After Christmas. He's got some free roaming to do first and of course Pale Pass

Tallei is in Chorrol, having received the recommendations from Carahil in Anvil and Adrienne in Skingrad. She also collected all four pieces of the Dwemer Orrery for Bothiel in the AU, she is holding on to them until she gets all the recommendations.

She's on her way up to Cloud Top, with her new companion Riven (a warhorse from the Reclaiming Sancre Tor mod). So far she has been able to take care of enemies with her basic Flare spell, and heal herself. Of course, she's still Level 1, so . . .

Sounds like someone has the orrery addon activated. I still have the CD wrapped in plastic so I can't access it..

Mirocu, the GOG version of Oblivion comes with all DLC's, something I haven't been able to get for the PC CD. So it's taking me back to my Xbox days.

Yes, I know I can get it online. However I'm well set in my yearly routines at this point so I don't really have any interest in the DLCs. Lothran sort of has his own

Totally understandable!

Today Tallei finally got all her recommendations, and just discovered necromancers at Wellspring Cave. She also turned in the Dwemer parts to Bothiel, and now she can visit the Orrery and see it in action.

Right now she’s focused on finishing Battlehorn Castle and Frostcrag.

The Spire would be quite cool to have, if it had been there from the start. Having it built now would just seem weird to me (and Lothran).

A very interesting place nonetheless

That's so awesome you have friendly (or at least, neutral) enemies in your game. How do you RP this (or do you consider it into RP at all)?

It rarely happens in my Oblivion games but in Sir Vyvoor's world (Skyrim), half the bandits don't try to pick fights. From his perspective this is good. They're learning to be more civilized, which seems to be the overall goal. They behave, he rewards them by not kicking them to the floor. But from MY perspective it's kind of lame! I get all hyped up and eager with adrenaline... then .... nothing.

haute: Nice to see you're posting. I also prefer slower-leveling games, what's the rush, ya know? The Orrery is kinda cool, but you never know if you're gonna get something useful, or a spell which winds up clogging inventory space. Thank goodness we can delete spells on PC. But when you finally get a good/useful spell that's what makes things wonderful.


Acadian: Yes, the Xena mod comes with Gabby. Actually check this out.

Here is the original Gabrielle, eek!

I used my Hot or Not skillz to try making her cuter

And here is the original RG3 from the game's Randomizer.

before I made her into Xenaclone.


Speaking of, hope to get into her game today, we'll see.

I don't, really. I just think it's funny they don't attack when they're supposed to

Loredas, Mid-Year 14, 4th Era Year 422-- As promised, Renee Gade III just picked up a bounty-styled quest from the agent in Skingrad (in my gameworld, a lot of castles, towns & villages have these sort of quests). So she's off to Cursed Mine, to take care of whatever latest scum-leader they've got in there lately. I mean, these things must be done! Just imagine, somebody has to keep the vineyards safe from rabbelry. Rawr!

Nice job with Xena and Gabbie. They look great now.

The vineyards are in peril. Should I bring a goblet?

Yes, your make-er-cuter skillz have pushed Gabby and Xena into the HOT zone.

Sounds just like Arena.


Crossover?

Thanks you all, I try!

mirocu: something like Arena but it works a little different. I've got it so that sometimes, if Renee or Joan or whomever goes into an inn, the innkeeper will ask "can you do something about that menace across the road?" The lady in Pell's Gate (friend) might inquire about taking care of Fort Homestead, for instance. And once whatever leader is dealt with, my adventurer returns to the innkeeper/shopkeepr/etc., and gets paid. The Pell's Gate lady can only pay a few meager things, like potions, beer, food, etc. But some of them pay GOLLLLD.

This sort of thing comes up during conversation, but not all the time. So it feels more natural. IT's not like EVERY time we go into a place they bombard us with requests! Sometimes I even forget which of them offer work; I wrote most of these like 5 years ago. 👛

I also have some fixed examples; agents who sit at desks (usually in castles or barracks) and offer several places nearby to plunder. These guys & gals pay more than the innkeepers, but their dialog is more targeted on quests. The way to find these folks is to just play the game. If a character's Fame is over, let's say, 5, then somebody (a scout) will come looking for him or her when he/she enters towns. "Hey, you look like a capable sort. We've got an agent up in the castle offering quests for coin, if you're interested..." The scout then hands the character a note, describing where to find the agent.

It's the sort of thing I used to pretend/RP all the time, except I've made these random quests not just imagination.

Anyway, last we saw RG3 she was plundering Cursed Mine. She's only the first section, and I believe there are three overall sections.

Though Tallei is NOT my MQ character (that honor remains reserved for Julian), we are going through the MQ right now just to get it out of the way. We found a couple of mods that will make the post-MQ world more immersive for us.

Anyway, Tallei just finished the Grand Tour of Cyrodiil getting Allies for Bruma; on the way back we stopped in Sancre Tor. This was made tolerable by using the kill/killall command in console quite liberally and fast traveling to avoid those Gates on the roads.

Not looking forward to the big fight at Bruma - it's going to be a pain just getting through that one.

Oh, and Tallei's now level 9.

Wow, you really mean it when you say getting the MQ out of the way

Of course! Tallei’s not the Hero of Kvatch or Champion of Cyrodiil! She’s just a little Breton lass trying to learn how to be a mage to show her family back home she can do something and be good at it.

We are at the Necromancer’s Moon stage (the last one Raminus gives you) of the Mages Guild quest line. Not sure yet if she’s going to be the Archmage, or if we will RP that Raminius is the Archmage when the dust settles.

We did find a mod that restores the Bruma Guild, so will be activating that once the MG quest line is completed.

Welp, that's that done - the MQ is over, the Oblivion Crisis is done.

Now to repair the damage, rebuild and move on.

Giving this mod a try: No more Gates.

Looking forward to how it affects the world.

Couldn't you just have ignored it all? Worked wonders fo Lothran

Since with Tallei I am roleplaying that this is a few years after the Crisis, it makes sense to me that the last remnants of the Gates would have decayed out of sight, and that structures damaged by them (i.e. the wayshrines and the Skingrad cemetery) would have been restored.

Tallei is doing the quests Julian didn’t do in her fan fic. Today she is in Cheydinhal, waiting until it’s time to go to the Dark Fissure. I’m reminded once again why I adore Dervera Romalen. “There’s the Chapel going Imperials and there’s the Chapel dodging Dark Elves, and never shall the twain meet.”

And of course: “Gruiand Garrana can talk her way out of almost anything. Of course, she mostly talks about herself.”

About to start asking around town about those pesky fines . . .

Lothran has just come back to Bruma after having visited the mountain staircase and empty chest, and after clearing out Capstone Cave for the first time this season. Snow is falling and a night at Olavs is coming right up!

Buffy has fond memories of visiting with Lothran in Bruma in the winter. She remembers how magical he looks with snowflakes dancing in his hair.

Happy memories


Nice evening at Olav's yesterday. Lothran laundered a bottle of Surillie 399 with Ongar and will add it to his cellar, so to speak. Ongar of course got in trouble for openly stealing food again but Lothie saved his bacon by interrupting the guard with a conversation

Wow this thread got busy (for Chorrol). Lothran launders items, what??? I thought he's a guard!

Morndas, Mid-Year 16, 4th Era Year 422-- The Concern of Cursed Mine has concluded. Xena Gade, Gabrielle, Felrika, and the new addition to the party, Archer Beth, have plundered the mine and rid most of its inhabitants. The vineyards are safe once again.




This is a good way to approach these games!

Lothran doesn't believe that one thing excludes another...


And he appreciates a fellow dungeon clearer. Getting rid of pests like that is always a good way to restore peace

Yesterday (Sunday 17th Evening Star) Tallei became the Arch Mage after an emotionally challenging ordeal.

It’s been interesting playing a pure mage character with no weapons other than a Mages Staff (and the Staff of Indarys that she got from the Cheydinhal Gate quest) and no armor. I’ve not had to turn on TGM in the console except when she picked up Daedric HEAVY armor and weaps for sale in the IC Market District.

We did die a couple of times, including when she got smashed by a Minotaur Colossus upon entry into the Tiber Septim Hotel. Fortunately kill is a thing in the console, and on reload we were able to get through this tavern brawl.

Now to get Kvatch rebuilt! And check out the Bruma Mages Guild restoration - a personal project of Tallei’s now that she is Arch Mage.

Sounds like an interesting endeavour. Is she still breezing through it all or taking her time from here on out?

Taking our time - and I'm now spending less time gaming in Oblivion. That's fine, though. I rather enjoy not having the pressure of getting this or that done in the MQ or even the MG. Right now we are enjoying Kvatch Rebuilt's slower pace - it actually gives you a few days to a week between quests, and there is not that sense of urgency, so Tallei actually has time to talk to people and work on her Speechcraft.

For some time we've been thinking about getting a companion - someone with melee skillz for the heavy fighting. I've looked at CM Partners, but it adds more NPC's to a Tamriel already full from TIE. And I've looked at Companion Share and Recruit, but couldn't find a companion mod using that framework that fits what I have in mind.

This guy Boromir works with CM Partners, and fits the bill, but again I'm not sure I want to add even more NPC's to taverns and what not.

Then I found this: Arren. Like the better known Vilja, he's a stand alone companion with his own backstory, his own quests, and his own lines. And I found a secondary mod for Arren that adds voices. It's a bit monotone, but I'm liking the Redguard voice I gave him.

Once I have Kvatch rebuilt, then I'll start the Sancre Tor. The COC armor is awaiting pickup, and getting it will trigger the first quest. Before then, I hope to have a bunch of dungeons explored with Arren and more of the Cyrodiil map filled in.

Yesterday Lothran cleared out Plundered Mine and today was spent in Bruma in preparation for tomorrow's departure. Serpent's Trail is the immediate goal.

I actually did the Pale Pass quest after completing the MQ, when Tallei was in Bruma on another mission. She had some down time and decided to clear that (that was a while back). Night fell while she was working through the entry cave, grateful for SubRosa's Forest Friend Amulet. The only creatures she had to worry about were the ogres! She found it easy to sneak up on them and use her Mages Staff on them. It was so long since I did that quest, there were a lot of things I didn't remember about it.

Nighteye and Detect Life were cast multiple times in that quest! Managed to get through it without console commands, too, so I was pretty proud of my little Breton mage.

Lothran has that same amulet and yes; it's quite nifty


The elf has now reached Pale Pass. Serpent's Trail and its Cavebosses were no match for the Spriggan this year either, and the chests quickly surrendered and gave up their treasures as soon as Lothran approached them. The only ones left alone were some rats that quietly scampered away and didn't even pay any attention to the sneaky elf. Live and let live, when possible.

Standing outside the door on the far side overlooking the snowy valley, Lothran is once again ready to tackle whatever comes his way on the road to the campsite ontop of the ancient ruin.


And the snow keeps falling.

Lothran has now set up camp on the same spot as always; at the top of Fort Pale Pass at the other side of a gap. This ensures no ogres can get to him, but he can spot them easily from his vantage point. In fact, he has already seen his next target.
On the road to the fort Lothran bagged a few ones using all weapons at hand. And after setting up camp, repairing everything and having a good night's sleep, Lothran is now ready.


Let The Annual Christmas Ogre Hunt in Pale Pass™ begin!

A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
A-hunting we will go.

I'm interested in the final ogre tooth count when Lothran is done.

Ah. He follows his own path, as we all.

Well it's Turdas, Mid-Year 19. The skies are yellowish but clear. Hot weather in Cyrodiil. Renee Gade III walks with two of her followers from Skingrad to Kvatch. Kvatch is a fully-finished town in her world, and it's been a while since we've been there. There's an arena in this town, perhaps she'll take up a match.

Gabrielle got stuck in Skingrad. There was this funny moment (very Xena-like in a way) in which Gabby got into a fight with some fellow in the West Weald Inn. It was one of those "E3" moments, like lady who got in that fight with her dogs pre-game release. AI going out of control. Anyway, Gab started fighting this dark elf and there was nothing to do but just let her continue. The rest of the party already left! We'll see her when we get back, I guess.

That's funny; a proper bar fight!


You probably already have in the appropriate thread, but could you post sort of an establishing shot of the finished Kvatch? IF it's possible to get that of course.

Not sure if you ever watched Xena (probly not). On the show Gabby is a Bard, and begins in Season 1 with hardly any combat skillz. Because of this, Xena is always telling Gab to stay behind (which she always ignores, and winds up following the Warrior Princess into trouble over and over).

In the game this actually happens sometimes. Gabrielle can pick locks, so she does have some usefulness. But Renee Gade III often tells Gabby to stay behind, which Gabs (sometimes) ignores. This is due to glitches of course, but in a way it makes the blonde bard seem more like a person.

In my opinion, Gabrielle is the best part of the show! She adds all the humor. The actual combat is *yawn* because Xena always wins.

I will take some screenshots now. I'll put 'em in the proper thread.

Fredas, Mid-Year 20, 4th Era Year 422-- Renee, Felrika, and Beth the Archer arrive to The Rislav & Belene, one of Kvatch's inns. Time to get a drunk on! Then she'll head to her free home for some rest. Tomorrow she'll do an Arena match. Screens coming soon!

Also, Renee, now that she's home, is reading Biography of Queen Barenziah, Volume 1, because she herself can be quite the saucy one. Pretty sure none of my others have delved into this series.

That's why I always liked Duke Nukem over Doomguy; the Duke has more humor!


But I digress...

---------------------------------------------
Last day in Pale Pass. Lothran made a final sweep of the valley and confirmed that all ogres have been dealt with. Tomorrow he will take down his tent and head for Serpent's Trail, thus concluding this year's Christmas Ogre Hunt.


The grand total of teeth will be revealed once we're back in Cyrodiil proper.

Xena and Gabrielle are awesome!

Those poor ogres *sigh*. Yea, how many teeth have been taken over the years. Wonder if he's still got them all.

Middas, Mid-Year 25, 4th Era Year 422-- The Warlord of Fort Strand has been pwned! 🏰 For my own reference, talking to Wilbur is the way to get notified of this 'problem'. Heh. Wilbur. So many memories of the Weet Bandit stealing Cheap Wine from that silly guy.

Yah, Xena was a goofy show, very entertaining. I promised some pics and they'll be up tonight I hope.

No, he uses them to make Shock poisons. To kill more ogres

Speaking of which; grand total was 25 teeth this year. However, not really. As I'm only counting Cave Bosses I have to exclude three set of teeth from regular ogres killed on the cyrodillic side of Serpent's Trail. Also if we want to only count the initial Cave Bosses and not the ones that re-occupied Serpent's Trail in Lothran's absence, we're down to 18 teeth.
Serpent's Trail proved to be much more worthwhile going back as Lothran found a lot more enchanted things in the treasure chests, and even one Flawless Ruby! And to top it all off, one of the Cave Bosses had a rare Silver Fork on him!

Anyway, Lothran is now safe and sound in Bruma. Gear has been recharged and repaired and now awaits proper container placement and after that; an evening at Olav's Tap and Tack!

Another Pale Pass ogre hunt complete!

Yup! Until next time


Lothran is now standing guard by the North Gate. As an honorary guard of Bruma he always adds to the numbers defending this northern town into the new year. This duty also entails patrolling and a couple other guard points during the day as well as feeding the only prisoner Jorundr occasionally.

Fredas, Mid-Year 27: Renee Gade III is in Gottshaw Inn. She's trying to make it back to Kvatch by Middas, so she can take part in an Arena match there, which means she's got a lot of time to kill before then. Good thing Foroch just gave her a job: clear the riff-raff in Belletor's Cavern, just down the road from Kvatch. He can only pay 50 gold, but this is okay. It's not always about the money. 💰

I have no idea what's inside Belletor's Folly! But chances are it's NPCs. My favorite enemy, because they say silly things.

Always funny with funny remarks during a fight


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

Lothran is now off-duty and has spent an evening at Olav's Tap and Tack. Morning has come and he's about to head out into the Jeralls. It's time to clear out the riff and the raff

Okay, well good luck with that, platinum-haired elf.

Turdas, First Seed 28, 3rd Era 434 -- Well it's a new month, which means I switch to my next person.

Snaat Rayag the skooma dealer is traveling from Chorrol to the Imperial City. He's had absolutely zero luck with sales over the past two days; nobody walking the roads are buying. Even the bandits in Crumbling Mine! One of them attacked my dealer, the rest of them were like "Nah." "Maybe later", etc. So he's headed to the city. There is a

Ooh, hold on. An Argonian Traveller. "This scent is foul," the lizard says. Yeah, no doubt.

"You look weary," Snaaty says. "Have a look at this..."

"Not interested, and I don't like your kind!" Wow. Maybe he'll have better luck in Dzonot Cave. Or Sinkhole Cave.

Those tightfisted monkeys!

Good to know Lothran is riffing and raffing, keeping the Jerals safe.

Poor Snotty. Perhaps he'd have better luck in Bravil?