He does seem a bit full of himself. That said, Valaste seems to be very big on him.

So do we know what is going on tomorrow? Khajiit knows they are doing something for "Fatal Fredas" but are they also starting the Witches Festival?

That is what I heard was happening tomorrow, but ... haven't looked on the PTS since it updated to see if they have put something on there. I should go check it out, it has been updated since Monday.

Hmmm, no Witches Festival stuff anywhere in evidence. No mention of "Fatal Fredas" either.

Well, there is some thing related to Fatal Fredas to be found, but more on that inna bit.

Argis the Bulwark, my second Pact toon (and fourth overall), made his leisurely way through the Pact with his Brother From Another Mother (BFAM) Jerric Kjellingson. They blitzed through Coldharbour both together and on their own. Seems my toons really dislike this zone, which is fine by me as the environmental sounds really drive me crazy. So oppressive it makes me grind my teeth. Sounds rarely have such effect on me.

Here's the requisite shot of Argis dispatching the Big Bad One: Anime's Not Really My Style . . .

Afterwards, he found himself in sunny Stros M'Kai, with sand, beaches, hot babes (look but don't touch says wifey Alise) and ocean fishing in plenty. Time for matching outfits.

In a way, it was sad that Stros M'Kai didn't take long to clear up, then it was on to scenic Beatnik. There he got to help out some of Maz's relatives. Again, that didn't take long, and he told the lovely Orc girl to follow her heart, and got the beautiful Captain Kaleen angry with him (he destroyed the relic instead of giving it to her for the Covenant war effort).

Then it was off to Daggerfall with his BFAM this morning. Together the Brothers from Different Mothers (BDSMs) found a pig and brought him home, hunted down a beggar-killing werewolf, investigated Bloodthorn Cultists and saved the King from an assassination effort. Somehow during this process we discovered that a new Dire Pony was on sale in the Crown Store as of 10 am. As we already had purchased the little black and white one for Phaedre, Argis right away purchased the Dark One for her. However, he couldn't resist taking him out for a trot. And of course, Jerric had to bring out his Shadowghost pony. Together the four of us took on Bad Man Hollows, and we made the pleasant discovery that the Dark One's eyes glow. In the dark. Red. Bright, Dunmer Red.

We closed out the morning's adventures with a group portrait that any horse-mad tween would adore - two handsome Nords, two beautiful mounts, and two adorable ponies!

After Jerric parted, Argis tried to convince the Dark One to go back to the stable and wait for Phaedre. But the Dark One has ideas of his own . . .

Lol, yeah Khajiit just saw that the "Fatal Fredas" thing is simply the addition of the pony and stag mount for one day. Khajiit has no use for non combat pets and the mount is ridiculously overpriced.

Brenna completed the Clockwork City prologue quest today. Khajiit thinks the Clockwork City stuff might be pretty interesting!

I am currently suffering from my bad breakfast decisions (a bite of a moldy croissant, a sandwich and a pot of coffee I drank in under an hour) but rest assured that the following is a thought from when I wasn't physically and mentally compromised.

In my fluctuating hype for the Clockwork City, I wondered whether I'd be able to settle there for a while with the Squad. It'd be nice to have an "episode" with all three where they have a base of operations that isn't the local bank. Unfortunately, it looks like the only house in the zone is neither in the city or particularly cheap (don't think it'll be available for gold, either).

Oh well. I don't think the city has a writ turn in location, either, which sucks. I mean, I was probably going to drop crafting writs on the Squad while they explore the Clockwork City anyways, but it would be nice to have that option. I guess after Wrothgar they stopped doing that. Then again Wrothgar introduced a new tier of materials so.

I mean, I checked with the PTS but I could be wrong about the latter. idk

tbh I kept thinking about what the final fight in the Main Quest reminded me of and I realized it was Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning where you manifest a magical weapon at the end of one of them special combo attacks. Honestly kind of over the top but whatever.

So there's no housing there either? What about crafting stations? As for the final fight thing, it doesn't sound too terribly different than the fight with Molag Bal.

Yeah, that's the fight I was talking about.

Anyways, there's a crafting hall in the city with the Transmutation Station as its main attraction but I didn't see any writ boards or turn-in location. Boo.

Oh sorry, Khajiit thought you were talking about the MQ of Clockwork City

There are three unique crafting station (sets); the Transmute station; and one new house that is Dwemer/clockwork style (plus one awesome and huge new Orc one).

So having a base there is viable. Good deal.

Possibly, on the Clockwork City one (which was VERY cool, by the way = kind of futuristic) - but I think they will probably be selling them like they have been doing these others like Lynchal Manor/Topal Bay/Earthtear Cavern/that Nord retreat in Craglorn/etc) = very expensive and sold for a limited time only.

Also, before buying any of these new places = make sure you can leave them on foot. Some of these new ones they have been adding (like that new Nord one, if I'm not mistaken) - you can't leave by walking; have to transport out of them. That is really inconvenient.

What I found with any of the houses was that the ones with the closest access to amenities (like a wayshrine/Outlaw refuge/bank/merchants/Guild traders/etc) - those were the ones I use the most frequently, because they help me really get somewhere and do something. If you can access a wayshrine, you can access all of Tamriel.

Example: Mournhold apartment/Snugpod/Sleek Creek/Cyrodiilic Jungle House/Vulkhel Guard/etc. = all right at the wayshrine, crafting stations, merchants, and guild traders, stables, Outlaw refuge, - and two at the Writ/Master Writ turn in spots and Undaunted Enclaves.

If they sell us a house anywhere in Coldharbour I will absolutely get it because no matter where I am in Tamriel I will be able to fast travel to the "No Guards/no bounty recognized" zone of Coldharbour without the trouble I have now of trying to access a wayshrine where guards are abundant and I might get arrested if I have a bounty.

The houses in Vvardenfell are good because you can walk out the door and be in Vvardenfell; even though neither is near any wayshrine or amenities.

Our Guild Hall is not exactly convenient; but at least you can exit it and ride to a nearby wayshrine.

Rider, great pictures of the Glenumbra pony trot! It was hilarious trying to get them facing in the same direction as the horses for a picture. I love the shot of Argis on one knee trying to reason with the Dark One.

D'aaaw! I am in love with these ponies! I didn't get the Dark one, but those glowing eyes are a surprise to me too! That is the first I've known of them! Looks like Argis and Jerric had an Awesome day!

Ew, on the moldy croissant!

Ah just pinch the moldy spot off. It's still good!

The only reason I realized it was moldy was because it tasted funny. By the time I turned it over and found a tiny blue spot it was too late. :V

Anyways, i am healthier today and the whole Squad finished the Shadows and Daggers quest or whatever it's called. Don't think Fjotreid needs to do that one, considering he might already be familiar with Divayth Fyr. (He talked to him, anyways)

It's still about a week away but I'm ready for the Clockwork City

Khaji... er, Feng must have Rajhin masque!!

Cat mask for a Cat...mans. Ready for the Witches Festival this Friday.

It looks good on him!

Today in Tamriel:
Brenna inched forward in the Mages Guild quest.

Mira gained a chapter of the Minotaur motif (maces ).

Feng stole some stuff.

Well, Buffy and I were out of town last week. Just as I travel within her as a spirit in her world, so it is that she travels within me as a spirit when we are in my world. Every spare moment we had, she did nothing but babble about healing and wanting to get back to Tamriel.

As soon as we got back, in she went, put on her healing aura and would not take it off for the first day back. It is clear to me that even though she can manifest as a magsorc and a bow/bow stamsorc, her true nature is that of a healer.

With today being the first day of the Witch's Festival, Buffy took Brenna (Khajiit's char) up on her offer to go plunder skull hunting. She overwatched Brenna through a delve, then the pair did several world boss take downs. Clearly there is lots of interest in world bosses during the Festival as they are one of the sources of plunder skulls.

Since Buffy has finished Gold, traveled all the alliance provinces and maxed out her Undaunted skill, she has been doing Mages Guild dailies and loves them. Since she's already cleared the public dungeons the quests send you to it frees her to not worry about finding bosses/skyshards and just concentrate on the daily quest simple item grab. The best part is that public dungeons are just tough enough that some players do have trouble and need some backup - which she is happy to try and provide.

And Khajiit snagged a couple of pics from Buffy and Brenna's outing!

Buffy dances to the tune of Brenna's flute while awaiting the big crab!

Beach party!

Great shots, Khajiit! Whenever someone plays the flute or lute, Buffy just can't help dancing.

Jo'zira went trick or treating and got a stick

Oh it's not a stick

Hee! Buffy's gotten several of those. Not sure she wants a dead stick as a home furnishing.

they almost look like they're supposed to be trees

Anyways, last year I was hunting for Draugr motifs around the time the Witches Festival started, so I'm not sure I can put in the same enthusiasm into the Festival this year. I'm doing the "guild" dailies just like I was back then but idk how long that'll last. Maybe I'll luck out and get a Draugr motif to sell, but i prefer the masks.

Mira is not in her skeleton outfit!


Great shots !!!!







Lol, I got a slew of those today!

Brenna got a somewhat cool Witch's totem. It's basically one of the spikey vine things that is growing through a ram skull. Unfortunately, we don't own a house with an outside space.




Lol, this one didn't realize that it also summons the cauldron thing and only discovered this when it was Feng's turn to do the witch's quest. He was so funny looking in his skeleton!

Have you heard the skeleton laugh or seen it dance? It is hysterical !!!

My characters have been drinking from that cauldron all day for the XP boost, lol.

You don't have to drink from the cauldron to get the xp boost, right? Brenna and Mira just blew the whistle momento and it said "Witch's Boon" under the character screen. Khajiit assumed this was the xp boost and didn't actually read the description of it.

And yes, folks were skeledancing and laughing the whole time this one was playing today! So much fun!

Not drinking gives you a boost in (either stamina or stamina regen, I can't remember which). But drinking the potion is what gives you a boost in XP PLUS the boost in stam (or stam regen).

Awww boooo! Lol
Oh well, now I know.

Oh. lmao, I thought the little glow meant you got the EXP boost, too
gdi

Khajiit foresees his characters swimming in Hollowjack motifs by the end of this event...

Wait, Khajiit is now confused. The official site's article says that you don't have to drink from the cauldron to get the XP bonus.

That's what I read, too, and you get the Ambrosia/Scroll EXP effect right when you summon the cauldron, though I will admit I don't think I even read the effect description. (I think it was actually pretty vague?)
That said, I did read in zone chat about having to use it twice for it to take effect?

*

I didn't need to use it twice, just had to use the bird calling and then drink from the cauldron. And the active effects were very clear about the results; though maybe the XP is from the calling and the stam regen boost from drinking from the cauldron? All I know for sure is, last year we had to drink from the cauldron to get the effects, and it said to do it the same way as we did last year - so I just did, without reading the rest (till tonight).

Now this year (I just read) it says you have to drink to get the polymorph - so I don't know, but drinking it can't hurt you, (regardless your character screams and groans as they transform) = so if you want to try it, drink up!




*

The tooltip for just summoning the cauldron says 100% EXP boost so it looks like it's working fine. Probably.

Well, it is working fine for me, one of my lower bank/crafting mules leveled up to CP 160; and another went up one level so far.

Yes, summoning the cauldron gives you the xp boost and earning plunder skulls and such. Drinking gives you nothing more than the purely cosmetic skellie polymorph. They changed it from last year when you had to be a skellie to get the goods. Buffy's been looking normal (for her - big ears and all) and getting the xp boost and plunder skulls just fine.

They must have gotten a lot of complaints from players that didn't want to morph last year, lol.

Turns out the stam regen I saw in my "Active Effects" was something I had ingested other than the cauldron; because I never got it on my second character, but Calia had it for a couple hours just like the cauldron morph, so I thought it was connected.

Well, I barely touched the festival last year exactly because of the skellie morph. Buffy pretty much refused to look like a bag of bones. And I did not like not being able to quickly tell players apart by their appearance. Loving the change!

I agree with Buffy about not having to drink from the cauldron in order to get the xp boost. My gang has decided they want the Hag’s Fen hut after all, and elected Maz to collect the requisite plunder skulls. She already has all but one of the achievements needed for the house. Of course, she wasn’t present at that meeting.

Less than 50 skulls to go, thanks to running a few bosses and delves with Bear and Gray in the am, and four dungeons with an OP Bosmer for the rest of the day.

Back to work IRL today, so no skull hunting today. Sigh.

So we are taking part in killing a WB and taking down a dolmen but Khajiit is not getting any skulls!

*Edit* Nevermind, it seems to have corrected itself

You can also get Skulls without calling the cauldron. Basically the skellie polymorph is entirely optional this year

Skulls without even calling the cauldron? I am not sure why, but that feels disappointing, Like they are appeasing everyone who didn't want to participate last year but still wanted the "plunder skull" rewards or something.

It was so much more fun last year, there were masses of skeletons everywhere and you couldn't go anywhere without hearing those crows or seeing remaining cauldrons dotting the landscape because they remained for 3 minutes so whole groups could drink from one cauldron.

I understand not everyone wanted to participate (like Buffy didn't want to last year) - so they just didn't; just went about their normal business. It didn't hurt them to stay away; and Acadian never complained about not getting plunder skulls last year. It is just like "Trick or Treating," if you don't participate you don't get a bag full of candy at the end of Halloween. I guess it just feels like they are diluting the experience to appease people who don't want any part of it to begin with.

Anyway, this years Witches festival seems a bit flat comparatively, and I guess that is why = because they have made participating optional, but instead are handing out the rewards for everyone whether they participate or not.

Meh...oh well.

Khajiit thinks more people are participating than not. Everywhere he goes he sees most everybody wearing their bones, so it's still good fun!