mirocu - As much as dear Lothie loves the snow and cold, Buffy loves the heat - be it desert, jungle or Gold Coast. Thanks!
ghastley - Oh, I agree, the Tsaesci NPCs clearly rely very heavily on vanilla resources. I love that fact that they are there and add to the exotic feel of Elsweyr – despite their stubby little tails.
SubRosa - Thanks! I can imagine how nice it feels looking at lush after FO3. Buffy placed the lanterns on the boat (you can buy them at a candle shop in Corinthe). The boats are odd. You can grab and and drag them around. Buffy found that one sitting on the beach. A walk on water spell and some dragging got it out into position on the water. Once there, she just hopped into it. You can’t really go anywhere in it though. Heh, methinks that Tsaesci uses the same hair stylist as dear Mazoga!
KC - Thanks! I like the African critters as, for me, they tend to fit. I agree of course that while it is very neat to have a few Tsaesci around, the modder clearly focused her impressive talents more to other areas. Thanks!
mALX - Thank you! We tried to scale the tiger to about halfway between Buffy’s 100 pounds and Superian’s 1100 pounds for size. They are big! She has a black jaguar as well (shown below in today’s screenies) that we’ve tried to scale at roughly 300 pounds.
Grits - I’m so glad you liked our Wobbly shots! Oh, Lildereth would adore the southern coastal jungles and forests of Elsweyr! Gosh, thanks so much for your kind and supportive words!
* * *
As you have likely noticed, Buffy’s been experimenting with various creature companions that have an offensive capability. This has been driven largely by her forays into the Shivering Isles and Elsweyr with Superian. Both these areas are a quantum leap more dangerous than Cyrodiil due to the large number of fast, wide ranging and deadly foes that make travel by horse quite hazardous.
Were Buffy solo on foot, she could simply disappear, gain control of the situation and plan a stealthy strike. She will never abandon her mare, however, so this primary tactic is ineffective when traveling with Superian. Using the mare’s amazing speed often carries them into even more danger and they can end up with a trail of foes in pursuit! It is further aggravated by the fact that Buffy is unable to shoot or cast from the saddle. And again, such attacks occur often and suddenly in the SI and Elsweyr.
Traveling on foot is out of the question. Both elf and mare suffer from too much separation anxiety for that. Further, Buffy's short legs and poor endurance combine to challenge her ability to cover serious distance on foot. Not to mention her inability to see over tall grass or rocks.
The answer has been a creature companion that can act as an ‘interceptor’ vs rapidly closing inbound foes and at least give Buffy time to safely dismount so she can bring spells or bow to bear. Buffy is still evaluating numerous critter companions/summons such as the big cats and other critters you may have seen in her company. She is certainly taking her time sorting out the best companion match for her and Superian. I am trying hard to insulate her from external input so that the decision will be hers alone. Thanks for bearing with us as Buffy works to likely expand her small family entourage.
* * *
The wandering elf and her mare have been ranging from northern Cyrodiil to southern Elsweyr and many places in between.
Warming her hands.In the next screen, Buffy is setting up with her target 175 feet in front of her. One shot, one kill but the impact did alert the second bandit in the chamber who came charging. That’s why Buffy set this attack up with a spiked floor trap right in front of her. Although a world-class sniper, her ability to shoot quickly or at moving targets under duress is not at all impressive. Therefore, she used fear spells to send the charging bandit back into the trap a couple times to kill him.
Medium range shot. Here’s another tactic Buffy uses in case a foe gets too close -
Stealth with power.Big cats need big food though –
The hunters.Night crabbing on the beach.I’ve noticed that, after each of her ‘expeditions’, Buffy and Superian are always drawn ‘home’ to the Arcane University, with its Valley of Horses and Buffy’s apartment above the Mystic Archives. Best I can tell, magicka and tree sap seem to flow in equal amounts through the elf’s veins.
The Arcane Astronomy Department. The glow at her hand is a magic crystal she's holding as a light source.
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I love that big bow; it has more graceful curves to it than Luciana Galena and is perfect for a little elf who carries a '50 caliber sniper weapon'. 
I imagine they made quite a scene before they toppled. And then Buffy comes along on silent feet: May I have my arrow back? 
Sometimes I don’t listen so well when Acadian asks me to hold still. 
