The music was especially nice as they walked around the edge of the volcanic area.

Those bandits know how to party. Aravi is going to have a lot of stairs to climb. Mistwatch is a neat fort!

I love how Aravi and Kharjo look in the Dawnguard armor! Aravi and the torchbug is my favorite. I was recently surprised to find a stat for “Wings Plucked.”

I love On the Road, too. I have to point out Kharjo’s awesome new shield!! The trees and landscape are great in that picture, too. You captured right where the mountainy part shifts to autumn forest.

Pfft, naked bandits? You do not need to fear nudity, or fear people fearing nudity. It is only natural. You think people in the medieval ages died and were looted to their underwear alone? Nay! But the fact that Aravi fought against her while she was naked was hilarious! Hahahaha. I had a kick out of that. Looks like our bandit was either.

A) Using the refreshers before being interrupted.

Or

Having some alone time before being interrupted.


Aravi, wanted? Haha! How smart of her to avoid trouble and pay off her bounty. That was a great battle, and Kharjo's hound only added to the spice. It must be great for a cat to have command over a dog, eh? Hehe. The ending left us with a bit of an anticipation on Christer's kidnapped wife . . .I wonder how Aravi is going to approach this situation when she discovers what she is up against. Though I already suspect her exact choices, I could be wrong though. Good update!

@mALX: What’s with my games and naked bandits? Glad you got a laugh out of it! I agree with you on the screens, the best in my opinion was on the road. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Wait, should Aravi be covering her toes? Glad you liked the screens and video. Thanks Acadian!

@liliandra: I was delighted by this quest. I wasn’t going to put up the bridge one, but decided to do so at the last second. Thanks liliandra!

@SubRosa: Ah yes, I forgot to mention that after finding a naked bandit. This must have been a bounty on her from way back when she hit that orc on the road. I have not done much looking yet, but I do believe that all of the Dawnguard Fort is made of new meshes and textures. There are heavy and light versions of the Dawnguard armor, and also three different colors I think. Aravi and Kharjo just happened to get the same color. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: I love the ambient music! I’m surprised the dude at the gate wasn’t up with the other partiers. The torchbug screen was actually kind of difficult to get, and I'm happy it turned out as well as it did. Thanks Grits!

@DE: I didn’t think the bandit would bother anyone here, but I wanted to put up the warning just in case. I got a kick out of your unintended smilie!
Aravi has a strong sense of right and wrong, so that probably makes her somewhat predictable. Never the less, I hope you still find this next video enjoyable. Thanks DE!

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

Obviously, the damsel in distress is in the highest tower, so Aravi and Kharjo go up…
Mistwatch Keep part two

6:54

##############################
Screen shots:
Sunfire (a spell added by Dawnguard in the restoration school, affects undead only)

For Grits

Silver moons

I have never done this quest, does the game force the player say that last line about "This is pointless, I should just kill you!" (???) I know we discussed this quest before, but I can't remember.

That was a weird ending to a quest that started off so nice. URK!

GAAAAH!!!! These screens are Awesome! My fave has to be Sunfire, I LOVE it !!!!! Awesome Update !!!

I love the "Silver Moons" one. Aravi! Y U NO WEREWOLF FORM!? The fight to the tower was awesome, and I am digging Kharjo's cape in the pic.

Oh my, Aravi! Her choice was unexpected, I thought she would be the goodie-two shoes and have "moral" obligations. That was a great finisher, SLASH!

Poor Christer . . . though it was refreshing to see Kharjo finish him off . . a second before he summoned his pet.

mALX: It does not force you to choose that option. There is an option to leave and tell Christer that his wife could not be found. He will not give up his search, and will continue to look for her somewhere else.

Screens!! I love Sunfire for the amazing light, but you know my favorite has Kharjo too with his awesome sun shield, watching Aravi’s back!! Also I see Aravi’s ebony sword of badass, very nice! Silver Moons reminds me that her beast blood is always there, waiting… Great screens!

That was a cute moment with the bucket. Many Nord followers would have tripped over it. (I’m talking about you, Vorstag.) Not Kharjo! That balcony is a great spot to soak up some sun. I guess searching for someone’s captive wife comes first, though.

Ugh, the dead woman. I’m sure Aravi was thinking about the shackles and blood when she fought the real Fjola. Too bad Christer turned out to be an idiot. Aravi tried to help the guy, and now she has to clean him off of her blades.

This was a fun set of videos to watch. I like that the ending was dark, although I’m sure Aravi didn’t. Even though she tried to help, it ended in blood.

The For Grits screenie was my fav of the trio of pics. Both for featuring our dynamic duo, but also I loved how Aravi's new spell lights the scene. So what does Sunfire do exactly? I am guessing it does some kind of damage to undead only? The latter is what I always wished Turn Undead did, like in the old D&D days, where it destroyed them.

Now on to the damsel in distress. Something makes me suspect that it is not Rapunzel who waits at the top of those towers...

Those bandits did not last long. I see Kharjo's pooch makes his appearance again as well!

Fjola did not last even as long as the other bandits did! I have never done that with any of my characters. I see her old hubbie was none too thrilled with that outcome either.

As the woman was talking, all I saw was ‘BANDIT Leader’. We know what bandits do – and this one won’t be doing it anymore.

If the husband had a pair, he would have ventured up into that tower to ‘save’ his wife instead of sending a small Khajiit to do it. Too little too late on his part now.

Sunfire reminds me of a Baldur’s Gate spell! I really like the screen of A&K under that overcast sky. The title Silver Moons had me ready to see A&K skinny dipping in the moonlight!

Different path then what I've taken for that quest, vaguely depressing. :/

@SubRosa: Sunfire (as well as Stenaar's Aura and Vampire's Bane) deal sun damage to any undead. Aura is a cloak version and Bane is an AoE one. I do like the graphics they used for it, it really looks like you blast pure light at things.

I'll have to second (or more) of the For Grits pic as favorite of the set there.

@mALX: It doesn’t force you, Aravi could have done as the woman asked and got rid of the husband. Aravi wasn’t going to leave her alive however; she wanted a fight after seeing what happened in that tower because of her leadership with that group. Grits and Acadian got Aravi’s reasoning perfectly. Thanks mALX!

@DE: Hey, I’m glad Aravi’s unpredictable! She did feel morally obligated to remove the threat that Fjola was to people in the area. Had Aravi left Fjola there after killing her men, she would have just made another camp here or elsewhere. Additionally, why should she go free? Aravi does feel badly that Christer died, but that was out of her control. Funny that you mention werewolf… Thanks DE!

@Grits: I thought of you (clearly) when I took that screen with Kharjo and his shield!

Kharjo’s too good to trip over buckets! You are right when it came to the fight with Fjola, Aravi wasn’t going to leave any of them around. The dead woman and the bloody shackles was a chilling sight. Torture and rape. It’s too bad Christer attacked, and to an extent Aravi can’t fault him. He believed who he thought his wife was. Even after Aravi killed Fjola, she had one more victim. Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: liliandra got it! The spell damages undead only. The projectile version moves just like a fireball.

Kharjo almost always summons J’Renrij in every fight. Your mod really helps making it not a total waste of his time.

Aravi was surprised when Christer attacked her, though in hindsight she should have seen that coming. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Yep, Aravi was thinking the same thing up in the tower talking with Fjola. The decision wasn’t difficult. Aravi wasn’t happy that Christer died as well. She was thankful Kharjo killed him so she didn’t have to. There was some skinny dipping after that silver moons screen was taken! Thanks Acadian!

@liliandra: It is what it is, Aravi wouldn’t have been able to leave Fjola alive after seeing her handiwork. Thanks liliandra!

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

It’s been a while, and the pressure is mounting. Aravi feels the need to release her inner beast…

8:18

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

Screens:
Aravi!

Ready for a fight

I kept hearing this song in my head as I watched Aravi...

I recognize this cave. Cragwallow Slope? I think there are a bunch of mages and atronachs in there. They always make for a tough fight, since they tend to swarm. I cannot wait to see how Wereravi deals with them!

Wow, she threw that first guy across the room like he was a doll! Is that a new animation?

So does the feeding heal you? That was my impression. What does that roar do? I see Aravi does it all the time.

That boss conjurer really took a lot out of Aravi with that lightning. Some of those fights were pretty close things after that.

How nice that she can light her campfire with a flare spell.

I forgot to mention. That first closeup pic of Aravi was great. I love that little smile of hers.

*

You have to know "Aravi!" is my fave of the two screens, lol. AWESOME SHOT !!!!!!!

WOW, Aravi was powerbusting those mages! This vid was the first time I noticed Aravi's health getting so low, and I wondered how she would heal since she couldn't access her inventory as a werewolf - then I saw it go up when she fed. Awesome !!! I love these vids where Aravi lets the wolf out, what a way to clear a cave! Loved this vid!


*

Ready for a fight with a crossbow! I love how intent Aravi looks, and Kharjo’s angry ears. But of course the close-up of Aravi is just perfect.

Oh my gosh, that first werewolf kill will be hard to beat. Whoa, Aravi took a lot of damage from that shock spell. The beast didn’t want another ice atronach when there was a tasty conjurer behind it to eat! Werewolf Aravi is fun to watch!

Then Aravi wakes up with a stomach ache. I like that you showed the price she pays when she went back to rest. The wolf gets to do some fun mauling, and Aravi wakes up exhausted and torn all to pieces.

Still, awesome werewolf fun!!

Loved that lake with the waterfall and geysers in the opening scene.

‘I feel the need. The need to feed!’ The werewolf eschews Aravi’s little blue feeties of stealth and takes a more. . . direct approach to dungeon exploration. When it absolutely positively needs to be destroyed overnight, send the beast.

I see flame wenches and frosties are not to her taste.

What beautiful cinematic work near the end there when she is curled up outside the cave, then later at the campsite. One can almost feel what she must be thinking. I’m with SubRosa in really liking that Aravi can light her campfire with a fire spell.

Wonderful screens! Aravi’s beautiful and Kharj has a new crossbow!

YUSS! YUSS! Some good ol "Wereavi(I got a kick out of that) action.

Subrosa: Feeding does extend bloodlust and health, contrary to the other ES games. Maybe it's cause its a different werewolf strain. Anyways, the Howl of Fear, or Scent of Blood, is basically a roar that frightens off enemies. In a lore standpoint, its as if they are looking at Hircine himself. Pretty awesome.

GO ARAVI!!!!! Do it Doggystyle!

Oh wait . . .she's a khajiit .(good save, huh?)

Aravi had to unleash the beast sooner or later, glad she did . She must be careful though, especially when fighting those Atronachs! I remember fooling around with Kraven in his werewolf form and he got killed a few times by those pesky magic wielders!

She has to watch out, otherwise she may just wake up in the savannahs of the Hunting Grounds! Crossbows, eh? Damn fine weapon, it is! Aside from teeth and claws, feline or lupine, some nuts and bolts would be welcome too! In any case, anything Aravi does kicks major butt!

SubRosa:Not a new animation, I don't think. There are about four different ones, a werewolf claw attack, a neck bite attack, an attack where the wolf throws a person and one where he squeezes and bites the victim's head off .

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u516/k...23-54-34-77.jpg
This was cute

SPEW! Now I have pea soup on my keyboard!

@SubRosa: This was a really tough cave to do as a werewolf, I certainly would have chosen a different one had I known.

I believe the throw is an old animation. It was pretty cool though! And as LL said, feeding does heal, and the roar causes lower level enemies to run. And I love the roar.

Thanks on the close up, she really has a pretty face for a kitty. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: I always know you like the close shots!

As miserable as going wolfy makes Aravi, I always enjoy it. It’s a totally different play style from her norm. A little variety is always interesting. Thanks mALX!

@Grits: Everybody loves that close up of Aravi!

You got it on the atronach! The wolf wasn’t going to stop for it when the nummy was running away!

Being a werewolf isn’t fun for Aravi, and I can’t skip that part. She pays dearly for the protection it provides from vampirism. Is it worth it? Sometimes she doesn’t think so. Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: I kind of skip over it, but Aravi stays in that area for a few days. There are some wonderful hot springs to bathe in.

The werewolf is so different from Aravi. There is nothing subtle about it. No blue feeties!

Glad you liked that part at the end. I had some different things planned, but that’s the one that worked the best. Thanks Acadian!

@LL: Wereavi! I approve! Thanks LL!

@DE: She really should have unleashed it sometime near Winterhold, but she held it in until she got here. This cave was very difficult; I had thoughts of abandoning this place and finding a new cave or fort for the wolf to run though.

She is cute, I’m glad you think so too. I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to retire her character. Thanks DE!

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

When Aravi gets to Riften, she and Kharjo settle into the Bee and Barb Inn. After a day she meets an Argonian with a skooma problem…

9:48

Just a note, there is a really strange sound when Aravi enters the warehouse. I don't know what caused it, and I couldn't get rid of it either.

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

Screens:

Just chatting…
…and relaxing

Bows

I grinned when Aravi lingered to watch the butterflies because I knew she was thinking about Buffy as she did so.

When Aravi used the key to slip into the warehouse, I was expecting some sneaky cloak and dagger work as she sleuthed for clues. Yikes! Right into a fight! But she does find some clues. Something tells me she’ll be headed for that cavern that was mentioned in the note. Lol on trying the moon sugar!

Loved the screens of A&K hanging out. The alchemy setup is really neat and Kharjo's cape is very cool. Bow and crossbow! Woot!

I guess you cannot keep the cats out of the fishery!

Skooma is bad? What is wrong with stamina potions? That is one of the things that really makes me roll my eyes about Skyrim.

So Aravi is going to hunt down a drug dealer? I see she is following in Teresa's footsteps. Let's hope she gets more support from the law than our wood elf did.

Meet one more incompetent Jarl. One thing I do like about Skyrim is that its governments are just as inept as those we have IRL.

Whoa, did the steward just try a pick up line on the bodyguard? I am with Aravi there. That was TMI!

Boy, that was some welcome in the warehouse. Not one second inside the door and Aravi is being attacked. But she has a... pink spell... in store for that villian. Oh neat, a fear spell. Then a shout and a spike in the back of the head to finish things off.

A little moon sugar for the road, and we are off to Cragslane Cavern!

That is a neat eagle symbol on Kharjo's shoulder in the first pic. I think that was my fav of all of them. Though I did like kitty sitting in the Astrid pose in the second pic (if you do the beginning of the Dark Brotherhood questline, you will understand what I mean).

It was neat to see Valindor wielding his bucket. I like the fishery building for some reason. What a nice day out on the docks. Aravi had the right outfit to catch the sun!

I love the butterfly watching. Aravi got an earful of how Riften operates with the idiot Jarl, the slimy Steward, and the horny Housecarl.

Aravi made quick work of those dealers! When she looked at all of that moon sugar, I wondered if she would take a little taste!

Yay, screens! It’s cute the way Aravi likes to sit on tables. That one’s my favorite. I love the lighting in Bows. Ouch, that ice spike! Poor Kharjo.

I love Wajeeta! And then she thanks Kharjo for the help, ROFL !!! Skooma has her vision blurred, and a cat is a cat, ROFL !!

WOO HOO! "Meet me in my chambers later..." and then Aravi's trademark head shake - LOVED it !!

Uh oh, Aravi stole and ate Skooma! Will she get addicted? Is it like that Filligrew stuff in SI?

Absolutely LOVE this vid!

You know which screen is my favorite, lol. Kharjo making potions while Aravi sits on the table and talks with him! AWESOME SHOT !!!!

Awesome update !!!!

So we begin with Wujeeta in the brink of being fired and being a druggie!

Mighty finisher that was, against Sarthas Idren! Dayum! Perfect execution by the sword to the neck!

Hahaha, no Khajiit can resist the sugar! It is the sweet of sweets! I loved the fact that she was heading out, then then paused to reconsider. Just a taste, she must of wondered.

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u516/k...17-48-02-94.jpg

So the tables are reversed with Kharjo cooking the meals and Aravi chilling on the mountain side. Epic. Now, the quest continues onto the Cragslane( I thought it was craigslist) Cavern!

@Acadian: They were such pretty butterflies, like Buffy!

No such luck in the warehouse, someone was watching the door. A Khajiit just has to try the sugar. Thanks Acadian!

@SubRosa: I was disappointed on the handling of Skooma. It was weak in Oblivion as well, but at least it had some effects.

Well, you could say the law was just absent in this case. Does that count as more helpful?

The shout is one of my favorites: disarm. It only really works on low level enemies but I love using it still. I think it’s cute when Aravi sits on a table like that. I have not done the beginning part of the DB so I don’t know much about that. I would like to somehow get Aravi into position to kill them, but that involves doing something that she probably wouldn’t do. I’ll have to see. Thanks SubRosa!

@Grits: I like that outfit too, she has a cute tummy. Sorry she didn’t have anything to wear with it. I’ve been looking!

How could a Khajiit pass up all that sugar?

I think it’s cute too how she sits on tables. Kharjo’s tough and Aravi healed him when the action was over. Thanks Grits!

@mALX: I like Riften’s Argonians. She didn’t take skooma, she took moon sugar. That’s such a cute screen, glad you like it. Thanks mALX!

@DE: Sarthas Idren wasn’t a very good fighter. He lost his weapon easily when Aravi shouted, and went fast after that. Ha! Yeah, she was just going to leave it all there, but… she had to try some.

Heh, usually Aravi packs food for the journey, but Kharjo felt like cooking I guess. Thanks DE!

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

Aravi speaks to the Jarl again, and then it is off to the cavern.

6:31
#######################

Screens:
Ivarstead

Swimming in the Rift

Unwanted company in the Bannered Mare

Screens first: (you knew I'd love this one best) - 'Swimming in the Rift', of course! I absolutely love that screen! Unwanted Company I loved too, for Aravi's facial expression! You sure named that one right, that guy looks like he was born chin first.

The vid - I did find that cavern when I was putting stuff on the map, and thought I was doing a favor releasing the "pet" wolves afterward - big mistake! ROFL!! Never went into the cavern, so that was an interesting insight to what I'd find in it, lol. Great Vid! Awesome Update !!!

Ivarstead is my fav of the pics. Cats just love to find a high place to sit!

I always try to get down there and let the wolves out. I love turning captive animals against their former masters. I see Kharjo sent his familiar down there too.

Ah, that's the place with the wolf arena. Or one of them at least. I think there is another. A good spot for a Frenzy spell, that is for sure! As always, Aravi is unstoppable when those two swords come out!

Who added Jay Leno to the game? Or is that just a chin-colored beard?

I just knew Aravi would get sent to Cragslane Cavern. The trip to, as well as the arrival at the cave had an epic feel to it that I quite enjoyed. I think it was a combo of the scenery, leisurely pace, epic music and your stellar camera management. The camp outside the cave had a wonderful ‘feel’ to it. I could almost smell the cooking pots bubbling.

She slips on those little blue feeties and sneaks inside! Some great team fighting with the deadly A&K duo.

The screenshots were fabulous! I know cats like to be up high as SubRosa said, but I wonder if there is an element of Aravi being short that leads her to favor high perches. Argh! Damn blade of underwater grass was hiding her kitty boobs! The unwelcome Nordic attention was priceless. Aravi’s face said a lot and I imagined K-Kat ready to come storming around the corner and introduce Mr Chin to Spirit Wolf.

Swimming in the Rift.
How convenient that the grass spares us a view of kitty boobs! Grrr!

Unwanted company in the Bannered Mare was hilarious. Truly priceless. Nords dislike khajiits, so he must of beel like "Wtf" is she doing here? Hahaha.

Onto video:

Ah, yes, I love Aravis' sniping capabilities as she sneaks alongside the mountain and makes use of her marksmanship. One bandit got an arrow through the skull! She has mighty good aim!

2:33.

Kharjo: "Dis whatchu want? Huh!?"

That team-up with the Spirit Wolf was awesome against the first bandit. The familiar does come into handy. Her frenzy spell also came in good use, too.

@mALX: Of course swimming in the Rift for you!

Aravi might have tried releasing the wolves, she has a couple of ways of dealing with them, but Kharjo didn’t give her the option. Thanks mALX!

@SubRosa: Our cat limped around for a while and we thought she got arthritis. Then later we see her sitting on top of the cupboards in the kitchen! Whatever it was, she got better.

There is at least one other place that does wolf fights. I like it that frenzy spells are area effect. Thanks SubRosa!

@ghastley: Someone should turn him into Jay. This guy has a blond beard, but it does look like an enormous chin. Thanks ghastley!

@Acadian: Wow, thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the opening so much. Being small might have something to do with high perches. Ha! That darn grass getting in the way! Aravi just sat down next to the fire and then Mr. Chin got out of his seat and walked over to sit by her! Thanks Acadian!

@DE: Maybe next time the grass will not be in the way!

The Nord actually walked over and sat by Aravi after she sat down. You could see how much she liked that.

Aravi’s better with her swords than she is with her bow, but she can get some good shots. Thanks DE!

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

Aravi returns to Riften and is named Thane. She buys a house and checks it out.

4:41

~~~~

This next part takes place as Aravi travels around the Rift. I hope you enjoy it.

~~~~

The sky is on fire. That’s what it looked like to Aravi as she walked along a stone road in the Rift. The beauty of the sunset was stunning and she slowed to a stop without thinking, eyes on the heavens. A breeze played through the branches of the birch trees, causing their golden leaves to flit and twirl on the ends. As it brushed her fur and tugged gently on her hair, Aravi closed her eyes and turned her focus to her other senses. She inhaled deeply; the scents of fresh air, old leaves, and healthy dark soil filled her nose. The rustle of the leaves, the whisper of the placid wind, and the babble of flowing water reached her ears. Nature’s music, she thought with a smile. Peace filled her entire being.

She felt a presence behind her, and a familiar scent joined the others. The Khajiit’s fur, the tang of the protective oils on armor, and the slight smell of sweat and masculinity; all these came together as one: Kharjo. She liked his scent. It had made her feel safe for a long time now. Something new however, she was also feeling more attracted towards him.

She leaned back slightly so that her shoulders lightly touched his chest plate. She felt a gauntleted hand settle on her left shoulder, lightly supporting her.

Aravi opened her eyes and started walking again, but abandoned the road in favor of the long grasses and soft dirt. Her ears guided her footsteps to a creek, gentle currents of water weaving its way between mossy boulders. The crunch of grasses behind her let her know that Kharjo had followed her.

They followed the brook downstream and it led them to a large lake. The waters of the lake imitated the brilliant colors of the sky, making it difficult to tell where one ended and the other began. For a few moments, neither one of them moved, absorbing the beauty.

Aravi and Kharjo had both stood watch while the other bathed before, but they always politely gave the other space as a small measure of privacy. This time, Aravi didn’t ask him to look away. She stepped forward to the water’s edge and began to undress. Naked, she took a few steps into the lake of liquid gold. Then she looked back and met his eyes.

~~

Art by Julienya

Previous video: Arrow through the nose! Cragslane Cavern is a great place to hear trash talk from companions. What a fight! That’s no place to bring a war dog, but J’Renrij was perfect. What a beautiful walk to the cave. I like Aravi’s stealthy approach over the rocks.

I love the Ivarstead screen. Kharjo always follows Aravi in the videos, but she probably needs to find high spots to get a view over his shoulders. That’s also a nice look at the back of a guard’s cloak. So many details to enjoy. Nice strategic weed placement in the swimming picture! I love Aravi’s expression at the Bannered Mare. Like Acadian I expect Kharjo to stride in and knock Chin Guy off the bench just for looking. Although I’m sure Kharj is not entirely innocent in that department.

Thane video: Jarl Law-Giver had some nice things to say to Aravi. A Khajiit in one of Skyrim’s courts! Maybe the rest of Riften’s nobles will step up their game now. Congratulations to the new homeowner! Honeyside is such a cozy house. Now Aravi can go swimming right off her back porch! What a funny way to meet Iona. She looks much more comfortable in leather armor than the steel I’ve seen.

What a wonderfully evocative scene at the lake’s edge. Your words and the beautiful picture perfectly captured such a delicate moment between Aravi and Kharjo. I absolutely loved it!

It looked like it read that Aravi had received a Steel Sword of Sharks! Here I have visions of her wielding one of these!

So Aravi has been thaned. That is her second time right? I think she is thane of Whiterun too, since that is part of the main quest.

I have never seen the inside of Honeyside. So this will be interesting. It looks nice. Awful lot of dead animals on the walls though. Nords seem to like decorating with animal corpses. The basement seems a bit musty. Who is that guy sleeping in the bed! Oh, gurl that is. Iona. That whole housecarlness seems so silly in Skyrim. They are like armed butlers that come with every house. Real housecarls were professional soldiers sworn to the service of a lord, the elite core of every medieval army.

That was a wonderful little tale of Aravi and Kharjo sharing a moment of peace and happiness by the water's edge.

What a nice vid! Thane Aravi! That sounds good and she is now a minor noble! The house looks fabulous and even comes with its own tiny staff of one. Congrats to Aravi.

The written piece was magnificent, and what a beautiful drawing to base it on. I love how you captured Aravi’s appreciation of the natural scene - the sights, smells and feel of the colors and breezes. How perfect that she doffed her clothes to become part of it and invited Kharjo to join her. Simply beautiful stuff, my friend!

This is a deep and powerful passage, KC. I absolutely LOVE it! The whole written section was Awesome! A glimpse at Aravi and Kharjo on their travels when they aren't clearing a dungeon or battling bandits - this was beautiful !!!!

I can't watch the vid till tomorrow morning, but I'll come back and comment it, (sorry it took so long today)

Sorry I wasn't able to watch the vid till today, and I meant to comment Julienya's work last night too!

I absolutely LOVED that drawing of Aravi in the water, your description of the "Sky on Fire" was so accurate to the wonderful picture Julienya drew! Does Julienya draw Katia? I browsed her gallery and saw many other Aravi's, Katia's and a Flatula that had me rolling !! I've been a big fan of her Katia for a long time, LOVE all her Aravi's! Stunning talent and artwork!

The vid - somehow I'd blocked this scene with the Jarl from my memory, lol. I do own the house in Riften, too! Maybe she spoke to me at her dinner table instead of her throne? Is that how the house looks without updates? I think it looks better than afterward! I don't remember having a basement to it! Iona had me rolling! Awesome Vid !!!

This whole update was Awesome, one of my top favorite updates!

Honeyside is one of the nicest houses in Skyrim, pre Hearthfire. An honor well deserved. I loved the end of the video where we hear Kharjo munching on some food, haha.

The artwork is simply beautiful! The fire in the sky, the spots on Aravi's back! Awesome!



I loved this piece right here. A beautiful description of nature and the enviornment we all come to appreciate. Such a wonderfully written scene that shows your talent. Lovely. Indeed, Kharjo had a great view of the lake and Aravi, and it is assuring they have more of these time offs' from their day to day warfare and adventuring. A welcome novelty other than cooking and sitting on mountains(which is both relaxing and peaceful in their own rights).

@Grits: Aravi’s no Bosmer with the bow, but she’s getting pretty good. Good thing Kharjo usually follows her and not the other way around, else she would have trouble seeing over him. Yep, can’t have any kitty boobies showing! I can see Kharjo standing behind Chin with his hand resting on his ax!

Technically Aravi’s a thane of Whiterun too! Honeyside is Aravi’s favorite house so far. Glad you like the picture and my little story to go with it. Thanks Grits!

@SubRosa: Your reward looks a little OP. If you have a hard time seeing, you can expand the picture and/or increase the quality of the video. It will just take longer to load.
Yep! Second thane-ship?

Aravi just loves Honeyside. The basement is musty, but she only rarely goes down there. The bed is cozy and the fireplace is nice. Aravi’s glad there’s a housecarl in Honeyside, Riften’s crime reputation is pretty bad.

I’m glad you liked the story I wrote. I was originally going to just post the picture on its own, but felt I should support it with something. Thanks SubRosa!

@Acadian: Hey it didn’t occur to me that she’s a noble! Buffy and Aravi both have titles!

I’m so pleased you enjoyed the picture and the piece I wrote for it. I just love that picture; Julienya really outdid herself on it. Thanks Acadian!

@mALX: That passage you highlighted is one that I’m really proud of. I’m very happy you liked it.

The picture is amazing! I’m so happy I asked her to do it. Julienya does not actually do Prequel, Katia belongs to Kazerad. She loved it that you thought it was her though!

Aravi bought all the updates, I just cut that part out of the video. Thanks mALX!

@DE: Glad you liked the picture. I’m so happy with how it turned out! Julienya is very talented.

I wanted to make the setting very peaceful for the picture and I had to think about what sets me at ease and how a Khajiit would experience it. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks DE!

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Sorry about the late post, I just had too much going on earlier.

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Aravi travels the Rift and takes in the sights. As she wanders, she finds another dragon’s lair. A word of power calls to her.

6:53

Another beautiful fall day in the Rift. I have always wondered why they call it the Rift, when it is actually a big plateau?

Uh oh, I think I see a dragon ahead. Aravi just got her shot in before he took off! Uh oh, there is no cover out there on that mountain. She had better find a place where she can hide from that fire breath.

The dragons do look really neat when they sit on those word walls.

Now the dragon is finally down. Time for the two swords now? Yep, one Yol and a couple swings, and there can be only one.

That must be a new word for her life detection power.

This beginning was Awesome, the music and sights! That first song that was playing is from the last update of the movie "Cat People" (I love all the music from that movie).

Too bad Aravi moved down to that lower ledge and woke the dragon, I'd like to have seen her hit it while it slept and see if it aroused from being killed, lol. 777 gold! WOW !!! She got the word wall just in time too, before the vid ended, lol.

I liked that there were dragon bones laying around, someone has been living in that shack and eating dragon soup for dinner! Awesome update!

The beginning is so pretty. The Rift at its best! (The name makes me think of high altitude rift valleys.)

Whoa, the dragon was right there!! That ridge is exactly where Big D accidentally fought two dragons, entirely his fault.

The dragon really left a dent in the ground when it crashed. Aravi finished him on her own! The people of Shor’s Stone should feel a lot safer now. Well, apart from the giant spiders.

I love the notion that the Word called Aravi to the dragon’s lair. That might explain why there’s always a dragon at Word Walls. They all want to be the one who eats the Dovahkiin.

This was a fun video! All outdoors under beautiful skies, and plenty of warmth from all the Yol Toor Shul-ing. It makes it even better when Kharjo is along knowing that Aravi can handle things without him, but she sometimes chooses to share her adventures. He’s going to be surprised when she comes back from her walk loaded down with dragon junk!

Your great skill with cinematography was beautifully on display again during the opening scenes here! I loved the journey and music through the golden forest. Then the panoramic high view of the snowy mountains was wonderful as well.

That was a tough dragon fight. Trading one arrow for each dragon breath blast was not working so well and I could feel a bit of panic in Aravi a couple times.

The video intro was well done! No, scratch that, it was excellent! WOAH, dragons sleep? I never even knew that! Too bad she wasn't sneaky enough, or she would of had a greater advantage.

It is good to see our Dragonborn Aravi fight off that dragon! Geez, the entire fight happened all over the place in those hills. A good fire shout and two swords to the face dealt the killing blow to the oversized beast.

New shout! Seek, Aura, Whisper. I really don't know what it does, since I never ever played long with my dragonborn. Just did it get trophies. Anyways, it was wonderful to see the fight take place at dawn. It added to the atmosphere already painted by the golden beginning . Great update, good fight!

No Kharjo

@SubRosa: I’m not the only one wondering where ‘the Rift’ is then? Lol!

The mountain was a bad spot to be when it took off. High ground is nice for some enemies, but not all. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: Wait what? That’s Skyrim music, I didn’t insert any. Unless Jeremy Soule did that too?

Aravi had to move down a little, she thought the arrow would have hit the rock otherwise. She still got the shot, though barely. The bones were actually from the dragon’s meals. It’s been eating mammoths! Thanks mALX!

@Grits: They should have swapped names with Reach and Rift! It would make more sense in the mountain area in my opinion. Big D was where Aravi was? I wasn’t sure about the ‘proper way’ to get up there. Aravi climbed. She’s a Khajiit right?

Kharjo will be surprised! Thanks Grits!

@Acadian: Glad you liked the intro! When I get beautiful scenes like that, I just have to put them in the videos. That mountain top was not the best spot to pick a fight with a flying creature. Thanks Acadian!

@DE: Hard to not use that beautiful material. I think this is before I got my new GPU too.

Haha, Aravi tends to do a lot of running when there’s a dragon after her. Aura Whisper is detect life. Thanks DE!

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Sorry about the long absence. It’s been busy. My sister was married and I’m buried in work.

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Still in the Rift, Aravi and Kharjo find yet another dragon and Word.

7:29

Whoa! What a weird start, with Aravi decapitating a - what is it? - Master Conjurer. I was guessing that was the Shadow Stone. It always seems to have a spellcaster guarding it.

Is that dragon golden or brown? It is hard to tell from a distance. Ah, its an Elder Dragon. Is that from that dragon mod you are using? It looks more golden up close. I like the color!

Aravi rides the bucking bronco!

She gets a Fear shout of of it. She seems to have a lot of them saved up now.

I have to agree with SubRosa, that beheading was Awesome! An Elder dragon too! Loved the kill sequence in this one, Aravi clinging to that tossing head and sticking her sword through the skull - urk! Great update!

Neat opening in the middle/end of a fight, then transitioning to some quieter travel time. So does Aravi already have a power from one of the other Birthstones?

And another dragon with an intense fight!

I love it when she heals up Kharjo!

How awesome was that start? Everyone commented and I just had to watch it and replay it! Brutal, lovely, beautiful! Snip snip! Chop chop! Haha.

Oh gawd, another dragon battle. Here we go!! The fight was intense, that golden elder dragon was majestic, and the climax was cinematic! I love Aravi's finisher move! Right on the nose! The fact that she wears a cape while doing it made it even more heroic!

Favorite quotes in the video:

Wow, great beginning! Then the head rolled, the birds kept singing, and it was another beautiful day in the Rift.

I guess the burned up wagon was a pretty good clue as to what lives up those stairs. That was a beautiful dragon! Great sword-up-the-nose finish!

In that light after the fight, Aravi’s markings and hair looked darker. It was nice to get such a good look at her face.

That was a fun fight to watch!

Nobody sees. Nobody knows.

@SubRosa: I forgot about that beginning, when I reviewed the video I had the same reaction- whoa!

Its stats were probably boosted by the mod but the appearance is vanilla. Aravi has quite a few shouts, but she has her favorites. Thanks SubRosa!

@mALX: I was freaking out when I saw it was an elder dragon, they are tough! Aravi handled it though. Thanks mALX!

@Acadian: Yes she does, she has the Lord’s Stone which in SKyrim offers damage and magicka resistance. I’m sure Kharjo likes it when she heals him too! Thanks Adadian!

@DE: It certainly grabbed everyone’s attention! Aravi handled that dragon pretty well despite my fumbling with the menus. Thanks DE!

@Grits: I like how you put the beginning. I try to show her face pretty often, I like to see it too. Thanks Grits!

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Far from the warmth of the Rift, Aravi begins her search for an Elder Scroll in a freezing ruin called Alftand.

8:34

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J’zhar’s Journal

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Screens! I finally got to play tonight!


Bye for now (Aravi had to go on a quest without Kharjo)

Trolls are all over the roads in the far north

Aravi is getting tired of being threatened by storm cloaks

War face