I GOT HIM! I [censored] GOT HIM! DIVINES, I RAN INTO TARON DRETH! (I'll expound on it below.) AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I PUT AN END TO HIM!
Farewell Tour Day 2 (yesterday):
Cincinnatus trekked to Windhelm, visiting some of his fellow marsh-folk at the Assemblage on the docks, and then headed out to Riften. Along the way he encountered not one but TWO groups of Thalmor justiciars. Cincinnatus is always up for killing some Thalmor, and he and Serana annihilated them.
He also ran into two thieves. One was an Argonian (shame that a fellow marsh-citizen came to live such a life). The other was a Dunmer.
On his way to Riften Cincinnatus also ran across Khajiit caravan under attack from a bear, and helped the guards there to defeat the beast. After a quick chat and a bit of trade, the Khajiit wished me farewell: "May your road lead you to warm sands."
Some pictures from the day:
Running across some of Cheshire's buddies
Looks rather uncomfortable... (got a good chuckle out of that one)
'Bout to throw down with some Thalmor justiciars
Didn't go well for the Altmer supremacists
Bidding farewell to my marsh-friend Madesi
A nice sentiment (and hopefully true about real life)
Farewell Tour Day 3 (tonight):
Within 30 seconds of leaving Riften a Revered Dragon foolishly picked a fight with Cincinnatus. That dragon met his end. On the road afterwards, a THIRD thief, another fellow Argonian, made the same mistake.
HEY, DID I MENTION I FOUND TARON DRETH? BECAUSE I FOUND HIM! AND SERANA AND I [censored] WRECKED HIM AND HIS MERCENARY CREW!
That makes me very happy. I even audibly cheered (not too loudly, don't want to disturb my roommates). I did not even notice it was him at first. I just talked to one of the mercenaries to see what was happening and as soon as he said "Talk to Master Dreth" the Dunmer himself addressed me. Noticing my aetherial staff I was carrying, he was flabbergasted. He incredulously asked me how I got it. Telling him that I made it, I empasized "With help. From Katria." He knew he was screwed, and they attacked us.
Did I also mention attacking me was foolish? Because it is. Cincinnatus took great pleasure in ridding the world of that fraud. Taron Dreth is no more. AND IT FEELS GOOD.
Some photos from the day:
Looks like the last dragon Cincinnatus will ever kill
Get some!
A scenic view
At long last
Taron Dreth is no more!
Full Version: Today in Skyrim...
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What a powerfully satisfying farewell tour, culminating in taking out both a revered dragon and Talon Dreth! I very much enjoyed Katria's quest. Wish I could have kept her as a summonable companion. 
This game really threw the book at me when it came to random events the past few play sessions. I guess it really doesn't want Cincinnatus's story to end. For example, those three thieves I met? I think I ran into two total in all my playtime with this character prior to that. I had certainly never had as many justiciars crop up in such a short span of time either. And then I finally got Taron Dreth! And then a couple more dragons, of course.
But without further ado, the final days of the story of Cincinnatus:
It looks like I may have not taken some pictures on Day 4. Whoops. Anyways, Cincinnatus made his way around the Throat of the World to Falkreath, and then headed to Markarth from there. The interesting thing of that day was coming across two Alik'r Warriors interrogating a Redguard woman (those buffoons are STILL trying to find Saadia). A troll happened to come by and made quick work of the two warriors, at which point Cincinnatus reached the troll and slew it with ease.
Day 5:
Cincinnatus left Markarth from his home there on a beautiful morning, and set out for Solitude. Along the way, he came across TWO MORE groups of justiciars (one of them may have been the day before, can't remember). Interesting thing about the second one, though, is that they had a prisoner with them, which Cincinnatus freed after he and Serana made short work of the Thalmor. I don't think I've ever had that happen to me before.
Cincinnatus also happened across a couple of farmers who apparently had just lost everything in a dragon attack. Cincinnatus spared some gold coins for them, upon which they were profusely grateful (but seriously, all you can give is 5 coins?).
Sometime before Cincinnatus and Serana reached Solitude, a courier came by and gave him a letter of inheritance. An Orc named Garakh had died. Cincinnatus had actually been right near the stronghold she was in when a Giant attacked. Another Orc was running away, so Cincinnatus came and slew the giant, but unfortunately it was too late for Garakh (to be honest, I don't remember anything about her, it has been so long).
Eventually Cincinnatus and Serana reached Solitude, where they stayed for the night.
Some photos:
Morning in Markarth
I told you I worship whoever I damn well please.
Freeing the Thalmor prisoner
A peaceful jaunt
Solitude in the distance
The Final Day:
This was it: the final stretch. In the morning, Cincinnatus and Serana set out for Morthal. Not much happened on the way there, although some necromancers picked some fights. It was still early afternoon, so they decided to make the last leg of the journey back to Whiterun that day.
Cincinnatus accidentally made a wrong turn, and was going to turn around when suddenly he realized he was nearby Labyrinthian. He decided to go there before setting back out to Whiterun. The moments he stood in those ruins one last time was particularly poignant for two reasons. He had become the Archmage of the College of Winterhold, and the memories of delving Labyrinthian's steps to retrieve the Staff of Magnus flooded back to him.
The other reason took him back to when he was young. Cincinnatus remembered the stories family had told him: that the Eternal Champion was an ancestor of his and had braved its corridors to retrieve a piece to the Staff of Chaos in his quest to defeat Jagar Tharn back in the Third Era. Cincinnatus wasn't sure if he completely believed the stories, although part of him did (in my headcanon, ESO and all of the main games' Heroes are part of the same lineage). [And stupidly, I did not take pictures while I was at Labyrinthian].
After those moments of reflection, it was finally time to go home. Besides a regular dragon deciding to drop in and a few bandits once again foolishly choosing to battle Cincinnatus, nothing special happened. When he made it back to Whiterun in the evening, he made a stop at Warmaiden's. As a highly proficient smith, he bought some ebony ingots and turned them into daggers for presents for his two daughters Sissel and Sofie.
Cincinnatus then walked through the front door of Breezehome, much to the joy of his family. He went to go play outside with the kids for a bit, and when they went back inside he gave his kids the daggers. Cincinnatus wants them prepared in the cruel world that Nirn could be, giving daggers to them in the past and teaching them how to fight.
Cincinnatus then put the kids to bed, and confirmed to his lady Lydia that his days of adventuring were over, much to her relief. As much as he loved the thrill of it, he felt bad that he did not retire sooner for his family. But he also felt he had duties to attend to before he called it quits.
Cincinnatus and Lydia also welcomed Serana if she wanted to stay. If she wanted to leave, she would be welcome back with open arms down the road. With the vampirism long gone, she could live without that burden.
Some photos from the final day:
Last time in Morthal
Whiterun and Snow-Throat in the distance
My last time through Whiterun's doors with Cincinnatus
Home at last
Present for Sissel
Present for Sofie
Tucking the kids into bed
M'lady Lydia
And so ends the story of Cincinnatus. It is a bittersweet feeling, writing the final chapter of my first TES character. He is also the first one I actually retired. I will fill out the official post in the Retired Characters Thread tomorrow.
I'm thinking I will put an end to the story of my Champion of Cyrodiil next. I don't really have anything left that I want him to do.
But without further ado, the final days of the story of Cincinnatus:
It looks like I may have not taken some pictures on Day 4. Whoops. Anyways, Cincinnatus made his way around the Throat of the World to Falkreath, and then headed to Markarth from there. The interesting thing of that day was coming across two Alik'r Warriors interrogating a Redguard woman (those buffoons are STILL trying to find Saadia). A troll happened to come by and made quick work of the two warriors, at which point Cincinnatus reached the troll and slew it with ease.
Day 5:
Cincinnatus left Markarth from his home there on a beautiful morning, and set out for Solitude. Along the way, he came across TWO MORE groups of justiciars (one of them may have been the day before, can't remember). Interesting thing about the second one, though, is that they had a prisoner with them, which Cincinnatus freed after he and Serana made short work of the Thalmor. I don't think I've ever had that happen to me before.
Cincinnatus also happened across a couple of farmers who apparently had just lost everything in a dragon attack. Cincinnatus spared some gold coins for them, upon which they were profusely grateful (but seriously, all you can give is 5 coins?).
Sometime before Cincinnatus and Serana reached Solitude, a courier came by and gave him a letter of inheritance. An Orc named Garakh had died. Cincinnatus had actually been right near the stronghold she was in when a Giant attacked. Another Orc was running away, so Cincinnatus came and slew the giant, but unfortunately it was too late for Garakh (to be honest, I don't remember anything about her, it has been so long).
Eventually Cincinnatus and Serana reached Solitude, where they stayed for the night.
Some photos:
Morning in Markarth
I told you I worship whoever I damn well please.
Freeing the Thalmor prisoner
A peaceful jaunt
Solitude in the distance
The Final Day:
This was it: the final stretch. In the morning, Cincinnatus and Serana set out for Morthal. Not much happened on the way there, although some necromancers picked some fights. It was still early afternoon, so they decided to make the last leg of the journey back to Whiterun that day.
Cincinnatus accidentally made a wrong turn, and was going to turn around when suddenly he realized he was nearby Labyrinthian. He decided to go there before setting back out to Whiterun. The moments he stood in those ruins one last time was particularly poignant for two reasons. He had become the Archmage of the College of Winterhold, and the memories of delving Labyrinthian's steps to retrieve the Staff of Magnus flooded back to him.
The other reason took him back to when he was young. Cincinnatus remembered the stories family had told him: that the Eternal Champion was an ancestor of his and had braved its corridors to retrieve a piece to the Staff of Chaos in his quest to defeat Jagar Tharn back in the Third Era. Cincinnatus wasn't sure if he completely believed the stories, although part of him did (in my headcanon, ESO and all of the main games' Heroes are part of the same lineage). [And stupidly, I did not take pictures while I was at Labyrinthian].
After those moments of reflection, it was finally time to go home. Besides a regular dragon deciding to drop in and a few bandits once again foolishly choosing to battle Cincinnatus, nothing special happened. When he made it back to Whiterun in the evening, he made a stop at Warmaiden's. As a highly proficient smith, he bought some ebony ingots and turned them into daggers for presents for his two daughters Sissel and Sofie.
Cincinnatus then walked through the front door of Breezehome, much to the joy of his family. He went to go play outside with the kids for a bit, and when they went back inside he gave his kids the daggers. Cincinnatus wants them prepared in the cruel world that Nirn could be, giving daggers to them in the past and teaching them how to fight.
Cincinnatus then put the kids to bed, and confirmed to his lady Lydia that his days of adventuring were over, much to her relief. As much as he loved the thrill of it, he felt bad that he did not retire sooner for his family. But he also felt he had duties to attend to before he called it quits.
Cincinnatus and Lydia also welcomed Serana if she wanted to stay. If she wanted to leave, she would be welcome back with open arms down the road. With the vampirism long gone, she could live without that burden.
Some photos from the final day:
Last time in Morthal
Whiterun and Snow-Throat in the distance
My last time through Whiterun's doors with Cincinnatus
Home at last
Present for Sissel
Present for Sofie
Tucking the kids into bed
M'lady Lydia
And so ends the story of Cincinnatus. It is a bittersweet feeling, writing the final chapter of my first TES character. He is also the first one I actually retired. I will fill out the official post in the Retired Characters Thread tomorrow.
I'm thinking I will put an end to the story of my Champion of Cyrodiil next. I don't really have anything left that I want him to do.
Yes, a bittersweet ending and he hangs up his sword. He certainly has a wonderful family though as he retires into a well-earned rest. 
QUOTE(Acadian @ Oct 5 2017, 03:29 PM) 
Yes, a bittersweet ending and he hangs up his sword. He certainly has a wonderful family though as he retires into a well-earned rest.
Thanks, Acadian. Glad you liked it.
Cinncinatus looks like a real badass! 
I love those dragon shots, nice job. And fighting Thalmor is always an adrenaline rush.
I know what you mean about not shouting as you're playing, RoLtA, lest your roomies get nervous. My daughter and her friends think I'm such a kooky mom sometimes because I do the same thing, without your better self-restraint!
I love those dragon shots, nice job. And fighting Thalmor is always an adrenaline rush.I know what you mean about not shouting as you're playing, RoLtA, lest your roomies get nervous. My daughter and her friends think I'm such a kooky mom sometimes because I do the same thing, without your better self-restraint!
QUOTE(Renee @ Oct 6 2017, 03:14 PM)
Cinncinatus looks like a real badass!
I love those dragon shots, nice job. And fighting Thalmor is always an adrenaline rush.I know what you mean about not shouting as you're playing, RoLtA, lest your roomies get nervous. My daughter and her friends think I'm such a kooky mom sometimes because I do the same thing, without your better self-restraint!
Haha, I don't always restrain myself. I can actually get frustrated pretty easily sometimes. Although depending on the situation I can be more calm.
I noticed, while reading through the readme for Live Another Life, that one of the options was to start as one of the Vigilants of Stendarr. So although, I'm using Skyrim Unbound for my LE game, I thought I'd give that a try. My new character has the magic and mace setup, and will be walking the roads, looking for Daedra, vampires, witches etc. as well as entering their known haunts.
My first problem has been finding enough torches. Gotta have a torch when walking at night. But you can't buy torches anywhere (can't sell them, either), and I haven't found a good re-spawning supply. That may need a mini-mod.
And later, I'll have to figure out who'd make a proper follower, as they always go around in pairs. Housecarls won't give up their steel armour for a mage robe, and there's similar issues with trying to persuade a mage to use a mace. This may need a custom Vigilant companion. Beware of full-blown mod developing.
My first problem has been finding enough torches. Gotta have a torch when walking at night. But you can't buy torches anywhere (can't sell them, either), and I haven't found a good re-spawning supply. That may need a mini-mod.
And later, I'll have to figure out who'd make a proper follower, as they always go around in pairs. Housecarls won't give up their steel armour for a mage robe, and there's similar issues with trying to persuade a mage to use a mace. This may need a custom Vigilant companion. Beware of full-blown mod developing.
QUOTE(ghastley @ Oct 16 2017, 09:36 AM)
My first problem has been finding enough torches. Gotta have a torch when walking at night. But you can't buy torches anywhere (can't sell them, either), and I haven't found a good re-spawning supply. That may need a mini-mod.
Yes, I came upon the torch issue with Bjorn Tubewyyld, my Thieves Guild guy who used no magic (therefore, no Candlelight spell). In his case, all he had to do was bully various travellers into giving him their loot (Be a Highwayman mod), but that's not gonna work for a VoS.
One option is to go into some caves. I know Embershard has a bunch of torches hanging from its walls, for instance. These can be removed and used. And maybe your Vigilant goes into such caves to 'cleanse' the place of heathens.
I started this character in Dawnstar, the nearest offer to the Hall of the Vigilant. So she looked in Quicksilver Mine, and Iron-breaker Mine, and found only candles and lanterns that couldn't be taken. Eventually we reached Embershard, and picked up 22 torches there alone. Found a couple more in random chests, too. Embershard will take a while to re-set, of course, so I'm looking for another concentration of torches.
She moved up her Smithing to Advanced, and made herself Steel Plate boots and Gauntlets (Exquisite quality and rising). Her mace remains steel, but is of similar tempering level. She's got the ranged destruction spells, so has stopped using a bow at all, which is approximately the target for this build. She needs to advance Alteration next, although with the partial Heavy Armour, she won't invest points in the boost perks for her mage armour spells, just take the cost reductions.
The game is currently running without the expansions, so there aren't the Vampire attacks. I may add Dawnguard in soon, although she won't be doing the quests. Skyrim Unbound also lets her be non-Dragonborn so that DLC is wasted. HF not applicable for a road-walker, either.
She moved up her Smithing to Advanced, and made herself Steel Plate boots and Gauntlets (Exquisite quality and rising). Her mace remains steel, but is of similar tempering level. She's got the ranged destruction spells, so has stopped using a bow at all, which is approximately the target for this build. She needs to advance Alteration next, although with the partial Heavy Armour, she won't invest points in the boost perks for her mage armour spells, just take the cost reductions.
The game is currently running without the expansions, so there aren't the Vampire attacks. I may add Dawnguard in soon, although she won't be doing the quests. Skyrim Unbound also lets her be non-Dragonborn so that DLC is wasted. HF not applicable for a road-walker, either.
Played a bit more with this Vigilant character at the weekend. First I needed to create a new level of armour for her, as the current Steel Plate limit for Vigilants runs a bit short when doing mace and magic. Perking both Destruction and One-handed leaves some other skills behind, and she has little defence without better armour. We considered mage armor, but the boots/gauntlets negate the perks, and her magicka gets used for offence (and post-fight healing).
So now she has a cloth/leather/ebony outfit instead of cloth/leather/plate, and it's up to Epic, instead of just Flawless. Her Steel mace has been traded in for an Ebony one. She's not allowed to use a shield, conjure any assistance, or do any Daedric quests (except I might let her help Erandur against Vermina, and do Pieces of the Past until Silus reveals that he's going to Dagon's shrine). Wiping out necrodudes and vampires whenever they're encountered is a must, but joining the Dawnguard won't happen, as they separated from the Vigilants on bad terms. She's dealt with Potema, but hasn't talked to Elisif after. Meridia's beacon was left in the chest.
After she got her stock of torches from Embershard, they're turning up on random enemies all the time. She's maintaining a level of about 20 in inventory without thinking about it.
Danica has asked her to find Nettlebane. She's wondering of that's Daedric in any way. And she may also help Saadia while she's in the area of Whiterun; that quest seems daedra-neutral. I'm looking over the other Daedric quests to see what she could do without actually dealing with the Daedric Prince. Sam could fool her?
So now she has a cloth/leather/ebony outfit instead of cloth/leather/plate, and it's up to Epic, instead of just Flawless. Her Steel mace has been traded in for an Ebony one. She's not allowed to use a shield, conjure any assistance, or do any Daedric quests (except I might let her help Erandur against Vermina, and do Pieces of the Past until Silus reveals that he's going to Dagon's shrine). Wiping out necrodudes and vampires whenever they're encountered is a must, but joining the Dawnguard won't happen, as they separated from the Vigilants on bad terms. She's dealt with Potema, but hasn't talked to Elisif after. Meridia's beacon was left in the chest.
After she got her stock of torches from Embershard, they're turning up on random enemies all the time. She's maintaining a level of about 20 in inventory without thinking about it.
Danica has asked her to find Nettlebane. She's wondering of that's Daedric in any way. And she may also help Saadia while she's in the area of Whiterun; that quest seems daedra-neutral. I'm looking over the other Daedric quests to see what she could do without actually dealing with the Daedric Prince. Sam could fool her?
King Coin's mentioning the Bear Riders had me rolling up a new one and dusting off the mod.
To make it fresh, I decided to play a completely unarmoured non-mage, relying entirely on maxed weapons (two-handed sword and bow) , and help from the bear, of course. She's wearing rider-style rags to keep the "must have rider outfit to ride bear" thing going.
I compromised the non-mage part a bit by letting her enchant as well as smith. So her big sword now has Fiery Soul Trap to add some more damage. She can also get Fortify enchantments when she runs out of steam elsewhere. I suspect she'll end up having problems with boss mages, as she's a Redguard with no inherent resistances.
To make it fresh, I decided to play a completely unarmoured non-mage, relying entirely on maxed weapons (two-handed sword and bow) , and help from the bear, of course. She's wearing rider-style rags to keep the "must have rider outfit to ride bear" thing going.
I compromised the non-mage part a bit by letting her enchant as well as smith. So her big sword now has Fiery Soul Trap to add some more damage. She can also get Fortify enchantments when she runs out of steam elsewhere. I suspect she'll end up having problems with boss mages, as she's a Redguard with no inherent resistances.
So close to finally getting all of the Daedric artifacts. I've been playing since 2011, and I'm just doing some of the for the first time.
Mephala, Nocturnal, Malacath, and Boethiah are all that remain for Iriana to seek out.
Prior to this adventure, I had never completed Namira's, Hircine's, or Mephala's quests.
Mephala, Nocturnal, Malacath, and Boethiah are all that remain for Iriana to seek out.
Prior to this adventure, I had never completed Namira's, Hircine's, or Mephala's quests.
I had a hankering for starting a new character in Skyrim, so...well, I started a new character. Made a Breton named Evelona, and she is heavily focused on using magic (although I have a bow and melee weapon for last resort).
Managed to already find some new things, or at least things I don't remember doing/seeing before in the game. Also was cool to do some quests that I hadn't done in a very long time, like the Daedric quest to (in my case) stop Vaermina.
Also made a very big mistake in dropping into a Falmer-infested dungeon (Sightless Pit), thinking it wouldn't be too much trouble. Boy, was I wrong. My character was still at a pretty low level, and eventually I was forced to just run past all of them.
Sure is cool to begin anew with the game that started it all for me.
Managed to already find some new things, or at least things I don't remember doing/seeing before in the game. Also was cool to do some quests that I hadn't done in a very long time, like the Daedric quest to (in my case) stop Vaermina.
Also made a very big mistake in dropping into a Falmer-infested dungeon (Sightless Pit), thinking it wouldn't be too much trouble. Boy, was I wrong. My character was still at a pretty low level, and eventually I was forced to just run past all of them.
Sure is cool to begin anew with the game that started it all for me.
Kane: I have still never done many of the Daedric quests, like Hircine's and Mephala's. My cannibal Loviatar did do the Molag Bal one in the Abandoned House in Markarth. She is also my only character to do the Namira quest. OTOH most of my characters end up doing the Clavicus Vile quest, just to get rid of that damned dog!
RaderOfTheLostArk: Falmer at low level!
Yow! They are definitely not for the faint of heart.
I have been playing Persephone again. This time I started her out at Arcwind Point. She has been exploring the Rift, and is just about done with it. I turned Shrouded Hearth barrow into her lair by adding all the crafting stations to Wyndelius' room.
RaderOfTheLostArk: Falmer at low level!
Yow! They are definitely not for the faint of heart. I have been playing Persephone again. This time I started her out at Arcwind Point. She has been exploring the Rift, and is just about done with it. I turned Shrouded Hearth barrow into her lair by adding all the crafting stations to Wyndelius' room.
QUOTE(SubRosa @ Jun 10 2018, 11:59 AM)
Kane: I have still never done many of the Daedric quests, like Hircine's and Mephala's. My cannibal Loviatar did do the Molag Bal one in the Abandoned House in Markarth. She is also my only character to do the Namira quest. OTOH most of my characters end up doing the Clavicus Vile quest, just to get rid of that damned dog!
I never even triggered the Namira quest until today. Apparently happened to never run across it. My character has no intention of ever doing the quest though. Also never did Mephala's quest either, or Boethiah's.
QUOTE(SubRosa @ Jun 10 2018, 11:59 AM)
RaderOfTheLostArk: Falmer at low level!
Yow! They are definitely not for the faint of heart. Yeah, I was able to kill a few at the beginning of that dungeon, but eventually I came up to a group that I just couldn't contend with. I didn't have enough potions and there wasn't much room to maneuver, so I just had to book it. But later on I had a much easier time with them in Nchuand-Zel after I leveled up some.
QUOTE(SubRosa @ Jun 10 2018, 11:59 AM)
I have been playing Persephone again. This time I started her out at Arcwind Point. She has been exploring the Rift, and is just about done with it. I turned Shrouded Hearth barrow into her lair by adding all the crafting stations to Wyndelius' room.
And coincidentally, Evelona just cleared out Shrouded Hearth Barrow today too.
Loredas, 7:33 PM, 27th of Sun's Dawn, 4th Era 203: Today is the second day of fall, and it's 59 degrees outside. Virtually feels like it's freezing already, after months of heat. So I felt inspired to start my Skyrim season early this year. Because 2018 IS the year I'm gong to finally finish up the Main Quest, ha ha ha. Well, maybe 2019. 
Lord Haaf-Mersey is in The Bee 'n' Barb (m'lord) and having some alto wine, and what amounts to a ham & cheese sandwich in our terms. He's going to spend the night in Motomouth Mjoll's house, and then head off to speak to Gunmar, where he'll get paid for completing his last vampire mission, and continue on to the next one. That's pretty much what he does nowadays--all the Dawnguard quests which happen after Harkon.
Haaf-Mersey finishes his meal, and doesn't bother to 'try one of BnB's "special" drinks.' He packs his things in Mjoll's house, rests for the rest of the night, and then gets ready to head off to Dawnguard. EDIT Never mind. It's Sundas now. And he's in Riften. This means he has to spend all day in the Temple of Mara. :facepalm:
Lord Haaf-Mersey is in The Bee 'n' Barb (m'lord) and having some alto wine, and what amounts to a ham & cheese sandwich in our terms. He's going to spend the night in Motomouth Mjoll's house, and then head off to speak to Gunmar, where he'll get paid for completing his last vampire mission, and continue on to the next one. That's pretty much what he does nowadays--all the Dawnguard quests which happen after Harkon.
Haaf-Mersey finishes his meal, and doesn't bother to 'try one of BnB's "special" drinks.' He packs his things in Mjoll's house, rests for the rest of the night, and then gets ready to head off to Dawnguard. EDIT Never mind. It's Sundas now. And he's in Riften. This means he has to spend all day in the Temple of Mara. :facepalm:
Spending all day in the temple praying? What a wild one that Lord HM is! 
Too bad it's not the temple of Dibella, time there would probably pass quicker. 
Morndas, 8:45 PM, 1st of First SEed Yeah Lord Haaf-Mersey isn't much fun to be around if it's Sundas, and he's in a town with a chapel.
He is back in the Bee 'n' Barb again, m'lord. Having another meal, this time he's got one of the Dawnguard followers with him, um...Beleval. She's an elf who specializes in crossbows and regular bows. LHM sent Rayya "the Overkiller" home because she's more about sword-play, and Haaf-Mersey doesn't need another fighter with him. He needs someone who can pwn the m0bs from afar, instead.
He and Belevar are off to Broken Fang Cave in the morning, to hunt down yet another den of vampires. That should be a lot more fun than sitting around some chapel all day.
He is back in the Bee 'n' Barb again, m'lord. Having another meal, this time he's got one of the Dawnguard followers with him, um...Beleval. She's an elf who specializes in crossbows and regular bows. LHM sent Rayya "the Overkiller" home because she's more about sword-play, and Haaf-Mersey doesn't need another fighter with him. He needs someone who can pwn the m0bs from afar, instead.
He and Belevar are off to Broken Fang Cave in the morning, to hunt down yet another den of vampires. That should be a lot more fun than sitting around some chapel all day.
Poor Rayya, she wanted to play with LHM's sword but he sent her home.
Hopefully Beleval will strike the right balance of quiet and conversation, and will kill her share of baddies but not too many.
I am new to the Xbox modding thing. Not using a Bashed patch makes me nervous, but I guess the modders thought of that? Anyway I have a brunette Nord lass helping me figure things out. So far she would like me to buy SE for PC and a machine to run it so I can make my own mods. Dammit, Katrin, that’s not helping.
She is in Riverwood about to walk down the hill to Whiterun with Gerdur’s message for the Jarl. She ditched the Stormcloak uniform but held on to some weapons in case she finds a place to work metal. So I guess she’s not an idiot, and I guess we’re doing Smithing. She hasn’t picked any flowers yet, thank Kyne. I’d like to take a break from continuous foraging.
With autumn coming I felt a call of Skyrim too. I tried SE but found out that some of my favorite mods weren't ported to SE (yet), so I'm using the Legendary Edition which I've used before. That's even better because by now I'm familiar with it and I immediately knew which mods I want in my game. On my new Lenovo laptop Skyrim looks like a completely different game. Thanks to some mods its graphics are even more stunning and the game runs very smoothly.
Maybe I'll return to my latest character Forrah at some point but for now it's time for a new girl - Souissi the Imperial rogue. I'm not sure yet whether she'll be my main character for this season but it feels better starting with someone a bit different, more roguish.
Her game is dead-is-dead but I use a mod that makes it a bit harder to die - in short, when you run out of health, several different scenarios can happen, from being saved by random adventurers to being captured by bandits or any other factions that lurk nearby to the spot where you died. The mod is called Death Alternative and is divided in various sub-mods at the Nexus, if anyone's interested.
Occasionally when I'll feel inspired and when I'll have time, I'll post a story of Souissi. Like today.
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»They found us,” Souissi said when she returned to the camp.
“Did…they?” Hrodnar Hairy-Back was obviously neither interested nor scared. He didn’t even look up but kept sharpening the tip of his dreugh spear.
“Yes, Hrodnar!” shouted Souissi. “I came upon a bounty collector by some cave to the west. He knew of Orphan’s Tear. He knew of us. I killed him but more will come. Maybe even soldiers.”
“You said you killed him.” Hrodnar Hairy-Back shrugged his shoulders. “So he’s gone now. And we’ll deal with anyone that comes here just fine.”
Souissi rolled her eyes and looked at Delmandil who was sitting by the campfire, obviously not much more interested in the news than Hrodnar. Not that she expected it to be any different – ever since Hrodnar saved Delmandil’s life some years ago, the Wood Elf would follow the Nord to Oblivion and back, and unfortunately also agree with him on all matters.
“What is your say, Delmandil?” Souissi sat down by the campfire. “I think we should leave this place, go somewhere else. Anywhere.”
“I think we’ll kill anyone that comes here just fine,” said old Wood Elf and wanted to made a sip of wine from the bottle, only to find it empty. “Time for a new one.” He tossed the empty bottle in the Sea of Ghosts.
Souissi sighed. There was another member of the crew inside remains of the ship, Argonian mage Jek-Oh, but years of abusing skooma addled his mind and now he was only good for healing spells, so trying to convince him about the imminent danger would be pointless because Jek-Oh was lost in his imaginary world, known only to him.
A day ago everything was as it should have been. Their ship, Orphan’s Tear, was sailing through the Sea of Ghosts, carrying skooma, moon sugar, alcohol and some other goodies, which its crew used to smuggle from Morrowind to High Rock. But in two years of their smuggling business word got around and when sailing too close to the northern shore of Skyrim, Imperial mages attacked from the shore by hurling fireballs at the ship. It immediately caught fire but Hrodnar managed to sail away and avoid more deadly fireballs, yet not for long, and Orphan’s Tear ended its sail on sharp rocks in the very north of Skyrim. So its crew – Hrodnar Hairy-Back, Delmandil, Jek-Ho and Souissi were forced to abandon the ship and get ashore. Their cargo was lost, as was their gold. Though their lives were saved, it was to be expected that sooner or later someone would come for them – either bounty collectors either soldiers. But Souissi realized that her mates just didn’t care anymore – they were old and bored and didn’t feel like going anywhere. They were ready to wait at the shipwreck, whether to fight to the last breath or to surrender, she didn’t know.
Souissi was the only young one on Orphan’s Tear, she had joined them two years ago when her days of a highwaywoman in Morrowind were over. While on a run from authorities, Orphan’s Tear crew gave her shelter, so in return Souissi offered her help. Young and agile, she served as the crew’s main fighter and thanks to some acquaintances from Morrowind the crew started a smuggling operation between lands.
Though the current situation was far from good, Souissi, unlike her mates, didn’t feel like staying at the camp by the shipwreck for too long. She might wait for another day and try to convince the crew to go someplace else, because of bounties on their heads, but if they won’t listen…. she’ll head out on her own.
Maybe I'll return to my latest character Forrah at some point but for now it's time for a new girl - Souissi the Imperial rogue. I'm not sure yet whether she'll be my main character for this season but it feels better starting with someone a bit different, more roguish.
Her game is dead-is-dead but I use a mod that makes it a bit harder to die - in short, when you run out of health, several different scenarios can happen, from being saved by random adventurers to being captured by bandits or any other factions that lurk nearby to the spot where you died. The mod is called Death Alternative and is divided in various sub-mods at the Nexus, if anyone's interested.
Occasionally when I'll feel inspired and when I'll have time, I'll post a story of Souissi. Like today.
______________________________________________________________________________
»They found us,” Souissi said when she returned to the camp.
“Did…they?” Hrodnar Hairy-Back was obviously neither interested nor scared. He didn’t even look up but kept sharpening the tip of his dreugh spear.
“Yes, Hrodnar!” shouted Souissi. “I came upon a bounty collector by some cave to the west. He knew of Orphan’s Tear. He knew of us. I killed him but more will come. Maybe even soldiers.”
“You said you killed him.” Hrodnar Hairy-Back shrugged his shoulders. “So he’s gone now. And we’ll deal with anyone that comes here just fine.”
Souissi rolled her eyes and looked at Delmandil who was sitting by the campfire, obviously not much more interested in the news than Hrodnar. Not that she expected it to be any different – ever since Hrodnar saved Delmandil’s life some years ago, the Wood Elf would follow the Nord to Oblivion and back, and unfortunately also agree with him on all matters.
“What is your say, Delmandil?” Souissi sat down by the campfire. “I think we should leave this place, go somewhere else. Anywhere.”
“I think we’ll kill anyone that comes here just fine,” said old Wood Elf and wanted to made a sip of wine from the bottle, only to find it empty. “Time for a new one.” He tossed the empty bottle in the Sea of Ghosts.
Souissi sighed. There was another member of the crew inside remains of the ship, Argonian mage Jek-Oh, but years of abusing skooma addled his mind and now he was only good for healing spells, so trying to convince him about the imminent danger would be pointless because Jek-Oh was lost in his imaginary world, known only to him.
A day ago everything was as it should have been. Their ship, Orphan’s Tear, was sailing through the Sea of Ghosts, carrying skooma, moon sugar, alcohol and some other goodies, which its crew used to smuggle from Morrowind to High Rock. But in two years of their smuggling business word got around and when sailing too close to the northern shore of Skyrim, Imperial mages attacked from the shore by hurling fireballs at the ship. It immediately caught fire but Hrodnar managed to sail away and avoid more deadly fireballs, yet not for long, and Orphan’s Tear ended its sail on sharp rocks in the very north of Skyrim. So its crew – Hrodnar Hairy-Back, Delmandil, Jek-Ho and Souissi were forced to abandon the ship and get ashore. Their cargo was lost, as was their gold. Though their lives were saved, it was to be expected that sooner or later someone would come for them – either bounty collectors either soldiers. But Souissi realized that her mates just didn’t care anymore – they were old and bored and didn’t feel like going anywhere. They were ready to wait at the shipwreck, whether to fight to the last breath or to surrender, she didn’t know.
Souissi was the only young one on Orphan’s Tear, she had joined them two years ago when her days of a highwaywoman in Morrowind were over. While on a run from authorities, Orphan’s Tear crew gave her shelter, so in return Souissi offered her help. Young and agile, she served as the crew’s main fighter and thanks to some acquaintances from Morrowind the crew started a smuggling operation between lands.
Though the current situation was far from good, Souissi, unlike her mates, didn’t feel like staying at the camp by the shipwreck for too long. She might wait for another day and try to convince the crew to go someplace else, because of bounties on their heads, but if they won’t listen…. she’ll head out on her own.
Awesome, three of us in Skyrim this month.
That's great you're exploring mods on Xbox, Grits. I'm assuming all the mods on console are "safer" than those on PC, so maybe a Bashed Patch isn't needed. Hmm. Then again, I see what you're saying. Maybe stuff isn't as regulated like it is within the Wrye Smash program. Anyway, good to hear about your Stormcloack-who-ditched-her-uniform (what's her name?). Ha ha I know what you mean about 'constant foraging!' It is nice to get away from characters who can't resist picking every mountain flower....
Lopov: ah-HAH, so that's how that ship got wrecked off the coast of Windhelm! .. Yes, Soussi has the look of someone who doesn't want to wait around. She is young, and has that agile sort of look. Her face is pleasant though. Not ravaged bya boar time and skooma, as is so often the case with those who get the name "Hairy-Back."
Makes me wonder though, if Soussi and one of mine will ever wind up in the same place. If she meets up with ... let's say ..... Sir Vyvoor or even Mycharonna, she probably won't have much to worry about, unless Soussi attempts to rob them. Lord Haaf-Mersey would attempt to speak to her first though. And if she doesn't pass his "what are you doing loitering here?" test.....
That's great you're exploring mods on Xbox, Grits. I'm assuming all the mods on console are "safer" than those on PC, so maybe a Bashed Patch isn't needed. Hmm. Then again, I see what you're saying. Maybe stuff isn't as regulated like it is within the Wrye Smash program. Anyway, good to hear about your Stormcloack-who-ditched-her-uniform (what's her name?). Ha ha I know what you mean about 'constant foraging!' It is nice to get away from characters who can't resist picking every mountain flower....
Lopov: ah-HAH, so that's how that ship got wrecked off the coast of Windhelm! .. Yes, Soussi has the look of someone who doesn't want to wait around. She is young, and has that agile sort of look. Her face is pleasant though. Not ravaged by
Makes me wonder though, if Soussi and one of mine will ever wind up in the same place. If she meets up with ... let's say ..... Sir Vyvoor or even Mycharonna, she probably won't have much to worry about, unless Soussi attempts to rob them. Lord Haaf-Mersey would attempt to speak to her first though. And if she doesn't pass his "what are you doing loitering here?" test.....
Now that I've been using RaceMenu, creating characters has become much easier. The smoother facial texture is from the UNP body mod which also alters faces, that's why she looks younger.
I tested the "Highwayman mod" a few times before starting her game and it really works in an odd way - Thalmor justiciars gave their valuables willingly but some peddler attacked.
So I'm not sure I'll be using that mod much in the end.
Souissi thinks twice before choosing her target, she wouldn't even attempt robbing someone that'd be as armed as Lord Haaf-Mersey or as creepy as Mycharonna. She robbed Talsgar the wanderer, though, I'll write a short story of it in a few days time.
I tested the "Highwayman mod" a few times before starting her game and it really works in an odd way - Thalmor justiciars gave their valuables willingly but some peddler attacked.
So I'm not sure I'll be using that mod much in the end.Souissi thinks twice before choosing her target, she wouldn't even attempt robbing someone that'd be as armed as Lord Haaf-Mersey or as creepy as Mycharonna. She robbed Talsgar the wanderer, though, I'll write a short story of it in a few days time.
Yeah that does sound odd. Thalmor should definitely attack. A lone peddler ... you don't know what he or she will do. Someone of that ilk could either get totally scared, or foolishly brave. But I agree, Thalmor don't seem like they'd just give over their valuables.
When I was gaming with Bjorn, he would never bully Thalmor though, he'd always bully those who seem weaker than himself. Because that's what he was: a bully.
He would sometimes attack Thalmor though, just because they tent to say conceited things anyway.
Where does the name Souissi come from? Does that mean anything?
When I was gaming with Bjorn, he would never bully Thalmor though, he'd always bully those who seem weaker than himself. Because that's what he was: a bully.
He would sometimes attack Thalmor though, just because they tent to say conceited things anyway. Where does the name Souissi come from? Does that mean anything?
Souissi hasn't come upon Thalmor yet, I tested this mod with a test character, and I was hoping there are some exceptions included like Thalmor patrols, that can't be robbed. But unfortunately it's a bug, I read about it on the mod's site, and no solution has been found yet.
I came up with the name on my own, but Google revealed that it's also a rare surname and a town district in Morocco.
I came up with the name on my own, but Google revealed that it's also a rare surname and a town district in Morocco.
Souissi from Morocco, nice! Just don't try to rob Thalmor, I mean in realistic terms, who would anyway, right? Somebody who is nuts, that's who.
Sloved?
It s Turdas, 4th of First Seed, late morning. Lord Haaf-Mersey and Belevar leave Valtheim Towers, where they spent the night, and head for Whiterun.
Just don't try to rob Thalmor, I mean in realistic terms, who would anyway, right? Somebody who is nuts, that's who. Sloved?
It s Turdas, 4th of First Seed, late morning. Lord Haaf-Mersey and Belevar leave Valtheim Towers, where they spent the night, and head for Whiterun.
Careful on Valtheim towers. A while ago some guy fell down from there and didn't survive despite having über knees.
______________________________________________________________________________
When Talsgar the wandering bard headed to the very the north of Skyrim to get some fresh inspiration for a new poem, he didn’t expect that he’d get robbed. And by a woman at that!
When he saw her approaching, Talsgar was wondering which poem should he sing to impress her but before he could sing at all, he was greeted by “Hand over your valuables and nobody gets hurt!”
“I’ll teach you to talk to me like that!” Talsgar unsheathed his iron sword and was ready to teach the highwaywoman a lesson. But it soon became clear to the bard that he wasn't a match for her skills, so he raised both hands high in the air and yelled “Mercy!” He knew that with bandits of Skyrim chances to spare his life were meager but he had nothing more to lose.
“Smart move,” said Souissi and sheathed her steel mace, which she got from the bounty collector, whom she had killed on the previous day. “Now give me your knapsack.” She turned his knapsack upside down so its contents fell out but Talsgar was a simple man and didn’t travel with many valuables so in the end he was short for two potions and two books, and the big knapsack. But then something unexpected happened – Souissi put her small knapsack from her back and tossed it at him. “You don’t have a need for such a big knapsack. And if I were you, I'd switch this rusty sword of yours for something more powerful. Or at least learn how to wield it.” Souissi put the “new” knapsack on her back and walked away.
Talsgar was speechless – that was certainly an unusual robbery, but a robbery it was nonetheless. Not only did the highwaywoman give him her knapsack, albeit a much smaller one, but she also took two books! Books! Since when were bandits interested in books? Still, he could have lost his life and at least she didn’t strip him of his clothes and the sword was fortunately still retrievable. Though Talsgar decided that he won’t tell anyone about what had happened to him, an idea for a new poem was already forming in his mind – the one about a highwaywoman with conscience who went around robbing people of their books.
"If all people in Skyrim are as poor as this bard, I should change my profession." These were Souissi's thoughts as she was walking back towards Orphan's Tear. "Now it's a good time to seriously think about this. New land, new opportunity. Nobody knows me in Skyrim. Yet. It'd be good if it stayed that way...rumors of highwaymen quickly get around. It's better not to give people any reason to talk about me."
When Talsgar the wandering bard headed to the very the north of Skyrim to get some fresh inspiration for a new poem, he didn’t expect that he’d get robbed. And by a woman at that!
When he saw her approaching, Talsgar was wondering which poem should he sing to impress her but before he could sing at all, he was greeted by “Hand over your valuables and nobody gets hurt!”
“I’ll teach you to talk to me like that!” Talsgar unsheathed his iron sword and was ready to teach the highwaywoman a lesson. But it soon became clear to the bard that he wasn't a match for her skills, so he raised both hands high in the air and yelled “Mercy!” He knew that with bandits of Skyrim chances to spare his life were meager but he had nothing more to lose.
“Smart move,” said Souissi and sheathed her steel mace, which she got from the bounty collector, whom she had killed on the previous day. “Now give me your knapsack.” She turned his knapsack upside down so its contents fell out but Talsgar was a simple man and didn’t travel with many valuables so in the end he was short for two potions and two books, and the big knapsack. But then something unexpected happened – Souissi put her small knapsack from her back and tossed it at him. “You don’t have a need for such a big knapsack. And if I were you, I'd switch this rusty sword of yours for something more powerful. Or at least learn how to wield it.” Souissi put the “new” knapsack on her back and walked away.
Talsgar was speechless – that was certainly an unusual robbery, but a robbery it was nonetheless. Not only did the highwaywoman give him her knapsack, albeit a much smaller one, but she also took two books! Books! Since when were bandits interested in books? Still, he could have lost his life and at least she didn’t strip him of his clothes and the sword was fortunately still retrievable. Though Talsgar decided that he won’t tell anyone about what had happened to him, an idea for a new poem was already forming in his mind – the one about a highwaywoman with conscience who went around robbing people of their books.
"If all people in Skyrim are as poor as this bard, I should change my profession." These were Souissi's thoughts as she was walking back towards Orphan's Tear. "Now it's a good time to seriously think about this. New land, new opportunity. Nobody knows me in Skyrim. Yet. It'd be good if it stayed that way...rumors of highwaymen quickly get around. It's better not to give people any reason to talk about me."
See, not all bandits are bad. Yes, she took his roomy Timberland and left him with her Kate Spade, but ya know, why does he need all those books anyways?
Lopov, Souissi looks like she means business. So now we know the tale of the wreck of the Orphan’s Tear! I loved her meeting with the bard. She’s a bandit, but not some heartless killer.
Renee, Katrin and Uthgerd may pass Lord Haaf-Mersey and Belevar on the road. They are headed to a job at… Valtheim Towers.
__
Katrin braced her boot against the door. “Ready?”
Uthgerd grunted her reply.
The two warriors entered Bleak Falls Barrow in a clash of iron and steel. Wood smoke and rot chased the smell of bandit blood out of Katrin’s nostrils. Soon two more swords joined the bundle on Uthgerd’s pack. Katrin would not rob the recently dead any more than she would the restless ancestors, but she figured that the weapons they tried to kill her with were fair game.
Several hours’ steady work saw their objectives complete. Uthgerd didn’t speak as they walked through the dark back to Riverwood. Katrin wondered what had happened in the barrow’s main chamber. Her companion had approached the great stone wall with an odd expression on her dust-streaked face. Katrin left her studying it and went looking for Farengar’s tablet. Then the casket had popped open, and for a time they were too busy to chat.
By the next evening, Katrin’s concerns about her new friend had multiplied. They sat in the Bannered Mare, washing away the day with mead.
“Dragonborn,” Katrin mused. “Do you suppose it’s true? That groundshake was the Greybeards summoning you?”
Uthgerd let a breath out slowly through her nose. She lifted her tankard.
“You’re right,” Katrin replied. “That’s a long walk. Once we’ve taken a few more jobs, we can buy some horses.”
Added: Uthgerd and Katrin in BFB
Renee, Katrin and Uthgerd may pass Lord Haaf-Mersey and Belevar on the road. They are headed to a job at… Valtheim Towers.
__
Katrin braced her boot against the door. “Ready?”
Uthgerd grunted her reply.
The two warriors entered Bleak Falls Barrow in a clash of iron and steel. Wood smoke and rot chased the smell of bandit blood out of Katrin’s nostrils. Soon two more swords joined the bundle on Uthgerd’s pack. Katrin would not rob the recently dead any more than she would the restless ancestors, but she figured that the weapons they tried to kill her with were fair game.
Several hours’ steady work saw their objectives complete. Uthgerd didn’t speak as they walked through the dark back to Riverwood. Katrin wondered what had happened in the barrow’s main chamber. Her companion had approached the great stone wall with an odd expression on her dust-streaked face. Katrin left her studying it and went looking for Farengar’s tablet. Then the casket had popped open, and for a time they were too busy to chat.
By the next evening, Katrin’s concerns about her new friend had multiplied. They sat in the Bannered Mare, washing away the day with mead.
“Dragonborn,” Katrin mused. “Do you suppose it’s true? That groundshake was the Greybeards summoning you?”
Uthgerd let a breath out slowly through her nose. She lifted her tankard.
“You’re right,” Katrin replied. “That’s a long walk. Once we’ve taken a few more jobs, we can buy some horses.”
Added: Uthgerd and Katrin in BFB
@Renee - there's never a knapsack big enough when it comes to adventuring, right? The stolen books were The ransom of Zarek and The Wolf Queen Vol VII. Despite The ransom of Zarek being very common, upon reading it I got a feeling like I've read it for the first time or at least that I haven't read it in years.
@Grits - Talsgar's yielding was available thanks to the Yield 2.0 mod. The last enemy alive will yield and in this case there weren't any other enemies around so Talsgar surrendered. If he hadn't surrendered or if such a mod wouldn't exist, I'd need to pacify him with console commands because as you say, Souissi's not a killer.
How clever to roleplay another person being the Dragonborn and the "protagonist" being in fact a "companion". Uthgerd grunts a lot but Katrin seems to understand her fine. This reminds me of a comic book character Java from Martin Mystere comics - Java would never say a word, he'd say only "Rghrr! Grrggr!" but his boss Martin Mystere would always know what Java wanted to say and sometimes one simple grunt could stand for one paragraph. 
Those girls look determined! You're using some mod which allows for multiple weapons to be shown on back?
@Grits - Talsgar's yielding was available thanks to the Yield 2.0 mod. The last enemy alive will yield and in this case there weren't any other enemies around so Talsgar surrendered. If he hadn't surrendered or if such a mod wouldn't exist, I'd need to pacify him with console commands because as you say, Souissi's not a killer.
How clever to roleplay another person being the Dragonborn and the "protagonist" being in fact a "companion". Uthgerd grunts a lot but Katrin seems to understand her fine.
This reminds me of a comic book character Java from Martin Mystere comics - Java would never say a word, he'd say only "Rghrr! Grrggr!" but his boss Martin Mystere would always know what Java wanted to say and sometimes one simple grunt could stand for one paragraph. Those girls look determined! You're using some mod which allows for multiple weapons to be shown on back?
Lopov, Katrin’s backpack mod shows some of the gear she has in her inventory (torch, tent, cookpot), but not extra weapons. Uthgerd’s sword bundle was a Grits way of imagining what happens when Katrin gives Uthgerd something sharp to carry, or when she puts pointy things in her horse’s inventory. I’m using Convenient Horses for Xbox1, so Uthgerd really rides a horse. And Katrin had to give her the gold to pay for it!
Java and Uthgerd must speak the same grunting language. They even have a similar facial expression.
---
Belethor’s door swung shut on Katrin’s boot heel. She blinked against the midday sun. “Just three healing potions for sale in this entire town. Not that we could afford many more after buying those horses. I don’t like it, Uthgerd. Maybe I should do some leatherwork and fletching, and by the time I’m done, Arcadia will have brewed some more.” She glanced at her friend.
Uthgerd did not seem inclined to return any of the healing potions Katrin had given her. “Let’s get going.”
Once they passed the Honnigbrew Meadery and the Hold Guards stationed there, most of their time was spent leading the horses from one hungry wolf pack to the next. The horses proved their worth in carrying pelts and weapons, if not their riders. Late afternoon found them within sight of Valtheim Towers.
“The sun is in our favor,” Katrin said. Sweat tricked down her neck. “Uthgerd, I don’t feel so well. I think I caught something from one of those wolves that bit me. And I don’t have another cure potion.”
Uthgerd’s eyes were on the distant towers. “What do you need?”
“A shrine or a cure disease potion. Or, heh, one of those Vigilants like we saw the other night. Only not dead.”
Uthgerd turned and looked up the road behind them.
“You’re right,” said Katrin, “maybe I can buy one off the quartermaster at that Stormcloak encampment.”
But the quartermaster only dealt in smithing goods. Katrin looked wistfully at two potions left on an alchemy bench outside the healer’s tent. The healer was too busy to respond when she asked for a trade. Katrin walked back to where Uthgerd was pounding something on the quartermaster’s anvil.
“We’d best make for Whiterun,” Katrin said. “There’s no guarantee that anyone in Riverwood will have what I need, and at least at your house the bed is free.”
Uthgerd laid down the hammer. “Let’s get going.”
Katrin passed an uneasy night sweating on Uthgerd’s floor, then entered the Temple of Kynareth at dawn. The priests were still sleeping as their patients moaned and cried on their benches. Katrin made her devotions at the shrine, sighing as the device’s enchantment eased her swollen joints.
She woke Danica on the way out, hoping that the priestess would have some potions for sale.
“Have you gotten Nettlebane yet?” Danica asked. She was back in her bed before Katrin could confess she had forgotten.
Uthgerd waited at the door. She spoke as Katrin brushed by her. “Let’s get going.”
“All right, all right, we’re going.” Katrin held the door for Uthgerd. “If I survive Valtheim Towers and the plague wolves of White River Road, remind me to tell you what that priestess wants us to do next.”
Java and Uthgerd must speak the same grunting language. They even have a similar facial expression.
---
Belethor’s door swung shut on Katrin’s boot heel. She blinked against the midday sun. “Just three healing potions for sale in this entire town. Not that we could afford many more after buying those horses. I don’t like it, Uthgerd. Maybe I should do some leatherwork and fletching, and by the time I’m done, Arcadia will have brewed some more.” She glanced at her friend.
Uthgerd did not seem inclined to return any of the healing potions Katrin had given her. “Let’s get going.”
Once they passed the Honnigbrew Meadery and the Hold Guards stationed there, most of their time was spent leading the horses from one hungry wolf pack to the next. The horses proved their worth in carrying pelts and weapons, if not their riders. Late afternoon found them within sight of Valtheim Towers.
“The sun is in our favor,” Katrin said. Sweat tricked down her neck. “Uthgerd, I don’t feel so well. I think I caught something from one of those wolves that bit me. And I don’t have another cure potion.”
Uthgerd’s eyes were on the distant towers. “What do you need?”
“A shrine or a cure disease potion. Or, heh, one of those Vigilants like we saw the other night. Only not dead.”
Uthgerd turned and looked up the road behind them.
“You’re right,” said Katrin, “maybe I can buy one off the quartermaster at that Stormcloak encampment.”
But the quartermaster only dealt in smithing goods. Katrin looked wistfully at two potions left on an alchemy bench outside the healer’s tent. The healer was too busy to respond when she asked for a trade. Katrin walked back to where Uthgerd was pounding something on the quartermaster’s anvil.
“We’d best make for Whiterun,” Katrin said. “There’s no guarantee that anyone in Riverwood will have what I need, and at least at your house the bed is free.”
Uthgerd laid down the hammer. “Let’s get going.”
Katrin passed an uneasy night sweating on Uthgerd’s floor, then entered the Temple of Kynareth at dawn. The priests were still sleeping as their patients moaned and cried on their benches. Katrin made her devotions at the shrine, sighing as the device’s enchantment eased her swollen joints.
She woke Danica on the way out, hoping that the priestess would have some potions for sale.
“Have you gotten Nettlebane yet?” Danica asked. She was back in her bed before Katrin could confess she had forgotten.
Uthgerd waited at the door. She spoke as Katrin brushed by her. “Let’s get going.”
“All right, all right, we’re going.” Katrin held the door for Uthgerd. “If I survive Valtheim Towers and the plague wolves of White River Road, remind me to tell you what that priestess wants us to do next.”
Yep, that's the complex and varied dialogue I remember.
Let's get going!
Oh well, at least she's not Mjoll!
Let's get going!
Oh well, at least she's not Mjoll!
Hee! Uthgerd is such a bubbly little chatty and nurturing thing. NOT!
It’s totally Uthgerd’s fault that she’s the Dragonborn in Katrin’s game. After two days of terse replies to Katrin, she went toe-to-toe with Mirmulnir yelling battle cries at him the whole time. Katrin was still at the top of the tower shooting down when Uthgerd killed him. He did that “Dovahkiin? Nooo!” thing (which I hate) right at Uthgerd while Katrin was still running out of the tower. I thought, well Gerd sure got that dragon’s attention. Heeey…I’ve also refreshed Jace’s game to see if I can use a controller with it (I can, yay). She is of course with her man Vorstag, who is very loving under the influence of the Relationship Dialog Overhaul mod. That makes Uthgerd’s “dialog” in Katrin’s game seem even more unfriendly by comparison. Good thing Katrin doesn’t need coddling.
Uthgerd wants to be judged by her deeds, not by words.
All is well as long as Katrin's joints aren't swollen anymore.
Let's get going.
All is well as long as Katrin's joints aren't swollen anymore.
Let's get going.
How brilliant that Uthgerd is the Dragonborn and Katrin is her sidekick!
If any names below don't sound familiar, they're from the Interesting NPCs mod.
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Souissi was returning to the shipwreck, carrying some fresh horker meat for her crew, when she saw a group of Imperial soldiers leaving the camp. As soon as they were out of sight, she hurried to Orphan’s Tear, where her fears became a reality – her former crew was slain. No longer would Hrodnar Hairy-Back complain that hair on his back never seem to stop growing, no longer would Delmandil blindly agree with anything that Hrodnar said and Jek-Ho was probably already drinking skooma in the afterlife. Maybe if Souissi were around when soldiers came, she might have defeated them but such thoughts didn’t change anything now. She took some food from the camp and after one last look at her former crew, Souissi left.
In the following days she met some interesting and odd people of Skyrim. First she came upon a psychotic Dark Elf Raynes, a self-proclaimed lawman who was after some bandits in the Lost Echo Cave. The cave was infested by Falmer and though Souissi has never seen them until now, she lied to Raynes that she’s an expert in dealing with them so they explored the cave together. They killed its blind denizens and Raynes also enacted justice on the wanted bandits. Souissi didn’t feel like traveling with a lawman, especially not the one who was constantly telling stories of how he mutilates his targets, so they parted ways after clearing the cave.
A day after, Souissi met Misha, a lunatic witch who strived to become a hagraven and promised Souissi a hefty reward if she’d help her find proper ingredients for the ritual. Souissi agreed but when Misha explained that she needed a man’s liver, a woman’s toe and a child’s heart and even pointed her to a nearby family, Souissi decided that Skyrim was better off without Misha. Afterwards she visited the family who despite their superstitions were friendly and cooked a fine stew for their guest.
On the following day Souissi was bitten by a wolf and her ankles were getting swollen. Realizing that she’ll need to find some potion to cure her disease, she assumed it was a rockjoint, Souissi headed in the direction of Solitude when she spotted two figures walking ahead of her. They didn’t look dangerous so she decided to strip them of their gold but as she approached them, one of them greeted her by: “You look sick. Do you need healing?” Amazed, Souissi accepted, because her intended targets were Vigilants of Stendarr and they cured her of rockjoint without demanding anything in return. It made her feel bad that she had almost robbed healers and she firmly decided that days of robbing people are over.
As night was approaching, heavy blizzard occurred, and in search of shelter Souissi stepped aboard some ship docked north of Solitude. But its corsairs didn’t like a stranger on their ship and they attacked – but they weren’t a match for a skilled rogue and after a long time Souissi was now finally sleeping in a warm bed.
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Souissi was returning to the shipwreck, carrying some fresh horker meat for her crew, when she saw a group of Imperial soldiers leaving the camp. As soon as they were out of sight, she hurried to Orphan’s Tear, where her fears became a reality – her former crew was slain. No longer would Hrodnar Hairy-Back complain that hair on his back never seem to stop growing, no longer would Delmandil blindly agree with anything that Hrodnar said and Jek-Ho was probably already drinking skooma in the afterlife. Maybe if Souissi were around when soldiers came, she might have defeated them but such thoughts didn’t change anything now. She took some food from the camp and after one last look at her former crew, Souissi left.
In the following days she met some interesting and odd people of Skyrim. First she came upon a psychotic Dark Elf Raynes, a self-proclaimed lawman who was after some bandits in the Lost Echo Cave. The cave was infested by Falmer and though Souissi has never seen them until now, she lied to Raynes that she’s an expert in dealing with them so they explored the cave together. They killed its blind denizens and Raynes also enacted justice on the wanted bandits. Souissi didn’t feel like traveling with a lawman, especially not the one who was constantly telling stories of how he mutilates his targets, so they parted ways after clearing the cave.
A day after, Souissi met Misha, a lunatic witch who strived to become a hagraven and promised Souissi a hefty reward if she’d help her find proper ingredients for the ritual. Souissi agreed but when Misha explained that she needed a man’s liver, a woman’s toe and a child’s heart and even pointed her to a nearby family, Souissi decided that Skyrim was better off without Misha. Afterwards she visited the family who despite their superstitions were friendly and cooked a fine stew for their guest.
On the following day Souissi was bitten by a wolf and her ankles were getting swollen. Realizing that she’ll need to find some potion to cure her disease, she assumed it was a rockjoint, Souissi headed in the direction of Solitude when she spotted two figures walking ahead of her. They didn’t look dangerous so she decided to strip them of their gold but as she approached them, one of them greeted her by: “You look sick. Do you need healing?” Amazed, Souissi accepted, because her intended targets were Vigilants of Stendarr and they cured her of rockjoint without demanding anything in return. It made her feel bad that she had almost robbed healers and she firmly decided that days of robbing people are over.
As night was approaching, heavy blizzard occurred, and in search of shelter Souissi stepped aboard some ship docked north of Solitude. But its corsairs didn’t like a stranger on their ship and they attacked – but they weren’t a match for a skilled rogue and after a long time Souissi was now finally sleeping in a warm bed.
Sousii had quite an adventure on the roads. Are the healing Vigilants part of the mod? Usually they just utter dire warnings to my characters, or can be found fighting undead. I made them hostile in Persephone games.
I am glad to hear she gave up robbing. I thought she might end up like Dani California.
I am glad to hear she gave up robbing. I thought she might end up like Dani California.
Life lesson learned right there. Who says videogames can't teach us to better ourselves?
That is pretty sad about Hairy-back and the others. They were living that life though, and would not adapt to new circumstances, right?
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Sundas, early evening, 7th of First Seed, 4th Era Year 203 -- Well it's Sundas, so luckily for all of us, Lord Haaf-Mersey is nowhere near a chapel. No, he is in Frostfruit Inn, in the village of old Rorikstead.
He is in the midst of doing Missing In Action, a quest none of my others have ever done before. This is the one in which the older lady in Whiterun has a son who's gone missing. I had no idea this quest involved dealing with ... uh ... dang. Not in the spoilers section. Let's just say I am enjoying it now, I am glad I left a lot of quests like this one untouched in 2011, so they'll be fresh in 2018.
That is pretty sad about Hairy-back and the others.
They were living that life though, and would not adapt to new circumstances, right? ---------------------------------
Sundas, early evening, 7th of First Seed, 4th Era Year 203 -- Well it's Sundas, so luckily for all of us, Lord Haaf-Mersey is nowhere near a chapel.
No, he is in Frostfruit Inn, in the village of old Rorikstead. He is in the midst of doing Missing In Action, a quest none of my others have ever done before. This is the one in which the older lady in Whiterun has a son who's gone missing. I had no idea this quest involved dealing with ... uh ... dang. Not in the spoilers section. Let's just say I am enjoying it now, I am glad I left a lot of quests like this one untouched in 2011, so they'll be fresh in 2018.
@SubRosa - healing is a vanilla option, if you carry a disease, you can say "Please cure me".
@Renee - interesting, Missing in action was the first quest which my first character Gottham completed, if I don't count starting quests from Helgen and informing the Jarl of Whiterun. It's a good quest and it requires you to travel quite far and because Lord Haaf-Mersey is in Rorikstead, I see that he's already heading "there".
@Renee - interesting, Missing in action was the first quest which my first character Gottham completed, if I don't count starting quests from Helgen and informing the Jarl of Whiterun. It's a good quest and it requires you to travel quite far and because Lord Haaf-Mersey is in Rorikstead, I see that he's already heading "there".
Grits: That's so cute the way Uthgerd says only the basic things... "Let's get going... What do you need?" Such a good follower.
@Renee - interesting, Missing in action was the first quest which my first character Gottham completed, if I don't count starting quests from Helgen and informing the Jarl of Whiterun. It's a good quest and it requires you to travel quite far and because Lord Haaf-Mersey is in Rorikstead, I see that he's already heading "there".
No kidding, that was one of your first quests? Neato. Yeah I'm glad I didn't do everything back in 2011-2012. I've never done the Murders in Windhelm, for instance, while I know you've finished this quest long ago.
I also never finished the "tree" quest from Whiterun, which totally seems like a quest Haaf-Mersey would do. I'm pretty sure Thor a'Zaene started this quest, but I believe he chickened out from this quest. He was afraid of magic, you see.
First time saw a wisp mother, he was outta there.
Such a good follower. QUOTE(Lopov @ Oct 7 2018, 02:41 AM)
@Renee - interesting, Missing in action was the first quest which my first character Gottham completed, if I don't count starting quests from Helgen and informing the Jarl of Whiterun. It's a good quest and it requires you to travel quite far and because Lord Haaf-Mersey is in Rorikstead, I see that he's already heading "there".
No kidding, that was one of your first quests? Neato. Yeah I'm glad I didn't do everything back in 2011-2012.
I've never done the Murders in Windhelm, for instance, while I know you've finished this quest long ago. I also never finished the "tree" quest from Whiterun, which totally seems like a quest Haaf-Mersey would do. I'm pretty sure Thor a'Zaene started this quest, but I believe he chickened out from this quest. He was afraid of magic, you see.
First time saw a wisp mother, he was outta there.
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Souissi didn’t stay in Solitude for long. She sold some valuables and bought a few healing potions, one of them of a vigorous quality, and she switched her hide shield for a painted hide one. Being in towns made her feel uneasy, there were just too many guards marching around.
However, after a few days she was already back in Solitude. After some adventuring in the Pale and Hjaalmarch she couldn’t sell her valuable stuff neither in Morthal nor in Dawnstar. In Morthal there wasn’t even a store with general supplies whereas in Dawnstar the blacksmith didn’t have septims enough to pay for Souissi’s valuable mask which she had taken from a skeleton of the dragon priest in High Gate. Not to mention that alchemists in both towns only had some basic healing potions for sale.
So it was back to Solitude for Souissi where she finally managed to sell her valuable loot and also bought some quality healing potions.
Souissi didn’t stay in Solitude for long. She sold some valuables and bought a few healing potions, one of them of a vigorous quality, and she switched her hide shield for a painted hide one. Being in towns made her feel uneasy, there were just too many guards marching around.
However, after a few days she was already back in Solitude. After some adventuring in the Pale and Hjaalmarch she couldn’t sell her valuable stuff neither in Morthal nor in Dawnstar. In Morthal there wasn’t even a store with general supplies whereas in Dawnstar the blacksmith didn’t have septims enough to pay for Souissi’s valuable mask which she had taken from a skeleton of the dragon priest in High Gate. Not to mention that alchemists in both towns only had some basic healing potions for sale.
So it was back to Solitude for Souissi where she finally managed to sell her valuable loot and also bought some quality healing potions.
That is something I never liked about the vanilla game. The major towns don't have the proper facilities to buy and sell your loot. So I created a mod that adds general stores to all the towns in the province. That way you don' t have to go all the way to Solitude to sell your stuff.
I tried to get into another Nassqa session but I just can't take it anymore. I need some dumbed-down, generic, streamlined cookie-cutter Skyrim action! (kidding,...) I decided to just return to Sir Vyvoor's game. I left him in Frostmere Crypt last May, with all three of his Stormcloak companions.
Here is how his stats and details appear. Just for my own amusement.
Notice I'm not going to list People Killed / Animals Killed. I get weirded out by those stats. Like, I finally have a conscience about all the combat that goes on, or something.
Level: 19
Major Skills: One-handed, Block, Smithing, Light Armor, Restoration, Speech
Days Passed: 107
Locations Discovered: 66
Locations Cleared: 19
Hours Slept: 1060
Hours Waited: 201
Gold Found: 14981
Quests Completed: 15
Misc Objectives Cmp'd: 32
Main Quests Cmp'd: 5
Civil War Quests Cmp'd: 6
Favorite Weapon: Iron Sword (wait what?)
Favorite Spell: Fast Healing
Favorite School: Restoration
Favorite Shout: Unrelenting Force
Times Shouted: 89
Total Lifetime Bounty: 49 (whoa.... nice).
Largest Bounty: ...... 25
I left him in Frostmere Crypt last May, with all three of his Stormcloak companions.Here is how his stats and details appear. Just for my own amusement.
Notice I'm not going to list People Killed / Animals Killed. I get weirded out by those stats. Like, I finally have a conscience about all the combat that goes on, or something. Level: 19
Major Skills: One-handed, Block, Smithing, Light Armor, Restoration, Speech
Days Passed: 107
Locations Discovered: 66
Locations Cleared: 19
Hours Slept: 1060
Hours Waited: 201
Gold Found: 14981
Quests Completed: 15
Misc Objectives Cmp'd: 32
Main Quests Cmp'd: 5
Civil War Quests Cmp'd: 6
Favorite Weapon: Iron Sword (wait what?)
Favorite Spell: Fast Healing
Favorite School: Restoration
Favorite Shout: Unrelenting Force
Times Shouted: 89
Total Lifetime Bounty: 49 (whoa.... nice).
Largest Bounty: ...... 25
I so rarely check these stats for my characters that I didn't even know that a favorite weapon is listed there. I assume it's the one which is/was wielded for the most time?
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Souissi is traveling across the Reach to Markarth, battling hordes of Forsworn along the way. They seem to jump out from behind every bush, rock or tree but so far Souissi hasn't had big difficulties getting rid of the barbaric Bretons. However, one thing she immediately liked on the Forsworn, was a headdress which their women wear, so she took one for herself. Hopefully adventurers and guards won't attack her just because of her headdress.
Souissi is traveling across the Reach to Markarth, battling hordes of Forsworn along the way. They seem to jump out from behind every bush, rock or tree but so far Souissi hasn't had big difficulties getting rid of the barbaric Bretons. However, one thing she immediately liked on the Forsworn, was a headdress which their women wear, so she took one for herself. Hopefully adventurers and guards won't attack her just because of her headdress.
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Souissi had a message to deliver in Markarth but she didn’t stay in the capital of the Reach for long. Not just because she didn’t like towns but being in Markarth made her feel unpleasant. Compared to Markarth, Solitude felt much more welcoming. Maybe it was because of a failed murder attempt which occurred as soon as she had stepped in the town. If it weren’t for her, some woman would be slain but Souissi saw through the man’s scheme and brought him down just as he was about to strike. The woman rewarded her with an expensive silver emerald necklace.
After delivering the message, she sold lots of valuables from Ragnvald, among them also a mask of its dragon priest, then bought some more healing potions, an enchanted elven shield and two filled soul gems to recharge her war axe. After a quick dinner at the Silver-Blood Inn, Souissi was back on the road.
Souissi had a message to deliver in Markarth but she didn’t stay in the capital of the Reach for long. Not just because she didn’t like towns but being in Markarth made her feel unpleasant. Compared to Markarth, Solitude felt much more welcoming. Maybe it was because of a failed murder attempt which occurred as soon as she had stepped in the town. If it weren’t for her, some woman would be slain but Souissi saw through the man’s scheme and brought him down just as he was about to strike. The woman rewarded her with an expensive silver emerald necklace.
After delivering the message, she sold lots of valuables from Ragnvald, among them also a mask of its dragon priest, then bought some more healing potions, an enchanted elven shield and two filled soul gems to recharge her war axe. After a quick dinner at the Silver-Blood Inn, Souissi was back on the road.
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