I was reading some Kahreem this morning at work. I think there might be some more Kahreem coming eventually, definitely towards the summer though. Because he never did find Thieves Den and we're curious about that.

Anyway, today it is Sundas, early morning (really early) Sun's Dusk 17, and Joan of Arkay is in Imperial Bridge Inn. She's going to head to Nenatala right now! Err... after some pumpkin for breakfast. 🎃

"Was there something you wanted?" asks the guard she's brought down south with her.

"Might you come with me now? It is time," Joan says.

"Certainly!"

And off they go. The guard is one of those road patrol types, wearing dark, heavy armor. Once outside they are immediately attacked by a lizardman, who scrambles up the hill from the depths of the nearby river.

"REMEMBER THE EMPIRE!!!" the guard cries, bashing the lizard (not a true Argonian, but an actual lizardman, there's a difference). He slashes the being with his sword of silver while Joan assists with a series of fire-based spells. After a minute or so the battle is over.

Joan gets suited and ready to go; equipping her Witchfinder Shield causes her persona to glow with mystical magic for just a few second or two.

*Dangit! Game crashed!!! Good thing I literally just saved. I need to eat something, anyway.

Save and save often

--------------
Lothran is now in Skingrad, resting at the Fighters Guild after having repaired his gear. It's late afternoon and it's time to relax a bit. Maybe take an evening stroll through the town later.

Umbacano: "Here you are at last. I know exactly where the Throne Room lies. Your job is to simply get me there safely."

Joan currently has two road patrol guards following her. Normally this wouldn't be a prob but after getting everybody inside of Nenatala (Joan, the two guards, Umbacano, and what's-his-name) IMMEDIATELY everything goes to pieces. The entire group (except Joanie) rushes ahead so they can jump on some enemy in the next room. And of course, friendly fire occurs. Next thing you know, Umbacano's dead! Or one of the guards is dead!

So yeah, I had to reload that. Umbacano dies, the rest of the questline dies with him.

Second time, Joan had Umbacano and the shady Claude Meric stay behind. Enters Nenatala with her guards.

Claude Meric: "Don't worry my friend. This time we are on the same side! Umbacano wants us both to guide him though Nenatala."

Joanie doesn't trust the guy. She doesn't trust either of them! So she forges ahead, letting the guards to the heavy work of fighting skeleton champions and ghosts other undead, while she heals them from behind. 💀 This is a technique she pioneered in Morrowind actually. She'll allow the guard(s) to take the brunt of combat until she's deep inside some lair, near its boss area. All the while she'd keep them going with Convalescence spells. Then she'll tell the guards to wait somewhere. This way, her armor & weapons aren't as beat up as they'd be if she did it all herself.

It just makes sense! Joan's all about sensible techniques.

Occasionally she'll backtrack and bring the Umbacano-Meric team deeper into the lair. Just.. there have to be zero enemies nearby for this to work!

11:34 PM: Inside Nenalata Wendesel the original Imperial (the man) dies, as Joan and her guards get attacked by two nether liches, a wraith, and some other undead monster all at the same time! Joan struggles with her healing spells while occasionally getting a few slashes with her fiery sword and an enemy. A female road patrol continues onward.

6:11 AM Bright morning, she and the girl guard are back outside. Joan needs some rest. She builds a campsite with the guard, and gets 6 hours' sleep. Umbacano and Meric remain paralyzed to further their investigation, and remain fuming deep inside the lair until she's ready to return

Those are some really good strategies. Both the healing from behind thing and going back to get the escort mission person after fighting off some baddies.

Thank you. She did get as far as the Throne Room (I think) and brought Umbacano, Claude, and the guard into the room with her. That's as far as I got and I quit for today! So we're looking at whatever's about to come next. Sometimes it's good to start the game fresh before some BIG moment like this.

Lothran has now spent a night in Skingrad's finer establishment. He also visited the chapel and bought ingredients from Sinderion. Next he'll go and have some fun with the vampos in Bloodcrust Cavern

But what if the 'vampos' are all friendly too? Like, they're all talking about mudcrabs and such when Lothran comes to visit?

Joking. Question though: how does Lothran fight vampires? What spells and/or weapons does he use?

Lothran still no friend of suckers


He uses a method that's been the same for years; get their attention and then run out into the sunlight where he summons his Spriggan to have her and her bear do the fighting whilst he stands on a rock and watches. There's no popcorn in Cyrodiil but if there was he'd have some

Agree. Read the shirt

The real life version of Buffy!

That's what my characters usually do, try to lure them into the sun! 😎 They'll actually sleep all night and wake up early. Get in there and lure as many vamps as possible.

Tordas, Sun's Dusk 19: Joan of Arkay has defeated Umbacano, who defiled Nenalata and became the King of the Nenatala... for a short while, anyway. Joan made quick work of the guy too, despite the skeleton champions he summoned and so on. She looted the traitor, grabbed the Ayleid Crown of Nenalata, a magical helmet with all sorts of effects packed into it, SWEET. That's gonna look real good in her Trophy Room. She also grabbed two keys off his person. Normally she'd never loot keys from anyone but she's curious what sort of dark secrets she can find in the guy's mansion.

That battle wasn't really all that tough (still default difficulty here)! Got some screens of it though. Should have 'em up tomorrow or this weekend.

Edit: she was exhausted after Nenalata and slept a few hours. After getting back on the road she was attacked by a gang of (as we were just discussing) vampires! But there were three or four of them, and it just turned nighttime! So she had no choice but to get on her horse and ride away!

The vamps kept following so she made a left turn eventually, and has just discovered Drunken Dragon Inn.

I guess Joan gave him the real crown then because in Lothran's game he got the Lindai one and that got destroyed when Umbaccano tried to become king.

Whoa, there's a fake crown?? Yap I think she got the real one. Reason: it's got like 3 or 4 magical effects baked into it.

Middas, Sun's Dusk 20: She found a new guard (the last one she had is stuck somewhere in Nenalata!) from Drunken Dragon Inn. She was all ready to go, but then spied an Ayleid ruin nearby. Place is called Atatar. She's got 8 out of 10 statues, and has never explored Atatar before. So... gotta do it!

Not a fake crown but one from a rivaling Ayleid clan/tribe and if you give him the Lindai one it gets destroyed when he does the ritual thing. So Lothran only has a destroyed crown as a trophy


Also; he has collected seven statues whereof three are in the now masterless Umbaccano Manor

As per usual Lothran is now in the area around the Isolated House. This is the one area of Cyrodiil that has always messed with my head with regards to directions. Facing the door to the house it feels like I'm facing west but actually it's to the south. I know this, but it doesn't matter. I still get lost if I try to navigate this area without using the map. Just today I thought I was going to the east when I was actually going north, something that was obvious when I suddenly saw the Imperial City in the distance.


I NEVER LEARN!


Edit: I had to edit this because got it wrong. Again....

First Family Funday finished at Fort Linchal between Skingrad and Ka-Vatch. Collected some more Necroclothes including a rare hood.
Also tried locating the deep square hole in the ground that's somewhere in this area but failed, just like last year. I will consult an image taken long time ago and see if I can locate it that way.

Edit: This is it, but quite vague regarding location


Lothran also found another friendly female Khajiit bandit. These are odd as they behave as regular NPCs when it comes to the disposition minigame but like Highwaymen when you initiate a conversation. This despite them being neither regular NPCs (that you should be able to talk to) nor Highwaymen (that you can only bribe to raise their disposition, not play the minigame).

Use shadows, Lothran. If it's morning for instance, and your shadow's pointing to the left, this means he's facing North. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who uses shadows to figure which direction my character is pointed. 🧭 This is how the whole tape-on-TV stuff began; I gave up the Magical Compass, and at some point began to rely totally on shadows instead. I can't remember which idea came first: the tape or the shadow. Probably shadows.

Whoa, it's a sinkhole!

Maybe all these Khajiit chicks think Lothran is a hottie, with his platinum hair especially. That could lead to some.... interesting roleplay.

The month now being April, I switched from Joan's game to Renee Gade III's game the other day. She was in Kvatch. I was going to make another Kvatch Arena video but I was like "eh". Didn't feel it from her. And since she can't repair her special armor in this town (she got expelled from Fighters Guild awhile back) this means it's time to move on. So last I saw, she's headed toward Skingrad with her horse and her Nord gal companion.

Don't use shadows for location but do use sun for time of day. Sometimes


I will try to locate that hole again later. I'll approach it like when I do jigsaw puzzles; it's all in the detail of the picture


Also; Ms Gade the Third is coming to Skingrad? Is the town big enough for both of them?

Dang. I'm almost certain I'm the only gamer evah who's figured this out. Maybe I should start a poll!

The only time shadows don't work is during that awkward 2-hour period just before and after noon. Shadows are fixed underneath the character at this time. Sometimes my character will simply eat lunch during this time, since trying to travel can lead to misdirection.




PLease do!



Ha ha is Lothran also there? Anyway, she just got her gear repaired by Agnette the Pickled. 🥒 Sure wish I was pickled right now...

Found the sinkhole!


I had the picture in mind and looked in the area I thought it'd be after the trees and slope etc, and I found it quite easliy. It's located right north of Fort Linchal in fact, and not far from it at all. So now we know for sure

Ah, good to know, Crow. Didn't take too long to find, seems like.

Game Hours: 690:25:22

Well it's Tirdas, Sun's Height 8 and Renee Gade III has returned to the Imperial City. It's usually a BIG day for her and those who travel with her when they all return. The day starts with a shopping trip to the Market of course; buying & selling. 💰 Next comes repairing of gear, which can get pretty costly because her special armor is not cheap to fix. Plus she pays the bill for her two current followers.

Next is lunch at The Feed Bag. Then a trip to the Arena. Not to participate but to bet on a match.

Next? The Arboretum. Gotta get some sightseeing in. And the day concludes back at the Market District, which (in her world) has a bathhouse. After all this she returns to her cottage, located across from the Waterfront. What a day.


Edit: When they went to the Feed Bag a second time it was dinner and the place was packed. Besides the half-dozen conversations running at once all the sudden a bunch of folks sat down! Food & dinnerware began flying everywhere! It was like a food fight!

Sounds like Ms Third's world is quite the busy place indeed. It even has a bathhouse!

Yeah Bathing is fun! I don't know how to explain it. But it's kind of fun. They've got lockers to store stuff in, so anything they're carrying (and clothes of course) get removed into lockers. Then they jump in the pool. RG3 likes to swim in place (autowalk...) and from my perspective, level up her Athletics.

She lost in the Arena yesterday. Bet on the Blue Team, all 100 gold, and lost. She was so upset she didn't bother to speak to Hundolin. Which means next time she DOES so he'll say "Ah, sorry friend..."

Next she's headed to Chorrol.

Fredas, Sun's Height 11 Renee Gade III has returned to Chorrol. Being a member of nobility she has her own room in the castle here, although it's not really all the grand. Not really much more than the room of a maid, but at least it's hers and it's free. Over the years I've completely forgotten how she attained such a room. Probably some quest I hand-wrote long ago.

She's going to do a 'service' to County Chorrol, probably taking care of the leader of Cursed Mine (if there is one) and get paid! Right now she needs some pocket change. She's one of my characters who's always busy, yet never gets rich. 💰

Next she's headed to Elenglynn. I added a new quest mod into her game by Velorien, one of the former members of the original Beth forums. As of right now I have no idea why RG3 needs to head to Elenglynn but guess we'll find out.

Renee, nice having your own room at Castle Chorrol! Buffy had her own apartment at the Arcane University. It was upstairs above the mystic archives and was a mod made just for her by our own King Coin.

Oh, and love your new forum avatar!

Buffy also had an apartment or a cottage or something which she had to give up. I think a friend or an assistant sold it because she hardly lived there. Pretty sure it was in Bravil, right?

New profile pic is the original Claire Voyance on PS3. You can tell she's not on PC due to her "scowl". It's near-impossible to make a happy-looking female in Skyrim without mods.

Last I saw RG3 she was headed to Wendir, where she's been tasked to eradicate a mean witch who supposedly lives there. And then it's off to Elenglynn. She'll be (trying to) stay in Hackdirt during the next week or so. Which is kind of a gamble! Some of my characters, everyone is mean in Hackdirt. Not sure if RG3 ever 'resolved' this or not.

Yes. When Buffy was deep into her grief over losing Savlian, she wasn't taking care of herself. So Daenlin and Kud-Ei forced her to move into the mages guildhall where they and Ardeline could keep an eye on her. As part of that, Daenlin sold her house since Buffy wasn't taking care of that either or paying her taxes on it. And you're right - given the amount of time she actually spent in Bravil, living in the guildhall when she was there was a better situation for her.

Wicked Witch of the West Weald has been *pwned*. 🧙‍♀️ She was found inside Wendir Nagasel. Now to return to Chorrol. Rest up, get paid, etc. Then she's right back out there. Back to Hackdirt, because she's supposed to go to Elenglynn next.

Today Lothran just went from The Two Sisters Lodge to the Fighters Guild to sleep. On the way he passed the chapel where, right in front of it on the stone paved area, one of the Surilie brothers were raking the stones. It was btw right on the very spot where Captain Dion always stops and pretends to pick something up.


Oblivion never siezes to make me chuckle

Is he supposed to rake somewhere else? Maybe somewhere in the vineyards?

Tirdas, Sun's Height 15: Renee Gade III is chilling in The Oak and Crosier, having dinner + wine. 🍷 Tomorrow she's headed back to Hackdirt and then Elenglynn. Again, I added a new quest mod which adds "something" to the area near Elenglynn. What this something is, I don't know yet.

Not directly on stone anyway


And yeah; exactly where Dion always stops and pretends to pick something up. Maybe that particular spot is hiding something?



Also; Hackdirt? Is it clubbering time again already?

Well I don't know, maybe he planted some magic beans. Heh, yeah.

RG3, she just discovered Weatherleah. Never been here before, which is kind of amazing. What a great place to stay too; everyone is mean to her in Hackdirt. So right now all she wants is some shelter, w/o MEANIES. She also explored Elenglynn. Wasn't able to find anything unusual there. She's supposed to speak to someone about the place (that is one of the clues she read in a charred-up journal), but whom???

it's the of April. Tomorrow I switch to Snaat Rayag the skooma dealer.

Weatherleah is nice. Lothran always stops by when traveling from Leyawiin to Cheydinhal. Hackdirt though.. Don't remember when last he was there. Not a good-vibe place.


Is Elenglynn a quest-related ruin?

Elenglynn is quest-related, I think. I'm talking about the mod I've got now, which is called The Secret of Minlorada or something. I'm not sure if it's quest-related by the base game, probably so.

Well today I switch to my skooma dealer. It is Loredas, Rain's Hand 27 Third Era 434 and early morning. He's headed up to Bruma actually. Needs to do some 'business' up there.

Play Time: 117:19:58

Days Passed: 244
Bounty: 405 (uh oh...)

Mid-afternoon: his very first attempt at a sale resulted in a random traveling Redguard calling the mods on Snaaty!

Bounty: 445

The mods? Is Snaaty getting hit with the ban hammer?

Oops, guards I meant. Anyway, pretty soon he's gonna get confronted, which, guess what that means?

"Well now, caught in the act with nooo gooold to pay your fine. It's off to the lockup, then."

*Go To Jail.

"Hope you rot, criminal scum!" *SHINK!!!*

Ahem so yeah, this happened on Rain's Hand 29, and he gets out of jail on Second Seed 4. So six days. His bounty was 525. Before going to jail he did what he always does, he hid a few stolen items, plus 8 bottles of skooma, in an open-topped sack in Dzonot Cave. This way the Law can't get him.

Snaat Rayag's Hand-to-Hand skill decreased by 1.
His Illusion skill decreased by 1.
His Marksmanship decreased by 1.
His Sneak skill decreased by TWO.

Funny thing is, he doesn't use any of those skills except Sneak!

Anyway, he's back in business. Needs to make some coin. 👛

Another day, another Septim

Lothran has once again cleared out Bloodcrust Cavern. There are 11 dead vampies outside the door now and I think that's because not all of them are visable anymore


This was one of the last ones; as we've advanced into May it is very soon time to leave Skingrad for Anvil. It's been a long season in Skingrad county this year and we ought to give it a rest now.

Ha ha that's what my dungeon delvers usually do: they lure the vampires outside. How long do they last in your game once they're outside?

I've got a mod which adds sun damage, so if it's sunny they perish in mere seconds. ☀ But if it's cloudy they can last much longer, usually up to a minute or so.



If U say so.

I gamed with Snaat Rayag yesterday for a couple hours. He bought 20 phials of skooma from Brigette in Bravil's skooma den; she's got the best prices. After boosting Mercantile several times over the months, Snaaty's got her prices down to just 11 gp per bottle. He can sell these anywhere from 30 to 70 gp, depending if the buyer is of a lower or a higher class, or if they're outlaws.

His bounty is already climbing too. He accidentally tried to sell to a guard (the guard was wearing something mod-added, so didn't recognize his job) and Resisted Arrest when the guard busted him.

Thug Lyfe

Word. GTA: Tamriel, Snaaty in da house, yo!

Lothran just visited Shetcombe Farm and has since made his way to Gottshaw Inn where he's currently resting. Anvil is visible in the distance and now it's only a small matter of time until he once again is in the Official Summer Town™

I see Snaaty's up to being. . . Snaaty.

And happy almost Anvilian summer to Lothran!

Wait, hold on. Has Anvil always been the official "summer town" or is this something new? I knew Bruma = winter. Didn't know about Anvil. Or maybe I just forgot over the years.



What I like most about gaming with him (what makes being with Snaat Rayag unique) is he has to size every customer up. I've written the quest so that he won't just make a sale (or not) every time. He makes easier sales to outlaws, but less money. But some outlaws want to steal from him, and attack if he doesn't hand over a skooma! Some of them still attack even if he does give them what they ask.

Dark Elf female outlaws will sometimes follow him around if they think he's cute.

And if he's around citizens: Those who are wearing nicer clothes will pay more IF they don't just snub him for his profession, but sometimes they'll call the guards. Those who wear Lower Class clothes (Jair, for instance) won't rat him out, but he also has a tougher time making money from them. Sometimes they want a dicount.

Shopkeepers will likely put a trespass warning: "THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING, GET OUT BEFORE I CAWL THE GUARDS!" which adds a +40 bounty.

The Disposition game must be played sometimes to get a sale. Other times, an NPC might try to pick a fight, or run away because he/she thinks SR is going to hurt them! Some NPCs drink their skooma on the spot (the skooma animation goes along with them), usually outlaws do this. I've also got it so if he tries to sell to someone in the Nine Divines faction, they might start casting Healing spells at Rayag. Trying to 'cure' him of his wicked ways.

Anyway, let's see where he is now. Ahha, Imperial City's Market > Merchant Inn. He's very tired, too. Usually if he's in the Market District, and he's flush with cash, this means he's visited Divine Elegance lately. He actually wears all those posh clothes.

Well, I guess that's kinda newish. Think it started around 2017 so yeah, fairly new a concept whereas Bruma has been the official winter town since 2009.



Very interesting how Snaat's game is, how and if he makes the sale and if the buyer calls the guard or not

Lothran has now entered the town of Anvil, meaning that summer has officially started!




Officially

Lothran has spent a night in Anvil and yesterday he left the gates and went for a swim in the Abecean sea, past the harbour and then went ashore a small island. Next he will continue west towards the shipwreck.

Have a beautiful Anvil summer, Lothran!