Crystal Beth spent several days at the College. Selling off some of the Fine Clothes and other items in her new room so she can train up on several spells before leaving winterhold. She accepted a quest to place a Golden Claw in some remote location, too, but she's not taking this quest on until she feels absolutely ready.

She's been told of a situation at Sarthaal, but is in no hurry to investigate it. Instead she's off, back towards Whiterun. Collecting as many ingredients as she can find so she can make potions she can possibly sell or use.

The return from Winterhold is not as dangerous as her approach there, since she essentially cleared the road as she traveled north.



Oh okay. Guess it's random then.



Wow, that's really cool. I don't think I've come across this witch yet.

My witch character is gonna be a local witch who mostly dwells in the Riverwood area, though. She's not gonna have any followers, she's gonna take over a certain location (which I'll talk about in the Roleplay ideas thread) and mostly just be a medieval old hag-type witch.

i can see some future character using that witch follower for sure, though.

Hey how many characters have you had so far in Skyrim, Rosa? I"m seeing Aradia and now Scylla.

I think it's random too.

Aravi was sad and very embarrassed that she made that journey and couldn't cast a simple spell to get in.

She's more than capable now, but she doesn't want to go back yet.

There is the old lady's cabin on the north side of the river, to the west of Riverwood. I forget her name. The only trouble is if you go in her basement, she will attack you. The irony is that she is a Witch, and apparently the evidence is down there.

Embershard Mine would be a good place to take over too. It has a big pool in the front, and a waterfall in the back. I forget if it has an alchemy station though.

So far I have played 3 characters. Scylla was my first, then Aradia, now Primrose. A fighter, mage, and archer. I basically hit the three main types. After Primrose I think I might make a Nord one-handed fighter type, someone from Skyrim, and try doing the civil war with her. So far none of my characters have really felt a desire to fight for one side or another. Although Primrose does free all the Stormcloak prisoners she finds on the road. She remembers what it was like being in the same position...

MM hmm. That's my witch idea, essentially. She's gonna take over her little cottage and become the "old hag black magic witch of typical storybook lore. I've always loved this role! Luci Pheria in Oblivion pretty much played this role, taking over Weatherleah (pre-quest, of course) as her main hideout.



3 characters, eh? Nice.
None of my characters so far have seen much reason to join one side or the other. The first 2 only wanted money, and Claire and Beth mostly want education, some adventure, and other things that have nothing to do with the "war". To be honest, none of my characters have seen much evidence of any sort of war.

Eventually I am gonna make a "Son of Talos" Nordic character, though, and he WILL take up the Stormcloak's cause.

Started another character after I got tired with the Axe-Murderer of Bravil. Couldn't believe that playing the Jack Ripper of Tamriel would bore me out, but, unbelievably enough, it did.

I started an Imperial by name of Aurelius of Fenix. The ancestor of the centurion in F-NV, the guy that could help raise your reputation by doing... unhealthy things.

I've not yet completed his backstory, but I'm making it as he journeys forth in Skyrim. The ones I did complete, however, is that he was a former centurion and a close friend of General Tullius. Since I got to account on how he has magickal prowess in the schools of Destruction and Conjuration, I guess I could make it that he had a priviledged childhood. As for why he was captured along with the rabble, not yet done, that.

Anyway, that was just the introduction. Here's a personal account in a diary of a Stormcloak prisoner captured by the Thalmor when they encountered a traveller on the roads.
-------------------------------

4E 201, 7th of Frostfall


Praise be to Talos! After uncountable torments from the hands of these damn elves, I am finally freed! By a fellow brother, no less! I admit with no shame that I let my tears fall when he cut the ropes that binded me. Truly, the taste of freedom has been taken from my tongue. We talked for a while, he asked for some directions to Solitude and I gave him a most curious stare. I asked why, and he said that he goes there to meet 'a friend'. An assassin, perhaps? Sent by the true High King in retaliation to the loss we suffered in the skirmish in the Reach?


I then remembered that I am still a low-rank brother, and am in no position to question my superiors. With my curiousity wired shut, I pointed him to the direction of Solitude and he gave me several packs of supplies. We saluted each other, and went our seperate ways.

On the way to Whiterun to catch a carriage to Windhelm, I remembered that I forgot to ask his name. But I guess I could always ask my superiors about the strange Imperial, with the blonde hair and those rich amber eyes.

I just hope that I live enough to actually ask them. I heard news of a madman that preys on the unweary and eat the corpses thereafter. Horrid times, these days. When men hunt their fellows like animals.

^ Cool story, Uleni.

Oh hey there! You are the new mea-er, member, right? I belately welcome you to this fine community! Enjoy your stay, here.

Crystal Beth is now in Riverwood. She like Riverwood more than Whiterun for some reason. She doesn't want to stay with Hod and Gerdur's house anymore, though. They're kinda in-Beth's-face a little too much. Gerdur's okay, but Hod is always trying to get her to chop wood. Why should she waste her talents chopping wood? She wants to be rich. She's an adventurer. Adventurers don't spend all their days chopping wood.

And after all this time, Ralof the Nord is still in the house. He keeps saying he'll leave to go to Windhelm, but he's still here. What a slacker! The house is too crowded basically, and this elf has a rather large and thick aura. She doesn't like getting too close to anyone: humans, especially.

She adores cat-people, though. Beth has run into M'aiq the Liar at least 3 times now. She calls him "The Riddler".

Beth has a rather elaborate plan at the moment. She's supposed to go to a place near Solitude called Folgunthur to retrive a book for the orc librarian. I've actually not been here yet, it's rather remote. Looks as if it's on an island surrounded by lots of bad terrain, too.

So before Beth tackles this, she needs to get another horse. She has no money for another horse (right now she only has 24 gp), so she's going to see if she can find any enemies residing in any of the areas she's visited so far: Bleak Flats Barrow, Silent Moon Camp, etc. Hopefully her campaign will yield lots of money.

Crystal Beth has just arrived in Solitude. She's here to find somebody named Solana or something. There's also supposed to be a dungeon nearby in which she's going to retrieve a rare book for the orc at the College.

She watched as a former Nordic guard got executed, and felt little emotion about this. She pretty much stays to herself, and doesn't get involved with the ways of humankind unless there's gold involved.

I've been to Solitude before with an earlier character of mine, but he only dabbled in the city. In and out. He wasn't really that impressed. Beth is liking this place, though. She's gonna spend probably the rest of this evening exploring this town.

Today in Skyrim, Jensa (Level 47) met her first Ancient Dragon. It immediately landed and ate her in one bite. Then she woke up from that horrible nightmare and tried again. This time she and Stenvar prevailed, only to be nearly killed by a spriggan matron who wandered over to see what the fuss was about. It is time to consider enchanting her armor.

Here’s a fun perk: Quick Reflexes. Having a ball with that. She also found a piece of loot that I thought had to be crafted:



Which are ugly but still pretty cool.

Mr. Grits is out tonight, so I’m going back to Skyrim!! Who knows what the evening will bring?! (Probably Grits asleep holding the controller. We’ll have to see.)

Some perks are fun, that's very true.

Crystal Beth has been walking around Solitude all day. She went into a clothes shop and WOW look at all those different colors and fashions to choose from. She bought seveal outfits, several sets of boots to carry back to her hotel room.

Some lizardman gave her a job, but Beth is having second thoughts about it. He wants her to cause a shipwreck. Beth is currently looking for a way to not do this, and instead turn this evildoer in to the guards, but so far nobody wants to hear anything.

The guards really are sort of macho in this game sometimes, have you noticed? "OH, let me guess, someone stole your sweetroll?" That's kinda presumptive and mean. Cyroiil's guards were just "protect and serve, it's what we do". So noble.

It's like Cyrodiilic guards are Lawful Good, Skyrim's guards (the Nords, especially) are more like Chaotic Good. What do you think? Cyrodiilic guards put the law first because they believe in the law, whereas Skyrim's Nord guards only enforce the laws because it's their job. They do it for the paycheck.

I dunno,,am I making any sense?

I've noticed some are like that, and others express genuine concern for the smaller settlements that don't have walls and such.

I understand what you mean about the guards. They'll say things like "Go fiddling with any locks around here and we'll have a problem." or "Keep your hands to yourself sneak thief". They are a throwback to Morrowind's "We're watching you scum." guards.

OTOH, they can actually give you some useful tips. A few days ago one told Primrose that Secunda's Kiss was a holy place to the giants, so she should steer clear of it. He also marked it on her map. Another told her about seeing a strange creature outside of a cave, which led her on a dungeon romp and Primrose's first encounter with the Falmer.

Nice! I enjoy little touches like this.

A guard just said it....exactly what I was thinking of: "disrespect the law and you disrespect me". He put himself first, before the law. But I agree, there's more guard diversity in this game than in vanilla Oblivion.

Oblivion's guards are funnier, tho!

That actually sounds the opposite to me. He's taking personal interest in the law. To each their own though.

This Nodic cave Crystal Beth is going thru, Folgunthur, is amazing. Lots of traps. Lots of little details to notice. It's challenging, but nowhere near as challenging as some Tomb Raider games, but still. Almost every room we've come thru so far as some sort of puzzle or trap or some feature I've never seen in other Sky dungeons so far.

Beth is just learning to dual-wield. It's taking some practice for sure. She tends to alternate from Turn Undead to Fire. Occasionally she needs to heal or cast Oakflesh. Yea, Oakflesh...some of her magic is not top-rate yet, a condition of needing to budget money and whatnot.

Jensa found something interesting in a book. It turned out to be true. Here’s what she says about it:

Stenvar and I have been collecting parts of an artifact and putting them back together. It has so much power that they hid the pieces away in the old times. That means we crawled back into daylight covered in bone dust and worse. I started to worry if we should have left it alone. After all, a lot of brave folk died over it, and we just undid all their work. Of course they didn’t have to contend with dragons.

“Let’s have a Temple wedding in Riften,” Stenvar said, even though I thought we dropped that subject before we went inside the tomb. “Then I can take you to see my Ma.”

It’s true that sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my thinking. “She’s still living?” I blurted out.

Stenvar gave me a look. “Just how old do you think I am?”

“Older than dirt but younger than Ysgramor. It doesn’t matter, Stenvar. Neither one of us is going to make it to our fireside days.” I looked around for a place to fill our waterskins.

He started to say something, then he just shook his head and laughed. “I suppose I should be grateful for the ‘younger than Ysgramor’ part.”

“Well, you’re bald,” I pointed out. “And you have a grey beard.”

“I shave my head!” He sounded a little insulted.

“All right then. No need to get peevish.” Of course I always have to push a little. “Why do you shave your head?”

Stenvar grinned. “Nits.” Then he scratched himself in a way that had my skin crawling, which served me right for teasing. That man is hairy both coming and going. If we ever have children, they’re going to look like bear cubs.

“If you’re from the Rift, no wonder you hate the cold,” I said. “My folk don’t come down out of the hills, but you know they’d be happy for us.”

“Yeah,” said Stenvar. He got a dreamy look, and I knew he was thinking about that winter he spent with us. With me, mostly. “Say, kid. Do you remember..?”

He quit talking because I was already busy with the buckles. Right or wrong, it was good to be alive. “Yeah, old man. I sure do remember.”

ewww!

Yep, wedded bliss alright! (though technically they are not married yet).

Agreed!

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

Well Ma, you always told me to write things down in a journal, just like you do. I know you always wanted me to be an alchemist, like you. When Shor's bones thaw in Sovengarde! But here I am anyway, writing in this empty book I bought from the trader. I wonder if you are still back in Dawnstar, picking snowberries off the mountainsides? And nagging Pa to wash up before dinner. As if a blacksmith can ever get clean. If you did not like soot, why did you tie Mara's knot with him?

Anyway, why am I writing this Ma? So much has happened, in the last few days. So many impossible things. Maybe I just want to convince myself it is all true, and I did not just dream it all. It still seems like a nightmare, dragons, the Empire trying to kill me, it is like Nirn has turned upside down.

It all started, when? I have no idea what day it was. I was finally returning home, after so many days in the Imperial army. So many years of fighting those Cyrod's wars, and for what? So that damned Emperor of theirs could betray us, betray Talos? What did we spill out blood for?

Ah, but that is just the tip of the horker. While crossing the mountains, I walked into something. I do not know what. There was a line of wagons carrying men. I thought it was a caravan at first, so I went to greet them. I was hoping they might have some mead or ale to trade. I have been living on melted snow and rabbits for days. The next thing I knew there was an arrow in my leg, then the pommel of an Imperial sword made a home against my head.

When I awoke, well, I was in the caravan. Only it was not a caravan at all, but a train of prisoners. The Jarl of Windhelm himself sat beside me! I remember him from the war. He fought with the rest of us Nords who had taken up the axe and sword to defend the Empire from the cursed elves. Now this is how the Empire treats us in return? This is our reward for faithful service? First they take our gods from us, then our lives?

For we were bound for the headsman's axe, in the Imperial castle at Helgen. They could care less that my name was not on their filthy list, or that I was a veteran of the Great War. All they wanted was Nordic heads on the field.

They would have had them too, if not the for the dragon. Yes, I wrote that, the dragon. I saw him as they laid my own head on the block. It was black as ebony, and turned the sky the same color with but a word. Thunder and fire rained down as it spoke, and men died all around. Nothing could harm it, not steel nor spell, and it took its time knocking over the castle as if it were one of those houses of cards Da would make at the dinner table.

The rest was confusing. More confusing then any battle. I was able to escape along with a Stormcloak named Ralof. He had sat across from me in the wagon. I like him Ma. He is not all full of bluster like most Nord men, who try to hide their fears and doubts behind false bravado. He has nothing to prove to anyone. He is just himself. A good Nord man who fought his way through the Imperials with me, as we made our escape from man and dragon. I wonder if he has tied Mara's knot? He spoke of a girl he knew in Helgen named Vilod. But only the ravens live in Helgen now...

The rest seems to trivial. We made tracks from there fast. If any of the Imperials escaped, we had to put miles between us and them. As well as from the rest likely to come when they saw the smoke. It filled the sky like a harbinger of doom. We made our way to a village where his sister lives, and hid with her for the night.

Ralof told me about the rebellion, about how Ulfric challenged the High King in the old way and slew him in personal combat. That the Empire wanted him dead, because he will not bow down to the elves, and betray our good Talos. I cannot believe so much has happened since I was away. Ralof says I should go to Windhelm with him, and join the fight. I think I should.

But it has been so long, and so much has happened, I wonder if I am home at all. I think I will be coming to see you soon instead Ma. First at least. You warned me about going away to fight for the Empire, but I would not listen. Now I see what a mistake it was. You were always so much smarter then Da and me. Like he always says, I got your looks, but his thick head. Maybe you will know what I should do.

-Hrafn, somewhere in southern Skyrim.

Not the knee! *giggles*



You know, there is a Vilod in the prologue. It the guy who yells out 'Justice!' when the first guy gets chopped and briefly when your running by the south gate. Turn on subtitles.

Cool story, SubRosa. Perfectly captures the mood of "the prisoner" who isn't sure why he (she?) is a prisoner. It almost reads like one of those in-game journals we find hidden throughout the game.

Speaking of journals. Crystal Beth has taken up a hobby none of my previous characters (Oblivion or Skyrim) have ever attempted.

Like many literate, intelligent sorts, she's a reader. Books were once plentiful in Cyrodiil but finding a complete set of a series of books has become more and more difficult as the Empire has fallen.

Beth has been in the habit of trying to actually complete each series of books that she finds. She has just located the first 3 books of The Real Barenziah, for instance. Her rule? She doesn't want to start reading ANY book that appears in a series until she's got Volume 1.

Dyan phor a'Cauz (my paladin) was my most prolific reader in Oblivion. Her habit was to read a book as she sat in chapel, and then toss that book onto the chapel's altar. She tossed books, jewels, clothes, (etc) onto the altars as a way of tithing. But she never collected books to create her own library. That's what Beth seems to be liking to do.

Crystal Beth has just hired Belrand, a Nordic fighter. He also claims to know a few things about magic. PERFECT. Beth has just been assigned a couple tasks around Solitude: the destroying a a Necromancer's lair and also some sort of vampire dungeon.

There's always the possibility this means advanced magics are going to be encountered, and sometimes Beth struggles to fight against foes (especially multiple foes) as it is.

Beth is very happy, right now, though she doesn't show it. She's hapy to have a partner. She didn't know how lonely she was until meeting Belrand. He tells little jokes, and seems an elder veteran-sort. Beth is now decking him out, buying him armor pieces and a shield.


EDIT: Wow. So Beth has her new friend all ready to go. She gets outside in the Solitude street area and decides she's gonna go back in The Skeever's Hide or whatever it's called. She tells Belrand to "wait" outside. She thinks she just saw the lizardman who tried to get her to cause a shipwreck sitting inside the tavern. She's going to try to cause make this lizardman PAY for his planning of a crime, passive/aggressively.

She goes back in and takes a position on the far end of the bar. The Skeever is packed with patrons. She throws a Fury spell at whom she thinks is the lizardman and scores an immediate hit! She figures he's gonna now take up arms with everyone in the bar, and be slain, and this way Beth won't have to be accused of murder.

Well, he's slain alright! Problem is, Beth hit the wrong man. Oops. The guy she hit is a regular Nord. Damn.

She sees the lizardman and this time makes sure she's got him in her sights. She fires several Furies until she finally scores a hit. Nothing happens. She scores another hit. nothing.

Could this ARgonian be immune to such magics? Apparently so. Beth decides she's gonna need to make another plan.

She goes outside and ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE out there. Belrand is in a full-scale battle with a couple of town guards! Wha?? Beth tries to get him to follow her, but he's in the midst of fighting and doesn't listen. compassion!

Eventually, Beth needs to get involved. She invested 500 gold in this guy, and needs him to stay alive. So she starts attacking the guards! Throwing fire at them. Two guards are killed. Beth and Belrand now run outside the town gates, where the fight continues with 3 more guards.

Eventually, a more diplomatic guard walks calmly up to Beth and offers her jail time. Beth accepts this, and is currently in jail. Well the good news: at least she knows Belrand can fight! Not jsut fight, but heal himself up and cast a few spells as well.

These are the situations where I reload a previous save.

Yea, I was tempted to. But it all kinda fit in a roleplay sense. She's the outsider elf at the moment, plus I sometimes like moments like this that are spontaneous, and I dont' know how they're gonna turn out.

But I have (in the past) just loaded up a previous save, especially if all that chaos was completely unintended.

Yay, Hrafn has a journal!! *sends plenty of quills and ink to Hrafn*


Belrand is a star. He had Beth’s back and he wasn’t even in the same building! I wonder if she’ll have to hire him again when she gets out of prison. I have to say I haven’t encountered this situation yet.

No, she didn't have to re-hire him. He appeared next to Beth just after she got done her jail sentence.

Beth & Belrand make a great team in the dungeons, too. They went thru Pinemoon and Wolfskull Caves. Having Belrand around is great, but Beth sometimes has to tell him to "wait" behind, while she goes off exploring. He's a multi-talented fellow, but a little too unpolished when it comes to dungeon-diving. If things get to difficult (and they did a couple times), she can always run back to where Belrand is waiting for some extra help.

She wound up finding some sort of enchanted dwarven axe. I think it does ice-damage. Belrand loves this! She wound up giving it to him, you see.

Right now, Crystal Beth is on her way back to Whiterun, more or less. She needs to return the book she was required to find for the Orc, as well as another item, a fragment of some sort (2 seperate quests) to the College. Belrand is staying behind in Solitude. Despite Beth's troubles in Solitude, she much prefers this town over Whiterun. There's a lot more mystery and adventure in Solitude, I guess.

I've already decided Beth is probably not gonna finish the MAge's Guild questline, now that I know how short it is. I much prefer her as an Associate, or whatever her title is now. Some other character (probably a Gandalfy-type) will eventually become Arch Mage. Beth is more of a rogue-wizard.

From the journal of Hrafngoelir:

Here I am again Ma. Ralof's sister asked me to go to Whiterun, to tell the Jarl about the dragon. I'd sooner kiss a horker, but she was a good host, offering me a place to stay after Ralof and I escaped from Helgen. Not that I spent the night there. I went to the inn. There was only one bed, and she and her husband shared it. If there had been another bed, then perhaps Ralof would have…

Ma, how did you know Da was the one to tie Mara's knot with? Oh never mind. There are more important things to write with this damned goose feather.

I spent a day working with the smith, helping him in the forge. Da's lessons showed, and he was impressed with what I knew about iron and steel. His wife was less then pleased however, and I don't think I've ever seen a woman so glad to see my feet take me the other way when I left town next morning.

Ralof was already on his way to Windhelm. He said that the Imperials wouldn't be looking for me. My name was not on their list, and no one was left alive who would know me. That was why I was the one to go to Whietrun. I wonder if I made the right decision, not going with him? Will I ever see him again? Or will I forever wonder what happened to that man?

Whiterun. Yes. It was a long walk north between the mountains, with only the wolves for company. But they kept their distance, and I respected their territory, so we got along just fine. On the other side of the mountains things changed. Lots of farms and even a meadery. I've never seen so many bees in my life! I was tempted to stop in for a drop, but I just wanted to get things over with, and be on my way home.

So up to the city I went. It's the only mound on the whole damn tundra. I swear Ma, I don't know how people can live there. The land is just flat and empty in all directions, and the wind never stops. No trees, no mountains, no ocean. The city itself is like big mammoth turd rising up on the plain.

The Jarl talked to me, after one of his damned huscarls drew steel against me. I thought I was going to have to kill her there in the hall, and had my axe and shield in hand. But cooler heads prevailed, and I made my report of the dragon to the bag of wind. When I told him that the Imperials tried to give me a shave, he called me a criminal, and said he did not care who the Imperials decided to execute. How can a man like that lead our people? How can a true Nord look the other way when the Empire spills the blood of the sons and daughters of Skyrim?

Well, I was hoping to get myself out of there, but the damned blowhard dragged his court wizard into the mess, and the next thing I knew I was being sent on an official mission for the Hold. Finding some silly magic stone in one of the old barrows. I just nodded and said "aye". Then once I get out of the city I headed straight north for home.

The roads are a less friendly place then they were when I left Ma. The first people I met were smugglers, who decided that my armor would look better in their loot chest. I disagreed, and my axe settled the matter. Later that same day I came upon a hunter camp, and the next thing I knew they were attacking me. It was more outlaws. I did Whiterun Hold a service by adding their bones to those of the mammoth in their courtyard.

So there I was, loaded down with loot from all these unsavory fellows. Well, I headed back south to Whiterun to sell it all off. It will not hurt to come home with some gold in my pockets after all. So once I was done and out the gate, well, I looked over the mountains in the south and sighed. I could see the barrow from the plain…

Well I am not proud of plundering a tomb of our ancestors. But I did it, and found that blasted stone. I should have stuffed it down that wizard's throat and choked the arrogant ponce with it. But your blood won out over Da's, and I just gave the weakling the silly rock, and was on my way. Now I'm on my way back north across the tundra. The mountains are in front of me, and nothing is going to get in my way this time.

-Hrafn, north of Whiterun.

I'm loving the journal-style you're writing in. That does it. My next character is also gonna be written in a similar style. That compassion is too good.

I like this woman. And to think just today I was marveling at the mammoth turd bathed in evening light.



Here's an update from Jensa:

It took some doing, but Stenvar and I finally made it to Riften. We camped outside the walls and upwind from the fishery. Damn, that town stinks.

We both had business to deal with, so we agreed to meet back at camp. I strolled in around sundown halfway lit from my critical mead tasting mission. Those Black-Briars may be shady, but they know their brew. Stenvar was already there cooking our meal. He gave me the look that means I should pay attention.

“I told the priest of Mara that we want to get married,” he said. “They’re making all of the arrangements. Tomorrow, Jensa. Or you can still change your mind.”

I had a lot of worries, like what kind of dress should I wear, and are we supposed to give gifts to people who come to the wedding, and is there going to be food and ale, and what if a dragon attacks the guests, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to say because we don’t have temple weddings in the high passes. But that’s not what came out of my mouth.

“What if I can’t stay faithful?” I asked him. “I mean, I haven’t slept with at least half of the Stormcloak army. That’s a lot left undone, even if you take out most of the women.”

“Uh,” said Stenvar, and then he saw that I was jesting. Sort of. “I believe in you, kid.” And he gave me that smile.

Then I believed in me, too. And all at once I knew why I could never stay with a man before, even when there was not a single thing wrong with him. None of them was Stenvar.

On our wedding day I wore my soft blue dress that makes me feel pretty, and Stenvar wore the armor he had on that day in Windhelm. I couldn’t believe how many folk came all the way to Mara’s Temple to wish us well.

The ceremony was a blur, I hardly remember any of it. Just Stenvar holding my hand and putting his ring on my finger, and how he smiled when he said, “Now and forever.”

Then there was a feast, and Black-Briar mead, and a fair number of fights that for once I was not a part of. When we got back to camp, we found some of my Shield-Brothers ready to stand watch. I pity the bear or bandit that tried to make trouble that night. I have no idea if any did. Stenvar kept me busy.

I was nearly asleep when I remembered. It made me pop up out of the furs like a prairie rabbit. “Stenvar, I never met your Ma!”

“I’ll take you to see her in the morning. She’s not going anywhere.” My sweet man was just about asleep himself.

I gave him a little punch in the gut to wake him. “What the fetch, Stenvar!”

He cracked an eye open. “She’s in the Hall of the Dead, love. In a stone box. Didn’t I tell you?”

I just stared for a moment, then I lay back down and he wrapped his arms around me. There’s a lot that I don’t know about my husband. But I know we said the important things today. You and me. Now and forever.

I was about to quote another line, until I saw this gem:
“I mean, I haven’t slept with at least half of the Stormcloak army. That’s a lot left undone, even if you take out most of the women.”
Got to love Jensa. Reading these journal entries of hers is always fun.

Awwww!! ...

I love the whole Jensa/Stenvar thing...So sweet!!... ...

That was just the sweetest journal entry ever...That bit at the end with "She ain't going anywhere."...Brilliant...

And that goes for you Subrosa too...Brilliant stuff...Loving it... ...


EDIT...I'm currently exploring The Kingdom of Amalur so not able to contribute at the mo , but the wife's character Nimuvaine found some creepy glowing ball dude in the middens of the College of Winterhold, and then went off and explored the dwemer ruin of Mzulft...Which is where she is now...

Does that count?... ...

It has been fun writing Hrafn's journal. I do not usually do first person, so it is a little stretch for me.


From the journal of Hrafngoelir

I had a few more run-ins with bandits Ma. I cannot believe what has happened to Skyrim. It used to be safe to travel. Now it feels like I am in one of those damned Cyrods' arenas whenever I set foot outside a city. Where are all the guards? I've not seen one on the road since I returned. I suppose they are all too busy fighting in the war. Now the rest of the countryside has gone to Oblivion in a handbasket while they're gone.

Well, I am back in Dawnstar. I can smell the smoke from the hearths now. I cannot wait to see your and Da's face.


* * *


From the journal of Hrafngoelir

I came home. But home is not here anymore. Where are you Ma? Where is Da? I found a stranger working the forge, and Redguard woman living in our home. They say the place was empty when they bought it, two years ago.

I went to Frida. She told me about what happened to Da. I don't know what to say, or what to think. I just cannot believe he is gone. I keep thinking, that while I was away playing soldier in Cyrodiil, he was dying in his bed, a sick old man. What was I thinking?

Now you are gone too. Vanished Frida said. She said she was not surprised. She said you were like a ghost in the old house. She says you probably went off to one of the big cities become a priestess. She would not say it, but I can tell she does not believe that. She thinks you are dead. Killed by a frost troll, or gods know what on the mountains. Or worse, by your own hand…

Why didn't you tell me? Write me a letter? Or leave me something so I would know where you were? Where are you Ma? Will I find your bones, frozen on a mountain, or under the sea? Or do you wear a yellow cloak now after all?

Why didn't you tell me?

Poor Hrafn!

Happy hunting to Nimuvaine! I hope she has a big backpack.

I have an angry elf telling me to quit fooling around in Skyrim and get on with the story. But I think I can sneak this page from Jensa in behind her back.

My first morning as a married woman I woke up with Farkas kicking me in the foot. He said they were heading back to Jorrvaskr. I guessed that meant the honeymoon was over. Then Stenvar proved me wrong.

We got some kahve beans as a wedding present, so Stenvar crushed some while I went to the creek. I found a stack of fresh hides down there, and the ravens showed me where my Shield-Brothers must have dragged the bodies. Seems like they had a busy night, too.

Back at camp I fried some sausage and eggs, and Stenvar unveiled some sweet rolls. We sat watching the mist fade back into the hollows as the sun got high. We also saw a troll battling some spiders. It was a pretty even match. When it was over I took down the troll with one arrow. I didn’t even need to put on my boots.

After a while Stenvar said, “Where should we live?”

I hadn’t really considered that. We mostly live out of packs. I still take contracts for the Companions, but I can’t see Stenvar at Jorrvaskr. So I said, “How about Windhelm?”

He agreed, and that’s where we went. After we brought some flowers to his Ma, of course. Stenvar took the time to put a shine on her axe, and I left her a bottle of mead.

We stopped in Whiterun first so I could move out of Jorrvaskr. No one gave me a hard time about it. We’ve been through a lot. They know I’m still their sister, no matter where I store my alchemy ingredients. I had more stuff than I remembered. Stenvar and I packed it all up and took the carriage to Windhelm.

It was late when we got there. Stenvar took us to Candlehearth Hall. I thought he just wanted some ale and a meal, until he showed me the chest where they let him keep his stuff. “It isn’t much, just a rented room,” he said, kind of ruefully.

I thought that was a silly thing to be sorry over, but the way I said it sounded nicer. “And anyway, I meant for us to live at my house,” I finished up. “If that’s all right with you.”

“You have a house? In Windhelm?”

“Yeah.” Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. “Jarl Ulfric had a hand in it after the war. I guess I didn’t draw my pay the whole time, and he wanted his Thanes to own property in the city. So it was kind of a swap. I’ve never lived there, though. I’d had enough of Ulfric’s politics by then. Truth be told, I kind of forgot about it.”

Stenvar’s face showed that he’d just had a few surprises, but he didn’t say anything. Until we got to the house. “You own Hjerim?”

I still could hardly believe it myself. That place is bigger than my clan’s winter caves, and it smells a lot better. “I don’t know how a person can really own a house like this,” I said. “I mean, the folk who built it are gone to dust, and it will stand long after we’re dried up corpses. It’s like owning land. You just get the privilege of living there for a while.” Then I thought about Hjerim’s previous occupant. “You’re not afraid of ghosts, are you?”

Stenvar just scooped me up in his arms, kicked open the door, and stepped in out of the snow.

Calder met us with steel in hand. I had to talk fast before Stenvar dropped me on my backside and killed him in his tracks. It turned out I didn’t need to make introductions.

“Calder,” said Stenvar, kind of tense.

Calder’s face went through some contortions before he got his jaw unclenched. “Stenvar.”

So my husband already knows my Housecarl, and they don’t get along. Perfect.

I love reading Jensa's adventures. You do the macho tough girl very well, because she does not come across as annoying or being overcompensating, as such characters tend to.

Me too. I like reading Hrafngoelir's, too.

I been Markarth-ing it these last couple of days...And the thing that inspired me most was the Jarl Favour-Quest...So this is slightly spoiler-ish but not really...It's also linked to my story, so it may confuse...Well...It's me...So it will confuse... ...

But it's all writing so it's all good... ...



Caerellin dropped to a sneak as soon as he entered Blind Cliff Bastion. The Bosmer Knight of The Nine had no idea who Blind Cliff happened to be, but as he had a cave, some towers and a bastion to his name his apparent blindness seemed somehow neither here nor there.

Creeping up the stairs that lay a short way beyond the entrance, Caerellin stopped. He peered through an open door, life detect showing one strong life-sign in a corner currently hidden by the door. He heard sniffing and then a voice shouted.

“Fresh meat! Come to laugh at poor Melka have you?”

Caerellin cast the night-eye and the abated gloom revealed a cage, in which a Hagraven stood, peering out between the bars, hands gripping the metal.

“Oooh, hello pretty.” The Bosmer grinned.

“Pah! A Fleshling. A Pretty fresh-fleshling. Do your worst then.” The Hagraven sighed and looked out with slumped shoulders.

Caerellin frowned and walked up towards the cage.

“Do you fleshings not all flee-fire and flay us?..Well,” the hag wrinkled her nose with vicious amusement, “try to anynows.”

“I’m wondering why you haven’t shot me yet.” The Bosmer said.

The Hagraven seemed offended by this. “We are not all savages. You did not use fire me. I will not...Feast on you.”

“Comforting. How did you get in there anyway?”

“Evil sister.” The Hag spat. “Evil Petra locked me in here. Took my pretty tower. You like my pretty tower? It has many pretties here. Many trinkets-baubles. You like to see my pretty baubles, pretty fleshling?”

Caerellin had a wince-inducing vision, paused as he fought his stomach and then answered. “Maybe later. I came here looking for a special shield of the Jarl’s, do you know anything about it?”

“Oooh, the Highmighty Doesnotowntheland. PAH! His other fleshlings were not so...Nice.” She flashed her teeth. “I know of the tray you seek. Is with my other pretties. You help me out. Help Melka get to her evil sister,” Melka said between clenched teeth, then, “I give you tray and treasure to carry upon it. What say you pretty, so pretty fleshling?”

“On two conditions.”

“Pah!” Melka said then turned away and walked to the back of the cage. She stood leaning against the bars, her eyes glowing faintly. “Name them Knightling.”

Caerellin frowned. “One, my name is Caerellin, call me that...Please. And two, try to fire or flay me and I will get very, very angry.” He walked towards the front of the cage and pressed his face between the bars. “And this tower will rot away with you. Understand?”

The Hagraven nodded.

“You called me Knightling. Why?”

“Melka can see. Can smell.” She shuffled slowly forward. Then she sniffed. “We know of you. The NineKnights.” She nodded and slowly put her hand up. Caerellin watched it carefully. Melka touched his head and gasped. “You are a child of Derwydd? Melka would never dare...”

The Hag bowed to Caerellin and then said, “Help Melka sire? Please?”

“Sire?” The Bosmer frowned and laughed. “Nah, Caerellin will do.”

The Knight turned and pulled a nearby chain which lifted the door to the cage.

Melka shuffled forward and put her clawed hand to Caerellin’s arm. “You are be-destined.” She said, “When the one who does not belong has gone to the Mistake, you will be the one to lead. Time is wrong, and the time will come.”

“Riiiight.” Said Caerellin.

“Let’s go kill my sister!” Said the Hagraven with a smile.


--------------------------------------------------

Ahh, that quest. When I encountered that ... creature, I was unpleasantly suprised. The way she called Celdryn 'nibbling', I found ironic. When all was said and done, sneak attack for 30.00.x damage! What can I say, she freaked me out.

And you got me. I'm preeeeeeeettttyyyyyy confused about her dialogue. Speaks like Yoda on Happy-Happy Skoom-Argh, she does.

Ah yes, confusing her dialogue may be...But I thought it a decent stab at it... ...No, it's not entirely what she says on the game, but I'd forgotten much of it before I came to do that... ...

I was so surprised by Melka, I thought her one of my fave characters I've ever encountered on the game!... ...I liked her so much... ...Not marrying like, but like nevertheless...It was a joy fighting with her...She made the wife and I laugh as I went through the tower... ...

I loved Caerellin's musings on who Blind Cliff was, and why he had a cavern named after him. I just imagined that it was named after a geological cliff, rather than a person...

Knight of The Nine? Shouldn't that be Knight of the Eight? Or did the order join up with the Stormcloaks then?

Cheers... ...

Busy Multiversing at the mo...I'm hurtling headlong into throwing a major spanner in the works as far as the Thalmor invasion of Cyrodiil goes in me KOTN story at the mo...So the Knights of The Nine still exist in Skyrim times, for me at least...

Unlike in the game, where they haven't been heard of for years...Which seems silly to me...But that's just me being biased... ...


EDIT...Caerellin did a bit more bouny-hunting this afto, to make up the monies to discreetly buy back Vlindrel Hall for the Knights...

However, Roreck is too busy, what with his having letters to read, to sell the damned thing to the Bosmer...(Glitch anyone?)...

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

Well Ma, I've been looking for weeks, and I still have not found you. I tell myself that is a good thing, because it means you must still be out there, somewhere.

I trekked as far east as Winterhold, as far south as Lake Yorgrim, and halfway to Solitude in the west. It seems I found anything but you. First was a priest of Mara in Dawnstar itself, who said he knew how to cure the nightmares that gripped the city. It turns out he was not exactly a priest of Mara, or at least he was not always one. You can always count on an elf to never tell the truth, at least not the whole truth. A Daedric Princess was involved, and a lot of killing followed. But in the end we sorted things out.

Remember Frostflow Lighthouse? I found that some Redguard family had moved in there. I met their corpses when I went there looking for you. Something had risen up from depths and taken them. Some horror of the ancient world, whose remnant still lurked in the sightless depths where the sun's rays have never touched. Falmer, I thought they were something you and Da had made up to scare me. But they are real, real enough to murder innocents, and real enough for my axe to split apart. Even worse were the insects they had. There was one down there bigger than four horses put together. It must have been the momma. Well, she won't be making any more baby bugs anymore, thank Talos.

If that was not bad enough, I came across a group of lunatics calling themselves the Silver Hand. They were werewolf hunters, but from what I saw, they were no different from the monsters they hunted. They attacked me with no warning. In the end I had to kill them all.

I even found some mad Imperial living out on the ice north of Winterhold. He had some Dwarven contraption, like a giant puzzle box, that he was trying to get open. He said the heart of a god was inside, and all he needed to get at it was an Elder Scroll. He knew where to get one too. In that old Dwemer city between Dawnstar and Winterhold: Alftand.

Well, it wasn't in Alftand after all, but under it. I found some poor explorers there. Most had been butchered by the Falmer and the automatons of the Dwemer. I found two still alive deep in the passages, and thought I had rescued them. But they had been driven mad. One killed the other before my eyes, and then fixed to send me to Sovngarde next. Well, my axe had a few things to say about that, and it was me left to write the tale afterward.

Ma, those Dwemer ruins give me more chills than a glacier down the shorts. I am glad those elves are gone. Dead, or ascended, or descended. Whatever happened to them, I am glad it did. They were just wrong Ma, wrong in the head. I think it was the gods that wiped them out. Blotted them from existence for their blasphemies.

But I was writing about that elder scroll. I found it, under Alftand. There is a huge cavern down there called Blackreach. It goes for miles and miles in all directions. I found lifts coming out of it all over eastern Skyrim. There were Falmer down there, and other things. Not all of it was bad. I found veins of raw magicka gem quartz all over, even ebony! I took all that I could with me, and right now I am wearing a full set of ebony armor crafted by yours truly!

I got the elder scroll in the end. Why? Because that mad man got me to thinking. Maybe I can use it to find you? Or use that heart he has locked away in his Dwemer box? I don't know how to use it though. The old tales all say that to read one of these things drives you blind. I can't find you if I can't see. So I think I'll take it back to that Imperial first, and see what he can make of it. When I get my chance, I'll find a way to use it to find you.

-Hrafn, on the Sea of Ghosts.

The musings of Vertandi

Funny where life takes you. Joining the Legion seemed like a good idea at the time, still does. Even got a blessing from Jarl Dengeir before I left since Da wouldn't give it. Couple years would've done good, picked up some fighting skills and sharpened my smithing, even made some plans for my own set of armor. Then it all came crashing down.

Not sure which made me mad more, that the wound to my face and eye was from our Thalmor 'ally', or that she used a dagger she had me make for her in the first place. Either way, it was deemed an 'accident' and I was told my services were no longer needed. If I ever see Elenwen again, we're going to be having words, she and I.

Cheap Imperials wouldn't even let me have a horse or half-way decent gear, only assigned to members of the Imperial Legion my rear. Guess I'm walking to Skyrim.
~~

Finally made it home, had a bit of a side trip when a prisoner caravan saw me and decided I had escaped from... somewhere or another. Met the Jarl or Windhelm, also a horse thief and a Stormcloak soldier. Then the Legion tried to cut my head off. So much for loyalty, never thought I would be saved by a dragon of all things, weren't they supposed to just be stories? Managed to get out of Helgen with Ralof, the Stormcloak soldier, and get to Riverwood in one piece. I got some rather nasty looks for being in some Imperial Legion armor. Best get something else, soon. I can do it after talking to the Jarl or Whiterun. Huh, I'm not sure getting noticed by so many Jarls is a good thing.
~~

Nice to know there are some good Imperials after all, Adrianne let me work her forge in return for my own help with a bulk order of swords made by Clan Battle-Born. Finally got to make the armor that had been in my head for months now. Did enough jobs around the city to raise up some money, even got named thane after I poked a dragon in the snout. At least my sword arm's back in form, archery's a total loss though, left eye's too clouded to make aiming work. Been long enough, time to go home.
~~

Falkreth still looks the same as when I left, same air of near despair, same graveyard bigger then the city. I saw Mathies and Indara Caerellia in there though. Their daughter was killed recently, I used to watch her sometimes. After greeting Lod finding that lay-about Siddgeir had somehow become Jarl, I went to look at the murderer. What sort of man can do that to a child? The answer was no man, he is a beast. A beast that escaped moments later when the light of the moons came through the window.

I feel sorry for him, I really do. It didn't seem like he got that disease by choice, but he's still a danger to everyone. Guess I'm on the hunt once more, he can't be any worse then a dragon right?

Oooh!!...Excellent Journal-ism from you both!!...Loved them... ...

Changed character for a while...The "Roerek won't sell me Vlindrel Hall" glitch got to me...

Therefore, brother of J'Zargo - J'Zirlo, is ambling about the place kicking a$s and taking names whilst humming tunes to himself...Oh, and making lots of pretty armour...

I really like that Eisen Platte Armor liliandra. I just wish it did not leave your underwear hanging out for everyone to see. If they would put some armor on the butt, I would use it.

Me too. I'm reading every word. I'm actually a little jealous becuase I simply don't have the time to make a long, detailed story, so the best I can do is write up my usual shallow additions. Maybe someday my grandkids can read all about these adventures, and someday...

Crystal Beth is currently in Whiterun. She got a letter from the Jarl of Solitude (her favorite town), apparently the Jarl needs her back to take care of some sort of business, but on the way, she's performing a few sidequests...as a campaign to raise money so that when she shows up in Solitude, she's going to have lots to spend.


Beth isn't necessarily materialistic, but she's a high elf who's easily wowed by technology, magic, and a few pretty gems here and there.

While living in Cyrodiil (before going to skyrim and winding up on that awful execution cart), she visited several Ayleid ruins, just for the Oblivion of it. She loved these mysteriously quiet subterrenean places...some small, some as large as the Imperial City itself, but she had to admit, she wanted something more. What woud these ruins have been like when they actually were packed with treasures? Some of the monsters (the undead, the goblins) were still there, but where was all the treasure?

These ruins had all been picked clean of course, picked clean by at least a dozen famous and infamous folk 200 years earlier. Renee Gade II, Lady Saga, and The Grey Wizard being just 3 examples here. As a wannabe adventurer, Crystal Beth desired more, hence her journey into Skyrim, where a simple Nordic fighter by the name of Thor a'Zaene had made an important discovery in the Year 200 of the 4th era: Cyrodiil's du;ngeons may be looted, but Skyrim's were still flush with treasure!

Thor was a simple fighter, apparently. He could wield a blade, was somewhat adept at crafting his own weapons and armor, but knew nothing of magic. Still, he was able to plunder several Nordic barrows, and the rumor was he did, in fact, find plenty of treasures. But why no magic? Beth wondered. Who would be foolish enough to attempt some dungeon-diving without magical aids?

Had Thor come to his doom?. The rumors said he had been last seen heading off from Markath to deal with some Forsworn, not long before Beth made her way into Skyrim. Nobody had seen Thor since. Foolish! Who wields only a blade and a sheild while seeking treasure? Beth thought to herself.

Beth learned about Thor while she was still living in the Imperial City. She coudnt' remember who told her about Thor, but once she heard the rumors, she decided she'd like to get up to Skyrim, just to see if they were true. Why not?

She couldn't help thinking about the Ayleid ruins, though, and as Beth sat in her hotel room eating some apple pie brought to her from that Redguard woman named Saadia, she had to admit she missed those places.

Built by elves more powerful and advanced than she, Beth's love of magics and magic items began as she stalked into a few ruins such as Ceyatatar. After years and even centuries, the Ayleid's lights still glowed. Their traps still worked. And their mysterious invisible spirits still hummed and chimed here and there. Would Skyrim hold similar places? Underground cities as beautiful as the Ayleids had built? Beth hoped so.

But so far, an Ayleid ruin Beth had not been able to find. Plenty of dusty Nordic barrows, plenty of dark caves, but nothing so splendid as the Ayleids could have created. Beth doesn't mind, though...at least the rumors (so far) have proved to be true. Skyrim is full of places to loot!

...just a few months ago, Beth was just an aspiring adveturing elf with no gold to her name, now look at her!

As she sat in Whiterun's Banner'd Mare, Beth contemplated the goals she had just accomplished. Her latest mission had been to take down the bandits of Redoran's Retreat, but she's on a campaign to raise money, so she took care of Silent Moon Camp and Halted Stream as well. She's got another horse (her 3rd) and has made a profit of just over 2 thousand gold after selling various special items, potions, and such! She's not sure where she's going to put all this money.

Since she's thinking Solitide willl become her second home, Beth has decided she's going to need some place in that town where she can at least stash all her loot, since she doesnt' have time to go all the way back to her room at The College...

Beth is looking forward to returning to Solitude. There's only one place where she can't really go right now, and that's Windhelm. She somehow wound up getting a bounty while attempting to defend the stables area from a giant tiger. The tiger followed Beth to Windhelm, somehow, killed at least 3 horses (one of them was Beth's!) the stable hand, and a couple other NPC's as well.

Beth doesn't know exactly how she got a bounty, but right after the tiger was finally felled, Windhelm's guards started giving her compassion! She needed a horse so she could get to the Wreck of Winter War, and since her horse died, she decided she could kill 2 birds with one stone by stealing one of Windhelm's finest! This made the guards even madder, of course.

ahhh, but Solitude. High up on a naturally-formed rock, Beth looked forward to Solitude, where the court addresses her like a lady, and treats her with respect. Well, more respect than usual, anyways.

Wait until she finds Alftand, or Blackreach. Real eye-openers those places are.



Well, at least they were kind. (somehow I do not think compassion is what you actually wrote however... )

Nice. Beth also hasn't found any Dwemer ruins, yet. Only one of my characters so far has been in one of those places...so when Beth gets to one I'll be sure to write about it.




Hee hee, rhymes with "knit"

I'm sure that's why dollar signs were invented... ...



Shouldn't that be brilliant additions?... ...Loving the story of Crystal Beth...

Any writing is better than not writing at all...And writing these journal pieces on here is excellent fun!!... ...