I recall Fort Rayles as the fort with some sort of unique-looking bedrolls in Cyrodiil. There are more of them in some of SI's dungeons, though.

Good luck to Joan as she's about to restore the Battlehorn Castle. I hope it doesn't get in her face since she's faciated by it.

Yes! I sure would like to hear more about the castle and I certainly expect many pictures!

Rayles also has a rather unique way of getting deeper into its interior. We have to to open up the first interior gate we come to.

Yes, we're pretty psyched about Battlehorn. Just the fact that an NPC guard respawns there is pretty cool. This means Joanie will have a follower anytime she needs one. Thing is, these followers aren't so good with combat, but still.


Off-topic, but does anybody ever not click on a spoiler tag? They're so tempting. Me myself, I tend not to do this; I hate getting spoiled. There are times I've slipped though.

This is bugging me. Like many others, Battlehorn Castle is the one DLC I'm missing. Didn't mind before now, but dammit Renee, now I want to give it a go. (Got to be complete, I guess. Heh, in a game that is never ever complete, funny...) Steam engine time, I suppose, hate it...

A small note today: As Lothran was about to go to Olav´s for another night of Kvatch talk and random spewiness, Urjabhi came running again! As usual he entered the View but what´s funny was he kept pestering Hafid! He literally kept pushing him from one side of the bar to the other, he was relentless! Even when Hafid went to a table and sat down, Urjabhi wouldn´t stop trying to push him!



That´s what we in the trade call "another Oblivion moment"

Ha ha that sounds funny, mirocu.

t-C: Battlehorn probably isn't all that, compared to some mods out there. You aren't missing anything really. From the perspective of adding something to an Xbox game though, well it's nice to add anything if the game is on Xbox. 'Cause there ain't so much to add.

I kind of liked Battlehorn; the initial battle/the secrets/followers/add ons/continuing quests/etc. - loved making the !

I also liked that by visiting there you could trigger 2 random Oblivion gates.

But the battle could have been bigger, maybe complete a longer questline to gain ownership.

My biggest complaint about it was the maid coming into your bedroom area and milling around. I really prefer the Player's bedroom area to be maid-free and private = by invite only. In the Skingrad house, the only follower allowed up in the bedroom area was Vilja, because she had to sleep by her AI package, and was very vocally unhappy if thwarted from it.

Second biggest complaint = the big slamming iron gate in front did not keep horses in or enemies out.

3rd complaint = the "tame" wolf attacked the unicorn Maxical rode in on. She was forced to kill the wolf, thereby upsetting the caretaker = thereby causing me to reload a save and bring the unicorn elsewhere and walk on foot to Battlehorn.

It was not the most exciting DLC, but worth getting imho.

mirocu, I like to hear about Lothran’s domestic routines when he’s in Bruma. Picturing him waiting for the shops to open made me smile. Congrats on the milestone!

Renee, restoring Battlehorn sounds like a great project for Joanie. Jerric has helped them out in his Xbox game with no intention of living there, only visiting. I like that place a lot, especially in a game without any mods.

Not sure what you mean here but I can grant your wish if you elaborate a bit


And thanks! Considering he´s been running the days at speed 10 instead of 30 for a few years now, he should have passed 1500 days a long time ago

Sorry! It’s not a wish, I meant that I enjoyed reading about what Lothran was doing around his home in Bruma.

Oh, I see now what you meant

Well, I´m glad you enjoy reading about his (partially) uneventful life

Morndas, Frostfall 29, 4th Era 20: Renee Gade III is in Newland's Lodge, drunk off her [censored]. Her game is really fun. She's like a drunken Xena.

Tirdas, Frostfall 30: Now she is in Sercen with the entire group except her best friend Gabrielle. This includes Felrika (Nord warrior), Tasha (Dark Elf rogue), Haili (High Elf mage), and Cresha (Khajiit archer / thief). Sercen doesn't stand a chance. According to my notes, RG3 goes south toward Imperial Bridge Inn next.

Sounds like ms Gade the Third has escaped from Baldur´s Gate or maybe ESO and into Oblivion...



Just make sure to keep their gear in shape or they might get grumpy

It does sound like Baldur's Gate III! I love the idea of a drunken Xena!

Those that played Baldur's Gate, will understand.

Lothran has just started his second shift guarding Bruma. Plundered Mine and Capstone Cave are both empty of threats so now he has time. As usual he parks himself at the North gate but he also does patrols. As he did that tonight, something odd fell upon him.


He had been standing at the North gate for a while when the taverns began to close and he decided to take up patrolling to see if assistance was needed, and then he was supposed to return to the North gate. But after passing Hammer and Axe and walking past his home, he noticed the East gate was unguarded! There were always two guards there, always, but now there was none! So Lothran aborted the patrol and took upon himself to do it and he´s still standing there as no one has come to fill in.


I guess Lothran can now extend his CV to also include the East gate..

How odd. Good for Bruma that Lothran's on duty!

Funny thing, he had considered duty today but almost decided against it. But considering how peaceful the Jeralls are now he might as well hang around town for awhile.


As M. Night Shamalamadingdong said in Signs; It´s like it was meant to be

Maybe "their feet" finally killed those two guards.

I guess it's good for Lothran to guard the east gate for a change.

Oooh, was it an Auroran Drop Bear? I hope Lothran didn't spend money on the Drop Bear Repellant! Waste of septims, if you ask me.

Late afternoon Middas, Second Seed 26, 3E346. My decrepit avatar and Vilja stand just inside Skingrad, about to exit the city and begin their return to Weye. Their beasts awaiting them outside.

My avatar woke in Weye Manor at his accustomed time, breakfasted on his third floor private balcony, dressed in travel attire, walked to the Imperial City, gathered assignments, returned to Weye, collected the gang, and began their patrol of the Gold to Skingrad.

I suppose I should point out that, assuming the night has been spent at the Manor, two courses of action lay open to my avatar for the assignment phase of their near daily routine. On patrols during which Weye is passed he normally allows the gang to rest while he handles formalities in the capital. This includes all patrols save Bruma and Cheydinhal. On patrols during which Weye is not revisited the gang travels to the capital together and continues on. Exceptions are few and far between.

In any event, weather for this particular patrol was well nigh perfect. And of course roadside scenery between Weye and Skingrad is on the whole exceptionally lovely. It makes for a relaxing, enjoyable trip, or would have had the road and its immediately surrounds not been inundated with beasts and scum of the worst sort. Between Weye and Ceyatatar the Gold was relatively peaceful. From there to Skingrad was almost constant battle. No encounter was overly challenging. During the last my avatar tried to show mercy toward a highwayman just outside their destination. Vilja and Wolfgang saw things otherwise. My avatar managed to calm Vil, and was attempting the same with Wolfgang, when two patrolling legionnaires took the matter out of his hands.

In Skingrad, patrol complete, the gang received payment for a Tamika wine delivery, picking up a new delivery in the process. They walked to West Weald Inn, where Vilja lunched while my avatar turned in two delivery commissions. He rejoined Vil, breaking fast with Mutton and Radish Pie, cornbread, blackberry tart, and Wild Guar Stout. Well stuffed, they marched to the city gate and, as mentioned earlier, are about to ride home.

Lol. The Dovahbear´s heavy cousin



I agree with the decrepit (?) avatar; the road from Weye to Skingrad is very beautiful and very enjoyable. Save from the odd battle

Phew, I'm glad our Decrepit Avatar is back in action. Haven't heard from him in a while. Was gettin' kinda worried.

mirocu: Man, Lothie is dedicated, taking up a shift like that. Nice.

Draken is in Skingrad, and went out to visit Mr. Hassildor in his chambers.

Later he took a trip to the Imperial City to buy fresh clothes . . . the ones he had were retired.

Nice to hear about Draken. I am unfamiliar with this name, is Draken also a vampire?


Loredas morning, Sun's Dusk 3, 4th Era 20: Renee Gade III is about to go into Mackementain (probably spelled that wrong) to look for a couple lost objects. Fetch quest x2, basically.

Yes, he is

Renee Gade the Third . . . you know I like the clever ways you come up with character names.

Thanks DE. It's been awhile since I've seen you "out here", outside of Fan Fiction.

I haven't gamed for several days, imagine that? Girl has too much homework, after an entire week of no school due to snow. I hope to do some more Oblivion gaming soon though.

Lothran has just finished his second shift patrolling Bruma and guarding the gate. No, gates Next up; goblin hunting again!!

No surprises here; business as usual

Always nice to get an update on the Decrepit Champion.

And Draken! How refreshing to hear that he yet breathes - well, that is if vampires breathe.

Of course, hearing that dear Lothran is well-settled into his winter routine is always a joy.

Finally got back to Oblivion again, took Severan out for a stroll.

A few dungeons later he's level 13, with 79 intelligence and agility, and 68 willpower, so he's coming along nicely. He's also got more than 20,000 gold, and I've no idea what he'll use it for. He's still got two recommendation left to go, and is about to teleport from Frostcrag Spire to Anvil.

The problem is that he's now at the scary part of the game. Trolls, Minotaurs, Will-O-Wisps, and Mountain Lions are all things he's now scared of(minotaurs only make the list because he got caught fighting one on an even footing in a confined space, which was really not fun). It doesn't help that some aspects of his spellbook, most notably destruction(he's still using flare!) are in need of updating. And he's had to start carrying silver arrows for dealing with ancient ghosts and the like, since the only enchanted bow he's found applied frost damage

Still, it's been a while since one of my characters reached his teens, let alone an unarmoured one, so he's doing quite well really.

Yes that's very true, I don't think you've ever had anybody make it into the teens, not even Marcos. Not since I've known you, anyways. That deserves some cake. Any excuse for cake, right?

I've not had any actual characters make it to this high a level, I don't think, but I did have a couple of builds that did. One went through the Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, all I can remember of him was that he wore light armour and blades. Another was an Altmer Battlemage that massacred his way through the Main Quest in a hurry by exploiting spell stacking, but I think that's it.

Says a lot about the efficacy of this style of play though, if even a renowned slayer-of-characters such as myself can pull it off

Sundas, 5:24 pm, Heartfire 30

Joan of Arkay is back in Battlehorn Castle. She half-cleared Fort Rayles. Managed to *spoiler* with a bow she found to open up the place for further exploration. And then she took care of several scamps. Found some loot to sell (mostly potions and one common soul gem) and is headed to Chorrol with one of the men-at-arms who have mysteriously showed up at her castle to sell this stuff.

I have discovered something really cool about Joanie. She is apparently going to be one of my Morrowind characters, whenever I get to that game! I got the sense as I was gaming with her tonight that she was over there before coming to Cyrodiil. And this means she won't be dead-is-dead. Because if she lives this far....and plus, she's got the hidden blessings of Arkay on her side at all times. She's that devout.

Neat! But when you call her Joanie, I cannot help but to wonder if she loves Chachi?

So Joanie will be cross-gaming? Nice


But where are the pixies, Renee??

SubRosa: Joanie's game will be on PC, so it's very possible I could make a Chachi. Maybe he'll be Khajiit. That does sound like a Khajiit name.

mirocu: I probably have a spare Joan pic, I'll go have a look. I'll put it in the screenie thread, if so.

Severan's had a mixed time of late.

On the one hand, he got his final two recommendations from the Mages Guild. On the other, he got mauled by a mountain lion and only survived by turning invisible and running away. I think the seven points of armour from his base ring of shock shield might actually have saved his life.

He's currently planning to spend another day in Skingrad, gathering alchemical components on the road to Kvatch before heading back to the Imperial City.

Yeah, never underestimate low-powered protection. But don´t overestimate it either


What level is he, Callidus?

I don't know what's a Chachi but the other day I was thinking about a good name for an Argonian and I thought of Chach as fitting.

Joanie loves Chachi was a show that was on probably before you were born. I could totally see Chachi as a beastfolk, heh.


Middas, Sun's Dusk 7, 4th Era 20: Renee Gade III is back in her home, relaxing after some hardcore adventuring. Pics soon!

Level 13. But unfortunately his two highest skills are illusion and mysticism, so he's not as powerful as he should be.

Today, Severan went back towards Kvatch, gathering alchemical supplies. Until he stumbled across Fort Istirus. That turned out to be a pretty extensive dungeon crawl, necros everywhere. Severan ran through half of his poisons dealing with them. He got some decent loot; a couple of enchanted items with resist normal weapons, a few staves, and a mass of potions and scrolls.

Now he's just got to keep casting his feather spells until he can reach the Imperial City and sell them all.

I don´t know if Lothran has ever found an item enchanted with resist normal weapons!

The Knights of the Nine armor has it; and so does the Bladeturn Hood and Morag Tong outfit from Mehrunes Razor. Other than that, I've gotten the "Ring of Steelskin" with it before, but that is random loot and not a sure thing.

Ah, the Ring of Steelskin! I had forgotten about that one!

Have not seen the other items though on account I don´t do drugs DLC

Wiki says.

I don't remember seeing any of them very often, but apparently they exist. I think I may have found the Quartz Cuirass once, and maybe some of the other armor.

Oh, you are missing so much with those two DLC, they are spectacular!

Probably, but Lothran and I are so far past the days of questing now that we simply cannot go back


I´m just happy to have an unopened (sealed) KotN retail disc

I know we've been through this before about a dozen times, but mALX is right. KotN is one of the better ones. Part of it seems almost Morrowind-ish, in the sense that not everything is shown conveniently on a map, with map markers.

But whatever. Your shrinkwrapped copy will gain value as it sits on your shelf. Just waiting for its day to dazzle with its content.

Deep within Silver Tooth Cave, Lothran is hunting for goblins...

Good to know, crow. Last night I made yet another quest for RG3's game, I think this is the fourth or fifth one I've written. In this one, a new merchant shows up in the Market district and all the other merchants get jealous of course, because this new guy is a "pawnbroker" who buys & sells, yet does not bother to rent a shop, or even a stall. He's just using the same space they are, but rakes in mad profits because he's not renting, you see.

So the other merchants tell Miss Gade to speak to Jensine, who (of course) wants RG3 to oust this pawnbroker. Well, she finds the guy, tells him the concerns of the others, and he then replies that he is indeed legal--he's even got a document signed by Vinicia Melissaia (spelling). RG3 looks at this document, and notices it's got a bunch of misspelled words and whatnot.

So she goes to Vinicia, who (of course) denies she's ever written such a document. RG3 returns to the pawnbroker, who then confesses. He's not legal. And I made it so that after Gade confronts the guy, he then leaves the Market and goes to the Waterfront instead. I had to learn how to do this by looking at what causes Guilbert Jemane to leave Cheydinhal, which took awhile to figure out! It's an AI package, basically.

RG3 returns to Jensine. Well done! she says, and gives her some gold, but then Jensine wants RG3 to do something else, somehing much more dangerous. I forget what it is though. My memory's pretty bad, folks. But that's a good thing, because even during that very first part (when the merchants tell her to go meet Jensine) I was genuinely surprised that they say this!