Uthgerd can die? I didn't think that was physically possible...

She can if she takes more damage when she’s kneeling, or in this case if she takes too much damage from multiple sources. She fell from a standing position when two spriggans cast at her and Zuuri lit up one of the spriggans with a lightning bolt. She never got a chance to kneel.

Zuuri has done some soul searching. Killing every outlaw in Skyrim won’t satisfy her. The gods made her for fighting dragons. It's time to face her responsibility.

She went back to speak with the nutty woman who thinks she is some kind of ancient knight. This time she made more sense. Zuuri packed her gear and hit the road.

Before long she was standing over the bones of a dragon that she had defeated by herself using only destruction magic. The woman had some ideas about what Zuuri should do next. It had nothing to do with killing dragons, but Zuuri decided to go along with the plan. First she had to find an apothecary. She was going to need a lot more magicka potions.

It’s interesting to me when a character kind of gets lost and then finds their purpose. It makes the hours while they were lost very worthwhile.

Oh, right. I kind of assumed that normal laws of physics made an exception for her, what with her being Uthgerd. I mean seriously, she once single-handedly took on an Ancient Dragon in my game. And won. It was insane.

Plus she's generally just a colossal bada$s...

I'm sorry you had to lose her.

Zuuri’s new trick: Chain Lightning! Wow!! She found an ebony shield, so now she favors CL in the right hand, shield in the other. She also got the Adept Destruction for half magicka perk. I’ve never had a character get this far with Destruction before. With the Atronach blessing it’s a lot of fun to trade magicka with those rogue elemental mages.

She recently found a wonder of the ancient world in the company of two Blades. As soon as the three of them started their journey, they were attacked! Blood Dragon did not know who he was messing with!! Zuuri has to admire the Riverwood residents' courage, if not their judgment. When the wounded dragon was finally grounded, she had to shoulder past two Nord kids and their dog who were also rushing into the fire.

Zuuri’s Houecarl Lydia has been standing around Breezehome for months, just in case someone breaks in to use up Zuuri’s salt or maybe do some reading. After she got the old folks set up at Sky Haven Temple, Zuuri stopped by and proposed a career change. Now Lydia fights alongside her fellow Blades.

Some time ago the Greybeards showed Zuuri where the echo of a Word of Power could be found. A Redguard traveler recently mentioned legends of the same place. Zuuri has been slaying dragons, but she needs to read the Words to increase her power. The ruin wasn’t far from the fortress. Zuuri took her leave from the Blades and headed north.

The ruin was deep, and the restless dead many. Eventually she began to climb, though still under ground. She reached a chamber where she could hear the wind whistling through the rocks. A desiccated figure rested in a stone seat, towering horned helm leaning at an angle. He straightened as Zuuri entered. Draugr Death Overlord. She used her Firebolt, two maces, and her Thu’um. At the end she got his ebony axe.

The door led to blinding sunshine and a Word Wall. As she contemplated her new power, she heard the pop of a coffin lid followed by an otherworldly screech. There in the snow on a mountaintop, Zuuri defeated a Dragon Priest.

Now she’s supposed to return to High Hrothgar on behalf of the Blades. Maybe they know where another Word of Power can be found.

Aravi's trying to get permission to get a home in Riften from the Jarl, so Aravi's been going around and doing various things for people. She helped a stable hand get out of debt from some nasty people without raising a weapon. In return, the stable hand showed her how to ride a horse (pretended) and now Aravi is considering getting a dappled horse from the stable.

She talked to a kind old woman that helps run an alchemy shop. Aravi really dislikes the woman's husband, but likes the old woman. She agreed to travel out to a village to pick up an ore sample for them. While at the village she found the mine was closed... and filled with spiders! She killed the spiders (actually Kharjo did most of it, Aravi HATES spiders) and got a nice reward.

She returned to the town and it was about midnight. Before heading up to her room at the local inn, she witnessed a Nord make a joke about slavery to the face of an Argonain. I can't even describe what Aravi felt. For those unfamiliar with Aravi, she is a Khajiit.

My Imperial (though I maintain he is half-nord) character Nemetor infiltrated the Thalmor Embassy last night.

He was asked to create a distraction by Malborn, his associate, and thus after mingling with the crowd and a few tense conversations with the Aldmeri advocates, he asked his old acquaintance Jarl Idgrod do what she does best, cause a scene.

She gladly obliged, and Malborn helped him slip away into the bowels of the embassy. Here the real work began. The only items Malborn could smuggle in for him consisted of an ebony waraxe, a curved golden dagger and the mask named Krosis to conceal his disguise, along with a good amount of lockpicks.

Nemetor quickly dispatched the guards in the first chamber with swift, brutal axe-strokes, hiding their bodies each in turn so the others wouldn't notice.

Outside would prove more difficult. The first went down easy enough, leaning on the wall nonchalantly proved to be a foolish respite to take as the axe was buried in his back. He screamed as he went down however, alerting the others.

Nemetor saw a thalmor take aim with his bow across the courtyard. 'WULD!' he shouted, and the distance was closed in a matter of seconds, the shot never fired as the axe felled him. The wizard was throwing lightning at him, and so Nemetor threw up a quick ward, which proved futile as the elf's strong magic repeatedly shattered it. All the while however, Nemetor was moving closer, until 'FUS RO DAH' and the mage was flung back against the rails. Nemetor's axe made sure he didn't get back up.

He entered Elenwen's solar, but knew all the while time was running out. Soon or later they would notice the Imperial's absence from the party...

KC, I thought about Aravi the first time I saw that mine!!

Illydoor, that's neat, I never even saw Jarl Idgrod there.

*
Zuuri the Redguard battlemage has traveled to the Throat of the World and returned with a new understanding of her place among the dov. It’s no wonder that she feels no real kinship with the Blades, though they are bound together. Arrogance and deceit are part of her blood’s legacy. Time will tell if it’s stronger than her mortal’s heart.

Ordinary concerns soon reclaimed her attention. On the way back to Whiterun, Zuuri stopped in at the Riverwood Trader to exchange some goods. Much to her surprise, Faendal was there using the cooking pot and acting quite cozy with Camilla. It seems that fickle Imperial has changed her mind again.

Zuuri is not one to gossip, but she was already involved in this situation. She went to the Sleeping Giant to buy a pint for the jilted lumberjack-bard. Sven was already in his cups when she got there. It only took a suggestion, and he talked himself into becoming a hero from one of his songs. He was still agreeable when he sobered up on the road halfway to Markarth. Now the Blades are training another recruit.

Zuuri spent some time in solitude under the stars at Sky Haven Temple. She has a name for the fire in her blood. Suleyk. She hungers for more. Where might she find another Word of Power?

Actually I have taken over it and I found it sort of creepy cause sorry for spoilers but she has like a whole witches dungeon thing and I dont know I was mildly freaked out.

Here's a long Zuuri update:

Zuuri recently took a trip to the nearest city. She needed someone with few connections, someone who could be convinced. Perhaps one of those pelt-wearing axe-draggers who hang around in taverns. She found one, and he was for hire.

They raided a few Forsworn hideouts together. The man proved his worth with blade and shield. His dissolute life had made him no less a fighter. One night across the fire, she started her recruiting speech.

“Does it bother you to live without honor?” she asked, passing another bottle of ale.

He flicked it open with his thumb. “A Nord is judged not by how he lives, but by how he dies.”

“True,” Zuuri mused. “And each time you take some Breton girl’s head off with your axe, Sovngarde must ring with your ancestors’ celebration.”

Vorstag drained the bottle. Zuuri handed him another.

“I know a band of men and women who hunt dragons,” Zuuri said. She tipped the last drops of soup out of her bowl. “They live with few comforts, far away from the distractions of city life.”

Vorstag watched her, listening.

“They say a dragon’s fire only burns while you’re dying,” she continued, “but the battle song will last forever.”

Vorstag appeared to consider her words. “Men and women?” he asked after a few moments.

“Yes. Men and strong, fierce, warrior women.” Zuuri wiped the bowl before tucking it away. She gave him a look. “Lonely women.”

Vorstag stood and threw his bottle into the fire. “Lets’ go.”

Back at the stronghold, the Acting Grandmaster declared that now she had her hands full with new recruits. The old fellow found a dragon lair for them to raid.

The Blades gathered their gear and hit the road. Zuuri told them she would meet them there.

She did feel a little guilty over playing on Vorstag’s Nord pride to get him to join up. She decided to have a little chat with him before their next dragon fight. It didn’t work out that way. The dragon spotted her while she was still out in the middle of the volcanic tundra.

The first thing I noticed was that we had left her dragon fighting kit back in Whiterun. My characters tend to drop off their gear when they get home, so that they’re not strolling around town carrying tons of unequipped armor. Sometimes that backfires. Zuuri abandoned her plan to carefully address threats as she approached the lair so that there wouldn’t be any more skeever surprises during the fight. She picked up her feet and sprinted to where the Blades were supposed to meet her.

The dragon followed. It was very cool to run up the hill toward the Blades as they were firing up over her head at the dragon, trash-talking it the whole time. The dragon fell. She approached Vorstag to see if he had any regrets.

“Well met, friend,” he said. “It’s good to see you’re still in one piece, with all the trouble we get into.”

It was hard to tell under his helm, but it sounded like he was smiling.

Zuuri spent the night camped with some hunters by the hot springs. They must have seen the dragon’s fire and heard all of the Shouting, but they didn’t get up to see what the fuss was about. After Zuuri took a long soak with them, she decided they might have the right idea.

Still, duty called. She hit the road back to Sky Haven Temple at dawn. First she needed to stop by Breezehome and pick up her spare boots.

She met a scavenger within sight of Whiterun. He killed her with his hammer.


In memory of my Dovahkiin Redguard Battlemage, here are some pictures of my TV:

Zuuri at Alduin's Wall

Dovahkiin With a View

Holy crap Grits! I'm so sorry! What a way for Zuuri to die. It was her goal at the beginning of her journey to kill trash like the one that slew her.

To add insult to injury, the guy used the same breaking neck finishing move on Zuuri that I had admired in the Helgen escape fight. It was brutal.

Poor Zuuri. This is why I do not play dead is dead.

Goodbye Zuuri. @-}---- Is Zuuri off to Sovengard, or some other location?

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

My newest charcter, the dark elf spellsword, is turning out to be somewhat of a prick. Lol. I've never had a character who's a prick before. Oh, I've had evil characters, but not really rude ones. Khahk~Hayre is turning out to be a bit evil, maybe about half-evil and half kinda-good, but he's also just rude. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a distant nephew of Alval Uvani.

For instance, he has a habit of kicking over buckets and bowls and things, making NPCs go BE CAREFUL! He also will sleep in rooms he's not supposed to, and store his things in other people's chests. He steals from shopkeepers when they're not looking (or asleep). Overall, I wind up roleplaying his words, and sometimes his actions in a kind of mean, spiteful tone. He's got a chip on his shoulder.

He just took down the bandits of Mistwatch not long ago. He managed to do this by running in and out of the place, killing one bandit at a time if he had to. .... Mistwatch is the fort that has the guy looking for his wife (Fjola), but she has become a bandit leader. Once we meet her, we have a choice of killing her , letting her live, and/or taking the news of her new lifestyle to her husband.

When Crystal Beth met Fjola, she did everything she could to avoid confrontation. She knew Fjola would be tough, yet she also was not completely evil (Beth could sense this) so Beth let her live. Kahk~Hayre, on the other hand, initially walked away from Fjola, but then read a Summon Storm Atronach scroll before attacking the lady! Then, he swallowed an invisibility potion, so Fjola couldn't find him, letting the Storm Atronach do all the work!

Prick. He told Fjola's husband of his wife's demise, adding "oh....I took all her loot, too". Fjola's husband got really mad and attacked the dark elf. This time, Khahk~hayre cast a Fear spell on the husband, and left him cowering in a corner, saying "Go up and see your dead wife then! See what she had become!"

What a Total Prick. At least he let the man live, though.

He's now on his way towards Riften, using his Clairvoyance to figure out where he can get his mysterious Unusual Gem looked at.

That's a beautiful shot.

New character: Achille the Breton. Conjurer, Illusionist, Alchemist. This is not Darnand’s brother, I just like the name.

It is known that during the Markarth Incident of 4E 176, Ulfric’s militia sacked the city. That day anyone strong enough to lift a sword lost their head not even for resisting them, but for failing to rise up and join their cause. The streets ran with innocent blood.

Some of the littlest survivors were taken in by the victors, but most were rounded up and sent away. Many cried out their fear and sorrow. Some were silent. One quiet boy’s bright red curls marked him as Achille, the baker’s youngest. Or at least he had been. Now Achille was son of no one.

How do some children emerge from trauma whole, while others shatter? Even then his empty eyes made his fellow orphans keep their distance. Achille would always find adequate space around him.

As he grew, he realized that he was different. Pain and pleasure he could understand, but joy and sadness were as unfathomable as dark water. Disconnection made him untouchable. The ghost of his family’s hound was the only friend he wanted.

When he came of age, they let him loose in the world. Here’s what’s happened with Achille so far.

First, we released the dragons. Achille is not the Dragonborn, but I want him to live in a dangerous world. I learned that it is possible for a bard and a summoned familiar to clear Bleak Falls Barrow while the conjurer hides. Just very nerve-wracking. It’s pretty neat when the summoned wolf comes romping back to tell you that the battle’s over. Also I completely forgot about Sneak. He’s going to need to put some perks there, especially Light Foot. He almost backed over that swing gate pressure plate. Turned around just in time. Achille got through the first dragon fight by hiding out in the tower and sending his wolf into the fray. Job done. Now his story can begin.

Achille has taken over a recently abandoned cabin just outside Riverwood. He appreciates the solitude, and the view of the lake is to kill for. He is doing some Alchemy for an income, and to give various sweaty Nords a reason to bring him along on their raids. He did a few jobs with Lydia. He keeps her supplied with healing potions and provides backup with his ghost hound Kenjo. Also he’s getting pretty good at stirring up trouble with a Fury spell. Then he hides until it’s over. Lydia is usually good for some sarcasm afterward, but that doesn’t bother Achille. He’s used to people crapping on him.

One recent event stands out as particularly entertaining. A dragon attacked as Achille, Lydia, and Kenjo were walking up the road between the Honningbrew Meadery and Riverwood. A Thalmor patrol was passing at the same time. It took forever to kill that thing! Achille carries no weapons and can only attack through a summoning, so he had to hide in the rocks and then time it so that Kenjo could get some biting done while the dragon was on the ground. Then he had to peek and see when to re-summon the hound, because it was too noisy to hear his death crackle. The dragon flushed him out a few times, and one breath is almost enough to kill him. After the Thalmor were dead and Lydia was nowhere to be seen, he baited the downed dragon all the way to the road junction so that the guards would finally get off their tails and do something. Hide-and-seek was played under rocks, around trees, and behind the Meadery building. At one point, two mud crabs marched up the road and joined the fight.

I’ve tried to have summoner/illusionists before, but they ended up developing a weapon skill because they simply could not stand by while their companion did the fighting. Achille does not have this problem. Even when he thought that Lydia might have died, it was just an observation to weigh in his escape plan. He didn’t feel good or bad about it. If the fight had been anywhere else, he would have just run away. The damn thing was between him and his cabin. Something had to be done about it.

*

Elana dragged Achille up the stairs and pushed him into the only room in their house that had a real bed. She pulled out the trundle while he stood frozen. Smoke was in his nose. A stone house can’t burn, Papa had said. Then the noise reached their street, and now Papa was gone.

“Come on!” hissed Elana, grabbing his chubby hands in hers. “Under, hide!”

There was a splintering crash from below. Mama’s pleading ended in a shriek. He heard Davide screaming.

Achille turned and wiggled into the space beside the wall.

“Stay down! Don’t make a sound, Achille!”

Boots on the stairs. Elana’s bare feet backed into the corner.

Achille closed his eyes.

Achille woke in a sweat, disoriented and uncomfortable. The smell of smoke was just the inn’s fire. He looked around the stone chamber while his heartbeat returned to normal. Perhaps it had been a mistake to return to Markarth.

Out in the common room Achille ate apple pie for breakfast beside the fireplace. A gigantic Nord took the seat across from him.

“I’m what you’d call a soldier of fortune,” said the man. He tore off a chunk of bread with teeth the size of a horse’s. “Make me an offer, and I just might fight at your side.”

Or two nights away from city walls, you just might decide to use me like a woman, thought Achille. He shook his head no.

“Watch your back, friend,” said the man. “Or better yet, pay me to watch it for you.”

Achille went about his city errands in an expedient manner. He returned to the stables in the golden light of afternoon. His horse Queen Allie was waiting there for him. Just yesterday she had carried him past a bandit ambush, two groups of Forsworn, more wolves than he bothered to count, a dragon attack, and one very angry Argonian. Achille had stopped to let Kenjo kill the Argonian. He looked like he might have some skooma.

Achille glanced over at Vigilance the War Dog as he rubbed Allie’s neck. “What do you think, girl?”

Queen Allie snorted.

“You’re right. Let’s ask Kenjo.”

Five hundred Septims later, and the three plus one ghost were on the road headed hopefully toward Morthal. Achille had heard about the Lord Stone. He thought he might go ask for a blessing.

Wow, good job with the backstory, there. For Achille The Breton

Turdas, 6:04 pm, 16th of Frostall

Khahk~hayre the dark elf spellsword from 'Morrowind' has just made his way from Riften to Windhelm. Just as he was about to enter the city, an orc approached and offered Khahkhayre a job. Has to do with vampires at a place called "Dawn's Guard" or something, somewhere outside of Riften. Although Khahkhayre was not planning on going back that way, the offer sounds intriguing.

"Kill vampires? Oy, why not? As long as it pays me, I'm in."

He's becoming more and more adept at his profession, learning spells, and using a variety of weapons for his right hand, not just swords. Right now he's got an axe that does 18 points of shock damage. It's the strongest weapon he's ever owned. He found a Staff of Firebolts (25 pts.) as well.

So the axe is obviously better for up-close & personal fighting (esp. indoors), while the staff comes in handy for long-range.

Lately he's also been wearing a Riften Guard's outfit, thinking it would be a clever way to outsmart the peoples of Riften into thinking he's law enforcement. So far, it hasn't worked that way (probably due to the fact that guards are always Nords, ha ha). He found this guard gear somewhere, and enchanted it with a Grand soul gem. It was his second major enchantment, so it's not that strong. Its stats look like this

Magika recharges 10% faster

Restoration spells 7% less to cast

He had to destroy a set of Novice robes to learn these enchantments, too. Giving up a 50% regen rate was difficult, but he's commited to learning the ways of Enchantments. Although the magic regeneration is slow, he would rather wear armor a set of "natty robes".

The mighty Khahkhayre enters Windhelm, eager to trade and plan. He's not sure if he wants to go to Winterhold and join up with the College, or go to Solitude to learn what this odd Unusual Gem is supposed to be.

So you did get Dawnguard after all. How long did it take to download? I am interested to hear what it adds to the game. Mainly because I am looking for a reason to buy it when it eventually becomes available for PC. So far I do not see anything about it that interests me much.

Here are some updates from Achille. It's long because I got behind on posting them.


The last time Achille returned to his cabin by the lake, he surprised me by packing up his alchemy ingredients and heading over to Whiterun. He rented the spare room at the Bannered Mare from Hulda. Not the one she offers to regular guests, the small room over the kitchen that has been empty since one of the tavern wenches disappeared. He pays his rent by putting the coins in Hulda’s night stand. She seems a little unnerved by him, so he uses the side entrance. Achille likes this arrangement. He’s still alone, but there are people around. I think the dragon attacks are getting to him.

Whiterun is a good base of operations for now. Achille has been honing his Illusion skills on bandits, and his summoning is coming along nicely. Pretty soon he’s going to have to choose between Atromancy and Necromancy. He often amuses himself with dead bodies, but making a naked bandit chief follow you home does not really help in a desperate fight. He’s probably going to go for Atromancy so that he can place his allies right where they need to be.

Achille is also considering a trip to Winterhold. He has purchased an Apprentice robe, but he would really like an Adept one and a better hood. I thought he would want to wear black robes like the other alienated mages, but no. He doesn’t need to fit in with the regular folk, but he really needs to blend in. Achille has been quietly interesting.

*

Achille was right to be concerned about the trip to Winterhold. Ice wolves and ice wraiths live in the north, and when they finally reached the pass through the mountains it was blocked by two angry giants and a mammoth.

They decided to call it a day and warm up at the nearby inn. Next morning the pass was clear.

When they reached the downward slope that Achille was sure would take them to the road outside Winterhold, he stopped to re-summon his flame atronach. That got the attention of the nearby wildlife. Vigilance and Lydia’s summoned wolf charged in. Lydia and the atronach held back firing projectiles. Achille crouched down and readied his spells, hoping that the snowy sabre cat wouldn’t smell him.

Since he had dismounted, Queen Allie the horse joined the fight. She did not survive.

Achille stood in the snow looking down at Allie while Lydia took the sabre cat’s pelt. When it was time to go, he tried to resurrect her. It didn’t work. They left her by the road for the scavengers. Achille doubted that even a trace of her would remain when they passed that way again.

The College of Winterhold was happy to welcome a mage with Achille’s skills. The Conjuration master taught him how to summon a frost atronach, for a steep fee of course. Achille also bought an Adept hood, but the Adept Conjuration robe was not available to him. He even went along with the college’s plan to investigate an ancient ruin, hoping that when he returned someone would sell him an Adept robe. Nope.

A funny thing happened inside the ruin. That place has been a glitch-fest for many of my characters, so I expected some trouble. Made it through the broken pillars by going back out and then in again, and the second time they worked. It was the boss fight that I had my eyes open for. That guy does crazy things when he re-dies, and Achille really needs the sweet reward that he carries.

So all went well during the fight. I saw that the special staff was present, and Achille jumped at the body as it fell to make sure it didn’t disappear before he could loot it. Great. Then when he investigated the rest of the chamber, the staff was gone. Searched everywhere in case it fell off/went down through the table/turned invisible/ got FUS’d into a corner by the boss/floated up to the ceiling, nothing. I didn’t reload since it wasn’t a game-ending glitch, just an annoyance.

Soon after there was a dragon attack in the streets of Winterhold. Achille worked the edges of the buildings, hiding just out of sight so that he could summon Frosty when the dragon landed and Flicker when it took off again. Then it crashed in the street and Achille saw something amazing.

Someone was shooting shock energy at the dragon! It couldn’t be one of the college mages. Achille had hidden behind the legs of everyone in the fight, and they were all guards apart from his group. He took another peek. Holy crap, it was Lydia! She must have picked up some new tricks at the college, too.

While they were prying scales off the dead dragon, Achille had a thought. He asked her if he could trade some things with her, since this dragon gunk was heavy. She gave him a snort and an eyeroll, but she let him check her inventory.

She had the damned staff!! She must have scooped it up during the fight while Achille was cowering strategizing. Of course he can’t really ask her for it, but at least it’s not lost. I love this game!

Next up Achille and company are going on a bandit raid. He used all of his robe fund on new spells, and he hasn’t even checked to see what the Illusion master might have to offer yet. It looks like they might stay in the north for a little while, earning. And Achille already checked. Windhelm is the closest place to buy a horse.

*

Achille made his way from Winterhold to Windhelm. The path behind him is soaked with blood. Nine ice wraiths. Nine! Also too many snowy sabre cats to mention. He is reconsidering the necromancy perk. Now he dreams of striding through the wilderness with two sabre cats at his side.

He ran into a big problem on an icy rock pile out on the coast. He had Calmed two horkers and was sneaking up on a snowy sabre cat, intending to vanquish it with his frost atronach and followers then bring it along as a pet. Summoning the atronach woke the cat. And its mate. TWO of them, and the frost atronach got hung up on some rocks, and Lydia and Vigilance were nowhere to be found. He had gotten overconfident.

That little game of tag cost him just about all of his health, magicka, and stamina (run away) potions. He learned that when really pressed it’s better to summon an ally in front of you as you’re running and then duck behind it rather than try to turn and summon it to the rear. Also frost atronachs can get hung up on terrain. That was very, very close.

When Vigilance and Lydia finally showed up, he backtracked to figure out what they had been up to. Fighting the horkers. The Calm must have worn off before they got past. Careless.

Lydia ditched him when they got to Windhelm. It might have been the last bandit that he resurrected for company. She followed them a good distance wearing only fur shoes, war paint, and an iron sword. Lydia doesn't seem to like Achille’s little games.

It was fun giving Lydia’s mostly pleasant dialog a sarcastic twist. Since I’m on a PS3, it required some pretending. Achille is not really the Dragonborn or the Thane of Whiterun, no matter what the game says. So Lydia can’t be his Housecarl. She’s a mercenary who brings Achille along for magical backup, and she doesn’t like him. Pretty much everything she says means the opposite. Here’s how she sounds to Achille:

Honor to you, my Thane. = You are a sniveling milk-drinker.
I am your sword and your shield. = You can’t even defend yourself. Kitten.
A healing spell? Are you a priest? = What are you, some kind of priest?
Long life to you, Thane. = I should leave you here to die.

So now Achille is in Windhelm considering his next move. He would like to get back where it’s warmer, away from ice wraiths and snowy sabre cats. They found a beautiful grey horse that died almost immediately, but while it was dying it gave him time to get away. He asked about bounties at the inn, but the only job was to go kill some dragon. That is not going to happen. He doesn’t know how to approach another mercenary without a job to offer them. So it looks like he might need another horse.

Let's not forget Lydia's classic "I am sworn to carry your burdens." Which is of course meant for Achille with exactly the same sarcastic venom that is directed at every other thane of hers...

As it wasn't the right time to bring Lissa into Skyrim I have been travelling with another character of mine.

She is a red headed nord called Valentine. Valentine is her surname, as she prefers to be known by that alone.

She used to be Captain of the Riften guard, but she uncovered a conspiracy led my Maven Black-Brair to kill her for falling in love with a stormcloak.

Maven had her sent to an old fort with Valentines love to rid it of bandits, but instead Valentine found a dozen assassins. Sadly only Valentine survived (the battle leaving her with a scar on her face)

Once she confronted Maven and told the Jarl of what happened she was fired from her position for slander and expelled from Riften.

I love playing this character as with most of my characters they have a set story I intend for them to follow, but Valentine does not. I travel with her as she explores freely without a set path and it's amazing to see where it takes us.

it's so much fun!

What we learned on the way back to Whiterun: Achille’s atronach, dog, and horse team cannot deal damage to a troll fast enough to make a measureable change in its red bar. Possibly because this horse (called Blaze, Achille’s background does not lend itself to creative naming) is much smarter than the previous horses. It runs away. So now there’s an angry troll somewhere on the road.

It’s also frustrating to be an alchemist on horseback. At one point Achille was hopping off and on every few feet. They were on the edge of the volcanic area, and a dragon was circling over in the fairly near distance. The ground was covered with stuff Achille needs for magicka potions. Hop off, pick plant. Dragon howls. Leap on, run a little way. Spot creep cluster. Repeat.

Now Achille has sold his extra junk, brewed a new batch of potions, and carefully arranged his recently acquired embalming tools in his room. He also brought home three skulls to play with. Thankfully he shuts the door with Vigilance in the hall before he starts his weirdness. Achille takes good care of his war dog. He’s taken some risks using Healing Hands during fights, and he carries an extra wooden bowl around with him for Vigilance.

Achille is saving up perks for the three he can get when he hits 50 in Illusion. He’s pretty bold about going into caves and mines, but no way is he going near undead at this point. There’s really nothing he wants in a tomb anyway. He does like to watch bandits die. Up on the coast he and Lydia found a dead woman locked in a bandits’ cage. It was one of those times when he knew he was supposed to feel something.

Back in Whiterun, Achille and Vigilance spent several days out on the plains collecting alchemy ingredients and improving Achille’s reflexes. He believed that he had the right skills to avoid some conflicts, he just needed to learn how to stand his ground. He practiced Calming wolves until he could do it almost naturally. Then most of the way to Rorikstead, it happened. Ambushed by a sabre cat.

He Calmed it. He and Vigilance went on their way.

That was a pretty big moment for Achille. It was also a good lesson in keeping something summoned when he’s going to be fiddling around with butterflies and flowers. On the way back to Whiterun he had Frosty at his heels. Oh, and a thief tried to rob him. He Calmed the guy. Then from a safe distance he let Frosty and Vigilance rip him to shreds.

Whiterun Hold is a good place to be an alchemist. Achille had to head up to Riverwood to unload some potions, because the Whiterun merchants all ran out of gold. Sweet! He is going to look boss in his new robe. Then on the way out of Riverwood, a dragon attacked. Achille did what even Allek couldn't manage once the dragons finally entered his game: he slipped away and left Riverwood’s citizens dealing with the dragon.

Achille still has some pretty big issues, mostly with people. One night the bard Mikael showed up in his room (upon reflection, it might actually be Mikael’s room, oops), and Achille could do exactly nothing about it. Thankfully Mikael went away. That was an uncomfortable moment.

In other news, Achille has added a saw to his tool collection.

What's with your crazy Bretons? Wasn't Allek a Breton too?

Thats one of the only problems I have with Skyrim is Alchemy. I don't really like that fact that potion making isn't portable. There should definitely be a perk or something which makes this possible (unless there already is and I've not seen it!)

Today Valentine visited Shor's Stone to try and make some money. She learned that the mine there had been infested with spiders, so for a reward she offered to help.

She took out the spiders with ease and was rewarded with 500 gold.

Not only that but she was offered a position as a Shor's Stone guard*. Although it was a BIG step down from what she was used to, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to be back in Riften guard armor

*This is all imagination. All I did was head down to Shor's Watchtower and collect the RIften guard armor from one of the dead soldiers.

From Valentine's Memoirs


*Valentines game starts outside Riften. She has absoloutly nothing on her apart from a dress and boots.

I can't believe that evil shrew, Maven, had me fired! SLANDER! WHAT? The woman tried to kill me and she killed Arthur! She's lucky that I don't waste time grieving, or we would have sufford much worse than a threat.

The Jarl is incompetant for believeing Maven in the first place. I can't believe she didn't believe me! Where did she think the sudden injury on my face came from? Maven may as well be Jarl for all the good she's doing for the city!

I cannot believe I've been exiled from Riften. I've lost everything; my job, my friends, Honeyside, EVERYTHING!

All I was left with was a dress given to me by Haelga; that's it. A nasty, horrible, unflattering dress. Disgusting.

I figured that my friend Sylja would have better apparel for me, so I headed to Shor's Stone to see her. Luckily it wasn't far from Riften.

Whilst walking I saw Khajit caravaners. They seemed nice, but not nice enough to donate anything to me to defend myself with. When I was captain I was so used to getting what I wanted out of sheer respect. It's funny how uickly a reputation can go downstream.

I encountered a few wolves on my journey to Syljas', and with me being unarmed I did the sensible thing and ran. If the soldiers in my faction could have seen me they would have laughed.

I made it to Shor's Stone and found Sylja in her house. She seemed pleased to see me, but she explained to me that she had injured her leg in the mine so she wasn't feeling very hospitable.

She also told me that she could't return to work even if she wanted to due to the fact that Frostbite Spiders had infested the place*.

I decided there and then that I would help out my friend and rid the mine of the spiders; luckily I still had my Flames spell handy, although I was awful at it.

***

It didn't take me too long for me to clear the mines, but on my way to tell Sylja the good news I was stopped by a Shor's Stone guard captain. She told me she was inpressed with what I had done and offered me a job as one of her guards.

Despite the fact that it was a HUGE downgrade from what I was used to, I decided to accept the position. She gave me Shor's Stone guard armour, which I spruced up by adding steel boots and gauntlets. The smith also made me two steel swords, as I am an expert at dual weilding in combat**.

*As I knew of the quest beforehand, I didn't go to the quest giver, but simply pretended Sylja told Valentine of the quest.

**Near Shor's Stone there is a guard tower full of dead Riften guards. Once I completed the mission I went there and took a corpses armour and found some weapons.

Things are looking up for Valentine!


Yep, Allek is also a Breton. BUT, I should mention that Denelle is a Breton, too, and everyone thinks that she is a very sweet girl even though Erik the Slayer does not want to marry her.

Didn't take long to download. It took longer for ME to figure out how to get Xbox Live actuated on my console, actually.

I haven't started any Dawnguard stuff, have not officially been to see the vampire hunters or whatever, but here are a few pros and cons I've noticed after starting the game. Some of these may be spoilers, so read at your own risk.

Pros:

1. New spells, including a spell that can make a summoned creature turn back against the one who originally summoned. This one can be annoying if it happened to be ME who cast the original summon, but the enemy triggers the reciprocating spell, turning my summon against ME.

2. Crossbows. Haven't seen one yet, but they are in the game.

3. Some really COOL vampire fights have shown up randomly in-game, and they seem to only happen at night! I love random stuff. On the second night my spellsword was in Solitude, for instance, all a sudden the entire street was in chaos. A vampire made its way into town, and was discovered by the guards. I didn't have to do anything that time...the guards handled it all. The vampire was felled and was wearing some new "vampire armor".
...This particular random encounter was almost at the caliber of when an NPC in Oblivion is caught doing something wrong (like City Swimmer in Bravil) and the entire scene goes nuts. Only difference is City Swimmer is a named NPC, and the vampire in Skyrim is definitely random.

4. Darkness Eternal really seems to dig the NPC follower from DG, and I trust his word that she rocks.

5. There's supposed to be a "beautician" in Riften who can change our looks. Haven't visited this place yet, though, but I promise I will.

Cons:

1. I was hoping DG would add some new dialog to townie conversations. It does. Unfortunately, it's all "have you heard? They're reforming the Dawnguard..." bla bla bla. I was hoping for some more random conversation (Hi! ... How are you! ... What is it?) instead of more specific PC-triggered walk-by comments.

...that's something that is wearing thin for me personally. I find myself actively walking around certain NPCs sometimes, just cuz I know they're gonna spout one of those flat, repetitive comments at my character. Oblivion's random conversations have an edge over Skyrim or Dawnguard here, imo.

Summary: the pros outweigh the cons for me. But I dunno about you, SubRosa. Perhaps you don't want random vampires, more stilted conversation, etc.

I've played a little Dawnguard, and I'm seriously thinking I won't buy it for the PS3 where my long-term characters live. Although I did spend some time this morning wondering why I couldn't smith arrows. Wrong machine. (And pre-coffee. It was really early.) D'oh!

Here's the latest from Achille:

Twice more out on the road he has been pinned down by a dragon and had to endure the long battle until his Storm Atronach could finally bring it down. Then both times Vigilance and his Dremora Lord finished it. Achille has advanced significantly in Conjuration. What happened to him is in the past. He no longer thinks of himself as that helpless person.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Achille has made friends, but Urag gro-Shub and Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold can both look him in the eye without obvious signs of unease. Perhaps they are as strange as Achille, but he is in no position to make that judgment. In any case, Achille has undertaken jobs for both mages. Events at the college have taken a turn. Achille sought Master Phinis’ help getting himself ready for his next dangerous task.

Phinis prepared the ritual. Achille went to the appointed place. He Rallied Vigilance and summoned his Dremora Lord. He Muffled himself and readied Invisibility in case he needed to hide in plain sight. Then he stood inside the circle and cast Phinis’ spell.

Achille was instantly slain by the unbound Dremora. Sigh.

Sorry Grits. None of my DiD characters get much past level 10 so getting that far seems like a feat to me.

Sorry to hear that Grits.

That's always been a sore point for me, some spawn'ed being(s) are specifically scripted to attack the PC, so hidden/muffle/invis/what-not are totally irrelevant. >.<

Also a reason I tend to avoid DiD runs.

I'm curious, I've heard that once you have Dawnguard and crossbows are available, they are ONLY available if you join the Dawnguard? Is this right? Are they not available in shops?

That is my understanding. Though PC users will be able to mod the game to make them available anywhere.

I haven’t checked in the shops with my Dawnguard character, sorry. My character (Mikke of Green River) got one before joining, though. A guy at the fort just handed it to her.

I wanted to try some Smithing and play with someone a little less damaged this time, so I made a character inspired by this guy: Link. He’s an Imperial Warrior. Primary skills: One-Handed, Block, Heavy Armor, Smithing. Secondary skills: Archery, Restoration, Looking Good in All the Fine Clothing. He is compelled to take Smithing perks as soon as they become available, since he really must have the very best to wear. Along those lines, he only wears armor that he has made himself and clothing that he has purchased. Worn enchantments are limited to the jewelry he can find or buy. He does a lot of shopping. Also, his armor always has to match.

Introducing Kentus Prime. May he bring great suffering to the dragons. (And also smith some bitchin boots.)

*

Attached Please Find the Last Page of Imperial Fugitive Kentus Prime’s Journal, Confiscated as Evidence at the Time of his Arrest. Note: Prisoner is Wanted in County Bruma for Questioning by the Count. Maintain Utmost Discretion; the Matter is of a Personal Nature.

Additionally: Fill Out Paperwork upon Arrival in Helgen, Prior to Transport Back to County Bruma. Prisoner Owes 5 Septims for his Skyrim Visa, plus the Fine of 10 Septims for Failing to Submit Appropriate Forms in a Rightful and Timely Manner. (Do not let this citizen of Cyrodiil get mixed up with the rest of that rebel riff raff.)

___

Last Seed 12 (I think), 4E201
Somewhere above Bruma


The gods must hate me. Why oh why did Countess Bruma not inform me that she is married? Or for that matter, that she is the Countess? I should not have worn my purple velvet doublet. It’s no wonder that she could not resist me. No, the poor woman cannot be blamed.

Rather I blame that “guide” for my present predicament. And I blame myself for trusting him. Who ever heard of a Dunmer forester? I have come to believe that we were in fact both fleeing Bruma’s Guard. By hiring him I only postponed the moment that he robbed me. Well, with no gold purse and no pack, at least I have less weight to carry. It is fortunate that I choose to sleep in my boots. I should not like be out here starving, freezing, and lost in a pair of camp moccasins. They would not match my cloak.

In the morning I will resume my search for the Border Patrol. I lack the funds for a travel visa, but I am certain that my Imperial brothers will lend a helping hand. Must close for now. Ink has frozen.

___

From Kentus Prime’s new journal:


Last Seed 20, 4E201
Riverwood

Skyrim has provided some unexpected adventures. My wagon ride in Legion custody nearly ended with my head in a basket. Thanks to the intervention of a beast of legend and a stalwart soldier of the Imperial Legion, I still draw breath. My entanglements in County Bruma have faded into insignificance. There is excitement to be found right here in Skyrim.

I have repaid the Riverwood smith for his hospitality through honest work at his forge. My skills are progressing. I am now outfitted in steel. I have not yet seen finer armor in Skyrim.

I have earned a small income ridding the local area of bandit menace. My greatest need at present is a decent clothier. Perhaps the Nords make their own apparel. Thus far I have only found a single pair of boots for sale.

___

Last Seed 21, 4E201
Whiterun

The disaster at Helgen was not an isolated incident. Dragons have returned to the world, and I have slain one! With support from Whiterun’s most excellent Guard. An errand for the Jarl’s wizard led to a turn of events. At the end I discovered a strange, new power. Back at Dragonsreach, an argument developed. I found myself agreeing with Balgruuf’s unwashed brother (perhaps the strangest turn of events thus far). I am Dragonborn. The Greybeards called my name: DovahKen! The times of ancient legend have returned!

Note to self: try russet outfit with the green-lined boots.

___

Last Seed 23, 4E201
Whiterun

I have settled my domestic arrangements in a most satisfactory manner. Jarl Balgruuf suggested that as Thane I might purchase property inside the city of Whiterun. The available home is located in the Plains District. No, thank you! I found a cottage for rent in the far more fashionable Wind District. It is of course a bit windy, but style triumphs over comfort.

The sight of my landlord raised a dilemma. Though I have not seen armor made of Dwarven metal, I have begun collecting ingots as I find them for sale in anticipation of the day that my skills will allow me to use them. My landlord Uthgerd the Unbroken wears a finely crafted suit of steel plate! Adrianne informs me that I am nowhere near ready to work with that material. She suggested that I work with Elven metal for a time. However, I can imagine how the sunset will gleam on a suit of golden-colored Dwemer metal. What to do?

It is some comfort that Uthgerd wears a breastplate fashioned in the feminine form. I am told that the people of Skyrim are more open-minded about certain things than people in other places. If he wants to dress as a woman, it is no concern of mine. We raided a few bandit camps together. I have great respect for the quality of his character and the strength of his arm.

___

Last Seed 24, 4E201
Camped in Whiterun Hold, or Eastmarch, or Possibly The Rift

I have crafted armor of Dwarven metal, and a sword, axe, and bow as well.The guards have made many admiring remarks as I walk through the streets of Whiterun. There is one thing they are perhaps too awe-struck to mention. I may present an Aedric vision of righteous might, but I move like a pregnant cow. I am told there is a standing stone that may bequeath the Steed’s blessing. I set out with my landlord/boon companion Uthgerd to find it.

On the road near Honnigbrew Meadery, a dragon attacked. The guards answered my rallying cry, and we slew the beast. Not before one of the local farmers met a brutal end in its jaws. After the carcass flaked away into bones and I absorbed its very soul in a rush of (well-deserved) power and light, Uthgerd met my eyes with a look of grim determination.

He was right. It is time for DovahKen to answer the Greybeards’ call. We turned our steps toward Ivarstead.

(A note after turning in for the night: to my great surprise, I have discovered that Uthgerd is a female person. I cannot account for her voice and sheer physical presence, but that does explain the breast forms on her armor.)

___

30 Last Seed, 4E201
Windhelm

“Keep an eye out for wolves if you’re headed up the path to High Hrothgar.” Wolves?! Upon our return to Whiterun, Uthgerd will need to build an addition to house our pelt, fang, and skull collection. I no longer have any concerns about facing wolves.

The Greybeards were impressed with me, of course. I am tasked with retrieving an artifact. The road will take us to parts of Skyrim that I have not yet seen. It is my fervent hope that I might find a clothier. I have begun to suspect that the apparel offered for sale at my favorite merchants is the very same that I traded in as salvage!

In Windhelm I conquered the mysteries of steel plate. Now Uthgerd and I present a uniformly grim appearance. I did look fine in my Dwemer attire. Perhaps I will keep it for ceremonial use. Working with orichalcum gives me no satisfaction. The armor is indeed as ugly as those who are known to wear it.

___

5 Heartfire, 4E201
Solitude

Here is a city! It is my fondest hope to return here someday, perhaps to dwell in peace after the defeat of the dragons. And if those wretched Stormcloaks ever tire of causing a fuss. Actually, perhaps I should simply hope to dwell here, and work on the peace later.

Thanks to the funds collected on a long and active road trip, I am now attired most hideously in Orcish armor of my own making. The material is stronger than my steel plate, and so I wear it, death being slightly less welcome than presenting a rough appearance. I am collecting ebony ingots in anticipation of future efforts at the forge. Thus far I can afford two.

In the morning Uthgerd and I will depart on the Greybeards’ errand. I have acquired the blessing of the Steed Stone. Though Uthgerd is considerably longer of limb, I am now able to outpace her. This new ability has given me additional practice catching blows on my shield and heavy armor, as ruffians and wild creatures seldom have the courtesy to wait for her to catch up before attacking.

In other news, I have found an adequate clothier. Radiant Raiment! As soon as Uthgerd falls asleep, I will begin the work of organizing my new wardrobe. Thankfully with the Steed’s blessing I will not have to ask her to carry it.

Hehe Grits, I am loving Kentus!

The fact that he thought Uthgerd was a male at first was hilarious.

His skill in Smithing is impressive considering the amount of time he's been doing it. He is a talented man, I must say!

Can't wait to see where his journey takes him next.

LONG LIVE DOVAHKEN!!

DovaKen! I love it. But considering who he is inspired by, I think it should have been the Count of Bruma who found him irresistible in his purple, not the Countess...

DovaKen, that's awesome.

In other news, in order to try out some new mechanic mods, I started up Sorchia and Sindel. So far, Sorchia's mostly hung out staring at a peculiar rock while having classes. Not that Winterhold is all that boring at time.

Sindel, on the other hand, is a bit more of a wanderer who has seen some danger a bit closer then she would have liked, but she marks it balanced by the occasionally spectacular sights her travels reveal.

I'm also pretty certain what mod KC was using when Aravi fought the dragon in Morthal, as Sindel has faced that type as well, though she was a tad bit more pressed then the Khajiti girl with the aid of several guards.

Wow, I can honestly say I've never fought 3 at the same time.

Oh sweet mother Mara. I don’t have a journal page from Kentus. Just a few remarks and a quick retelling of today’s incident.

Now, Kentus Prime is my first and probably last Smithing character, because so far there has been more shopping than adventuring. Clearing out mines, hunting for hides, and praying for one more ingot in the shop. Kentus has taken some Speech perks instead of more combat skill perks, since it seemed that although he was weak in the battle department, his gear made up for it. I prefer the hide-wearing steel-bearing badass over the mightily equipped average guy, but I had to try both to be sure. Anyway, Kentus finally got his last perk in Smithing about twenty minutes ago. He crafted a few pieces of Dragonplate, but he needs more materials to finish his set, so he wouldn’t even try on the pieces he just made yet. Off he went wearing steel plate (he still needs more ebony ingots to temper the whole set of ebony armor, and don’t get me started about daedra hearts), and I was fuming a little bit because I really, really want to see what the dragon armor looks like.

Between Whiterun and the Western Watchtower, a dragon attacked while DovahKen was killing a sabre cat. Yesss!! More scales, bring it. He began the battle at less than full health, but it landed immediately and he already had his sword out so he jumped in and was making good progress. About the time I cast an eye at the dwindling health bar, kill cam.

My view was stuck looking up the dragon’s rear end, so all I could see was the hunched-over beast thrashing from side to side. Fffffff nooooo!! Not before Kentus makes his last piece of— gaah now I’ll never get to see— wait, what’s that?

DovahKen is riding the dragon’s head!! Woo hoo, he’s the one doing the killing!! It’s a KenCam! Eat that, dragon!

Whew. Now back to Whiterun to make a pointy helm, as soon as my heart stops pounding. I love this game!!



Three dragons for Sindel? Wow, I think I've only had two once! Sigh, vanilla. I enjoyed the pictures!

liliandra nadiar: 3 dragons at once!!!

Grits: Shouldn't DovaKen be hanging out with DovaBarbie? I mean Lydia? He needs an ornament on his arm to make him look good.

DovahKen would make Barbie look good!

Then maybe some hot young stud like Erik the Farmer Slayer? Most of the men in this game fall under the "settling for less" heading, but he at least would not go home alone from the Boom Boom Room.

Funnily enough, young Erik is presently traveling with Kentus. He’s wearing glass armor from head to toe with a matching glass battleaxe. I wasn’t a fan of the glass armor before, but I love the way different light shines on the material. I cannot imagine any other character who would put Erik the Slayer in glass, but that’s DovahKen!

Kentus did meet a woman who is potentially worthy of adorning his arm. Jarl Elisif the Fair! He’s almost prepared to overlook the fact that she is a Nord. Of course the whole grieving widow/aspiring High Queen business likely places her out of reach, but Kentus does not aim low. He has not been impressed with the other Imperials he has met in Skyrim. Camilla is a tease and a bad dresser, and Carlotta fails to see the humor in selling her food in order to feed her hungry daughter. If she said, “I have a growing daughter who keeps borrowing my shoes,” I’m sure that Kentus would have been smitten.

Kentus Prime has experienced a turn of events. I had hoped that he would find a necklace of frost resistance and go surfing on the Sea of Ghosts, but that was not to be. Here’s what he says about it:


Heartfire 9, 4E201
The Reach

I have spent some time scouring Skyrim for materials with which to work my art. New friendships were forged along the way. I now travel with a man who calls himself The Slayer. He is attired in glass armor of my making. Quite an improvement over his original gear. There was a time when I would have remarked how the light dances in the green glass, and how the helm masks The Slayer’s pasty complexion and unfortunate hair. I might sound like my new Altmer friend in Solitude, a woman whose impeccable taste surpasses even my own. In the past I would have chronicled my triumph over dragon scales and bone, and I might have described how well I wear the armor crafted from those legendary materials. But no longer.

Two days ago in Dawnstar, a dragon attacked. The Khajiit caravan and civilians of Dawnstar joined in their town’s defense. I fought bravely, but not carefully. Seren the blacksmith’s wife fell by my hand. With one arrow I ended two lives and ruined another.

The Slayer waited for me to serve my prison term. He still stands by my side. Another dragon attacked as we attempted to leave Dawnstar. I hoped that justice would find me during the fight, yet I live. We returned to Whiterun where I lifted my hammer for the final time. I crafted a suit of daedric armor, so I might appear as foreign and foul as befits one who shares the dragons’ blood. Now I understand our kinship. Fire and death, and an end to all things.

There is a dragon lair at the summit of a nearby mountain. Tomorrow we hunt.

Poor Kentus So much for the fun-loving fashion-commando.

Heartfire, I think
Somewhere snowy

Dear Da,

I was right to follow my dreams. Every day with Kentus Prime is an adventure. I have shot dragons down out of the sky. (With some help from DovahKen. That little fetcher sure can Shout.) And I’m pretty sure that I will get to Sovngarde fighting at his side. In fact if there is blood on this letter maybe I am there already. Ha ha.

It’s not all fun and killing, though. A bad thing happened in Dawnstar. A dragon attacked. That was the good part. Then a Redguard woman stepped in DovahKen’s line of fire. She died. He is tore up about it. Hasn’t shaved or trimmed his hair in weeks, and I told you how he used to keep after his appearance. Now he is almost as hairy as a Nord woman. I keep telling him that it was not his mistake, but I don’t think he listens. It’s hard to tell though, because he always wears that creepy helm.

I hope the crops are growing well without me, because I’m not coming back home for a while. I know you wanted to keep me safe, and that is fine thinking if you are an elf or an Imperial. I hope you are proud of me, Da. I that think Ma would be.

Your son,

Erik (The Slayer)

My Imperial character Nemetor finally entered The Ratways, in search of the elusive Esbern.

Before coming to Skyrim on that fateful day however, the unknown descendant of Septim was an outcast and a thief. But he had shied away from that former career after entering the wintry land of the Jarls, determined to begin anew and leave his criminal past far behind.

He knew however, the temptation to visit the Ragged Flagon and its herald Brynjolf was also partly the reason he would enter the sewers tonight. To know that there was not just a hideout, but an entire guild of thieves just like him underneath the creaking wood of Riften was a notion that both terrfied and intrigued him. Perhaps they would know where Esbern was? Yes, thought Nemetor. That was a good enough reason.

So at the hour of midnight, he crept out his lodgings in the Bee and Barb, garbed in hooded blue robes to hide his face. He took a torch out of the bracket outside and descended the steps to the watery canals. There he found an unassuming door, and seeing there was nobody around, doused his torch and stepped in.

Inside the walls were slimy with damp mould, but the place was well lit. Nemetor rid himself of the blue robe for some simpler clothes, better for sneaking around in. It had not been long traversing the passage when he came across two men speaking. He got that one was named 'Drahff' and the other named 'Hewnon' from the conversation, before the former mentioned something about checking the entranceway. Nemetor panicked, and quickly backed into a shadowy alleyway out of sight. When the thug walked past, he unsheathed his ebony war axe and drew its bladed edge across his throat. His companion rushed in after, having seen the death. In the flickering torchlight blows were traded, but Nemetor's skill with the axe was unmatched and the man named Hewnon was hewed nonetheless.

After a few more lowlifes to deal with and about halfway into the sewers, Nemetor came across a room littered with beartraps on the grimy floor. In the corner, an alchemical table stood, along with a good amount of empty mead bottles and a pile of dirty hay. Someone obviously lived here. But where was he?

His question was answered when a thundering punch smashed into the side of his head. Nemetor stumbled back, to find himself looking at a ham-fisted giant of a man dressed in ragged robes that barely fit on his colossal frame. The Nord stood head and shoulders above the Imperial, and before Nemetor could unsheathe his axe another two punches crashed into his side, disarming him and sending the weapon spinning away.

Left with no weapon, Nemetor had no choice but to raise his own fists, and dodged and ducked as the brute swung heavy blows - for some odd reason he was unable to block. Nemetor threw some punches of his own, but if they registered on the big Nord he barely seemed to show it, since Nemetor hadn't invested in that Heavy Armor perk yet. His opponent was unrelenting in his strikes, and before long he was driven back, his stamina wearing thin and his mind and body reeling from the huge blows.

He knew then he was never going to win this battle through strength. So the Imperial turned the fight into a game of wits, noticing for the first time the lamp swinging above them and the pool of oil on the floor. In a last-ditch effort to save his life, Nemetor swung with all his might a blow aimed for the bracket that held the lamp. It snapped, and the lamp fell, shattering on the Nord's bald head and then as the first sparks hit the oil pool consuming him in a roaring blossom of flame and light. The giant fell silent, and as the flames died away all Nemetor could hear was the sound of his own laboured breathing and the thump of his heart pounding in his head.


------

This all happened, right from sneaking into that beartrap room and wondering where everybody was and then having Gian the Fist punch me in the back of the head, as well as having him almost kill me bare-handed until I hit the lamp above him in the next room.

He didn't disarm me though, I just thought it'd be cool to fight him mano-a-mano

Interesting story, that of Nemetor. My dark elf spellsword initially got into the business down the Ratway, but lost interest for some reason. Maybe that's for another character, though.

At what point did you lose interest?

Ah I first created him with a mind to have him as the typical goody hero, but then realised that I'd obviously want him to join the thieves guild and dark brotherhood amongst other more morally-questionable activities, so decided to create his criminal background.

Ok Aravi hasn't actually got to the Dawnguard fort yet, she's in Riften getting ready. Sorting what equipment gets sold, what gets stored, and what absolutely has to come with.

She was looking for refined moonstone, walking from the main gate to the market. It was evening and the shops were about to close for the night. Heavy clouds in the air, could rain at any time. Then a roar. A dragon faded into existence right above the town and attacked! Big cities were supposed to be safe! And it was a Nether Dragon.

(Is that in the vanilla game?! It did some unusual frost attacks and then turned invisible as it flew, so you had a really difficult time tracking it as it circled in the air!)

Aravi had to use dragon rend to bring it down and she killed it quickly after that. A huge crowd gathered and stared at Aravi, she could hear them talking about her. She ran away from them, down into the canal. She ran to the other side of the city and came up near Honeyside and ran inside. Her secret was out.

There are no dragons in my games, so I do not know if that is normal. It does sound neat to have them attack inside the big cities. Although it might not be so neat after everyone in the city is dead...


On a different note, there have been two occasions now in Bendis' game where a Stormcloak patrol has almost gone aggro on her. Both times it was with one of the three-fighter patrols in the wilderness, and both times it was with just one of them, a female Nord. She would draw her sword and tell Bendis to get lost. Bendis does not have a bounty, and has not done any of the civil war. It is just like I saw happen more than once in Aravi's game. So I wonder if that one Stormcloak actor has some kind of disposition modifier against certain races, like Dark Elves and Khajiit?