Aravi in Skyrim, her video story Options

[King Coin]

@mALX: I really like the quests in Dawnguard. I haven’t seen what the vampire ones are like, but the ones Aravi’s doing are fantastic. I can forgive some of the nonsensical things they have you do, just because it’s so fun.

Aravi couldn’t sleep in that picture so she could have decided to read or do something else. She decided to sit next to Kharjo. Maybe being next to him would calm her down enough to doze off? Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Skyrim isn’t all freeing winds and snow! Aravi lived in that area for a while. Very pretty.

I knew you (or your little elf) would like the butterflies in the forest pic. Post battle was very bloody, you should have seen what the rest of her looked like. Thanks Acadian!

@LL: Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense to deliver her to her castle when you know she is a vampire. Isran has a great voice, that is for damn sure. Makes Harkon sound like a wuss. Thanks LL!

@DE: Werewolves don’t sleep: Some nights are worse than others. I wonder why?

I’m surprised you and Grits are the only ones to say something about ‘Quiet moment.’ That was my favorite of that batch.

Gunmar could have mentioned there was a troll in the cave. Not that it wasn’t too difficult to deal with. Thanks DE!

@SubRosa: Really? I’ve done that quest twice with Gunmar and both times he was at that same place.

Kyne’s Peace is a really useful shout. Plus the words kind of sound cool. Animal Allegiance works too if you don’t have Kyne’s Peace.

Since I don’t have to deal with Isran, I kind of like him for that, BUT if I did I would hate the SOB.

I’ve seen some bandits fight with the wood cutting axe, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use a pickaxe before as a weapon.

You should have seen the rest of Aravi’s body in the icky one! Glad you liked the pics. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: You don’t miss anything! Aravi likes water, so she had to step in a little.

Lol, Gunmar can take anything! With two Khajiit of course.

Quiet moment is my favorite of the batch, the colors and the expressions. I put in the camp fire pic just to show what I thought was some amazing colors. Loved the light in that one. Kharjo looked so cool when he sat on that rock, Aravi had to join him. Thanks Grits!

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Sorine Jurard is next on Isran’s list of recruits. Aravi and Kharjo search the Reach for her.

10:37

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Screens!

The wolf approaches

The wolf feeds

Not even Jerric could eat that… (if you are eating this will ruin your appetite)

Sitting by the fire

Warming her toes

[SubRosa]

I wonder if Sorine is a descendant of Arielle Jurard?

"Isran, wants me? You must be mistaken."

She really wants that gyro. Whoever would have guessed that the Dwarves would have made so much Greek food?

Uh oh, lots of red dots. In the Reach that usually means... Forsworn. Wow, that opening Yol really put the smack down on them all! Great finish with the simultaneous bow and staff shots.

Dragontooth Crater. I do not believe I have ever been there before. I loved Aravi cautiously searching the cliffs overhead for dragons.

There it is, right on the ground. Well, that woke it up! Wow, one flurry of her swords and that is all she wrote!

I could live without that wolf approaching me, certainly without it being close enough to see that second pic!

Aww, no love for the charred skeever? You can make cure disease potions from that.

I love how Aravi put her gloves next to the fire to warm up. And the last one is just purely delightful.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 7 2013, 06:59 PM

[mALX]

“The wolf feeds” looks so realistic! I got a kick out of the “Not even Jerric…” it looks like Aravi is puking at the sight of that Skeever! Loved that shot! “Sitting by the fire” - is she sitting on a bench? I can’t see the bench!

My favorite (of course) - “Warming her toes.” LOVE that screen!

I am so loving this Dawnguard side of the DLC! These quests are fun! I got a kick out of her not walking 20 feet to find her gyros, ROFL !!!

That Forsworn fight was awesome, Aravi cut the numbers down quickly with her fiery shout! Wow, that Forest Dragon was slow compared to others she’s fought! Awesome Vid and update!

[Acadian]

It was fun seeing Aravi hopping around during the opening moments en route to find Sorine.

“Do you think mud crabs took it? I saw one the other day.” Oh my, the second part of that sentence sounds familiar to us Cyrodiilites! Well, I’m wondering if, like the beast tamer guy, this will involve a task. . . killing a dwarf and cutting off one of his gyros maybe? Whew, she found the sachel and it wasn’t even guarded by killer mud crabs. No doubt much more elegant than what I feared.

Jumped by a bunch of 4sworn! I loved seeing K-Kat briefly switch to his dual staves and launch some mojo of his own near the end of the fight. And, as ever, I enjoyed hearing his post-healing nap dialogue.

Ah, another dungeon as Aravi carefully scopes out the rocks above for hiding snipers. By Mara! I didn’t even realize it was a dragon until after Aravi shot it. I guess the name of the dungeon should have clued me. Gosh, that dragon didn’t mount much of an offense (thankfully).

Nice screens! I very much enjoyed the one of Aravi sitting by the fire. It’s a nice face study and really shows off that distinctive scar on the side of her face. Finally, someplace warm!

[Lycanthropic-Legend]

I second what mALX said. "The wolf feeds," looks so nice. The texture is beautiful. The "wolf approaches," is so creepy and very scary, indeed. Imagine being face to face with Aravi on her lupine form? Yikes! I think werewolves do sleep, lore-wise anyway. Hircine once commented on how his hounds slept during the day. :shrug:

Uh! Typical "Can't help you unless you do this for me" scenario. The Forsworn battle was intense, and I loved the finisher where Aravi shoots the arrow through the flames that Kharjo just shot. Awesome! Ah, and once again Dragonbornavi dominates and destroys yet another one of Alduin's allies.

Great battle!

[Grits]

What an exuberant opening !

Sorine is funny with her thieving mudcrab theory. Maybe those gyros had tzatziki sauce on them. It turns out that Sorine was right, she did leave it right there! Absent-minded Breton. I like her.

Whoa, what a fast fight with the Foresworn! The Fire Breath and then Kharjo’s magic plus Aravi’s arrow at the end were great! Nice of him to light up the target like that.

That dragon’s twitching tail was kind of cute. Oops, Aravi was in the crash zone! That dragon was not bright to land right on top of Aravi’s two swords.

Not even Jerric could eat that… (if you are eating this will ruin your appetite)

Indeed, not even with summoned ketchup! Poor Aravi!

Sitting by the fire is my favorite in this group. She has such a sweet expression. And warming her toes is super cute! What a contrast to the wolf pictures. Aravi has a lot to deal with.

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: Arielle Jurard? Maybe. I was thinking Moira Brown!

I don’t blame her on the gyro, that’s some good stuff.

Usually the dragons are sitting on the word wall, so when she saw an empty word wall, she thought ‘oh crap!’ Would not have surprised me to see a dragon sitting on the cliffs.

The skeever looks like it will give you diseases, not cure them! I thought after a couple of werewolf pics that a few cute ones would be good. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: She’s close to losing her lunch in that picture! She’s sitting on the edge of the fire pit. I knew the last one was a keeper when I took it! Glad you liked it so much.

The shout was perfect except it got Kharjo’s wolf too. That was such a cool ambush though. I didn’t notice the dragon being slow but it could have been. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Kharjo sometimes has a difficult time keeping up with Aravi when she starts taking shortcuts. I am very glad Sorine didn’t need Aravi to take anybody’s precious gyros.

You didn’t see the dragon? Oh my, Buffy’s glow rings are making you too comfortable!

I’m very happy you liked that one of Aravi sitting by the fire. I like seeing her scar like that too. It’s a reminder that she’s a fighter. Thanks Acadian!

@LL: I knew those werewolf shots would appeal to you. They were a lot of fun to take!

Those foresworn lined up for that Thuum well. I was actually a little PO’d that Kharjo snagged that kill before Aravi’s arrow! Thanks LL!

@Grits: Aravi had to wait a second for Kharjo to keep up with her in the beginning. That heavy armor is slowing him down!

I think Kharjo snagged that last kill from Aravi at the end there. That was a very quick fight, for how many of them there were.

I guess goblin made rat is better than bandit skeever? Aravi says no to both! I felt some cute screens should go with the werewolf ones. Glad you liked those. Thanks Grits!

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Back at Fort Dawnguard, Isran greets everyone warmly…

6:43

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Screens!
Winter road and Alternative

Healing

Finishing off a vampire

Finishing off a bandit mage

Blood stained hands

This post has been edited by King Coin: Jan 10 2013, 09:08 PM

[SubRosa]

Yep, Isran is as amiable as ever. I like how they wrote him with such a vinegary personality.

And Serana shows up again. Bethesda did make her an excellent follower. She has good voice-acting, and you can see they put a lot of work into her. But I hate how this questline forces her upon you. The mental acrobatics I had to do to try to justify why my hardcore, vengeance-driven vampire slayer would keep her alive just became impossible. That is why I gave up on it. If they had not made her a vampire it would have been a lot easier.

Aravi has such a delightful smile in Winter Road. I am hearing Bing Crosby in my head "A beautiful sight, walking in a winter wonderland..."

Aravi sure gets icky finishing off all those vampires and bandits. Good thing Skyrim has plenty of rivers and lakes to clean up in!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 10 2013, 09:07 PM

[Acadian]

I'm following the quest in this vid pretty well. Serana's kind of cool - I like the way she understates things so calmly - she makes Isran look like a drama queen. You really captured how Aravi was torn over leaving Kharjo behind. So, looks like it’s off to the College of Winterhold since that’s no doubt much closer than the Temple of the Ancestor Moths in Cyrodiil.

‘Winter road’ is cool with the sun coming through the snowstorm. I love the magical effects in ‘Healing’ as well as the look on Aravi’s face! On ‘Blood-stained hands’, well you know what they say – if you’re going to make an omelet you have to crack open some vampires and bandits.

[mALX]

Screens: Healing is my favorite, Love her expression and how her spell is so close to the camera! Winter road is second, what a great shot! I loved the snow storms in Skyrim!

Vid: I was surprised to see them all looking up, and I could see that tiny white arrow up there but couldn't see Isran for a minute, lol. Holy cow is he ever a [censored]! He tells Aravi she is crap except that he needs her right now, and threatens Serana who is there to help him - kind of reminds me of the beginning of the game, where the Imperials try to behead you and then ask you to join them and help their cause / and the Stormcloaks are willing to help you despite the fact that you are Khajiit - but want you to help them save Skyrim for the Nords only if they do, ROFL !!!

I love Serana's voice! I would love to have every one of her voice files, her voice is beautiful! I like her dialogue too, probably the best I've heard in the game so far!

So Kharjo is staying behind in Dawnguard? Or is he going back to wait at home?

I loved this vid, am really loving seeing these Dawnguard quests! All I saw was the vampire lord side before, and nothing after bringing Serana home. (my son got sick of seeing me sitting in his bedroom watching him play the game).

Awesome update!

[Darkness Eternal]

Sexy Serana is sexy. Just don't cure her. Please, don't. A cured Serana is a diseased Serana.

Aravi fits right in the Dawnguard. All armored up for some vampire hunting action! Though jusging by the room Isran was in, I can tell he tortures vampires before killing them, sort of like the Silver Hand does to werewolves. The inquisition! Down with them!

I like Serana and her voice. Though for a 4000 year old vampire who worshiped Molag Bal, I was a bit surprised by her personality. Unless there's more to it. I wonder what Aravi thinks of Serana. Hmm.

"Thank you for youre kindness. I'll remember it next time I'm feeling hungry."



"I don't know if I can trust you friend."
Well, geez, Serana, maybe Aravi and Kharjo feels the same way? Vampires, being naturally manipulative and deceitful, should definetly raise Aravi's attention here. Sure, she spoke about her father, but a vampire is a vamppire and wanting to travel alone is certainly a red alert.

Poor Aravi! Sorry Kharjo, but she's going to hangout with a four-thousand year old pureblooded vampire chick.

[King Coin]

@SubRosa: Yeah, Serana is really hard to justify. I don’t think you actually have to take her with you in this quest, though I was under the impression that you did when I played this. I’m pretending that she acts so differently that Aravi doesn’t know what to do. In reality it would be a pretty easy choice to just let Isran smash her, or just cut her down when she popped out of the tomb.

I like the bloodier combat, though it would be nice if the blood washed out a little easier, or there was a toggle for it. All those errant splatters in otherwise peaceful screen shots. Glad you liked winter road, Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Serana is a really neat companion, but she sure doesn’t beat Kharjo! The magical effects are so much fun, now only if they can cross Skyrim’s and Oblivion’s magic, then it would be perfect! I couldn’t have asked for better shots in healing and winter road. Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: I love playing with the effects when I take screens, I’m glad you liked those two so much.

If you are having trouble seeing, remember you can expand the video size and change its quality too. I can kind of understand why Isran’s a little crabby here, a vampire shows up on his little anti-vampire clubhouse doorstep and wants to talk to Aravi. He’s rightly paranoid about letting vampires in. What’s funny is that she gets the run of the place after that.

Serana is a very cool character. These quests were a good excuse to bring her along. Kharjo is staying at Dawnguard this time. No need to hunt the roads for him again. Thanks mALX!

@DE: It’ll all depend on what Serana decides to do at the end of the game. Yep, Isran has a cozy little room set up for chatting.

Aravi takes a little time to talk to Serana. It’s definitely a challenge to get her to work with the vampire. Thanks DE!

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Getting a lead on the Moth Priest turned out to be simple. Aravi sets out to find him with Serana. Aravi is not comfortable around her.

9:05

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Screens!
Stopping for a drink

The arcane

A strange weapon

Unleash the fury

Frosted

[mALX]

Screens: "Stopping for a drink" has to be my favorite, such a beautiful scene that reminds us Skyrim is not all rock and snow! But how hard it was to set it above any of the others! The College of Winterhold looks gorgeous with the morning sun coming through that way and the fountains of blue magic glowing. The "Strange weapon" - Loved Aravi's expression, like she was surprised the sword was all but cutting the enemy in half. "Frosted" - you knew I'd love that, for the close-up of Aravi and her expression. All wonderful shots!


Vid: I love it when the guards ask if you'll enchant their sword, really wish it was worked into the game somehow (or modded) that it was a service you could provide them - how cool would that be!

That text looked interesting! I see trouble ahead though, will Serana fight against her own kind? Really interesting stuff going on with this DLC! Loved this vid! Awesome update!

[SubRosa]

I almost did not recognize Aravi in that hood. It looks like she has gone undercover.

So Aravi is going to be making some skill enchantments in the future? One new suit of armor and helmet coming up! Aravi sure has a lot of filled soul gems.

Ah yes, the carriage driver remembers now. Amazing how a little shiny, clinky gold can jog people's synapses!

"Stay out of trouble Khajiit." Nice guys those guards. Still friendlier than the ones in Morrwind though: "We're watching you scum!"

Uh oh, looks like that priest did not get far. Dead Impie, dead vamp. I guess we know who did it.

I love how you juxtaposed Serana saying she won't give up her gift, and then Aravi turning to look at the dead Imperial soldier surrounded in a pool of blood.

The water looks very inviting in Stopping For A Drink. Nice display of colors in The Arcane one. A strange weapon is icky, looks like an absorb health to me. Frosted is my favorite though. That is our nice Aravi smile. I would certainly rather see that than the fury!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 14 2013, 01:35 AM

[Acadian]

I like the carriages. I was thinking the driver knew plenty and was holding out for gold right as Aravi offered him some. It was neat hearing some of Serana’s background. She and Aravi are worlds apart.

Stopping for a drink is simply beautiful. Skyrim looks so nice in autumn colors. The arcane was a fabulous shot as well. But Frosted is simply adorable! Aravi looks so cute with snowflakes on her.

[Grits]

Catching up with the previous video: Isran kept Serana waiting in his private torture chamber right next to the bedroom! I had some trouble understanding why Isran let Serana in, but I figured that between her vampiric illusion skills and the Dawnguard not having a clue what to do next, he wanted to hear what she had to say. I like her line, “I’m nothing if not persuasive.”

I like the way Serana and Isran were on opposite sides of Aravi during this video, with the vampire presenting herself calmly while the crusader for light acted a little crazy.

Woo hoo, new armor for Kharjo!! That is some of my favorite armor, and I just love the shield. Very nice! Ooo, and new armor for Aravi as well! Yay!

Screens: Winter Road and Alternative are lovely with the snow and light and especially Aravi’s sweet expression. But Healing gets added to my all-time favorites. It just has everything going for it, even showing her caring nature as she is undoubtedly healing Kharjo with that spell before she heals herself. Beautiful!

New video: Aravi’s hood looks great, and it makes Serana’s look a little less vampire-in-disguise. It was fun to watch Aravi make some enchanting decisions. Wow, Serana looks large next to Aravi.

I like how Aravi keeps checking on Serana's position and quickly read the vampire note before Serana could walk over. An uneasy partnership. It wasn’t hard to see what she thought about Molag Bal’s gift when she looked around at all of that blood.

Screens: Stopping for a drink is so beautiful, and I love the light in Arcane! The Ebony Blade!! How awesome to use an Absorb Health enchantment on a vampire. Frosted is lovely. I adore Aravi’s expression, and the Amulet of Mara looks so pretty with her eyes.

But my favorite has to be Unleash the Fury, because of Aravi’s new belly button charm!!!

[Darkness Eternal]

I love Aravi's black robes in the video, and my favorite screeny was of her stabbing that vampire in the back. I love your style of playing, too. True roleplayer and we can see Aravi's reaction in the recent updates such as rushing to get the letter before Serana showed up. Haha.

Ans we get some info on Serana's history! Looks like she was raped/sexually used by Molag Bal in the ceremony that follows Lamae Beolfag's tradition. I don't think she should get a cure since not that many survive the ritual. She went through a lot, and Aravi has to be careful with Serana around since she truly sees her own vampirism as a gift. Aravi has to trust her Khajiiti instincts here.

[King Coin]

@mALX: The Rift is really quite beautiful, it has so many colors. All of the climates are beautiful in their own way, but that one is special. Strange weapon was named so, because Aravi was using a two handed weapon! Rare for her. I thought of you when posting Frosted, I had another close up, but she was smiling more in that one.

I didn’t post the book because Aravi didn’t read it, and I think I posted it earlier when Aravi was looking for the scroll about the Time Wound. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: She kind of does look like she’s undercover, but that was not the intention. It just goes well with the armor. The helmets in the game look terrible on Khajiit and Argonian characters.

I’m glad the guards say different things, and not all of them are so rude. I really dislike the ones that see a Khajiit and tell her to keep her hands to herself. She’s no thief!

That talk with Serana was… interesting. All Aravi sees is blood and death. Is it the same as her curse? Better or worse?

I was originally going to post a different close shot of Aravi, but this one had snow and a nicer smile. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Normally Aravi doesn’t like being held up for gold like that, but this was the easiest way to get him to talk. And she has so much gold that she didn’t mind sharing a little.

Wow that close shot was so popular! Seriously, my favorite is the arcane. She is very cute covered in snow though. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: How Serana got in is a mystery. I mean she could have gotten fairly close to the guards as long as she wasn’t waving a weapon, but these guys should know that vampires are famous manipulators. “Nothing if not persuasive” indeed.

Aravi was in the middle. Not usually her position when it comes to vampires.

Love Healing too. That one turned out perfectly.

Serana doesn’t have Aravi’s trust yet, and her appearance is… not comforting. Serana’s ‘gift’ is hard to see it that way when all Aravi can see is blood and death.

I knew you would like Fury! Thanks Grits!

@DE: The Dawnguard armor comes in a few different colors, and Aravi’s was black. I usually imagine my character’s reactions when I play, but making the videos really forces me to really get into the character, which I love. I need to start making new videos.

I assumed that the ceremony involved sex with Molag Bol. Serana’s certainly embraced her ‘gift’ much more than Aravi has. I’m not sure what will happen to Serana at the end of this. I have yet to get there. Thanks DE!

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Aravi and Serana find the cave the Moth Priest is being held in.

10:24

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Screens!
She never saw it coming That was unexpectedly revealing. Why didn't any of you yell at me??

The ebony blade

Ghosts

This post has been edited by King Coin: Jan 16 2013, 09:41 PM

[Acadian]

This was a great dungeon crawl. I enjoyed that, for the first half or so, Aravi was nice and slow and methodical. I could really tell what she was thinking as she cautiously prepared for her next move. Serana seems pretty effective. Were those frost bolts she was casting at the archer up on the bridge? Well, they found their moth priest. Despite what Serana said upon emerging back up to the surface, I found it beautiful to be back in the light of day. I’ll bet Aravi did too.

The screens are great. I see in ‘She never saw it coming’ that Aravi’s been watching SubRosa’s characters of impalation. In ‘The ebony blade’, the lighting gives Aravi a fiendish grin and glow to her eyes; she loves her swords. I adore the ‘Ghosts’ shot – the characters, scenery, lighting, all of it!

[mALX]

Screens: My favorite screen is "Ghosts" - that screen tells a story and promises a sequal - loved that screen, the mists muted the colored foilage behind them - very eerie and beautiful at the same time.

Second favorite was "The ebony blade." This screen, the red in Aravi's eyes and teeth in this, her pose itself - it looks as if the blade has taken possesion of Aravi - Awesome shot!


Vid: I absolutely loved this dungeon! Loved how Aravi was able to sneak past and set up a vantage point to cut down the percentage against her, too. The number of vampires up there surprised me, who was the named NPC that was killed? When I first saw that I was afraid it was the moth priest, lol. I'm glad Aravi backed off when the moth priest cowered, that was a real "WHEW!" moment, because I wasn't sure she would stop, lol. Awesome vid!

This update was spectacular!