-
We've had our hands on Skyrim for a couple weeks now and I'm sure everyone's gotten their bearings and seen at least a little bit of the tundra. Some of you have seen a great deal of it. I know I've been enjoying the game immensely (even if it's still hard to resist the habitual restarter in me and generate a new daily Dovahkiin). To keep the thrill going, however, I too often find that I need additional challenges on top of what a great game like Skyrim already provides. I thrive on high difficulty and hardcore settings in such games and ::raeg:: when the only "difficulty" those add is a cheating computer. With this being a forum of EVE players (current or former), I know you probably savor such challenges too. Well, here's one for your testing.
This particular sort of thing has been done before many times and in many ways, so I'll not pretend like it's an original concept. Nevertheless, I give you the...
(http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4785/skyrimchallenge1.png)
Challenge Rules
or Eight Simple Rules for Dating my Dovahkiin
1. No rescue reloads.
If you're in imminent danger, don't resolve the situation with a time warp. Find a way out or make your peace with the gods. Saves are there in case the game crashes and for continuity between play sessions, not to retcon mistakes. Caution is your watch-word. Keep it honest.
2. Death is final.
If you die, you've completed the challenge. Tabulate your score and post it. By all means, keep on playing the character and sharing, but the challenge is over. The moral of this story is: don't go into danger unprepared.
3. No mods.
Audio-visual tweaks and changes are fine, but don't use any mods or plugins that change the gameplay from "vanilla". If you want to disable finishing moves (which can sometimes make you the target of a dramatic instant death), that is alright.
4. Don't adjust the difficulty setting.
Pick your level of challenge between Apprentice, Adept, and Expert (the middle three difficulty settings) and adjust your final score accordingly.
5. No fast travel (via the map).
Walk, run, ride, or swim. Carriage travel is okay.
6. Live your adventure.
Aim for an immersive roleplaying experience. Think and act according to how your character would in any given situation. Try to understand why your character makes the choices he or she does.
7. Tell your story.
Share your character's history, thoughts, motivations, and experiences in Skyrim with the rest of us in this thread (or another created just for you). Take screenshots. Write. Compose AARs. Entertain and enlighten. Express yourself through the creative process of roleplaying. Skyrim may be a single player game, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch.
8. Keep it honest.
There's no way to validate accounts or final scores. The goal here is to have fun and add value to the gaming experience, not to "win". Just play it through and see how far your character can get on one life.
Final Score
Your final score is a sum of following factors, most of which can be found in the "General Stats" section of the in-game menu.
Level
Multiply this value by 50
Locations Discovered
Multiply this value by 10
Dungeons Cleared
Multiply this value by 20
Chests Looted
Multiply this value by 5
Quests Completed
Multiply this value by 30
Misc Objectives Completed
Multiply this value by 10
Questlines Completed
Multiply this value by 1000 (to a maximum of 3000)
Hours Slept (divided by) Days Passed
Subtract 25 per day if this value is less than 5
Food Eaten (divided by) Days Passed
Subtract 25 per day if this value is less than 3
Multiply the final score according to the difficulty level you selected.
Apprentice
Multiply the final score by 0.5
Adept
Multiply the final score by 1
Expert
Multiply the final score by 1.5
Good luck and good hunting.
-
May try this after I finish my big first playthrough. Trying to hit level 50 first.
-
Sounds like it could be a lot of fun. When I get tired of my uber-powered glass cannon mage, I'll give it a shot. It'll give me a good reason to put points into health and stamina.
-
As soon as I actually manage to get Skyrim, I will be doing this. Christmas, here I come! :D
-
I like your thinking: your rules are fairly close to how I normally play, except I do usually reload and try again if I die, and I do tend to use fast travel early on when I'm purely focused on the major quests. It tends to be the later playthroughs where I focus on living in the world as much as possible.
Will have a crack at this after the patch I think.
-
LOL! I didn't last long! I blundered into a Spriggan in a cave at level 2 and was dispatched by her pet cat before the words "Run away" could leave my lips.
Meet the late Casimir, a Redguard who was making his way to Skyrim in the hopes of finding some steady mercenary work.
(http://www.wanoah.co.uk/images/Casimir.jpg)
| Item | # | Score |
| Level | 2 | 100 |
| Locations Discovered | 22 | 220 |
| Dungeons Cleared | 1 | 20 |
| Chests Looted | 20 | 100 |
| Quests Completed | 2 | 60 |
| Misc Objectives Compl. | 11 | 110 |
| Questlines completed | 0 | 0 |
| Hours Slept/Days | 20/3 | 6.6 |
| Food Eaten/Days | 3/3 | -75 |
Difficulty = Adept
Final score = 541.6
-
That does sound sort of awesome.
-
Growarg the Orc.
[spoiler](http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac308/rickspies/ScreenShot5.jpg)
(http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac308/rickspies/ScreenShot6.jpg)
[/spoiler]
Formerly loyal to the Legion, he had hoped to travel to Skyrim to join the fight against the rebel Stormcloaks. On his way across the border he was picked up by a Legion patrol, and a racist Legion commander arrested him and send him off to Helgen for execution with several Stormcloaks and a hapless horse thief. He vowed then and there to massacre as many Legion soldiers as he could and to join the Stormcloaks in their fight against them despite being politically apathetic.
He has a rather harsh distrust of elves and redguard and will happily dispatch them if he thinks he can get away with it. He's also distrustful of using magic, but was taught some basics in restoration magic by a member of his family when younger, and won't hesitate to use a healing spell in a pinch if it is unavoidable. No problem with magically enchanted inanimate objects such as weapons, but dislikes casters.
Most comfortable in heavy armor, he opts for a sword and board style, though he tends towards axes when possible.
Thus far, score:
Level: 14*50=700
Locations: 42*10=420
Dungeons: 10*20=200
Chests: 162*5=690
Quests: 8*30=210
Misc Objs: 8*10=80
Questlines: 0
Hours Slept: 100/8day=0
Food: 40/8day=0 (I had run out of potions and had to scarf down a few dozen apples and potatoes to stay alive, okay?)
Difficulty: Adept
Elves slaughtered in cold blood: 35
Total score to date: 2300
Will update the post as I progress.
Helped the Gray-Manes save one of theirs from a fortress of elves. Gleefully massacred the elves. On the way back to Solitude, Growarg came across a hut where an unfortunate Nord had passed away and his loyal four-legged companion was lonely and decided to tag along with me, so Growarg now begrudingly has a dog.
[spoiler](http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac308/rickspies/ScreenShot8.jpg)[/spoiler]
Introducing my sword to my first dragon's brain just before discovering I am Dragonborn.
[spoiler](http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac308/rickspies/ScreenShot11.jpg)[/spoiler]
Hrm. Growarg decided to save a Stormcloak soldier that was being dragged down the road by three Legion soldiers. He massacred the Legion soldiers and freed the prisoner only to find that a 2040 gold bounty was placed on his head. He chased down what he thought was the only witness, the Stormcloak soldier and dispatched him as well, but the bounty was not removed. Some other witness must have been around. Unfortunately, Growarg is now an outlaw in The Pale.
Wandering around helping some Windhelm locals, Growarg stumbled across several interesting places. A cave full of Falmer quickly turned into a very frightening experience that forced Growarg into a very expeditious tactical retreat which also happened to completely deplete his stock of healing potions, any alchemy ingredients that healed, all of his magicka and magicka potions as he spammed a healing spell while running for his life, and resulted in his staggering outside with the slimmest slivers of health and utterly lucky that fate had smiled on him and his restoration spell use had done enough to make him a more confident warrior mid-fight and completely rejuvenate him (nothing like leveling up as you're running for your life out of potions and being able to choose to increase your health, thereby refilling all of your bars). He made a decision to leave the Falmer alone for a long time to come.
He then stumbled onto a Dwemer ruin, but having heard that the Falmer inhabit such places, he gave it a wide berth and opted instead to explore the remnants of a fort that had been taken over by rogue mages. Oddly, the prison inside of it was completely empty, but the mages were kind enough to leave healthy stashes of loot for Growarg to haul back and pawn off in town.
-
So I rolled a character to do this challenge.
After completing the Helgen tutorial, I saw the 3 guardian stones and was like 'aw ye, gonna do warrior stone'. I jump off the cliff to the stones, oblivious to the perils of being a level 1 again.
Needless to say my challenge character died gloriously splattered across the beginner guardian stones, thus completing this challenge in an astounding 30 minutes.
gg
-
Ghost is winning!
-
It was a strange week for Njall Hard-Heart. Having abandoned his post with the Legion in Cyrodiil, he returned home to Skyrim in the hopes of joining up with the Stormcloak rebels. Destiny (and a few dragons) had other plans for him, however, and the summons of the Greybeards took him to the Throat of the World. Could he possibly be Dragonborn, just as was Talos himself? An Ice Troll on the path to High Hrothgar made sure Njall would never find out.
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8485/njall.png)
Njall Hard-Heart
| Item | # | Score |
| Level | 8 | 800 |
| Locations Discovered | 16 | 160 |
| Dungeons Cleared | 5 | 100 |
| Chests Looted | 61 | 305 |
| Quests Completed | 7 | 210 |
| Misc Objectives Compl. | 15 | 150 |
| Questlines completed | 0 | 0 |
| Hours Slept/Days | 57/7 | 0 |
| Food Eaten/Days | 25/7 | 0 |
Difficulty = Adept
Final score = 1725
-
Updated. :D
-
Updated again. Am I the only one doing this?
-
Updated again. Am I the only one doing this?
I think you are the only one surviving.
-
Updated again. Am I the only one doing this?
Haven't had much time to play lately. Planning on starting it once I hit 100k gold on my first character (achievement whore D:).
-
Ken.
This is legendary - powering up Skyrim to do this now!
-
I wanted to do this as well, but got SO lost in gaming I took no notes, whatsoever. With level 15 some mages killed my imperial warrioress in a very anti-climatic way. I guess that's what heroing does.
I think I'll retry when I roll another character. It's fun, and the real fear about dying leads to quite another playstyle. I.e. not giving everything a shot.
-
I'm gonna try this with my Bosmer assassin, whenever it is I get around to making him.
My Nords have all already died terrible deaths.
-
I'm actually doing this at the moment with my Kahjit sneaky, but since I no longer have access to Backstage at work :cry: and am somehow more inclined to play Skyrim than write about it once I get home... nothing has been written yet. Bugger. I'll get around to it at some point, maybe tonight.
-
Hmm, may help to keep a pen and paper journal going on the side for this sort of thing.
-
Oh, Ken, I forgot to mention.
If after all my successful and wide-spread adventuring, this challenge should somehow jinx me into dying at level 2 because of a hard fall off an ice shelf, I will place the blame solely on you.
-
Welp, had a character at level 4 that I was going to post about, but looks like when I closed the game and it crashed instead all those saves got wiped out...along with some of the more recent ones from my older character. FFFUUU
Might have had something to do with using the savegame manager, but either way. :(
Restarting now.
-
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6292/valdrun2.png)
Valdrun Bale-Eye
Nord
(http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9827/96457579.png)lthough descended from a respectable clan of the Reach, many decades ago Valdrun's grandfather was accused of practicing a particularly abhorrent form of necromancy and was lynched by an angry mob. His kin were driven from their ancestral lands, taking the name Bale-Eye as a mark of shame for their progenitor's error. Quarter was not to be found among the barbarian Forsworn, and thus the family became refugees living around the edges of Solitude. In time, the young woman who would become his mother settled near Dawnstar, where Valdrun was born.
(http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3592/71572782.png)hen he was a young man, the Great War between the Empire and Dominion raged on battlefields far away from Valdrun's icy home. His family's outcast status made him undesirable for military duty in the eyes of Skyrim's Legion recruiters, but he believes the war shaped him still. You see, magic runs strong in his blood, as it did in his grandfather's. In the long nights of the far north, vast and terrible voices called out to him on the cold, bitter wind. They roared and screamed to him their nightmares of fire and betrayal and death. Or did they? Many people say the wind whispers to those mad enough to listen.
(http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6316/79300021.png)o matter. While hunting in the wilderness in the years after the White-Gold Concordat was signed, the young Valdrun occasionally found himself alone as a fresh snow began to fall and the utter quiet of such a moment descended around him. In these times, he would often glimpse the image of a childhood friend walking just within a distant treeline, perpetually out of earshot. They moved slowly, but not cautiously, and although he never caught up to them before they would disappear into thicker growth, Valdrun was always able to recognize them. They were the friends who hadn't returned from the war.
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/4620/10394334.png)aunted by ghosts and feeling always that he stood on a precipice between this world and some other, Valdrun eventually fled Skyrim and sought a new beginning in Cyrodiil. There he took the counsel of a Dunmer mystic, who was fascinated by the attention the dead seemed to pay to this rugged northerner. The elf, who called himself only Demnevanni, eventually taught Valdrun how to channel and harness magical energies and broker more agreeable meetings with those who had sloughed off their mortal coils.
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9411/47478977.png)reams called Valdrun back to Skyrim. Only a week after Demnevanni died, taken by a combination of age and serpiginous dementia, the elf came to Valdrun as he slept and explained in the non-language of dreams that the winds of the north had yet more to tell. So, following his mentor's final guidance, on the 14th of Last Seed 4E 201 Valdrun left Cyrodiil and went home to seek his destiny...
Arrested by legionnaires at the border crossing yesterday morning. Blighted sergeant thought it would be funny to knock me out.
Woke up in the back of a cart with a bunch of rebel prisoners and a pounding headache. Turned out to be thrown in with Ulfric himself! Looked as if they meant to execute us all, but the winds told me different. Something else in store. Then a dragon (!) attacked Helgen. Fled with a Stormcloak named Ralof and made it to Riverwood. Good lad.
Stayed there overnight and came to Whiterun today to tell their jarl of the dragon. His wizard wanted help digging up some ancient dragon relic from a nearby barrow. Slept at the Bannered Mare.
Learned that Whiterun's Priestess of Kynareth is looking to revive the city's great tree. Her plan involves stealing some kind of weapon from a hagraven. Not much of a plan, really. She mentioned the local adherent of Arkay may need some less demanding help. Turned out to be a few restless souls in the catacombs. Easy enough to put them at peace and retrieve the old man's amulet from the crypt.
Fifty septims for a carriage to Dawnstar. Arrived in the mid evening. Talk of bad dreams troubling the town. Slept at the Windpeak Inn, but no nightmares of my own worth mentioning.
Spoke with a devotee of Ma---
[a large portion of this page has been torn out of the journal]
Dawnstar's nights shouldn't be troubled any longer...
I feel awakened.
Magic has a sharpness to it I've never known and the suddenness of this change begs answers. There's only one place in Skyrim for that. No carriages leaving Dawnstar, so I headed east on the coastal bluffs just after dawn.
Passed a Legion camp about an hours walk east of town. The soldiers were cooking breakfast and didn't recognize me when I approached. Hopefully I am assumed to be among to dead at Helgen.
Came upon a slain horse outside Frostflow Lighthouse. Inside was a scene far worse. Chaurus burrowed in from beneath... Killed an entire family living here. Found crude weapons in the place as well, still slick with the victims' blood. Falmer. Disgusting. Hole in the foundation wall led to an icy passage (no doubt the snow elves' lair), but I meant to reach Winterhold before dark. As I dispatched the chaurus that lingered in the basement, I felt renewed power surging through me. My hands, my breath itself was ice. Something is changing.
Took a coastal path to avoid some Dwemer ruins. Had enough to do with the Falmer to last a long while.
Ate a hot dinner and slept at the Frozen Hearth in Winterhold.
And... he died. :evil:
| Item | # | Score |
| Level | 4 | 400 |
| Locations Discovered | 16 | 160 |
| Dungeons Cleared | 1 | 20 |
| Chests Looted | 55 | 275 |
| Quests Completed | 4 | 120 |
| Misc Objectives Compl. | 6 | 60 |
| Questlines completed | 0 | 0 |
| Hours Slept/Days | 61/7 | 0 |
| Food Eaten/Days | 16/7 | -175 |
Difficulty = Adept
Final score = 860
-
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/amcinnes91/SkyrimCharacter.jpg)
Vehkal Indoril
Race: Dunmer
Age: 176(?)
'Vehkas Indoril' was one of the few surviving Dark Elves from Morrowind, being in Cyrodiil as part of a merchant caravan on a trip funded by the House Hlaalu to recover from a sour turn in its profits during the early 40's of the Fourth Era, being a young Dunmer in search of his purpose the seemingly incredible trip, little did he know that he would never see home again.
The subsequent eruption of Red Mountain and destruction of Vvardenfell later that year destroyed his home in Balmora and all of House Hlaalu's power, with the sole reason for the trade caravan destroyed they turned to making a profit for themselves.
After spending most of the later century establishing a trade business in Cyrodiil the now well off Vehkas was caught up in the invasion of the Thalmor and the capturing and looting of the White-Gold Tower and Imperial City destroyed most of his company, defeated and finally driven over the edge Vehkas left the remnants of his destroyed life and spent the Great War using what skills he had learnt in the score of years since entering Cyrodiil as a volunteer in the Anvil guard to help re-establish the city.
At the turn of the 2nd century 'Vehkas' had a dream of the cold north, a voice like thunder spoke a single word which he had never heard before and he was engulfed in flame, pursued by this dream for a year Vehkas finally went to seek what was calling him.
-
Updated. Had a very close call with a Falmer caster and his two bug-poisoning-thingies. Very very close call.
-
Item# Score
Level 9 900
Locations Discovered 16 160
Dungeons Cleared 4 80
Chests Looted 39 195
Quests Completed 5 150
Misc Objectives Compl. 0 0
Questlines completed 0 0
Hours Slept/Days 20/3 0
Food Eaten/Days 1/3 -75
Difficulty = Adept
Final score = 1410
-
Ken! How did he die??? :(
-
Ken! How did he die??? :(
There's a random encounter with three bandits wearing legion uniforms. The group consists of an orc and two others who try to shake you down. Not even that tough of an encounter really. He ran across them on the way to Saarthal and got hit with the one-two punch of magic and the orc's power attack. It was stupid, but it was a death, so... :ugh:
I'm working on a new character for another run.
-
I'm so doing this. It's how I normally play anyway, but I havent been keeping notes or anything so might as well reroll and go for it. Will post when I get started.
-
Can't do this. I'd be too tempted to 'play for points' and the RP aspect would suffer.
-
(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2108/felixy.png)
(http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/8282/felixafranius.png)
(http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2539/68296932.png)f we are to believe the historians, Felix Ceno was born to a young war widow living in Cheydinhal in the closing days of the Great War between the Empire and Dominion. His legionnaire father fell to Aldmeri magic in the Battle of the Red Ring just days prior. This was not the last parent he would lose too soon. Before she died of a wasting sickness when he was not yet twelve, Felix's mother taught him to read and about the Nine Divines. Together they attended services at a secret congregation that fully honored Tiber Septim as the god Talos, just as so many had done before the signing of the White-Gold Concordat. His mother was a good woman, but unskilled, and before her death she supported them on a meager servant's wage.
(http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6967/49415093.png)rphaned by eleven and unhappy living under the roofs of those few charitable souls who remembered his mother's sweetness and devotion, Felix ran away and became a creature of the streets and alleys. He scraped out an existence in the dark corners between Cheydinhal in eastern Cyrodiil and Narsis in Morrowind. Unable to find acceptance in a proper apprenticeship and having no known family on which to call, Felix lived as little more than a guttersnipe, learning to survive by wit and measured opportunism. He peddled trinkets, stole sweet rolls, and picked pockets.
(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/646/61307746.png)utting the purse of one particular mark changed his life. Aulus Afranius was a scholar -- a historian by specialty -- and he suffered an unusual ailment for a man of letters: an unquenchable adventurous streak. Felix found himself in prison for stealing from the self-styled "antiquities hunter", but just as quickly found himself released into the man's custody. Aulus, we must assume, saw some potential in the young boy. Surely his eyes were sharp (we know Felix to have been a peerless archer) and his words longer and better-chosen than what one would expect from a common street urchin thanks to his mother's early tutoring.
(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/662/80031061.png)elix agreed to become the man's assistant rather than stew in prison for theft. In the years that followed, he traveled with Aulus to all corners of the Empire in search of relics from the early Third Era and some even older than that. Along the way, Aulus ensured his assistant understood the historical context of their work. Felix was forced to spend his free hours reading chronologies and accounts of Tamriel's long history. The heroes and villains of six great ages, gods, wars, and the occasional glimpse of the common man's plight in centuries past were his curriculum. In time, this study became less a chore and more a passion, and by his eighteenth birthday Felix found himself sharing Aulus' love for "the hunt".
(http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2942/98390014.png)ulus met his fate cruelly. Bandits ambushed their camp near Chorrol while Felix was away gathering firewood, and he returned to find his mentor mortally wounded. Felix buried Aulus in the Colovian Highlands in a grave overlooking an Ayleid ruin they had planned to explore. Crushed by this loss, Felix fell back into a destructive pattern, moving to the Imperial City and slowly selling off Aulus' exploration gear, the lesser artifacts they had so diligently recovered, and eventually the old historian's books just to get by. When that coin ran out, he turned to peddling, swindling, and the occasional warehouse burglary. In those bleak years, he looked for a sister Aulus had often mentioned, but Felix never found any member of the man's family in Cyrodiil.
(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5638/13081256.png)omewhere along the way, however, he took to calling himself Felix Afranius. An old anecdote tells us that Aulus once encouraged the young Felix with the suggestion that if he applied his natural talents to industrious activity and became a successful man and showed himself to be a loyal citizen of the Empire, his adventures and accomplishments would be limitless. Historians would have cause to illuminate his name in gold leaf when they wrote the final account of this era. Perhaps seeing those qualities more in his late mentor than in himself, we might assume that Felix took this surname so that any fame or fortune he earned would be in tribute to the man who took him in.
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/400/46811602.png)ittle could Felix have known at the time how his fate would reveal itself... How he would find himself a member of the same bandit troupe that killed his mentor... How he would turn an avenging blade against them and become the quarry in a daring pursuit across the Alik'r... How his road would lead him to Skyrim, where chance and mistaken identity nearly saw him executed... And how he would come to play a role in that nation's civil war and the annals of history eventually record his name in luminous hues... Naturally we know Felix Afranius by his nom de guerre: Dragonborn.
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3251/felix001.png)
Did I have any idea who he was? Well, of course I did. Fine man like myself, and so young at the time. Very astute powers of observation. And we're talking about the Dragonborn here. He showed up in Riverwood... oh, right after Helgen was destroyed by a dragon. My mother was going on an on about seeing a dragon fly overhead when these two show up dressed in legion armor and wearing a giant's share of dirt and blood on top of it. The other fellow was Halvor or Advar. Maybe Hagrund. The blacksmith's nephew. Don't rightly remember. This was a long time ago, see.
Wasn't until a few days later that I met him. Him him, that is. Came crawling into the inn late at night wearing something else but not looking much better than when I'd seen him the first time. I'd been playing there for a long while. Most interesting visitor I'd seen in Riverwood the entire time. So, next morning, he introduces himself to me by name--Felix--but it's strange to call him that even now. Even having known him personally. Told me he wasn't feeling well and mentioned traveling to Whiterun. Long story short, he did me a quick favor about town and I escorted him safely to Whiterun. So yes, I served as protector to the Dragonborn in a time of great need! Well, that was the first time I did so, at least.
Turned out he'd caught a case of ataxia or some other bug investigating Bleak Falls Barrow. Of all places! I still shudder to think of the sight of that foreboding ruin. Can't imagine what kind of foulness you'd run into inside the thing. Kynareth's priests in Whiterun saw to his aching and later we had an audience with the jarl himself. As a prominent citizen of Riverwood, I was of course duty-bound to report the dragon sighting, and with that the jarl ordered troops from Dragonsreach to defend Riverwood at once. Then things got very excited as we received word that a dragon was spotted at the Western Watchtower.
Was I worried? Pah! I told them the two of us could handle it, but the jarl sent a squad of guards and his housecarl out with us to track down the monster. It was the first dragon I ever sunk my steel into and it was a terrible thing to behold: spitting flame a thousand feet, crushing the earth itself when it landed, and cursing us in it's arcane language. It ate half a dozen men whole in front of my eyes while we assailed it with arrows and blades. Half a dozen at least, maybe more! Eventually it fell, crashing to the ground like a thunderbolt.
We all saw what happened next. He absorbed it, bodily. I mean all that was left were the beast's bones and the echoes of its dying cries. There was no doubt then. We were standing next to a true Dragonborn. The guards all begged him to show off and use his Thu'um, but he didn't. Probably would have been too much for them anyway, but I was ready to witness it. On the way back to Whiterun, we heard the Greybeards' summons. It shook the world, but it didn't shake us. The jarl was awake awaiting news of our victory when we arrived late into the night. He created the Dragonborn a Thane of Whiterun there on the spot.
We had the run of Dragonsreach thereafter. The Dragonborn and I, his loyal housecarl. Oh yes, I held that distinction. Hmm? No, never heard of any 'Lydia'. Anyway, he spent many days around the keep researching things in the library and consulting with the jarl's wizard. Helped some Redguard soldiers from Hammerfell capture a fugitive of some kind who was hiding out in the city. I remember that task took us some ways out of Whiterun and we came within a hair's breath of having to slay another of those winged horrors. It circled our camp near Swindler's Den for almost a hour, but refused to land or strafe us with its hideous breath. No doubt word had spread among the dragons and it quick recognized me by the Dragonborn's side. I wouldn't have attacked either, in it's position.
Knowing that my mother was advanced in years and would face hardship living alone in such times if I stayed away, after some time he released me from his service with the highest honors. Though I begged to follow him and help him slay more dragons, he was right. And so I returned to Riverwood a hero. I've heard some say that before he departed the city, he left the Axe of Whiterun, his badge of office as Thane, in the charge of some lesser steward sworn to him. Same folks say he didn't want the title or even that he didn't want the power of the Dragonblood. That's hard to believe, and you shouldn't. Now! That was one... one and half, maybe... Let me tell you about all the other dragons the great Sven has lain low...
-
\o/
-
Dammmmn, Ken :D
In other news, I'll be giving this a try... http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/12/10/the-elder-strolls-part-1-fresh-off-the-boat/
using this http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console#Example_for_using_a_Batch_File_to_create_an_alternative_start
-
Glorfindel the high-elf mage was doing so well, made it quite far along on the Mage quest line, and then testing a co-workers fire shield spell to kill undead.
And I neglected to tell Lydia to keep her distance. So she gets hit by J'zargo's fire shield, and then warns me to be careful.
So I move away, so she follows me and get hit by J'zargo's fire shield again, and tells me this is for the last time.
So I move away - the big bad boss is dead by now - and Lydia follows me, gets hit by J'zargo's fire shield again and then pulls out her two handed axe and kills me in two hits.
Thus passes Glorfindel the Highelf, promising mage. I'll figure out the stats later.
I hadn't done the mage quest line before, so there were some surprises. I wanted to find out what happened next so I completed it through to being Arch-mage after reloading. I died a bunch more times that I wouldn't have lived through the first time I encountered it, so I'd about reached the end of my luck levels.
-
Updated Felix. Survived to Level 12 thus far and very happily killed the crap out of the same random encounter bandits who claimed my previous challenge character. :yar:
-
Updated Felix. Survived to Level 12 thus far and very happily killed the crap out of the same random encounter bandits who claimed my previous challenge character. :yar:
\o/
-
Ulphus, you just have all the luck. :|
-
Dammmmn, Ken :D
In other news, I'll be giving this a try... http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/12/10/the-elder-strolls-part-1-fresh-off-the-boat/
using this http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console#Example_for_using_a_Batch_File_to_create_an_alternative_start
Yeah...me and my gf are doing something similar. Starting in Riverwood, with identical starting clothes, gold, etc. (but the script opens the char creation menu so you get to pick race and appearance). The idea is that you start off a struggling/failed merchant who has headed north to Skyrim to start over. You do what you can to make money, with the goal of becoming a successful merchant. So: no main quest (it never starts), no outright adventuring to acquire loot or questing (but heading into mines is ok, so are non-violent quests), no stealing, no joining guilds/similar (they give you free stuff), no fast travel except by the inter-city wagons, and a yet-to-be-decided scoring system that encourages eating and sleeping...and wealth.
For reference, my batch file looks like this:
player.removeallitems
;Add clothes
player.additem 0005b6a1
player.equipitem 0005b6a1
;Add shoes
player.additem 000261bd
player.equipitem 000261bd
;Add gold
player.additem f 25
;Add dagger
player.additem 0001397e 1
;Add wares
player.additem 000cf89e 5
;Create Character
showracemenu
This starts you off with some crappy clothes, 25 gold, a dagger, and 5 deer pelts to sell.
-
Updated again. Am I the only one doing this?
I think you are the only one surviving.
I'm on my fourth character. Seriously.
Number One and Two both died in Helgen:
1: I misheard "jump through the roof to the inn" to "jump onto the roof of the inn" and got cooked.
2: Stupid stupid spider.
Number Three died on the way to Riverwood.
3: "We should split up? Damn, nice blond guy whose name I can't remember ... fine, be that way.. Oh, hey, bandit! I KILLED HIM! AND I KILLED THE WOLF THAT WAS WITH HIM! I AM SO ... dead, because there are two wolves, and why did I map these stupid weapons to [ and ] ?"
-
I feel your pain.. I think I'm Doing it Wrong, too. Can't go more than three minutes past the introduction without somehow biting the big one. Complete noobishness as far as the Elder Scrolls series is concerned may be a factor.
-
I tried a second char as a mage, made it toooo... level 11? maybe? Finally bit off more than she could chew in the form of a Draugr Deathlord ( =/ ) AND I NEARLY HAD IT TOO.
Still playing her, as she is awesome.
Didn't score it, but its awesome fun to RP her interactions out in my head as I go.
-
This has been amazing reading, especially Kens! I'm tempted to give it a go and wish I'd have been more diligent with Meb, but I wanted to experience the game, before fully delving into the real nitty-gritty RP side.
Meb does RP btw and so far, I've even kept her outta stealing shit when not involved in the thieves guild stuff. She is, however, a cannibalistic necromancing power-jockey who loves to let her Dremora Lord do all the work :twisted:
-
(Will update here as I progress)
Character: Ozra
Difficulty: Adept
Ozra is an Orc out of the Stronghold Dushnikh Yal. Daughter of the Chief Burguk and his Forge Wife Gharol. As is tradition, she was taught by her mother the art of smithing, and it is an integral part of her life. As is the case with every stronghold orc, she lives by the Code of Malecath and has some skill in heavy armor and most melee weapons, though she favors two handed axes.
As happens with many Orc youths, Ozra's blood began to boil a short time ago, and she set out from her stronghold in an eastward direction in search of adventure and glory. No specific plan in mind other than making her way on her skill at arms and smithing. She had just killed a bear that had managed a lucky swipe at her face when she was set upon by imperials. A most embarassing moment for the chief's daughter. When she woke, she was in a wagon to the axeman's block.
(Day 1)
[spoiler]
17th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
A busy day. Survived Helgen through the 'luck' of a dragon attack. There's a rebellion. 'Stormcloaks' fighting the Imperials. A Stormcloak named Ralof helped me escape the dragon attack to the town of Riverwood. The code demands I face the dragon, but I was in nothing but rags and bound. I shall hunt this dragon when I am properly equiped. All Nords and an elf or two in Riverwood. Ralof's sister gave us shelter. She required I bring word of the dragon attack to this land's 'Jarl'. I must repay the debt. Met the local smith who asked menial tasks of me in exchange for use of his forge. Went to Embershard mine near by for iron ore. Bandits provided some useful armor to replace the imperial trash I picked up in Helgen and a Steel Battleaxe. Returned to Riverwood, improved the shoddy work done on the 'new' armor, then made my way to the Northeast to repay my debt. Ran down an elk. Was good to feel the blood run. Wolves too, though less running needed. Helped a group of three Nords who called themselves 'Companions' kill a giant. I've only seen one when I was but a youngling. Father and the others brought them down for the mammoths they were guarding. Another glorious battle. The Nord at the gate to Whiterun gave me a challenge, and were it not for my debt, I might have struck him down. It was well into the early morning at this time, and I took a room at the local inn. I will seek this 'Jarl' tomorrow. It was a good day. ((level 3))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00003.jpg)(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00002.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 2)
[spoiler]
18th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
Decided to lighten my pack before seeking the Jarl of this land. The smith by the entrance to the city was nice, and fairly smart of smithing, for a Nord or whatever she is. Spent most of the day there, crafting a set of Steel armor. She asked me a favor as I was leaving, and as it was on the way, I accepted. Menial, but the Jarl's steward can't be bad to be friends with. Finally met with the Jarl. His 'housecarl' was a silly Dunmar; she even drew on me. I gave a recount of the Helgen attack, and somehow ended up being sent on a errand for the court mage. Two of them actually. I had an interesting conversation with Arcadia, the local alchemist. Apparently there is a better use for the plants of the wilds than just eating them. I may do as she suggested. I will spend another night in Whiterun, and set out for Bleak Falls Barren at first light. ((level 5))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00005.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 3)
[spoiler]
19th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
The Dead Walk! It was an uneventful day. Many dead weaklings met their end with my battleaxe today. But after making my way into the ruins on the top of that mountain, the dead woke, stood up, and attacked me. If I'm to go into these Nord Ruins more, I will need to be more careful of the corpses around me. They fall apart easily enough, usually, but more than once I heard a noise and turned to find a corpse with a raised weapon at my back. I retreived the stone that court mage wanted but emerged from a hidden entrance to the barrow after dark. I found my way back to Riverwood, but all the rooms at the inn were taken, so I was forced to impose upon Gerder, Ralof's sister, again. Though the inn did have a bounty paper from the Jarl's men for a bandit leader in some camp. Tomorrow I return to Whiterun, then perhaps, the bandit camp. I am short on gold, and these Nords seem to value a good axe arm more than a good smith. Fools. ((level 7))
[/spoiler]
(Day 4)
[spoiler]
20th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
The Beserker Rage! I always thought they were boasting, but I felt it today. I returned to the Jarl and his court mage. There was a woman who hid her face with the mage. What more would you expect from the company of mages? We were interupted by Irileth. A dragon attack was happening at the Western Watch tower. The Jarl sent her on to face it, she brought along some city guards. The tower was burning when we arrived, but the dragon no where to be found. He was devious. He waited until we were at the tower and away from all other cover. And then he landed. Guardsmen fell, the dragon tore through them without effort. And then it happened. Exhilerating. The rage! I charged. The dragon bit at me, it didn't stop me. My vision was red, blurred, only my target clear. The bites didn't hurt. My strikes were true. It fell with what at the time seemed like such little effort. This must be the Beserker Rage. It was Glorious. The Nords who survived called me some nonsense. 'Dragonborn' they said. They are wrong. I am Orc. Born of Malacath. That is all. A loud noise from the mountain to the south upon my return to Whiterun. The Greybeards and this 'Thu'un' can wait. The Jarl made me a Thane. Gave me a bauble and a housecarl named 'lydia'. Titles. What do I need of them, I am Ozra, a Beserker! ((Level 9))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00002-1.jpg)(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00005-1.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 6)
[spoiler]
22th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
Spent the last couple days clearing out bandit camps around Whiterun and getting paid for it by the Jarl's steward. One of the camps was beneath something called the Lunar Forge. The bandits I killed were kind enough to leave behind a book with instructions on it's use. The weapons it creates are ideal for battle at night. I've also been working with Adrianne in Whiterun at her forge. I've started building up some stock and I've been picking up more equipment from these bandits than the local merchants will let me pawn; so I bought a building here in the city and set my 'housecarl' to guard my stockpile. She seems like she may be able armed, for a Nord, though. So once I can piece together a set from the equipment I've been gathering, I may take her out to clear these camps with me. That last bandit chief was almost too much. It was a glorious battle, but I bring no honor to myself if I lay dead in some hole in the ground. The Beserker rage hasn't returned. Perhaps when I find another dragon.
I was attacked by an assassin of 'the dark brotherhood' this evening on my way back from a bandit camp. Apparently someone wants me dead. No idea who. If I can find this 'Astrid', I'll make sure to find out who. All my foes lie dead in their own blood. I will have to be careful of more ambushes. ((Level 12))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00007.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 7)
[spoiler]
23th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
Set out this morning to clear a river crossing fort to the east. Found a statue to Talos the Nord's false god. Took the dwarven greatsword from there. Encountered what I had thought was only a myth, but was hardly surprised. Dragons fly the skys, why not Spriggens walking the lands? It fell to two swings of my hardy Orcish steel. It tried to protect itself with goats. Laughable. I'll feast on goat haunch this evening. The river fort gave me some trouble. The chief of this fort was brave. He came to fight while his archers attempted to take me down from afar. When I returned to Whiterun two Redguards wrapped in foreign clothes questioned me about a woman from their land. I've seen more than one in Whiterun so I asked around. Saadia in the Bannered Mare turned out to be who they were searching for. She says they are assassin's after a price on her head. As I have assassin's on my trail too, I took her up on her offerof gold to make the issue go away. I will set out for their hideout tomorrow morning with my housecarl. Spent the end of the day at the forge and crafted myself a replacement set of armor. ((Level 13))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00008.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 8 )
[spoiler]
24th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
We set out at sunrise, the location Saadia had mentioned being some distance away. A dragon flew at us from the north, we saw it long before it arrived. Lydia turned out to be rather skilled with the bow and the dragon landed quickly rather than keep it's distance. I almost instantly felt the bloodrage set in, and it barely lasted a few seconds. It seems it takes a dragon for the rage to overtake me, lesser foes are not worthy. A good start to the day none the less. The blood was flowing. It took us another couple hours to reach the Alik'r hideout. They had employed a bandit gang to guard their hideout which was more of a challenge than I would have guessed. I was right to bring Lydia. The mage in their midst threw ice from both hands and if not for Lydia's presence, I'm not sure I would have succeeded. I wonder if she has some orc in her blood. We reached the assassins and their leader attempted to buy us off. Told us some assassin lies about Saadia being guilty of causing a city to fall in some war I couldn't care less about. Silver words of a slippery assassin who died an assassin's death. We left him face down in the water. We arrived back in Whiterun just before sundown and I burnt off the day's remaining bloodfury at the forge. Finally built up the funds to start making myself a proper set of Orcish armor. ((Level 14))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00009.jpg)(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-22_00011.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 9)
[spoiler]
25th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
Checked with the Steward and around town and there was no work to be had. Decided it was perhaps time to visit the Greybeards and hear their words, but while on the way to Ivarstead, the town at the base of the 7000 steps, I came to a crossroads and saw the sign to Windhelm. I was reminded of Ralof, and the injustice of the imperials only a week ago. I changed my mind and made my way to Windhelm in stead. I will join the stormcloaks and make the Imperials regret their 'lists' and the insult of thinking to take my head. The journey took the whole of the day, but there was good hunting along the way. I removed the blight of 3 bears from the land, as well as several wolves (they're very aggressive in this land). A thief also thought to challenge me at a bridge. He'll collect no further tolls. The Nords in Windhelm are very rude. I like them, but I may find it hard to not remove a few teeth. Spent the night at the Candlehearth Hall Inn. ((Level 15))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-23_00001.jpg)(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-23_00003.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 10)
[spoiler]
26th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
I woke early and made my way to the Keep of Windhelm. Ulfric and some nord named Galmar were arguing about the war. A bunch of hot air. It wasnt' until midday that I could interupt with my intent to shed some imperial blood. Ulfric accepted me easily enough, though seems to think I am some sort of criminal. Galmar however, required a 'test'. I doubt he requires this test of Nords. After completing this quest I'm fairly sure he thought he as sending me to my death. I was sent to kill one Frost Wyrm. There were over eight all told, not to mention the 4 bears and countless wolves I killed just getting there. It was almost midnight when we arrived back. I'm spending the night at the Candlehearth Inn again. I'll confront the racist bastard in the morning. ((Level 16))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2011-12-23_00004.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 11)
[spoiler]
27th of Last Seed, 4E 201:
Woke up early. Decided to work off some anger at the forge. The local smith (and I think his daughter?) were kind enough to let me spend some time there. Finally went to the keep shortly before midday. Galmar admitted he didn't expect me to return, explained it away with a need to 'test' my resolve. I'm an Orc! Nord simpleton. He quickly turned the conversation to another fool's errand. A search in a tomb of some dead king for his crown. I found several places of interest I shall return to on the way to the tomb, and plenty of wildlife that seems hellbent on killing me. Lydia came in useful again. The tomb was infested with Imperials, who looked to have recently cleared out bandits. Finally some killing I can both enjoy has meaning. A fine start to repaying the my debt to the Imperials. The Dead walked in the crypt, but nothing so troublesome. There was what looked like an altar to dragons in the deepest part though. It was strange. It spoke to me, though I could not read the words written on the base. It glowed white, then everything went dark. Lydia and I slept at the entrance to the crypt where the bandits had set up camp. We'll set off to delivery the crown at first light. ((Level 18))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2012-01-20_00001.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 22)
[spoiler]
10th of Heartfire, 4E 201:
I caught a butterfly today and ripped it's wings off. It made me chuckle. For some reason I couldn't stop laughing. Lydia was not amused.
The war against the Imperials goes well. Whiterun has fallen. I was made thane (again), and I've kept my property. The city seems to have barely noticed the change. Everyone continues about their business. I leave to assist in taking the reach tomorrow.
((Level 24))
[/spoiler]
(Day 36)
[spoiler]
24th of Heartfire, 4E 201:
The last weeks have been glorious. Many battles. While on my way to clear a Imperial fort, I was attacked by a pair of giants. They were less than I expected. And their mammoth herd followed in after the giants fell. They were as expected. The tusks must be watched out for.
The Imperials have been put down, except for a few camps throughout Skyrim. Tulius is dead, by my hand. Ulfric gave the honor to me. It was satisfying to kill the man who ordered my death just a short month ago. Ulfric will now pursue his throne. I saw him use the 'voice' many times during the siege of Solitude. It was a worthy weapon. I think I will go see these greybeards afterall. ((Level 33))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/Mammoths.jpg)(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/StormcloakVictory.jpg)
[/spoiler]
(Day 39)
[spoiler]
27th of Heartfire, 4E 201:
Made the journey to 'the throat of the world'. 7000 steps. unlikely. couldn't have been more than one or two. Two frost trolls and a few snow bears on the way up. Atleast the climb was eventful.
Greybeards: bunch of old men in robes pushing a life of nonviolence. I'll play along, until I've learned how to hone this weapon. ((Level 34))
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/phul/2012-02-11_00001.jpg)[/spoiler]
-
That looks incredibly badass. I've been thinking of doing this as soon as I finish my main toon's run, and THAT requires that I get over the X-mas period and the SW:TOR testing phase. Could be... months.
We will see what happens.
-
And... Updated.
-
My last attempt at this challenge (Felix, above) ate it a while back on an early guild quest. He was level 12 or 13. Felt like crap about it because I was really enjoying the character and the RP experience. My intention was to tell his story through the eyes of his followers, but at the end of his short career he'd only had two and hadn't even made it up to High Hrothgar yet. I'd post up his final score but I've wiped my old saves accidentally reinstalling the game, moving, and tweaking things. I half-heartedly tried the challenge again shortly after Felix died with a two-hander warrior type that looked a bit like Arnie in his prime, but I wasn't really feeling it.
Anyway, I've been having another serious go at this challenge over holidays and my current character is doing very well. Level 26 and driving ahead. I'll put together something to share in the next few days, but I was motivated to post because tonight I had an extremely close call with him at the climax of a quest I'd never before run (spoiler-free note: it involves a former ruler of Solitude). Right at the most harrowing, nail-biting, oh-shit-oh-shit-I'm-gonna-die instant I flipped the inventory up to desperately look one last time for any measly health potion I might have missed and realized there was some nice screenshot potential staring me in the face. He won the fight and completed the quest, but at this particular moment I wasn't too sure...
(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/2554/talsten0.png)
More to follow.
-
That looks incredibly badass. I've been thinking of doing this as soon as I finish my main toon's run, and THAT requires that I get over the X-mas period and the SW:TOR testing phase. Could be... months.
We will see what happens.
So I turn off my PC to visit my father for X-mas... when that's over I get home and turn my PC on.
When I left previously it seem to have DL'ed an update to windows or whatever and removed all my personal settings, saved passwords, user-files etc. etc. etc. this included all local saves for all Steam games. My Skyrim toon is gone, and I have to fucking start over. In practically all games that are not MMO's and for EVE I had to re-do all passwords user-names and in-game settings.
Great going Bill. Fucker. I'll make a Hardcore RP toon in Skyrim when I can be bothered to start the game up again.
-
Well that fucking sucks.
GL with the hassle.
-
So as soon as my internet connection can stop being an asshole and deny me anything beyond surfing the internet and posting on forums, I wanted to get a RP toon up and going. The rules state than any mod that does more than alter appearances are not allowed - I am assuming this includes the killable kids/important NPC's mod as it alters the way the game works?
I'm asking because as far as I can tell it makes the game harder and more realistic, although it don't honestly alter anything for the purpose of this contest, but it *IS* a 'game-changing' mod. Would a run with it on be disqualified?
-
So as soon as my internet connection can stop being an asshole and deny me anything beyond surfing the internet and posting on forums, I wanted to get a RP toon up and going. The rules state than any mod that does more than alter appearances are not allowed - I am assuming this includes the killable kids/important NPC's mod as it alters the way the game works?
I'm asking because as far as I can tell it makes the game harder and more realistic, although it don't honestly alter anything for the purpose of this contest, but it *IS* a 'game-changing' mod. Would a run with it on be disqualified?
Nah, of course not, just note what mods you were running. :)
-
Don't get the sense anyone is actually reading these, asside from Ken's, but updated again. Also... the Imperial/Stormcloak quest lines are painful in this challenge. I've ran the length of skyrim several times just for that quest line. :eek:
-
Have to be careful since we are playing too ;)
-
Bakground
Allow me to introduce you to Esk (loosely based on Pratchet’s Equal Rights) Esk is undoubtedly a mage, much to the surprise of her strictly non-magical Breton parents. A fireball related mishap involving her father’s previously pristine moustache meant Esk found herself shipped off to the venerable village witch. A quite few years, punctuated by a few bright pubescent pyromaniac episodes, followed but were ended abruptly by a world wind romance with a young Nord adventurer. Wooed as only a cloistered young fire mage who had re-read the Busty Aragonian Maid one to many times Esk fell head over the heels with this roguish nomad. Despite her geriatric guardian ‘s protest promptly fled High Rock for a life on the road and a happy ever after in Skyrim with the love of her life.
Alas it was not to be, the flame of young love turned into an inferno after she caught her man indulging in some exceptionally caddish behaviour with a Redguard in a less than romantic alley setting. After roasting her erstwhile lover, the hair of her rival love interest and half the village a quick exit was rather forced upon her leading her into the wilds where her story looked set to end having been caught as she slept by Empire forces and mistaken for a Stormcloak sympathiser.
The Playthrough
Having fled Helgen Esk almost immediately stumbled upon a grizzly scene of dead talos worshipers and a Talos agent, reeling from this ghastly scene (and having stripped all the bodies) she stumbled into a bandit camp and had to fight a running battle while she gradually charred these surprisingly resilient brigands. The looting turned up an orcish mace which Esk took rather a shine to.
A busy day came to an end with a trip to Embershed Mine(sp?) where having dispatched two bandits with some style she promptly fell into their waiting bed rolls and slept soundly.
In the morning after a quick breakfast it was onwards through the mine where many a rough sort fell to the flaming wrath of a newly rejuvenated Esk. Excitingly a treasure map was found which seemed to indicate a stream and tree and which turned up yet more booty.
Now quite heavily weighed down a brief sojourn in Riverwood to sell/side with feadal over Sven and gain him as a follower and offer to help the Riverwood Traders hapless sibling track down the claw and a nights sleep in the Inn it was adventuring too Bleak Halls Barrow she went.
The flammable undead posed little challenge to this fire-starting damsel while Feandals unerring arrows proved their worth. After a brief stop off in Riverwood it was off to Helgen to warn a Jarl about a dragon.
As she passed the waterfall on the road to Whiterun Esk met a nobleman on the way to a wedding in solitude who couldn’t stop going on about how expensive his presents were. After hearing herself described as a peasant Esk saw red and after bashing his head in with a mace proceeded to roast his wife and body guard. Murder hadn’t been on the menu but the oodles of jewellery quietened Esk’s conscience.
Fleeing the scene as nonchalantly as a slightly frazzled fire mage fleeing a human BBQ can, Esk ran into three people fighting a giant. Without a thought for her won safety Esk ran to their aid and began raining fire on this oversized neaderthal. Unfortunately a carelessy aimed flame saw two singed companions led by a particularly pissed on Aela chasing our young Esk back up the road to the scene of the crime. A breathless pursuit saw Esk jumping from rock to rock just quickly enough to avoid the hot pursuit. Three times this was repeated as Esk attempted to circumnavigated these roided up guild members and make it to Whiterun. It would appear she would be unwelcome in Jorvasker! Still the Jarl must know of the flying dinosaur which had saved her but destroyed and entire town.
After casually turning over the Dragonstone young Esk was embarrassingly caught trying to half-inch a soul gem from Dragonsreach meaning her trip to fight her first dragon was briefly delayed while she paid her bounty. Red faced from her apprehention in from of the Jarl Esk took out her frustration on a hapless dragon and found out that she was something called Dragonborn.
The Jarl seemed very impressed making her Thrane and apparently some grey beards were keen for a chat but with the Companions presumably still looking to teach a lesson to an over exubrient young witch, a pile of dead noblemen and women no doubt soon to be found on the road she had rather conspicuously strolled into town on and the memory of her visit to the Whiterun jail still vivid Esk decided to bugger all that and head for the furthest reach her coin could take her.
A quick carriage ride to Skyrim’s capitol in the freezing north followed with her still faithful, if increasingly bemused follower, Feandal.
A perfunctory execution made her feel at home and a quick chat with the executioner saw her get some work rather quickly. Deciding a good nights sleep was the order of the day Esk headed to the Tavern. Waking up after a night of heavy drinking Esk slowly remembered signing up for the bards collage egged on by an overly frienfly lute player. Atrip to find a long dead mans verse had been allotted her by some sort of headmaster and so still feeling rather queezy, the dragon borne was off to do some dungeon diving.
After toasting an obscene amount of draugers and following a ghoust arounf a foul selling crypt a rather hairy battle with King Olaf the deathlord very almost saw the end of our fiery young heroine. A combination of running and hiding looked set to see her win out in the epic battle. It was only after drinking her wight in healing potions and eventually bashing her tormenter around the noggin rather forcefully with her trusty mace that our Esk could take stock. Her faithful Feandal laid dead at her feet…
A distraught Esk fled the scene with a face full of hot tears remembering the occasional awkward moments of tension that had crackled between her and her elf friend on the long carriage ride. A path never to be explored.
Heading back to Solitude Esk began composing her first ballad. A rather moving, if tuneless ode to her fallen friend. As she was struggling to bring the second verse to a satisfactory conclusion and wracking her brain for something the rhymed with 'bastard drauger' that she remembered the errand she had promised the executioner.
A quick trip to kill a bandit and an opportunity to douse her sadness in the soothing scorch of magical flame! Unfourtunatley Esk had somewhat under estimated the importance that Feandal’s steady arrows had played in her survival to date and it as the Bandit Chiefs warhammer swung in a great arc towards her forehead that the last words of Esk the fair and flamey were squeeked. “Sodding Nords!” Eloquence fit for a bard of Skyrin I'm sure you'll agree.
Alas the world would never find out if young Esk would have found a tune but I had a blast.
Score
Level
8 = 400
Locations Discovered
16 = 160
Dungeons Cleared
3 = 60
Chests Looted
46 = 230
Quests Completed
5 = 150
Misc Objectives Completed
9 = 90
Questlines Completed
0 = 0
Hours Slept (divided by) Days Passed
60/6 = 10
Food Eaten (divided by) Days Passed
8/6 = 1.33333333333333333 = -150
Difficulty – Apept
Total Score: 951
-
Bravo! :)
-
I am Orian Bane, following the my recent demise at the hands of a worshiper of the daedra Hircine a few of my disciples who had stored my soul in a black gem hauled my body to a safe place to begin a ritual to resurrect. Now I have returned and have tracked the beast to Skyrim I will find her and vengeance will be mine
-
These are awesome.
-
Nebi-Ru the Argonian Artisan
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/623/nebiruv.jpg)
On his way to Skyrim the artificer Nebi-Ru hoped for learning a lot about smithing, to find new, exotic ingredients for his potions and to master the arcane arts of enchantment. Little did the greedy Argonian know, that when he did against better knowledge try to make friends with one of the people of Winterfell, that the bandit leader should kill him, while he was just tasting how he drained the life from his underling.
Thus, Nebi-Ru's stylish finishing move did coast his life.
| Item | # | Score |
| Level | 8 | 400 |
| Locations Discovered | 11 | 110 |
| Dungeons Cleared | 3 | 60 |
| Chests Looted | 62 | 310 |
| Quests Completed | 6 | 180 |
| Misc Objectives Compl. | 18 | 180 |
| Questlines completed | 0 | 0 |
| Hours Slept/Days | 21/4 | 5,25 |
| Food Eaten/Days | 15/4 | 4 |
Difficulty = Adept
Final score = 1249,25
-
Anders Dragonborn. A nord who is originally from Skyrim. A faithfull worshipper of Talos and strongly part of the Stormcloaks. He was captured along with Ulfric before crossing the border to Skyrim. Anders parents were captured by the Thalmor.
From a very young age, Anders had the nack of healing magic. Having lost both parents, he started developing both his sword arm, as well as healing powers, and the ability to use a shield as a weapon.
Anders always had an issue with Imperial Guards and would attack them on sight, if he saw them on the roads of Skyrim. Joining the fight to free Skyrim from the Imperials, he helped Ulfric to gain important holds in Skyrim. However, after being sent to Whiterun to deliver an axe, the Jarl gave Anders a new order. Help out with the Dragon attack.
Not knowing of his Dragonborn abilities, Anders never quite understood what he had to do with dragons. He only survived Helgen, and that his second name is in fact "Dragonborn". After helping out Whiterun from the dragon attack, and then helping Ulfric to take Whiterun, Anders quickly made a name for himself within the Stormcloaks.
During his travels in the Reach, he left Markarth to join the Stormcloak camp... it was there... In the hills of the Reach, where he fell to his untimely death.
The end.
Item # Score
Level 9 450
Locations Discovered 34 340
Dungeons Cleared 6 120
Chests Looted 62 310
Quests Completed 7 210
Misc Objectives Compl. 21 210
Questlines completed 0 0
Hours Slept/Days 64/9 7.1
Food Eaten/Days 32/9 3.5
Difficulty = Adept
Final Score = 1650.6
-
would there happen to be a version of this challenge for Fallout new vegas? i would love to try my hands at that!
-
would there happen to be a version of this challenge for Fallout new vegas? i would love to try my hands at that!
I'd say you could adapt it easy just change the name of the game to Hardcore Challenge: FalloutNV and go. Given that it has the hardcore mode built in where you have to eat and such and even your bullets have weight it should be super fun.
-
Just wanted to say that reading this thread made me restart a new character using these guidelines.
Its been a blast! Only way to play this game, IMHO. Makes the world terrifying, makes every bit of food you find important.
Voric Fell-Hand, (also known as the Ever Hungry, given his known habit of eating in battle) has been enjoying his adventures through Skyrim.
-
And so begins the story of Urgoth Gro-Hagrosh.
or at least it will when i next get onto skyrim.
Who he is :
The Gro-Hagrosh line of orcs has been both cursed and blessed throughout it's existence, having held within it's number no less than two imperial heroes and ranking members of the Blades. (along with a much larger number of criminals who, by various means, have been caught and either executed or imprisoned)
Over the years since the death of the last dragonblooded emperor, the line retreated to the orc homelands, and there it stayed, living as guards and teachers amongst the Yurts of their kin.
Urgoth was born as third son, his place would not be as a leader of his people, or as a warleader for his tribe, yet the call of his ancestors was still strong, waking one night from a particularly lucid dream, he spoke to his people's wise woman. and set off on the long walk to Skyrim.
Destiny called, and she would not be kept waiting.
Not knowing about the trouble in Skyrim, Urgoth walked across the border, he heard the snap of the bowstring moments before it all went dark, when he awoke, the first thing he saw was a Nord, on a cart.
Destiny appears to have a strange sense of humour.
-
Day 1:
So this is what has become of the Empire. First they betray Talos and the Septim line, The line my family served for so long, Now they betray me. So much for due process.
Still, perhaps destiny needed me here, Greatmother Ugathi's stories about a great dragon in the imperial city may have been true. Regardless, I have seen one now and it speaks!
Orisinium has served the Septim line since the days of Talos himself, this white gold concordiat has broken that pact. They will learn the scale of their mistake in time. Trying to kill me was another mistake, they should have succeeded. Tullius, I will remember that name.
----------------------------
Escaped the destruction of Helgen with a Nord named Raolof, calls himself a 'Stormcloak' whatever that is, something about a rebellion. It is said Talos came from these parts, Perhaps the Empire can be built anew from another great Nord. Such a noble ideal the empire, led by cowards and weaklings.
These stormcloaks are enemies of those who betrayed me, enemies of the Thalmor, who turned on the empire of the Septim line. Might be a good place to begin the restoration of the ideals and strength of the Septim line. Even if not in name.
They will call me a traitor, for fighting for the ideals that made the empire great. So be it.
Reached the village of Riverwood, There are some good people here, too close to Helgen for their own good. They need troops to defend against another dragon attack, if they can. Night-time now, will wait for the blacksmith's to open tomorrow and sell this armour i looted, then I'll head off to the Jarl, I wonder what he will make of this.
Note. Must find a way to replace this imperial armour I'm wearing, might give the stormcloaks the wrong impression of my loyalties.
(days 2-7 coming soon.)
-
Jernal of Aron the redguard. Day 5 (I think)
Its been abowt 5 days since I arive in Skyrim. I fownd this olde book down an ruin called "Dust mans kern kair Cairn" and thought id use it too keep a jernal. Farkas took me down their to find a fragmant of "Wuuthrad" which is a big axe. Lots of them Draggers down there an a funny wall wot gave me a hedake to look at.
Farkas is a were wolf! sum people with sliver swords try to kill us but he got big and harry and kilt them insted. He says all the companyuns were wolfs. if being a were wolf meens yoo can fite like that, I want to be a were wolf as wel.
Before that, I was in Heglen. The Impereal leejun had court some man called "All Frik" who has a stormy cloak. They must have got confoozed and thort that was me becuz they tried to cut off my hed! I tried to say it was a mistake, but they didnt listen. Good thing that dragun came and blue up the town becoz if it hadnt id be shorter now hahaha. Its a pity so many people got kilt but thats life i ges. They sed Skyrim was a tuf land.
They wer right too becuz this mornin sum vampires attack wite run an the pretty blacksmith lady got turn to ash. Her dad was so upset he wouldnt even take that shiny sword she made for the yarl so I ges I get to keep it. Ther was anuver pile of ash to but i dont no hoo that one used to be.
Speeking of swords, that nice gray mane man gave me a sword. its REALLY sharp. I think I could kill a lot of draggers and vampires with this. "Sky forge steel" he call it.
One of the gards sed there was sum vampire hunters in a ford west of a town call Riften. Maybe I shud go along there and use my new sword to slay sum vampires. I think the pretty blaksmith lady would like it if sum one avenj her. It seem rite. She was nice to me an let me use her forge an smelter an evrything. Her husband, Mister War Bear, sed that he is geting the swords an stuf from the kajit caravans now sins he cant work the forge himself. I wood ofer to replace her but I can onlee do the smithing, I cant be his wife, so I didnt ofer in the end.
I feel like I am forgetin sumthing importent, abot a stone dragun that had a bleek fall or sumthing? Then agen if I forget it then it cant hav been that importent aneeway.
its a long wark to riften so i think ill ride the cart in the morning. Good nite jernal!
(Score so far: 1,640)
-
Dear jernal.
The nice man on the cart sed that Riften is where the blak brire meed come from. I like that meed, but wen we got to Riften it was dark an the gards wood not let me in so I just went east to were that ford is ment to be.
sum nasty peepl attack me on the rode an I had to fite them. One of them had a book, not like this one, but with words in it that I didnt rite. His book had some lady talkin abowt hittin peeple with a broom and I think sum of wot she said made sens I think a sword is beter for hiting peepl. I also had to fite sum wolfs but just normal wolfs not were wolfs like Farkas. They were on a bridj, an wile I was fitin them I herd a sound under the bridj. I lookt and fownd a Chenopodicaea Sinderionii. Nirnroot! I can use it to make poisons to hurt peepl or make them sleep, or I can mix it with vampire dust for a potion to go invisibul, an I think it help resist magic too.
Ford Dawngard is big. reely big. I feel sory for the vampire that try to atak it. one of those Stendarr vijilants was here sayin that a hall had been burn by vampires. Isran dusnt act very nice but he giv me a crossbow so maybe hes nice underneeth. He sed I shud go to sum place call Dim Holow Cript. he also sed to poke arown the ford an take wat I needed So I did. I found lots of Garlic! maybe Isran likes beef stew. Ill have to make him sum. There was also a naughty book about an Argonian Maid. I also found a war axe with a sun on it that looks like it mite be good for choping vampires an a soot of armor with a big colar to stop vampires from biting yore nek. I found so much stuf I had to put sum of it bak down agen! No carrots tho so I coodnt make that beef stew for Isran.
I found a better quill! It must be magic or something because it writes what I'm thinking, and writes it all fancy like in those books mother used to read me. This is good because I never was very good at writing. I was exploring Fort Dawnguard and I found a cave with bridges and metal things that moved when I shot them or stood on them, and then a big chest with some nice stuff in it, one of which was this quill. I guess Isran's been down here because I found a bedroll with crossbows and ANOTHER naughty book about Argonians, but this time about a man Argonian. Isran is strange.
So, I'm off to Dimhollow Crypt. It's in the mountains north of Whiterun. I went back to Riften but they still wouldn't let me in so I got on the cart back to Whiterun. One of the guards asked if somebody had stolen my sweetroll. I told him no, because I didn't have a sweetroll to steal but if he was offering if I would like to have a new one then yes please. He looked at me funny and walked away. I think he might be a bit strange.
I figured out what that thing I forgot was. I went to sell a staff I found to the Jarl's court wizard and he asked me why I hadn't gone to Bleak Falls Barrow yet. I told him sorry. Maybe I should do that before going to Dimhollow Crypt. I'm sure the pretty blacksmith lady won't mind if I do that first before avenging her. It must be really important if the Jarl wants me to do it after all.
I should get some rest. I need to be strong - I heard Bleak Falls Barrow is full of draggers Draugr. Mother always said you should sleep and eat a big dinner before a battle so you can be strong. I guess going into a tomb full of Draugr counts as a battle, even if I did do it that one time before with Farkas.
Good night, Journal.
-
Dear Journal,
I heard a voice! Father used to hear voices, and he used to get scary, and if they were like this voice then I guess I know why. I found a big shiny stone while I was getting that dragon stone. When I picked it up, a lady voice spoke to me and told me to take it to Mount Kilkreath. She didn't sound very nice at all, so I tried to put the shiny stone down again but it sticks to my hand when I try. It lets go when I put it in my bag though, but when I dumped my bag on the ground everything fell out except the stone. I don't like being forced to carry stuff by strange lady voices but at least it's not heavy.
I got that dragon stone though, and saw another one of those strange walls with the funny scratches on them. One of the scratches was a word: "Fus". I don't know how I knew it was a word and I've never heard it before, but I almost know what it means. Mother used to talk about having something "on the tip of your tongue" for when you knew what you wanted to say and knew you knew the word but couldn't quite remember it. This is like that, backwards. I know the word, and I know that I know what it means, but I just can't remember. It makes my head hurt.
I should go give the dragon stone to that wizard, Mr. Secret Fire. But before I do that, I think this gold claw... thing belongs to the nice people who own the shop in Riverwood. The inn there is nice, and it's late now. I should sleep and have something to eat.
*
Well, I got to the inn and the lady who owns it wasn't here so I couldn't get a room. I'm really tired but Mr. Orgnar was nice to me and said I could sleep in a chair by the fire. It wasn't comfortable but I had a little nap. I'm still tired, but I can probably get back to Whiterun now. I sold some of the heavy things I found in the barrow to Mr. Alvor and gave the claw back to the nice people at the traders and they gave me some money for it.
I've got quite a lot of money now. I've never had a lot of money before, and I don't really know what to do with it. I already have a really good sword and a really good axe and some really good armour and a really good shield and a crossbow and anyway I still remember that spell Father taught me one time when he wasn't drunk that turns iron into gold or silver, and I know how to turn gold and silver into the kind of pretty things that people buy when they have lots of money, so it's not like I need a lot of money.
Maybe I can buy a house. I've still got that shiny sword the pretty blacksmith lady made for the Jarl before she died. I'll hang it on the wall to remember her by. There's a house for sale in Whiterun, but it's a bit small. I want a big house with a big kitchen with an oven where I can cook pies and pastries and things like Mother taught me and my own forge and maybe I can have a garden and grow things for potions.
Then again I think a big house like that might cost more than I have. And it would be lonely in a big house without anybody around to talk to. Anyway, I'm really tired and the lady who owns the inn still isn't back, so I guess I just need to get moving back to Whiterun and get a room at the Bannered Mare. I'm sure this dragon stone can wait until after I've had some sleep and my dinner.
*
Dear Journal, today was STRANGE.
I slept a LONG time at the Bannered Mare (I was really tired!) and had two big meals (I was really hungry!) So I went up to the palace to give that stone Mr. Secret Fire sent me for to him, and the lady from the Sleeping Giant Inn (the one in Riverwood) was there! She was wearing a hood but it was her, I could tell. I was going to ask her if she was helping Mr. Secret Fire but before I could the dark elf lady who guards the Jarl came running in and said there was a dragon!
The Jarl told me to help so I did. He's a really smart man because he gave me some boots enchanted to protect against fire - that was really clever and useful for fighting a dragon which breathes fire! No wonder he is a Jarl.
We went down to the watchtower but it was all on fire and lots of people had died. We were still there when the dragon came back! It wasn't the same dragon from Helgen, though. That one was big and spiky and black. This one was smaller, and brown. We managed to kill it and then something very strange happened. It burst into flames! And something shot out of it and into me and now I can remember what that word "fus" means. And if I shout it at something it's like punching them without a fist.
One of the guards said something about that meaning I was "dragon born" but I think he must have been funny in the head after the fight because my parents weren't dragons, not even Father when he was being scary.
The REALLY strange bit though was when I was walking back up to the town and that big mountain east of Whiterun - I think it's called "The Throat of the World"? It shouted. I don't know a lot about mountains, but I know they're not supposed to shout at people.
The Jarl thinks it's important and that I should climb it to go talk to some men with grey beards at the top, but I don't think I want to climb a mountain that shouts. Besides, I still need to do what Isran told me and look at this Dimhollow Crypt place, and I've still got to take this shiny stone back to Mount Kilkreath for that voice.
I'm a busy man! And a busy man needs a place to keep some things so he's not carrying too much all over Skyrim, so I decided to buy that house by the blacksmith. I hung that big sword poor Miss Adrienne made over the door. It's good to be reminded of her every time I leave the house. I wouldn't want to forget how she was nice to me and what those vampires did to her.
There's a room at the back that I don't know what to do with because it's too small for anything useful. Mr. Proventus thinks I should make it an alchemy laboratory, but that's silly when Miss Arcadia lets me use hers. And it's too small to be a bedroom, except for very short people.
I'm sure I'll think of something.
Also, a lady called Lydia says she's my "housecarl" now because I'm a Thane. I don't know what either of those things are, but she says that she's supposed to look after me and my property because the Jarl said so, and I don't want to argue with the Jarl. I guess she's a housecarl because she carls the house? I don't know how you carl something, but the Jarl's a clever man so she must be good at it.
Anyway. It's been a long and strange day so I'm going to bed and then it's off to Dimhollow Crypt in the morning.
-
I find it amazing people still play Skyrim and pitch into the RP challenge - I don't think anyone oversee this anymore and I doubt anyone can 'win' as such.
But it's awesome stuff. More of this plz, and perhaps I'll pitch in when/if I get around to playing more Skyrim myself. I still have a couple DLC's I've not touched.
-
I'll be honest, I'm really just enjoying writing the playthrough in an entertaining way.
-
Dear Journal,
I spent more of my gold and got a horse. Mr. Skulvar said she's called Allie. Well actually he said she was called Queen alfsk... something Nordish that I can't pronounce. I think I'll stick with Allie.
It makes sense to have a horse. Skyrim is a big place after all, and now that I have a house and all this really good war gear I really don't know what else to do with with all that money. I still have quite a lot left. And if Dimhollow Crypt is anything like these other places I've been, I'll come back up out of it with plenty of stuff to sell.
I hope there are some vampires down there. I want to try my axe against them.
*
I met a clown. I thought clowns were supposed to be funny, but this one isn't. He's just strange. And his cart was broken.
Strange or not, he was in trouble, but the farmer wouldn't help him. He came around when I told him he was being mean though. And the clown paid me! a bag of four hundred Septims! I think that's an awful lot for talking somebody else into doing all the hard work, but like I said - he's a strange man and anyway Mother always told me it was rude to say "no" to a gift.
I hope he manages to get his mother buried. He most be going to that big graveyard I heard about in Falkreath. It sounds like more than I was able to do for my mother.
*
There was a big fort across the road full of bandits. They shot at me and hurt Allie! It's a good thing I know that healing spell. You'd think the fort on the main road from Whiterun to Dawnstar, would be full of soldiers, not bandits!
Well, I got rid of them. This "fus" thnn~~~~
Sorry, the book flew away. I need to remember to not say that one aloud when I'm telling the quill what to write. But it came in real handy otherwise that big nord with the orcish greatsword might have really hurt me.
Maybe there was a bounty out on them? I should check with the Jarl of Dawnstar. Dawnstar is closer to Dimhollow Crypt than Whiterun is and I'll probably need to rest after I'm finished there.
It took me a long time to make sure the fort was clear though. Lucky for me, the fort has its own tavern! They killed the owner in his bed sadly, but at least there was a clean bed upstairs I can use, so I stabled Allie by the fort's forge where she should be nice and warm. I made myself some potato soup, and had that with some salted beef, some bread and cheese, and some mead I found in the cellar. It's nice and warm here with the fire burning. I think I'll sleep now...
*
It must have got really cold last night because lots of snow fell and it took me a few minutes to force the door open, but Allie seems to be just fine. These Skyrim horses must be used to the cold. Those white horses the Alik'r ride around the desert would have froze to death out there, forge or no forge.
I slept longer than I meant to. It really was cozy in that inn. I hope more bandits don't move in. You'd think forts like these would be full of soldiers, with a war on.
It's a new day. I've got a full belly, I slept somewhere warm, I still have plenty of potions and if I'm reading the map right I don't have far to go to Dimhollow Crypt. Today is off to a good start! I just hope there are no more bandits on the road.
*
No bandits, but this must be the Hall of the Vigilant... or it used to be. It's mostly burned down. I found some dead vigilants and some dead - dead dead, not undead - vampires too. I tried to give the vigilants a proper burial, and threw the vampires on a heap of burning wood. It seemed right.
I'm going to go to Dawnstar first. It's further away than the Crypt, but I'm carrying some heavy stuff after that fort and anyway, I want to see if there's a bounty. Probably not, but maybe I can tell the Jarl that the fort's clear and maybe he can put some soldiers there to guard the road.
*
That didn't take long. The nice people at the forge took the lot. Everyone in Dawnstar looked very tired - they told me to move on before I started to have bad dreams. I don't know why I would have bad dreams from staying here, but if that's what they're telling me to do, I may as well listen.
It's still morning. I should get to the Crypt by noon. I wonder how long I'll be down there?
-
((FROM HERE ON OUT WILL INCLUDE SOME PRETTY SERIOUS SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.))
I didn't think vampires could be nice, but Serana seems nice. Isran would want me to kill her but she said "If you kill me you've killed one vampire, but if people are after me then there's something bigger going on."
She's got an Elder Scroll too. I've never seen one before, but Mother used to read to me about them so I know what they look like. The fact she's got one makes me think maybe she wasn't lying to me to stop me from fighting her.
Besides, Mother always said that I should trust my in two-ish on intuition about whether people are nice, and mine is telling me that Serana is nice. A lot nicer than, say, that Mr. Nazeem back in Whiterun.
I have no idea why anybody would want to lock a nice vampire with an elder scroll away in a box that can only be opened by pressing a button that sticks a metal spike through your hand. That really hurt! My healing spells come in handy yet again.
She said she has trouble with her Father. "Little girl who doesn't get along with her father... read that story a hundred times" she said. I was going to tell her that I understand but Mother always said you should let people talk about themselves and listen to them rather than interrupt them to tell them about you. She said she'd been locked away in there so long she didn't even know that Cyrodiil is the seat of an empire! That's... I don't know how long that is. I'll have to look it up when we get back to Whiterun. I think I have "A brief history of the Empire" on my bookshelf.
Dimhollow Crypt, in short, was interesting. The other vampires weren't half as nice as Serana , but the crossbow Isran gave me really does work well. I'm getting a lot better with it! and this special Dawnguard war axe and shield made short work even of the really strong vampire who was leading them. And then after I found her we had to fight some draugrs and some statues came to life! They were really tough to kill but I guess they would be because they were made of stone. Serana's spells hurt them more than my sword did. I need to remember that.
And there was another one of those walls with the scratches! This one made me think of the word "gaan". Again, I don't know what it means, but at same time I know that I DO know what it means, it's on the tip of my mind.
Also, it turns out that there's a problem with travelling with a vampire. I'm awake in the day and get tired at night. She sleeps in the day because the sun makes her weak. At least it doesn't make her catch fire like I think it does to most vampires.
Maybe I should just try to stay awake at night and sleep in the day? I mean, if I'm a vampire hunter now then it makes sense to be awake when the vampires are. Lots of people are awake at night and sleep in the day, like city guards and farmers with a sick animal to look after. On the other hand it gets VERY cold at night in Skyrim. A man could freeze to death out here if he's not careful.
I'll take Serana to this old castle out east of Solitude. It's not far from Mount Kilkreath so maybe I can get rid of this "beacon" thing on the way. I slept a lot the last couple of days, I can go overnight tonight. We'll head back down to Whiterun and hire a carriage to take us to Solitude.
*
That fort I cleared out is full of soldiers now! Stormcloaks. That's got to be better than all those bandits, and they let us stay at the Stumbling Sabrecat. I decided I would sleep after all. Serana copes with the sun just fine when she has her hood up, and I can't see in the dark so I guess that solves that problem.
I'm looking back at some of my earlier entries and... it's hard to believe I'm the same man who wrote these. Did I really think that the Imperials nearly executed me because they had mistaken me for Ulfric Stormcloak, rather than just because one captain was too lazy and callous to do her job properly?
Part of me wants to hate the legion for what nearly happened to me but really, it was just one woman and she probably died at Helgen anyway, so she can explain herself to the Divines. Stendarr grant her mercy, because I wouldn't if I were him. I can't blame Hadvar for following orders - he's a good man and I don't know if I would have got out of there and begun to make my way in Skyrim without his help that day.
Anyway, the point is that I don't know how I could have been so... When they hit me on the head and knocked me out on the road across the border to High Rock, it must have taken a while to wear off or something.
Then again... looking back on my life, I don't remember that I ever did much thinking, or felt like keeping a journal. And where did I learn that a Nirnroot is a Chenopodicaea Sinderionii? Let alone how to spell it without this magic quill?
And I'm learning things so fast now. It's so easy! I had to practice for weeks to get that transmutation spell Father taught me to work, but I learned the Healing Hands spell just by reading the book and got it right first time.
It seems like something very strange is going on.
*
We're on the cart to Solitude. I checked my copy of "A Brief History of the Empire" when we got back to Whiterun, and the Empire was founded by Tiber Septim - Talos - in the year 896 of the second Era. Tiber Septim declared the dawn of the third era, which lasted four hundred and thirty-three years. We're now in the 201st year of the fourth era. So, Serana was locked away for at least six hundred and thirty-four years! Probably a lot longer, because she's never heard of Tiber Septim.
And I am definitely getting smarter, because two weeks ago I couldn't have counted to twenty even if I'd taken my boots off. What in Julianos' name is happening to me? How does somebody just get smarter?
I don't think Julianos has a temple in Skyrim, but there's the Temple of the Eight Divines in Solitude. Maybe I'll ask the priest when we get there.
*
The Empire seem to love chopping people's heads off. I hope I never find myself there again. I slept on the cart and in my dreams I could still feel the last man's blood warm and sticky against my neck as I waited for the axe.
I just know I'm going to have the same dream tonight, after seeing that man Roggvir executed.
*
I did dream, but it wasn't about being executed, praise Stendarr. It was just.... strange. A creeping feeling of being watched, and of eyes and... tentacles? And books, and being inside books, not like a character or a word but...
I don't know. Dreams don't have to make sense.
The priests at the temple couldn't help me with the puzzle of why I seem to be getting smarter. They just told me to accept it as a blessing and use it wisely. That seems like good advice. Besides, maybe it'll keep happening and eventually I'll be smart enough to figure it out by myself.
It's not far to Mount Kilkreath. I'm looking forward to being rid of this beacon.
*
Meridia. Somehow, I'd have expected the Daedric prince of life to be nicer. But I guess the entire point of Daedra is that they're not nice, even when they're kind of on your side. Sort of.
There was another one of those dragon word walls near her statue. Another word: "Su". still no idea what it means.
Oh well. If I'm to be rid of the Daedra's attention, I'd best do what she says. Hopefully she'll forget about me once we're done here. I have a necromancer to kill.
*
Dawnbreaker...
I never thought I'd ever SEE one of the legendary Daedric artefacts, let alone wield one.
Daedric or not, it seems like a fitting weapon for a vampire hunter.
But what worries me is that I'm pretty sure that Mother never read to me about Daedra. How do I know so much about them?
It's dark now, but we're not far up the coast from that castle Serana pointed out. At least with this sword in my hand I feel a little bit better equipped to go there.
*
So that was Serana's father. Harkon. Lord of castle Volkihar, and the man behind the attack that killed Adrienne.
He was very grateful to see his daughter returned... though I think that was more because of that Elder Scroll she's carrying than because of love. I think I'll take the random anger of a drunken father who heard voices over Harkon's "fatherly affection" any day. At least my old man knew what he did was wrong, in the end.
He offered me a reward: Vampirism. Sold it well, too - power, the fear of my enemies, never having to be afraid of death ever again. But I've killed enough vampires to know they fear death just like everyone else, and as for the power of it... I don't care for power. I want to live a good life, not a powerful one. I turned him down, and so he banished me. Serana's still in there.
I hope I've not made a terrible mistake by bringing her here, with that scroll. She seemed genuine, but...
I should get back to Fort Dawnguard. It's clear on the other side of Skyrim though, so I think my first port of call is going to be Solitude again. I'll take a carriage after I've had some sleep and a good meal.
*
I took a wrong turn coming down out of the mountains and spent the night at the Four Shields Tavern in Dragon Bridge. Nice place. The owner, Faida, does good food, the bed was clean and comfortable, and the view when I stepped out of the inn just morning was... well, that's quite the impressive bridge they've got there. You can certainly tell how the town got its name.
I could head down to Markarth from here, but that's a long road. I'll head back up to Solitude and take the carriage to Riften like I planned, after offloading all the stuff I found in Dimhollow Crypt and that temple.
*
I'm on the carriage to Riften. it's a long ride, so I've had plenty of time to think. About Serana and whether I can trust her, about the Imperials and the Stormcloaks...
Thinking feels so natural now. Before, thinking was like heaving a heavy barrel up out of the inn's cellar for Mother. I could do it, but it was an effort and left me feeling drained, but she seemed to just haul them up with one hand while serving a customer with the other. Yes, I was small, but that effort of thinking never went away, even when I got bigger and stronger and could haul two barrels up at once.
And I've learned something. I learned that if you just let thoughts bubble around in your head, sometimes they bump into one another and stick together and you can see why they fit. Like, I no longer know that you sharpen a sword by running an oiled stone along the blade, I know why you sharpen a sword by doing that. Mother taught me how to cook and she'd tell me that I had to stir the pot and I never knew why, but Mother said I had to do it, so I did. Now it's so obvious why - to stop the food from burning at the bottom, and to get it heated evenly.
You just have to have the right key, the right little bit to glue one thought to another. And once you've got them, you just need to let them fizz around inside your head until it all comes together and sticks.
*
Still on the carriage. Just remembered something. Serana didn't know there was an empire in Cyrodiil at all. I thought she meant the Empire as in the legion and Tiber Septim and Titus Mede and all that. But that's not the first human empire to be seated in Cyrodiil.
Surely she can't come from a time older than Saint Alessia? How long ago was that? I need to see if the court wizard at Riften has some history books.
*
The guards at Riften, who I used to think just weren't letting me in, were actually trying to shake me down for Septims. They shut up and let me in when I called their bluff. I'd complain to their commander, but the two problems with that are that I don't know what they look like because of their helmets, and anyway I would guess that any city where the gate guards can openly shake down a traveler isn't one where the commander takes corruption very seriously anyway.
At least I'm back in the Rift. Nowhere in Skyrim is as warm as Sentinel used to be, but Riften is about as warm as it gets around here, and after all that snow and ice up in The Pale it's nice to be surrounded by trees that have leaves instead of needles, and not to have to worry that just walking around will cost you a few toes.
The Jarl's court wizard is... interesting. And no help at all in giving me a history lesson. Oh well. On to Fort Dawnguard.
*
Isran chewed me out. He's right, of course - I took a vampire with an elder scroll straight back to her father. There's only one word for that - stupid.
But how can I explain that with every passing day I seem to be getting smarter, without sounding like I'm totally crazy? How can I explain that I only did that because I really was more stupid just three days ago than I am right now?
More to the point, how do I explain that to myself?
Well, Isran still seems to trust me, so he's told me to go find and recruit a couple of his old friends - Gunmar and Sorine Jurard. He told me they should be somewhere near Ivarstead, and in the Reach.
Nice of him to be so precise about it... I'll look for Gunmar first. Ivarstead is closer than Markarth, and maybe somebody there will have heard or seen something about a Nord animal trainer.
-
A bear killed my horse. I was on the road to Ivarstead, dismounted to pick some Canis Root, and then it came rushing out of the trees and broke her neck. Poor Allie.
*
I took a wrong turn and wound up in Helgen. Bandits had taken the place over... had.
I found some bottles in the old inn. Mead, with juniper berries mixed in. I remember that Stormcloak, I think his name was Ralof, talking about this stuff on the death wagon. I think I'll save these for a special occasion. I only found five. Better make them last.
At least I know where I am now. I just need to head east again, and then north up the flank of the Throat of the World.
*
2nd of Heartfire, 4e 201.
Gunmar was hunting a large and very mean bear just north of Ivarstead. I helped him take it down, and he agreed to go talk to Isran. That's half of this errand done.
But the thing is, here I am. in Ivarstead. At the foot of the seven thousand steps. With the greybeards at the top, who Jarl Balgruuf thinks summoned me.
I should probably get up there and see what they want, vampires or no vampires.
Vampires, dragons, spiders, draugr, that giant near Whiterun... I'm becoming a genuine monster hunter. Be just my luck if I run into a troll half way up.
It's late evening though, and they've got what looks like a well-stocked inn here. I'll start my ascent at dawn, if the weather's not fixing to kill me.
*
3rd of Heartfire, 4e 201.
6am or thereabouts. Clear weather, good food, well rested. Kynareth's Breath, that's a long climb though. My legs are going to feel like they're made of sackcloth by the time I'm at the top.
*
Maybe the point of the seven thousand steps is to make you meditate on the nature of pain.
Between the burn from the climb and having to fight a bear, three ice wraiths and, yes, a troll to reach High Hrothgar, I think the word that best sums up the whole experience is "pain".
What's left that I haven't killed?
These greybeards had better want something more than to pat me on the back and say nice things. I was expecting High Hrothgar to be more impressive, but after Fort Dawnguard and Castle Volkihar, this place doesn't look like anything special.
Amazing view, though. I can see Whiterun from here. I can see my house.
Time to see what they want.
*
I'm back in Whiterun. Do I write about what the greybeards wanted, or about the people who attacked me?
I guess the greybeards first. It turns out that I genuinely am dragonborn, like Tiber Septim himself. What that means is that I can learn the words of the dragon tongue just by reading them... and the dragon tongue, being a magical language, carries the essence and meaning of each word within each word. So, the reason I've been getting smarter is that every time I've learned a new word off one of these walls, I've been absorbing knowledge into myself. Apparently if I slay a dragon I absorb its essence and life force and can use that to tap a deeper knowledge of these words, maybe projecting them into a Shout. "Thu'um" they call it.
It still seems incredible, but apparently somebody else believes it too. I decided to climb down the mountain face to Whiterun rather than take the seven thousand steps back down to Ivarstead and then come round the mountain through Helgen. I had a few hairy moments on icy rocks, but I got down safely in the end. Came through the main gates and two dunmer in crude leather robes with dragonbone masks demanded to know if I was dragonborn.
When I truthfully told them "That's what the greybeards call me" they were outraged, declared it a "lie" and a "heresy", called me "deceiver" and attacked. One of the guards took care of the leader - put an arrow in her throat at twenty paces, what a shot! - and I took down her bodyguard.
They were sent by, or on behalf of, somebody called "Miraak". The name echoes strangely to me. Like a feeling of deja vu.
Apparently they were from an island called Solstheim and sailed here on a ship, the Northern Maiden.
I have enough on my plate anyway. Between the dragons and the vampires, I really don't need or want to have to deal with some cult from an island in the Sea of Ghosts. So, I'm just going to ignore them for now. I doubt they'll just forget about me, but really, next to everything else that's going on, they don't seem like a real problem.
I'm going to buy a new horse, take the carriage to Markarth, and from there go find Sorine Jurard.
*
4th of Heartfire, 4E 201
Who in Mara's name thought stone beds were a good idea? I barely slept. Think I'll rough it in Markarth in future.
Though I guess in a town where the first thing I see as I come through the gates is an attempted murder (glad I was able to stop that), sleeping lightly is no bad thing.
No, Markarth hasn't made a good impression so far. I'll be glad to hit the road. The khajiit traders had set up their tents as we were arriving last night, and they're always a welcome sight so I picked up some enchanted equipment. None of my gear is actually magical yet, and Father always said you should never turn down any edge in a fight. "You're not playing to be fair" he said "You're fighting to be alive."
Strangely wise man, my dad, when he wasn't trying to drown the voices in ale.
*
Some people just don't know how to solve their own problems. Found the town of Karthwasten. Mine's owned by a Reachman, and the Silver-Blood family had sent some mercenaries in to try and muscle him out. The mine owner asked me for help, offered to pay generously.
Cost of bribing the mercenaries to leave - 236 septims. Ainethach paid me 600 septims in thanks. I don't know that hiring somebody with the common sense to try a simple bribe is worth 440 Septims just by itself, but if that's the kind of business sense he has, that mine's going to belong to the Silver-Bloods soon enough anyway.
Oh well, none of my business. None of the people here knew anything about Sorine Jurard. I guess I should just keep searching. it's a big Reach, but I've got plenty of supplies. I'll find her eventually.
*
These Skyrim horses are amazing over rough terrain. An Alik'r horse would have broken a leg by now, but Hjalti here can outrun a bear in the Reach, and terrain doesn't get rougher than this. I know from the map that there's a whole swathe of heartland to this place that I haven't found a good way into yet. With any luck, Jurard will be somewhere in there, otherwise I'm going to have to go back to Isran and tell him I couldn't find her.
Considering how vicious the Forsworn are turning out to be, I wouldn't be surprised if she's dead actually. I hope she isn't. If she's even half as skilled as Isran described her then she'll be invaluable, and Isran doesn't strike me as the kind of man who's prone to overstatement. Quite the reverse.
I'm back in Dragon Bridge. It's late afternoon, and I'd rather not use up any of my supplies roughing it out in the Reach when there's an inn to hand. I think I'll take it easy for the rest of the day and resume my search at dawn.
((score so far:
Days passed: 18
Level: 19 x50 = 950
Locations discovered: 48 x10 = 480
Dungeons cleared: 7 x20 = 140
Chests looted: 310 x5 = 1550
Quests completed: 14 x30 = 420
Misc objectives: 21 x10 = 210
Hours slept: no penalty
Food eaten: no penalty
Difficulty: x1
Total: 3,750))
-
I will try my best to score view points!!
-
Now I have got a Bosmer female char in lv 10, she is still on live..
To get as many points as she can, she helps people with her speech skills to persuade or bribe other people in a critical conflict. (Secondary skill: Speech)
If necessary, she will also kill people or steal things. (Primary skill: Archey & light armor) But in fact, she is a good natured bosmer (or bosmess? I don't know^^) and has got a "clean" criminality storie (only 1000 septem bounty cause the quest with forsworn in Markarth, but she was innocent..).
Perhaps I (she) will start today some missions with action. I hope she will survive this challenge!!^^
-
I just failed xD...
I am not good with writing stories, so I just give some facts with my experiences:
Character Name: co.0kie
Race: Wood Elf
Sex: Female
Kind of death: Killed by a storm wizard
Best Skills: Archery, Light Armor, Speech
Fractions: Thieves Guild, Companions
Difficulty LV: Adept
Days Passed:9
LV: 14 (*50= 700)
Location Discovered: 43 (430 P.)
Dungeons Cleared: 0 (0 P.)
Hours Slept: 24 (-225.P)
Chest Looted: 77 (385 P.)
Food Eaten: 122 (no malus)
Quest Completed: 11 (330 P.)
Misc Objectives Completed: 48 (480 P.)
She was soo young...^^
Nearly forgot.. Score: 2100 P.
-
5th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Well, in the end Sorine Jurard turned out to be pretty easy to find... if "easy" means having to dodge bears, Forsworn, sabre cats, frostbite spiders, ice wraiths, and a wizard who summoned a flame atronach. Hjalti is worth his weight in Septims!
I can see why Isran wanted me to fetch her. Anybody who can survive out here for Divines-only-know how long without falling foul of something is the kind of person you want on your side, because Stendarr forfend you sould make an enemy of her.
The easiest route back to civilisation from here should be back up the pass to Mount Kilkreath, from there to Solitude and from there I can hire a carriage to Riften. I think I prefer it out east. the tundra of Whiterun, the forests of Falkreath, the rivers and warmth of the Rift are beginning to feel like home. I'm not so fond of Haafingar and the Reach.
Eastmarch, Winterhold and The Pale are too chilly for me, and I've not been to Hjaalmarch yet. I think the tomb the Greybeards want me to retrieve that horn from is in Hjaalmarch. That can wait, though - whatever the Vampires are doing with an Elder Scroll, I'm the stupid fetcher who brought it to their door. I owe it to Skyrim to set that right before I worry about why a handful of flying lizards are setting fire to isolated farms.
*
7th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Serana's back. I got back to Fort Dawnstar about the same time as Sorine did - they've been busy round here. The fortifications have an extra pallisade gate, they've recruited a couple of people who look like they know how to handle themselves, and Isran has installed portcullises and some kind of sunlight trap in the entrance hall of the keep. Devious!
Serana took a big risk going there. Knowing Isran, probably the only thing that stopped him from employing that huge warhammer of his was that for all his drive and hatred for vampires, he's not stupid. Killing her would have left a lot of questions forever unanswerable.
Still, he's made it perfectly clear that her behaviour is on me. Given how much she's trusting me, I guess it's only fair that we're both burdened with trusting one another... to be honest, it's not much of a burden. Undead blood-thirsting fiend of the night or not, I find I enjoy her company, and like her as a person.
And she did bring the Elder Scroll back. You need a Moth Priest to read them, apparently. I've never heard of Moth Priests before, which is interesting given how much I knew about Meridia without ever having heard of her either. It must not be a subject that the words I'm absorbing can tell me anything about. Anyway, there may be one in Skyrim right now. Looks like we're off for another tour of the province in search of an individual, and this time I lack even a vague idea of which Hold they're in or what they look like.
Maybe the mages at the College of Winterhold will know something. I'm finding more and more fascination in magic recently. Not the obvious stuff like destruction, that's just another weapon, and I'm still yet to master the sword and bow, I don't need to add a third weapon to confuse myself. But the subtler stuff, like Restoration and Alteration takes my fancy. "Don't take any edge in a fight... take EVERY edge." as Father used to say, and he would know:he survived a lifetime's adventuring. Scarred, drunk, hearing voices and never sleeping well, but he survived long enough to retire, which is more than can be said for a lot of adventurers.
Shame he never learned the secret to keeping your sanity. Glad I managed to beat the old bastard on that one.
-
8th of Heartfire, 4e 201
We're in Whiterun. It's where my house is, and a good stopover point before we head north to Winterhold. Plus, the food at the Bannered Mare is better than anywhere else in Skyrim I've yet found.
And... I spent a long time talking to Ysolda. I helped her out a couple of weeks back, before I started writing this journal, by finding a mammoth tusk for her. I guess she appreciated the gesture because...
Well. Let's just say she's being very friendly. We spent most of the night at a cozy table in the corner of the inn, in fact. I know Serana's eager to get on with searching for the Moth Priest, but all work and no fun makes life not worth living. And Ysolda is fun. Not to mention lovely...
Still. What kind of a relationship would that be, huh? I'm a vampire hunter, adventurer and oh yes let's not forget dragonborn. I spend my life in caves and barrows, fending off bandits and the wildlife on the road. My travelling companion is a vampire who was probably born in the first era, and just this week I was attacked on the street by cultists. As interesting, intelligent and lovely as Ysolda is, I have to face facts - a romance where one side could on any day wind up dead and undiscovered in some forsaken hole in the ground isn't sensible. That and the spending more time on the road than at home.
No. Give up on dreams of romance, Aaron. At least until after you've retired. And for Mara's sake have the wisdom to know when to do that.
*
If there's a starker, colder, bleaker place in all of Tamriel than Winterhold, I don't want to ever find myself there. There's hardly anything here - just a few smashed shells of buildings, an inn, a trading post, the jarl's longhouse, and the college squatting out on a spire of rock, with only a narrow and damaged bridge to get there.
The Frozen Hearth Inn is a decent enough place. The fire's obviously not gone out in an age so despite the blizzard outside it's cozy in here. the food is filling, the people seem nice enough, even if the two major pastimes around here seem to be drinking and complaining. The bed was comfortable, too. I gues~~~
...a dragon attacked. landed on the inn's roof, right over my head. I'm pleased to learn that dragons don't cope well if you put a steel bolt in their eye.
I can feel its name now. Taste it. I ripped its soul from its corpse without even knowing how, just by stepping close. "Yolkrosis" was its name - "Fiery woe." And now I can breathe fire. I've not actually done it, but I know how. It's as easy and natural as breathing, as shouting. You don't have to have ever shouted in your life to know how to do it.
We should get up to the college. With luck, they will have some knowledge that's of use.
*
11th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Apparently I'm a member of the mage's college now. It was as easy as casting a healing hands spell on the gate guard. Makes you wonder why mages are such a rare breed, especially when you see how comfortable the quarters in the Hall of Attainment are.
Well, no matter. Thanks to the master of the Arcaneum, we know the Moth Priest was heading for Dragon Bridge.
*
11th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Three days of travel and rain, but we found him. Dexion Evicus, Moth Priest of the White Gold Tower. And surprisingly lethal with that akaviri warblade of his. The vampires got to him first, enthralled him. Four dead vampires and an impressive new scar later, Evicus came to his senses and broke their hold on him. Wish he'd done that before leaving a hand-long cut in my chest. At least my Brigandine turned aside the worst of it.
the route back will take us by Whiterun. Sorine Jurard said that some bandits near there might have got hold of some schematics for an improved crossbow, so we're going to get that on our way through. And I can enjoy some Honningbrew mead at the Bannered Mare...
...with Ysolda.
*
12th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Some days, it all goes to plan. Got back to Whiterun, strolled into the Mare, brought Ysolda a bottle of Honningbrew and before either of us noticed, it was well past midnight. No use denying it - I'm in love. And I got to thinking after she went home.
The little orphan girl Lucia is here too. I think Hulda lets her sleep by the fire when the weather's bad. Lucia's not the only orphaned or homeless kid I've seen in Skyrim. There's the girl who sells flowers in Windhelm, the boy who runs the food pails around for the miners in Dawnstar, the boy who works at the Solitude stables, a whole orphanage down in Riften.
And I think of Adrienne Avenicci, and her widower. The Shatter-Shields in Windhelm, who lost a daughter recently. All the Vigilants of Stendarr. Our carriage passed a trader's wagon in the Reach, obviously hit by Forsworn raiders. Husband and wife, dead together at the side of the road. Helgen. One dragon descends, a town dies. I lived, but it turns out I may be a pawn in a game of destinies. If I had been slower on the uptake, that lady in Markarth would have had a dagger in her kidneys.
So many dead. And so quickly too, that's my point. It can happen to anyone. Everywhere I go, I see how life can end early, and tragically. There are a lot more young dead than old living.
So is there any use in worrying? If that huge black dragon were to attack Whiterun, you could bid farewell to Dragonsreach, Jorrvaskr and the Bannered Mare, godbye Lucia and Hulda and even Heimskr and that fetcher Nazeem. It's a painful thought, but in an age of dragons and vampires, it could have been Ysolda who burned to ash by the gates and I'd never have got to know her. In one moment of wings and fire, she could be plucked up and...
Anyway. I heard the Nords of Skyrim don't bother with a long courtship - straight to the point, that's their style. I understand why, now. It's because if you worry too much about making your loved one sad, you might forget to make them happy in whatever time is given to you.
And she's plainly interested. "It's a fine day with you around" she said when she saw me tonight.
Serana and I will be heading back to Fort Dawnguard in the morning anyway. The temple of Mara is in Riften. I'll get an amulet. The worst that can happen if I wear one for Ysolda is that she says "no". If I don't, the worst that can happen is she gets eaten by a dragon and I'm left to regret the things I never did.
I've faced down dragons, draugrs, trolls and vampires. Next to what any of those can do to you, being made to look a fool shouldn't hold any fear.
Shouldn't. Does. Lady Mara give me the strength to conquer that fear.
*
I suppose the problem with a horse is that when a monstrous lizard the size of a barn flies overhead, roars, and then breathes fire at it, the horse does the sensible thing and runs. How was Hjalti to know that Serana and I can bring down a dragon by ourselves?
I hope he shows up. Maybe he'll find his way back to the Whiterun stables.
This dragon's name was Maarjunkriid - "Terrible Slayer of Kings". I wonder if they choose their own names, or if they're given their names by other dragons in honour of their deeds?
Maybe it's a joke name? Terrible slayer of kings - he was really bad at it.
Oh well. On foot to Riften.
*
14th of Heartfire, 4e 201
SHE SAID YES!!!
It's settled. Ysolda and I are to be married. I think I'll always remember the way her eyes lit up when I sat down next to her wearing that amulet.
So. Now I have a very personal reason for saving the world and making it home alive.
That job still needs doing though. We need two more Elder Scrolls. Specific ones, too. Serana thinks her mother may know where one of them is. Small obstacle being, her mother vanished. Serana hopes there's some clue to her whereabouts left in Castle Volkihar. I can't say I relish the idea of sneaking back into that place but it's about the only useful lead we have. At least we'll be going in a side entrance, so it's at least plausible we might make it.
As for the other... who knows? And I've got my obligation to the dragon crisis, too.
Maybe it's time to go get that horn for the greybeards. They might have something more to teach me that may be useful.
But before all that... the wedding. Hjalti never showed up so it looks like I need a new horse, too.
It's hard to believe that this is only the end of the first month since I arrived in Skyrim.
((Day 28: score to date -
Level: 23 x50 = 1150
Locations discovered: 57 x10 = 570
Dungeons cleared: 8 x20 = 160
Chests looted: 324 x5 = 1620
Quests completed: 17 x30 = 510
Misc objectives: 25 x10 = 250
Hours slept: no penalty
Food eaten: no penalty
Difficulty: x1
Total: 4,260))
-
21st of Heartfire, 4e 201
An eventful few days. A marriage, a honeymoon, two dragons, four trolls, two dead farmers, a vampire attacked me on the streets of Riften..
I haven't had time to write about it all. But there's one thing I've found time to write about, and she's asleep right now.
She's asleep. Red hair, white pillow, pale skin, soft breathing. In the morning, I'll need to get moving again. I've put off this horn errand for the Greybeards too long, and Serana and I have a castle full of vampires to sneak into after that.
But for now... For now I think I'll just watch her a little longer, before I sleep.
((the wedding glitched the hell out and it took me the whole day to get it to work, otherwise there'd be a lot more here. Still a moment of quiet is no bad thing.))
-
23rd of Heartfire, 4e 201
There are two beggars in Whiterun. Brenuin's a bitter fetcher who's drinking himself straight into the hall of the dead, and I've not desire to help him do it, but Lucia...
She's just a kid. A scared, lonely, hungry kid, kicked off the farm by her foster parents for being "useless". It's heartbreaking... and stupid, too. A child can look after the chickens, do some chores, that's all a child her age should be expected to do. Were they thinking she'd shoe the horse and fix the wagon too? I'd go and give those people an education, if I knew where they lived.
It's becoming increasingly obvious that nobody in town is willing to take her in, though. Maybe we should do it. I should ask Ysolda.
oh, anyway. I left my journal at home when I went up to Robber's Gorge yesterday. Between Sorine's report that they may have some Dwemer technology the Dawnguard could use, and the bounty Jarl Balgruuf had placed on their chief, I thought a break from the vampire hunting and destiny-chasing was in order. Sorine was right, too - a schematic for crossbow bolts infused with elemental fire. very nice, and perfect for vampire slaying. I'll take it back to Fort Dawnguard as soon as I've retrieved that horn. I'm going to be away from home for a week. Ysolda says that's fine, but I had better bring her back something nice. I think I can do that.
*
The most you can say about Morthal is that the Jarl has her head screwed on right. The townsfolk certainly don't. One house burns down, a wizard moves in, and everyone's nervous. Wizards are smarter than that - you don't become a master of the arcane arts without figuring out that burning down homes at random isn't smart.
I've met a few of the Jarls now. Balgruuf the Greater has my respect, and from our brief meeting so too does Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone. Jarl Siddgeir of Falkreath is arrogant scum - he summoned me by a courier not long ago, and when I attended he said that he had "had some dealings with" some local bandits and ordered me to kill them. I've got no problem with claiming a bounty, but I'm not willing to clean up a Jarl's corruption. Then there's Skald the Elder of Dawnstar - a bitter vicious old man - and the Jarl of Winterhold who's so focussed on blaming the College for the storm that broke his city that he's forgotten to even try to rebuild.
that just leaves the jarls of Riften, Markarth, Windhelm and Solitude. well... I did meet Ulfric, briefly. He was on the cart with me at Helgen. But I only heard him speak five words: "Legends don't burn down villages." He said it with authority and charisma, but I wouldn't call it the wisest thing I've ever heard.
and I should quite like to meet Jarl Elisif. I hope Ysolda forgives me if she ever reads this, but I'd quite like to lay eyes on a woman who's known across all of Skyrim as "the fair"...
Anyway, Jarl Idgrod has asked me to investigate this fire. Apparently the man who lived there lost his wife and daughter in the fire, but pledged himself to a woman called Alva before the ashes had even cooled.
I slept on the cart, and Serana seems more alert at night. may as well investigate.
*
Vampires! Well, A vampire, but where there's one...
this one was called Laelette. Wife of one of the Morthal townsfolk, she vanished not long ago apparently, after spending some time with this Alva woman, whom she previously despised. And then she turns up having tried to Turn this little girl.
Examining the corpse, she's not of the Volkihar clan, thank Arkay. She looks almost normal in fact, which means she's probably of one of the Cyrodiilic lines, who can pass for human if they have fed recently. Very dangerous - there's no telling who else in town may be a thrall, or a nightwalker. Besides Serana, of course.
I think it's time to pay Alva a visit. Jarl Idgrod is rightly wary of condemning her citizens on hearsay and speculation. I need some harder evidence.
*
Fortunately, I ran into Alva as she was entering in the inn, and made small talk. Not the faintest hint of a vampire's night-eyes about her, but if she really is a Cyrodiil vampire, that just means she's fed within the last day or so. With her at the inn, her house should be vacant. The Jarl didn't give me explicit permission to go picking locks around here, but if I'm right she'll thank me, and if I'm wrong she'll never find out.
*
I'd say a coffin in the cellar counts as hard evidence. And the journal within it counts even more so.
Movarth.
I may be new to vampire hunting, but I've done my research - there's plenty of material on the subject at Fort Dawnguard. Movarth Piquine. That's a name right out of Immortal Blood, the hunter who fell victim to the author's own wiles as a Cyrodiilic vampire.
If so, he must be ancient. And powerful. Good thing I prepared those paralysis poisons in Whiterun. If he's involved, then this is going to get nasty.
Oh yes, and if he's half as capable as the book made him out to be... I need to get in the first blow.
The Jarl has gone to bed and her housecarl insists she is not to be disturbed. I can't afford to sleep now, with vampires about town, so there's nothing for it but to rest here in the Jarl's hall, awake as much as I can be.
*
24th of Heartfire, 4e 201
Movarth is slain, though I have a new scar to show for it. Lightning magic leaves peculiar fern-shaped burns around where it strikes you. That one will be an interesting tale: "here is where an ancient vampire lord scorched me with destruction magic."
I have to be more careful. That was the closest brush I've had with death yet since Helgen. If I'm ever to tell the tales of my adventures to my grandchildren, I need to survive them first.
The Jarl was most grateful, and has granted me the right to purchase land in Hjaalmarch. Someplace I could build my own steading. Someplace nicer than Breezehome. I purchased it. They were only asking five thousand Septims, and I still have more money than I know what to do with. If nothing else, I can just keep it as a little staging post and resupply point when I'm up in this part of the world.
Onward to Ustengrav.
*
It seems hard to believe that I've visited enough Draugr catacombs to become a connoisseur of them, but it seems that I have Ustengrav was relatively easy - hardly any traps, only a handful of weak draugr. the worst challenges we faced were an enormous frostbite spider and the cabal of mages who had set up camp in the entrance hall, and they in fact mostly sorted themselves out by getting killed in a battle with the few draugr of any real strength in the whole complex, who were so weakened by the battle that mopping them up was almost a formality.
After the close shave with Movarth, I'm glad we had an easier time of it. They won't all be so simple.
I learned a new word. "Feim". The echo of a dragon's soul tell me it means "fade", to become ethereal, insubstantial. When I shout it, my body becomes a thing of smoke and I find that arrows, sword blows and even fire pass through me, and that I feel nothing when I fall from height.
Still, if this was supposed to be a test that only the dragonborn could pass, it failed. Somebody got here before me, stole the horn and left a note inviting me to rent the "attic room" at the Sleeping Giant in Riverwood. That inn has no attic.
I knew there was something strange about Delphine.
it's nighttime now. There's a bedroll outside in the camp those mages had set up. With the campfire there, it seems like a decent place to overnight. And there's my new plot of land just north of here. We'll visit in the morning.
*
25th of Heartfire, 4e 201
It's little more than a shack with a chest in it, but Windstad Manor is begun. I'm going to need a lot of lumber, nails, iron fittings, locks, hinges, glass and so much more before it's worthy of the name "house" let alone "manor" but there's plenty of room here. I can see it now - a grand hall with a big table and a crackling fireplace. A kitchen with a large oven just like Mother used to have back at the inn. A luxurious bedroom. a forge in the basement. I don't know what to have at the back of the house yet. Probably just a room with lots of storage or something.
There's a lot of work to do before then, though, so for now it's just a bed, a chest, a locked door, and somewhere I can prepare my meals and grow some ingredients. Call it my retirement plan for after I've dealt with Harkon and the dragons.
Jarl Idgrod's steward was right though. This place has an amazing view over the Karth Delta towards Solitude.
Having spent all day building a basic little house, I'm exhausted. Getting it up that fast was hard work, even with the strength of a Dragonborn and an undying maiden of the night. Serana is restless to get back to Castle Volkihar, and I must agree that we've put it off too long. In the morning we'll cross the moor to Solitude, sell off all the valuables we hauled up out of Ustengrav, and then we can get going in pursuit of Valerica.
There's another ruin just north of the house, marked on my map as "High Gate Ruins". It seems sealed up pretty tight, though. No sign of draugr footprints in the snow outside. With luck, that won't change. I don't want to have to go in there and clear it out unless I have to. And there's a shack of some kind on an island in the delta west of here. Something about it sends chills down my spine. We'll check it on the way past to Solitude in the morning, see if there's anything dangerous there. A hint of the war, too: tents to the east and south-east of us. Looked like a Stormcloak war camp to the south, and an Imperial one further east. Let's hope they have the sense to respect my property.
*
26th of Heartfire, 4e 201
This shack is locked up tighter than an Altmeri chastity belt. The enormous blood spatter on the door doesn't inspire me to try and break in, either. Still, Stendarr's mercy be praised, it seems to be abandoned There are no footprints, no fresh food, no warmth from a fire, and the blood is old.
Best leave it alone then. onward to Solitude.
*
It's a shame that the arts of levitation and waterwalking magic are both lost. Wading and swimming the delta has left us both... well, Serana doesn't seem to feel it so much, but I'm freezing cold. thank goodness I wrap this journal in an oilcloth. I think in future we'll take the long way, south via Morthal and then up via Dragon Bridge.
Hopefully a mead at the Winking Skeever will warm me up.
*
Corpulus took one look at me, sat me down by the fire and gave me a warm spiced wine and a beef stew. He gave one to Serana too, but she handed it to me. Apparently she doesn't drink wine. I'm still a bit damp in my armour, but I can feel my fingers and toes again and I've got a full belly. What more could I ask for. That's good hospitality.
We've done the rounds of the blacksmith, general store, bowyer and alchemist. The time has come to strike out for Castle Volkihar. Again.
*
Serana wasn't entirely wrong about the side entrance being unguarded. the Volkihars had set up some skeleton serfs to watch it, but no alarm, which is what I was really afraid of. This courtyard obviously hasn't been touched since Serana first went in the box in Dimhollow Crypt, though. It's overgrown, run down and depressing. She seems upset at its condition, and if it was even half as beautiful as she made it sound, I can't blame her.
I'd better take a look around, see if there's anything lying around that might give us an idea where to look next.
*
What a choice. What a damned choice.
Valerica, it seems, retreated into a demiplane of Oblivion known as "the Soul Cairn." It's where those poor souls who find themselves in a soul gem go when it's... used.
I think I may have to forswear enchanting and conjuration after this. The thought that every soul used to enchant or recharge a magical item is... imprisoned. forever. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Anyway, the short version is that I can't go in there. The Soul Cairn demands payment in the form of a soul. Serana can enter just fine because, technically, she is not alive.
for me to go in there with her - and from what I gather, it would be far too dangerous for her to go alone - I need either to be dead, or I need to agree to barter a piece of my soul away to the masters of that place a "partial soul trap", Serana calls it.
She says she can "probably" fix it afterwards. She didn't sound certain. At all.
So I'm stuck with a dilemma. On the one hand, if there's one thing I do not ever want for myself, it's vampirism. On the other hand there's a "probably" bargain involving my very soul from somebody who sounded less than confident when she proposed it.
Option C I suppose would be to walk way, but the problem there is that Valerica's hiding place was secure before. now that we've broken in, who knows. It could be only a matter of hours, days or weeks before Harkon learns of our intrusion, follows our steps, finds this laboratory and then...
And then he'll march his vampiric minions into the Soul Cairn until he has Valerica's head on a spike, and her Elder Scroll in his hands. Opening this door in the first place has made it vulnerable. So I HAVE to go in there.
There's only one sane choice, really. However appalling becoming a vampire may be, I do know that you can "live" and be a good person with it. Serana has shown me that. And I have heard rumours of a cure. Awful a decision as it may be, I'll take rumours of a cure and a continued grip on my soul over a shaky "maybe" plan involving being soul-trapped.
I don't want to do it. But if it's that or let Harkon get his hands on this legendary power to black out the sun...
Stendarr forgive me.
*
Dawnbreaker burns my hand when I try to hold it. I've buried it in the bottom of my bag. My dawnguard-made and Stendarr-blessed waraxe and armour itch, but are bearable. My throat feels dry, and my teeth...
Mara preserve me, I don't want to be this. I don't want to be here. But I must.
I hope I must. I hope this wasn't a catastrophic error of judgement.
The Soul Cairn is a terrible place, and I have done a terrible thing to come here. The only saving grace is that I appear to still be myself. Serana's right - we should find Valerica and get out of here.
*
Valerica and Harkon turn out to be two sides of the same coin, with one important difference - when Serana spoke to her, Valerica listened, and snapped out of herself.
She's trapped. If we're to get our hands on that kel... kel? Elder scroll. If we're to have it and read it, then we need to release her from the prison the Ideal Masters have got her in.
I learned an important lesson today, too. Never make a bargain with the Ideal Masters - they always win. Strange as it sounds, I'm glad I chose the vampirism route. Making a partial soul-trap bargain with those beings could never have ended well for me.
*
We have the Elder Scroll, and I have a new ally. Durnehviir, undying guardian of the Soul Cairn. We had to defeat him to get our hands on the scroll, and he has asked me to grant him brief returns to Tamriel by calling his name. Apparently, he can't come back forever.
I see no harm in it.
It's hard to tell how long we were in there. It feels like only a few hours. It seems just as dark as it was when we first arrived at Castle Volkihar, but it could be the next night...
The moons are different. It can't be the same night. But I have no idea what the date is.
Worse, I feel the thirst. Even the thought of the word "blood" grips me with desire, and from the research I've done, I know that I'm in only the earliest, least stage of the craving.
The Volkihar vampires - which I suppose I am now too - can pass for human, though the blood-light in the eye gives them away. Most people don't know about it, they'll just see that the eyes look strange. But that's only true if I stay on top of the thirst. If I let it progress, then they'll see me for what I am and fear me. So, it's a choice between being an outcast, or being a predator.
Ordinarily I'd choose outcast. But this thirst... I don't know if I have the will to resist it if it gets more intense.
Isran doesn't know what it's like. This whole experience is changing my perspective - it's not about being a predator, or a monster. It's a disease, a curse. I can see how a charismatic man like Harkon might attract vampires who want to live without skulking in the shadows, who want revenge on a world that hates them.
There must be a middle way. Bear the curse without becoming the monster. Succumb without losing yourself. I know I can do it, even if it's only for long enough to find a cure. If there is one.
But I made a promise to Valerica that we'd go back to retrieve her after Harkon is defeated, and the only way that's going to happen is if I'm still a vampire. Damn my mouth and sense of honour for running off without me.
I WILL find a way to cope with this. I have to.
I can't go back to Fort Dawnguard yet. Not without the other scroll at least. I'm pretty sure Isran won't attack me on sight - he didn't slaughter Serana - but if I'm going to preserve any trust with him then I'll need to walk back up to the fort carrying both Kel... there it is again. Kel. Is that dragontongue? I guess it means Elder Scroll. In any case, it'll sell my case that I'm still on the Dawnguard's side if I come back to THEM with all three scrolls of the prophecy, rather than going to Harkon with them.
Tread carefully, Aaron. for now, let's just head back to Solitude.
*
The sun came up as we travelled and Mara preserve me, it hurts. If it gets on your flesh, it stings like a scorpion. I don't know how Serana handles it. Even with my hood up and every inch of flesh covered, it hurts my eyes to see.
The only thing for it is to rent a room at the Winking Skeever and endure until nightfall. At least the hunger isn't so bad during the day.
*
The carriage driver charged double for travelling at night, but it was worth it. We got back to Whiterun just before sunup. I collapsed into bed for twelve hours, citing exhaustion which wasn't wholly untrue. Ysolda doesn't seem to have noticed anything wrong with me yet, but that won't last forever. The thirst is stronger than ever, and will only get worse if I put off...
The thought. I would have thought that the idea of drinking somebody's blood would revolt me, but quite the opposite. Take the thirst of seeing a tall ale after a long hot day in the sun, add the hunger of spending two days on the road before finding an inn, and add the... amorousness of being away from your wife for five days, only to find her waiting, naked and smiling having heard you were back.
Blessedly, it seems that the thirst isn't abated by thinking of any particular person. I don't want to inflict this on Ysolda, but I think I could bring myself to bite Nazeem. If only he didn't sleep with his wife at the drunken huntsman.
Who else is there? Brenuin? He sleeps outdoors where a guard might see, and in any case... he's a beggar and a drunk. I married the only woman in Whiterun who lived alone. Ufberth War-Bear sleeps alone nowadays, but I don't want to spit on Adrienne's memory that way. That just leaves... Heimskr, I suppose. The Talos street preacher. He lives by himself and, who knows? Maybe if we're lucky he'll feel too weak to preach in the morning.
I have to feed from somebody before my condition becomes known, or else the hunters and guards will make my mission to stop Harkon all the more difficult. It's not predation, it's necessity. I have to remember that.
*
I fed. The thirst is gone for now. I feel dirty, but nobody's any the wiser.
It started out as everything the thirst implied. A heady rush, a surge of strength and the bliss of divine nectar on the tongue. Then it got disgusting. Warm. Sticky. I don't look forward to doing that again, even though I know I'll have to.
We're headed to Riverwood. If Delphine isn't the one who took that horn, then I'm a Khajiit. the scroll we're after speaks of dragons, so maybe the Greybeards are involved and can tell me something about it. Arngeir told me their leader is called Paarthurnax, and if that's not a dragon's name then I'm not Dovahkiin.
I need that horn.
*
30th of Heartfire, 4e 201
I was right. Delphine. She turns out to be one of the few surviving members of the Blades. I remember seeing Aldmeri warrants out offering rewards for information leading to the capture of errant Blades when I was a boy. Mother used to have them hanging in the inn - the Thalmor would threaten her if she didn't put them up.
Surprise surprise, she thinks the Thalmor are behind the return of the dragons. I'll reserve judgement - having seen what her vendetta with Harkon did to Valerica's motherly feelings, I doubt a Blade is inclined to think straight about the Thalmor. Still, Delphine could well be right, and if she is... Thalmor, dragons, the Thalmor hold White Gold Tower, that's where the Kel were stored, we're after the Kel that speaks of dragons... It's a tenuous lead, but it's at least worth pursuing in the absence of a better lead.
First, though, we're headed for Kynesgrove, south of Windhelm. Delphine thinks that something is about to resurrect the dragon buried in an old burial mound there. If so, we should probably deal with it anyway, let alone the added bonus of proving to her that I really am Dovahkiin.
I'm just going to have to put up with the sunlight, I suppose. It'll be long gone dawn by the time we reach Kynesgrove. If Serana's been enduring these days in my company, I can tough it out too.
*
Took the carriage in the end. Preserve my strength. The sun makes it hard to even think. Don't know how I'll fight a dragon in this heat.
Wrapped myself in a cloak. Try to sleep on the way to Windhelm. Hope for the best.
*
...the weather closed in a bit around Windhelm. It's not comfortable, but it's more bearable. Thank you, sweet Kynareth.
*
That damn dragon all but ripped my arm off. I knew I would be weaker outdoors during the day. At least healing magic and potions still work. I have another scar, but no permanent effects.
What's interesting is how the dragons are coming back. That black dragon from Helgen! It flew over the mound and shouted at it. "Slen tiid vo" something about flesh, and time. I don't understand it fully, but the shout knits the dragon's soul back to its bones, regenerates its flesh, and it bursts from its grave whole and ready to fight.
Poor bastard burst right out into the maw of a Dovahkiin, and I devoured its soul. Sahloknir: "Phantom sky hunter", if my understanding of the dovah tinvaak serves me. In the confusion, the big black one got away.
Delphine told me to meet her in Riverwood. First, it's back up to High Hrothgar. It should be nighttime by the time we reach Ivarstead, hopefully I'll be strong enough for the climb.
*
"Lingrah krosis saraan Strundu'ul, voth nid balaan klov praan nau. Naal Thu'umu, mu ofan nii nu, Dovahkiin, naal suleyk do Kaan, naal suleyk do Shor, ahrk naal suleyk do Atmorasewuth. Meyz nu Ysmir, Dovahsebrom. Dahmaan daar rok."
"Long has the Stormcrown languished, with no worthy brow to sit upon. By our breath we bestow it now to you in the name of Kyne, and of Shor, and of Atmora of old. You are Ysmir now, the Dragon of the North. Hearken to it."
I'd feel honoured, but the thirst is back. I'm not what I should be.
But I am what I must be. I remember Father saying that you should never regret the necessary. Mother agreed with him, too.
Neither of them said anything about how to handle the nagging worry that what you thought was necessary, may not have been. Once Harkon's dealt with, I'll relish getting this curse out of me.
Anyway. the Greybeards had no insight into the Kel. They view them as "blasphemies" and will have nothing to do with them. Hopefully Delphine's lead will turn up something. I may as well see where it takes me.
And I'd better hope there's somebody in Riverwood for me to feed on. the elf Faendal, maybe.
*
3rd of Frostfall, 4e 201
To make a long and too-complicated story short, the Thalmor don't know anything about the dragons, or about elder scrolls. But, interestingly, they did have a dossier on a man named Esbern, a Blade. Delphine is sending me to Riften - she thinks he's most likely hiding out in the "Ratway", a network of catacombs under the city. She seems confident that he'll be able to shed light on the subject of the dragons at least.
I have no idea how this is helping me get closer to finding the scroll we need to stop Harkon, and as a consequence get me closer to finding a cure for my daylight problem. But at this point... well, a loremaster of the Blades is as good a person to chase down as any other. Better than most, even. And having seen how the Thalmor treat their prisoners, I think I'd feel guilty if I didn't help.
Besides, I'm beginning to suspect that this dragon thing is more important than just a few homesteads and one town being torched. The Nords keep going on about the ancient legends about dragons being the harbingers of the end times. I'd write it off as frightened mythology, but I can feel an echo in my soul.... something about that black dragon. Like the dragon souls I've absorbed are afraid of it.
Maybe it's a worthy thing to pursue in its own right.
The question is... seeing as I'm going to Riften anyway, maybe I should report back to the Dawnguard. I'm going to have to face them sooner or later anyway, and Sorine needs this crossbow bolt schematic...
...maybe they'll know how I can be cured. And if nothing else, Dexion can read Valerica's scroll. That'll put us a step ahead of Harkon.
Assuming they don't stake me on sight.
*
Well, I'm alive (-ish), but my "comrades-in-arms" could only have been less welcoming if they actually HAD staked me. Sorine wouldn't even take that schematic! She just recoiled, called me a monster.
"You're dead to me". Short-sighted ignorant.... extremists. That's their trouble. They're vampire hunters, therefore all vampires, even the ones on their side, the ones who count themselves among the Dawnguard, are to be slain. Never mind that I only became this, only suffer this, to further their OUR cause. And this is what I get? No "How did this happen?" no "Why?" no "Well done on getting that Elder Scroll, Aaron. We promise, the price you paid will be worth it."
Harkon needs to be stopped, and Adrienne needs to be avenged, Vampires can't kill people on the street, and the Tyranny of the Sun must continue. But Stendarr forgive me, I'm beginning to think the Dawnguard have the potential to be just as bad as the Volkihar. I really should have seen the fanaticism behind Isran's talk of the Vigilants being "soft" and he being "prepared" and all that. Really, he's just another paranoid zealot who sees the world only in extremes.
Still, they did point me at a cure rather than ripping me apart, so maybe there is some lingering sense of fellowship at the Dawnguard yet. Isran mentioned the wizard Falion, in Morthal - if they're to take me back at all, then I need that cure. On tonight's evidence, the Dawnguard would rather lose this war than endure one of their own becoming a vampire.
Surely one of the big dangers of vampire hunting is getting infected? Surely somewhere, some-when in history a hunter got infect, became a night walker, and carried on fighting the good fight? They can't all have turned out like Movarth Piquine, right? I mean, look at Serana and me. We're living proof that this condition doesn't automatically make you a world-dominating monster.
Idiots. They've cut off their sword arm because of a tremor. Hypocrites, too: they're willing to trust me to work with a vampire to accomplish their ends, but the second I become one I'm a "danger"? This despite bringing them the kel they wanted? Nivahriin malhahdrum meyye!
And they've left me with the dilemma of having to break my promise to Valerica to notify her when Harkon is dead, or never actually being able to reach that point in the first place.
...fine. The greater good trumps my promises, I suppose. But by the Eight I wish it weren't so. They don't know what they're forcing me to condemn a good woman to endure.
We'll hunt down Esbern, get him back to Delphine, and then I'll go to Morthal and find this man who can cure me. Stendarr forgive me my broken vow.
*
-
I tried it again with an other beautyful Bosmer (Bosmess)..
She was killed by Drela.. It was a litte bit cheap, but dead is dead..
Some facts:
Main Skills: Archery, Light Armor
Sub Skills: Speech, Smithing
Faction: All
LV: 16 (800 P.)
Location Discovered: 87 (870 P.)
Dungeons cleared: 13 (260 P.)
Chests looted: 115 (575 P.)
Quests completed: 15 (450 P.)
Misc objectives: 58 (580 P.)
Hours slept: -300 P. as Malus
Food eaten: no penalt
I'll try it again xDD
3235 P. together
-
5th of Frostfall, 4e 201
Things moved quickly after we found Esbern. A vampire's senses came in useful in the Ratway - in the dark and stink of too much unwashed and forgotten humanity, the scent of an old man with books is a silver thread in the mud. The heavily reinforced door with five locks on it was a bit of a giveaway, too. the Thalmor were ahead of us, but we found Esbern first.
Since then, there hasn't been time to write. Esbern spent the whole carriage journey back telling me about Alduin.
Al-du-in: "Destroyer, devourer, master." First and greatest of the dragons, the very son of Akatosh himself, and his dark reflection. unslaad, nis viir, nis viik. Maar se lok, vokun se tiid. He who devours the souls of the dead, marauds the living, and will end the world in fire now that his rule over it is broken.
We didn't get the chance to stop over in Whiterun. I miss Ysolda, but I haven't fed in three days now, and there's no way she could miss it. I'll need to creep back into the city at night and find somebody... I think Arcadia... before I go home.
You see, dear journal, I've decided not to change back yet. It occurred to me that what separates a man from a monster isn't what they are, but what they do. Whether I am a vampire has no more bearing on whether I'm a good person than whether I'm a Redguard. And good men don't break their vows out of convenience.
I swore to Valerica she'd be freed from the Soul Cairn, and by Stendarr I meant it. Isran is just another Harkon - driven to short-sighted self-destruction by his obsession, and I won't feed it. If I have to find Auriel's Bow and put an end to Harkon without the Dawnguard's help, I shall. It's only if I MUST change back in order to make that objective happen that I'll seek out Falion.
Anyway. We returned to Riverwood and Esbern promptly dragged Delphine and I out into the Reach in pursuit of a lost temple - Sky Haven. The ancient blades built a wall here chronicling the defeat of Alduin in the ancient Merethic, and it shows a shout of some kind.
I suggested asking the Greybeards about it... it seems Delphine dislikes them. Calls them "scared of power" and bit into them for removing themselves from the world. She has a point. Power is dangerous - I know that more than I used to - but Faas do suleyk los voheyv. To fail to use the power you have out of fear is negligent, undutiful. Misuse your power, and you have done no good in the world. Fail to use your power and you have done no good in the world. Therefore, not using your power is misusing it.
Still. the Greybeards are the authority on the Thu'um. Back up the seven thousand steps I go. At least undead legs don't tire on the climb.
-
Ok, trying this.
Race: Khajitt
Name: Vickarion
Progress so far: Escaped Helgen, made it through Bleak Falls Barrow.
-
This is an awesome idea! I won't do it (I hardly get to play games as it is), but you have my admiration. And for inspiration:
http://www.pcgamer.com/tag/an-illusionist-in-skyrim/ (http://www.pcgamer.com/tag/an-illusionist-in-skyrim/)
Dan Bull - Iron Man Mode (YouTube) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7fl_7n0Jd8) (or the celebrity remix on http://www.ironmanmode.com/faq (http://www.ironmanmode.com/faq))
...hmm, I haven't played the DLC yet...
-
Alright. Finally have a little time. Working on this. I will note: I love to try all dialog options, so I reload and try them in virtually every game, even though I know what I'm going to choose. I just like to hear the voice acting. I don't think that that goes against the spirit of this, and I don't use it to get out of dying - just to listen to different responses.
So, I've loaded up my Khajitt character: a black cat, formerly a soldier, now trying to make his way in Skyrim after narrowly escaping the headman's axe. He's mildly sympathetic to the Stormcloaks, since the Empire tried to kill him...
This one has completed Bleak falls barrow and killed Mirmulnir. This one is not very concerned about the Greybeards, and joined the companions instead. Updates to follow.
Dear journal,
As you know, we Khajitt are not prone to overthinking. Yet, this one finds himself thinking overmuch about the past.
This one has come close to death many times, but never so close as this last. To have one's head on the block...one's hair rises to remember it. And then...fire.
Well. We escaped. And thank that one, the Stormcloak. Ralof. This one will remember that.
Then this one followed him to Riverwood. What else to do? And from there, well, a favor owed must be repaid, as this one learned suckling at the teat. So this one brought word to the Jarl of Whiterun, who told him to help his wise-man-wizard. Wise-man-wizard said to find stone in Bleak Falls Barrow, so this one went back to Riverwood, and, in asking around, found man who needed a golden claw from same place! Truly this must be fate. And so, this one, carrying greatsword and armor, went up to kill bandits.
Hardly a challenge. Not even the sneaky thief-caught-in-web or ugly dead-with-swords could stop this one. Took stone, and rushing word from wall.
Brought stone and claw back. Claw owner happy. Jarl happy, except then word of dragon attack came. Of course, this one pressed into service as sword-carrier. Not first time. This one waited until dragon landed, then pounded head with warhammer. Head cave in, then very strange. Ate soul. Tasted like tuna and metal. Then this one spoke with iron and blood in voice, without any softness of the moons. FUS!
Well. Now Jarl wants this one to go to Greybeards. Perhaps this one will go, some time. Until then, this one has found home with Companions, this group of fighters who do not presume to much on a simple favor owed.
This is a strange land, this one thinks. I will write more, journal, soon.
-
Dear journal,
This night less than good.
This one do favors for Companions. Bed is soft, pay is good. Beat up man to solve dispute, battle-axe to face of sabre-cat, then back to hall for soft bed. Much better than sand. Life seems good. Than Skjor-person speaks to meet him at night. This one goes, finds Skjor-person, goes with him into hidden cave.
There is wolf. Also Aela. Same person. Skjor say that this one must take blood to join circle, advance. Skjor person promises much power with new claw and fang. This one does take blood, then sleeps suddenly. Wakes.
Wakes as big dog. Never in life has this one wished to be big dog. Cat was fine. This one looks at self, runs for exit of town. This one sees guard - guard shoots. Well, this one will oblige. This one fights. Strong sweep, with swift new claw. Guard thinks that light breeze has touched his nose, pulls sword. This one strikes with both claws. Guard feels that slight breeze now comes from other location, seems to like cool breeze as he stabs at this one. This one flees. Wakes up in wild, undressed.
This new power worst power. Why be big dog when this one can be old cat, with cunning and strength? Skjor and Aela only want be big dog because they lack claw and fang. This one have no need. Kodlak have it right, for Khajitt anyway. Cat already have claw, no need for more, especially weak breezy claw that gently caress enemy body. Khajitt claw rip and tear. Keep Khajitt claw, this one will.
::pause::
Skjor dead. Him as stupid as this one suggested. Run in to kill Silver hand all alone. This one right about dog-form weak. Skjor turned into dog-meat. Still, Silver hand not good, very cruel. This one use battle-axe on all their faces. Very satisfying. No need for big-dog-form. Just axe.
::pause::
Caught Aela reading this. She say this one should use "I" instead of "this one". Says my writing not flowing. She keep saying nice things about this one, though. She say all nice thing she want, she still not going to be running fingers through fur any time soon.
More later, this one hopes. Unless this one become big dog again. Woof.
-
[I had no idea this thread existed. When/if I go back to Skyrim, I will certainly join in. This is a great idea that could be expanded to other games as well.]
-
[I had no idea this thread existed. When/if I go back to Skyrim, I will certainly join in. This is a great idea that could be expanded to other games as well.]
It's old, but I said I was going to do it, so I'm going to. :D
-
Ate soul. Tasted like tuna and metal.
Vik....I love you :cube:
I think I'm gonna give this a shot too, but gonna use the alternate start mod as I cant stand the normal intro anymore. :D
-
Dammit. Got ambushed by a couple of Hagravens and a Forsworn Briarheart at level 14 when traveling. Cue death cutscene when the game decided that half health was enough to pull an insta-death spell animation.
Oh well.
Level
14 = 700 points
Locations Discovered
37 = 370 points
Dungeons Cleared
7 = 140 points
Chests Looted
117 = 585
Quests Completed
11 = 330
Misc Objectives Completed
14 = 140
Questlines Completed
None
Hours Slept (divided by) Days Passed
85 hours / 11 days = roughly 7 per day, no deduction
Food Eaten (divided by) Days Passed
141 items / 11 days = rougly 12 per day, no deduction
Multiply the final score according to the difficulty level you selected.
Adept
Final Score: 2265
In retrospect, playing a melee Khajitt with 50/50 health/magicka split might not have been the best bet for survival. Worse, however, was my decision to keep going through the forest even after using up all my health potions in a random encounter with a cave bear. Of course, given that there's no fast travel and I was about as far from a major city as it's possible to get, I probably didn't have a great shot at making it back to civilization anyway.
-
Ate soul. Tasted like tuna and metal.
Vik....I love you :cube:
I think I'm gonna give this a shot too, but gonna use the alternate start mod as I cant stand the normal intro anymore. :D
Aw, thanks.
Well, lessee. I'd like to try this again. Do a Khajiit? Or maybe something else? Suggestions?
Edit - actually, I'm going to try a Khajitt again.
-
So many good reads.
Me... I fucking love the Dunmer.
Journal of Syele Helhalor
21st of Last Seed
Saints preserve us, will this downpour ever stop? The rain came just after midnight, only moments after I left the Whiterun gate on another errand for the jarl’s man, Avenicci. The thunder pealed above us relentlessly, and rather than advancing directly on this Silent Moons Camp, I was forced to take cover beneath a rocky overhang in the broken steppes.
After what must have been an hour, there was a break in the rain just long enough for me to close the distance to the perimeter of the ruin occupied by these brigands without having to swim. I guess I wasn’t the first visitor they had that night, because on the outskirts of the camp there were two bowmen talking over a corpse, and they mentioned the Afflicted. By the graces of the Anticipations, I’ll stay well clear of any of those poor souls.
In any case, the rain was picking back up, and I had a bounty to earn. Once the scout was clear of any of his cohorts, a lone arrow was enough to end him. Skirting around the edge of the grand stairway that lead up to the ruin’s dais, I was almost spotted by a skittish spellsword who was having some supper out of the rain with the other scout. They scrambled over some of the large broken stones toward me, but thankfully the sky stayed dark for a few moments and I was able to duck into a hollow in the outer wall. It was enough, eventually they returned to their lean-to, for whatever shelter it could provide in spite of the wind and clamor in the sky.
Before long the second scout returned to the perimeter, and though he would not find his friend who was now departed, I loosed another arrow in the hopes that they would be in one another’s spectral company soon enough. The solitary mage, now with her back turned to me, was dispatched handily. They prepared quite a tasty supper actually, so I helped myself to some of their meal, and wrapped some up for later. I took a few bites of baked potato before setting about the ascent to the dais, which was now clear up to its apex.
The rain had soaked me through, ceaseless as it was. Upon reaching the top of the ruin, my ears picked up the wheeze of a forge amidst the unquiet air. By the graces, I had not closed in too near what was actually a hollowed mound, and remained undiscovered. I crept around to the far side as fast as I could, circling opposite the stone mound’s front portals, and slowly climbed the slope of the mound toward its open center. Peering over the edge, I saw a Khajit at the bellows and another brigand who watched his work from under the lip of the wall. I waited a few moments, trying to pick out his shape against the glow of the forge between flashes of lightning. I notched and arrow, loosed it... and winced as it shattered on the stone below.
That damned Khajit began wheeling around, and I was as good as found out, so I drew another arrow and began sidestepping around the edge as I lined up another shot. A third bowman came from the interior of the structure, and all three were readying weapons. I needed that Khajit out of the way, so I aimed high and let fly. The arrow caught him in the neck: he spun and sank to the floor as two arrows whistled by on either side of me. I was about to retreat when my foot slipped on the slick precipice, and I fell forward into the hollow, dropping my bow to slide down the outside slope of the mound.
I landed squarely on my rump, luckily cushioned by the mail I took from the dead Whiterun guards. I was about the face another volley as I was scrambling to my feet, but in grasping for a handhold to steady myself, my hands found only the open air of the crumbled inner wall, and I tumbled backward into the mound's entrance passage. The two brigands shouted at each other as I thanked my ancestors for my poor balance at that moment. I scrambled for the opening to the stairway with their footfalls fast behind me. I lunged left of the exit, trying to catch a glimpse of where my bow might have come to rest, but instead I nearly stepped on it. Those two shit-heeled robbers emerged from the portal separately, not very smart, and I took the advantage presented, firing four more volleys as fast as I could. I left their bodies for the wolves.
The workbench by the forge contained a pair of interesting manuals, curiously dry, which might make for good reading later. Magicked weapons had no one left to wield them, so I packed them up in case they'll fetch a decent price back in that old Nord settlement.
Thinking I was finished, I paced quickly down the steps, hoping to find some shelter nearby for waiting out the waning storm. At the base of the stairway was a gated arch which I could not open, but upon examination it appeared there was a trap door behind it. Being stuck in the rain was maddening. Drenched, I traced the wall up to a small platform, and sure enough, there was a door hidden in the darkness. Wiping the water from my face, I cracked the door open to peer inside.
There was an unattended fire in a small chamber with a collapsed ceiling. The rainwater from outside was running down the facing wall into small pools while the wind in the cracks masked the sound of my intrusion. Other than the gentle crackle of the fire, all became calm. Peering down the nearby corridor, I saw a figure snoring as he stood against the wall. A well-placed arrow to the neck put him down quietly. The passage behind him sloped downward into a narrow and stony hall which ended in a heavy wooden door. Another pair of outlaws slept back-to-back. They sleep forever now.
The once-locked door revealed a small storage room, mercifully quiet, where I am now. The ladder between the shelves leads up, perhaps to the trapdoor I saw outside. I can barely hear the accursed storm above. Skyrim is a strange land, like home and yet not. Were it not for my good fortune, it might feel like only the Saints can hear my prayers here. Especially with the Afflicted about, there seem to be many forces at work. Add me to the list, then, and we shall see what 'kindnesses' we can bestow upon this unforgiving province.
Tonight, I will sleep on a bed of warm ash and pray in thanks to my forebears. For now, while my belongings dry by the fire, I think I'll have some of that supper.
I'm playing a very chicken-shit stealth game because I want this character to last.
-
Well, fuck.
Made it to level 14 again, but didn't even get as far as last time. Was having a brawl with some Silver Hand when I suddenly went from full health to falling over and dead. Not sure why. Not going to bother with scoring this one, it's worse than my last.
TBH, this one was a little annoying, because I was managing my health while whopping on a couple enemies and had just taken a bunch of potions to help finish them off when - dead. I've noticed that the game will occasionally give me finishing moves on enemies who are half dead, so I suppose the first one got a good blow in and then the second triggered a finishing move of hitting me with a "flames" spell, which up to that point had been less than a minor annoyance. I don't think I could have done anything to avoid it - I had all the resources to stay alive, just got RNG'd.
So the second Khajitt warrior bites the dust. New character concept: Breton apprentice mage running from High Rock after his master was assassinated.
-
Breton play through, going well. Even if this character dies, think I'm going to keep going with him. Never done a pure mage before, it's fun.
Dear Journal,
I came to Skyrim to try to escape the intrigue of High Rock, and nearly died anyway. Damn Empire. Got caught up in some sort of civil war, next thing I know, I'm two seconds away from losing my head. And then a dragon shows up and everything goes to hell.
I have to say, it was good timing. I left that square like a arrow from a longbow. Ralof, one of these "stormcloaks", helped me out. One of the Imperials, Hadvar, had the nerve to try to get me to go with him. Nothing doing. Ralof got us out, took us to Riverwood, where his sister took care of everything.
It's all a bit confused now. Doesn't matter. Found a job - get a guy's golden claw back from some burial mound. Was going to do it, but first needed to do a favor for Gerdur. Least I could do for her and Ralof. So I went traipsing up to Whiterun, to give them the news, neatly omitting my role as nearly-executed prisoner. And what do they want? Same thing as Mr. Gold Finge - I mean, Claw. Go to Bleak Falls Barrow and get something.
I have to say, bandits have to be the most hilariously easy targets in Skyrim. Draugr are frightening, but easily handled as well. I got the stone, the claw, and after returning the claw, took the time to do some exploration of my new homeland. I have to say, Skyrim is beautiful. I visited Solitude, where the Empire was executing someone, and Windhelm.
I swear, I will never fight for the Empire. Not after seeing the things I have. And yet, I have reservations about Ulfric as well. Dark elves are not well regarded in Windhelm. Well, some of them aren't. On the other hand, the Nords don't seem to actively discriminate against them - one is the favorite local bard of the tavern - and scuttlebutt is that they were invited to live in Windhelm. Perhaps it's just the inevitable reaction to newcomers.
At any rate, that's not the most exciting thing. The most exciting thing is that when I returned to Whiterun, I delivered the Dragonstone right before a dragon attack. The Jarl sent me out to help fight it, and I took it down with several frost spikes right before it was about to chow down on his housecarl, Irileth. And then it burst into flames, and I felt some sort of rushing energy that seemed to envelope me. I stood straight, opened my mouth, and said "Fus!" - which promptly blew everything in front of me forward in a gale."
Well, now everyone and the Jarl is talking of me being "dragonborn". I've never heard of this, but it seems like an exciting new avenue for personal study. Also, perhaps it will keep me alive in this strange new land.
-
Well, crap. Went to the spine of the world, took the lessons, walked off...and then promptly died after walking over a three foot ledge.
This may have been a bug. Going to try it again.
EDIT: well, I tried it again. I didn't die there, but died on another three foot jump. Skyrim seems to have a thing about creating slo-mo events on these, even if you'd otherwise survive.
Tried again, avoiding those two ledges. Did just fine. Oh well. That's it for this challenge. I'm going to keep going with this character, regardless of infinite damage ledges, but no more posts from me in this thread for now. First score is still the best I've done.
I've been enjoying the writing, though, so I'm going to start up a thread in the non-eve fiction section for it.
-
IIRC, one of the rules said you could turn off the "OMG YOU'RE DEAD" cutscenes, because they will kill you even if you take the necessary actions to not die. Because wtf.
I might bust out Skyrim again and give this a go, just need :time: