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I am also doing bows/stealth and it's not my first time, but I think I'm doing it more competently this time.
Though I do keep Sanguine Rose in my pocket if I need to summon a thing.
On another note......
========
So, I finished the Imperial version of the Civil War and I think this is the first time in several playthroughs I really actually read some of the background documents and pieced together certain dialogue to get a clearer sense of the Civil War situation. And I've come out having a much different view of the factions than where I started.
My initial, not paying much attention to anything sense, was that while both sides had pros and cons, Stormcloaks were more or less the "good guys" because protecting religious freedom and wanting independent nations and all that. Plus it seemed like the Thalmor and the Empire were more or less one and the same force.
This playthrough--with the caveat that I chose the Imperial side and obviously you get to talk to more pro-Empire people that way--I realized that it was more complicated than that. (And I am about to state stuff that is obvious to most people who actually pay attention to things.)
- So the Empire(Skyrim as part of it included) had a war with the Aldmeri Dominion. They mostly lost. As a concession, they had to formally ban Talos worship in the White Gold Concordat, as demanded by the Aldmeri, who hate that the founder of the Empire, a human and a Nord to boot, became a god.
- BUT, and this is part of what I did not pick up on in prior playthroughs, many Imperials HATE the White Gold Concordat, have no intention of leaving the Talos Worship ban permanent and still secretly worship Talos, and are only paying lipservice until they can restrengthen the Imperial armies and fight the Aldmeri later when they have an advantage
- This indeed is why many Nords stay loyal to the Empire, because they fear if Skyrim leaves the Empire, they themselves will be prone to being attacked by the Aldmeri without the aid of the Empire, and that if they stay with the Empire, they will add to the Empire's strength such that they can one day overturn the White-Gold Concordat
- THEREFORE, the Stormcloaks protecting the banning of Talos worship are possibly letting their view of the short term obscure that of the long term--and trying to assert their rights NOW will probably cause them to lose a great deal more in the future.
- On the other hand of course there are Imperials who have no issue with the Talos ban and so the Stormcloaks rightly fear there are some influences on the Empire that could mean the ban is permanent. Still, it seems like most Imperials consider the White Gold Concordat temporary and the lesser of several evils. There's also some mention that the Empire is taxing Skyrim heavily to pay for the war, though it's hard to see the effects of that--some mention it's hard to make ends meet, but the causes aren't always clear.
- Then there's the fact that the Stormcloaks are bigoted m%++#~!@!%@!s, with Ulfric being the worst among them, segregating out Dark Elves (who are refugees from Red Mountain and have nowhere else to go) and Argonians and refusing to let Khajiit even enter cities at all. Orsimer self-segregate, knowing they are unwelcome (but also likewise then not letting anyone in not blood-kin). Redguards also speak of some trouble getting along, but less so than the mer in the area. Ulfric is also responsible to some degree, I've gathered, for the treatment of the Forsworn and how they've ended up such a mess (though it's hard to feel sorry for the Forsworn given they attack everyone on sight--the game has this complex backstory for them but then programs them with the same AI as bears)---to the point he worked WITH the Thalmor to help drive out the men of the Reach. I guess the oppression of religious freedom from the Empire (and their more sneering attitude toward foreigners) is supposed to qualify as a balance to many of the Stormcloaks' hatred of any non-Nord, but in this game I've been paying deeper attention to how zealously xenophobic the Nords are, even though their ancestors the Atmora are NOT actually native to the realm (the Forsworn, Snow Elves, and Dwemer all predate them, I believe). So this whole "Skyrim is for the Nords" thing gets a bit creepy and, dare I say, imperialist.
- It becomes clearer when playing ON the Imperial side that relations with the Thalmor and Aldmeri are tense to say the least, with no love between them. And of course you can do lots of stuff to f#&% up the Thalmor with no consequence to your status as an Imperial hero.
- Interestingly the Thalmor's dossier on Ulfric (which I just read) is they consider his divisiveness and xenophobia an asset that helps keep the Empire weak, and they can use him as an example as to why Talos worship is bad, though they do not want the Stormcloaks to win as that would force them to divert too many resources to quell Skyrim. Even so, they speak of the possibility of the Stormcloaks winning as an inconvenience, not a major loss.
So in the end it seems like while the Stormcloaks do have some stuff going for them (there ARE Nords who are legitimately oppressed by the Empire and the banning of Talos Worship is wrong), they really are actually dooming their own country to conquest by the Aldmeri and preventing the Empire from, in the long run, restoring Talos Worship once the Aldmeri can be effectively dealt with. The Imperials are absolutely flawed but ultimately seem to provide a better possible future for most people. It's interesting because I always want to support rebels over the status quo, but that's made paying attention to the history and politics of the game all the more interesting.
THEREFORE, the Stormcloaks protecting the banning of Talos worship...
That is supposed to say **protesting** which is a very different word than "protecting" even though they are one letter apart.
First, I keep on forgetting just how beautiful Vanilla Skyrim is and the SE is even better.
Second, SkyHUD seems to be having some issues. Just letting you all know.
Does anyone use Mod Organizer 2? If so, I could use some help on installing some mods.
I just want to kill Ancano, that's all.
Oh, wait, I just did that that yesterday.
Never mind, I'm good!
In my wanderings (I'm a wanderer now) I found some s~!$hole named Valhume?... Valthume?... Volume?... Some place with a ghost two days from retirement keeping some wizard down and since I was here, why don't I do it! type of situation.
Well, alright, but only because I collect douche bag masks.
There isn't nearly enough milk and butter in Skyrim (or no one I've murdered or place's I've pillaged have had any) to fully utilize my kitchen, I'm disappointed.
Someone is going to die.
I'm at that point of my career where they're sending Hulking Draugr after me.
Remember to check inns for milk and butter, they sometimes have some. ( I also found an alchemist in Markarth selling butter for whatever reason.) If you have a cow, your kitchen's butter churn should occasionally restock itself. (Unless it's Lakeview, which is notorious for not resetting itself, which is a shame because it's the nicest house location.)
I find it's really weird that chicken eggs are alchemical ingredients but not part of any recipes I can think of off the top of my head.
I am only level 33 and had to flee in terror from an Elder Dragon that spawned right by a standing stone I wanted to activate. Lathiira witnessed the whole thing so I can't pretend it didn't happen.
You can deny it if you want. I'll just remember it for future blackmail. I just restarted on vanilla Skyrim last night but I'll keep my failures to myself as they are already many and some are comical. No dragon or falling deaths yet though!
Soltheim! That's the place for me!!
And I bought a stunning bow before I left for extra fun.
It's just as hilarious as I thought it would be!
The best part is the bow I purchased only paralyzes for 2 seconds so they fall down, then get back up, just to get hit by another arrow, and with all the people on high ledges and towers in Soltheim it's only a matter of time until someone slooowly falls off.
Also, those little pricks on boars don't paralyze.
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Bring Lydia to Solstheim. She has special dialogue for various things there that is kind of amusing.
I will, thanks!
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I am almost done loading all the mods for my Skyrim - Legacy of the Dragonborn and Other Quests playthrough. After that, it is down to troubleshooting to try and clear out the bugs from having over 200 mods going at once.
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The best part is the bow I purchased only paralyzes for 2 seconds so they fall down, then get back up, just to get hit by another arrow, and with all the people on high ledges and towers in Soltheim it's only a matter of time until someone slooowly falls off.
So they get knocked down, but they get up again, then Cap'n's gonna take'em down, then they get down, but they get up again, then Cap'n's gonna take'em down...
Oh fun! It works on Lurkers too!
Great, now I'm stuck in a book with the Cthulhustain Bears.
Typical.
I am almost done loading all the mods for my Skyrim - Legacy of the Dragonborn and Other Quests playthrough. After that, it is down to troubleshooting to try and clear out the bugs from having over 200 mods going at once.I am looking forward to hearing your experience. I am still loving my playthrough - pursuing the Helgen Reborn questline right now. The museum is up to about 950 items on display.
Helgen Reborn is on the list. I pretty much just downloaded everything that was on the LotD list and installed it.
Sadly, getting the time and the energy to do the modding has been a problem. Too much RL stuff to do.
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Great, now I'm stuck in a book with the Cthulhustain Bears.
Typical.
As long as it's not the Cthulhustein Bears, because then you're in the wrong reality. ;)
I'm now running around with Peryite's shield which is way more useful than I remember it being, and Mehrunes Razor and a few Daedric staffs (haven't gotten Wabbajack yet, which I really need to do), and Boethiah has called me and that stupid vigilant of Stendarr keeps getting in my face who I think is the start of the Mace of Molog Bhaal quest (nice item in terms of abilities, but don't know if I really want to wield the weapon of the Daedric Lord of Rape). I have the Rueful Axe at home (I know that's not the correct artifact to get on that quest, but I really f+#$ing hate that dog). I have news that the Hall of the Dead in Markarth is having troubles. I think the only Daedric quests that HAVEN'T triggered are for the Ebony Blade (since I haven't been in Dragonreach for awhile) and the Thieves Guild related one since I've been trying to avoid the Thieves Guild as much as I can this playthrough (I had a prior run where I mainly just played being Thieves Guild lady so I don't need to do that again).
I've just finished Azura's Star and am re-learning how decent Aranea is as a companion. Maybe not as chatty or with a lenghty backstory as Serana, but a competent mage who seems to have a good AI for knowing when to zap and when to close in and whomp.
I'd been soloing for a bit and then picked up Ghorbash from the orc stronghold near Markarth. He is actually... more frustrating than Lydia or the other housecarls. He was getting into my line of sight WAAAY more often and triggering attacks when stealthing much sooner, I swear. I like his barkstrings, but when he offered to be steward of Hjelarchen Hall of his own accord, I took him up on it. (He is good to just let run past you and kill low level beasties for you however.)
Aranea's being much more helpful. I needed to go into the dwarven ruin conveniently near Azura's shrine, and her lightning spells are oh-so-useful against the automatons. She's not shabby at fighting falmer either, especially since her lightning is powerful enough to zap the falmer spellcasters of their magicka. (She's also not pissy about trading stuff with her.)
Interesting thing though--I gave her a bunch of magical staffs for her to use. Some companions like Lydia will use staffs regularly if you give them to carry (Lydia has hilariously double fisted staffs of fireball and ice storm to incredible if sometimes me-in-the-crossfire-hilarious effect) but oddly Aranea doesn't use them, maybe because her spells are more powerful? She seems more likely to pull out random weapons I've saddled her with than the staffs.
~gulp~ 242 esm's and esp's. Wish me luck.
And not at this time. ~sighs~ Time to troubleshoot things.
Or... maybe just a few less? :)
Well, now I had an Elder Dragon fleeing ME in terror. Which was really funny and yet really annoying because I wanted his soul, dammit!
Time to go get the Dragon Rend shout, that'll fix that issue right quick.
I went and pillaged a couple of Not Goblin villages, which was needed after the tentacle assisted anal flossing I took from the Cthulhustain bears.
Or... maybe just a few less? :)
Well, now I had an Elder Dragon fleeing ME in terror. Which was really funny and yet really annoying because I wanted his soul, dammit!
Time to go get the Dragon Rend shout, that'll fix that issue right quick.
NEVER!!! MORE! I MUST HAVE MORE!!!
Stupid g!#@~+n f&#~ing Fablebarf!
Got through Fablebarf, found some Thalmor d%&#@eads horning in on some dank stalthrim so I murdered them, and a pack of inbred werebears that have been following me around, as well as a Not Goblin entourage, an attention seeking dragon and a wayward lurker that both wanted in on the melee.
It was a busy morning.
After that I went Draugr hunting for the money pit mining operation I'm funding.
Fun with naming magic items.
Purple People Eater, Ebony bow of soul trapping.
Went on a little expedition with some dude that dug my Thalmor murdering and Skaal rescuing. Ended up finding a dragon priest and something like 25 Draugr Deathlords guarding 6 words of power.
All for nought because the d&&&@ead didn't have a mask.
Hey f%%$head! What the hell man, I gotta a collection going on!!
It just isn't rewarding kicking an ash pile.
I am 1 and a half points away from leveling Smithing so I can get this perk I want, and out of ore that I am capable of smithing. :(
On the other hand, I now have enough gold necklaces to be able to open my own jewelry shop.
G+@*%~n f!#&ing rain!
At least I'll get to play a bit of Skyrim.
Turns out I was volunteered to go on a field trip to the prairie across the street from the school.
The kids found so many different kinds of feces!
So, that's why I couldn't find any Deathbrand armor, I'm not high enough level to trigger the quest.
Good to know. It would have been nice to know before I sold the book out of spite, or even before the guy I sold it to was killed by a random dragon attack.
Back to Wikipedia to find out where I can find another copy.
On the plus side, I found Azridhal's Ring of Exploding Zombie Bunny Bombs, so that'll be fun.
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Dear Diary,
Three days ago, I joined forces with the ghosts of three Nords and destroyed Alduin, the Soul Eating Immortal Dragon. No problem.
Last night I was killed seven times by a random vampire living just outside Morthal.
Well, at least they gave me land to build a house after killing the vampire. After killing Alduin they didn't give me s%@+.
And this is why the Dawnguard formed. Dragons: not a big deal. Blood-sucking undead? Serious threat to all mankind.
Dear Diary,
Three days ago, I joined forces with the ghosts of three Nords and destroyed Alduin, the Soul Eating Immortal Dragon. No problem.
Last night I was killed seven times by a random vampire living just outside Morthal.
Well, you're the Dragonborn. You need to go recruit the Vampireborn.
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Anyway, I love this thread because I don't have free time to play non-casual video games anymore, so this let's me vicariously experience one of my favorites through the rest of you.
Well, you're the Dragonborn. You need to go recruit the Vampireborn.Dear Diary,
Three days ago, I joined forces with the ghosts of three Nords and destroyed Alduin, the Soul Eating Immortal Dragon. No problem.
Last night I was killed seven times by a random vampire living just outside Morthal.
Lol. Right. Go get Serana.
Sadly getting into that quest is low on my to do list, but she is fun to work with.
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Dear Diary,
When you're the savior of all of Nirn and respected member of the Dark Brotherhood, being asked to do simple extortion jobs by the Thieves Guild is demeaning. Am very tempted to perform the "SETEH-SENCHAL-ZEROH!" thu'um upon them, but I'll wait to be sure the Dark Brotherhood doesn't need anything else from them first.
In other news, I went and chatted to J'zargo at the College about how he nearly blew me up with his scrolls. He seemed entirely unrepentant. I have a feeling he saw me as competition--given how competitive he indeed is--and hoped I'd kill myself running his "test" for him. I decided to return the favor of manipulation. He has now served a far more useful purpose as a sacrifice to Boethiah, and I have cool new armor.
On my way back to drop off all this heavy ebony at my house, some lady ran up to me--from out of the lake, apparently--and started shouting at me about some place she escaped from. I suggested she should share her troubles with the hunter riding the horse up the road, as I was too busy think about stopping the eye of Magnus and fighting Thalmor assassins and murdering the Emperor, and have no interest right now in contending with watery tarts and their urgent missives.
Meanwhile the College of Winterhold found out about my ruthlessly luring J'zargo to his death in order to sacrifice his soul to a Daedric Prince so I could collect yet another highly dangerous artifact an assassin like me should probably not really have in my possession. I figured this meant I would no longer be able to use Winterhold as a resource.
Their punishment was 250 gold and admonishing me gently not to do anything like that again.
I guess they really didn't like him either.
====
(*As I was walking home, I indeed hit some random "person runs up to you and tries to shove a quest in your face" phenomenon that is so *fun* in Bethesda games. It was the last thing I wanted to deal with at the moment so I thought I could see if I could just tab out of the conversation. I could--but caused the lady to say "Thank you!" and the notification "your map is updated" with no suggestion as to what I commented on or agreed to. I checked my map and I have no idea what was actually updated (I think it was probably an area I already explored). And yes, she came from the direction of Lake Ilinalta. I don't think I have a new quest though.*)
Turns out the lady (per the Wiki) points you to Mistwatch, the buggy bandit den Lathiira talked about awhile ago. I was right to ignore her!! I think the unofficial patch fixes some of the issues, but why test it?
The patch fixes it...sometimes. My last playthrough the patch was in effect and well, you heard how that went. Even the patch can't always stop suicidal quest-givers.
I spent an hour last night organizing my books.
In Skyrim.
Help.