[X] My Assistant

[McBadgere]

This is the spoiler version of the other Today In Skyrim, where we can talk at length, with spoilers permitted, about the quests we have done...'Cause some of us can't keep our mouth shut... ...




J'Zirlo is no longer a Werewolf!!...YAY!!...*Does dance*...

And neither are Farkas or Vilkas...According to the both of them, they never asked for it...So the least I could do is cure them...

So, after the terror of a glitch which meant it wouldn't cure me...Which I reloaded and it worked...I got the two others cured and now we are busy turning the Companions into the Fighters Guild...Yes...*Applauds*...

Haven't talked to Aela yet to see what she thinks of being the only werewolf in town... ...


Aaaah, Spoilers...I feel so free!!...

[Grits]

Lildereth and Jerric are headed to back to Markarth after an adventure among the Forsworn and then a trip to the Rift. One of Lil’s errands was to check out the Red Eagle legend. In the course of that project she ended up taking on the denizens of Red Eagle Redoubt by herself after Jerric mysteriously disappeared. She started at the top. Here she’s taking a break and waiting for Jerric while thinking, the bigger they are…

When the Nord didn’t show up she started down through Red Eagle’s Ascent (the cave part) again moving top to bottom. Her method was the usual start fight, hide, finish the last guy, repeat. Until this one time she heard a huge commotion that sounded familiar. Peeking over the edge she discovered Jerric and Ishckrihk working their way up toward her from the other side of the fortress! She briefly considered giving him the arrow he almost got from her by accident but settled for a thorough palming of her face instead. And she was happy to see him.

They played a little dress-up when they took a break in Rorikstead. Here Lil is saying, “Does the tree root part make my backside look big?” and Jerric is saying, “Yeah. You should try it on with just the feathers.” Then in true Jerric fashion they got into a fight with a scavenger while they were wearing their play clothes. Lil privately admitted that bare feet and body paint is a look she enjoys on the Nord.

On the way through The Rift they stopped in at Heartwood Mill where Jerric likes to play a game of tag or hide and seek with Gralnach and then offer his widowed ma some male attention up against the back wall of her cabin. Lildereth was sure that Grosta would not take him up on the offer (yet again, hope springs eternal), but she was not in a million eras expecting what happened.

So they were in a strange frame of mind when they went to help out the orcs of Largashbur. After they got roped into witnessing the Malacath ritual they didn’t need to discuss their plan for the jackass orc chief. Funnily enough when the time came later for Lil to instigate a fight with the chief (before they got to the giant they were supposed to help him kill) Jerric was already in combat with him. Lil and Jerric broke that quest all to pieces. I never saw such a mess even in the unpatched PS3 days.

While they were in Riften Lildereth returned a bunch of junk to her sister wood elf Wylandriah, who in absent-minded Wylandriah fashion rewarded Lil with some potions that were no use at all to her. So Lil traded them back to Wylandriah realizing that she would have already forgotten giving them to Lil and therefore would not feel insulted. What Lil did not realize is that she had just reached the skill level that makes Adept level Alteration spells available. Detect Life!! Finally. Also all of the other Adept spells. She is flat broke again. But she had enough to buy a bunch of mead for Jerric.

They still have a bunch of stuff to do (because Lil keeps adding to the list, hmm), but they stopped back in at Aravi Manor to drop off Valdi’s horse and check on the garden. And also to see how Gralnach likes his new home.

[ghastley]

So what got Grosta? I assume since Itchy was summoned, a hostile got inside the cabin, which is rare.

I hate it when the game decides to kill off a character that's part of your character's plans. S'Krawni brought ten fire salts back to Balimund, only to find Asbjorn working the forge in his place. I never saw who killed him, but suspect vampires or cultists, as they're the usual in-town suspects.

[Grits]

I have no idea what got her. Itchy is left over from the troll and wolf battle that happened on the way in, he just followed Jerric into the cabin. They searched for Grosta’s body to make sure she was really dead but found nothing. It was snowing very heavily then so they came back and searched again after it cleared up. In Lil’s game they hadn’t actually visited the mill yet, so something may have killed her long ago one of the times that Lil passed by (without Jerric) close enough to spawn critters near the mill.

Too bad about Balimund. He’s one of my favorites. A dragon got him in one of Jensa’s games. That’s when I finally met Asbjorn. It sucks to find out he’s dead after collecting all of those fire salts!

[Acadian]

What a fabulous batch of shots from Lil's game with Jerric! Lil is such a beautifully exotic elf - no wonder Jerric stares at her so much!

So they brought home a boy instead of a puppy from this adventure it seems?

[SubRosa]

I love Lil's glowy muffle feet as she sits upon her throne.

How funny that Jerric and Izzy were meeting Lil in the middle! You never know what Bethesda the AI will do next!

Neat to see Lil in the Forsworkini! Jerric looks kind of odd in his man-dress through. It would look better with just the leather g-string I think. At least he is showing off his abs to prove his manhood though.

Poor Gralnach! I wonder what happened to his Ma? There is even a guard who roams around their mill. I think there is a wild animal spawn nearby though, if the game has gotten into higher levels, I bear might have eaten both Ma and the guard.

How sweet of Lil and Jerric to adopt Gral! He looks much happier at Aravi Manor.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 28 2014, 01:14 AM

[SubRosa]

Morigu made her way from Mehrunes Shrine back to the Reach today, stopping along the way at such prosaic places as Skyborn Altar, Labyrinthian, Hamvir's Rest (Rest in Pieces Hammie), and Broken Fang Cave (fixed it).

It was dark by the time she hit the tundra. She had some entertaining encounters at the numerous shrines to Zenithar and Stendarr east of Rorikstead. At the first she was attracted by the light show of a conjurer taking on some dark figures. She drew her bow and joined in from long distance, thinking they might be Imperials or Stormcloaks. As the last few finally noticed her and came charging in, she was disappointed to learn they were just bandits. As she was drawing a bead on one in slow motion, a saber cat suddenly filled her vision. She managed to shoot around the cat, and put down the bandit. Thankfully the cat was not too much trouble.

At the next shrine she once again came upon two groups fighting one another. Again she settled into long range sniping. This time she was delighted to find that was Imperials fighting Nords. Morigu won.

Now her feet are once more standing upon Reach soil. Vacation is over. Time to get down to the serious business of killin'.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 28 2014, 01:13 AM

[SubRosa]

Morigu spent this afternoon roaming around the plateau south and west of Rorikstead. She already cleared out a large chunk of it before, when she got Red Eagle's Vengance. Today she finished out almost all of the rest, starting with Serpent's Bluff Redoubt, then Fort Sungard, Moldering Ruins, and Broken Tower Redoubt.

She finished up at the Old Hroldan Inn. The innkeeper bragged about their Tiber Septim room, which the Evil Overlord himself once slept in after bringing his reign of Imperial terror to the Reach. The innkeeper boasted about it. Which was the absolute worst thing a person could do around Morigu. While she is mainly a bowgirl and sword & board fighter, Morigu keeps Mehrunes Razor for just such circumstances...

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 29 2014, 02:04 AM

[Acadian]

I'm enjoying the adventures of Morigu! She is one dangerous Breton!

Buffy's starting to think of Solitude as home. Even though she maintains a room at the College and travels continuously.

She's also developing quite an eclectic list of 'associations'. She's quite comfortable and welcome in the following circles:
-Court of Solitude. She takes her duties as thane there quite seriously. Not to mention she gets on famously with her fellow grieving widow, Jarl Elisif.
-College of Winterhold. A natural for Buffy of course.
-All mammoth camps.
-All orc strongholds. Likely a reflection of her affection for Mazoga and admiration for the noble strength of orcs. She's 'bloodkin' to the orcs about three times over now.
-Temples of Mara and Kynareth. She's rather a child of both of course. Interestingly, she's expressed no interest in Azura or any of the other Daedric Lords.

[Renee]

Buffy's starting to think of Solitude as home. Even though she maintains a room at the College and travels continuously.

Yep, I can totally see this. Solitude's got an air to it. It's lively and somewhat colorful, plus its location high above the landscape seems like it would suit Buffy. The College is drab and lifeless by comparison (see what I did there?), and seems like it would be cold & drafty. Brr....

Morigu spent this afternoon roaming around the plateau south and west of Rorikstead. She already cleared out a large chunk of it before, when she got Red Eagle's Vengance. Today she finished out almost all of the rest, starting with Serpent's Bluff Redoubt, then Fort Sungard, Moldering Ruins, and Broken Tower Redoubt.

Sounds like good times!

[Grits]

Morigu is in the same neighborhood as Lildereth and Jerric. They had some fun with Petra Melka exploring the Blind Cliff complex. Top to bottom, of course. Lildereth loves the high ground. Lil’s Forsworn feathers and Jerric’s battle bathrobe have been traded for mead and salt, plus now they have Flash in tow. They picked him up in Markarth. Lildereth unexpectedly loves Markarth. It’s the heights and the water that remind her of the vertical living of her childhood. She’s not particularly bothered by the local troubles. Things are tough all over and she doesn’t expect people to get along.

Now that there are child beds back at the house I wonder who will follow them home next. They don’t live in Skyrim so adopting kids was never on anyone’s mind. Then Gralnach just about broke Lil’s heart when he said “I don’t know what to do.” Also I wonder if Gral will bring home a pet spider.

Acadian, how wonderful that Buffy is finding kindred spirits and welcome in Skyrim. Has she checked out the Bards College? With her beautiful singing voice she might fit right in, but then again the other ladies might become jealous!

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jun 29 2014, 04:10 AM

[Acadian]

Thanks, Renee. Buffy's taken Brelyna out for a dungeon crawl or two, improved relations with the town and quite likes the Mystc Archives Arcaneum. Oh, and we have the questline 'frozen' where everyone's at the College but no one gets killed.

Grits, that's a good idea about looking into the Bard's College. Buffy loves how Lisette (Winking Skeever) can sing and she has suggested the Bard's College as well. And speaking of voices, that reminds me to see if I can find Buffy's voice set that we use in OB for Skyrim.

[ghastley]

Over the weekend I started up a new character to use for mod testing, so she needed to get through the Thieves Guild quests as quickly as possible. To save time she's taken the carriages to get to cities she hasn't already visited on foot, which is a first for me. It's really strange to have a game where the cities are known, but the land in between is all blank.

Gilda's wearing tight black leather, of course, as that's what the members get, so she reminded me a lot of Mrs Peel from the old Avengers series. Her leather's actually too tight. She can't do the buckles up. I've rebuilt Marcurio a little as Steed (but named Clark), putting him in Fine Clothes and shaving off his goatee. I'll probably tweak him a bit more to look like my Oblivion Clark character before I'm done. Steed and Mrs Peel Clark and Gilda.

She's doing one-handed sword (Nightingale blade -> Chillrend) with a spell in the other hand, and no archery. She needs the ranged spells to compensate, so they're next on her list, once she has the levels to use them. I left her pondering whether to start Blindsighted, or do a bit more adventuring for experience first - including levelling up her destruction and getting the next level of elemental spells.

I deliberately made her a non-archer, as S'Krawni (the other TG test character) is definitely one - and significantly higher-level than Gilda. I'm also trying to do different side-quests, to give me a spread of potential interactions.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Jun 30 2014, 11:52 PM

[Grits]

I love Clark’s Skyrim outfit! Gilda looks great. “There’s a nip in the air…” almost. A spellsword thief would be a fun change from an archer. I’m pretty excited about their future adventures!


Lildereth and Jerric have covered some ground lately. They returned to Haafingar to take care of some business. Jerric is a Thane in Jarl Elisif’s court though he still thinks of himself as Housecarl material. Darnand supposes that Falk Firebeard suggested a Nord from Cyrodiil would make a nice addition to Elisif’s supporters. So far Jerric has behaved when he visits the court. This time Lil wore an outfit suggested by Taarie. Lildereth and Taarie get along very well. Lil appreciates her candor. Here Lildereth listens to the town crier (mod) while Jerric holds up a wall.

Lildereth still struggles with the wind north of Solitude. They had an easier time finding shelter since they were recently in the neighborhood delivering the Jarl’s justice to bandits, but she still suffers. This hideout has become a favorite spot to warm up. Jerric wandered off as he usually does while she was huddled by the fire. I’ve added follower needs with a mod so he’s often sitting down for a drink or a snack accompanied by a gulping sound. This time she heard him chopping wood.

They also went to Markarth to finish up some business there. Darnand is a Thane in Jarl Igmund’s court (thanks to Aravi and Kharjo’s help! ). Jerric supposes that Jarl Igmund could use a few sympathetic Bretons on his side for appearances. Appearances are all he’s getting from Darnand. Lildereth and Jerric handled the final details of Darnand’s purchase of Vlindrel Hall (yes, Lil had to do this herself in her game) including the installation of Darnand’s Housecarl Argis the Bulwark. Now, I thought that Argis and Jerric would get along well especially since Argis played the role of Jerric in Darnand’s PS3 game. Nope. This happened when Lil made a modest attempt at decorating. Here she’s posing in front of the empty bookshelves as a hint. I suspect that Darnand will head to Markarth when he gets a chance.

Part of their work for Jarl Elisif brought them to the hills near Whiterun. Remember the talk of collecting strays? Well, this happened. When they get back to Aravi Manor I have my fingers crossed that the dog will still be with them and that Gralnach will want to keep him. Meeko could use the company. (Jerric’s note to Buffy: Butterflies! )

One other fun little piece of sandbox behavior occurred after Lildereth and Jerric sacked Valtheim Towers. The bandits had the courtesy to die downwind so they watched the sun set from the top and then spent the night. At dawn Lil got up and Jerric got into the bed. Lil decided to let him sleep (not sure if the needs mod works that way, we’ll see), so she went back up to watch the sun rise and then riffled through the pockets of the bodies that had fallen on the shore. Eventually she got back out to the road. Jerric strolled out a few minutes later and started cooking. Soup for breakfast!

In perk news Lil got Quick Shot and can now summon a bear (SubRosa’s Nature Summoning). She has finally blossomed in Skyrim.

[Acadian]

ghastley - Clark and Gilda look wonderful!


Grits - Aww, so nice to see some shots from Lils' world!

... Part of their work for Jarl Elisif brought them to the hills near Whiterun. Remember the talk of collecting strays? Well, this happened. When they get back to Aravi Manor I have my fingers crossed that the dog will still be with them and that Gralnach will want to keep him. Meeko could use the company. (Jerric’s note to Buffy: Butterflies! ) ...

Hee! Funny you should mention that. I noticed the pair of scout-butterflies as soon as I opened the screenie. And bringing home another stray dog - I imagine the other 'strays' at home will appreciate that. Is that a conjured sabre cat behind them? If so, which mod did he come from if I may ask.

Yay! A man who can cook! He's a keeper, Lil!

[SubRosa]

Jerric and Lil are looking spiffy in their Taarie approved outfits.

Is the town crier the one in that odd white and red outfit? I saw him in the court as well.

Lil looks best in the Triss outfit I think. I know that hideout! Ironback Hideout? Or something like that? It is up near the Thalmor Embassy, by the bend in the road. The Steed Stone is just on the other side of the ridge behind it.

I guess Jerric and Argis disagreed over Lil's decorating choices!

Now Lil has a bear! Unfortunately they are just as bad at blocking doorways as the Ice Astronauts.

[Grits]

Acadian, that summoned sabre cat is from SubRosa’s wonderful Nature Summoning mod. I gave the regular summoned animals the same spirit look as the vanilla Conjure Familiar spell. We (Lil and I, lol) figure that when she gets to the point of summoning spriggans and guardian (permanent thrall) animals they will be the actual physical creatures called by her spell and not the ephemeral but deadly helpers she can call now. SubRosa’s mods opened up a whole Bosmer aspect of summoning for Lil’s game that before had only existed in her story notes. Lil’s Bound Bow is more like a Redguard spirit sword than a Daedric summoning in her world. I was so delighted to see it in Skyrim.

SubRosa, that guy in red is indeed the town crier. He and the foreign emissaries on the right in the court picture are from Inconsequential NPCs. Jerric frequently feels the need to punch the emissaries, but so far he’s behaved. Yep, that’s the name of the ruined cabin, Ironback Hideout. I couldn’t remember it. One of Lil’s favorite spots and a literal life-saver. The bear is awesome. He lies down and licks his paws! Plus he’s fast catching up on the road. He does scare the crap out of everyone with his bear noises, though. He’s the new guy so sometimes they forget he’s behind them. Lil will be happy to eventually get that Banish perk. It would seem that spirit animals enjoy lying down across doorways and in front of the fire.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jul 2 2014, 06:53 PM

[runlykhel]

Hess - an introduction


The metal piece lying on a bed of bright coals was finally heated to the proper bluish white color needed for the metal to flow under the hammer. Hess pulled the piece from the forge and used her hammer to push the metal towards the shape envisioned- that of a proper light scimitar- a blade befitting a woman from the Alik’r. The blade would be straighter, with a very sharp elongated point, and lighter than the long heavier curved blades the men preferred. Like her father’s great scimitar with gold inlay along the curved back. Hess remembered how she always knew where her father was during battle by the gold glinting from the sun as the sword was swung.

As the metal flowed under Hess’s hammer; sweat ran in rivulets under the leather armor she wore, and sparks showered her like miniature stars falling from the heavens. Hess actually felt happy, a very rare occurrence since leaving the warm sands of the Alik’r.

Returning the partially formed blade back to the forge to bring the metal back to a workable temperature, Hess wiped the sweat out of her eyes while pumping the billows. A nice dip in the stream would be in order after she was finished. It would also wash more of the stink from her clothes; a cloak taken from a Justicair when Hess had ambushed a Thalmor patrol soon after leaving Helgen, and the leather armor taken from a vampire master who attacked her as soon as Hess had stepped through the gate into Whiterun. The armor still carried the stink of rotten flesh, but was getting less offensive with each wetting and oiling.

Hours later, Hess finished wrapping the hilt of her newly forged scimitar with wet rawhide until the thickness fit her hand comfortably. It was then time to shape the blade on the wheel. Keeping the tempered blade cool by dipping it in oil, Hess spent the rest of the night grinding and polishing until the steel blade reflected the light from the torches as if it were made of silver, and the cutting edge gleamed like a thin river of fire running the length from hilt to tip then along the back side of the blade for a hands breadth. This extra edge enabled the user to rip up as well as down when properly run into a body. Giving the sword a few swings, Hess was satisfied with the balance. Coating the now dry rawhide on the hilt and the leather carrier Hess had made for the sword with heated resin from a pot the blacksmith kept next to the fire, was the finishing touches to a nights work.

The air was a little to chilled at the moment for a dip in the stream, so Hess made her way to one of the unoccupied lookout platforms which were set along the walls surrounding Whiterun and watched as the sun made its way above the peaks of the distant mountains.

Looking at the sword laying in front of her on the wall while the resin cured brought back more memories of her father, and the frustration she felt for not being with him when the raiders had attacked her father’s caravan- the only home Hess had known at the time. Hess had been away hunting in the desert during the attack, and upon returning to the caravan found everyone had been killed, except for a couple of the younger girls whose missing corpse meant they had been taken captive. Everything of use had been taken, nothing in the desert is ever wasted.

As the sun warmed the air Hess return to the stream next to the forge.
Feeling refreshed Hess entered her new house named Breezehome, only to be followed through the door by Sigurd, Belethor’s assistant.
Hess quickly turned and put her new sword through Sigurd’s head splitting it from top to neck like a melon. Wiping the blood from the sword with a corner of Sigurd’s shirt, Hess sheathed the blade feeling satisfied the night’s work was well spent.

About this time Lydia entered, tripped over the body, and exclaimed, “What can I do for you my Thane?” Hess turned and walked into the alchemy lab. As much as she would like to, she wouldn’t slit Lydia’s throat…just yet. Hess had a good scheme going in Whiterun and insulting the Jarl would not be a wise move.


A little Background;
Hess’s mother kept having daughters, so in the absence of a son Hess’s father taught his daughters the bow and the blade, a task usually belonging to the mother since fighting styles and weapons were different for men and women. Though Hess’s blade skills never reached her father’s expectations, (average would be generous), her skills with a bow were exceptional, and the results of her talent kept the caravan fed on a regular basis.

Anyone looking for Hess had only to check her tent for her bow, if gone she was hunting, otherwise check the blacksmiths tent. Hess loved learning how to create things- she had built her own horned bow before she was a dozen summers, and by the time she was a young woman could repair or build weapons as good as and sometimes better than most of the blacksmiths she had met. Her swords created for women were sold and traded for a premium in gold and goods by her father, who in turn doted on his talented daughter, creating a little jealousy amongst her sisters, not that they would dare say anything around Hess.

After the massacre of her family and her father’s caravan, Hess wandered south through Hammerfell until ending up in a small village just northeast of Rjhad. They needed a blacksmith and Hess wanted to create again.

Everything was fine until one of the local priests paid Hess for her labors by teaching her how to read. Hess was insatiable in her lust for knowledge. She read everything she could find, and it was from books she discovered how to use magic. At first it was alright with the village because Hess used her new found talent to heal and make medicinal potions. Then a drought hit the area and a lot of livestock died and the village looking for something or someone to blame, singled out Hess. “The witch” was a muttering behind her back Hess tried unsuccessfully to ignore. Then one night Hess was awakened by crashes and yelling. Looking outside it seemed the whole village had turned out to destroy everything Hess had, and when finished turned on Hess and chased her away.

Hess ended up in the Imperial city only having to flee Cyrodiil after roasting a young noble with her new found magic right in the market place for insulting her. Running into an ambush when entering Skyrim, then fleeing from a dragon and beheading in Helgen, and the absurd idea of the locals that she was someone called Dragonborn, landed her in Whiterun as a Thane…With a house. Hess is not fooled by the good luck that has befallen her of late, it has to be a trick by the Gods to get her to lower her guard and then they would…


For whatever reason Hess won’t reveal her full name, instead she uses her nickname from childhood received for her habit of blowing air through clinched teeth when upset. The sound was compared to the hiss of a snake and was cute as a toddler, but those who knew her took the sound as a warning in later years and kept their distance.

[Acadian]

runlykhel - Welcome to chorrol to both you and Hess! Nice to see you made the short trip over here from BethSoft's forum to join us.

Hess sounds like a pretty capable Redguard, and we just learned quite a bit about her.

[runlykhel]

Acadian; thanks for the welcome, and Hess is something new for me, my first real bad/evil character. It's a fun struggle and challenge to keep in character. Her whole history came about after hours of playing. She is level 16, her crafting and bow stats are great, but mele and magic pretty much suck. (her flame balls can't even kill a wolf) Lately Hess has moved away from the cross bow and towards the shortbow, seems more to her liking.

[Acadian]

Well, Hess the Hisser surely showed her dark side when she christened her new scimitar on that guy's neck!

Buffy's working for Mara at the moment. She had to go from Riften out to almost Rorikstead and back. So she took a mage she met in Riften named Marcurio with her. He's a good follower; Buffy just has to remember to steer herself and her mare out of his way when he's behind her in a fight. I expect she'll release him once she's back in Riften. I think one reason she likes him is that he reminds her (and me) of Grits' character, Darnand.