I got halfway thru reading the post above, but then I realized I'd already read it before. Lol. You said you changed something, but I'm not seeing what it is.

The newer parts are in the second half, where she hooked up with Faendal (which she did not do before).

Ah, I see. I see why you changed it, too.

Vera the Huntress walked briskly in the road in between the pine forests of Falkreath Hold. She whistled an old tune as she held her axe behind her back, encased in steel armor. With her other hand, she tossed around the Ring of Hircine up and down. I earned this, she thought to herself. Sinding? Poor dog wouldn't stand a chance without my help. As a devout worshiper of Hircine, survivalist and bounty hunter, she truly made an uncharacteristic decision by aiding her fellow Lycanthropy in hunting down and devouring the hunters. After all, it was the Bloodmoon. What was I going to do? Turn into her bestial form and join with the merry yet sad band of tidbits and hamshanks? Nay!

She smiled at the thought of reversing the Chase, turning it inside out and still please her Master. After all, she was a werewolf. Hircine's greatest hunters in all of Tamriel. Not even those overgrown werebears could match my strain! She took a seat underneath a tree, atop of a log. She pulled out her journal to write her journey.

Entry 1: Last night was marvelous. The prisoner I met in Falkreath who teared the child to shreds was no other than a werewolf himself! Sad day when a Lycanthrope is captured by a band of Nords. But in my lifetime, I realized it is only natural. Tamriel, the arena, is a never ending struggle. If we don't survive, we die. If we survive, others die. I'm glad to be a survivor. And I am glad I can be a survivor with purpose. Yet deep inside it pains me that I could not enjoy the hunt in Solstheim.

Entry 2: Sinding thanked me for saving his skin, quite literately. Honestly, I was just glad I pleased Hircine and was rewarded with his mythical ring. Such a legendary item, wrapped around my finger! I am also pleased to know that Hircine removed his curse from it, it means my uncontrollable urges aren't increased two fold. I've been thinking on why Sinding must of displeased Hircine. Was it because he was like the majority of the pups out there? Whining about his gift? Or perhaps his thievery of the ring was not sporting in the eyes of my Lord. In the end, it does not matter. I'm not the one on the leash.

Entry 3: I arrived in the sleepy town of Falkreath after my nightly escapade near Lake Ilinalta. I awoke with blood over my body, not of my own, however. As I got dressed and headed to the town of Falkreath. At the Dead Man's, I met with Aela the Huntress after I told her to stay there after I transformed a night after I received the ring. A few days ago she told me of the Totems of Hircine. Mundane looking objects that could channel the power of the werewolt to new directions! I told her it can wait, because I had a bounty to catch first. Totems do not have legs, but my prey does.

Entry 4: Ha! I collected my bounty by killing the accursed bandit chief at Cracked Tusk Keep. I took a more subtle approach, using guile rather than strength or speed to bring down my quarry. The first three fell by my arrows. The Orismer himself died at the end of my axe. I returned to the town to collect my payment. One hundred coins in my pocket. Pathetic. I risked my own neck only to receive cheap pay from the innkeeper. These jarls are too cheap anyways.

Entry 5:Aela and I set out on the journey, she's like the sister I never had. Of course, it is only the two of us. The brothers, Vilkas and Farkas, are too set in their Nordic ways to even think about doing anything for Hircine or themselves. They aren't enamored in the blood of the Beast as Aela or me, or even Skjor before his unfotunate passing(hunt well, brother. I will see you again in the Hunting Grounds). I am no Nord, so I never thought much about going to Sovngarde. I might never even discover what all the fuss is about. If they wish to be belching drunks for all eternity, it is fine by me. I rather embrace the glory of Oblivion, and hunt with my ancestors and my Lord! Will I aid the brothers in their search for a cure? I cannoy say. But if they wish to embrace their concept of freedom, then I will have to oblige. Perhaps I can cleanse the Circle of the human taint afterall.

Entry 6:The Totems of Hircine! Never would I imagine I would undertake a journey to reclaim these ancient relics again. I remember once, in a time so long ago, that I was to protect the Totem of Claw and Fang in the frozen island of Solstheim during the last Bloodmoon, after the pact me and my husband made with the Glenmoril Witches. I understand these were the totems used by the indigenous people of that age. An ancient tribe who's bloodline carried all the way to my time. I am proud of my lineage, and I am even more filled with it knowing I can touch a memory of the past. I set out tonight to begin my search for the Totem of Fear. A skull of a wolf used in blood ceremonies that brought forth the bloodlines. I ask for Hircine's guidance!

...*Rolls eyes and shakes head sadly...*... ...

Decided to put all the dragon bones to good use - well, from the four or five that I've killed so far - and make J'Zargo a suit of Dragon Armour...He seems to like the helmet and body-armour so far...The legendary Ebony Gauntlets and Boots look very cool with the first pieces, they seem to go well with it...I'm gonna see what the Dragon boots and gauntlets look like but from what I remember, the whole suit together (including shield) looked a bit...Meh...So maybe so, maybe not...we shall see...

Am also considering...A Deadric Shield...*Spits*...Maybe...We'll see...J'Zargo looks - as they say down in the southern UK metropolis of Lodnol - Wew Sowid...

Otherwise, met the Greybeards, learned some more shouts, and sundry other Miscellanious quests here and there...But almost no dragons, except for the few where the kids have suddenly yelled "Dragon Mount!!" and it throws the hell out of me for a sec before I realise what they're on about... ...

It's actually more fun, this time 'round...*Shrug*...

Oh, bought the house in Whiterun too...Just so I got somewhere better to store stuff bar the Kodlak's room in Jorrvaskr...

I think Crystal Beth almost did this...the werewolf in Falkreath thing, that is. It's one of the rare times I stopped a game and loaded up a previous save, because she accepted the ring (against my better judgement) but I found myself just not wanting to do any werewolf stuff.

It'll be for another future character, possibly.
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You'll have to post some screenshots!

Hey! Be nice -_-

It actually did happen. I reloaded some previous saves and did an all hunting week with my female character, Vera. Yes, Aela joined me. Yes, I helped Sinding. Yes, I stopped at the totems quest

I don't get the rolling eyes though



I stopped hunting around Falkreath because for some odd reason Farkas and the others keep popping up there and attacking me for no reason. And the guards in the town take forever to respawn, so at night the doors are closed, as if they know a wolf is going on a rampage

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

Well Ma, I made it back to Whiterun with no worries, and found that pompous horker of a mage at the court. He was talking with some snotty princess trying to act tough in suit of leather armor. The mage was surprised that I came back alive. I felt like stuffing the damned stone down his throat and choking the arrogant ponce with it. But your blood won out over Da's, and I just gave the weakling the silly rock.

I would have been on my way after that, but the vile dark elf huscarl of the Jarl burst in ranting about a dragon. The next thing I knew I was being dragged before the blowhard himself, along with the wizard. The idiot flapped his jaws for a while, and then the dark elf and I went marching off to face the beast with a band of men in tow.

We found a watchtower in ruins. One man survived, he came creeping out of the rubble and warned us that the dragon might still be nearby. He was right, it was. It came out of the mountains to the south, and lit the night up with fire. It was just like Helgen all over again. Except this time I was armed, with a good solid axe and bow made by our ancestors.

The beast flew around burning things - people - with its breath. So we started with the bows. You would not believe how hard it is to hit a dragon with an arrow. Sure they are bigger than a house, but they move faster than a cat when they're in the air. Thankfully it landed, and then the fight got going. I am glad I said my prayers to Talos that morning, because surely I would not have survived if not for his blessing.

It ended with me standing on top of the dead dragon. No one else was around, which surprised me. I guess I had been fighting it alone. The others came running around the other side of the ruins when the light show started. I don't know what it was, except it sure as Shor was magic. Afterward some fool called me dragonborn. As if I am Talos' long lost great, great, great granddaughter!

We made our way back to the palace at Whiterun. I'd have rather stopped at the Bannered Mare for some mead. But the dark elf insisted. Her kind must be as wicked and profane as they say, for she subjected me to more of her Jarl's blathering. By the gods what is it about thrones that turn men into such arrogant idiots?

I got out of there as soon as I could, and found the inn. I had a good fist-fight with another woman there, and we put down a few barrels of mead together afterward. The headache and sore jaw I have this morning tells me that neither was such a good idea. But at least it got that damned dragon out of my mind. For a while.

-Hrafn, the Bannered Mare.

awesome

D'you know...J'Zirlo's been running everywhere and it's great...We're finding so many lovely mountain passes it's amazing...Roads I've never travelled before, and assorted other cheesy song lines...Like here I go again on my own..'Cause J'Zargo won't run down a hill...Or he ain't heavy he's my brother when I, for the bazillionth time, have to heal him in the middle of a fight...

Aaamywho...Where the bloody hell are the dragons?...Apart from the Dragon Peaks, there's none...Is it after Kynesgrove and Delphine that they start appearing everywhere? 'cause I've not got to that bit yet...

Grrrr...

Still, it's been very pretty...And I've made a pile of money so far...

OOooh, we went to rescue that dude from the Thalmor yesterday...Eorlund Gray-Mane's son...That was cool, the Altmer idiots were all in Glass Armour...Well, the top ones were...Bloody cool that was...Made tonnes of maney off of their dead bodies... ...

This actually makes me happy, knowing this. I could possibly do a future character who has dragons in his/her game.

My main concern with dragons, you see is that if I initiated a dragon questline, they'd start appearing everywhere. That would totally break the game for me, personally.

But in your case, McB, I hope you eventually find what you're looking for.

...Nice one...


Yeah, but at the moment...I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

Just to clarify, there's been a couple of dragons turn up at random, but at the mo, before the quest called The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (or something) there's not been many...And I have crossed many a Dragon Mound on my jaunts crosscountry...

My non-Dragonborn games have paused the MQ right where you are, McB. Dragons still appear, but they are more of a rarity. I seem to recall that Jensa and Rowen both got swarmed by dragons after the Kynesgrove incident.

Denelle and Erik the Slayer just reunited the Grey-Mane boys, too. They brought Avulstein and his buddies along, so there was quite a lot of yelling. Major haul of glass weapons to sell! Now Denelle is wearing an Expert robe, but she is not pleased with how it looks. It’s too plain. She already feels ridiculously small standing next to Erik, not to mention the self-esteem issues faced by a slim Breton girl who is perpetually eye-to-bosom with a province full of generously built Nord women. She would like a robe that made a little more of her minimal assets. Of course the magicka recharge bonus is worth the blushes, but only just. This might be the thing that gets her interested in enchanting!

She is feeling quite pleased with her archery now that she has finally found a Bound Bow spell tome. Bring on the kill-cams! Bound bow is among my very favorite things in the game.

Poor Denelle. If Teresa were there, she would tell her that more than a handful is wasted anyway.

I have been playing Hrafn 2.0 in a dragons game. I never went beyond Dragon Rising though. All the dragon mounds she comes across have still been closed. The only dragons she has found so far are those in the dragon lairs. It seems all those are turned on in Dragon Rising.

I also saw one dragon while Hrafn crossed the tundra north west of Whiterun. I am not sure if that was a random dragon, or if it came out of one of the lairs that I did not see. Most of the dragon lairs have the word walls, like at Eldersblood Peak, or Shearpoint. But a few are nothing more than a dragon mound out in the wilderness. The map and the wiki do not count those as lairs, but they have leveled dragons that spawn there. I found that out when I went into the construction kit and removed all the leveled dragons from the game. So it can be a bit confusing.

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

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

Worse, there was another dragon. It was sitting on a big wall of the ancient runes, on top of a mountain. Why did I decide to climb the mountain rather than use the pass? I know not. Perhaps it is just my wyrd to face these creatures. It was a hard battle. It was my potions what tipped the balance, and mighty Talos of course. I'll be happy if I never see another one of those things again.

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

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

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

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

Why didn't you tell me?

-Hrafn, Dawnstar

Oh, poor Hrafn! I was hoping her mom would leave a note this time.


Jensa (she’s back in her hide armor these days) and Stenvar are taking a break in the Reach. OMG it is beautiful. Here’s what she says about it:

Stenvar and I are camped up in a hanging valley looking north toward Dragon Bridge. The trapper who lives here calls it Cliffside Retreat. I don’t know what she’s retreating from, but we’re sure on the side of a cliff.

At first I wasn’t sure about sleeping close to someone who wants to live so far from company. Often these folk are alone for a reason. Then she told us how her man got the brain rot so bad he knew it was going to be the end of him. He went off one day with just a skinning knife, and she never even found his bones. Now she has to find a good death, too, so she can see him again in Sovngarde. When she said that, I saw Stenvar get all misty. That man has a soft spot for romance stories. Anyway I guess she’s not going to cut our throats while we sleep. If she does and someone’s found this journal, her name is Freja. Feel free to murder her for me.

Freja told us where to find a deep pool to swim in, but first we had to catch the slaughterfish. I went in to wake the fish up so Stenvar could shoot them. We played in the falls for a while and then on the moss at the edge of the pool, and then we finished up with some more swimming. When we got hungry enough we climbed back up the rocks and grilled the slaughterfish for dinner. I saw a couple of good nests down there under the water. When those eggs hatch, there will be a whole lot more slaughterfish.

After dinner I asked Freja how she was coping with the dragons. She said they don’t bother her, but she’s having an awful time with the sabre cats. She can see from her porch how the dragons hunt elk in the valley. They eat a lot of them. So now the elk don’t need to come up as high to browse, and the sabre cats are moving lower to hunt. The farmers are losing cattle, too. Sometimes one cow is all that gets a family through the winter. Damned dragons. I guess if Alduin is bringing about the end of things, he’s not too bothered about balancing predators and prey.

Up here under just the sky I feel a peace inside me. Soon enough there will be another barrow to crawl through and walking bones to fight, but tomorrow I want to stay right here. We can climb back down to that pool and swim some more, as long as we have thistle stems to chew against the chill. I’m going to lie down on that moss again with Stenvar and hold him all day if he wants me to. Hells, if it rains we can roll in the mud. I saw him smile today with that old lightness about him. Every step we take brings us closer to sorrow, that’s the only way happy can end. Maybe we can stay still for just a little while.

.

Grits: Yea, those sabercats are deadly. I don't have dragons in my game, but to me the sabercats are worse than trolls or bears. At least we can see trolls & bears from a distance. The problem with the cats is they tend to blend in, and they stand perfectly still until they know they can pounce. I usually don't see one until I"m almost right up on it!

SubRosa: I love that perspective thing you always have going on in your story. You're good at keeping your character's perspective in the past. "Everything has changed" is a frequent theme.
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Jerric and Darnand spent a couple of days retrieving a sapling for Danica Pure-Spring. They had to admit that it was not what she asked for, but their way was better. She was a little disappointed at first. She got over it.

The Eldergleam Sanctuary is so pretty without the bloodbath. This is the first time that Maurice Jondrelle offered any of my characters a Plan B. Jerric plans to stop back there often, especially since the hot springs hunters’ camp is close by. That’s where they spent the night. The hunters didn’t mind sharing their tents. They apparently never get out of the water.

Jerric and Darnand are in the market for a house to rent. Must have an alchemy station. Jerric is tired of carrying his mushrooms and butterfly wings all over town to make potions. Also Darnand’s book collection is getting out of hand. Plus he gets annoyed when Jerric dumps a bunch of leather strips and ingots into the same chest with his scrolls. It would not do to bicker in front of the Companions. Breezehome is not available, since this is a no-dragons game. Has anyone taken over Drelas’ or Anise’s cabins?

Lady Saga: Thanks Saga. I am trying to keep it all in character, as a journal. I am not used to writing first person, so it is good practice for me.

Grits: Isn't it nice to do the Eldergleam quest without being attacked by those Spriggans? If Maurice does not come all the way up to the tree, you have to go down to meet him. He will start the dialogue to do the sapling option then.



From the journal of Hrafngoelir

I didn't get no rest my first night back Ma. Everyone I met was complaining about nightmares. I went to the inn to get a bed, and found a priest of Mara there. He wasn't tying Mara's knot for anyone. He said he was there to help with the nightmares. He said it was the doing of a Daedric Princess. He said he had a plan to stop it.

Did I mention he was an elf?

So I knew not to trust him to start with. You can always count on an elf to never tell the truth, at least not the whole truth. It turned out a Daedric Princess really was involved, and a lot of killing followed. Of course there were a few things the elf did not mention, like him being one of said Princesses clerics in the past. But in the end we sorted things out. Now the people of Dawnstar will rest easy.

Frida told me she lost her ring in a cave to the east, years ago. So naturally I said I'd find it for her. Who am I kidding? I am wondering if I going to find you somewhere along the way, lying dead on a mountainside. Thank the Nine it was not so. At least not this time.

I got Frida her ring back. Along the way I found a couple of adventurers outside of one of the barrows. They didn't seem to know what they were doing, so I tagged along while they went inside. They were pretty handy in a fight though. But in the end one of them turned on us. He was an Argonian, a mage. He said he was there for some artifact, and had to sacrifice one of us to make it work. Apparently he was planning to do it to his partner all along. Well, I didn't feel like being sacrificed, and now he's feeding the skeevers.

Once I was back, I went to talk to Skald the Elder. That old pile of horker dung has gotten uglier, stupider, and more ornery by the year. Are all Jarls this useless? He was arguing with Brina Merilis and her man Horik. Horik was walking around in his old legion armor. I felt like congratulating the old fool on still being able to pour himself into it. I doubt Skald can still fit into the same armor he was wearing twenty years ago…

Anyway, since Rustlief and Seren are living in our old house, and no one ever sold it, it was still legally mine. The two of them seemed like decent folk however, and did not want to throw them out on the street. Especially with a baby on the way. So I worked it out with Skald to take over staying at Groa's old place. That Witch has been dead since you were a little girl, and no one has ever come to claim her house. So I wouldn't be putting anyone else out. Besides, no one else wants to live there, cause they're afraid her spirit haunts the place. As long as she stays on her side of the bed, I don't give a horker's tusk.

-Hrafn, Dawnstar

Really? I woulda not been able to guess you've not written in first person. You seem to be a pro.



Not I. Where are they located?

Crystal Beth did come across a place near Falkreath (quest-related) called Pinewatch. She's become fed up with staying at the stupid room with no door, that she considered staying at Pinewatch. It's also a cabin....kinda near Falkreath. It would be convenient to stay there, and then go into town to sell wares, etc.

Problem is, it's got a respawning bandit in its basement! It also doesn't seem to have any safe locations to store loot. I'm not sure what containers are "safe" in Skyirm. Pinewatch only has drawers and a few food sacks. I know open-topped sacks are okay in Oblivion, but I don't know about Skyrim, though.

Bottom line: Beth decided not to stay there. It's just too much hassle. She even let the basement bandit live.

But she does want to know of any safe cabins out there. She's got enough money to afford the house in Solitude now, but a simple cabin would be cool for a second home.
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I have used the Alchemist’s Shack near Ivarstead. It has an alchemy station and the endtable is safe. Plus it has a cute little garden. The interior respawns, so stuff you put on the shelves might move.

Lund’s Hut near Rorikstead has respawning skeevers and a surprise, but I believe that the chest and endtable are safe. I have used them for a short period. A necromancer would like that place. I’m not sure if you can actually use the bed.

Another idea is to move in with an NPC follower. Just take their key. I was going to do this with J’Shanji and Faendal, but he ended up buying Breezehome. Uthgerd would be perfect. She’s always at the Bannered Mare.

One place that Jerric and Darnand have crashed for the night is the workers’ house at Mixwater Mill. There are some chests, but I don’t know if they’re safe. It’s nice because there is more than one bed. Jerric enjoyed the abundant free mead.

Drelas’ Cottage is on the south edge of Hjaalmarch Hold tucked against those mountains. It’s near Hamvir’s Rest. I’m going to send the guys to Morthal to pick up an imaginary bounty on Drelas. He is a badass, it will be interesting to see how much they trash the cottage in the course of delivering the Jarl’s justice. I’ll report back with results.

Update:

Jerric and Darnand have evicted a few evil-doers for the benefit of Skyrim. They spent a moment after each battle reflecting on their options.


Outside Drelas’ Cottage

Jerric: This is a rare find. An empty cottage with a view like this. Just feel that air coming down from the mountains. Bracing! I could live here!

Darnand: Indeed, where else does it rain while it is snowing? *shakes water from robe, flicks ice from hood*

Jerric: Onward, then.


Outside Anise’s Cabin

Jerric: Kyne's breath, look at the lake! Let’s go swimming.

Darnand: Anything to get away from this dump. That witch lived like an animal!

Jerric: *splash*


So the house hunt continues. I think that my Altmer mage who is on the run from the Thalmor will move into Anise’s Cabin. You can sleep in the bed. Drelas’ Cottage is lovely, but you can’t sleep while you’re trespassing. Plus it’s a little far to the nearest tavern.

There's also the Riverside Shack next to the river in Eastmarch that flows from south to north. It is west of Kynesgrove, and a little south. Granted there is a bit of a mess (the former owner), and the critter that killed him...


From the journal of Hrafngoelir

A Breton named Eirwen came in on one of the ships. I met her at the Windspeak, and we had a few mugs of mead together. She won't say why she left High Rock. I have a feeling she is on the run from the law there. Or from something else. Dawnstar is not exactly the place anyone pines to visit. But is just the city to disappear in.

I told her about passing by that old Dwemer ruin of Mzun, Mzin, Mzch… I cannot pronounce the cursed name! It is no wonder the gods destroyed them. Even their words were an affront to the natural order of things! Anyway, when I passed by it before I killed a few bandits camped outside, and found a letter to their chief about them recovering artifacts from inside. When I said artifacts, Eirwen's eyes lit up like it was Saturalia.

It's not that she cares about the Dwemer. It is the money I think. It looks like she left Daggerfall in a hurry. Since I am not one to look a coinpurse in the mouth, I said we might as well go there and see what we could find.

Turns out Eirwen's a mage. You wouldn't know it from the armor she wears, or the sword at her hip. Bretons, they are all that way I suppose. She's handy in a fight. On the way there I saw her put down a frostbite spider with one bolt of lightning. The two of us went through the bandits that were still there like a hot axe through cheese. The Dwemer metal-men were tougher though. They took a lot of pounding to smash apart. Especially this giant one we found at the end.

The loot was good though Ma. There was more then we could carry back in fact, and we carried quite a bit. Those Dwarf steel atronachs seem to run off of magicka gems. We took them all, since they are so small and easy to carry. When we got back to Dawnstar, I went to the Jarl's hall and borrowed the court mage's enchanter. She's another Breton by the way. Just got here a year ago I am told.

So I enchanted up a bunch of the loot we brought back, and we sold it all for a pretty septim. I was even able to magic up my axe with a shock enchantment. Eirwen's sword is already fire-magiced. But I am thinking I might be able to smith her a better blade myself, and then we could enchant that one. Maybe when we get more loot.

-Hrafn, Dawnstar

Thanks for the replies.

You know what's rreally cool (to me) is that I'm not aware of a single one of those locations you've posted. That means there's still a LOT of game to explore.

I am gonna do Dyami the Scout soon, too. He's definitely gonna be my main exporer. I haven't forgotten about him. But I wanted to get to a bookstore and find a Cherokee to English book. I actually want to use his language, here and there. I'm not sure yet where exactly he's from, though. He's physically from Cyrodiil, but is spirit might be from Earth. We''ll see.

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

We headed south to Whiterun. I know a man there in the Companions who trains people in armor. I could stand to get better at taking hits, and have money in my pockets now. Eirwen just shrugged. She has no place better to go.

We found Fort Dunstad crawling with bandits. What happened to the garrison? Skald probably sent them all off to fight the Imperials and left the place empty is my guess. Damned idiot of a Jarl, all he thinks of is glory. Nevermind that the hold is going to Oblivion in a handbasket, with spiders roaming the forest, and bandits everywhere.

We fed the blood-swans a good meal, and when he headed south again, we were loaded down with bandit loot. We found a shrine to Talos on the way, and had to clear out a couple of ice wraiths before I could say my prayers to the Old Man. I hate those damned wraiths. Half the time I can't even see where they are against the snow.

We got to Whiterun, and spent some time in training. Eirwen and I met a priestess from the Temple of Kynareth, and agreed to help her revive her dead sacred tree. After facing down a Hagraven and her coterie, we were off to Eldergleam Sanctuary. A Breton priest who was also going there tagged along with us. It was a good thing I had cleared out Valtheim Towers beforehand, because we had to walk right past that old ruin along the way.

We had to dodge another bandit-held fort along the way. But we eventually got there. Quite an eye-opener that place was. I just cannot put words to Eldergleam. It is like all that is good and right in the world. The priest came in handy there, because he prayed to the tree, and it gave us a sapling to take back to Whiterun.

-Hrafn, Whiterun

I agree, Eldergleam is beautiful. Plus, it's also proof that not every TES quest involves battle, as some idiots like to argue.

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

Eirwen and I met an old woman in Whiterun. Her son Thorald had been taken and imprisoned by the Thalmor, with the help of the Imperial Legion and a Nordic family in the city. The very idea made my blood boil. So the two of us made our way north to free him. The Thalmor prison was out in the middle of nowhere, along the coast west of Solitude. It was a long walk. But we got there in mood for a fight.

All that time while I was serving as a mercenary on the borders of Valenwood and Elsweyr, I saw nothing but Bosmer bushwhackers and Khajiit raiders. Never once did I have the chance to fight the real enemy. The one we have always itched to get at since that coward of an Emperor signed the White Gold Concordant. The High Elves. Well Ma, there are about sixteen High Elves who not feeling so high and mighty now.

Now they feed the ravens.

We got out of there with Thorald, and half a dozen other Nords taken prisoner by the damned goldenrods. The cursed elves had been working them over in their torture room. Trying to make them renounce Talos no doubt. Thanks to Eirwen, and the guidance of Talos himself, we put a stop to that!

Thorald headed to Windhelm afterward. He could not go back to Whiterun. That was where he was kidnapped from to begin with after all. Jarl Balgruuf may not have openly declared himself for the Imperials, but it was plain that was who he was with. He just did not have the guts to come out and say it, and defy Ulfric. A damned coward is what he is. A real Nord fights his battles, rather than hide behind false diplomacy.

-Hrafn, Whiterun Hold

Exellent stuff, all of you!!...

Subrosa, I just did that "Flatten the Thalmor" quest...Oooh, I loves that one!!... ...Ker, and indeed, -chiing!!...

Wonder how those Thalmor feel now that they've been taken down a notch huh?

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

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

I went there looking for you Ma, just in case someone there had seen you. I've been looking for weeks, and I still have not found you. I tell myself that is a good thing, because it means you must still be out there, somewhere. But I think it's time I stopped looking. For now at least. I think if Mara wants me to find you, I will. If not, then I won't.

I've got something to do that I've been putting off since I met Ralof. Something that the damned Thalmor made plain to me.

It's time to go to Windhelm. Time to join the Stormcloaks.

-Hrafn, The Pale

Jessika and Brelyna had a rather eventful couple of days when I rejoined their travels last night!

After they had made their way back to the College to give Urag his books, he asked them to retrieve another book for him down in a cave to the south of Winterhold called Darkshade.

Once they made it to Darkshade, however, they discovered it was inhabited by four powerful trolls. After a lengthy and dangerous battle with the trolls, they managed to overwhelm them and retrieve 'Glories and Laments' for Urag. The battle was hard, and resulted in many serious injuries, so the girls decided to stay the night in an abandoned tower nearby.

The next day they returned to the college, sharing their story with Urag. Urag seemed uncaring of their ordeal and asked the girls to retrieve another book for him in a cave near Solitude.

They spent the next few days in the college before deciding to set out for the book.

Whilst heading to Solitude they took a pit stop to Frostflow lighthouse, where Brel's friend Sudi lives.

However, as they approached the lighthouse they saw that Sudi's horse was dead outside. Panicking about her friend, Brel ran indoors without a moment's pause. once inside they discovered that the place and been trashed and Sudi's mother was dead, killed by a Chaurus. They followed clues which led them to a cavern in the basement. Apparently Sudi had been hearing noises in the basement, and went to investigate. When she hadn't returned her father, Habd went to find her, followed soon after by Sudi's brother Muri. Unfortunatley all three had been killed, much to Brel's devestation. She insisted that they rid the basement cavern of any remaining Falmer Chaurus, of which they were successful, but not without struggle.

Once they killed the final Chaurus, which was MUCH larger than it's minions, they found Habd's remains and returned to the lighthouse.

Out of respect Jess decided to put the remains in the lighthouse fire in mermorium to the family that had died.

That Urag sounds like a pain in the rear! I say let him fetch his own books!

I remember Frostflow Lighthouse. That was creepy, with what happened to the family living there. Not to mention a seriously tough dungeon crawl, unless you were pretty high level.

Haha I completley agree! It took almost an in-game day to kill the trolls, with so many near misses when it came to the taking of Jess's life! But Jess loves helping out and Brel loves learning through seeing so they will continue... hopefully one day they will earn the orc's respect.

Frostflow was so difficult (Jess is currently level 8 on Novice, and it was STILL difficult! haha). I love the story that is told through the use of the journals. But the only thing that bother's Jess is what Sudi's bloody note said. All i can make out is 'dagger' at the end :/

Andrea, so glad you could join us!



He's one of the few orcs I've found myself coming to like, actually. He just seems so authentic as an orc. I find myself taking him seriously without wanting to blow him up! It's like he's got a way or a style about him or something. He doesn't take any compassion, yet both my characters who've had to deal with him so far (Claire and Beth) have become addicted to fetching books for him.


...and all of this is coming from a typical orc-hater, so that's saying something. Part of it is the fact that in a medievally-inspired world, books are taken seriously by those who know how to read them. And this orc is VERY serious about his books.

Housing update:

Nathanil my exiled Imperial sympathizer Altmer has moved out of Breezehome and into Anise’s cabin. It looks uninhabited enough to help him hide from the Thalmor, and he can do his cooking right down the road in Riverwood. He has his food stashed at Hod’s house and his few smithing supplies in a barrel outside Alvor’s. If his stuff gets stolen (barrel respawns), tough luck for Nathanil. He’s a lot more fun now that his game reflects his character better.

Jerric and Darnand have rented a very nice cottage from Uthgerd the Unbroken after Jerric beat her silly in a tavern brawl. He asked her to follow him long enough to swap her key for 500 septims rent. Their expensive stuff is marked red in the containers, but nothing has been tagged as stolen when retrieved. She has a very nice house. Plenty of storage to organize all of their stuff, plus a big desk with storage for Darnand. They still have to walk all over town for smithing, enchanting, cooking, and alchemy, but that’s how it goes sometimes when you’re renting.

Heh, so I'm not the only one dealing with house issues.

I'm not getting why containers do that, though. Like my CHARACTER puts HER money in a chest. Comes back later, and the gold is now listed as red. WTF? It's her gold, man!

A s much as I enjoy stashing gold (rather than having to RP why it's always on our character's person, ala Oblivion) it gets to be annoying sometimes when a "withdrawal" is needed to be made.

:facepalm:

I think it is because the chest is owned. So then whatever is inside the chest becomes owned.

I think you’re right. The stuff they put in the house becomes Uthgerd’s, and the stuff that she would not give as a gift (expensive) turns red. Luckily she’s never home, so she won’t catch them “stealing” their stuff. The way it works for J’Shanji and Faendal is for J’Shanji to keep him as a follower.

In other Skyrim news, Jerric made friends with some orcs by beating the snot out of their chief, go figure. He had their smith make him some steel plate armor. Now he’s getting a lot of compliments from the guards. He also got a letter from Calcelmo asking him to come to Markarth and sell him the Dwarven artifact that he just purchased in Whiterun. Seriously? The last time they were in Markarth, Calcelmo was not polite. He’s probably ticked that the guys have not yet swatted the big spider like he asked them to. Right now they’re about to go underground in search of Mjoll’s sword. She was nice to them. Calcelmo gets to wait.

Very cool, Grits!

From the journal of Hrafngoelir

I joined the Stormcloaks Ma. I think it's what Da would have wanted. I don't know if you would approve or not. But I know it is something I have to do. Skyrim cannot go on serving an Empire that licks the boots of the damned Thalmor. We Nords have to fight for our country, and our gods.

There is a shrine of Talos right across the river from Windhelm. I stopped there to pay my respects to the old man, and think a while. When I was done, I was more sure than ever that what I was doing was not only right, but necessary.

I saw Jarl Ulfric in the palace when I went to join up. He even spoke to me briefly. Ulfric remembered me from Helgen. Ralof had told him how we had fought out way out of Helgen after the dragon appeared. That was good enough for the Jarl. He sent me out on a mission right away.

I have to admit that hearing Ralof's name made my heart beat a little faster. Would I be seeing him again soon? Only time will tell.

The mission was a plan by Ulfric's right hand - Galmar Stone-Fist. Galmar is an old warrior, who fought in the Great War alongside Ulfric. He had learned where the Jagged Crown was buried. We were going to get it back. Yes, you read that right, The Jagged Crown. The one the High Kings wore in the days of old. He said it was buried with one of the old kings, Harald I think. Not that it matters who anymore, he's just bones now.

We got there, but found the Imperials had got there ahead of us. We had to fight our way through. They fell easily enough before us. We Stormcloaks fight for our gods, and our freedom. What do the Imperials fight for? Greed? The Thalmor? They could not stand against us.

Did I forget to tell you? Ralof was with us! I have to admit, that I wanted to kiss him, and perhaps a little more. But there were other soldiers all around. He said that he remembered me, but did not say much else. I am not sure if it was because of everyone else standing there. Or if there is someone else? Or does he just not see me the way I see him? Oh gods Ma, this is so confusing.

After the Imperials, we had to chop our way through draugr. But they all fell before us. Galmar turned out to be right. The crown was there. He gave it to me to carry back to Windhelm, and deliver personally to Jarl Ulfric. I wish I could have stayed, and maybe found some time alone with Ralof. But I have to admit, carrying the ancient crown of the jarls was a great honor. I tried it on during the journey back, when no one could see. It did not fit though. I suppose that means I was not meant to be a High Queen!

-Hrafn, the road to Windhelm

Wow SubRosa, that shot of Hrafn is absoloutly GORGEOUS!

I loved the stormcloak questline when I played it, and my character at the time was also pleased that he was working with Ralof. He'd always had a little crush on him.

Ralof, obviously, did not feel the same. But Joshua was cool with that

Nice update on Hrafera...Hrafangl....sorry. Hrafngoelir. There, that's her! That's a tough one to spell. Anyways, nice update. This last journal is making me hungry for some Civil War action.

I'm about to start the Stormcloak Civil War questline, since I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be able to start my Son of Talos Stormcloak dude this weekend. I've decided he will be a DiD character. If he dies, I'll just start Son of Talos II, Son of Talos III, and so on. I might even start from after the Tutorial if it gets to that point, that way I won't have to do it over and over.

Jerric had an interesting day with Darnand (aka “Mayhem” Marcurio). The only spoiler concerns J’zargo’s scrolls.

First thing I should mention, they walked from Whiterun to Riften without one single hostile animal encounter. This worries me. I wonder if something is amiss in their game. If animals don’t respawn, it’s going to be a very empty world.

Second, they found a stray dog! Ulfe!! It is pretty much impossible to get a Nord, a dog, and an irritable mage to pose for a picture, but here is my best effort. Now if only they could find a wood elf and a saucy healer, my Skyrim dreams would be complete!

Finally, there was an incident with an assassin. Jerric managed to kill him while putting only one ice spike through the dog (she is very forgiving). He picked up the fallen sword and dagger at the same moment that Darnand’s lightning bolt sent the body flying. Sigh. An instant later there was a huge ruckus from the bushes where Darnand had strategically positioned himself for the battle. Storm atronach, and it was right next to Darnand! And Jerric was now over encumbered and out of magicka! He immediately dumped a bunch of looted weapons in the road and raced to support Darnand with shield bash and blade. I have the HUD opacity turned way down, so between the bushes, the atronach smoke, someone’s exploding fire spell, searching for whatever astonishingly powerful enemy conjured the atronach, and trying not to stab the dog, I couldn’t read any of those messages that let you know what’s going on.

Like the message that probably said “Marcurio’s Storm Atronach” while Jerric was killing it. Yeah. After we figured out there were no more enemies and they regrouped back in the road, we began to get an idea what had happened. Jerric had given Darnand a bunch of stuff to carry, like their alchemy ingredients, soul gems, and all of their scrolls. Including J’zargo’s Flame Cloaks and their precious Summon Storm Atronach scroll. A glance into Darnand’s pack told the tale. He had used one of J’zargo’s scrolls. And the atronach one. After the assassin was dead.

Also the explosion from J’zargo’s scroll blew the loot Jerric had dropped all over the place and into the bushes. He found one iron dagger. Dammit!

But at least this time no one killed the dog.

Sounds like it's time to use the power of Akatosh and reload the previous save.

As Jessika has decided to go back to Cyrodiil, I have recently been my origional; companion in Skyrim, Joshua Lennox. Joshua is half Redguard, half Breton and he is a self names 'Marcher' (mage/archer). He is 18 years old (although the game insist's he looks about 30. Haha).

Joshua's back story is interesting and heartbreaking at times, I find it hard not to let my emotions for him get the better of me.

Joshua was shunned and disowned by his family (apart from his brother) when he told them about his preferance for men over women. Ever since then he has been on a journey to Skyrim to live with his aunt, who was the first person he told about his sexuality and treated him no different. I plan to write letters following his story that he will write to his brother recaping the events of his week. The first of these letters is below:



Dear Brother,

I made it too Skyrim just like I told you I would! It is beautiful here, but it is very cold. A bit too cold if you ask me.

You will never believe what I had to endure once I got here! I tried crossing the border, but I was captured along with a bunch of rebels called the Stormcloaks by some Imperials. Me? Mistaken for a rebel? Can you believe it!

I’m not sure exactly why we were captured; I was too scared to ask. All I know is that just as I was due for a close shave, a DRAGON attacked the village we were taken too! It was so cool! But extremely scary. The Stormcloak guys tried helping me escape, but they practically just threw me in the dragons way. They were probably hoping the Dragon would kill me and buy them time to escape, I don’t know. I don’t trust them.

Anyways I managed to escape the village with an Imperial soldier who then took me to this nice little village called Riverwood. The soldier invited me to stay with him and his family for a while, but I said no. Mainly just because I want to get to Auntie’s house as soon as possible. Before I left, however, the soldiers uncle asked me to go to the city of Whiterun and let the Jarl know about the dragon and to send troops to protect Riverwood.

So I headed to Whiterun and did just that. The Jarl’s housecarl was scary though. As soon as I entered the palace she started to chase me with a sword. Crazy.

Any who, once I did that I headed to the local Inn called The Bannered Mare. Did I have a peaceful evening? What do you think? Literally as soon as I sat down this Nord woman approached me, asking if I had a problem with her. No matter how many times I told her no she refused to believe me. She said I was looking at her funny. Eventually we settled our dispute with a good brawl (I knew all those fights back at home would come in handy). I managed to beat her, and she told me she was impressed with my skill. She also said that should I ever need a blade, she would join me on any journey.

I told Uthgerd, that was her name, of my plan to head to my aunt’s near Winterhold and she told me that seeing as she had some business in Winterhold that she had been putting off, now would be a perfect opportunity.

So now I'm heading to Winterhold with Uthgerd, but I’ll write to you again soon.

Joshua

hamster* YEA! Damn right, Andrea!!! I especially loved the part with the dark elf who protects the Jarl comes up to him! First time that happened to me, I got some serious goosebumps!

*rhymes with a popular aquatic waterfowl-type.

Joshua Lennox letter #2

Dear Brother,

I have horrible news. Horrible, horrible news. I made it to Winterhold with Uthgerd and the journey was less than pleasant. We were attacked by a group of bandits that were posing as Imperial Soldiers asking for a fine of some sort. If it wasn’t for Uthgerd realising they were frauds I would have given them all my money. Luckily we managed to defeat them before any real damage was done.

Then as we continued we came across a couple of thieves looting the dead body of a Breton woman. We managed to defeat them. Uthgerd found a letter on the woman saying that the thieves stole a pendant from her and she was going to chase them down to get it back, but she failed. We thought it best to retrieve the amulet from the thief and place it on the woman out of respect.

We stopped to rest at a city called Windhelm. I don’t like that city. It’s racist and disgusting; they probably would kill me if they found out my secret.

Anyway we made it to Winterhold the next day and then headed right to Auntie’s lighthouse. Once we got there however things seemed pretty odd.

Cousin Sudi’s horse was dead outside, so we ran inside the lighthouse to see what was happening. That’s when I found aunt Ramati dead, the house trashed and blood was everywhere. Sudi and Mani were nowhere to be seen. There was a giant bug dead near Aunt Ramati’s body, which Uthgerd informed me was a Chaurus. We sound Sudi’s journal, and apparently the Chaurus came in through the basement.

We found the basement key and delved into the cavern below the lighthouse, apparently created but the Chaurus.

The cavern was filled with Chaurus and these weird, blind, elf things. We found Mani and Sudi dead in the cavern; Sudi appeared to have killed herself. We didn’t find uncle Habd until we reached the end of the cavern where we had to kill a super sized Chaurus. All that was left of Uncle was inside the beasts mouth; his head.

Uthgerd and I put the head in the lighthouse fire out of respect.

I don’t know what I’m going to do now. Ramati was my only hope for a stable home life, and now she and everyone are gone. I’m trying not to cry, she wouldn’t want that. I’ve avenged her death and that’s all I can do.

It would probably be best not to tell mother, as they are not on speaking terms and it will probably distress her. Should you need to tell her then go ahead; but until you do, don’t.

I’m at an inn in Winterhold as I write this. I have no idea what I’m going to do now. No idea at all.

I’ll write to you again very soon.

Joshua

There's a lighthouse in Winterhold? I'm wondering if I've missed it somehow. Or is that RP'd in?

the lighthouse is far west of Winterhold, between that and Dawnstar

Ouch! poor Josh. That lighthouse was a real gut-wrencher the first time. It felt so good to go down in those tunnels and go on a killing spree among the Falmer and Chaurus'.


From the journal of Hrafngoelir

Ulfric was surprised to see the helm. I think he lost a bet with Galmar. But he was glad nonetheless. This will help prove that he is the rightful High King, once a Moot can be called to make a vote. We will have to drive the Imperials out before that can happen though, since they will never allow us Nords to choose our own rulers, not when those rulers stand up against the Thalmor.

Since I was there, Ulfric sent me on another mission right away. He gave me his axe, to deliver to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. He was forcing Balgruuf to choose a side. The sly old snake has been playing off both sides until now, not declaring for one or the other. But no more, now we would see where his heart really lay: with Skyrim, or with the Empire.

I was not surprised when he turned me away, with the axe. I overheard his steward talking about cartloads of Imperial gold delivered to them, and calling for aid from General Tullius. I remember that fetcher. He was there at Helgen, when they tried to lop my noggin off. That Balgruuf would sooner have Tullius' gold then Skyrim's freedom was what I expected after what he said the first time I met him, that it was none of his business who the Imperials chose to execute. He doesn't give a damn about Skyrim, just his treasure chest.

As I left the city, I had a strange feeling. Everything seemed so quiet and peaceful, as people went about their business as if it were any other day. They did not hear the ravens croaking their doom. For I knew I would be returning soon, with the Stormcloak army. It makes me sad that the common people will have to suffer because of their Jarl's greed and selfishness. But if they fight for him, and his filthy Empire, then they have chosen their wyrd.

-Hrafn, on the road to Windhelm.