posts, but I can't change the quoted versions in others' posts. There are a few updates to the content, but it will be clear what's still in progress, as quite a few of the quests will just be outlines.

*Yes I registered a domain and connected that to my new fixed address.

http://ghastley.org/oblivion/docs/bear_riders.html

see also Gweden Brothel - I started building that mod after the Riders' one, but it's close to full release now, just needing a few bugs squashed.

Thanks !!!

[ghastley]

Mod construction is progressing and I've made a few updates to the "wiki" on the site. Latest addition is loading screens using this picture.



I'll be using it for the Riders Lodge, and the Valus Passage cave, with different texts. Trying to come up with one for the SI part, where I've added a ruin or two.

I'm getting close to having it playable enough for some people to test if they'd like. There are a couple of quests that have no real conclusion, E.g. After the Oblivion gates are sealed with Order Crystals, what happens next? However, it should be playable enough to get the feedback I need to complete it. And when the stories all connect, I can write it all up here.

This post has been edited by ghastley: May 1 2011, 02:02 AM

[Acadian]

Fabulous loading screen!

I'm so glad the mod is coming along well for you!

[King Coin]

Mod construction is progressing and I've made a few updates to the "wiki" on the site. Latest addition is loading screens using this picture.

I'll be using it for the Riders Lodge, and the Valus Passage cave, with different texts. Trying to come up with one for the SI part, where I've added a ruin or two.

I'm getting close to having it playable enough for some people to test if they'd like. There are a couple of quests that have no real conclusion, E.g. After the Oblivion gates are sealed with Order Crystals, what happens next? However, it should be playable enough to get the feedback I need to complete it. And when the stories all connect, I can write it all up here.

I've been thinking of making a partition on my hard drive for some games that run better on Vista (don't look at me I don't know why). I could put on oblivion and give it a whirl.

[mALX]

Will Shivering Isles be required for the mod to work? GAAAAH!!!!

[ghastley]

By the time I release it, I'll most likely have split it into two. One that doesn't and one that does. The first half doesn't, but the post-Coc/Madgod quests all take place in the Isles.

[mALX]

By the time I release it, I'll most likely have split it into two. One that doesn't and one that does. The first half doesn't, but the post-Coc/Madgod quests all take place in the Isles.

Oh WHEW! I'm glad to hear that, lol. Thank you !!

[ghastley]

I haven't posted anything for ages, because I've been trying to get the last few quests finished. This one was only half-done in the version King Coin has been testing, stopping at the end of the demo.

I still have the problem of the last quest in the Isles being a big anti-climax, and I haven't yet split the SI stuff from the base, so I can repackage and release it. But this piece at least is sort of done.

--------------

Malandil's tale

At last it was finished. The Dark Welkynd stone had been installed in the trap, and the complex incantion had transferred the spell. The other mages were all looking at her.

"Go on, test it" one of them prompted. "You're the Master Conjurer, after all."

"All right, but you'll all have to leave the room in case anything goes wrong." She called out to the apprentice at the switch to close the pillar. As the huge slabs of marble slid into place around the trap, the door unlocked and the mages filed out.

In a few moments, a line of eager faces was at the gratings along the corridor, eagerly peering into the chamber. The switch was operated once more, and the pillar slid back open.

Malandil moved into the corner, so that the creatures she summoned wouldn't get behind her. She started by summoning a Scamp. The stone glowed with power, and the Skull of the Mountain spell destroyed the hapless creature in an instant with a huge bolt of lightning that almost made her jump out of her skin.

"That seemed to work" she said, once she could breathe. "Now for something shock-resistant."

Malandil summoned a Storm Atronach, and once again the Dark Welkynd glowed. This time the Skull of the Mountain's massive ice blast sent the creature back to Oblivion.

The logical test to follow that was a Frost Atronach, which disappeared in an intense fireball, confirming that the spell covered all the elements.

That was enough testing for now, and the apprentice, Eugenie, operated the switch without being asked. Malandil noted that. She'd made a good choice in her young assistant, even if she wasn't an Altmer like herself. Bretons were always good with Magic, but Eugenie had the wits to go with it. She'd make a good mage, if she could concentrate on her studies, and not get too distracted by boyfriends.

Malandil gathered herself and met the rest of the mages at the chamber entrance. She was calmer now the test was over. The trap had done exactly what it should, firing only at Daedra, and using the most effective elemental attack for the target. The power it employed still amazed her, and she wasn't surprised that no mage could use the spell.

She knew she'd be the one who'd have to demonstrate the trap. None of the others in the team could summon all the Daedra, even though each of them could manage one or two. High Chancellor Ocato would expect to see it in action, so she'd have at least one more show to put on. The Arch-mage, fotunately, was more preoccupied with the Necromancers, and she'd just have to provide a report to keep him content.

---

The performance for Ocato went smoothly, too. Malandil was left thinking that the High Chancellor and other Council members had made her more nervous than any concern about the dangerous spells flying around.

So when Tar-Meena introduced her to the Hero of Kvatch, she offered a demonstration without being asked. Tar-Meena had told her that he'd found the book that described the spell, so of course he should see what became of that effort.

He followed her into the Practice Rooms, and down into the basement. She activated the portal to the chamber and when they arrived, he remarked on the stone disk it connected to. "Is that one of those Ayleid Steps?"

"We think so," she replied. "The portal in the basement was originally intended to take you to Wellspring Grove. After the Necromancers killed two mages in the cave that leads there, it was thought safer if we used a portal instead. The University end was installed, and a Varla Stone placed to power it. Before its companion at the Grove end was complete, however, it lit up to show it was already operational. Someone was brave enough to go through and find this chamber at the other end."

"So where exactly are we?"

"We don't know. There are a few Ayleid Steps that lead into caves and ruins that have no other way out. We can't be sure if they're in Tamriel, or somewhere else entirely. If the Daedric Princes can open portals between Realms, maybe the Ayleids could, too. The Step, and it looks just like one, so we assume it is, is now bound to the basement portal by the power of the Varla stone. If it had another destination before, we'll never know."

"That's one reason we need the trap," she continued. "This chamber could be anywhere, and Ayleid ruins are full of hidden doors and sliding walls. We feel safer now it's guarded, if only against Daedra."

Malandil opened the door to the chamber and walked to the corner near the viewing corridor. Eugenie led the Hero to the other side of the grating where he could watch safely, and then opened the pillar with the switch on the wall. She hurried to take her place at the next grating. This would be an impressive show of spell-power and she didn't want to miss any!

Malandil took her time conjuring each of the Daedra she knew. Scamp first, then Flame Atronach, and on to Dremora, Clannfear, Frost Atronach, Daedroth, Spider Deadra, Storm Atronach, each dispatched in one blast from the Dark Welkynd. Finally she paused to let her Magicka build up for a special spell. Xivilai were able to absorb spells, and she hadn't tried one here before. She knew that her skill would produce a strong example, and the trap would need a collosal discharge of energy to kill it in a single cast.

The sound of the lightning was almost deafening, and she was glad the Xivilai had not chosen to stand near her. Eugenie needed a few seconds to gather her wits and go work the switch again to let her out. She took that time to cast a small Calm spell on herself.

The Hero was amazed by the performance, and asked if there was anything he could do in return. Malandil was hesitant to ask, but Eugenie asked for her. "If you could find Priapus for us, we'd be really grateful".

"Prietus, I mean" Eugenie corrected herself, blushing profusely. "I call him that because, well..." Malandil stepped in to save her further embarassment.

"I sent Prietus, my other apprentice, off to look for rare books in the Ayleid ruins. That was mainly because he and Eugenie can't concentrate on anything but each other, it seems."

She drew the Hero aside so she could talk without Eugenie hearing the rest. "Eugenie's been acting strangely recently. She's all but throwing herself at him, but he tells me that she's also refusing his advances. We suspect she's under some kind of spell compulsion that stops her from that. Her father's a powerful mage, and I think he's quite capable of that kind of spell."

"For Prietus, 'No' means No, whether he believes she means it or not," she continued. "Until they can find a way around their problem, they're better off kept apart. However, I am getting a bit worried that we haven't received any word from him in several days. That's not like him at all. The last note said he was going to Sardavar Leed on the Red Ring Road."

---

While he was gone, Malandil decided it was time to confront Eugenie about Prietus. "You've been behaving very strangely with that young man" she said accusingly. "why are you leading him on, just to turn him down at the last moment? Are you trying to drive him mad, or something?"

"I don't want to turn him down," pleaded Eugenie, "but when I open my mouth to say 'yes' I hear myself saying 'no' instead. I don't understand what's happening, and it's driving me insane too. I was hoping my actions would speak louder than my voice, but he's too confused to do anything now!"

"Could your father have anything to do with this? I know he's a Master of Illusion, and quite capable of casting a Command spell on you to make you act this way."

"Perhaps, but I couldn't just get it dispelled it if he had. That wouldn't be right."

"But you're trying to get around this compulsion in other ways, what's the difference?"

"I think it's as much a test, as it is an attempt to protect me from myself. So we have to solve it ourselves, to prove we've grown up enough."

---

Not long after that, a panting Prietus ran into the Practice Room looking for Eugenie. Malandil made him stop and get his breath back, and tell her what had happened.

He'd run into Conjurers and Daedra as soon as he entered Sardavar Leed. There were too many of them for him to handle, and he'd had to run deeper into the ruin to escape. Eventually he'd hidden in an empty room. He lay in the dark until the chase subsided. When he tried to leave the room, however, he'd found the door locked. He'd been stuck there until the Hero let him out.

They'd talked about his problem with Eugenie, and the Hero had hinted that he was asking the wrong questions. If Eugenie could only say "No", then he had to make sure that was the answer he wanted. He was eager to try that experiment, so where was she?

Malandil told him about the chamber. "Eugenie should be down there still. She finds it a quiet place to study. Her own private space." A slight stress on "private" was meant as a hint to Prietus, and he broke into a run again.

---

The Hero arrived at a more leisurely pace a while later. He described Prietus sprinting out of the ruin like a Clannfear was chasing him. "He really did seem quite eager to get back here to Eugenie. I assume that he's with her now?"

"And I'm sure that he's asking her if he should stop." chuckled Malandil. "I do hope they manage to dispel whatever was holding her back, or they may have the same problem in reverse."

Malandil was pleased to have her assistant back, and offered the book Prietus had recovered from the ruin as a reward. "We already have a copy of this text in the Mystic Archives, but it's a skill book you may find useful - Limnal Bridges, one of my favorites."

They chatted for a further half hour before Malandil decided not to wait for Prietus and Eugenie to return. They'd need to eat eventually, wouldn't they?

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 21 2011, 10:10 PM

[Acadian]

Why am I smiling? Because this story involving Malandil was clever, cute, funny, endearing and well-told in a delightfully light manner. Well done!

No means no. Do you want me to stop? No. They have to come up for food. . . don't they? No.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jun 29 2011, 01:16 AM

[mALX]

This mod must be AWESOME !!! Your imagination in these storylines is great !!! Acadian already quoted my favorite line, Great Write !!!

[ghastley]

I'm trying to get myself thinking about this one again, so let's see a piece of the story from another viewpoint.

---------------------------

Eugenie's tale

She particularly liked it when Prietus did that. "Don't stop now," she pleaded, but he was no longer paying any attention to her. He was staring at a glowing disc that had just appeared in the far corner of the chamber beyond the grating. When a Clannfear emerged from it, he was snatching up his robe, and running for the exit.

"Come back, you coward" she shouted. He didn't know the chamber was sealed whenever the trap was open, but she'd forgotten that. She jumped a little when the shock spell killed the Clannfear, it was so loud and so close, and she was so naked. She picked up her own robe and pulled it around her, and walked round the corner to the gate.

She watched as a Scamp, and a Dremora came out of the portal and each was killed instantly. But then a pair of women in strange dark armor emerged together. One died almost immediately, but the other dodged back into the gate before the stone could recharge.

Shortly after, a strangely dressed man appeared from the fiery disc. The trap did nothing, so this wasn't another Daedra. He walked calmly over and addressed her.

"My name is Haskill, Chamberlain to the Lord Sheogorath, who is presently in Cyrodiil," he said. "Perhaps you would be so good as to convey to him that he is needed. Here. As quickly as possible".

Eugenie didn't know any Lord Sheogorath, but Haskill described the man she knew as the Hero of Kvatch. And he was visiting the University that very day. She ran off to find him.

The Hero knew who Haskill was. As he walked together back to the chamber with Eugenie, he tried to explain to her how he'd inherited the title of the Daedric Prince. He could see she just didn't believe half of the story. "That's just too weird!"

When they reached the gate, the Hero had her close the trap, so he could go through. He spoke briefly with Haskill, and then picked up the body of the Mazken, as he called her, and took her with him into the glowing disc. Haskill just disappeared, startling Eugenie a little.

---

She went looking for Prietus. She was still mad at him for running off and leaving her, even though she knew she hadn't been in any real danger. The point was that if he didn't know that, he should have stayed to protect her. She found Malandil instead.

Malandil listened to her thoughtfully. Eugenie didn't know about Prietus' previous encounter with Clannfears, so she didn't know why they were a special nightmare for him. She told her all about his ordeal in Sardavar Leed, and reminded her why he'd been sent there in the first place. And her part in that.

"But that wan't me, that was my father's spell," protested the apprentice. "Although I suppose I am judging him too harshly."

"We'll go look for him together," suggested Malandil. "I think we might cure him of that Clannfear phobia, if I just teach him to summon one of his own."

"But that's an Expert spell, isn't it?" asked Eugenie.

"Yes, and he's nearly ready to learn it. Don't forget that Conjuration is his major field of study, so he's more advanced than you. Just as you're further ahead with Destruction."

Eugenie wasn't anywhere near Expert in Destruction, so she was impressed.

---

A couple of days later, a large Nord woman, wearing the skimpiest armor Eugenie had ever seen, came to the University asking for her. She'd been sought out by one of the worshippers from Sheogorath's shrine, telling a tale that was too strange not to be true.

The hero wanted her to go through the portal in the Ayleid Chamber and join him in the Shivering Isles. "Is that where it goes?" Eugenie asked.

"Not directly" was the reply. "There's a plane of Dagon's Deadlands in between, but the Mazken have that guarded now, so it's the quickest way to get there."

There was that "Mazken" name again. Eugenie knew they must be Daedra, as the trap had killed one, but they seemed to be on the wrong side. Heidi (that was the Nord woman's name) explained that they were Daedra from Sheogorath's realm, not Dagon's, and not really on anyone's side but Sheogorath's. Like the Aureals, except that they were in conflict with the Mazken. Eugenie was now even more confused.

"Dagon's sent his Daedra to fight against Sheogorath's Daedra. Since the Hero of Kvatch, and Champion of Cyrodill, is also currently acting as Madgod of the Shivering Isles, he's trying to toss Mehrunes Dagon out of there, too."

Eugenie wanted to know how Heidi was involved. "They've found a Mythic Dawn agent plotting with the Zealots and they think it's someone I know." she replied. "I need to go and identify the body."

By this time, they'd reached the chamber. Heidi stepped through the flames and was gone. Eugenie went to the switch and opened the trap up again.

---

A few days later the fiery portal disappeared as mysteriously as it came. One moment it was there and the next, it wasn't. There was no sign that anything had been there. The bodies of the Daedra had been removed long ago, and the Scamp skin, Clannfear Claws and Daedra Hearts were already made into useful potions in the Lustratorium. Life had returned to normal.

Except that Prietus had learned to summon Clannfears, and was working his way back into favor with Eugenie. He was helping her with her Destruction practice. He'd summon a Scamp and she'd dispatch it with a shock spell or two before it could turn on them. They couldn't do that continuously yet, neither had the Magicka for it, so there were times when they just had to wait around for it to regenerate. And what do two young mages do while they're waiting?

---

She particularly liked it when Prietus did that.


---------------------------------------

Those who've worked on advancing their Conjuration and Destruction know that the latter is much slower to increase. You can get experience with Conjuration just by repeatedly casting a simple spell, but Destruction needs a live target or it doesn't count. So it's a bit less impressive than Eugenie thinks. Of course, she's not thinking clearly where Prietus is involved.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Oct 2 2014, 08:58 PM

[Acadian]

'She particularly liked it when Prietus did that.
Opening AND closing the episode with this was brilliant, and provided a wonderful sense of unity to the many pieces and places you covered.

Interesting interface between Cyrodiil and the SI that you wonderfully present some glimpses into via Eugenie's limited perspective.

And Haskill! And Mazkin!

Great to see Heidi again. This was quite fun to read!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jul 4 2011, 12:25 AM

[ghastley]

The updated mod is now on TesNexus here. The final quest in the Isles still doesn't have an ending, but you can play it all. It's divided into two esp's, so you can just install the first part if you don't have SI. Easiest install is using Wrye Bash, as the installer is set up for BAIN.

I also updated Gweden Brothel and the Warrior Nuns mod with some bug fixes, and wrote another piece of stuff for here.

We're in SI now, so the Hero has become the Madgod. He's still a nondescript Bendu Olo of no specific build, trying not to get in the way too much.

--------------------------

Dyus' Tale

Dyus was uncertain, a state he found most distressing. He'd lived his very long life with the ability to calculate all the events in the Shivering Isles, but that had faded with the arrival of the new Madgod.

He realised what was happening, of course. The Realm was changing to suit its new ruler, and the old rules, the basis of all his calculations, no longer applied. He knew he would, in time, change with it. Right now, unfortunately, it was changing faster than he could adjust.

The Mazken that came to him was no surprise. He had calculated that Haskill would need help as he, too, adjusted to the new order. No, "Order" was not the right word to use. That was a concept of the past, and one he hoped was gone with the old Jyggalag. Would there be a new Jyggalag? He was pleased to tell himself that he didn't know.

He followed the Mazken as she led him to New Sheoth. The path was familiar to him, but there were signs of change all around. Fewer balliwogs than expected, less decay in the mushroom trees. He might like the new Realm if he lived to see it.

That was another new point to ponder. The old Sheogorath had forbidden him to die, at the same time as confining him to Knifepoint Hollow. Would the new Sheogorath renew that decree? It seemed likely, but uncertain. He didn't like uncertain, although he liked the direction the Realm was taking.

Haskill met him at the Palace, and confirmed his recent predictions of Jyggalag's eventual defeat. The differences in detail from his projection were minor, and he began to feel that his abilities weren't entirely gone. If he could just incorporate this new random element into his formulae, ...

The randomness didn't appear to bother Haskill, but he'd dealt more with the Sheogorath side of the Madgod than with the Jyggalag aspect. He would not have seen the patterns in the Madgod's mind that made him just as predictable in his madness as he was in his ordered mood.

Haskill had further troubling news for him. Mehrunes Dagon had opened gates in the Isles, and he'd just returned from one. He'd been able to contact the new Madgod, and left Mazken guarding the path through the Deadlands.

Dagon was another factor he'd never had to consider before. A new challenge, but a new reason for his continued existence. He felt needed again, which was not an unpleasant feeling.

The new Madgod was expected to arrive shortly, but first Haskill had something to show him. "It's a game called Backgammon," the chamberlain explained. "It incorporates aspects of randomness and calculation, in a way that might help you adjust to to the way things are now."

A reasonable proposition, and it might help pass the time until the Madgod arrived.

---

The game did indeed help, as he reformulated his understanding of the new Realm, but he realized that something more was required. He reached his new conclusion just as the Madgod entered the palace. There was one person who had the ability to help him process this new situation, to reach valid conclusions from insufficient data. That was Syl, and Syl was dead.

"No matter," he thought to himself. "We can build a new one. The Mazken have the body, Relmyna has a copious supply of hearts, and Ciirta's other eye will help bind them together and enhance the vision she needs."

He explained his conclusions to the new Sheogorath, who actually seemed to be paying attention to what he said. A distinct improvement over the prior one.

When the Madgod left to start gathering the pieces for the new Syl, he resumed his work on recalculating the events to come. There was still a troubling aspect of the new Syl's personality that was eluding him.

---

Relmyna arrived at the Palace and summoned Herdir to help her prepare for the rebirth of Syl. They moved out the old Syl's torture cage, and put a stone tub in its place. When Dylora and the other Mazken brought Syl's body to the palace, he directed them to Relmyna and her preparations.

Everything was in place when the Madgod arrived with the eye and the heart. Dyus followed into the Ducal palace to watch the ceremony. It was a simple process, similar to the one that rebuilt the Gatekeeper, but on a smaller scale. Relmyna spoke an incantion, and at the appropriate times, the eye and the heart were added to the tub, while the swirling contents churned and bubbled.

At the end of the ritual, a naked Syl stood where the Tub of Rebirth had been. She appeared to be less troubled by her nudity than the old Syl would have been. To her, it would have triggered feelings of vulnerability, and provoked some kind of violent reaction to her fears. The new one apparently took the blame for her condition on herself.

"Have I been naughty?" she asked. "Naked is naughty, isn't it?"

"Not if you've just been born," replied the Madgod. "In your case, born again. But you should go and put some clothes on. Do you remember where the Duchess' quarters are?"

The new Syl didn't remember much about being the Duchess at all, but she did know the way. She soon returned wearing part of one of the Duchess' dresses. She'd left off the flamboyant skirt and collar, and just wore the body suit, exposing more cleavage than the old Syl ever had.

Especially at the back. She bent over to make sure he'd noticed. "Please spank me, I know I must have been naughty! If I get my punishment, it will all be accounted for, and I won't have to worry any more."

Dyus recalled his prior misgivings about the new Syl. "I've created a monster!". He was certain of that.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Jul 6 2011, 02:56 PM

[King Coin]

The updated mod is now on TesNexus here. The final quest in the Isles still doesn't have an ending, but you can play it all. It's divided into two esp's, so you can just install the first part if you don't have SI. Easiest install is using Wrye Bash, as the installer is set up for BAIN.

I also updated Gweden Brothel and the Warrior Nuns mod with some bug fixes, and wrote another piece of stuff for here.

We're in SI now, so the Hero has become the Madgod. He's still a nondescript Bendu Olo of no specific build, trying not to get in the way too much.

is this the same version I have, or should I redownload?

[ghastley]

No it's now properly split into SI and non-SI parts, and has some updates and bug fixes. However the split may have introduced some new bugs.

If you do download again, make sure the second (SI) esp loads right after the first. BOSS doesn't know about it yet.

The main addition is the completion of the "Trap demo" quest with the rescue of Priapus Prietus. Your copy ends when the firework show does, and that quest has no conclusion.

Unless you have a character who is both CoC and Madgod the SI quests aren't available, so the bugs in that part will only be found by the dedicated few.

The last quest in SI just stops after the gates are sealed. I'm still trying to think of an ending that's not a complete anti-climax, but maybe that's the right thing to do. An "is this really the end?" ending.

[Acadian]

Very clever weaving of the Oblivion Gates and new Madgod into the SI via Dyus' perspective. The idea to rebuild Syl was great! Matched only by your description of it and what followed. A monster, indeed!

Nit: 'When Dylora and the other Mazken brought Syl's body to the palace, he direct them to Relmyna and her preparations.'
I expect you wanted 'directed' here.