Aravi in Skyrim, her video story Options

[Grits]

What a shock to find the Hall of the Vigilant destroyed. As prissy and self-satisfied as they sound out on the road, I still hated to see that. But, new armor!

Oooh, campfire! What a beautiful spot. I love how the waving flag showed the wind. Fun to hear a vampire squabble. I see that Aravi went back to her bow, or maybe just wants more practice with the crossbow? That skeleton climbing out of its grave looked so neat! That place is so dark and creepy! I love it. I was glad that Aravi traded some things with Kharjo just to hear his friendly voice.

Screens: Yay, a closeup! The last one is definitely my favorite. Silhouette is really neat! Beautiful frozen valley. Acadian is right, Aravi needs a Belly Chain of Getting Naked the Icy Dip!

[Darkness Eternal]

I caught up with the videos and the screenies! Eh, it took me awhile, a damn while, but a good while nonetheless! The quest in the Reach with the Forsworn is a great quest all around, and it ties in to Aravi's former slave life as it compares somewhat. I liked the dragon fight, as well. Never had one face me in a city before, then again, I never play as "dragonborn."

Hehe. And at long last, Aravi joins up with the Dawnguard to take on the blood-sucking creeps of Skyrim. I'd probably do the same, since the Volkihar are not my cup of blood tea. As for the Vigilantes of Stendarr, those evil hypocritical villains deserved everything they got. They should have been more . . .vigilant.

I willll enjoy watching the new updates, since I never truly followed the Dawnguard side of things, but now I get the chance to see it with Aravi at the center of the action! Now hurry up, let's see some vampiric beauty like Serana(or should I call her Sonja/Selene?) and some Vampire Lord(Or Marcus Corvinus) fights!

I am now plugged in thanks to the return of my internet! Now I can truly follow!

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: It is a little annoying that the quests are spread out so much, I use fast travel because many of the objectives are around places that Aravi’s already explored plenty of times.

Yep, that’s the hall. Wouldn’t that be interesting to have been playing a Vigilant character, and then install Dawnguard?

Those are DG locations. You’ll find them soon enough, and they are really cool when you get to them. The cat is a retextured sabre cat.

The bounty is Markard was messed up before 1.8 if that is the case, because I recorded that quite a while ago.

Lol @ the vampires. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: That building at the beginning was the result of the attack Mr. Muttonchops was talking about in the previous video.

Aravi likes the crossbow fine; she just doesn’t have one that is enchanted. The bow had an enchantment she wanted to put to use. You’d like a lot of the caves in Skyrim, many of them have pools of water, streams, or rivers.

Nope, no toe ring. That was Buffy’s gift! Aravi stayed out of the water in this one. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: Aravi always saw the Vigilants as armatures. They don’t really have very good armor or equipment when she’s seen them. She kind of has mixed feelings about them too.

She used the bow because she wanted to put its enchantment to use. The crossbow doesn’t have an enchantment. Aravi loves having Kharjo with when she has to go somewhere like this. They need to record more Khajiit lines.

@ belly chain! I’ve been looking, but nobody’s made one yet! Thanks Grits!

@DE: Hey you’re back! Glad to hear you have a connection you can count on again!

Aravi’s my dragonborn character, any others that I play are not. The forsworn quest is one of my favorites so far. It’s just too bad it ruined Markarth for Aravi, that’s a really cool city. She isn’t happy about the Vigilants, but neither is she going to morn their passing. And I believe Serana is coming right up. Thanks DE!

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Aravi continues making her way through Dimhollow Crypt. She finds more vampires farther inside, who have found something they regard important.

10:09

Books:
Notes on Dimhollow Crypt, Vol. 3

Physicalities of Werewolves

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A moment

Aravi gets some help with a fort of necromancers

Destruction

Shooting

[Darkness Eternal]

Physicalities of werewolves is a damn good book with some good info on the general stuff about Lycanthropy. How they're weakness goes beyond silver to being a plant(Wolf's bane), much like the Canis Root which weakens werebears, or so the stories say. It also paints the author as a sick, demented twisted evil fellow for performing a vivesection on his experiment. And then they complain why they're the bottom of the food chain, eh.

Nice screenies:

Wow, so Aravi has dragons torching her enemies, now? Way to go!

"A moment," was a good picture. You set the mood with Masser, Wereavi and Serana, both creatures of the night, just looking at the horizon!

Anyways, Aravi must of hated that back since she would be a lab rat dog for those fiends. The action was superb! Her sneaky skills and slicing vampire thrall necks is never too boring to see. She always has something new up her sleeve.

SERANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn the cliffhanger! MUAAAAA .

[Acadian]

That sword in Aravi’s left hand sure is a bright glowy thing! Youch! We see what is responsible for all those spider webs. That was a neat purple puzzle on the floor that Aravi used to raise the monolith. And she gets the girl in the end! What an entrance!

Spectacular screenshots and I like Aravi’s armor!

[Grits]

Oh no, spiders! Oh crap that’s a big one! I have no memory of that part. Serana’s wakeup flop gave a great view of her excellent hairstyle. That whole scene has a nice feeling of another time, just the way the Vigilant scholar describes it.

Lovely screens! A Moment is so peaceful. Serana looks less than pleased, even though they’re under the moon. How fun to see Aravi with her dragon helper! The last one is my favorite with the fire light on Aravi and that beautiful bow, and the explosion in the background. That armor will work great for snow camo!

[mALX]

Can't watch the vids till I get home, but I'm getting too far behind waiting to comment - going to cover the screenshots in comments and come back for the vids when I return.


Loved all these first set, can't pick a fave (but the "Frozen waterfall" was very cool!

I gotta say, KC - LOVING these new textures!

GAAAAAH! What the hell is that thing? What is in its mouth? URK !!!

Oooh, purple Aravi with an enemy sneaking up behind her? URK !!!

I loved all this next set - was that dragon really helping Aravi? Is it a mod? Then Loved Aravi's new armor in that last screen! Some really cool shots here!

I'll be back for the vids !!! So sorry I can't watch them here!!!

[SubRosa]

I have gone past the Vigilant hall being destroyed with Revansch, and she is still meeting Vigilants on the road. Looks like one more bug.

I liked Aravi's headshake at seeing the webs. Ugh, spiders. I have modded them out of my game.

I have to say that the random vampire talk you hear when you sneak up on them is improved over the vanilla game.

Vampires, death hounds, familiars, Kharjo, what an insane melee! I was afraid Aravi might hack up someone on the wrong side.

Ewww, that guy summoned a spider!

So much for muttonchops. He should have waited for you to show up. Then he'd still be alive.

Scratch one vampire thrall. She walked right into that. Aravi did not have any trouble with those vamps. I see Lokil tried turning invisible and running on you too.

That spike from the pedestal was a surprise! Ouch! This puzzle took me a while.

[King Coin]

@DE: The contents of that book are both interesting and disgusting. The experiments described were horrible. Aravi would kill anyone that tortured like that.

I really liked Moment, so I am glad you did as well. And yes, Aravi has dragons to help her out! Thanks DE!

@Acadian: That glowy sword is Dawn Breaker! It causes undead to explode sometimes. Seemed appropriate for fighting vampires. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: Can’t it be anything but spiders? Ugh. That whole scene with Serana waking up was awesome. Very well done.

Serana does look impatient, doesn’t she? It was so much fun taking on the fort with the dragon helping. I got lucky with that last screen shot, very dynamic pose. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: Glad you approve of the new textures, I really like them too. Makes her look very distinct from the other Khajiit.

I think I know what screen you are talking about, the enemy isn’t an enemy but Serana.

The dragon was helping Aravi and no it is not a mod. Thank you very much for popping in mALX!

@SubRosa: I assumed those Vigilants on the road were based somewhere else.

I hate the spiders, but not enough that I feel like I need to mod them out. I think I am getting worse with spiders though…

Melees like that one are very difficult. Kharjo’s familiar often gets hit by Aravi when things are like that.

I’ve noticed that vampires are cowards. When they lose enough health, they very often try to disappear and run for it. I’m surprised you are the only one to mention the pedestal. That was a neat (if painful) addition, having your hand speared like that. It’s a little creepy knowing Aravi’s blood was used to wake Serana. Thanks SubRosa!

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Aravi finds a woman locked in a tomb. A vampire. After an uneasy start, they leave the crypt together. Aravi is glad Kharjo is watching her back.

10:06

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Large bow

Another dead thief

Rain!

I started a new game to see if it would fix a problem I have been having, then started playing it because it is so much fun to be low level.
So here’s a level 4, slightly different looking Aravi

[Lycanthropic-Legend]

From dragon battling in the mountains, to fighting the Forsworn in the reach and escaping the mines to joining up with the Dawnguard to restart her vampire slaying career.

It’s a little creepy knowing Aravi’s blood was used to wake Serana.

We had a theory back in the Bethesda forums that when vampires forgo drinking blood for a large period of time, they're body goes into a coma. Such as the case of Rona Hassildor. According to lore, sometimes they go into hibernarion. The ones in Vvardenfell went into a deep slumber after they were all being hunted down by the Buyont Armigers and the Ordinators. Serana probably gave up drinking just so that she could sleep for all those years. Hell, she must be over four thousand years old!! And that's probably why she's so close to the player, because that's the first drop of blood that's she had for all those years, and that's what woke her up.

I’ve noticed that vampires are cowards. When they lose enough health, they very often try to disappear and run for it.

Yep. But then again, most of the vampire NPC's in the game are female . . .*puts on flame vest*

The contents of that book are both interesting and disgusting. The experiments described were horrible. Aravi would kill anyone that tortured like that.

See, Lycanthropy can be confusing for the ignorant, and it is understandable that they would go to such lengths to explore and probe around the body of a werewolf for their heinous experiments. Understandable, but not noble or tolerable. Any werewolf would surely go in and rampage the hell out of them and disect them with teeth and claw for their nightly(or in some cases) daily nutrition. No wonder Aela and Skjor wanted to rush in and destroy the Silver Hand.

A vampire. After an uneasy start, they leave the crypt together. Aravi is glad Kharjo is watching her back.

Definetly uneasy. Vampires, by nature, are deceptive and manipulative and backstabbing. It's rooted in their blood. I was surprised and dissapointed that Serana didn't betray the player at the end of the quest if he was a vampire hunter.




Oh, and Serana us uncovered at last and it's off to Castle Volkihar to deliver the scroll and the beautiful vampire princess. Harkon will be pleased, but not when Aravi rejects his offer

Aravi's praising of the rainfall is such a wonderful picture, and funny, too! Though it would be better if it was raining sugar.

[Acadian]

Vid. As powerful as Serana’s entrance was, I was delighted that you treated us to it again! With Aravi, Kharjo and his wolf and Serana and her undead summons, the battlefield is getting pretty busy! Serana seems like a pretty effective mage. You could really sense Aravi’s trepidation about taking on a vampire. I loved when she looked to Kharjo and he gave her a ‘I dunno, boss’ kind of look. Seems like Serana’s been on ice for a very, very long time and what on Nirn is she doing with an Elder Scroll? I know. . . it’s complicated. . . .

Screens. Another little girl with a big bow! Is that a bandit wearing glass armor? I thought they would have fixed that for Skyrim. Lol. The rain shot is just beautiful. I’m so glad you’re enjoying a restart on Aravi! I see she kept her distinctive little scar.

[SubRosa]

I wish I had mysterious women falling into my arms...

Then again, mysterious vampire women I could do without.

Did you mod something with Serana's eyes? In my game they look like solid red brake lights. Same with all other vampires.

I liked Aravi looking from Serana to Kharjo. I am sure she is glad to have someone she can trust with Serana around. The way the game forces you to take Serana back to her dad's castle is not the best example of good writing. A hard-core vampire hunter (is there any other kind of vampire hunter?) would kill her on the spot. But that would invalidate all the work Bethesda put into the character, so I am sure that is why you do not have the option.

Oh look, not one, but two gargoyles! And how nice of Serana to start things off by shooting Kharjo in the back. Ahh, that glowy thing is something Serana animated. I noticed she has a habit of animating everything that does not move. I suppose we all need hobbies...

I see that Draugr Scourge got a delayed Dawnbreaker explosion. I have not seen that happen myself because my characters so rarely use followers. But I have read that if you hit an undead with Dawnbreaker and it dies within a certain amount of time, they can still explode. Even if Dawnbreaker is not the weapon that deals the final hit. Neat to see!

That Death Overlord actually lasted about 7 or 8 seconds against Aravi. I think that might be a record!

That is a large bow! What kind is it? I do not recognize it.

I see Aravi has some of that Snow Elf armor now. I think I like it. It is similar to Elven. I will have to see more of it. I noticed that the Thief was wearing glass armor. That takes me back to Oblivion, with its bandits wearing glass and ebony armor!

I really like rain, with her arms outstretched. I can just imagine Aravi catching raindrops on her tongue.

But your level 4 Aravi is my favorite. She has such a wonderful smile. Are you going to stop playing her at high level, and stick with the Aravi 2.0?

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Dec 3 2012, 02:42 AM

[mALX]

Nice outfit Aravi has on in "Large Bow!"

Great facial on Aravi in "Dead Thief!"

ROFL !!! The new Aravi looks wild, like a younger (and less disciplined) version of Aravi! Love it!

Can't watch vids yet, but great update so far and will catch up when I get home. <3

[Grits]

When Serana says, “What Empire?” Really neat. I love how Aravi took a moment to think things over. Taking a vampire to her home is not something I would have guessed Aravi would do back in her Cyrodiil days, but Serana is different and so is the whole situation. Isran would want to know more. (So he can burn out their nest. )

I know from your writing before that Kharjo is probably somewhat perturbed, but he is not showing it and definitely backing Aravi’s play. I love how you are able to show what’s going on without them speaking!

That was an awesome WTF moment with the gargoyle and Kharjo charging in! Then Aravi was keeping her distance from Serana. What an unsettling situation.

Oh wow, fights with Serana, Aravi, and Kharjo will never be boring! Raised undead and summonings everywhere, and a Shouting contest! Woo hoo! Plus the sight of Serana rushing up in battle mode is not very calming. That was great to get a word from Kharjo in at the end there. This was great fun to watch, KC!

Screens: Gosh, I do love that big bow. The Ancient Falmer armor looks great on Aravi. I like the way she wears it without the gauntlets and boots. Argh, those thieves! I’ve never managed to intimidate one. I like the way there are a few NPCs in the same type of armor that is available to the player (thieves, some mercenaries), since they are out there alone expecting to prevail while the fur-clad bandits have to fight in groups. Rain is absolutely lovely, I adore her pose. And the new Aravi looks just as kind as we know she is! What a beautiful smile! The last two are my favorites.

[King Coin]

@LL: I assumed that the hand stabby thing was to get blood to wake Serana.

Heh, of course that’s what a werewolf would do. Some in the game seem to be completely feral and animals entirely, the ones that guy on the book was slicing up sounded like they still had their humanity.

Not reading the spoiler, still haven’t played all the way through DG. Aravi’s lived most of her adult life fighting vampires or their disease in some way, and suddenly here’s Serana.

Glad you liked the rainfall, it was a spur of the moment thing. Thanks LL!

@Acadian: You aren’t kidding about a busy battlefield! There’s almost too much going on.

Serana’s pretty good, her summons are good distractions and her spells are good too.

Aravi and vampires don’t mix usually, so there was some tension there with her.

It seems like all thieves in Skyrim have glass armor. Bandits on the other hand never have anything better than steel. Buffy enjoys the rain too doesn’t she? Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: I believe Serana’s eyes are supposed to be yellow/gold. I think you have them modded with one of your eye color mods.

Aravi feels nervous with a vampire around, but knowing Kharjo and his axe is behind the vampire is a small comfort.

They really didn’t handle Serana the best, Aravi should have either killed her, or at the very least, taken her to the Dawnguard HQ and not the castle like they make you do. And you can’t become a vampire lord without first joining the Dawnguard.

The bow is a quest reward.

I can imagine Aravi catching rain on her tongue as well in rain.

I think I will keep playing the high level Aravi at least until the close of Dawnguard. Right now the low level one is so I can play without feeling like I should be recording. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: The outfit in large bow is her elven armor. Lol, The new Aravi is the same Aravi, her personality is the same no matter what.

I hear you are on your way home, can’t wait for you to get back. Thanks mALX!

@Grits: “What Empire” indeed. That really lets you know how long she’s been in there. It’s because Serana is so different (and the game kind of forces you, but let’s ignore that) that Aravi’s willing to take her with.

Kharjo’s taking this vampire pretty well, but you are right. Most definitely perturbed.

Whenever a draugr shouts at Aravi, she feels like she has to reply in kind.

Aravi wouldn’t be Aravi if she wore gauntlets or boots (outside of a sewer anyways). Aravi was able to calm a thief, and when the calm wore off, he wasn’t hostile. Aravi loves a good warm rain. Thanks Grits!

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Aravi delivers Serana to her family’s castle.

6:37

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Screens!

Skyrim

Guardian stone

Twin moons

[Lycanthropic-Legend]

Some in the game seem to be completely feral and animals entirely, the ones that guy on the book was slicing up sounded like they still had their humanity.

Yeah, some do go feral, as Aela says. Lycanthropy alters the mind, makes a person a bit moody and prone to violence, as well as more eager to kill something like Sinding. The werewolves in Bloodmoon encountered in Solshteim were all feral, and all had the names such as "Raving Lunatic" or "Gibbering Idiot"

It depends on the willpower, as well. Those who can't tame themselves, or who hate their condition eventually try to supress their desire, making it harder to push it away when it rises even harder than before. Stuff builds up, you know?

I agree. A vampire hunter would not help out Serana. Especially a pure-blooded Daughter of Coldharbour! We all know how cunning they can be.

Ah, Castle Volkihar! Aravi and Serana, plus Kharjo, have arrived! I love Serana's voice! Laura Bailey also voiced Rayne, a vampire protagonist of the Bloodrayne series.

The interior of the castle is creepy, indeed. Death Hounds walk about(In fact, I think they are the same as Hellhounds from "Arena,". Summoned from the Nether realms) and vampires munch on live cattle. They're blood is probably frozen, allowing the Volkihar to munch on them while they're paralyzed, alas "Immortal Blood,"

Harkon! We meet the head of the Volkihar! I never liked the clan that much. They seem barbaric in their feeding habits, and savage. I'm more of a Order fan of Cyrodiil. They're more intelligent. And he's not known for his patience, is he? Aravi must kill this guy! He's a madman!

Fun fact: I noticed a Death Hound walking by Aravi named CuSith. CuSith is a folkloric demon-hound.

The Cù-Sìth was feared as a harbinger of death and would appear to bear away the soul of a person to the afterlife, similar to the manner of the Grim Reaper.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B9_S%C3%ACth

Yikes! Try imagining one of those dragging victims into Coldharbour, eh? I see Aravi prepared her Beast form before walking up to Harkon. He knows, though, he could smell her "filth." Wet dog smell, much? Or is it wet cat? Confusing. I'm surprised he didn't see you as a meal, vampires like to feed on werewolves.

And Aravi, are expected, rejected Harkon's offer to become a Scion of the Night! Keep you're Lycanthropy, Aravi! As long as she's not a "unnaflicted", then it's all well and good.

Great pics! Aravi walking down the mountain is a great one, and i love those clothes! Ah, Masser and Secunda! The twin moons! Don't gaze at them for too long . . .they're dangerous

[SubRosa]

Have you had trouble with the LOD for the castle showing up? The High Res texture pack overrides them. I had to open up the Dawnguard.bsa to pull out the lod files for it, an make a separate mod of them to get them working.

Locked inside the castle. I agree with Aravi's headshake. That is not a good sign. I see Aravi got her breast form beast form ready before talking to Admiral Harkov Lord Harkon. Good thinking.

That one vampire sitting at the table on the right looks like she is rowing a boat!

Its Markus Corvinus! I would back up too. I think Ahnold put it best.

Well that was no much of a choice for Aravi. Like Revansch, there was never any doubt which way it was going to go.

Love the profile view of Aravi against the mountains in Skyrim. You caught a stone in mid glow! The big moon looks really red in that last one, like it is bursting with blood...

Fun fact: I noticed a Death Hound walking by Aravi named CuSith. CuSith is a folkloric demon-hound.

Are you sure it was not Cait Sith?

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Dec 8 2012, 09:44 PM

[Acadian]

What a gothic and gloomy looking castle – complete with what I imagine to be circling ravens! And Serana makes another grand entrance to those inside. I do find myself curious as to why those vamps so badly want an elder scroll. Aravi’s nervousness really came through. She made her choice and the die is cast. Once banished and she returned to the jetty, I was so relieved to see Kharjo was still safely at her side. I have no doubt he rejected that bloodsucker’s offer as well!

And some fabulous screens of Aravi’s beautiful Skyrim!

[mALX]

Will come back to catch up on screens and watch all vids tomorrow, too tired tonight and bleary eyed/cross-eyed from driving!

[mALX]

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Could not watch these vids at my mom's, her PC would not play vids even after I did a thorough maintenance cleaning on it.

1. Boy, these Dawnguard are a lot of tough talk but send Aravi to do the dirty work! I am excited about seeing these vids, because so far I've only seen the vampire side of Dawnguard!

2. I remember seeing this crypt when my son did it - these vampires are tough fighters! I hope Kharjo is essential!

3. Ooh, I remember this puzzle! Serena! WOO HOO! I LOVE her voice and dialogue!

4. Screens: Is Aravi looking up in these last two? Really cool looking, is it a Pose Mod? Awesome shots! Vid: Those gargoyles scared the crap out of me! Lol. I couldn't see Kharjo for a while after that melee in the dungeon, was worried he'd lost the battle!

5. Serena's family have some very odd movement cycling issues in your game! This part really scared me - my son reloaded a save and went back in after being banished - ended up giving up his werewolf to try out the new vampire form, lol. WHEW, but if you stay banished can you ever have Serena as a friend? Awesome Vids, all of them !!!!


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