Hmmm awesome...I'm beyond speech here!

I see this chapter was full of anti-undead!

Kamekame-oh wait. Aravi and her full on blast powers mean the dead dudes have no chance against her. The second screen was very good. You can see after that spell she went full out rampage on their rotting backsides. Especially the third one. Looks like one of them is running off. Kharjo. Why so serious? I guess Aravi didn't invite him to the undead rampage. Mountain pass is quite the scenery and I fell in love with that sky. Truly, Skyrim has a beautiful landscape despite the dangers.

So, we have learned that Aravi has stopped Alduin, perhaps for a time as he is still destined to eat the world. That's if the gods give him the positive thumb. Ultimately, his destiny is different as is Aravi's. Her fate is for her to decide. If her name will be a curse generations if she'll pass on unremembered( both unlikely). I suspect she'll be that memorable hero we all know and love.

But there is more to do . . . like, say, fight a growing threat on Solshteim or put some sense into a blood-sucking vampire lord wanting to block out the sun!

@mALX: I never would have thought of ballet dancing with that screen, though you are right, she did just do a twirl… with a pair of swords! I wonder if Aravi would be good at dancing, with her agility and quickness.

I think by Summon you mean the first one right? Mountain pass looks really cold to me lol.

I loved the little speech the Greybeard gave. It really was a fitting end. There isn’t anything that guides you to him either, so I got that by luck basically. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Aravi’s got a potent roar!

The magic in the undead pictures both heals Aravi and has a ‘turn undead’ effect as well. Very handy.

So glad you like that wonderful picture of Kharjo. It’s easy for me to see how Aravi fell for the big guy. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: ‘As dead as I can make him’ seemed like an appropriate response.

I almost always go the hero route as well. I have trouble playing a character I don’t personally like, and murders and thieves are difficult to like.

I sure hope that wasn’t from beans! So potent it glows?

I loved the first picture so much, but it didn’t show how many enemies she was facing, so I had to throw in the second one. Thanks SubRosa!

@Colonel: I always have fraps running when I play Skyrim in case something like those undead pictures happen. In mountain pass, I’d say damn near everything is modded. I use a rock texture replacer, the sky is replaced by a HD texture mod (I’m assuming the moons are as well). Lighting is done through a shader suite called ENB. Thanks Mustard!

@Grits: I really liked Arngeir’s speech as well. Apparently there is one for the Blades too if you go with them instead. I will probably never hear that one considering the price they demand for membership.

The scrolls in Skyrim are actually useful! And can you guess where the fire came from? Big hint: Kharjo had some staffs again!

Kharjo’s screen was so simple and so awesome. That was at the end of the undead dungeon the other screens were taken from. Thanks Grits!

Thanks for looking at my screens minque!

@DE: Haha she did hold nothing back on those draugr. I just love those powerful restoration spells. That spell both heals Aravi and repels undead, so that’s why some of them are running. Kharjo is actually responsible for the one on fire. He stood back with a pair of firebolt staffs. I love the cold, harsh landscape of Skyrim too.

Aravi has some other things to do yet. You are right about a certain vamp making trouble. He shall taste Dawnbreaker’s light. Thanks DE!

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Aravi and Kharjo are down in the Rift when they discover an ancient fortress near the peak of a mountain.

10:18

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Armoring up

Shadows

Daybreak on Solstheim

These gloves are flashy, but they don’t keep your hands warm

Vid: What a beautiful game, Skyrim is! Delicious scenery in the first half of this.

“Return to me here, once you’ve returned the staff. I’ll remain out here guarding against rogue snowflakes.”
Poor Aravi. Dragonborn’s work is never done. “Oh well, C’mon, Kharj. Let’s put on our kitty feets of quietus.”

I had to chuckle after Aravi sprinted deftly through that swinging blade trap. You see, I was listening carefully for Kharjo but I couldn’t tell if the grunts that followed were from him negotiating the trap or the foes ahead. I know in OB at least that getting a follower through blade traps unscathed can be a bit of a challenge sometimes.

Screens:
-Armoring up is a beautiful light show, but the best lights in the shot are the reflection in Aravi’s eyes.
-Shadow. What a fabulous shot of Kharjo. He looks magnificent!
-Daybreak. Another great face shot of Aravi, with some great scenery.
-Gloves. Not familiar with those but they do indeed look pretty flashy. Stylin’ even.

Thanks for a great update!

Aravi is chasing the elk!

So Maiq has had enough snow, but Maiq thinks the snowflakes are pretty!

That is quite a view from up on that mountain.

Oh, this is the one in the south east corner of the map, with the Dragonpriest Cult inside. There is supposed to be a full set of Ancient Nord Armor inside. The last time one of my characters did this dungeon, the guy outside was not an Imperial though. Or maybe I should say, he was not wearing Imperial armor...

Uh oh, what has Kharjo gotten himself into? Damn, where did he go to! There he is.

Armoring up looks neat, wonderful pic of just the right moment when casting that spell.

Kharjo looks ominous in the shadowed pic. It is a good thing he is smiling, otherwise he'd be scary!

Lovely dawn colors in Daybreak on Solstheim. I am guessing that is west of the Skaal Village, between it and that All-Maker stone by it?

Those gloves make it look like Aravi's arms are on fire!

*

What struck me on this first screen is that it looks like frost on Aravi's face and head! I'm taking it this is a frost spell, but how amazing it was sticking to her face that way!

What a sweet expression on Kharjo's face!

OMG, WOOOOOOOOOT!!!! Solstheim !!! That's my fave, and thank you thank you for posting them!

BWAAHAA on those gauntlets !!! I love that screen, and the caption! Want more info on the gauntlets though, lol.

What the heck ran over Aravi in the beginning of this vid? Lol.

Maiq!!!! How did you happen to see him, he was really camo'd there wearing the same colors as the weeds, lol. OH! Is he what ran over Aravi in the beginning of the vid?

Aravi acted happy to have met Maiq, she was leaping around like a lizard afterward!

Really nice view, doesn't Aravi ever worry Kharjo won't stop in time and tumble over the cliffs?

"DON'T TRUST HIM, ARAVI!" Lol.

What a great update! Loved the screens, especially the Solstheim one, and the vid was Awesome! It had a bit of everything in it, really great vid!


*

I just loved Aravi’s joyful run with the elk and hilarious meeting with M’aiq. When she saw that he was Khajiit and ran up to him I just wanted to give her a hug. Then her reactions to his remarks were priceless. She seemed so glad to be back among the living.

What a neat ruin, and I enjoyed hearing about the Dragon War. I like to think that there were dragons on both sides, some allied with mortals against the Dragon Cult. A forward-thinking dragon could anticipate an uprising and sway the balance, then enjoy less crowded skies and more adoring mortals afterward.

Lol, Captain Valmir. Yeah, you stand out here and guard the door. Keep your tent and barrel safe.

Kharjo looks well equipped for the fight against the Dragon Cult in his helm made of dragon bone. That should piss off the ghosts. Yay for Dawnbreaker! Good luck finding the journal if there’s an explosion, though.

Oooh, this is where I got Njall’s Ancient Armor. He only went into the first chamber and looted the ghost, then I started his story as a zombie.

How satisfying to kill a bunch of ghosts that you know were mean to people in their lifetime. Plus there’s no guilt about taking their ill-gotten stuff. Kharjo just charged ahead, lol. I guess he’s pretty happy that Aravi’s back among the living, too. Aravi was fun to watch against the ghosts. It was neat to see the effects, plus her deadly little power grunts are adorable.

Ancient Nord Shortsword?! I’m glad she picked that up! This was a very fun video with lots of Aravi moments. There’s a definite feeling that she’s her own person again, no longer locked into her responsibility to save the world.

Screens:
Armoring up is so neat! There are little ripples all over her as the spell makes the armor! Wow.

Shadows is my favorite. I love the warm light and Kharjo’s expression.

Daybreak is gorgeous with the ash haze and snow, plus Aravi’s sweet expression. It looks like she’s looking at Kharjo in this one, as if he was standing on the bridge where the camera is.

I know what those gloves are! Solstheim, yay!

Video: Ohh! Another khajiit . . . maiq the liar! Or his son's son's son' son's son's son. His descendant!

Captain Valmir. Something about this fellow screams suspicious . . . Aravi better watch her back, because Valmir won't as he's staying behind to stay guard . . . over . . . nothing in particular.

Funny. No matter where Aravi goes there are undead about. She doesn't get a break from dead people, does she? Hey, at least it isn't as bad as say, undead spiders. Muaha!

Screens:

Armoring up looks quite nice. I'm digging that blade in her hands.

Shadows is a good one. The way kharjo just blends in and his eyes are just alive makes a wonderful screen. Kharjo looks fantastic.

I wonder if being on Solstheim will bring back Aravi memories of being a slave in Morrowind. The ash, the flora and fauna and the Dunmer . . . it sure did to Lycus. I never liked elven armor but seeing on Aravi is just great. She's looks great it in and it seems to fit her character just well even though she's not an elf, per se.

Those are some hot gloves(pun intended). Dragonavi is keeping warm!

@Acadian: The ‘Imperial’ sure is trusting of random strangers. Someone that can get through the dungeon is more than enough to take him on.

Swinging traps are always a pain lol. I usually try to find the way to turn them off before Kharjo starts though, but that doesn’t always happen.

I wish the magic had the variety and customization of Oblivion with the effects of Skyrim.

The gloves make Aravi’s sword arm even stronger. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: She even caught the elk just before she ran into the old wise Khajiit. I imagined her slapping its rear.

There is a set somewhere, I remember seeing it. I don’t like the way it looks on Aravi so there wasn’t any reason to pick it up. I’d have to mod it into a light set anyways. Interesting with the guy outside. I wonder how it is determined which it would be? Aravi hasn’t done any missions for either faction.

I love how Kharjo looks in ebony armor.

You got the Solstheim picture right. That is indeed between the village and the stone. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: It does look like a frost spell, but it is actually a shield spell.

The gauntlets are part of a shout that pretty much turns you into a badass. Aravi’s attacks are very strong when it’s active.

Aravi chased a deer at the beginning. She just saw Maiq while she was running.

I do sometimes get worried about Kharjo bumping into Aravi. Followers in general don’t always slowdown in time… There have been a few hair raising incidents…

don’t worry she thinks there’s something up with the ‘soldier.’ Thanks mALX!

@Grits: She sure was happy at the beginning of the video!

I would say there is enough blank places with the history of dragons to think there may have been some of them outside of the cult.

I didn’t even think about the dragon bone helm!

I do like the voice set they used for the Khajiit races, though I would prefer the NPC females to be less raspy. The males have a smooth voice that is very pleasant.

Funny you would say that about the daybreak screen. I often use Kharjo as her focal point when I take screen shots so that she doesn’t just look straight ahead. Thanks Grits!

@DE: Maiq is immortal!

Yeah Valmir is suspicious, but he’s also lazy. He won’t be going inside, even though that would be the best way to dupe someone.

Undead spiders would be NO.

The blade she’s using now in the screens is supposed to be an Akiviri sword. It looks similar to the Blades swords, but is straight rather than curved. The tip has a chisel point.

Elven armor has always looked good on Aravi. Glass does as well, but elven is the best. I may have some questions for you regarding Morrowind and the various houses. Thanks DE!

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Aravi and Kharjo continue though the ancient fortress

8:32

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Wastelands

Kharjo

Aravi has some new armor

Little mountain

Video: That was really action packed! I’m so glad Aravi can tell the horned helm of Kharjo from the horned helms of the baddies in the dark. It was neat to see the spirit wolf back in action.


Screens:

Wastelands reminds of Elsweyr! Perhaps Aravi is taking Kharjo to the land of sugar and sands – finally someplace warm?

Kharjo is one awesome cat! I love how he simultaneously complements and contrasts Aravi.

Love both their armors in that new armor shot. Some color for Aravi!

Little mountain, little Khajiit. Looks like she has much to think about.

You know, I created a Night Eye mod that removes the desaturation effect, along with the blurring. So it looks just like normal sight, only brighter. Let me know if you want it.

Wow, that was some furious double-swatting on that Deathlord. Acadian was right, this was really action-packed. It was amazing how Aravi and Kharjo slugged it out with those Draugr in the little alcove without setting off the lightning rune. Doh! and of course Kharjo walked right over it once the battle was over! I usually mod any follower I use and give them the Light Step perk, so they do not set off traps.

The Restless Draugr is stuck in place! Wow, she Yoled him into the next life!

There sure are a lot of traps in this place.

Looks like the southern coast of Solstheim in Wastelands. Love the brilliant sun in the background.

Looks like Kharjo found a way to warm up! Is that a Daedric Mace he is using? It looks pretty impressive.

Aravi's got some Chitin!

Love the purple and violet colors in little mountain.

@ King Coin - I've already commented these screens, you know the last is my favorite by far and why - but all the shots were so good, just have to say it again.

LOVED hearing Kharjo yelling, "Is this what you want then?" ROFL !! LOVED that line! I was really worried for him, but he seemed to heal up quickly after that fight with the Dragon Priest!

I've been in this dungeon before, recognized it! Man, you are getting hit all to hell in it though! Holy Crap! And your loot is much better than mine was, Aravi must be at a higher level than Maxical, lol.

It was a little hard for me with the camera action, I see why you didn't send it to me. Still, a great dungeon crawl vid! Awesome Update!

Wasteland. Truly, once beautiful Solstheim was reduced to something of ash and dust. I see not just Morrowind had to be affected by the explosion of Red Mountain. The island had to suffer from it, as well.

Kharjo has a great and sinister-looking daedric mace. I wonder if he might be fighting those ash-spawn.

What armor is Aravi wearing? Chitin?

Ah . . . Red Mountain. Good nostalgia here from the Morrowind days.



I said the same thing awhile back. Something about that line and the way he says it makes me chuckle. I can imagine him doing a partime work as a tavern-worker with an undecided patron on making an order. "Is this what you want then?"

Aravi and Kharjo make a fantastic team. I know I've said this before but I'll say it again. I enjoyed the dungeon adventure against all the undead fiends who I must say were reluctant to return to the grave. Until Aravi Yol-something one of them into nothing.

What I'm digging here is Kharjo's Dawnguard shield. Pretty badass.

Wow, that place is loaded with traps! What a fun video with lots of action. It was neat to see Aravi use a few Shouts. I imagine the surprise of the dragon cult guys when a little Khajiit woman Shouts back at them! J’Renrij and Aravi healing Kharjo brought back lots of memories. That ebony armor looks awesome and protects him very well, but that shock rune still must have hurt!



Wastelands does look warm, and I love the light through the ash haze. Still, Kharjo may be more specific the next time he hopes to go somewhere warm.

I love that shot of Kharjo! Neat to see the ash on his hood and armor, and that is an awesome mace!

Yay, chitin armor. Aravi looks well protected from the environment. I love the way her coloring looks in this one.

Little mountain is my favorite. It looks beautiful, but I like even more that the subject makes me remember Aravi’s past and what she has gone through in her life. Being within sight of that mountain again must bring buried memories to the top of her mind. She’s come a long way.

@Acadian: Glad you enjoyed the video! Aravi can always tell Kharjo from the baddies.

I do not think the wasteland is warm. That’s ash on the ground from an active volcano! Solstheim is farther north than most of Skyrim!

Kharjo is very different from Aravi, but they fit so well together. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: Kharjo’s got the light step perk (I modded that) though unfortunately it only works for physical traps and when they are sneaking. Runes always seem to go off, and physical traps go off if he’s not sneaking. I’m actually surprised Aravi didn’t step on the rune.

Kharjo has a Daedric mace! A totally lucky find around level 30 or so.

Chitin is the only light armor that I have found added by DB, so of course she had to try it. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: Glad you’re back! Lol, I went back to read that email.

Kharjo sounds funny when he yells that line, but it’s definitely one of my favorites.

Aravi is a pretty high level at this point; you might be able to see what level she is in one of them. Sometimes when she moves to a new cell you can see the level bar.

I think I made some of these videos after not recording for a while, so that would explain why it isn’t as smooth. Plus in a fight it’s hard to NOT jerk around some. I’ve been keeping smooth camera in mind for the new ones I’m making. Thanks mALX!

@DE: I think the screen of Kharjo was against one of those new spriggans.

Aravi’s in chitin!

Your comment about Kharjo working in a tavern, I can see Kharjo saying that to an unruly patron just before tossing him out!

Aravi and Kharjo work better together than any of the other followers have. Kharjo seems to get in the way a lot less than the others do, while also being the tank if Aravi needs to step out and heal for a moment. And he’s a handsome Khajiit. Thanks DE!

@Grits: I didn’t think about the reactions of the cultists to a Khajiit shouting! That would be unexpected!

I’ve imagined that wasteland to be chilly. If you look at a map, it’s pretty far north.

Chitin armor looks pretty warm to me, so it’s going to count as cold weather gear. Thanks on her coloring!

She’s doing pretty well in a territory of Morrowind within sight of the mountain. She hasn’t had anything really make her uncomfortable, regarding her past anyways…

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Deeper into the crypt…

5:55

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A new ally

Volley

Corrupted spriggan?

Healing light

Love the lighting in new ally.

Volley is epic!

The vid was great for dungeon exploring. I LOVED how she had to swim through areas of it, used to love going through those in Obvlivion!

Loved the new Ally, what a great picture (and since you told me the story behind how the ally works, thought it was cool on top of being cool, lol.

Gotta agree with Roh, Volley was an epic one!


I loved the Corrupted spriggan one the best, she was beautiful and it was intriguing to see her shimmering into invisibility!


Healing light - was that Kharjo being healed? Didn't look like him! Or was he not the one healing himself? Very interesting shot!


All of these were great shots, and I really enjoyed that vid and the danger of Aravi almost drowning through some of the passages - Loved this update! Awesome!

Vid: Oh, that’s a sinking feeling when those coffin things start popping open. I like how Aravi can use her shouts as area weapons.

During a fight when she slipped in behind Kharjo to heal him, that hit close to home; when fighting with a helper and the melee starts, combat healing on touch is Buffy’s primary role. Lol. I really envy Aravi’s ability to fight next to Kharjo without killing him.

When Aravi zipped through that swinging blade trap, I was anxiously watching to see if she was going to use her ‘nitro-burst of speed’ shout. Nah, just her speedy little feet. She needs a ‘summon Kharjo’ spell for after she makes it past such impediments.

I like how she stows her gear in her waterproof pack before going into the deep water.

Uh oh. Having to burn away spider webs is not encouraging.

Screens:
Wow, the fire dragon one is another KC Masterpiece! Aravi’s angry visage is perfectly framed by the dragon, right down to her earrings. Beautiful!

Woot! A & K unleashing feathered death!

Oh no. Looks like that poor spriggan has strayed far from the path that Kyne set for her.

Healing’s another beaut! I can hear Kharjo perfectly, “Ah, it feels like I just woke up from a nap!”

Wow, there's a lot of horned helmets all around Aravi at the start!

"I feel like I just woke from a nap." Kharjo is just hilarious with his timing!

Looks like the last person did not make it through those swinging blades... Oh, that is a tricksy trap, with the way it shuts itself off until Aravi comes close to it. Looks like she's going to have to leave Kharjo behind.

Those webs do not look good.

But at least Aravi got to take a bath!

The New Ally looks really neat, I love the twin profiles!

Twin Shots is a neat bit of timing to get them both like that.

The flame duel with the burnt spriggan looks neat. I half expect Kharjo to hold up a stick with some marshmellows in between!

Neat swirling healing light around Kharjo in the last pic.

Video: It seems that not even sneaking will help as the undead dudes seem to wake up from their sleep. Those deathlords are so tough to kill at lower levels but Aravi makes short work of them with her blades and with a trusty companion by her side. As long as she keeps healing him everything will be fine.

A new ally: That is one great ally. Aravi the Dragonborn has no better ally than Kharjo or in this case, another dragon. Aravi doesn't look happy one bit either. If anything I'll bet she breathed fire in the next shot.

Volley: Loose away. Again we're met with the perfect khajiiti team that is Aravi and Kharjo in long-range combat.

Corrupted spriggan:Ah, as you said. Solstheim sure has its share of ash and fiery nasties and among them are the dreaded spriggans. I think they're hotter than they were before, no?

Healing light: Great to see some good ol' healing here.

That was the perfect spot for a Fire Storm. Neat fight with the draugr on the walkways above.

Even though Aravi doesn’t need to worry about diseases it’s best to keep those skeevers at a distance. Flames might have warmed her up a little, too. I love to see how versatile she is.

I couldn’t pick a favorite between your first two screens. New ally is the thing I started to ask a little while ago if Aravi had found yet. She found it!! And that picture is gorgeous!

Volley is such a perfect pose. What a partnership between Aravi and Kharjo. I love that one!

Corrupted spriggan is neat with Aravi’s Ward and sparks flying everywhere. Poor burnt spriggan. Maybe she’ll get to go somewhere green now.

It’s always fun to see Kharjo in battlemage mode. It looks like he has a spell in his left hand. Is that for J’Renrij? Regardless I’m sure he’s saying he feels like he just woke from a nap!

What a great group of screens, KC!

@Rohirrim: Those wyrms (or whatever they call them) are pretty fun even if they aren’t very useful. Thanks!

@mALX: There are fewer flooded mines in Skyrim but there are a few! Most of the time if it is flooded, it means there’s something special on the other side.

Healing, that is definitely Kharjo being healed. The spriggan is actually using fire on Aravi! The shimmering is Aravi’s ward spell. Thanks mALX!!

@Acadian: Oh I see what you mean about area weapons. That was actually a magic scroll Aravi used at the very beginning.

Aravi can do a lot of things when it comes to a fight! It looked like she hit Kharjo, but I don’t think she actually did, but that’s why she stopped to heal him. She hits really hard, so if she accidentally hits Kharjo it’s usually a big deal. Glad you enjoyed seeing Aravi in Buffy’s position, even for just a moment.

The fire dragon is so cool to see appear. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa; Lots of horned helmets means it’s a good time to use an area of effect spell doesn’t it?

Kharjo is a total badass.

I hate those traps that prevent you from bringing your followers. Aravi isn’t going to get Kharjo sliced up if she can help it. I do have a bat file that moves Kharjo for some of those situations. It’s similar to your alternate start method.

Lol. Kharjo was busy shooting arrows at the spriggan, but maybe after she died he may have popped out a snack. Thanks SubRosa!

@DE: the sneaking seems to help sometimes but not all the time. There’s a deathlord coming up that gives Aravi a pause.

Heh, the first screen, Aravi is confronted with a spider. I think the dragon and Kharjo took care of it.

I can’t believe you made that joke, with the burnt spriggan. It gave me a small chuckle though, Thanks DE!

@Grits: She only used flames at that point because she only had the skeevers to worry about. And you are correct, getting a little rat bite is no fun even without the risk of disease.

Volley is my personal favorite. The flame wyrm is so cool, thanks for not spoiling the surprise!

Kharjo’s spell in the last picture is J’Renrij. Thanks Grits!

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After the swim, Aravi finds more draugr to deal with.

9:38

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I only have a couple of screens because of some major computer issues. Things are mostly fixed now.

Thanks to SubRosa, the ghost blade Aravi received a long time ago is actually a viable high level weapon.

It has a neat trailing effect

Another dungeon full of DrugLords! When Aravi got knocked down and back, at first I thought it was blast from her own shout; then I figured out that it was a spell from her foe. She continues to be very good at doing the ‘archer dance’ vs another archer and, of course, really rocks when those twin blades come out. Speaking of blades, the pretty blue translucent one in the screens looks neat as can be!

That was a really neat fight with the last Deathlord riding the trap up and down. Then the blizzard scroll one had some neat effects. I’m glad Aravi found a Fire Storm scroll. She might need it.

Lol, did that draugr alchemist really have an arrow in her..? I can’t even say it.

Oh crap, that Deathlord fled in the direction Aravi was going. What a cool dungeon with all of those cracks where light comes in.

Wow, those archers are dangerous. Aravi does a great job of dodging and using cover. Her fighting by herself was very fun to watch, but I guess she was really missing Kharjo!

Hmm, that’s a big room behind the puzzle door. This is a new one for me. Very exciting!


The ghost blade looks awesome! Aravi looks so graceful in that armor. It shows off her arms and shoulders very well.

GAAAAH! I see the Red Mountain in the background! What do you mean by "Thanks to SubRosa the Ghost Blade is a viable weapon? DETAILS! Is it a mod, is it a trick to gaining some enchantment (and what enchantment?) DETAILS PLEASE !!!!! Lol.


OMG, Aravi blew herself into the other room! How did that happen? GAAAAAH!

OMG, now the Deathlord blew her around! Holy Crap what a fight! AWESOME !!!!

This has to be the greatest dungeon crawl I've seen yet, this was Awesome!

So cool there was a blizzard inside the dungeon! Oh hell, and it ended on a cliffhanger! Awesome Vid!

That round design on the floor of that first room looks like a trap. I see you noticed it too. Yep, there it goes, lifting up into air, probably into some spikes.

Wow, they both shouted each other! Now that was timing! But nothing lasts against those twin swords.

That was neat pushing the jug onto the trap to see if it would set it off.

Looks like that Draugr on the throne used to be a warrior like Aravi, until she took an arrow in the knee...

Dawnbreaker is certainly proving its worth here. Blue explosions everywhere!

The Ghostblade's wispy blue effect is really neat. I used it for Persephone's sword Malediction as well, to give it an otherworldly look.

The Ghost Blade does have a neat effect. Like a spiritual sword that actually slays fleshy beings.

Aravi might never get her fill of undead Draugers. Everywhere she goes she's taking them out. That means there's a lot of dudes with curses on them

The battle was pretty badass. With Aravi getting knocked down and then her spells unleashing on them. Yeah, she's terrifying despite her cute face. With a lethal mix of Dawnbreaker, a sword, a couple of spells, there's no stopping her. I am enjoying her journey in the crypts. Looking forward for her fight with Harkon, though.

@Acadian: The druglords don’t stop coming either! I actually thought Aravi died when she was blasted over. Very glad that wasn’t the case. That was a shout from one of the druglords. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: You must be remembering the conclusion of this dungeon with the comment about the fire scroll.

Archers have always been the most dangerous for Aravi to go up against. She can even more reliably take a hit from a two handed weapon over an archer.

Glad you like her armor! It looks better than I expected. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: That ghost blade isn’t very good when you get it, especially when you are high level. It originally deals 3 damage that ignores armor on top of standard steel sword quality damage. SubRosa bumped it up to 15 damage that ignores armor, and might have buffed the base damage too. I actually looked at improving it myself, but I wanted to do something much more complicated. SubRosa’s solution was better than what I had in mind.

Aravi didn’t blow herself, she was blown by the draugr. (That sounds hilarious)

The blizzard came from the scroll Aravi used. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: I wish the traps in Skyrim were a little more devious. Most of them are blatantly obvious and if you do trigger them, they are usually not a big deal.

It’s hard to not respond to a shout with a shout in kind. Kind of like taking their special power and throwing it in their faces.

Oh you will see more explosions before the end here.

I actually thought the wispy effect on the sword was given by you! Thanks SubRosa!

@DE: I actually wanted to make all of the ghost blade’s damage ignore armor, but that proved to be impossible to do. I don’t know why I didn’t just boost its original effect and be done with it.

There definitely are a lot of dungeons full of draugr in this game. Soon Aravi will be facing down some fanatical vampires, just you wait.

The next (and last) fight of this dungeon is even more exciting than the last one was. Thanks DE!

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Aravi meets the dragon priest…

8:11

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Warming up. I don’t remember how, but Aravi fell into a body of water near here. It was very cold.

Telvanni tower

Another encounter with a burnt spriggan

Finally, Aravi found it necessary to leave Solstheim and return to Skyrim. She will be back though. There is unfinished business here.

*

HOLY CRAP! I only saw the two Draugr on the other end of the room, then she was pacing back and forth ... I was really surprised she stayed invisible till the spell was cast, but then there were like 10 DRAUGR DEATHLORDS suddenly, they were everywhere !!!


That was one tough dungeon, I didn't remember it being so huge! AWESOME VID!

Screenshots:

I was kind of stunned by the gray sandy look of everything - is that ash from the Red Mountain? It looks like snow, but brown instead of white!

Anyway, I am in love with Solstheim aside from the lack of color (it took me a while to get used to the Wasteland too, but I ended up loving it so much).

The buildings/docks - And the color of Aravi's armor! Love that last picture a lot!

What is that creature she killed?

Okay, I could not pick a favorite here. I absolutely LOVE the first picture where that man is sharing his fire with a nearly naked Aravi - everyone bundled up - that had me rolling, but I loved it !!!

The other favorite is Aravi DANCING! Is she drunk and partying? You need to give some details for a great shot like that, or our imaginations will run wild! (Mine did, obviously, lol).

AWESOME UPDATE !!!!


*

That room sure is snowy. It sounds bees in the background, but that is probably supposed to be the chill mountain wind.

Wonder if that Dragon Priest will get suspicious about those two transparent glowing feet tip-toeing around his barrow!

That scroll certainly got someone's attention!

Wow, that's a lot of Deathlords! "Fus-Fus-Fus..." Maybe Aravi ought to go invisible again!

Wow, Dawnbreaker is earning its keep here. It looks like a nuclear war in that hallway!

Neat, Aravi Yoled both that Deathlord and Ragbut in the same shout!

That was some fight, but Ragbut finally went down. It was starting to look like Aravi was going to get barbecued.

And it looks like Valmir was not who he pretended to be, either time! Never trust those elves...

That looks like the Silt Strider guy at the campfire. There is a river nearby, and I recall a pond that it flows out of.

Neat picture of Aravi being floaty in the Telvanni Tower.

I imagine those burnt sprigs are a real nuisance if you cannot Kyne's Peace them (I had to make a mod that puts them in the animal faction)

Perhaps Aravi is not the hero Red Rock wants, but she is the one it needs right now. She is a Cat Knight...

Oh my gosh, there were so many deathlords! What a fantastic fight! I love that it was snowing in there even before the blizzard scroll. And then there was so much fire! Wow, that was amazing to watch. And scary with Aravi on her own, but she was awesome!

That first clear glimpse of the dragon priest down the corridor as Aravi drew her blades was really neat. She was healing herself and out of breath, and there he was.

I enjoyed the fight so much, but my favorite part was Aravi’s little Khajiit hops onto the table and down the rocks at the end.

Screens: Warming up is lovely with the warm colors and Aravi’s sweet expression. Not to mention the nice fur on display and Kharjo looking so fine in that armor.

Telvanni tower looks like I could reach out and touch her! The light and detail are amazing. Plus, floating!

Aww, poor burnt spriggan. I love the tiny patches of green in the ash zone. They make me hope for Solstheim’s future.

She’ll be back is my favorite. Beautiful Aravi in Raven Rock, one of my favorite places.

Vid: Wow! That Rahgot was a tough one – and using very good magey tactics forcing Aravi into a lot of healing. Fortunately, once Aravi finally got steel on target, victory was quickly hers. That was a scary dungeon crawl! Beautiful sky at the very end as Aravi looked up – and no dragons!

Screens:

Aravi looks toasty warm in warming up! That place looks like Elsweyr with mushrooms!

Telvanni tower looks wonderful! What a great shot of Aravi – not often we get to see her dancing – and in that fun colorful armor as well!

Poor burnt spriggan. So abandoned by Kyne. So remote from her dryad roots.

First thing I noticed here was the snow. It sort of looked like her tail was frozen, too, hehe. Either way, fighting a draugr in those caves might be tough but a good invisibility spell would help tremendously. And was it just me or did it appear that they were spamming shouts at Aravi the entire time?

The battle was great and leave it to Aravi to turn up the heat. In the end I knew Rhagot would get his rotting behind handed to him.

I knew it. The Valmir fellow was a liar and a fiend. Where is Wuthraad? Pesky golden-rod should've been killed in the beginning

Pics:

Unfinished business, eh? I wonder . . .

Warming up- Of course. Aravi likes the heat. All khajiits do. As arid as Elsweyr is, there is still a bit of snow and cold waters. I like kharjo's outfit in the background. Appropriate to location.

Telvanni tower- Oh, those towers. Kraven's been through a lot of those in his time there. Quite the tingly feeling, I'm sure.

Another encounter with a burnt spriggan- Kill it! Kill it with . . . frost! That explosion sure did mutate the inhabitants of Solstheim. I recall in Bloodmoon they were all green forest creatures protecting nature. Not they're flaming feminine twigs of death.

I'm sure we'll see Aravi back in the island. There's so much there, too. But Skyrim is a larger place, and she has things that are unresolved.

Remember back in April and May, Aravi encountered a certain mage on the road in Skyrim. I am finally going to finish this up. I have many excuses why it has taken me so long, but they are just that: excuses.


Aravi and Kharjo encountered Darnand on the road. He was alone and looking for alchemy ingredients. After a joyful greeting, the Breton mage revealed that Jerric was imprisoned by the Jarl of Markarth for brawling, long after his sentence should have been up. In order to free Jerric, the Jarl demanded he retrieve a shield from some forsworn. The shield was being kept somewhere called Lost Valley Redoubt, a fortress by all accounts. This was clearly designed to kill the mage so the Jarl can keep a productive worker in his prison mines. Darnand wasn’t going to leave Jerric there…

Starting with my next update, Aravi, Kharjo, and Darnand are getting that shield and springing a Nord out of a prison.

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@mALX: Yeah, I didn’t see the other draugr either. Having 5 or so on her tail when she ran was a big surprise. Yikes.

I want to do that dungeon again, it was a lot of fun with all those enemies.

Gray sandy look – you nailed it, ash from the mountain.

The creature is a burnt spriggan, right in the title.

The first picture, Aravi had to take off her soaking wet clothes to dry off.

I knew you were going to think she was dancing! That’s just the magical lift in one of the wizard’s towers. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: I think the snow came from the ‘blizzard’ scroll Aravi used.

Nobody seems to be upset by little blue feet. I’m glad they aren’t because I like it.

Yep, Dawnbreaker’s earned its place in Aravi’s inventory! Looks kind of like someone brought a Fatman launcher to Skyrim.

In the first screen, that is the siltstrider guy.

Kyne’s peace didn’t work on them. I do think that was before you kindly lent me your mods. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: I think the snow in the room is from the previous blizzard scroll. She used 2 of them in this dungeon.

It’s fun to see what she does on her own, but we really appreciate Kharjo when we see him again!

Telvanni tower was a lot of fun to take.

It’s usually too cold up in Solstheim to get a picture of Aravi with her fur on display. Thanks Grits!


@Acadian: Rahgot was much more difficult to get with Aravi’s swords, floating out of her reach all the time like that.

Aravi’s never seen Elsweyr, but I hope she does sometime in the furture! Maybe Kharjo will take her there.

Nope, not dancing. That’s a magical lift. There are no stair cases in that tower! Thanks Acadian!

@DE: There were a lot of draugr, so they probably were spamming shouts at her. It’s not nearly as bad as another dungeon though…

Aravi was ready for trouble from Valmir, but at least he was somewhat believable as an Imperial officer. If she had seen him in a Stormcloak uniform, she would have definitely called his bluff.

Yep, what feline doesn’t like the heat? She was very glad for the fire.

I’m sure he has. Probably more than Aravi has been. It’s an odd feeling, being taken into the air via magic.

She ended up leaving Solstheim because she needed more dragon souls. She knows the words to the shout she needs to defeat Miirak, but doesn’t have the capability to use them. Thanks DE!

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Home again

Starting a collection

Taking a break

Edge of space

Somewhere along Lake Ilinalta

Looking forward to the adventures of Aravi, Kharjo, and Darnand. How are you going to manage to get two followers in the game though?

Home again is nice and homey. Kharjo looks good in his bear helmet.

Aravi has bugs in jars! Durga stole one from the cellar in Dushnikh Yal.

Edge of Space is breathtaking! I love the shades of purple.

It looks like Aravi is getting her exercise in that last pic.

Looking forward to seeing Darnand again! You and Grits, on both your threads, have done a fabulous job of blending the adventures of Jerric & Co with the A&K Kats

Home again – Aravi looks lovely, and Kharjo looks so comfortingly imposing – like the steel wall and shield for his Aravi that he is.

Collection – Woot! Butterflies!

Break – Must be cold. Cold enough for Aravi to flatten her ears and consent to a hood.

Edge of space – What a beautiful night sky!

Along the lake – Aravi out for a morning jog. Oooh, look at that little six-pack she has!

What a great contrast between Kharjo and Aravi in Home again.

Nice collection! I am amazed by the jars’ upright positions. The bugs make a lively little corner.

Oh wow, I love Taking a break. Neat outfit and I like to see that greatsword hilt over Aravi’s shoulder. Something new to learn. Plus her little dangling feets are just adorable.

Edge of space is gorgeous. What a sky!

I love the running picture the best. Aravi looks glad to be enjoying the lake and sun with her spots out after the ice and ash of Solstheim!

Now I've got Fleur running around Skyrim, I'm starting to recognise some of the locations, but not that edge of space one. Beth used that lookout mesh a lot of times!

And curse you for giving Fleur the idea of collecting jars. At least they'll be less effort than the dragon priest masks were. Positioning items in Skyrim seems to be a console job, as I've never had any luck with the way grab works. Get/SetPos and Get/SetAngle commands are the only way I ever get it to work. Fleur wanted Dibella Statues on shelves in her houses, so I've used them a lot recently.

First of all, thank you all for being patient with me. I know most of you have things out I need to read yet! I WILL get to you all before I post again. School’s been hell!

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@SubRosa: Not in game, I’m finally continuing the written part from waaaaay back. And if you really want two followers in the game, there are several mods that achieve that.

Aravi always grabs the bug jars when she sees them.

Glad you like Edge. That was a really cool shot to get. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: I’m very glad you think so. Grits did a fabulous job with Aravi and I hope to do some of her’s justice.

In home again, you picked up on the reason for the picture! I like showing their size difference when I can. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: I’ve found it’s easier to place things when you move fast rather than slow.

There’s that outfit I showed you! I liked that pose too.

The running picture is my favorite too. The lighting in the background plus the slight blur makes her really stand out. Thanks Grits!

@ghastly: That location is very close to Falkreath. You have to go through a dungeon to get there.

I may be using those console commands now. I haven’t really thought about using commands to place things. Thanks ghastly!

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Now we continue in the Reach with Aravi, Kharjo, and Darnand.

***


Aravi crouched on an outcropping of rock, holding onto the solid stone with a hand and her bow with the other. Kyne seemed intent on testing her balance; the wind swirled around her, blowing from different directions and gusting unexpectedly. Her hair was going to be painful to comb out later.

Just below her was a Nordic ruin known as Lost Valley Redoubt. She saw small figures walking the rough stone walls, watching the road. Tents were loosely grouped together facing any which way. The grotesque totems of the Forsworn littered the area. Nobody’s eyes checked above where Aravi was. Good. She smiled. She looked back at the heavily armored Khajiit and Breton mage behind her.

They watched her expectantly from where they stood. Neither of them climbed up with her, preferring to save their strength. Sweat dotted Darnand’s forehead despite the cool air. Kharjo’s fur was damp. “What do you see?” Darnand asked, out of breath.

“We’re right on top of them.” They just needed to find a spot to shoot from. Kharjo would have a difficult time climbing up next to her in his armor, and Darnand… she was sure he would fall in this wind.

They had spent the better part of the day climbing up the mountainside looking for a way above Lost Valley. It was a fortress built into the side of the mountain. The Forsworn had three layers of solid stone walls, each one over three times Kharjo’s height. The only way through them was to weave back and forth through the kill zones between each wall. It would be simple for the Forsworn to trap them if they tried going through the front. It was built to repel an army. The three of them would have been slaughtered.

She knew they had to bypass the walls, and to do that, they would need to climb the mountain. Getting a Breton mage and an armored Khajiit to climb was more difficult than Aravi thought though. She had tried to be nice to Darnand, but after hours of coaxing and encouraging, she asked him bluntly if he really wanted Jerric out of prison. After that, he put more effort into his climbing and less into his grumbling. If I had worn my loincloth there would have been far fewer complaints, she thought to herself.

The sun was starting to set. Too bad we don’t have the sun at our backs. That would mean waiting until morning. She didn’t want to spend the night on the mountain without shelter. She turned and nimbly hopped down from her perch, landing in a squat. Straightening, she gave them a tight smile.

“We are right on top of the fort. We just need to find a good spot where the two of you can see. They won’t have anywhere to hide on their walls, and shooting back at us is going to be a nightmare, with this wind.”

“This gale is going to make casting difficult, but I do believe I can compensate,” Darnand offered.

“My arrows will get blown around, but I have a good supply. Your crossbow is going to be the most effective I think.” She directed the last sentence at Kharjo who nodded.

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Dressed as a resident of the Reach

Small Khajiit with a big sword

Within the silver city

Children of Azura (Follower Aravi with my Dunmer Lillith)

Hang in there with your school work!

’If I had worn my loincloth there would have been far fewer complaints, she thought to herself.’

Aravi was the only one at home achieving such an advantageous perch. Little archers like to be up high all right.

Looks like Aravi’s putting together a sound ambush. Good for her that she’s got big ol’ Kharjo and Arcane Darnand to help. I sure hope Jerric appreciates this; if they get in there to find him drinking ale and eating beans, I bet Aravi will be one pissed little kitty!

Screens:

Dressed – what a nice view Kharjo has!

Sword – Ooh, angry Aravi looks very dangerous!

Silver City – What a simply beautiful study of Aravi’s pretty face!

Azura – Yay! Companion Aravi under one of the moons!

But the Forlorn add a lot more irrelevant feathers and teeth to their version. It appears to reduce the defence rating, on the inverse coverage principle. I note that Kharjo prefers warmth to protection.

Finally I have my internet back and I don't have to rely on my cellphone.

Home again: Hmm. Kharjo and his towering self with his ancient Nord armor. I think they should settle down for the night and have some fun. Have a drink or two

Starting a collection: Good to see those butterfly jars are being put to good use. My folks forgot them in a barrel somewhere in the house Pretty soon Aravi won't even need torches(she's a khajiit, I know she never really needs torches).

Taking a break: A break is always needed, especially when that one doesn't have horses. She looks a bit roguish in this picture. Suits her well.

Edge of space: Wow. Now this was a beautiful shot and it stands out among the other landscape scenes Aravi has been in. I like this one. Wallpaper material.

Somewhere along Lake Ilinalta: Just a friendly jog in the neighborhood. I sure hope she's going fishing.

Dressed as a resident of the Reach: I hope the Forsworn won't tell the difference. They're mostly Breton, so she'll have some trouble blending in.

Small Khajiit with a big sword: Big ass sword is the right word here. Look at that thing! She maybe small but she's got some strength.

Within the silver city: The city of silver and blood. She's wereavi, so I'm guessing she'll take blood, hehe. I think she should go to the waterfall and take a dip. I'm sure the residents won't care.

Children of Azura: Another beautiful picture here. I love it! Masser looks amazing.

Oh nice! Another Darnand and Aravi team-up, with Kharjo. The three aren't an army but if they play the cards right, they may be just as effective. I like how you're adding more stories in these updates. I look forward to seeing the outcome between the trio and the Forswoon.

I went to Shriekwind Bastion and found that same exit. I wasn't looking for it, but coincidences happen. It's tagged as "Shriekwind Overlook" when you pop out, but nothing appears on the map. The game annoyingly marks both exits as "cleared" and then there are still a few draugr waiting outside when you put away your weapons, because "cleared" only applies to the interior.

I was tempted to override the weather and take a matching screenshot, especially as the test character is a Khajiit, but I didn't have Fraps running, so no pictures.

I think both my other characters have been through that ruin, but this is the first time I've taken that turning.

And - inquiring minds want to know - did Aravi come out with a large collection of shoes?

I liked Aravi's thought about Kyne testing her with the wind.

Looks like it is Found Valley Redoubt now. Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck...

If I had worn my loincloth there would have been far fewer complaints, she thought to herself.
As long as they were underneath her...

Aravi looks good dressed as a resident, but perhaps a little chilly. Good thing she has fur!

Is that the Bloodskaal Blade? Aravi has quite the grim rictus in that one!

That nice smile in the Silver City is the Aravi we all know and love.

That is one big red moon in the Azura pic. It looks like some sort of secret meeting in the dark.

If I had worn my loincloth there would have been far fewer complaints, she thought to herself.

Indeed, particularly in that wind. Kharjo and Darnand would have been racing each other to keep up with the view.

This is so exciting! Without Aravi and Kharjo, Darnand’s head would doubtlessly be among the Forsworn’s decorations. That place is horrific.

“This gale is going to make casting difficult, but I do believe I can compensate,” Darnand offered.

Nice, I can hear him saying that. And climbing the side of a mountain in any weather is not one of Darnand’s talents. Aravi knew how to motivate him even more than the loincloth would with her reminder of Jerric in prison. This is great fun!

Screens:

Reach resident: I like Aravi’s version much better than the feathered mess that the natives wear. She looks awesome! Nice to see Kharjo safe inside his armor though, in case any wild Bretons try to carve Aravi up and take her outfit.

I love Aravi’s expression in the one with the Bloodskaal blade! Has she found any two-handed katanas? I saw one in Jerric’s crafting menu that made me (us, lol) think of her.

She looks so lovely in the Silver City picture. I love how you framed her under the arch with the waterfall behind. That’s my favorite one.

How neat to see Aravi with Lillith under the moon! I never thought of the Azura link between them. Very nice!

@Acadian: Yep, she was fine with being up high. They will find a place where everyone can join in when the shooting starts. Jerric better not be eating beans!

Lol, I actually almost chose a different picture because of Kharjo’s position relative to Aravi in that screen. She had a nicer face in this one though. Thanks Acadian!

@ghastley: Aravi didn’t care for the little extras the Forsworn have either. I am considering the version with the little pouch though.

Shriekwind Bastion, I think that was the first time I saw that particular exit as well. It would have been cool to see a matching screen!

And to answer your question, no she did not acquire a collection of shoes. Aravi almost never wears shoes. Thanks ghastly!

@DE: Home Again: Who’s to say they didn’t have a fun night?

Torchbugs make fun nightlights.

Break: Thanks! That was kind of what I was aiming for in that picture.

Big Sword: She isn’t used to the amount of strength needed to get that big piece of metal moving, so things have been interesting.

Silver city: No dip in that waterfall! She doesn’t let just anyone see her without clothing!

Glad you like the story, my writing is rough, but I very much enjoy it. Thanks DE!

@SubRosa: As long as they were underneath her...
They were climbing a mountain with Aravi in the lead. They definitely would have had a view lol.

Aravi isn’t especially devout, but thinking of Kyne seemed natural.

Chilly is right! I do think the Reach is a little cold for that outfit. The Rift is much better.

That is the Bloodskaal Blade, one of the more enjoyable weapons in the game. She needs that little extra kick it has too. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: Darnand wouldn’t just be red from exertion either!

You know, I never thought of the Forsworn using people as totems. Now that you’ve said it though, it only seems natural for them.

So glad you are enjoying this!

I thought of Lildereth in the ‘barbarian armor’ when I posted that. How funny that one armor suits a character and clearly does not suit another.

I saw the waterfall shining in the light and knew I needed a picture of Aravi under it! Thanks Grits!

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Last time, Aravi found a good perch to observe the Forsworn and shared her findings with Darnand and Kharjo. Now they've found a place to attack from and plan...

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“Darnand, your part will be to burn their tents. They have them set up there,” she pointed with a claw, “there, and there.”

Darnand nodded. He looked at the crude structures, arraigned haphazardly in groups. Aravi watched his face, wondering if he felt any sort of remorse for these Bretons. She suspected he didn’t even think of them as having any connection with him. Which makes sense. She had to admit to herself that she felt a twinge of regret when she killed a fellow Khajiit. Even if they deserve it.

Wind blew Darnand’s short brown hair into a mess that he didn’t seem to notice. A lock of hair stood straight up. Aravi smiled and turned to look back at the fortress.

“I cannot believe people live like this,” Darnand said. “Just look at those feeble shelters, I am surprised they still stand in this ceaseless wind. And when it rains? Those tents would not repel water; they would just get soaked and leak. The people! I would go so far to say that they all smell of the animal they pulled their bed off of. They do not seem to know how to treat hide and leather. My horse has better living arrangements at Markarth’s stable than these people. How do they bathe, I wonder? When it rains perhaps? I do not see any organized latrine either. One can only speculate how they handle that.”

“They do have a river flowing through the middle of their fort,” Kharjo pointed out.

Darnand eyes widened in horror. “I drank from that river when I was gathering alchemy ingredients!” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

Aravi ignored Darnand’s fussing. “Kharjo, be careful of that area over there.” She pointed to a section set back into the cliff they stood upon. It wasn’t much lower than their position, and a talented archer would be able to shoot back from there. Magical attacks would be even easier. A long, steep flight of stairs below them appeared to be the only way to reach it. The area above it was inaccessible, much to Aravi’s displeasure. From what she could see, a waterfall from higher up the mountain formed a narrow and fast moving river over there. That in turn fell lower; creating the waterfall and river that flowed out of the fortress.

“Do either of you have a potion of cure disease?” Darnand piped up.

“When we are done here, Darnand,” Aravi replied. Her nerves were wearing thin. “When we start, I want you to summon your atronach close to those stairs.” If something starts shooting at us from up there, I want that to get hit first.

Darnand read her thoughts. “If anyone tries to shoot at us from there, they will have to deal with her first.” Darnand squinted at the river. “What is that structure over the river? It looks like an arched bridge, except it follows the river, instead of going over it.”

Aravi looked more closely, and indeed the Breton was right. It went right down the middle of the river, and followed it until it ended with the waterfall. It was as high above the water as she was tall, except where the arch was low. Then it was merely the length of one of her arms.

The prize is probably somewhere up there. Along with the hagraven.

“It never occurred to this one why the plants grew so well downstream?” Kharjo directing his question to Darnand. He knew he was causing trouble and was enjoying it.

“Enough!” Aravi said before Darnand could reply. She gave Kharjo a look. No more, or you’ll regret it. He was unperturbed, but held his tongue.

She picked up her bow. “Ready?” Kharjo and Darnand sobered immediately and nodded. She pulled the arrow so that the fletching tickled her whiskers and sighted in on an oblivious Forsworn warrior. The snap of her bowstring was drowned out by the sound of one of Darnand’s fireballs racing for the valley below.

She heard him summon his atronach and suppressed a cringe. Focus on shooting. Darnand will be careful. She released another arrow as the Forsworns’ first arrows started shattering against the cliff face.

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An intimate moment
Art by Julia!

The Road to Markarth

Side tracked…

Fic – Oh, this was such a delightful capture of the personalities of these three wonderful characters. Darnand overanalyzing and fretting, Kharjo quietly stirring the pot with a serious demeanor while no doubt laughing on the inside, and Aravi just trying to get down to business. Sounds like a good plan is off to a good start!

Cuddles is another wonderful Julia drawing. Awww, love Aravi's little tail sticking out the bottom of the bedding.

Road to Markarth could easily be a winning advertisement to showcase how pretty Skyrim can be! Not to mention Aravi and her trusty Cat of Steel trailing along watchfully.

Sidetracked is another beautiful close up of Aravi.

Darnand eyes widened in horror. “I drank from that river when I was gathering alchemy ingredients!” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Ewwww! No wonder it had a little wang to it!

“It never occurred to this one why the plants grew so well downstream?”
Oh he just had to rub it in, didn't he?

A delightful planning session where the personalities of all three were so well highlighted. Now unto the breach once more!

Cuddles was adorably cute.

Love the way the sun is hidden by the trees in Road to Markarth, but still lending them a roseate halo.

Sidetracked looks nasty.

I just loved this part!

Introducing Darnand’s rant with Aravi’s thoughts about remorse was a very subtle touch. His case of nerves came out in a fussing fit, and that is so like him!

Kharjo was hilarious teasing Darnand. Poor Aravi probably felt like she was babysitting the two of them as much as planning an assault on a Forsworn stronghold. The interplay between the three of them was a delight. I love how they got right back to the business at hand when Aravi gave the ready signal. This is awesome, KC!


Cuddles, aww so sweet. Love Aravi’s tail tip peeking out!

The road to Markarth is so beautiful! That stormy sky with the low sun behind the trees takes the breath away. Kharjo and Aravi make such a contrast with their silhouettes.

Side tracked: Oh no, Aravi’s getting her beautiful outfit all messy! No wonder she looks so pissed. That is an awesome angry face!

An Intimate Moment- Another great artwork. I like Aravi in the artwork. Its so great! Looks warm and intimidate indeed.

The Road to Markarth- Kharjo looks so intimidating in that armor. He makes a fine bodyguard, considering he's a good fighter and he protects Aravi with his life.

Side Tracked- She sure looks angry in this picture. Woe to those who cross Aravi's path!

The mini story continues! As the others said, you've captured and showed the individual personalities well. Darnand's worry about drinking pee water had me laughing. When he's around, humor is too. Poor Aravi

Men will be men, Aravi. That's why she should bring along a woman for the journey