@SubRosa: I wanted to give Kharjo a unique ability and I thought that his time spent traveling the roads with the caravans would be an excellent reason for him to have a familiar. Aravi’s ashamed of her past even though she had no say in what she had to do, so it took something of her to share that with Kharjo. Thanks SubRosa!

@LL: What a wonderfully creative line! Kharjo was excited about his summoning, so I’m glad it gave you a laugh.

Glad you liked the story of her past. Sounds like you’ve got some Morrowind plans as well, looking forward to them whenever they are complete! Thanks LL!

@Acadian: Aravi found that story difficult to tell despite how good of a friend Kharjo’s been to her. I agree with what you say about speech patterns and it’s very nice for me that Aravi turned out that way. She would have spoken like a Khajiit if that’s what her past was though. The passage you highlighted was my favorite. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: I think I need to tell more of J’Renrij’s story too! Presenting a scene like this can be difficult as I’m sure you know, but Aravi and Kharjo really took over the writing when I started. I thought the little hand clasp was silly, but Aravi is still not ready for much more. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: You would think that it would be difficult, but Aravi really took over the writing when I got into her story. I’ll have to add more on Kharjo and his wolf. Thanks mALX!

#################################

Aravi speaks to the College’s librarian about Elder Scrolls.

6:10

#################################

Books:

Effects of the Elder Scrolls

Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls


###############################

Just a question to you, I’ve been updating this thread with a video or a chapter every third day (and screen shots in between if I have them) and while I like doing that, do you all like this pace? Should I add another day to the wait period? I’m also not going to post screen shots on off days anymore.

Drevis makes me want to create a benevolent a Dunmer scholar.

Urag could use some additional conversational responses: Screw you, *smack,* and WTF? Sounds like a trip to the ice fields. *shiver*

I’m good with your current posting pace. When I read/view on my Kindle it sometimes takes me a little while to get back to my laptop and comment, but I always know I can catch up. I love how much your screen shots add to the characters. There is so much detail that I don’t see in the videos or in my games, and you really create moods in your screen shots. And I would love to read more chapters!!

That librarian gives out a lot of quests, I have never gotten one from him that looks for an Elder Scroll though! This is exciting, a new quest !! I am intrigued already, it will take Aravi up in the cold north too! Hope she'll be okay up there with her modded cold exposure effects!

You can post screens at the same time with the vids if you want (imho). Just don't stop posting screens, to me they are an awesome addition to the thread. Like Grits said, you create moods with your shots and tell a story sometimes with them. My request - more of the writing! Your story and writing bring a new depth to your thread and bring us closer to Aravi, to knowing what she is thinking and feeling.

Awesome vid !!!

Drevis reminds me of this skit from Amazon Women on the Moon.

Wow, Aravi is swimming in cash! 35k! Most of my characters blow it all on houses or training before ever getting that much.

"The greatest thief in the world wouldn't even be able to lay a finger on it."
This had me laughing. It would certainly be the Ultimate Heist, that is for certain!

Septimus Signus eh? Hrafn remembers him. She bumped into him by accident on the ice. It looks like Aravi is going for a cold swim...

I think your schedule is just fine. Unless you are having trouble keeping up with it, I suggest not changing it.

An orc librarian! I love it! Sort of reminiscent of the bookseller in Leyawiin who grouses, “Buyagoddambook!”: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Bugak_gro-Bol

Speaking of Obivion references, I shared SubRosa’s faint smile at Skyrim’s nod to ‘The Ulitmate Heist’.

I think updating twice a week is serving you well. I would agree that it is better to generally incorporate your screens into your other posts. You are doing a wonderful job of blending screens, vids and prose – and each contributes a great deal. Specifically (as Grits & mALX wisely pointed out), the screens really give us the best studies of Aravi and Kharjo’s faces and do indeed say things the other two media cannot.

Orcs and books=Norc. I loved the update, and the music in the beginning brings back so many memories. Real throwback to Oblivion.

Oh oh! Aravi is going to meet that crazy hermit guy that works for that giant Daedric blob! The quest for the Elder Scroll begins!

Keep posting whenever it is convenient for you. We'll be here and we will keep reading. Your updates are good because not only are they entertaining and great, they're kept in a good size.

@Everyone: So it sounds like my posting pace is acceptable for everyone. I’ll keep it then. I’ll keep doing screen shots, but I’m not posting them separate anymore.

@Grits: I like Drevis too. Aravi likes him despite lying to him about his spell, though she thought he was trying to be funny and not serious. Urag seemed to be in a good mood, he didn’t threaten to kill anyone with elementals this time. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: You wouldn’t have gotten that quest because it is part of the main quest! Aravi will be fine on the ice; she packed plenty of essentials for the trip.

I’m not going to quit doing screen shots, but I will have to post less of them just because I’m combining them with other posts. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: Nice skit, I liked it when the bar lady yelled to the room, “Here comes the invisible man again!”

I thought of the exact same thing when the Orc mentioned the thief. Definitely a nod to the TG quest in Oblivion. Aravi does have a tendency to hang onto her money when she gets it. I think she’s around 55k right now… Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: I forgot about the seller in Leyawiin! Aravi never visited that town very much, it wasn’t a nice place for Khajiit. Thanks Acadian!

@DE: I’m glad you noted the music, I put that track in to play. There wasn’t any ambient music when Aravi went in there, so I decided to throw some in the video.

Aravi might not meet the blob, bringing the lexicon to the crazy guy is low on her priorities. Perhaps later she will. Thanks DE!

###########################

Aravi travels out to the ice fields north of Winterhold in search of Septimus.

7:03

NOTE: I skip Septimus’ dialog because he is insane and drones on for 10 minutes. Basically, he tells her where she can find an Elder Scroll. Go to the bottom of a specific Dwemer ruin and then go deeper.

I love those glacier noises! So glad you caught that. Although Aravi probably did not enjoy that moment.

Nice job chewing up those bones, J’Renrij! The ice fields are so neat with the horkers, storm debris, and gull noises. Looks like Aravi found a way to keep everyone dry.

Great view of the Dwemer thing on the way down to Septimus’ lair. Oh my gosh, Kharjo’s shrug after Septimus said, “Smoke the glass” or something made me laugh. Good idea for Aravi to warm up while this guy rambles!

55k? Aravi must sleep on a mattress stuffed with gold!

I agree with Grits on the glacier noises. I love how they groan and creak, and make you wonder if they whole thing is going to come crashing down.

At least the weather cleared up once Aravi got away from Winterhold. There is a screen tip that says Windhelm is the snowiest place in the province, but Winterhold's weather is set to 100% snow storm, and has no other possibilities.

They found that ruin with the skeletons. And Kharjo summoned his Familiar!

I wonder if the dwemer lockbox is hiding Septimus' sanity as well...

I absolutely love the music when Aravi reached the water, and loved the look of the ice floats. Beautiful! Is that Aravi's tent? Awesome that it has snow on it while it is snowing, very realistic!

Oh, there is Kharjo's summon! I love the howl!

HORKERS !!!!

This was fascinating! Kagrenac - is he saying he has a piece of Lorkhan's heart in there? I am very intrigued by this quest! Awesome vid - but cut off mid sentence, lol.

Oh, I forgot to mention the tent! Only one tent!

Brrrr! But what a neat and haunting trip across the ice fields. Glad to see Kharjo using his spirit wolf. Loved their campsite! The walruses (horkers) were very cool!

@Grits: Those glacier noises are really cool, but you are right, they made Aravi nervous. The ice fields really are very interesting to explore. There’s a shipwreck and a guardian stone up there and some other stuff too. Lots of valuable ore to be had for any miners. The guardian stone was very tricky for Aravi to get because there was no way to get there without swimming.

Wow I missed that shrug, thanks for pointing it out! Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: 61k now. She had more, but then she bought some stuff and got some light armor training. Good thing all that gold doesn’t weigh anything isn’t it?

Aravi can clear the weather in Winterhold with a shout! I like it even better than the weather power in the Shivering Isles.

I was pleased when Kharjo started using his summon after I added it to his spell list. I didn’t have to do anything to his AI to get him to use it. Aravi might be back at that ruin with the skeletons much later. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: I love the music in all TES games, and that one you pointed out is an absolute favorite. Yep, that’s one tent option. Aravi usually carries two small tents instead of the big one because they weigh less, but she and Kharjo needed to share a tent to share heat.

I believe that is what Septimus says. Aravi might go back to him, she is kind of interested in that big Dwemer block, but she has no plans yet. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: It was very chilly, Aravi had to stop a few times to build a fire and warm up! Thanks Acadian!

################################

Aravi’s decided after the freezing cold of the ice fields, that she would like to go to the much more mild Riften Hold. Before she leaves, she gets to know some of the other students at the Winterhold College.

6:33

################################

Screen shots!

In the Reach

Torchlight

How come we cannot create new spells? Or make scrolls?

Oh boy, its Brelyna, and her test spells. It is a lot funnier watching someone else be turned into a horse. Aravi should have left a road apple behind before Brelyna changed her back...

Screenshots: I love In The Reach! Aravi has such a sweet expression, and the mist on the mountains is lovely. The detail on Aravi’s armor in Torchlight is amazing. It makes me want to try Elven armor again and just pretend that mine looks that pretty.

It’s great to see Kharjo relaxing. J’zargo’s scrolls cost one of my characters their stray dog. I’m guessing that the explosion didn’t cause trouble between Aravi and Kharjo. Brelyna sounded so nice after she experimented on Aravi. Aravi seemed to take it well. I'm sure she didn't enjoy her moments as a dog the way Skyrim Jerric did. I feel for Brelyna, since her classmates are a whiney Nord and an egomaniac. I’m sure she was glad to see that Aravi was back!

Well, collage is the time for 'experimentation'

Aravi's not sticking around much beyond this I assume. Take heart Aravi, you'll always have the fond memories of... uh... blowing up? Turning green? Being a dog? ... Yeah, never mind, run kitty, run!

Grits is so very right about The Reach screenie. I love it for all the reasons she said. It’s so cool that Aravi’s little ears are free!

Oh, what a fun vid! College kids being, well, college kids. As Kud-Ei would say, “Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” Aravi is such a good and patient friend.

This vid had me rolling !!! Hilarious! Aravi needs a lock on her door, ROFL !!! AWESOME vid !!!

Both screens are great, but my fave of the two is the first screen. Aravi is just stunningly beautiful !!!


Edit: This vid kind of reminded me of Aravi in Oblivion, when she was enduringly patient (but obviously annoyed) with Vilja !!! This vid is one of my top faves !!!!


*

@SubRosa: I really enjoyed Brelyna’s test spells. Aravi on the other hand… Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: There are so many times where I just have to stop and take a screen shot, like with the mist and the sun just over the mountain!

Aravi might have tested J’zargo’s scrolls on her own, but that was a while ago so I can’t remember what she did exactly. Poor Aravi was a little shocked by the spells, she did run back to her room after that. Thanks Grits!

@liliandra: Aravi’s definitely going to be scarce after this! Thanks liliandra!

@Acadian: Glad you like the Reach screen shot too!

Winterhold could use Kud-Ei, I’m not sure if Aravi would have helped Brelyna if she knew they were going to be that bad! Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: I thought of Vilja as well! Aravi’s going to leave the College for a while I think. Thanks mALX!

#########################

Back down by Whiterun, Aravi and Kharjo stay a night at a hunter’s camp. The hunter tells her of a cave nearby that rogue mages have taken over. Aravi takes care of it, and learns a new word in the process.

11:42

Sorry about the length. The next several are shorter, I promise.

Nice to see Aravi in her warm-weather armor. I really enjoyed her stealthy solo mission. What a fun dipsplay of her shooting. Wow, that place was loaded with traps! Bitter Ice is an excellent name for an enchanted blade.

That circle of oil was a bad place to be standing when the flame atronach showed up! I loved Aravi's nimble retreat and quick recovery.

Woo hoo, she got the last Word! Excellent Shout!!

I like the pace of this video. It reflects the cautious way she must have crept through the whole dungeon without showing every step.

The Nordic Hero armor looks good on Aravi.

Aravi took care of that first Necro quite handily with her bow.

That rattling of bones says skeleton. Good eyes to see that trap on the floor! I did not know you could shoot the traps to set them off! neat!

Cool use of Aura Whisper to spot the necrodudes up on that balcony, then shooting the fire pot to light them up! As usual, once those two swords came out, they did not last for long!

Aravi got a kill cam twice for the same guy! Just love how they only kick in when it kills them... That is interesting though, because when I do the same with either archery or magic, the game does not switch to third person. It remains in first person, and instead of getting the camera footage, it just leaves me locked in place unable to move. I guess it must be broken. I was never sure how it was supposed to look until now.

That flame astronaut was an unpleasant surprise. Especially with all that oil. Thank goodness Aravi was able to get out of there before she starting slinging fire.

So Aravi got a Sun Fire Breath word? What does that one do? Sunlight damage to vampires? Oh, I see, it is just the regular fire breath. That should come in handy!

Luvs how Aravi puts on her little blue feets to go into the dungeon!

Very nice bow work and she sure has good eyes for traps and baddies. I’m glad to see her getting a little help locating foes with the pink glow magic.

Once she gets outside, she checks out her new mojo by yellin’ at the rocks! Lol.

I LOVED the opening shot of Aravi !! I am always amazed by Aravi's thinking to take cover when being cast at or shot at with arrows! That is such quick thinking! Aravi's sneak must be Awesome, she crept right up on that conjurer!

Another impressive thing is how Aravi switches from shouts/magic/bow/sword constantly as she goes through these dungeons. She is Awesome !!!

Holy Cow, I have never seen a skeleton throwing fire like that before! She must be at a very high level!
GAAAAH! She didn't loot those last two on the altar!

That fire shout was really cool, glad she didn't cook those hunters she camped with accidentally, lol.

Totally AWESOME vid !!!

Because Bethesda said so .

Where did I leave off? Oh yes, Aravi and Septimus! Sorry, I've been extremely busy lately and seldom visit these parts.

Onto to Septimus! I find Aravi must of been extremely uncomfortable in that frigid territory. No warm sands for her . I see Kharjo made use of his familiar doggy against that skeleton! You did good to skip the dialogue of Septimus. As much as I hate dialogue skipping in videos, I didn't mind in this one since I have done this quest countless times for the Ogma Infinium glitch . Plus, Aravi was in a hurry.

That Reach picture is lovely and Aravi is as cute as ever . . .can I pet her? The location of the Reach is splendid, and has a High Rock style to it, very unique.

J'zargo is a mess. I had a small grudge on him ever since he blasted away a companion with his experimental scrolls near an oil puddle. If Aravi is smart, she'll stay clear of his troublemaking magics. He's a conniving fellow.

Woah, I gotta love Aravi's armor in the hunter's camp! Khajiiti Aela anyone? Loved the use of her bow to take out those baddies! That's our girl!

@Grits: It’s nice to be somewhere that isn’t freezing! Glad you like her sword.

She wasn’t expecting that atronach to pop up at all. I don’t think the oil would have killed her but… That’s her favorite shout, so I was pleased she got the last word of it! Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: I made a version of the armor to be light instead of heavy. Those necrodudes almost weren’t spotted, but the one leaning against the door gave them away. I wonder why your kill cams aren’t working right? I actually don’t mind the cam playing even on a miss at times.

With the last word, her fire breath is quite a bit stronger and has a small knockback effect. Very handy. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Her little blue feet help her sneak better! Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: Those spells and arrows hurt, so of course she’s going to get out of the way if she can!

She’s been using less magic than I’d like, but I’ve been trying to work on that. Don’t worry, she looted everything that was there to be looted. Thanks mALX!

@DE: Glad to see you back!

In the ice fields, Aravi had to stop several times and get a fire going to warm up. Pet her? I don’t think she’d let you… Oh no! I think Aravi was on her own when she tested J’zargo’s scrolls. Another fan of the Ancient Nord armor eh? She wears it for a little bit I think. Thanks DE!


#######################

Just a note, this update occurs a bit out of order. I want to share it none the less, because it showcases some screenshots I took last week, and I do not want to forget about them by waiting to post this later.

#######################

Aravi and Kharjo had been walking for several hours now. Their journey began in Markarth and curved north from there. A dragon forced them to abandon the main road and they picked a path through the hills instead. They eventually ran into the ancient, overgrown road that they were following now. They had been steadily gaining altitude as they followed the old road, and the weather had turned from pleasantly crisp to cold with gusts of freezing wind.

The crumbling paving stones were cold underfoot, and Aravi pulled her cloak around herself tighter as the wind tugged at it, seeking entrance. As they trudged onward, the grade started to level off and they soon found themselves staring at a massive Nord ruin. Aravi’s first thought was to avoid the ruin and continue onward, however, a familiar feeling stopped her in front of the massive doors.

“The old Nords sure did love their stonework,” Kharjo commented absently.

“There is a Word in there,” Aravi said.

Kharjo sighed and gripped the haft of his axe. “At least this one will be out of this cursed wind then.”

~~~~

“Something smells foul.”

“I don’t like this, Kharjo.”


Attack!


Take aim!


A dragon priest!


****

Unrelated to the others, but pretty.

White world

I actually tried doing a clean reinstall and update to 1.7 yesterday. But the magic and archery kill cams still do not work. Neither does mounted combat. Oh well.

That Dragon Priest looks really creepy, floating up there in the air like that. Have you found them to be more dangerous than the actual dragons? That is what I hear people say, and what I recall from the characters I did the civil war with (as you have to kill that first dragon at the western watchtower to do the civil war).

White World is my favorite of all. That soft smile of Aravi's face, combined with the brilliant white snow on the trees, just makes it all work.

Oh I’m so glad you shared this! I love your little scene-setting explanation so we have a nice context for the screens!

I love the one of the pair back to back. “Khajiit got your back.”

Beautiful action shots. Is that dragon priest showing off his big. . . well, you know.

You need to save that gorgeous screenshot in the snow and have it made into Aravi’s Saturalia greeting cards this winter!

Aravi looks so beautiful in White World! I love her expression, and the setting is so pretty.

Aravi and Kharjo look like such a great team in these. Take Aim is my favorite in the ruin, they look awesome and deadly!

I love the intro you wrote to set the scene for the pictures. It makes perfect sense that the Dragonborn would feel drawn to Words. And Kharjo has such a positive attitude!

The lead in to the screens was Awesome! I like that Aravi could feel the word wall within the ruin, that was cool! Gotta love "White World" best, but that shot of the Dragon Priest was totally Awesome! Look at the size of his bow and how high he floated up! Urk! Loved this update!


Edit: Urk...yeah, I know they hurt. But some (cough cough) characters aren't quick thinking enough to do that, lol.

@SubRosa: That dragon priest was not more difficult, but that could have been because he was within easy reach of Aravi’s swords. He may have been if he was at range.

White World is spending time as my desktop image. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Hah! The back to back one was kind of difficult to get because Kharjo moves away when you get too close to him.

Ok I’ve heard it several times, but never knew what it was. What is Saturalia?

Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: I love spontaneous screen shots like White World, they turn out to be the best ones.

It’s hard to see him due to the darkness and his coloring, but Kharjo is right behind Aravi with his bow. Kharjo’s getting used to the unusual whims of Aravi. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: The intro was easy to write, and I tried to write the scenes to go with the screen shots… let’s just say I ended up tossing that lol. Whenever I try to write action, it never turns out. White world is just too good to not be the favorite. Thanks mALX!

##########################

Aravi is traveling to Riften now. Normally, unless Aravi has a reason to go inside of a cave or a fort, she passes it by. Why risk the danger? She was much more curious this time, and all along the route, she entered caves and forts just to see what was inside. One such cave is Lost Knife Hideout.

Part One

8:13

Nice cave! It was beautiful with the waterfalls! Poor Kharjo with that arrow through his head! Urk, and he ran from Aravi when she tried to heal him, at first I wondered if she had the right spell loaded, lol. Loved all the looting !!! Awesome Vid !!!!!

Saturalia is one of the ES holidays. It seems to be directly copied in pasted from the IRL Roman holiday Saturnalia. It went through a lot of changes during the Roman Republic and Empire, starting with a celebration in honor of Saturn (Cronos) on December 17th, which grew into a week of festivities. After a while it turned into celebrating the birth of the Sol Invictus (the Sun), on December 25th, which was the Winter Solstice at that time.

Lost Knife Hideout. I wonder if Aravi will find the knife?

That second bandit in was tough. Most people never survive more than two seconds against Aravi's twin swords.

I remember this one now. This is a neat cave. Bendis did it a few weeks ago. I love the big central chamber with the waterfalls and the underground lake.

That bandit high up on the catwalk was one tough customer. That was very clever to hide, and then get him with some sneak shots.

Loved Aravi chasing the heavy antelopes in the opening scene. Then she gets to a cave and puts on her little blue quiet feets. Bring up the nighteye. Oh cool – an underground river! That waterfall just outside the cave should have been a clue.

Yikes! Aravi declares herself to those first two goons. I’m glad she’s got twin blades, big stones and the K-kat behind her. I was glad to see those first two bandits dissuade her of announcing her presence to others.

Ouch! Kharjo caught an arrow to the face! And of course, Aravi heals her man cat. It is so neat to see Kharjo fighting with dual staffs from range. He is SUCH a keeper!

And Aravi was doing some very fine distant shooting. I’m surprised Bethesda went with splattering blood on your monitor when you get hit – a great way to break immersion and remind the player it is only a computer game.

What a neat romp through a wonderful waterfall-filled cave! Thanks for sharing!

I love this place!

Wow, that first Bandit Plunderer hit harder than the usual riffraff. I guess you never know when a tough guy is going to come out and chat with the door guard.

That was neat to see Kharjo switch from staves to axe plus I’m guessing he had his summoned wolf ready to cast from the right hand. Aravi has trained him well. Then when he switched back to staves while Aravi was chasing him down to heal that arrow wound (ouch!! ), it made me think he saw another bandit up on the walkways. And he had! And Aravi got him! This was so fun to watch!

@mALX: I love that cave, there’s so many cool things inside of it! There are a couple of hidden chests, one that I will show, and one that I will not show. That was really scary to turn and see Kharjo with an arrow going through him mouth like that. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: So in TES, Saturalia is the celebration of the birth of Magnus then? I like how Christian holidays got plopped down on top of other existing holidays, I suppose it was the smart thing to do.

Aravi’s armor is pretty weak so it’s good that most people don’t last long with her.

I didn’t realize that walkway was up there, so Aravi knew there was someone around, but coming from where? She checked low, thinking someone fell off the walk way and was standing in a shallow spot or something. Then she looked up! Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Heh, glad you liked the opener. Those were mountain goats! There are a lot of caves in Skyrim that have some flowing water in them, very cool.

Aravi just wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to shoot anyone that didn’t deserve it. She could have backed off and got her bow out again, but her preference for her swords made her engage then.

Kharjo loves his staffs! Aravi had to heal him after seeing that arrow.

I can take or leave the blood. I hardly notice it when I’m really into the game. I think they put it there because many shooters put it there, and they wanted the familiarity with that for people. That’s my guess anyways. There are mods of course to remove it. Thanks Acadian!

@Grits: I really like the mix of the fighters in this game. You can run into some really weak guys, and then there are others that are tough!

It’s fun to have Kharjo with those staffs as long as Aravi doesn’t try to engage in melee. It works out much better when she stays back. Kharjo is really versatile, which makes him the perfect companion for Aravi! Thanks Grits!

################################

Aravi continues through Lost Knife Hideout. Part Two

5:24

################################

Some screens!

Fishing
Kharjo enjoying a mug of ale
Distant

I am so torn between "Fishing" and "Distant" as my favorite - can't choose between them, so I have two favorites in this group of screens! Both are awesome for different reasons, but in both you captured a mood, her expression in both was fantastic. Both left an impression of that mood behind and the desire to click the screen open again and keep viewing it.

I am loving this cave! What a great place this would be to CK to a Player base! I love Kharjo's wolf, love hearing it howl on after the fight! Kharjo has stopped liking being healed, he acts like she is doing something to him instead of enjoying it like he used to. What is up with that? Great vid! LOVED this update!

When that bandit archer said: "What 'chu gonna do?" I heard the theme from Cops in my head. "What you gonna do when they come for you?"

I love how Kharjo clipped her with those ice spikes just after she stepped out of the room. Followed close behind by his summoned Familiar!

That first screen was my favorite. The expression on Aravi's face reminds me of my own cat as shes stares intently at the birds on the porch railing.

What fun screens! Fishing is hilarious, plus I love Aravi’s intent expression. That fish has no idea! The light on her back is so pretty in Distant, and she has another lovely expression. And of course it’s nice to see Kharjo relaxing!

Now when Aravi asks Kharjo to wait, I think she might be planning to wolf it! Of course not, though. But it was funny to hear J’Renrij after I was thinking that.

I do not want to know what those bandits were up to with the bloody rags, flute, and skooma. I like the way this hideout is structured, with the areas inside the old fort as well as the excavated and cave parts. It makes a fun setting for Aravi’s adventure!

Thanks for the heads up, I would have been somewhat confused at the out of order part in the first update. Back from the busy weekday and now had a weekend full of reading. Let me begin the continuation of Aravi's adventure.

“I don’t like this, Kharjo.”

Badass back to back scene! Oh how I love the action. Something smells foul, eh? I am quite sure it is the walking dead Nords they are about to face. Speaking of face, I love Kharjo's face he makes when the Dragonpriest is levitating into the air. The "Oh hell no!" expression, haha.

Next one was amazing. Hunting goats from time to time is a good hobby and a natural impulse for large cats.

So, our male feline gets an arrow to the head, eh? At least it wasn't an arrow . . .nevermind. Aravi shows some skill with the bow, and an even greater showing with the sword. Good thing she has her healing powers to help out her buddy, Kharjo, otherwise things would have been tragically worse.

It was refreshing to see the fishing scene . . .cats love fish, haha and it is good to see some peaceful parts aside from all the battle!

@mALX: I think that he is programmed to back off if you get too close to him. He doesn’t move away as long as you give him some space. I think the cave would be too big for a player home; you would have to do a lot of walking to get anywhere. A cave home would be neat though for another character. Aravi isn’t much for underground. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: I’m glad he didn’t hit Aravi with those ice spikes. One down side of letting him use staffs is that it’s difficult for Aravi to close in for melee without getting hit at times.

I loved the way that screen turned out. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: Distant is my favorite. I feel like in that screen, we are looking through Kharjo’s eyes. Aravi’s full of mystery still despite all she’s told him.

I can see why you would think she might have been planning to go wolfy, but Kharjo would have been waaayyy too close for that. She would only leaves him in a camp or a town if she’s planning on doing that, anywhere in the wilderness is too close. She’s learned that if the beast starts hunting, it can go very far. Thanks Grits!

@DE: I’m so glad someone likes that back to back screen as much as I do!

Thank you for controlling yourself and not making a terrible guard joke. Aravi’s always been best with the blade, with less skill in other combat areas. That fishing screen just came out perfectly. Thanks DE!

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Aravi gets herself into a lot of trouble. Final Lost Knife Hideout.

6:19
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Some old screens from Oblivion. Aravi had a much different look.

Disagreement with a Nord

Outside an Ayleid Ruin

Deep in thought (No, she’s not bottomless)

*
I have not been inside this cave yet, thought I had till I saw this section! This cave is awesome, I have to explore it now !!!

One thing I like about you looting bodies is that I can tell what you were fighting. Unless you loot them, the print of who you are fighting is too small on the screen for me to read.

Boy did Aravi need healing after that fight!

LOVE this vid, I'm going to rewatch it in case I missed anything !!

OMG, I LOVE these screens! This is the Aravi I first knew and fell in love with! I have to choose the one with Vilja as my fave, boy does that take me back to all those earlier vids !!! Thank you so much for sharing these early screens of her with us again, what a nice surprise that was!

Awesome update!!!

How fun to see Oblivion pictures! I love the one with Vilja. Like mALX said, it made me remember their great friendship in all of those videos.


Thanks for clarifying. I love her expression!

Yikes, what a close call! I was hugely worried when Aravi asked Kharjo to wait, but of course she didn’t want him to tangle with the big cat she turned loose. That is a tough bunch of bandits. The archers in there seem especially powerful. My characters have all had difficult fights with them, even with followers, summonings, and that sabre cat on their side. Jensa got so mad, she jumped over the fence to get in with the boss bandit. She forgot she had the cage key. D’oh! Nords.

I love the little exploring mission at the end. Where does this go? To a treasure chest!! She really debated over that ebony mace. I mean it’s ebony, but it’s a mace. Aravi was awesome under pressure, finding that place to hide from the sabre cat, then using her Shout when she was out of magicka. I had to watch it twice, too. It was very fun!

Ahh, its the cage. I always let the sabre cat out so it can attack the bandits. Just like Aravi did!

Whew, she got into some furball with those three bandits! Whoa, that archer nearly killed Aravi! Wow, she really Yooled that guy with her new fire breath! There is one good thing about those Dagon Dragon Shouts. They do not cost magicka.

One guy left, and he's down in the pit. I think the bow and arrow from here on out is a good idea too! Uh oh, he's smart enough to take cover. Now A&K are going to have go down there and get personal. Wow, they really finished him off fast! That guy usually kills my characters!

Aravi is looking good in her Nord Hero armor.

More lockpicking. I have gotten so sick and tired of it that I use a mod called Lockpick Pro now. It is not that I cannot pick the locks, it is just so tedious by now...

And after all that, she never did find the lost knife! Well, I guess that ebony mace makes up for it.

Love the retro Aravi pics! She has such a wonderful expression of distaste on her face in that first one! She does look bottomless in that last one!

The first set of screenshots are such wonderful snapshots from Aravi’s current life in Skyrim. What fun to also see some older shots from Cyrodiil! She did indeed look different there, but is equally beautiful in both provinces!

And the last two parts of Lost Knife Hideout. What a beautiful cave with all the water. Those were some tough bandits! And a tough lock she picked too.

Nice to see some of the ancient days of Cyrodiil and Aravi. Time does seem to have an effect on her and for the positive, too! I really must catch up to the older adventures of Aravi!

The video was superb, loved seeing Aravi kick some bandit boat. The Sabretooth was a fierce creature, too, but it was sad to see it be killed by all those thugs

She toasted that sucker with her flaming hot breath! Loved it!

"Remember, hit the one in the middle."

@mALX: That is a very fun cave, and it is pretty easy to find, it is right by the road. When you go in there, look for another hidden chest, there’s one in there that I didn’t show.

You were talking about going through all your Oblivion screen shots and I was inspired to do the same. I found those and just had to share them! Thanks mALX!

@Grits: It was so much fun going through those old screens again. My favorite is the not bottomless one.

Archers are almost always bad news for Aravi, some of them hit very hard. Aravi did well until she took a couple or arrows. I’ll take Aravi’s approach to dealing with the boss bandit over Jensa’s ! Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: Poor sabre cat hopefully got a little revenge before it was killed. The fire breath really saved her butt in there, that archer was very close to finishing her off. It pleases me that Aravi was able to finish off that last guy as quickly as she did.

Aravi’s gotten very good at lockpicking, it must be a Khajiit thing. She recently got into a master lock with only one broken pick. No perks or anything. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: The old Aravi was pretty too, but I much prefer her Skyrim look. Water is a reoccurring theme in Skyrim caves, and it looks so nice! Thanks Acadian!

@DE: You my of course look at her earlier adventures, I will just warn you that the beginning videos are of… not so good quality. I the later videos are significantly better. You may enjoy the vampire dream videos I made… I can link those directly in a PM if you like.

Glad you enjoyed the big fight! And the bandit leader didn’t sound very sober. Thanks DE!

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Aravi continues to Riften, and finds another place, this time an old fort, to explore…
Mistwatch Keep part one

5:45

NOTE: There’s a naked bandit in this one that I somehow missed when I was editing. I don’t think any detail can be clearly seen so I kept it. If anyone is offended, I’ll take it down and edit it.
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Screens:
Kharjo at Fort Dawnguard

Aravi and a torchbug

On the road in the Rift

Resting at a bridge

I didn't see any nipples, and was in hysterics that she just shows up in her boots to fight, ROFL !!! Loved that tower, I must have somehow missed exploring that one! Ah, I see a quest ahead, lol. Great vid !!

Really great screen of Kharjo, and I love the hazy look of the screen where Aravi is catching the torchbug! That hood seems apropos for the weather in that screen!

"On the road in the Rift" wins out as my top fave, the colors are stunning - especially in contrast to the first screen of Dawnguard! Awesome Update!

No worries on the nekkid bandit. Her boots completely covered her toes.

Seriously, this was a great vid and even included a quest to find a damsel who has likely met distress.

Those screens are all fabulous! I love how they so wonderfully show A&K living their lives in Skyrim. Torchbugs – yup, that’s how it starts. Soon she’ll be chasing butterflies! Both A&K have wonderful armor!

Ahh.. Mistwatch. Such an interesting mini-quest.

*refrains from making comments on what the bandit ladies were doing before Aravi arrived*

Aravi and Trouchbug was amusing. "C'mer you... I have a potion I need to make.." but I think Resting at a Bridge is my favorite there.

Aravi is a wanted woman! Oh, that kind of wanted.

I see Kharjo has his ghostly pooch out! Those bandits do not stand a chance!

The Bandits are running the Naked Mile now!

Fort Dawnguard looks interesting. If I am not mistaken, that is a new mesh on the tower.

On the road is my favorite of all. Aravi has such a cheerful expression on her face. I see that she and K are wearing the new Dawnguard coat of plates I have been seeing. Is that heavy or light armor?