@mALX: Her sword ignores weapon resistance, that ball of gas just needed more firepower!

Aravi has gotten quite good at fighting with Vilja in the way hasn�t she?

I couldn�t believe that Vilja went down in that fight! The thing she was fighting didn�t have much health left.

I�m glad you liked the little camera pan through the city. That was the first time I did that and I�ve done it several times after too so it�s good that people like it!

Thanks mALX!!

@Grits: It was the Sithian Stone. That troll just went into the fire perfectly! That was a good fight. Needed help with the next critter though.

I love the screens you put up! My favorite is �That�s odd, this one�s empty too�
The burned troll one is a close second.

Looted chests, heavy stench of burned troll in the air, maybe he did miss the party?

Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: Glad you enjoyed the camera panning. It�s always nice when something new works out.

It took me forever to figure out that it was her shield that was preventing her Illusion from being effective.

She sure is a scrapper! Wonderful term you applied to her.

I�m glad Buffy wandered in too! My favorite is the second one. She�s pretty good at identifying enemies with her life detection. Buffy did much better against the Wills.

Thanks Acadian!

-------------------------------------
Aravi completes Mongrel�s Tooth.

TIME: 6:59

One thing I notice every time Aravi is in one of these situations where an enemy is coming toward her and she just has the bow - she can whip out a dozen arrows in no time at them - accurately !!!!

GAAAAH!!!  I thought that was a Daedra, but it was a "Werecrocodile!"

Oh how smart she was to climb up on that natural bier to go after the spriggan!!!

The fight with the imps was my fave, showing how Aravi can rapidfire accurately while dodging enemy fire - that is so exciting when she does that !!! I never thought about how many extra wounds Maxical receives (being limited to the sword) until I saw Aravi in action !! Aravi has awesome all around combat skills - but her frail health make each fight a nail-biter to watch!!! Loved this vid !!!

Great integration of magic, blade and bow again! Funny how looking at that werecrocodile prompted a 'You are hungry' message. I woulda thought perhaps a 'You are tempted to wet your greaves'. Oh wait - no, that's my character.

Nice thing about spriggans is that they can only summon one bear per day and heal themselves three times per day. Once you force them to use those up, they're easy pickings. And they're not too bright. Often they will use all three healings just seconds apart when hit by a poisoned arrow. Wise of Aravi to coax the minotaur lord and spriggans to fight each other.

During the imp fight, Aravi once again displayed her magnificent ability to shoot quickly and accurately while deftly sidestepping incoming spells.

Great stuff!

Buffy was deadly from a distance, superb! She is great at reading those life signs. I expect she emerged from the cave with spotless greaves and no concerns about an outrageous cleaning bill. This was so fun, thank you, KC!!


Werecrocodiles?! I thought they were daedroth, too, but they looked even scarier! When Aravi drew her sword, I was thinking NOO, shoot them!! But of course she had a better plan. She really kept her cool with that thing barreling right at her. Good idea to get Vilja to wait somewhere else.

That�s a good tip about the shield and illusion magic. I gave up again with my high level character, I just couldn�t get the spells to work on the enemies. I guess the lesson is that if your spells work, you don�t need the armor.

Masterful use of spells against the spriggan and minotaur! I love how she helped out her ally by knocking down the minotaur. I like how she checked her six after the imp fight. I�m practicing Aravi�s little sidestep against imps with my archer character � you�re keeping a mouthy Bosmer alive somewhere in Cyrodiil!

@mALX: Aravi�s no archer like Buffy who does one arrow one kill. She has to make up for the low damage she does by shooting a lot as fast as she can. It works pretty well.

I thought those ugly suckers were Daedroths as well. I noticed that they didn�t play well with the other creatures in the room with them. Did you see all those other creatures they killed?

Getting into ranged battles is so much fun. Other archers, imps, spell slingers, it doesn�t matter Aravi will fill them with arrows! Aravi�s at her best when she�s dodging enemy attacks while delivering her own. With Vilja around it�s just too difficult to pull off.

Thanks mALX!!!

@Acadian: All rounders are fun like that! You get (have) to use all the skills you have!

I found the �You are hungry� message amusing too. I can tell you this: Aravi was leaning towards the Buffy option

Once their annoying powers are used up spriggans are pretty easy to take down aren�t they? Normally I�d rather fight almost anything else.

The imp fight was pretty popular! I have to say that�s when Aravi�s at her best.

Thanks Acadian!!!

@Grits: Buffy is marvelous isn�t she? I know Aravi had blood and worse all over her clothes and fur when she left. I bet Buffy was spotless.

That sentence gave me a good laugh!

My favorite part was when she was shooting the last �croc. The thing was running at her and she stood her ground and kept shooting.

That was the original reason Aravi wore her hunting outfit instead of armor into the cave! Then the spells were still not working and it took me a while to realize that the shield was STILL equipped. Either she has to not wear one, or switch to her bow when she wants to cast an illusion spell.

I thought that the minotaur was going to kill the spriggan there for a bit. So Aravi intervened.

It�s funny that you mentioned Aravi checking her back. I didn�t even think of doing that, it just happened. I�m noticing more things when I watch my videos that I never really realized I did.

I�m happy for your mouthy bosmer! Good luck to them! It pleases me to no end that you�re getting tips from Aravi�s videos
---------------------------------
Aravi cleans out one last room full of monsters and then gets back on the road to Anvil
TIME: 2:36

Arrival
TIME: 3:45

Okay, I have come to the conclusion that Sanguine Howl from Kvatch Rebuilt is the worst quest ever conceived of by the Oblivion modding community.

It was so ungodly frustrating... that starting today, it shall be the only quest I have no shame in admitting I cheated to complete it.

Seriously, it's that terrible.

Brilliant of Aravi to assess that last chamber in Mongrel's Tooth Cave, then co-opt the spriggans to help. Aravi then did a fine job of weakening her 'ally's' foes.

It was absolutely priceless the way Vilja ran up (after the fighting was done!) in her beautiful gown whining about a decent place to sleep - in stark contrast to our heavily blood-splattered feline heroine! I see a touch of adrenaline still pulsing through Aravi as she started to draw down on Vilja's rapid approach - very understandable.

I adore Vilja - any woman who would refuse to hurt a unicorn is all good in my book! More panning with that magic camera to showcase the arrival in Anvil - nice!

And. . . so Vilja prefers mead to Tamikas? Wilbur couldn't win her over, eh? Oh well, she is a Nord, after all. . .

. . . speaking of wine, Buffy made it Anvil too! "Hey Wilbur, got any Tamikas back there?" Screenshot

@ King Coin - Have I not seen this one before? GAAAAH !! Springing new stuff on me? URGH!! Lol. That was some fight !!! Where was Vilja while Aravi was being cut down to size? Then when you see her, she's dressed to the nines and all made up like she's going for a night on the town or something !!! ROFL !!! And then Vilja thought Aravi was going to have her sleep in a cave? That was histerical, she always cracks me up !!! Lol. This vid was great for the combat and great for the humor Vilja created at the end, ROFL !! Awesome job KC !!!

Hey, what is Acadian talking about? The link only took me to a cave fight !!! ARGH !!! Okay, I found it ... KC, that pan with the free cam through Anvil and circling around to stop at Aravi - AWESOME !!!!!!!

I love Anvil, it is my kind of town architecturaly - I just don't think the people there are as friendly as in some of the other towns ...hey, they sure are being friendly to Aravi!!! I've never been greeted like that in Anvil, what gives?

I absolutely love this vid !! When you are filming combat, it is really hard to see your handiwork with anything other than the weapons - but in town your genius isn't distracted by the excitement of the melee and can be appreciated for its artistic skill in setting scenes, moods, inner dialogue, etc. Awesome vid !!!

***
@ Acadian - Oh, I love Wilbur! He tells the worst jokes !! Great screenshot - it really displays Miss Buffy's petite size when she stands next to someone of average hgt and they tower over her !!! Great Screen !!!

That last room was a monster fest! Nice move getting the spriggan�s own bear to take her out.

Here�s an idea for a new response to Vilja�s dialog: Silly woman, you nearly got to taste my steel!! How about a little discretion when approaching your blood-soaked friend?! It also tickled me that she dashed up urgently, as if she had just searched the whole death-stinking cave system for a nice bed. Oh, Vilja!

Nice little chat on the way into Anvil. I love that Aravi can answer Vilja out loud. For a second I thought Vilja was saying she needed to practice her flying, then I realized we were in for a beautiful view of Anvil! Yay! I love that town, and I enjoyed the soaring view of it. Now who was the robed guy that Aravi saw after Vilja�s cute naughty song comment? Not someone nice, I�m guessing.

Uh oh, Aravi took the big bed. During the night Vilja might tap her on the shoulder and say, �I don�t see any beds here that I would really like to use��

Great shot of Buffy! I love that outfit. Buffy looks so good in black. Wilbur does not like Jerric. While the ladies were the Count�s Arms, Jerric was hanging out with some other wood elves.

@Thomas Kaira: I think my quest stalled. I�ll have to advance it via command console. Whenever I get to that quest I�ll keep that in mind.

@Acadian: Aravi knows what a pain spriggans are to fight so it was the natural choice to �recruit.�

Vilja is insane running up to Aravi like that! She was almost on the receiving end of that sword!

I had recorded that little intro to Anvil several times and when I finally decided what I wanted to do, Vilja opened her big mouth. I just said screw it and kept it even though I would have preferred NO TALKING.

Lovely screen of Buffy! Thanks for sharing!

@mALX: AHH!! You are right! I forgot to send you links! Sorry!

Vilja was helping the war effort by� umm� making sure nobody came in the door?

I�m glad you got a kick out of Vilja, she scared the crap out of Aravi barreling though the entrance like that. Aravi thought she was being attacked!

Glad you liked the pan around town. I like doing that, though Anvil turned out frustrating� lol.

Who doesn�t like Anvil? And I haven�t checked, but maybe Aravi has a higher fame than Maxical? Who knows!

To be honest I don�t usually try anything fancy in a fight. It�s hard enough keeping track of the camera on top of all the other stuff that�s going on.

Thanks mALX!!!

@Grits: Summon vs summoner is always a nice treat!

That would have been a perfect response! Why is it so important to get a bed NOW that she had to run through the entire cave? The mind boggles.

Vilja had to open her trap while I was showing the city. And I had done it enough times that I didn�t want to restart again.

Robed guy? Oh, he was a vampire roaming the streets. Aravi can�t kill him either because the guards think he�s normal.

@ bed comment:

Lol! I remember something in his story about Wilber not liking Jerric. He�s not a gracious host to Aravi either but she doesn�t really care.

How many woodelves can a drunken nord toss before the guard shows?

Thanks for sharing the screens!

---------------------------------
Aravi and Vilja go for a walk.

TIME: 6:47

What a nice quiet interlude!

Very touching chat about friendship with dear Vilja. I laughed when Aravi stepped out into the rain. I wouldn't expect a game character to look up at the cloudy sky, but I certainly would for a real person or Khajiit to! Nice touch.

And Vilja can walk Aravi right out of breath!

Oh, what a delightful surprise to say hi to Martin!

"I really hope that you don't believe that nonsense about blonde girls being ditzy."
Vilja! You go, girl!

Oh, Vilja is being sweet today !!! Why is Vilja walking so fast? Is she on ... skooma? ARGH !!! Lol, I saw the wolf and some man with a giant sledgehammer coming toward Aravi - but the film skipped the battle.

So Vilja's pleasant spot was .. Kvatch? And what is Brother Martin doing standing out in the street that way? ROFL !!!

Vilja was really being sweet! And so was Aravi, asking if her friend was hungry before they went for a walk. Although that might be self-defense, after listening to Vilja talk about sweetrolls and sweetcakes all the way across Cyrodiil.

I had the same thought as Acadian. Very catlike to look up at the rain when they stepped out of the inn. Vilja had some nice conversation about Anvil as they headed out of town. A handy tip for her archer friend, and a little tidbit from her own past.

I guess any walk to a lovely place involves brushes with death. Very relaxing to skip over the fights and just focus on the pleasant parts. mALX is right, Vilja makes good time through the grass on those long Nord legs. Those trees look so beautiful! That�s exactly what I was thinking when Vilja said it. Maybe it�s because you pull the camera back when they�re walking so we can see more of the landscape? Whatever you did, I love it! That was quite a hill, no wonder Aravi got a little winded.

It looked like Brother Martin was hanging out at the old Kvatch encampment. Nice to remember that they have a real city to live in now. Maybe Vilja is hinting about the MQ by taking Aravi to see Brother Martin.

@Acadian: Looking into the sky was a totally natural move. I didn�t even think about it before you said something.

You are right. Vilja seems to be an NPC unaffected by the fatigue mod. She�s also quite a bit faster than Aravi is. She has 100 speed and she has long legs to go with her nord height.

I had to make sure �Hi� was all that was said. I wouldn�t want Aravi wrangled into the MQ now!

Aravi had a smart response to Vilja but she kept her mouth shut.

Thanks Acadian!!!

@mALX: Vilja�s going fast because she has 100 speed and she has a height of 1.09 versus Aravi�s speed of 67 and height at the time of .95. Since then I�ve adjusted Aravi to be a little smaller even. She�s at .93 in my game right now.

I skipped the fights because that wasn�t what this video was about. I really should have done a better job editing those out. I wonder what I was thinking leaving even a sight of them in.

Martin is still where the refugee camp was. Kvatch rebuilt removed the camp when the refugees moved back into the city walls.

Thanks mALX!!!

@Grits: It�s funny how Vilja goes back and forth with the sweetrolls. She�s either talking about them or talking about maintaining her diet.

Glad you and Acadain enjoyed that bit looking at the clouds. I didn�t even notice it until I read Acadian�s comment

Yep the old Kvatch camp. Perhaps we�ll do the MQ if/when this vampire hunting one is finished. I have concerns that I�m not going to be able to get it all done at the rate I�m going before Skyrim is out.

Thanks Grits!!!

---------------------------
Aravi goes swimming and another storm arrives to ruin it.

TIME: 5:21

Oh, I remember the screenshots you took this day!! There it is, the scene with just her head sticking out of the water I was telling you about - where you can still see her little ears sticking out- that is so cute! Holy Crap! I never realized how deep that water is !!! And I love it that some of the rats are not attacking Aravi, that is really cool !!

Uh oh, Aravi suddenly struggled to breathe and then went into a panic! What is happening? ARGH !!! Oh, I think I just found my fave clock of them all !!! Awesome vid !!!


@ Grits - I got a kick out of Jerric's two screens - visiting all the local taverns! ROFL !! I'm surprised there wasn't one of him up at Gweden Farm next !! ROFL !!! Great screens !!!

KC, I pulled the camera way back in my game for walking around, and I love it! The landscape looks totally different when you see it that way. Also those pesky wolves are visible at a distance. Another way your videos are bringing me enjoyment!

I love that shot looking back from the water, I�ve never seen the coast that way. Beautiful, it made me want to go swimming. Whoa, that storm came up fast. Then we were playing �Where�s Vilja� for a minute. Wow, she gets pouty pretty quick. It was fun to see what her former boss had to say about her. Right, when someone pinched her �waist.�

mALX, Jerric keeps talking about �finally earning his M rating.� Don�t give him any ideas about Gweden Farm!!

Great camera work as you pan around. The effect was to make Aravi look like a very small kitty in a very big world. Fabulous!

I presume her sense of panic coming out of the water was trying to find Vilja? If so, I think you nailed it. And back to town. Wow, those lit windows from your mod look great, as does the big clock inside the Counts Arms. Looks like a nice room for the night - well, assuming Aravi rented it before Jerric spent the night there. Lol.

This was a quiet but lovely vid and I'm so glad you shared it with us!

@mALX: So it is! Aravi�s always cute.

That mod was pretty cool, it let you really see how deep the water is. I�m going to have to find it again. It got lost in one of the multiple reinstalls when the game quite working.

She wanted to get into Anvil before the storm got really bad and she couldn�t find Vilja! That�s when she started panicing.

I put the clock in that vid just for you lol.

Thanks mALX!!!

@Grits: Hey I�m happy you are having fun trying some of the stuff I do!

That storm did come up really fast and it kind of freaked me out. The clouds looked terrible.

I figured I had to include that conversation with Wilbur because I recall the last time I didn�t ask about Vilja everyone was in uproar. Lol

Thanks Grits!!!

@Acadian: At the beginning I just wanted to show Aravi on the coast and then swimming from a different perspective. I see what you are saying and it fits quite well.

You are correct! Vilja was nowhere to be found.

You should get the lit windows, it easily Omods


They did a good job cleaning up the room if it is after Jerric stayed

Thanks Acadian!

------------------------------------
Aravi goes into Fort Strand on a whim.

TIME: 6:31

I'm afraid I must step in and recommend against the usage of Illumination Within if you only intend to use it for the lit windows feature, as if you want that, you can grab the much more flexible and customizable Animated Window Lighting System, which includes a large number of texture options for your windows, and includes support for chimney smoke, too. If you want the windows actually lighting the scene (read: if you want your nighttime framerates to suffer terribly) Illumination Within does a better job, but I prefer AWLS, myself.

Or you can use that one.

*

Maxical and Alix heard that Aravi and Vilja had gone to Ft. Strand all by themselves.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1230.jpg

*

"That place looks creepy, Alix. Do you think Aravi and Vilja will be all right"

"Squeak!"

"You're right, Alix. We better go help them."

*

http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1232.jpg


"She's here all right Alix! She must be inside..."

"Squeak! (duh)"

"Geez, the tunnel splits here! Which way should we go?"


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1239.jpg

*

"SQUEEEEK!"


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1262.jpg


"You leave Alix ALONE !!!"


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1263.jpg


"Did he hurt you Alix? Let me try to heal you ... oops, I missed! Wait, I'll try again ... Oops ... "


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1257.jpg


*


"Ggggaaaaahhh!!!"


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1279.jpg


*


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1280.jpg


"Thanks, Alix. You saved my life! We both better get to a healer..."


*

Now, to sit down with Aravi and found out what happened while she was there ...


Look at how funny Vilja is walking going up the hill to Ft. Strand! Like a crab, ROFL !!! Aravi is so agile, darting back and forth behind pillars for cover! That always amazes me when I see her do that! Maxical kind of stands there and takes the hits like a dummy, lol. She needs to take lessons from Aravi !!

Your enemies are so much tougher than what we faced in there, and Maxical and Alix both got their butts whipped! This vid is amazing, especially after just having gone there - it ups the tension to remember what is around the next corner as she is making her way through! Awesome Vid !!! And thanks for letting Maxical know you were going, sorry she got there too late to help!

PS: I meant to mention this, and really glad Grits did - that scene where the skeleton gets whacked by the swinging log cracked me up !!

The Count’s Arms advertises that they wash the bedding “after every third customer, no matter how soiled.” Wilbur makes sure that Jerric is always the third customer!!


It’s so fun to play in KC’s video thread! On to Fort Strand!!

Change her outfit? Vilja is just jealous of Aravi’s cute tail. But then Aravi does change her outfit.

Oh, NICE, that log smashed the summoned skeleton!! Incredible shooting from the stairs with Vilja fighting that archer. The third guy inside was sporting an odd look. Bald and ponytailed, a lovely scoop-necked cuirass, and it looked like he was wearing lipstick.

I’m not surprised that both of them thought this place was creepy. Especially since Vilja had to bring up vampirism on the way in. Aravi is not the only one to get walloped by those spiky things after cleverly springing the trap with an arrow.

*

mALX, I love Maxical and Alix’s adventure! How cute when he showed her which way to go. I cannot imagine trying to hit a pissed off mouse with a healing spell. She’d be better off loading up potions into a fire hose! Whoa, looks like Maxical met the battlemage. I can see that log trap that nailed the skeleton when Aravi and Vilja were there – it’s fun to look at these having just gone through it.

*

KC, I don’t think you’ve made it to the part in Jerric’s Story where Jerric and friends go to Fort Strand. Here are a couple of memories from that morning, without spoiling anything.

Lildereth looking for a shot after her Nord friend charges in like Vilja.

Jerric doing what he does.

Arrow or blade, the result is the same.

Darn narrow tunnels.

Illusion magic rocks. Lildereth learned how to congratulate the winner at the Buffy School for Bosmeri Bowgirls.

Darnand guards the exit. At least he didn’t bring a book.



KC, thanks so much for the fun!

KC, Great job of sneaking around and clearing the outside and first level. At one point it looked like Aravi clipped Vilja with an arrow and I thought I heard Vilja yelp. If so, it only highlights just how darn good Aravi is at almost always avoiding friendly fire. I don't think I've ever seen her clip Vilja before. I loved seeing Aravi go 1 vs 1 with another archer at fairly close range - they can never match her ability to safely trade arrows, nor can they stand up to our feline scrapper once it comes down to short blade time. Well done!

mALX, fabulous screens of Maxical and Alix helping out! I agree that clearing the dungeon, then watching Aravi do it (or vice versa) is great fun.

Grits, I well-remember the tremendous trio's recent escapades at Ft Strand and your screens brought back wonderful memories!

Hey KC - your mailbox is full !!

@TK: I haven�t noticed any major slowdowns because of this mod. Then again I have a very nice computer.

@mALX: You had me rolling with your screens of Maxical and Alix Poor Alix has to wait to heal because of Maxical�s aim.

You�ll see Vilja walking funny in this video as well. Aravi can�t take hits like Maxical does so she has to avoid as many as she can. It gets difficult to do that when Vilja�s around though. I�m always pleased when enemies spring their own traps

I�m glad you enjoyed heading out there! I know Acadian said very much the same thing when he started doing it.

Thanks mALX and thanks for the screens!!!

@Grits: LOL @ the Count�s Arms. Maybe Aravi needs to buy a house in Anvil then�

Vilja likes to criticize Aravi�s hunting outfit. Aravi ignores her and keeps wearing it. She did decide that maybe armor would be useful in Fort Strand.

Aravi was pretty fortunate that the log trap killed the summon. I love turning traps on the enemies! And thanks for complimenting Aravi�s shooting!

you�re RIGHT. I thought he looked particularly unfortunate among the residents of Cyrodiil but I didn�t look that closely at him!

Glad she isn�t the only one to get hit by the spike trap I thought about editing that out buuut thought it was more honest to leave it in.

I love the screens you put up! I think my favorite is:
Darnand guards the exit. At least he didn�t bring a book.

Thanks Grits!!!

@Acadain: Vilja was particularly difficult to avoid in this dungeon. In today�s video she charges with suicidal abandon.

Aravi does well with her bow but she�s really at home with a blade in her hand (or paw). Her ability to move really helps her avoid damage. It�s better than the finest armor.

Thanks Acadian!! !

------------------------------------------
Aravi finishes Fort Strand. Vilja earns door guarding duty from here on.

TIME: 8:36

Good grief, Vilja is a maniac!! I think she took off that ebony armored warlord�s head! Then fisticuffs! Then pincushion!! What a battle!

I really liked that Llyr Angular Leaf Steel blade. Did Aravi give it to Vilja? Warbrand was nice looking, too.

Vilja: You wanted to talk to me?

Aravi: You crazy bi---!! You jumped into my shot! What are you thinking?! Enough with the vampirism cure already!!

Oh no wait, that�s what I wanted to say to her.

That was an adrenaline-fueled wrap-up of Fort Strand! Whew. Nice that Vilja knows what to do with the mace. I like that fort, it�s hard to get lost in there. Hopefully the weather will stay nice on the way back to town, and the ladies won�t find any parasites in their beds.

Those darn old planks broke crossing over that room! Nimble Aravi made it, but not poor Vilja. Ya know, it says a lot about Aravi (all good) that she hopped right down there with Vilja.

After taking care of that marauder warlord, Aravi then had to deal with Bijalfi the Contankerous and the hornet's nest that came with him! Aravi sure showed her superb swordsmanship. Also her quick thinking in shifting her focus to the archers. Holy Troll! Vilja looked like a pin cushion! I'm glad she put on some more substantial armor for the next fight.

"I think I would fancy grilled mud crabs for supper." Hee! I guess it's a Nord thing. Vilja is starting to think like Jerric!

Wow! Aravi with her bow and night vision is so clever at dealing with those traps - seeing them and setting them off. Buffy, navigating by pink glows in the dark, sometimes ends up dealing with them by using . . . um, healing spells.

I was a little surprised that the times Aravi was able to plan and execute an opening bow sneak attack she didn't use any of her poisons.

I was so proud of Aravi and Vilja vs that last marauder. Aravi got over 7 sneak shots before being detected! And Vilja was brilliant to hold her charge until the marauder was full of arrows and within blade range.

Finally, that last transition you made where you faded to glowing white then unfaded right by the exit door - very artistic.

Fabulous combat, great camera work - just a great vid!!!

Sorry that Buffy was too late to be of much help. All she found was a rat and a few stray marauders. Don't worry, mALX, Buffy made extra sure this little fellow was not Alix - Screenshot
Of course I'm sure more of those pesky marauders will move back in within a few days. . . .

Holy Crap, that was some fight !!! I thought Aravi was aiming at someone I couldn't see at the end - but she was setting off the traps with arrows! That is the coolest thing !!! Awesome thinking, Aravi !!!

I have to agree with Grits here, Vilja seems to be asking that quite a bit lately!! What exactly is Vilja trying to say when she asks if you know a cure for vampirism? Is she accusing Aravi of being one, or do we need to start checking HER eyes ???!!!??? ROFL !!! This vid was awesome all the way around, some of the top fighting from both Aravie and Vilja - against really tough enemies (a LOT tougher than what Alix and Maxical faced in there !!!) - and as usual, Vilja supplying her comic relief to ease the tensions after a fight.
AWESOME VID !!!!!
I hope after it is graded that you post your ... other vid on here too, it is AWESOME !!!!

@Grits: The Llyr Leaf sword is Vilja’s normal sword. She was disarmed in that fight and didn’t (for some reason) pull out one of the backup swords Aravi has supplied her, instead favoring her fists.

Oh Vilja really pissed Aravi off in this dungeon.

That was nice that Vilja knew right where to take the mace. After some stern words from a khajiit and some shouting from a nord the two dropped the mace off.

Thanks Grits!!

@Acadian: Yes, despite the trouble and irritations Vilja causes, she’s Aravi’s friend and she won’t leave her on her own.

Poor Buffy! Aravi wasn’t able to avoid a good whack despite seeing the trigger in the first Ft Strand video. That was painful and embarrassing.

She didn’t use poisons? That’s odd. Perhaps she felt time was against her. I don’t know everything.

Aravi was very unhappy (actually furious) with Vilja’s charge, that last arrow would have finished him and Vilja took it right in the back.

I use those fades quite a bit in the next video. I like using them now because to me it makes the scene change much less jarring.

Oh nice screen of Buffy! How many shots will that unfortunate rat give Buffy? I can’t wait to see how Buffy deals with the marauders when they return…

Thanks Acadain!

@mALX: Shooting the triggers is good practice! They can be pretty hard to hit, especially the trip wires.

Vilja seems to have a special fear of vampires. Too bad for her because Aravi’s in the vampire killing business. A vampire Vilja? AGGHH just imagine her walking around “I’m thirsty.” And those eyes on her would be really creepy.

I’m glad you thought Vilja was funny (and I’m sure she is) but Aravi was lashing the air with her tail after that!

I don’t think I’ll put THAT video on here. I’ll tweak a few things and then make another video. I’ll be sure to put that one on here.

Thanks mALX!

---------------------------------------------
Aravi will be in Beldaburo on the 16th. Screens welcome!
---------------------------------------------
This takes place a day or two after the Fort Strand.

Aravi goes for a walk along the coast and ends with a little swimming.

TIME: 4:34

Oh, for some reason I was thinking that Vilja�s sword broke during the fight. D�oh!

I love a misty, rainy walk on the beach. It�s so nice that the critters aren�t always out for Aravi�s blood.

Aravi picked a beautiful little cove to go swimming. Who cares if it�s raining when you swim, you get wet anyway! I�m so glad Aravi dove down to look at that ruin, I was about to jump into my screen with curiosity. Well, maybe that was the Nord. Wearing her gold belly chain, I see.

I really like those fades that Acadian mentioned. Very soothing, especially in a calm video. What a great mini-vacation, she deserves it!


Acadian, I love the screenshot of Buffy. She even dispatches rats with elegance. I�m sure it never knew what happened, and neither did those two marauders!

@ Grits - GAAAAH !!! There they all are, just as you described them!! Except Darnand I always pictured wearing a robe, lol. Awesome screens !!!

@ Acadian - Look at all the pink shadows !! Urk !!! Great shot !!


@ King Coin - Oh, I loved this vid! And I like how the rats aren't attacking Aravi, that's nice! Aravi needed a quiet day like this. Aravi looks so tiny when you put the camera up in the sky and just her head sticking out of the water! What a beautiful scene at the end !! Awesome vid, and a nice relaxing one too!!! Thanks, KC !!!

What a lovely and soft interlude. How appropriate that the rats and crabs did not attack. Tell us how you got so many rats on the beaches and why they were peaceful.

And nice walk up a beautiful coastline. Then a relaxing swim by Garlas Malatar.

Very enjoyable, Aravi. Thanks for sharing!

@Grits: Aravi was hoping for some sun but the weather was not cooperating. So she had to settle for a misty rainy walk.

You really like that chain don�t you?

I�m happy you liked it. Aravi doesn�t have a very relaxing time in the next video, but at least it isn�t vampires!

Thanks Grits!

@mALX: I�m happy you like it when I back up the camera to show the scenery. Anvil really did her lots of good. She hardly had any nightmares.

Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: The rats are added by Fran�s mod. This isn�t the standard rat either, they are smaller than the other ones in the game and I�ve never had one of them attack. The crabs are a toss-up. Some of them will attack and others will ignore you. Also by Fran�s.

I�m glad you enjoyed her day to herself. She doesn�t get many of those.

Thanks Acadian!
----------------------------
Screenshot of Aravi. She finally got a good Gold Coast sunset!
----------------------------
Aravi passes Beldaburo while swimming and decides to check it out.

TIME: 7:30

Old business: Ah, thanks for the info on the rats & crabs. I know you enjoy Frans. I sort of wondered if Alix was out huntin' for gurl meeses; thankfully, he has a very distinctive coat color.

On the screenshot of Aravi in the sunset: I have seen it before, but wow! It is just as stunning every time I see it. Truly a magical shot of artistry in its own right, made even better because we have grown to know and love the precious Khajiit in it.

On this great vid: Beautiful job, Aravi! A 100% shock resist ring sure was handy vs that stormie! Loved how you dealt with those two skellies: Invite one to kill the other while you hide, then congratulate the victor with an arrow!

KC, I see you are turning the HUD off and on during filming. Your call of course, but I like the HUD display so I can 'see' how Aravi is feeling. I think you are making superb content choices about what to show and what to cut from the vids. A real joy to watch Aravi going through Beldaburo.

Oh, Buffy was in the Anvil area. . .
Hmm. So this is Beldaburo. Stormies usually mean there are conjurors about. . . . What do you think, Superian? Screenshot

I�m happy she remembered to put the ring on. It made standing on that ledge much easier when she didn�t have to think about moving around.

Playing with the HUD off was just something I was trying in this dungeon. It continues through this next episode and then that�s the last of it. It added quite a bit of challenge not knowing everything about Aravi with a glance but it became tedious turning it back on to loot. I�m sure there are mods that have a more
elegant way of doing it but I�m no longer interested.

And there�s Buffy! She�s wearing the hunter�s top. The bottom looks like some sort of leather greaves. Looks like Superian is ready to leave already. Thanks for sharing!
----------------------------
Aravi Continues through Beldaburo

TIME: 9:05

I love that screenshot, Aravi looks just beautiful. And the sunset is nice, too.

Beldaburo I: I find myself seconding everything Acadian said. I loved the fight against the storm atronach, especially the shots through the pillars. Aravi showed some steady nerves, he got pretty close!

Those steel swords that the skeletons had might be my favorite yet. I don’t think I realized that Command works on undead. Aravi said it perfectly after the weird dead undead skeleton noise. That place is creepy!

Beldaburo II: Oh, that looks like a varla HOLY CRAP WHATISTHATTHING!! Aravi did a great job against the ebony golem, dancing back where it couldn’t reach her. I wonder where it had the flawless sapphire stashed.

Those conjurers and their pets were no joke. I like how Aravi used a spell to stir up trouble on the lower level while she fought the ones who ran up to meet her. It looked like the one guy was using a light spell, it’s great to see the enemies using what they know.

Kind of a cliffie, ending with an enemy in sight! Very enjoyable, KC.

___

mALX, you are so right to picture a robe on Darnand, Fort Strand is the only time he has been in trousers! Thanks!

Acadian, what a great screenshot of Buffy! Superian looks spectacularly unbothered by the rock pile.

___

Darnand heard that an adventurer had cleared some conjurers out of Beldaburo, so he headed up the coast to check it out.

Got here just before the light failed.

These fellows did not have much stuff.

He saw some interesting corpses, but he was very disappointed by their lack of reading material. He was hoping to find some juicy notes. “How To Summon a Glass Golem” or the like. He decided that although there was evidence that these mages practiced necromancy, they did not seem to be part if the cult he has been investigating.

More good stuff! Some interesting foes with Frans mod it looks like. Darn those conjurers - they're trouble once they see you and start summoning stuff. Aravi did a great job balancing her bow, magic and blade.

We got a screenshot of Buffy in that big room Aravi just cleared, but puter is in the shop for a couple days, so I will have to upload and post it after your next vid.

Grits, those are great screens of Darnand! I'm sort of hoping that if he meets a conjurdude, they might mistake him for one of their own. Lo.

@ King Coin - I'm so sorry I missed this post!! What a beautiful screenshot of Aravi in the setting sun! I love that pose, and it suits her personality perfectly!

I would never think you could ever take down a storm atronach with unchanted bow and arrows !!! That floored me both times I saw it !!! Aravi is so skilled with the bow - and very cool under pressure!! ... I was wondering what that noise was, was that skeleton still hissing after she cut it's head off? That really was creepy!!! Awesome Vid !!!!

Now for todays post:

GAAAAH !!! What the heck is that thing? Is that from the KOT9? Man, Aravi is WICKED with that blade!! Awesome fight after she ran up onto the balcony !!!

I have to agree with Acadian, it kills the immersion a bit to see the console keep popping up in the vids - lets everyone know it is a game.


@ Acadian - Looks like Aravi is not the only one who can take one down with a bow !! Maxical didn't make it to Beldaburo, she was ... mourning the loss of her friend Alix the Mouse.

@ Grits - Now that's how I pictured him! It is so cool how you've brought all your characters to life in your story, and to actually see them in screens and they match what we know of them !!!

I love "setting sun" screens, you and KC did an Awesome job of capturing that so we know about what time they arrived at the ruin !!

@Grits: That�s my favorite screen of her by far.

She holds her ground when something comes after her. Many times it would be better if she�d turn around and run or at least pull out a sword.

Those swords were really cool, I really should have had her grab one. I�ve seen them other places too so I�m sure that isn�t the last of them.

Oh, that looks like a varla HOLY CRAP WHATISTHATTHING!!
Darnand!! You know he went from being a character that I disliked and didn�t think was important to being a favorite.

Heh, Aravi took all the stuff worth taking. I like it that the scene matches what Aravi did. Everything�s untouched except the two missing soul gems and the loaf of bread she grabbed for some reason.

Thanks Grits and wonderful screens!

@Acadian: Aravi isn�t quite as good as Buffy is at taking those conjurers down. She�ll have a few scars from this dungeon. She�s generally pretty good at getting past the summon and getting the summoner.

I really like the variety of baddies Fran�s adds. That was the biggest problem I had playing Oblivion on the 360. Everything was predictable. I don�t think I could ever go back to playing TES on a console after seeing the power of the PC.

I just heard you got your computer back so I�m looking forward to those screens!

Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: As I said that�s my favorite screen of Aravi! Everything was perfect. The expression on her face, the pose, the sun and the color of the sky, and the faintly visible stars.

You can take the stormies out if you shoot them enough! Aravi was sure that he was about to fall so she held her ground.

The skeleton was still alive. That was from the fatigue mod. Injuries apply fatigue drains and that skeleton couldn�t reform its self. But those suckers have been known to come back after they�ve been put down once. Luckily that wasn�t the case.

All these baddies are either vanilla or Fran�s.

Both our khajiits are more talented with a sword than other forms right? Aravi just has better aim when it does come to those other forms lol.

Thanks mALX! Sorry about Alix. Will you fix him? I know that was tons of work and I frankly don�t know if I could muster to do it all again.

---------------------------------------
Continuation of Beldaburo. *

TIME: 8:22
* I was mistaken when I said HUD disabling was through the previous episode. It continues through this dungeon and then that�s the last of it.
There is one more video of Beldaburo after this one.

Holy Crap !!! That was the fight of the century !!! It was killing me not to be able to see her health bars !!! I can't believe her fatigue didn't drop, no hard breathing !! Has the fatigue mod quit working? ... no, she just started breathing hard. That was heartbreaking when she collapsed against the bier! What a fight !!! WHEW !!! AWESOME VID !!! WOO HOO !!!

This is a short (< 30 seconds) unrelated video of an impressive modded thunderstorm I just recorded last night.

I'd get inside too.

That was quite a pair of fights. Those conjurdudes are a bag of trouble once they see you. By Azura, I lost count of how many arrows that Stormie took to bring down. And the hooded adept fellow was quite a lot of trouble too. Solid tactics and wonderful skill by Aravi!

And what a spectacular thunderstorm! Thanks for sharing and I�m glad Aravi pretty quickly popped right back inside!

Oh, Buffy did get to Beldaburo -

Cutting arrows free from corpses is a messy business, but they don't grow on trees. Screenshot

Aravi sure left a mess of Conjurer carnage down here. Screenshot

That looked like ETN this year!! Holy cow, that has to be a mod !! The triple lightning at the end hit something, I thought I saw a deer fly up into the air !!!! Poor Aravi was in a panic !!!

It was nerve-wracking to not be able to tell how much health the enemies or Aravi had. It was exciting, but I sure don�t have the nerve to play that way! Tremendous shooting without the crosshairs. Overall I think I was more distracted by wondering what everyone�s status was than by ever noticing the HUD.

What a war against the stormie and that speedy Dremora-loving conjurer! Hearing that dremora mace as she dodged past the summons, yikes. I bet that floor was carpeted with glass arrows by the time the atronach fell apart.

Oh, that last fight was a nail-biter. The conjurer remembered he could heal himself, and Aravi was worn out from fighting his buddies. As much as I like a storm atronach, a frost atronach brings a certain presence to a room. When Aravi collapsed with exhaustion just as the conjurer fell, what a dramatic moment! Then she seemed like she just wanted to get out of there after she ate the mandrake root.


Wow, lightning strikes on the ground! That was really neat. We like to watch storms from the back porch, but I would have gone inside for this one, too!



mALX, what happened to Alix?!



Acadian, I love Buffy�s necklace! And that cuirass/top looks great. Well, I love the whole outfit. Goodness, those frost atronachs take up a lot of floor space. They are very decorative, though. The getting her arrow screenshot is just how I imagine her after a fight. Calm with a little smile, quietly going about her business.

@mALX: Killing you not being able to see the healthbars? I was really nervous! It was lots of fun not really knowing but especially that last fight with the conjuror, I wasn�t really sure how much more damage she can take. I don�t know why she fell down. You�re right though it was heartbreaking! She slew him with the last swing she had in her.

That lighting scared the crap out of me! I had never seen that before and wasn�t even aware that my weather mod did that! I didn�t see anything fly but I�m sure it isn�t good for your health to be hit.

Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: and I�m sure Buffy disapproves of all the arrows Aravi uses.

Nasty storm. Aravi doesn�t like thunder already and now it�s reaching down for her

What a contrast! After Buffy fights she sits down and maybe brushes some imaginary dust off her clothes and perhaps has a snack and a drink of water. Aravi�s exhausted, needs a healer, and a bath! To be honest I wouldn�t have it any other way though. I�m really glad Aravi didn�t run into any Spider Daedra on her expedition.

Thanks Acadian! And thanks for the wonderful screens!

@Grits: Good news! That�s the last of the HUD disabling.

The worse thing about using that many arrows is that the game usually deletes a lot of them before Aravi gets a chance to collect them.

I was really nervous about that last fight. I wasn�t sure if Aravi should stand off some to catch her breath or to press the attack. After he started healing himself I swore! I don�t know why Aravi collapsed. It kind of made me think of her slumping to the ground in exhaustion/relief except it probably would have happened even if the Adept was still alive. I wonder if that guy cast a shield because he was really tough!

Seeing the lightning was shocking very surprising. I didn�t even know that was in my weather mod!

Thanks Grits!
-----------------------------------
This is a strange transition from Beldaburo. I had video files of Aravi finishing and leaving Beldaburo, returning home from Anvil, writing a letter, going on a quest and losing her sword in an intense battle, and returning to the Imperial City for her next assignment. Unfortunately all those files were somehow corrupted.

So this is where we�re at now.
------------------------------------
Aravi sends a letter to Kendral and then returns to Red Rose Manor.

TIME: 6:23
-------------------------------------
If you have the time and inclination, check out my mod house!

The house
TIME: 4:38

The dungeon to get the house (if you are interested)
TIME: 9:45

Like it? Download at TESAlliance

ROFL !!! What choices they give you to write to Kendrel about! They forgot one, "I've been dreaming of killing you ... " ROFL !!!

I'm so sorry about all your lost hard work, KC. That had to be so frustrating! Look at it this way, where was Aravi when the Dragon Broke? She was in Beldaburo !!

I love your mod + house, have not had time to install it yet because of the Final Exam stuff, but I will - and will love having a dungeon to clear so handy, lol. Awesome Mod (& all the vids !!) - Have you put it up on Nexus yet? Do you plan to?

Loved how Aravi shook her head over the rumor about the Hero of Kvatch!

The letter to Kendra was fun. I just about sprayed my iced tea when Aravi popped out with �Boring!�

Red Rose Manor is beautiful.

I really enjoyed Aravi�s run through the forest and use of her portable campsite and �See you sleep� mods. Some fabulous camera work. I think your choices on 1st vs 3rd person and panning around etc are great!

*

Congrats on your mod! The Ayleid Ruin came out wonderfully and I love the rustic lodge tucked away in that winter glade!

What a beautiful night to go camping in the Great Forest. Aravi made sure to check for massive lightning storms approaching! That portable campsite mod makes me want a new computer more than Skyrim does.

Glacial Hollow Lodge is definitely a Jerric-approved dwelling. Nice fire, plenty of meat for dinner, not too many little tables to trip over, and outside it�s snowing! There�s even a guest bed downstairs. I just love the little garden shed area, that really makes it feel like home.

Fun ruin, and a good ongoing source of income. I love that round shield that the skeleton guardian had with the four trinity knots on it. Whew, good to see the door needs a key. I would have nightmares about skeletons in Glacial Hollow if it didn�t.

Great job, and congratulations!!

@mALX: That was more of a nightmare lol. The way you put it, it sounds like she WANTS to kill Kendrel. Maybe she did when they first met, but now she considers Kendrel a friend.

Yes it was frustrating losing it (especially the fight Aravi lost her sword; that would have been a really good video!). I couldn�t remember what quest it was that I lost but I remember now. She went to that creepy woman in Cheydinhal to get another ingredient for Vilja.

Thanks! I know I�ve sent you those two videos before and it�s nice of you to comment again. I�ll put it on Nexus soon.

Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Aravi doesn�t like people talking about her, and that inn keeper didn�t seem to notice that the Hero of Kvatch was writing a letter right at his counter!

I knew someone would enjoy the �boorring!�

Aravi really liked sleeping there. It was a perfect clearing. I think she�ll return there sometime. It was pretty close to Molag Bal�s shrine.

Thanks for the advice you provided on the names and the garden for the mod!

Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: You should try it! It�s not resource intensive. Do you have Oblivion Mod Manager? (It�s required for OMODS)

Whoa Nexus looks weird.
Anyways�

Aravi really enjoyed that little night outside in the forest. I think she�ll do it again despite the rude awakening she gets in the upcoming video.

Glad you liked my house mod. I had lots of fun making it. Aravi may move into it in the future if she ever gets a reason to travel northeast of Cheydinhal. Most of the skeletons are standard but I put in some of the heavy hitting guys in as well.

The shield you like is from Fran�s mod, but it does quite a bit more than just add weapons and armor.

Thanks Grits!
------------------------------
Aravi�s Quest

Back to collect Vilja. **
TIME: 3:17

Off to Water�s Edge. **
TIME: 5:43

** These are the first videos I made while running Qarl�s texture replacer mod and you will notice some places outside where there are some nasty FPS drops when it loads new areas. I�m going to try giving Oblivion access to more memory and see if that helps.

I love Aravi's little nature hike - till she sees someone ahead, lol. 2nd vid I love how Vilja waves Aravi on, this vid had me rolling !! (till the fight started). That attack came out of the blue! Vilja kills me, right after a fight to the death like that and she starts chit-chatting like nothing happened, lol. Awesome vids !!!