Aravi in Skyrim, her video story Options

[Grits]

Gosh, Aravi couldn’t wait to get far away from those two! Nice catly leap over the wall. Her disquiet came through very well. It was very Aravi to seek some alone time out on the tundra. She is already a night hunter, and she doesn’t need to be made stronger by their beast blood. What a perfect time to receive a blessing from Lady Mara. The adventure videos are very fun to watch, but these character episodes are always my favorites.

Checking out Volunruud? I’ve never been past the first chambers. I wonder what’s in store for her inside!

[SubRosa]

I wonder if the magic the skyforge taps is older than Women too? Or Khajiit? Or Argonians?

There is a werewolf down there! I am with Aravi, I'd be backing up too! No thanks. Aravi is already a feline. Why would she want to be a canine?

The way Skryim handles werewolves was disappointing to me. Lycanthropy is supposed to be a curse, that transforms the afflicted into a ravenous monster who kills indiscriminately. But as is trendy in current pop-culture, they try to make them into superheros instead. The player can always control their transformations, and never just go berserk and kill at random. There are no negatives to it at all.

I don't blame Aravi for running out of there. I would too.

So now it is off to Volunruud. That is one I have actually done before!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 20 2012, 05:08 PM

[King Coin]

@mALX: That must have been something they patched. She left town to be on her own for a while, and to think. She didn’t specifically go to the shrine to be healed; she just stumbled upon that shrine to Mara. Because she assisted Erandur, the priest of Mara in Dawnstar, when she touched the shrine she received a blessing. I roleplay that you have to be in a divine’s favor before you can receive blessings at their shrines. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: She absolutely doesn’t want anything to do with being a werewolf! She was more than a little freaked out when Farkas transformed on her, and then seeing Aela like that…

She always just assumed those distant howls were from the standard variety of wolf… Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: She definitely likes spending time alone when she is troubled. She has dragon blood already, she doesn’t need beast blood to be strong. I’m glad you enjoy these character episodes. They are the most challenging, but most rewarding videos to make.

Didn’t get in the door? Were you missing one of the weapons? Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa:
I wonder if the magic the skyforge taps is older than Women too? Or Khajiit? Or Argonians?
Don’t know, he only mentioned men.

I agree with you about how werewolves should have been handled. Some random transformations would be welcome, or even make them connected to the moons. Thanks SubRosa!

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Aravi enters Volunruud and finds a special locked door.

TIME: 9:09

_____________________________
Books:

Heddic's Volunruud Notes

Mace Etiquette

This post has been edited by King Coin: May 22 2012, 04:24 PM

[mALX]

I absolutely LOVED this dungeon, really enjoying going through it vicariously now "Aravi style!" - AWESOME VID!!!!

[SubRosa]

I love that journal at the very beginning. What danger could a few old corpses be? And a few feet away is the axe embedded in the stone floor...

I see Aravi is putting her bow to good use. I never thought of trying to shoot one of the pressure plates like that!

That was cool, bashing with the bow to gain time to change weapons. That Draugr Deathlord will be trouble though. She is one nasty customer. Oh noes, she disarmed Aravi with her first shot! I hate that. Aravi got back at her by breathing fire though.

I agree with Aravi's headshake after killing that deathlord. That was close. Ebony arrows! Those will work much better than those steel ones Aravi has.

Now with the second ceremonial weapon in hand, Aravi is off to face Evel Knevel!

[Grits]

Allek went in on official business, but he didn’t have to go past the very beginning side rooms. He left Marcurio at home for that trip since he was up to no good. No way was he going to explore on his own. He is a murderer, not a warrior like Aravi!

Aravi is good at spotting the not-entirely-dead. That urn was some tricky follower bait. Bump the urn, set off the trap.

Argh, disarmed!! Aravi had a snappy comeback, though. Then she ended the fight standing in a bunch of cobwebs. Ebony arrows, sweet!! Aravi has a nice bow collection.

This is a neat tomb, and it’s fun to watch Aravi conquer it on her own. I’m looking forward to what’s behind the special door. Tongue Chieftain sounds like there might be some yelling, and maybe even a Word!

[Acadian]

A creepy dungeon. Aravi is very aware and cautious about traps and unseen dangers. She’s learned to be very cautious and prudent. Some nice one-shot arrow kills.

It looked like one of those lightning-using draugrs zapped his buddy in the back while trying to hit Aravi. Neat!

She brilliantly didn’t waste any time when disarmed. Just shouted right in that deathlord’s face! Woot!

Ugh. Any sort of puzzling stuff out to make progress, kicks my butt and I don't enjoy trying to figure it out. I’m glad Aravi had the patience to find that ceremonial axe to open the way. Very clever kitty!

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 23 2012, 12:11 AM

[King Coin]

@mALX: Swords and bow! Thanks mALX!

@ SubRosa: You would think a resident of Tamriel would know better than to enter an old tomb. The Deathlord was a lot of trouble. We found out the hard way that a single arrow from her can kill Aravi.

Evel Knevel I always thought the same thing! Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: Ah, I see. That completely makes sense then. Aravi’s a Khajiit so a locked door is kind of like a challenge.

Disarmed! That was a nasty surprise, but she still was dangerous! I’m actually very happy with how that part came out, it showed her quick thinking. Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: She’s always been cautious, but she was even more so without Kharjo’s heavy armor to get between her and danger. Aravi recovered very well from being disarmed. She’s had practice in Cyrodiil though. The ax was hidden in plain sight. Took a while for us to figure out where it was. Thanks Acadian!

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Some screenshots of Aravi’s northern travels.

Outside of Dawnstar, on the coast. One and Two

With Kharjo, just outside the College of Winterhold.

This post has been edited by King Coin: May 24 2012, 01:19 AM

[SubRosa]

I love the Sea of Ghosts. That first one of the coast is my favorite. You can just make out Winterhold in the distance.

[Grits]

Very nice! I like Two the best, with Aravi's tail neatly curled. It looks like she's having a serious conversation with Kharjo!

[Acadian]

Brrr! Beautiful but very cold looking!

Like Grits, I love how Aravi’s tail is curled behind her.

The last one. . . just a couple of cool cats trying to figure out this magicky stuff.

Thanks so much for sharing these great screens!

[mALX]

These were all awesome shots, but my fave has to be #2 - not just Aravi's tail curled to the camera, but for the scenery - Awesome shots!

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: The Sea of Ghosts sure is pretty. Thanks!

@Grits: I’ve had that pose mod for a while now, but I’m just now starting to put it to use. I love how the tail curls around too. Thanks!

@Acadian: The last one is my favorite. When this is done, Aravi’s going to want to go south for a while! Thanks!

@mALX: I took a ton of screen shots of her sitting on that rock trying to get the perfect balance of Aravi and scenery. Thanks!

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

Aravi is defeated by Kvenel and then she is troubled by dreams when she returns to Breezehome.*

TIME: 12:05

*It wasn’t as hard to tell in the preview as it is in the final video, but in her dream she is a vampire.

**Short explanation of Aravi's decision in the video**


This post has been edited by King Coin: May 26 2012, 04:35 AM

[mALX]

I couldn't tell she was a vampire, only that she attacked a roomful of ... urk! She fell !!! But when she returned, was that a dream too? GAAAAH! Now I'll get to see what I avoided so far, lol. This vid was AWESOME !!! Loved it !!!!

[SubRosa]

Looks like those ebony arrows will come in handy. Kneval was a tough fight when Tanit went up against him. I think I had to reload at least once. My did she slice and dice that Restless Draugr after the got hurt and had to retreat! I have never been able to strike that quickly when dual-wielding. I guess my trigger finger is not what it used to be...

So now Aravi wants to be a werewolf? I think I would have just gone back with Lydia instead. Or with Kharjo. Well, at least there are no downsides to be being a werewolf in Skyrim.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 25 2012, 08:30 PM

[Acadian]

Your ability to literally show us what is going on is amazing – particularly since that is all we have to go by due to your video venue. Her wise decision to abandon a fight against Kvenel was clear. As was her trepidation in accepting lycanthropy.

I appreciate the brief explanation to help flesh out Aravi’s logic. Tragically, it makes sense for Aravi. I hope it rids her of the vampiric taint, and that the price of turning to the dog side is not too high for our kitty to bear in its stead.

Her night romp through the tundra was impressive! I must selfishly confess that I’m pleased you so brilliantly worked out a way to show us the path of the wolf in Skyrim!

[Grits]

That was weird, the burnt corpse looked like it was holding a scroll. What a scary escape from Kvenel the Tongue.

You really conveyed that Aravi’s decision was not made lightly. The beast blood should get rid of any lingering vampire, but she still did not seem thrilled about accepting it.

It looked like she had a good first run on the tundra, though. Poor chickens! They must be traumatized living so close to Jorrvaskr. Now we know why the Grey-Manes’ cow looks so nervous.

Aela’s comment about taking the blood of her foes must have been uncomfortable for Aravi. It was good to hear the reassurance that Aravi can control her beast blood rather than being subject to surprise transformations. Exactly as Acadian said, your ability to show what Aravi is going through is amazing. I look forward to seeing where this new path takes her.

[SubRosa]

Have you seen this mod? A Were-Panther would sound more appropriate for Aravi to turn into than a werewolf.

[King Coin]

Explanation of the previous video:
When Aravi went to sleep, she had a dream of her vampire (the fragment of the disease that has been within her since before she left Cyrodiil, also the cause of all of her vampire nightmares) being killed by the werewolves. Werewolves are immune to disease, including vampirism. Accepting the curse of the werewolf will instantly cure all diseases and even a full vampire will be cured. Aravi decided to accept one curse to be rid of another.

@mALX: Hopefully it is now a little more clear. Aravi hadn’t turned into a vampire; only in her nightmares was she ever a vampire. The dream was symbolic of the end of the vampire problems she has had. It wasn’t very clear unfortunately. Thanks mALX! Werewolves (or I should say werecats) are a lot of fun!

@SubRosa: Kvenel outmatched Aravi and it was very close. If she hadn’t been slowed so much by the frost attack, I wouldn’t have applied the potion.

She did not accept lycanthropy to fight Kvenel, but to be rid of the vampire taint. I apologize that it wasn’t very clear in the video. I probably should have separated the two events into different videos. Lessons learned. She does actually go back to fight Kvenel later with Kharjo.

I looked at the screen shots for that mod you posted and it didn’t look like much of an improvement. I might try it. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: I’m glad the brief explanation helped you understand what happened. I’ll have to do better in the future though. Lycanthropy turns out to be a lot of fun and I’m very pleased to be able to show it. As you guessed, there is a price. Aravi will be relieved to be rid of the taint, but she may decide the price is too high. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: I found out later that the burnt corpse is holding a scroll and it can be taken with enough maneuvering. It would have been handy.

The chickens! They were lucky Aravi didn’t want to stop running!

Aravi has control over her transformations, but she finds that she needs to let the beast out at times. It’s like a pressure that she can feel building. Thanks Grits!

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

Aravi goes with Aela to combat a group of werewolf hunters.

Time: 12:36

[Grits]

“After Skjor charged in…” That’s when Jensa started running. She was not the brightest werewolf. A bit like Skjor.

Torture tools? Never saw those. That skeever was kind of cute, sniffing the air like the rats in Oblivion.

What an awesome fling of the Skinner guy! Whoa, Aravi seems to have embraced her beast self, but not without a cost. She did not seem happy to see those bodies she fed on.

On one hand she has Kharjo, the Blades, and the dragons, and on the other she's now a part of the Companions' fight. I wonder what she is going to do.

I loved this video! You showed a battle and internal conflict in the same one. Awesome!

This post has been edited by Grits: May 28 2012, 04:54 PM