Yay! I LOVE that house!! May be my very favorite. Congrats!

I suggest thinking of the two outside urn containers as trash barrels. Those do respawn.

Actually, I didn't know that, lol. Kayla pulled her skirt up and went back to Skyrim. I can't see anything in Solsthiem on my television so I STILL have no idea what an ash hopper looks like XD

...You try altering the brightness setting?...

I did that and it helped immensely...

I actually had no idea there was a house to be gotten until I fell into the quest, then I was in the house and I said to the kids..."OOooh, I bet you..." and sure enough...Rewardio!!...

So yeah...I'm loving Solstheim. I'm finally excited about something in Skyrim!!... ...

All I need to do now is actually do the MQ bit of it, and thus find out about the Magic Space Ice™ and I'll be laughing... ...

Have you ever seen those giant, old television sets? It's a box as tall as I am. and OLD. Just... really old, lol. The screen is messed up. So that's why. I'll check the brightness setting though and see if that helps.

I adore old huge television sets!!...

Preferably square screened ones...*Sighs wistfully*...

I tell ya, if I could, I'd have one of them old ones with wood panelling around it and four channel buttons... ...

Hope you can get it sorted somehow... ...

How old is your TV, Miss Hollow? .....

I bought a flatscreen last September but still have my old cathode ray Phillips, which is from the mid 1980s. We used to play Atari games on it! I was going to give it to Goodwill or whatever but to be honest I think I'll keep it. Just to see the difference from old to new if I ever get the urge.

One of the first things I noticed about the flatscreen is Sharpness. All the details are so minute; it makes my games look exactly like I see them in Game Informer magazine. This actually bothered me initially! it was too jarring, I found myself downplaying Sharpness! I'm too used to my old TV with its Impressionistic picture! Looking at the flatscreen's pic is more Modern Art.

On either TV, I find myself having to boost the Brightness higher than I would for normal TV shows, but I boost Color quite a bit. In fact on the flatscreen the Color gets boosted up all the way, and if I'm in a snowstorm it's still quite gray and depressing.

...but I love gray and depressing, too. I like inclement weather. Anyways...

"Horses....."

She stops. And says nothing. A mortal female is behind her. She listens for any traces of weakness in this mortal's voice.

"...All day long! Do you have any idea how dull horses can be?!"

That one is strong. I would need to take precautious with her, should I desire to force myself upon her.

She starts walking again....

"Wait. I knuh you!"

It's a Windhelm guard. Mycharonna the Ice Witch is wanted by the law here in Eastmarch, for what? Who knows? Does it matter any more?!. ... She has already gone through this process with guards in other provinces. She needs to make her way back to the safe house she discovered first before taking care of this bounty.

But she fully intends to pay this bounty. Oh yes! It's better to keep a low profile in her new lifestyle, and not attract the 'wrong' sort of attention. She's got plenty of gold stashed at her safe house in the Grey Quarter, and she's going to take care of any bounty (with gold) fully before talking to the guards.

*pic goes here*

Mycharonna wears cloaks of darkness, cloaks of evil. These dark robes provide a boost to her ability to re-generate magicka. And if mortals could truely see the cloaks Mycharonna is wearing, they would also be able to smell them. A heavy smell (like burning paper) is what they would take into their nostrils.

But to the mortal eye, the Ice Witch appears as a pleasant woman, wearing typical light green clothings, and with a light lavender scent instead of an awful one. One of the first magic abilities Mycharonna the Ice Witch was able to take on is the ability to 'shape-shift'. It's a talent she discovered as a child living in Cyrodiil, and has perfected over some 40-odd years.

It started with small things. Mycharonna discovered she could change the appearance of mundane objects slightly if she focused her mind upon them: stone play-pebbles into clay ones. Red pebbles into blue ones.

You are red, but now you are blue!

At first, she had no idea others could also see the results of her work.

A tomboy as a child, she had visited one of Cyrodiil's many magical areas, built by Ayleids thousands of years ago. She was alone when she discovered these Standing Stones, and took upon their magic, without knowing this. Eventually, the child realized her talent, and began a long-lived career of petty theft by hiding stolen property .... in plain sight!

Now, as a full adult vampiress, Mycharonna has perfected her talents. She walks into Windhelm with full confidence (instead of fear) looking forward to the days ahead.



Loredas, 8:12 AM
The clothes she wears include a cowl which wraps fully around her neck and head, allowing no potential sunlight to strike these areas. With most of her skin covered up, only her eyes gave her away. Occasionally a mortal would be able to see Mycharonna in her true nature. So far, this hasn't been a problem for her, but it is something to be concerned about.

She walks straight ahead into Windhelm, and then bears to the left around Candlehearth Hall. Windhelm is a confusing city for Mycharonna. And she has no intention of turning into vapors, and then getting a bird's eye view of the town to better navigate it. Not now. The sun is out. And it burns.

"I mustlee deel with dronkin' browls and pitty theevery. 'ts been a lung time since I've seen a gud bahn-dit rayd".

She makes a sharp right after passing by Candlehearth, and passes the Palace of the Kings. She'll visit there tomorrow, perhaps. Every larger town in Skyrim seems to have its own Court Wizard, and she's been slowly exploring the possibilities of her spell book.

"I once killed SIX guhds in ambush", says a man. "I rescuued my friends in mumble mumble bumble..."

He is weak, but a little bit too social in the Grey Quarter. He might be missed.

The Ice Witch walks into the Grey Quarter, and finally reaches her destination.

Eh. I'd wait for Hearthfire to build by territory around Falkreath!

You talkin' to me?

King Coin if you read this, it's got spoilers. I've tried to keep them vague though.



"You shouldn't be doing that".

Mycharonna has cast the wrong spell. It's a new one for her. She can now create a powerful ice storm from her being. She had been practicing the spell in her safe house (making sure none of the dark elves who live there were present). Now she focuses her mind on another spell, this one from the mortal's Illusion skill, and it will make her feet move even more silently.

She does not want to draw attention as she approaches the home of the lad she had met before rushing off to Riften, and killing a mortal. Mycharonna had admired this mortal's ability to cause fear in her subjects. She did not even need a spell to do this! But these 'subjects' were no match for her. ... It was unfair, what the mortal had been up to was unfair, even Mycharonna could see this.

So she had enjoyed taking this mortal from the plane of Mundus.



Sundas, 10:07 PM

The boy is awake, even at this late hour. He's just a boy, with nobody to guide him through mortal life. ...Such a pity.

Mycharonna the Ice Witch decides she'll play a friendly prank upon the boy, and drinks a potion she found in some other village, one which will make her appear as a spectral ghost.

The lad is quick though! He sees right through her ploy. Clever mortal, this one, and he's just a lad.

"Well? is Grelod the Kind ... you know? ... dead?"

"Hello, Aventus. Is that any such way to greet an adult such as I? .. Yes. she is not with us anymore, and not on this plane of existence. This I can--"

"Ahaha!" the boy cuts her off and starts to gush happily "I knew you could do it I knew it! Here! just like I promised. This should fetch you a nice price. And thank you! Thanks again!"

Aventus hands her a plate, well crafted-indeed. She can see it is worth some coin. Mycharonna cannot accept such a gift, not from a mere lad who's now on his own entirely. She finds a table, clears it of a large leg of goat's meat, and places this family heirloom carefully on the table.



She leaves him a weapon, a sword made of wood she bought from Sadri's Used Wares. She also leaves him 100 gold in a sack nearby. He'll need to have this to survived while she's gone.

With all these things accomplished, she watches Aventus as he returns to his secret room, gazing upon the area where he says his dark prayers and chants.

"I think I shall mentor this one. Bring him up in the world. ...And there will be Oblivion to pay should any one decide to disturb him. "

Mycharonna the Ice Witch is now ready to feed on her next victim, somewhere in this cold stone city.

Wow Lady Saga, really loved these last two stories! I like how you're evolving the story on Mycharonna from an insane mortal to a vampire who's growing in power, keep it up!

...What?? XD

I like how Mycharonna is caring for Aventus. He's melted her icy heart!

There's no way I can keep up with every thread on here, but I always read this one even if I go a long while between comments. Sometimes I read it on my phone. I don't post from my phone, though.

Yeah, I know that's weird, me congratulating myself. I'm one of those females who buys herself flowers if she's sad.

Thank you Grits. I appreciate it.

Really? I do that on occasion. I was just confused and thought that the site somehow glitched. :] Congratulate yourself all you want!!!

Hmmmm....

*Frowns slightly*...

There ya go, thanks Elizabeth. I just wish more people posted here sometimes, in these outer forums. Sometimes I also think I should also make fanfics like everyone else, but it's like I have a mental block against it, or something.

Morndas, 8:46 PM, 24th of Sun's Dusk

Mycharonna the Ice Witch

Class: Mage / Necromancer
Level: 27

Factions: Dark Brotherhood

Perks: Stealth (2/5), Backstab, Muffled Movement, Light Foot, Agile Defender (2/5), Armsman (1/5), Enchanter (2/5), Fire Enchanter, Novice Destruction, Apprentice Destruction, Destruction, Dual Casting, Augmented Frost, Novice Conjuration, Aprentice Conjuration, Necromance, Novice Illusion, Apprentice Illusion, Animage, Kindred Mage, Alchemist (2/5), Physician, Poisoner.

Days Passed: 99
Days as a Vampire: 78




"What is the music ... of life?"

It is night time, not far from Falkreath. The sky drizzles a typically cold shower. Mycharonna the Ice Wtich has managed to arrive to her destination: the Black Door which leads into the ground. It is surprisingly difficult to find, yet sits right below the road!

She knows the answer to the question, as it was given to her by a Dark Brotherhood associate as of recent.

"Silence ... my brother".

The voice of the Black Door then proceeded to say something unintelligible in return. And the Ice Witch walks within. Once inside, she lights and brandishes a torch.

Growing up in various parts of Cyrodiil, the girl who would eventually be known as Mycharonna the Ice Hag had heard plenty of rumors about the Dark Brotherhood. But in Cyrodiil, rumors are what they remained, and nothing more. A decrepit home in Cheydinhal was supposed to be where the Dark Brotherhood had met back in Cyrodiil's latter 3rd Era, but nowadays the site had yielded nothing but old tomes, dust, and other such debris. She had never met a single person who was a member of this covert group of murderers. Then again, she had never committed murder back in those days.

This is something that's changed from Cyrodiil to Skyrim, for in the latter province her total number of murders is now at least a half dozen, maybe more? Who knows. She hasn't been keeping a tally, exactly.

"Ahhh..at last. I hope you found the place alright", says Astrid, the maven who came to Mycharonna in a dream which turned to reality.

"I did indeed"

"Well what happens now is you start your new life in the Dark Brotherhood", Astrid says, her voice both kind and a little devious. "You're part of a family after all. This, as you can see is your sanctuary. You won'f find a safer place in all of Skyrim. So get comfortable".

"Such pleasantries." exclaims Mycharonna evenly, her voice a monotonic drone. "I have come to you by fate, it would seem. All of my travellers have passed, and these 'travellers' of whom I speak were others from Cyrodiil. One only survived, and of her fate I know not. I am happy to have joined this sordid family, then". Mycharonna says, sounding not happy at all, but not unhappy either.

Mycharonna knew the Dark Brotherhood must be operating in Skryim, for she had been attacked a few times in the past few weeks or months by assassins, and each of these assassins had been carrying notes which said the same thing: Astrid had wanted Mycharonna the Ice Witch dead! Fools!

Yet things have changed. Here she is, and here is Astrid. Astrid now courting Mycharonna instead of trying to rid her.

Mycharonna thinks they must have known about her from the earliest days, perhaps. After she had arrived in Skyrim, she had been forced to kill Anise the Hag, just outside of Riverwood. Had this been a murder of sorts? Mycharonna's state of mind in those early days had been a lot more fragile; she had found Anise, and wanted to befriend her, but Anise had plans of a different sort. With a lack of friends, and all alone in a strange new land, the Ice Witch had initially lost her mind to some extent.

But that was then, and this is now. She had lost her mind, true, but a mortal's mind (in an aging, lonely woman) it had been. Things had changed!

"I am honored to have joined you, my sister".

"Ourrrrr family my dearest", Astrid replies... "ourrr family. Together united as one, the Dark Brotherhood can accomplish anything. Soon the Night Mother will arrive, and things around here are sure to get a little more interesting".

At this, Astrid gives Mycharonna the Ice Witch a set of Dark Brotherhood armor pieces. Some of these will become quite useful: including a pair of boots that will make her move even more quietly than she already does. But Mycharonna does not wear armor per se--she much prefers her dark magicka recharging Necro-robes.

She puts the boots and gauntlets on, and intends to stash the rest of this new gear somewhere safe. (I am so glad we don't get another Blade of Woe which can't be dropped ).

"Be sure to introduce yourself to your new family members. They're all very eager to meet you", Astrid says.

"Yes. I intend this very much", the Ice Witch replies, meaning it.

At these words, Mycharonna's torch dims, then extinguishes itself.

Great and thrilling update on the Ice Witch, Renee! I like how you interwine present and past events of her life.

The ending is superb, I mean this sentence:

Today, I did loads, so I'm never going to be able to remember it all, though I'm pretty sure most of it involved Telvanni Tower in Solstheim...(Though I managed to make the first inroads into Hearthfire too *Applauds*)...

One bit sticks in the mind as truly stunning and I will admit the eyes misted over a bit with the sheer awesomeness and joy of the moment...

I'd gone to some previously blocked by ash tower...Highpoint?...High-summatorother anyways...So there I am, me, J'zargo, my new Dwemer Sphere follower...(Well, if I can't have my robot from New Vegas, ED-E, I'll have me bit o'Dwemer, yeah? )...We go off to smite some Ash-Spawn and their insane mistress...Booyah!...

So we run through, get to the bint...I throw a lever as I can hear the excited shouting of some Rieklings and there, at the end, having defeated the bint, I just had to put it on third person and pan around...

In the most joyously bizzare battle-party is J'Zirlo in the new Starlihm(?) armour, J'Zargo in his Nordic Carved, a Dwemer Shphere in full battle stance and two of the friendly tribe of be-headdressed Rieklings that turn up to help me in battle, chattering on in their wonderful way...

I genuinely misted over...It was amazing to see.... ...

Sorry, I actually loved it today... ...

Oh, and that's not saying about the Netches underground and the laugh we had about a prisoner dying by running into a rock that had fallen as a trap five minutes earlier...

Oh and being able to edit the official Elder Scrolls Wiki because I'd discovered something that had been missed for the entire time Dragonborn had been out...(Telvanni Tower can be used to live in)...

Booyah!!...It has been a good day!!...



Oh, and the wife finished off her house in Hearthfire and adopted the kids...Bless them...

So her household now consists of her (Nimuvaine), the girl-child from Whiterun (I forget the kids' names), the boy from the stables outside Solitude, Farkas (her hubby), the housecarl who's name I also forget, Vilkas as steward and Llewelyn the Bard...Biiiiig household... ...

And the kids loved building their houses too...I've never seen them work so hard in all the time they've been playing?..

"Make more nails!!"...

"I knoooowwww!!!...Geeez!!!"....

....

That’s awesome, McB!! I wondered how the McB family building projects might be coming along. I had no idea about the Reiklings!!


WHATHOW??!! Oh wait! *runs to the wiki*

...Yup...

Though, granted I'll probably be proved wrong in the end, but at the mo it looks official, I waited for a couple of days and the Steward never turned up once to his house so...*Shrug*...The bed's not owned, the chest is loot-able...Dunno if it's safe yet though...

Result!!... ...

Legate Sara Beauchamp arrived in the Empire's camp in the Reach just in time.

She rode in, dismounted, and was knocked off her feet by the roar of the dragon as it soared overhead. The soldiers within the camp leapt into action, drawing their swords and circling around the winged beast. Legate Rikke hurried out from her tent, glancing suspiciously at Sara as she moved to face her foe.

Words danced across Sara's lips, each a shout she could use against the dragon. Dragonrend, Fire Breath, Bend Will, Dragon Aspect ... It came down what Sara wanted to do with the dragon. She could slay it, like she had so many before, but perhaps it would be more useful to have an ally ...

"Gol Hah Dov!" Sara cried, the Thu'um flowing from her lips and ensnaring the dragon. The soldiers, thinking that this was their chance, began loosing their arrows on the approaching dragon, before drawing their swords once again to begin slicing as it landed.

"Greetings, Thurri. I am at your command." the dragon boomed, bowing its head. Bewildered, the soldiers looked to Rikke for orders. She sheathed her blade, and the men under her command followed suit. Sara turned to her, pulling her worn helm from her head and tucking holding it by her side.

"Reporting for duty."

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

Greetings and salutations, all! I'm Sol(itudian), resident of the Bethsoft forums and lurker of Chorrol.com. Well, I suppose I'm not a lurker anymore, but still ... Hi!

Solitudian!!! This ... is quite an honor!

Unlike you, I am chicken of dragons! I don't have any in any of my games so far. So hats off to you!

We don't do Fishy sticks here (that I know of) so have some cake!



That actually happened, too! .... I use a 'mod' which darkens my TV screen whenever a non-elven character goes into a subterrenean location. Mycharonna was carrying a torch as she spoke to Astrid (instead of using her Vampiric Sight, which only lasts a minute at a time) and her torch went out at that exact moment.




This is awesome!

Thank you, Renee! I feel so ... warm and fuzzy!

They're not so tough, once you've fought a few. Especially with Dragonborn installed.

Why thank you! I won't eat it now though - it'll spoil my dinner

Oh, and I definitely agree with Lopov - the ending to Mycharonne's story was excellent. Would we have seen your writing in any published fiction?

Saga, I'm sorry I never seem to say how excellent your writing is...Must be some sort of vampire glamour on me... ...

Solitudian, welcome!! and also, excellent start to the proceedings...Nothing starts the day quite like having a dragon bow to yer will is there?... ...*Applauds*...

*blushes* Hey thanks, and likewise, I'm always intrigued by your writings, too. Sometimes it takes me a moment to figure out what's happening! But it's all good.

I was really sad last week. Sunday is my least favorite day; hence that (embarassing) episode I had where I flipped out and stuff. Started talking to myself. Anyways...



See that doesn't sound right. Dragons should always be tough. My prob isn't whether they are tough or not, it's more about the fact that they respawn much too often, from what I've been hearing from other gamers. I wouldn't mind going up a dragon or two, but dozens? I hate to use the word "should" so much, but they should show up very rarely, rather than every time my character goes for a stroll in the countryside .

... I am glad I at least have the choice to avoid certain questlines, which keeps a game dragon-free.

From my brief experience with Skyrim dragons aren't that bad and mostly spawn if you fast travel and since that's something my characters never do, I didn't have a lot of attacks. At least there were not so many that they would bother me.

Woot! So tomorrow Dawnguard comes out. I will post Draken's adventure alongside the Volkihar!

It’s great to have a Beauchamp in Skyrim, Solitudian! I’m glad you’re sharing Sara’s adventures here.


Renee, dragon attacks are one of those things that vary tremendously depending on the player’s habits. I often think that the folks who post hysterical rants about dragons (on the Beth forum, I haven’t seen that kind of silliness here) are not playing the same game that I am. In a way they probably aren’t. My understanding is that random attacks are related to time passing in the game world rather than play time. So a person who uses carriages a lot or habitually fast travels would get many more dragons per hour of play than I would.

That’s not to suggest that anyone else should love Skyrim’s dragons the way I do. You know what you like, and I wouldn’t presume to say otherwise. I mention it only to encourage using your own experience over what other players say.


DE, happy hunting to Draken! May he quickly score his first set of vampire armor.

Suuweet!



YEah, I am psyched about this, too. And I admit I may have had a little to do with Sara/Sol's sudden appearance here at Chorrol.

I concur with what Grits is saying. I almost exclusively play the game to hunt dragons, and it has been my experience that the spacing out of dragon appearances has been pretty well thought out. I think the people who do all the complaining are usually the ones who abuse the fast travel system. Need to get to the other side of the map? Fast travel... dragon spawn! Need to sell off some loot in Riverwood (or any other open air settlement)? Fast travel... dragon spawn! Hiked all the way to Broken Fang Cave to do a favor for Farkas but you don't feel like hoofing it back to Whiterun? Fast travel... dragon spawn!

I've also noticed that, more often than not, if I want to fight a dragon I have to chase that dragon down. When I do see them they are usually circling overhead in the distance. It is a fight my character could easily avoid, if hunting dragons weren't their cup o' tea. Every once in awhile a dragon will spawn right on top of you as you leave a cave or a dungeon. But I think those appearances are tied into the proximity of a dragon lair to said cave or dungeon.

Destri: ahh okay! This is good to know. I REALLY want to do Civil War questline. I hardly ever fast-travel, but my characters do use the carriage from time to time (esp. if they've already been up a road and know it's "safe" to travel), so maybe it's time to not do this as much.



Lord Haaf-Mersey

Level: 34

Days Passed: 122
Gold Found 96,760

Quests Completed: 20
Misc. Objtvs Cmptd: 77

Turdas, 2:06 AM, 26th of First Seed, 4th Era Year 202

The air is typically cold and the place solemn. Lord Haaf-Mersey has returned to Castle Dawnguard, to see what Isran has planned next, now that a couple of renegades have been rounded up from the countryside. ... The Lord has been all over Skyrim during these past few months. Pale Pass to Helgen to Riverwood to Whiterun to Winterhold to Riften. And on and on...the travelling never seems to stop.

Haaf-Mersey had also become quite the traveller while living in Cyrodiil. Difference is, now he feels as if he's actually making a difference, possibly changing the very future of the land in which he lives. Down in Cyrodiil he was just another face; another grunt. A soldier (sometimes a guard) under simpler employment terms: do this, and get paid for it. Stand here, and get paid for it. "Go take your break" was a phrase he had come to appreciate on nights when he'd been posted as a guard in Bruma.

He had lived a mundane life in those days, and had not planned on being anything more than a simple road soldier. Or a guard standing in position for hours on end.

.... Then the dreams began, and the visions. And his life would change forever.




"I wemember a cutpuuse trying to ruub mee on da road once when we were in Solitude! I think the poor man soyled his armor!" a female voice speaks.

Lord Haaf-Mersey rounds a corner, casting a Candlelight spell. He had come to Castle Dawnguard in the company of another traveller: a woman he met in Riften named Mjoll the Lioness. He had done a favor for this woman, and suddenly she had decided to give up her previous retirement of adventuring on-the-spot. And Haaf-Mersey is pleased to no end to have a female traveller along with him. Mjoll's a bit rough and unpolished as a fighter, Haaf-Mersey thought as the pair rounded off a group of nearby bandits, but he forsees her as a strong and capable fighter under his tutoring.

"Brilliant!" says Celann, a fellow Dawnguard associate.

"Indeed. 'Tis the light of Julianos, good sire, the light which shineth of brilliance upon us all!"

"Mm hmm, 'til next time", Celann replies neutrally.

The topic of The Eight (or The Nine, as Haaf-Mersey prefers) is always a dodgy one to tread, but the Lord cannot help himself. The people must know about all the great things the Nine can provide. Like a true Witness, Haaf-Mersey plans to spread the word, one by one, and he sees no reason to stop.

"People say Skyrim is one of da most dang-rus places" says the female voice again. "I say they-ah wrung. It is one of da most magnificent places to call home".

"Mjoll! Where are'st thou? I seeketh, but I cannot findeth thine words!"

Castle Dawnguard happens to be a large, confusing place, and Haaf-Mersey has been walking in circles! It takes a few moments for Mjoll to show up.*

"Ahh, how delightful!" Haaf-Mersey is pleased.

"I'm always itching for a fight!" she replies.

"This. 'Tis the metal 'twas forged of bones and iron. But here we are in the company of safety. Castle Dawnguard. No needings for ye to have reasonings and placement of such". Haaf-Mersey says this, reaching for the superior-strength iron helmet he forged her as a gift back in Riften.

"No prublem. I can carry a guud bit of geer".

"Yes, but thy needs for such protections are misplaced, my dearest", says the crusader as he removes her helmet. "That I might see thine face of true elegance, and better hear thine words of true eloquence".

Feelings which Lord Haaf-Mersey has never known previously have been surfacing these last few weeks, and it all began with Serana. A vampire, this one is, and she had changed his formerly certain path in ways he could not have forseen. ... She had charmed him, true. She had used him, truer. But Serana had also awoken some things inside of him, feelings he did not know he even could relate to. .... Feelings one might only read about in Barenziah books; such sordid tales of woe!

"Let us commence, Mjoll. And traipse through the remaining passages of Castle Dawngaurd. We might then maketh converstaions with our magnificent contact by the name of Isran, on the subject of vampiric deviousness".

"All set, let's go!" the Lioness says enthusiastically.

"In-deed!"

Lord Haaf-Mersey enjoys her enthusiasm greatly, even if her ways are a bit crude. No courtly graces in this one, the Crusader from Cyrodiil can see, but 'courtly graces' do one not a bit of good once they are on the battlefield.

... As the pair winds this way and that through Castle Dawnguard, Haaf-Mersey realizes he doesn't miss that arrogant wizard Marcurio at all. Not one bit.

10:40 am
Lord Haaf-Mersy and Mjoll the Lioness find a staircase which winds upwards to a second floor, and (again) they round a corner. The Lord is completely unprepared for what he is about to encounter on the other side.

"I.....I....." he stammers.

If you're worried about it you could always create a test character who is a dragon hunter. Do the quests leading up to the random dragon spawns and then see if they appear too much for your liking. Your save with that character won't have any bearing on your other characters.

Wow you know...this is a great idea. Never thought of it this way. I've only had one 'test' character in Skyrim so far, he was my very first character starting on 11/11/11. He was the default Nord guy. He only lasted until 11/13/11.

That's what I'll do. I'll make the default Imperial character, perhaps. Give him Imperial armor, and do the quest on that side of the war first.

Thanks!

This. Even if one appears almost on top of you, simply getting of the road and sneaking, you can avoid them for the most part. My character's first reaction is to 'duck' when she sees a dragon.

You could name him Bendu Olo...

Really? Mine always shout/cast spells at it, lol

Yep, mine too...Dragonrend/Firebolt (x Many)/swordesque-killy-stab-stab...Every time...Usually lasts less than 10 seconds...*Shrug*...Gets boring, personally speaking...

Aaaamywho, J'zirlo, J'zargo and McSphereson (as my boy named my Dwmer sphere follower) are quitely building the house in Dawnstar...Though methinks I will leave it for a bit, a courier brought a letter all the way from Solstheim that the dig J'zirlo had funded has produced the last bit of results...

I am running with your idea as I type this! My new character.....

(...are you ready?...)

Is named Über Kness



Über Kness! Perfect name, and it came about as I was reading some text just now on another website! ... He's a pure fighter, and he's going to do the Imperial's side of the Civil War. I am going to attempt a couple of new things with Über Kness, including Archery and 2-handed weapons, preferably BLUNT weapons.

Über KNess!!!! I love it!!!

So do I!! A name like that just screams warhammer doesn't it? I already feel sorry for the dragons.

Good luck! I hope we get to hear about his adventures!



Some may recall the earlier tales of Duralekh gro-Bulsakh, axe-wielding orc adventurer. Big D is married to Sylgja and travels with Erik the Slayer.

Duralekh and the Slayer have been on an extended fishing trip while we waited for DLC to come to the PS3. They returned to find that sweet Sylgja had renovated part of Honeyside’s lower level into a children’s room. Thankfully she saved the Bulsakh’s axe collection. Rather than displayed all over the walls they’re now shoved in a drawer.

Duralekh didn’t mind. After all, she didn’t complain that he had been off fishing for months but never caught any fish.

Sylgja did have a task in mind for the presently unemployed adventurers. She asked that they deliver another satchel of letters to her parents at Darkwater Crossing.

The men headed for the road after gathering up a goodly supply of ale and mead. Excitement greeted them right outside the gate in the form of a blood dragon. They had gotten far too much sun out on the lake, so the dragon’s frost attacks were fairly refreshing.

Afterward they joined the assortment of guards, stable hands, and battle horses for the traditional viewing of the corpse.

Big D had something on his mind. “Do you think Sylgja’s in a family way?” he asked Erik. He didn’t want to suspect his sweet wife of anything, but even the mighty Bulsakh could not impregnate a woman from across the lake. Probably.

“Uh,” said Erik.

“I mean, can an orc and a Nord even have a… Are you feeling all right?”

The Slayer was looking a little green despite his sun and frost burns. “D, you know I can’t take that kind of… lady talk.” He looked like he might hurl.

“Say, don’t I know you?” a guard said to the Bulsakh. It seemed that Big D had put an arrow into one of the horses during the fight. The horse wasn’t too upset, so the guard let them go without paying the 5 Septim bounty.

The mail-carrying warriors made a quick trip back into town to sell some dragon bones, pick up more ale, and verify that Mrs. D did not have a bun in the oven. They reached Darkwater Crossing without further incident.

Annekke Crag-Jumper (Big D’s mother-in-law) was nowhere to be found. Verner Rock-Chucker (D’s father-in-law) was in the mine. Mining. He didn’t look up the whole time they talked to him.

“Annekke used to help out in the mine. But now she’s a bit of a bounder,” Verner told them.

D and the Slayer exchanged a look. Here he goes again.

“I love my wife,” Verner continued. “But…”

Big D did not listen to the rest of Verner’s bitch session. He handed over his half of the letters and walked back outside.

The sun was smiling on Darkwater Crossing. It would be a long, sweaty hike back up the mountain. But first Duralekh wanted to check that dragon lair out on the tundra while they were in the neighborhood. Another one might be roosting there, and he should keep his in-laws safe.

Big D watched the river for a few minutes. He wondered if he could survive a ride down the waterfall. The Slayer eventually interrupted his thoughts.

“She’s building a homestead in Falkreath Hold,” said the Slayer.

“Who?” D is not the sharpest axe on the rack.

“Lady Mara. Who do you think? Annekke went to Falkreath, became Thane of the hold, bought a parcel of land, and is now building a manor there.” Erik waved the bundle of remaining letters. “We should take these to her. Come on, it will be an adventure!”

The Bulsakh agreed. But first they needed to check out that dragon lair.

Big D Ballsack is back! Glad to see you finally picked up the green giant's game once more.

Thanks, SubRosa! I am SO EXCITED to have Big D back in action. He is a pure delight.

I was wondering whatever happened to Big D. Isn't he the one who was part of the "D Team"? Or am I thinking of one of your others?

Big D is good-looking for an orc, by the way.



Thanks, and I'm probably not gonna write too much about Über Kness, since he's supposed to be a 'test' character. I've got to have some Skyrim time where I just game out, know what I mean? Everything LHM does pretty much gets written up (except bodily functions) and it'll be cool to have some pure gaming time once again.

But here's a shorty: Über Kness is still Level 1. He made it to Riverwood, learned a few things about Smithing from Hadvar, did some moseying around in Riverwood, and then headed to Whiterun. And then just as he was entering the Whiterun gates, my Xbox finally had a glitch: it froze! Yikes. I had no idea when the last gamesave was (probably back in Riverwood) and I didn't feel like going back that far.

Lol, yes! Erik the Slayer has a Staff of Zombies, so there is sometimes a surprise addition to the D Team. I remember once he resurrected a necromancer and craziness ensued. Plus now he (Erik) has flame atronach and familiar staffs. Big D never knows who the Slayer will bring to the fight!

That is sooo awesome Grits!!! makes me chuckle!

One more thing about my new Imperial: I tried to make him similar-looking to an Oblivion NPC guard, so he's kinda goofy-looking. I'll post a pic tomororw.

He also sounds like Sean Bean and talks kinda like a Cyrodiil soldier or guard. A Whiterun guard just said something like "Judging by your ahhmoh, you look like an Imperial Scout". So that's it. That's his class! Imperial Scout! ... It's almost like in Oblivion where the Redguard Blade who stands over the dead Emperor tries to guess our class!

Ah, Draken and pre-Dawnguard. Pre as in a few days before he found out about the DG. Here's how it went.

[b]***

Draken was running as fast as his condition could permit. It was nearly five am and the sun was rising on the horizon. With all of his vampiric stamina, he sprinted through the swampy wilderness to reach a nearby cave. The more he ran, the more it seemed the sun would rise quicker than it should.

And that it did. In an instant, when he was nearing the cavern, a glare to one side of his face hurt and his eyes. He came to see that there were scorching sunbeams all around him, blazing down toward him. The golden rays surrounded him like a volley of deadly flaming arrows. To make matters worse, the wounds he suffered minutes ago would not heal and his exposed blood would sooner evaporate.

“Delightful,“ the Imperial vampire muttered. Deeply peeved by his precarious situation, he automatically tried to run faster but saw that the daylight hour would not allow for he felt weaker. He felt his vampiric blood boiling in the sunlight.


Damn you to perdition, Magnus! The beam touched the back of his neck and his hands, causing his exposed pale flesh to burn and sizzle instantly. Draken removed a potion of fatigue and gulped down the contents, giving him enough strength to rush into Movarth’s Lair.

He ran off, wincing in pain as thin white tendrils of smoke steamed out from his scalded knuckles. He leapt into the muddy marches of Hjaalmarc and then exhaled as the cold dampness cooled away his scorched flesh. The refreshing feeling motivated him to leap out and make a final run for the cave, which finally came within reach.

By Molag, he thought. I knew I should have left an hour earlier from that necromancer infested fort.

Having learned his lesson for the day, he kept motionless, not moving a muscle as he stared cautiously at the luminous rays of the sun glowing from the cave‘s entrance. Any vampire’s undefeated enemy! Not one Nosferatu could truly be happy under those malevolent shiny beams.

To his chagrin, he was now in the lair of the rival vampires. The thin-blooded rabble who dwelled near Morthal. Territorial blood-snorters, they were. Savage. Barbaric and ultimately, deserving to taste the end of a katana. But Draken was in no desire to spill blood. He just wanted to stay away from the sun . . .and to sate his thirst.

How long would he be trapped here? Too long. Sunset was a good thirteen hours away. Draken groaned. This is going to be a long day. But what is a day to a four century old vampire? Immortality can be tiresome at times. Sitting by as a spectator to watch the never-ending waves of history flow, striving to maintain speed with the mind-boggling changes in governments and civilizations. Even the most resilient vampire ancient feels the need to retire from the world, to spend a century or two in blissful slumber, before rising from the grave to confront the future with renewed and refreshed wisdom and foresight.

It might just be that time of year again . . .Draken told himself as he descended into the steps. But he didn’t want to go back into the earth, not when he just returned to the world of the living after the Oblivion Crisis had ended. His awakening brought forth only bad news. The Thalmor has risen, dragons had returned, the empire is in shambles . . .he's awaken into a world of chaos.

If I can pack my possessions and send myself off to a Daedric Realm, I would be quite well . . .if only there was something to make me tarry awhile longer. Something meaningful.

Renee, did I ever mention that Mikke of Green River started off as sort of a test character? I wanted to try out Dawnguard and wasn't up for another serious character. I guess she showed me!

DE, that’s great! My vampires always found that sprint to shelter and then the long wait crouched in some cave to be humiliating. I guess it could be motivation to secure shelters all over the place. Hmm…
___

I got a little more time with the Bulsakh tonight.

The lair was indeed occupied by a dragon. It was flying around the tundra making all kinds of ruckus. Big D lost track of Erik on the way to the fight. The dragon spotted him on open ground, and it was very touch-and-go for a while. And at one point a frickin mud crab bit him while the dragon was roasting them both with fire.

The fight brought him over near a two-giant love nest on the far side of the tundra (by the abandoned prison). One giant joined the fracas. The dragon died. Big D did some self-healing and went cautiously over to check out the corpse.

The giant began using his club as a backscratcher, so D figured they must be friends.

One daedric arrow was sticking out of the dragon. It must be the Slayer’s! He got a shot off at least. Hopefully he made it past the mudcrab.

Then things got confusing. Erik came running up, and in the middle of D’s joyful greeting he heard the giant make an unhappy sound behind him. Then the Slayer ran right past D and attacked the giant! D had already experienced his Berserker Rage during the dragon fight, and he could not back away to get room to shoot without endangering Erik. Also as soon as D got his axes out the other giant bounded up the hill and joined the fight.

Erik went to his knees as the first giant toppled over dead onto him. Big D took the second giant on by himself. Thankfully he had a paralysis poison he picked up somewhere. He may even have bought it from his wife. Sylgja is the alchemist in the family.

Anyway they both made it. Right now they are standing between two giant corpses and an already rotting dragon. (This was one of the bugged ones.) They are loaded down with loot that the giants were carrying (I don’t even want to think about digging around under those loincloths), and of course they did manage to rip some bones out of the dragon. Next stop, the dragon’s lair. Those fetchers always have a nice pile of stuff they’ve collected. Of course Big D has no use for most of it. Maybe they’ll find a nice axe.

I've done that with my vampires! Running for the nearest safe area before the sun comes up! Actually Mycharonna's habit is to find the next safe area, and then she'll just stick around this safe cave or cabin (whatever it is) the rest of the night, especially if she does not know where the road she's on is leading to. So sometimes, even if it is not even midnight, she will stop her travels for the night, dispose of any enemies (if there are any) and mosey around (or sleep) the rest of the night + day.

Great story DE, seems like you're enjoying your new DLCs.

Grits I did not know that about Mikke. Ha ha what a thrilling story! That was a dim move by Erik! Taking on a friendly giant! WTH?

Here is Über Kness, by the way. Try looking at him from a distance. I tried to give him oversized, goofy features, as if he's a guard from TES: IV. This doesn't seem to come across unless he's viewed from a distance, though.

Can't you just hear him saying "You have my ear, Citizen."

Today, J'Zirlo learnt how to forge Stalhrim armour and swords at the Skaal village smithy...

And I've decided I need to forge and enchant me (J'Zirlo) a complete set of fortify smithing stuff...At the mo, with the per-cent uppers I've got, my armour rating currently stands at 1187...Yes, I have the Heavy Armour, full-set perk stuff...But still, if I make a complete set of 20% fortify stuff, and then work on improving the armour even more, it'll possibly go from Legendary to Completely-Absurd rated... ...

My Stalhrim sword is 122 killy-stab-stab...I am pleased by this...My one-handed is actually only 97 at the mo... ...