Aravi in Skyrim, her video story Options

[SubRosa]

Oh, its that spot on the road west of Rorikstead. That place is always good for 4-5 bandits. The last archery kill cam of Aravi's was excellent!

Aravi is wearing her golden elven armor I see. She and Kharjo make quite a pair in their golden and ebony attire.

I see that one Stormcloak chick is still harassing Aravi. Who put that bug up her butt? Whoa, who is that they are slugging it out with up the road? Is that Imperials? I think Aravi did the best thing by just leaving. The way those cloaks are acting, they don't deserve her help.

Liars Retreat. That one does not sound familiar. I never got around too much in the Reach. I never liked it much over there. Uh oh, Falmer. Wow, all of those arrow shots, and Aravi stayed hidden. Of course by the time they did get up to her, Kharjo was ready with his wolf! Now that was timing. Of course once Aravi's twin swords come out, no fight last for much longer!

Kharjo down to one knee? Uh oh... But Aravi saves the say with a kill cam! W00T!

Aravi tried slugging it out with that one Falmer? Oh noes! Get those swords out!

I just love how those bandits taunt you right before they die.

[Darkness Eternal]

I love the issues Aravi had with her Beast. And Kharjo's pespective on her monstrous side was well written, and understandable from a non-Lycanthrope's perspective. It all comes down to points of view, however. Ah, that's the picture I found back in September, isn't it? Hehee.

Oh and Aravi wondering what Kharjo must think of her condition? I love the internal questionnaire she had at the end. I wonder if she will end up curing herself and forsake the Hircine-given gift that was bestowed upon her. The more she let's it out, the easier it will become for her. The more she holds it in, however, the more her urges for bloodshed will come out and thus, she might risk losing her mind. Toughie. Either embrace the natural ways of the wolf and eat to survive, or try to find a cure and thus lose the power(and potentially contract vampirism! We all know she doesn't want that).

Lore-nits: In ES, we can weave our own lore into the tales, so don't even think much of this tiny thing. I guess when it comes to Lycanthropes, Companion strain or not, werewolves don't feel drained upon reverting to regular form IF they kill someone. But hey, I guess she must have felt that way after rampaging through the night, and only felt the effects of being confined in a regular form.

All in all, I love Aravi and the fact that you don't shy away from the condition she has to put up with.

[Grits]

I just love that area. All kinds of craziness can happen, and there’s always a bunch of bandits to fight. Aravi had the right idea, let those soldiers fight their own skirmish. Like they said, it doesn’t concern her!

Liar’s Retreat is a new one for me. Whoa, Falmer? I was not expecting them so close to the surface! That was an awesome display of bow and blade by Aravi. Kharjo took a knee?! Yikes, those Falmer are tough!

Oh, now the story unfolds. Those bandits were idiots! Khajiit look nothing like Falmer! How funny, they piled up the baskets to barricade the door. What a great view of Aravi taking in the view at the end.

This was a fun trip through an interesting spot. I know one Nord chick who would have stripped that slutty dress right off the dead body, given it a quick swish in the river, and called it clean enough. Aravi has far too much class to do such a thing!

[Acadian]

You can tell Aravi wants to sort of light into those Stormcloaks, but prudently moves on. . . .

Kharjo says, “We have found a cave. I don’t think there are warm fires and friendly faces inside.”

So how does Aravi respond to his wise counsel? She puts on her little blue feeties of quiet and says, “C’mon.” Then they find. . .

Eeep! Falmer. Nice to see Kharj using his spirit wolf. Why did Aravi use her fists on that one Falmer?

And a nice pensive view out over Skyrim at the end. Very nice!

[mALX]

That nasty Stormcloak woman always makes me want to draw swords, but like Aravi did - gotta back off or you might get on the wrong side of some faction, lol.

That section of road there gave me a distinct impression of a very similar spot in Fallout 3 just south of the caged Behemoth in that railyard/Raider camp. The lay of the land/road in that spot was almost exactly the same as this section - just gray instead of the brown FO3 had there. In FO3 that section was like a crossroads for random encounters just like this was (with the same number of enemies, just different names for them).

While I watched that beginning I wondered if some of the landlay had been reused and just plunked differently named enemies into the spawn points in the same numbers. (Raiders = Bandits / Slavers = Stormcloaks / Regulaters or Talon Company = Imperial Army)

I loved seeing Aravi turn around and watch them getting attacked right afterward - and I heard the dying scream of that hateful woman, too. Ah, justice!

Kharjo tried to warn Aravi before entering the cave, lol. That was really cool, and I wondered if they didn't pick that scripting up from Vilja's mod! She is the only follower I ever saw do that, so pulled her script to see how CDCooley/Emma did it. CDCooley is pure genius!

I was really surprised to see Aravi try fists against Falmer - they are tough! Was that ring she was wearing the Pugilist?

And Kharjo's wolf howling after a kill - Love that !!!

Really Awesome vid, and great update !!!

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: That’s always a fun spot to pass. It would be nice if the ambush was a little less predictable after you pass it once, but you know you’ll get a fight going there.

The Stormcloaks were fighting some Thalmor. Aravi doesn’t like either party, but at least when she passes a Thalmor patrol on the road, they don’t threaten her.

Aravi did me proud with those arrows! I recall that cave being a nightmare though. The Falmer were very tough in that first room grouped up like that. Many reloads.

Lol, had to see how effective those claws were, or in this case ineffective. Thanks SubRosa!

@DE: It all comes down to the point of view. Exactly! Aravi is not ‘growing’ into her curse. I’m calling it a curse because that is what it is to Aravi. Someone else would certainly see it as a blessing. Aravi accepted it without really understanding it. Kharjo’s first experience with her monster was not pretty and that colored his opinion permanently.

About the lore nit: I’m not following established lore, I haven’t even looked at it. This is how Aravi experiences it: She can change at will with one caveat. The longer she holds it in, the more she needs to let it out. She becomes restless and quick to anger holding it in. While she is changed, it is almost like another mind is controlling her and she has tons of reckless energy. When she turns back, she feels all that fatigue at once. The kills that she eats while in wolf form make her sick and she vomits until all the meat and blood is out of her. That takes a lot out of her.

Thanks DE!

@Grits: Craziness is right! I have another a little later that shows some more. That cave was very dicey, lots of reloading.

Yeah… Aravi isn’t going to do that. She wouldn’t even think of it. No rat meals, no bloody dresses. Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: One of these days, if she is in a bad enough mood, she is going to kill some Cloaks. I love your portrayal of Aravi responding to Kharjo!

She used her claws because, well it was the last one and Kharjo was there with his axe. She wanted to see what she could do and it turned out to be not much. Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: Aravi doesn’t want the problems that making herself an enemy of the Stormcloaks would bring, like difficulty traveling through some holds. It sure is difficult to not fight at times…

I’m sure the encounters in both games were programmed by the some person/team.

Lol. After they threatened her, she isn’t going to lift a finger for them. She was wearing a ring that either increased her swords damage, her light armor skill, or one that increased her health regeneration rate. I don’t remember which one she was using at the time. Thanks mALX!

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

Welcome to Markarth. This can’t get much worse can it?

5:07

[SubRosa]

Aravi looked so tiny on that bridge. It's a looong way down!

Oh look, a dragon above the waterfall. And there he is again. Looks like the welcoming committee is out for Aravi. Looks like she made it to Markarth ok though. I wonder, is this her first time inside the city?

I guess it is her first time. So there are no Forsworn in the city? That is a relief to hear. I guess Aravi and Kharjo were just imagining that assassin that they double-teamed. Thank goodness that the city guard has it all under control!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 26 2012, 06:27 PM

[Acadian]

I love it when Aravi takes me on a ‘walkabout’, and the start of this vid was a beaut! That was a gorgeous big waterfall, well, ‘cept for the dragon.

Just when I thought the lighting when they arrived was overexposed, sure enough Aravi dispelled(?) her night eye(?) to get a better look at the entrance to that city. It was a confusing friend or foe situation when they first entered the city. Thankfully, Kharjo’s cat instincts drew him right away to the bad guy and Aravi slipped in for the kill cam. Neat! I love how companions and summons are never confused about who is friend or foe. Lol.

Okay, I looked up the Forsworn on UESPwiki.

Silver Blood Inn – neat name!

[Grits]

What a neat view to open with! There’s no doubt where they are. Mountains and mist, rivers and waterfalls. And Forsworn. Oh, and dragons.

The dragons can really surprise you in the Reach, popping up over the mountains like that. The cliff side and the river would have made a neat little trap to catch some Khajiit in, if that one had been paying attention. No wonder Aravi was nervous.

When Aravi and Kharjo arrived in the dark, I thought how relieved they must have been to finally get there safely after that rainy trip. Then of course far from a warm welcome.

Ah, the Silver Blood Inn, home of one of my favorite NPCs. Hopefully Vorstag will not give Aravi the creepy glare the way Stenvar did!

That kill cam worked perfectly with Aravi springing into action, and the aftermath came across so well. I hope in the morning they get some sunshine!

[mALX]

I was getting height sick when Aravi was crossing that bridge by zig-zagging toward the edge! Maxical would def have fallen over the edge accidentally. Nice waterfall! Urk, dragon.

Markarth. Love my house there, hate the city. Some of the people are nice though, one died and left me their inheritance, lol. That poor woman died in my game, didn't know what was going on, no good in melee, lol.

My favorite part of this vid was Aravi scooting along trying not to be seen by the dragon - LOVED that !!! Great update!

[Darkness Eternal]

Ah, Markarth! The High Rock styled land! For a second there I thought she was getting into a fight with the dragon!

But backstabbing would-be assassins work too! I foresee a Forsworn Fiasco! Hehe! Yes, Aravi is going to deal with some of the dangerous men and women of the Reach, eh?

I have to confess, I LOVE their armor in the game. Savage, barbaric esque! Good update, too!

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: I had to show that bridge. Better to sneak by the dragon if she can. It’s not always possible though.

No Forsworn? Huh, I could have sworn that guy murdering people and bellowing had something to do with them. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Sorry I didn’t tell you about the Forsworn.

I don’t know, if the dragon wasn’t intent on eating Khajiit, I think it would be gorgeous too. Yep, it was night when Aravi arrived at the city and she had to let her eyes adjust ( ) to the bright light near the gates. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: The Reach is very easy to recognize, isn’t it? I’d like the area better if it wasn’t so difficult to get around in. A horse is almost required.

Yeah, Aravi’s had a few surprises with dragons in that area. Lucky that one was happy to just fly around.

You remember Stenvar! I don’t think Aravi’s ever going to talk to him. I can’t remember if Aravi talks to Vorstag or not. You will have to see. Thanks Grits!

mALX: Aravi had no idea what was going on, so that woman died. Sorry you weren’t feeling good.

I wish Markarth was a bit more pleasant, the architecture of the city is stunning! I don’t think Aravi will ever spend long there however.

Aravi doesn’t want to fight every dragon. Glad you enjoyed that! Thanks mALX!

@DE: Best to avoid the dragons in this land. You’ve got it; Aravi’s going to get into a huge mess here soon. I like the Forsworn armor too. Aravi wrinkles her nose at it though. Maybe we’ll get her into it sometime yet. Thanks DE!

################################
Aravi read the note she was given in the marketplace after she killed the murderer.
This is what is said:

Meet me at the Shrine of Talos.

Aravi looks around the city, and then meets the man from the market.

7:54

################################
Screens!

Home

Sunrise

Death

Healing

Kharjo’s helmet

[mALX]

I'm glad to learn there is a way to turn off that man outside the abandoned house - I took to avoiding passing him because he kept hooking me in and I'd have to reload, lol.

Markarth doesn't feel like a safe place, so many weird people till you talk to the merchants, lol. The house is the prettiest, but ... urk! I ended moving to Solitude finally, lol.

"Look at the colors?" Sounds like the Silver Blood Inn is serving more than ale! "I'll take a blotter and a mead please..."

On the screens - I thought "Sunrise" was going to be my favorite till I saw "Death" - have to go with it because of that arrow whizzing by Aravi and the Foresworn hiding below - Awesome shot! All are great, but you nailed so much in that one! Great Update!

[SubRosa]

Its that vigilant of stendarr. That guy is so annoying. He stops you ever time you try to walk past. It has gotten so bad that all of my characters find ways to walk around that street, rather than through it.

Markarth certainly has one of the most interesting layouts, and the most maze-like, of all the Skyrim cities. There are all those stairways and bridges way up high, and no handrails. I wonder how many people fall to their deaths every year?

I just did this quest the other day with Neith. Well, most of it at least. She never finished it all. Markarth was my least favorite city in Skyrim before doing it. Now I like it even less. You will see why.

Aravi has a wolfish grin!

I agree with mALX. Someone has been eating the funny mushrooms!

The sun glowing from behind the mountain was excellent. My favorite pic was Healing though. The lighting was just perfect, and I love Aravi's outstretched hand. Kharjo's helmet is kind of yucky looking. The regular ebony was much nicer.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 29 2012, 08:17 PM

[Acadian]

Vid: It was fun to see Aravi in a dress; the one she’s wearing suits her well.

Wow, I really like how the waterfalls integrate into the city!

As you know, I’ve been inspired by Aravi’s little ‘Mage Light’ spells and now Buffy uses weak frost on target x 15 second spells to simulate the effect in Oblvion. The frost spells ‘stick’ to walls and linger for their duration.

“I find your wolfish grin unsettling.”

Screens: So peaceful at home and what a beautiful sunrise. Snapping a shot of an arrow in flight – very cool! “Ah, I feel like I just woke up from a nap.” Kharjo is too sexy for headgear!

[Grits]

I love Markarth. Denelle lives there. She is not one to stumble drunk off the wrong side of a staircase (Jensa), so I don’t worry about her. I bet that dress was the only thing that kept Aravi from taking the catly way down. You did a great job sharing the feeling of the city with Aravi’s stroll.

Aravi is “dangerous looking,” even in her city gown?! Maybe Eltrys was talking about the mountain in ebony at her back.

Wow, Aravi is not getting welcoming words from anyone here. Except for Hroki!! I know it’s just Aravi’s spell, but she sounds like she’s been in the sugar!

What a great bunch of screens! Like mALX said, “Death” told a little story with one arrow. “Sunrise” shows the Reach at its best, without all of the maniacs. Am I the only one who loves Kharjo’s helm?!

I have to pick “Home” as my favorite picture. Aravi looks so peaceful, and I love that she has a place that is her home. She is a real asset to Riften.

[SubRosa]

btw. I made a topic on the other forum about those unfriendly Stormcloaks. I have had two characters now who met them as well. It turns out it is not at all unusual behaviour by both the Cloakies and Impies. Each has a "scout patrol" encounter that will act like that. It is really just a matter of luck if you get one, or the other, or none.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 30 2012, 11:37 PM

[King Coin]

@mALX: Aravi isn’t much interested in going after Daedra worshipers, so she didn’t have much care for what the man was saying. Plus she really doesn’t know anything about the house.

I really like Markarth, it’s just the people there that Aravi doesn’t like. It’s a little like Riften that way, only Aravi hasn’t quite had the experience there that she does here.

It took me a while to figure out miss ‘pretty colors’ was talking about the light Aravi had floating about her. It sure sounds the way you say though!

The arrow shot was difficult to get, the location where it happened was really weird. Glad you like it though. It’s quite dramatic. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: Aravi finds out how insistent he is.

I love the layout of the city but it’s definitely not very safe!

The outcome has definitely colored Aravi’s opinion of the city. She doesn’t go there very often.

Interesting on the patrols. Strangely enough, I haven’t come across the hostile Imperials; it’s always been Cloaks threatening Aravi.

The healing one is my favorite. Aravi’s gotten better with her healing magic tending to Kharjo. His helmet is yucky? I love the helm! It’s dragon plate! Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: I bet Buffy would like to see Aravi in dresses more often. Aravi has them but she’s so often on ‘business’ that she doesn’t have the chance to really change out of armor. Markarth is very pretty with all the falls isn’t it? Your Oblivion version of the light spell is brilliant. Kharjo looks too powerful with that helm to not use. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: He must have been talking about Kharjo, because Aravi is puny! And in a dress? No way! I definitely wanted to show off the city some. It’s beautiful. Dresses don’t let Aravi jump very much. Well, she could, but she wouldn’t want to.

Looks like it’s you and me for the helm. Sunrise was actually taken just outside of Ivarstead, so that explains the lack of maniacs. I am a bit surprised you chose Home as a favorite, but it pleases me. She really does look happy there. Thanks Grits!

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

Aravi snoops around to find something about the murdered woman.

8:41

Margret’s journal

[mALX]

Aravi will learn to turn right when she enters the gate to avoid that fanatic outside that haunted house, lol.

I got a kick out of the guards harassing Aravi over asking questions, lol. That scene with Thonar was scary, I ddn't know who the woman Aravi killed was in that fight (especially after Thonar came down saying his wife was killed). Thonar must be essential, I thought it was funny that Aravi beat him up, lol. Really interesting turns of events here, I know nothing about this quest other than the glitch that causes the guards to go hostile.

One thing I never did in Skyrim that I really enjoyed doing in Oblivion (mainly because I had no way to make my character invisible for extended periods) - was going invisible and searching everyone's houses to see what could be found, lol. Really would have enjoyed searching Thonar's house without his knowledge, it looked loaded!

And now I'm dying to know what that woman was selling - she's dead now, too late to ask, lol.

I loved this vid, really intriguing and showed a lot of Aravi's personality! Awesome update!

[Acadian]

Old news: I’m so glad you explained about the pretty colors comment when Aravi went into that tavern – I didn’t make the connection between her light spell and the comment until you explained it.

This vid was fun to watch. I like the smoke and waterfall mist that floats around the city. Lol, Aravi went barefisted on that Thonar fellow – better than getting wolfy on him I expect. I wonder if a trip to that mine/prison is in order?