11. Pic of your choice

I’m fairly certain that this is Bâr Húrin (Húrin’s Home), South Ithilien, the ancestral home of the Stewards of Gondor.  I was really struck with how pretty this whole area is, the forest outside is just lush and this settlement has an old, overgrown feel.  I’m looking forward to visiting after the Dawnless Day (if I can).

12. Favourite quest so far?
I really enjoy the epic quests and I have to admit, I do particularly enjoy the chapters where we meet the main characters from the books.  Having said that, my most favourite quest is possibly the epic quest Tale of the Red Maid.  In fact I enjoyed it so much, I illustrated it with screenshots in an attempted graphic novel type style

13. Which faction were you absolutely keen to get kindred status with?
I think probably the elven factions, particularly the Malledhrim.  I was very stoked at finally being able to visit my Hunter’s homeland and I did really enjoy it.  I do wish that they would add on the elven caverns in Northern Mirkwood though, I loved seeing the film version.

14. Best server to play on?
I’ve only played on one server, Laurelin.  It’s a nice friendly server and although I don’t roleplay, I appreciate stumbling across it within the world, it really adds an extra layer.

15. Raiding kinship or social kinship?
I burned out somewhat with hardcore, end game raiding with EQ2 so when I started playing lotro, it was purposefully with a more relaxed style of playing.  Having said that, my lovely, social kinship did end up doing some relaxed (and some more serious) raiding – so I did get to see quite a few of the raid zones in the end.

Trying something a bit different for this playthrough, I’m going to post my adventures to one of my G+ collections.  let me know if there are problems with the link

well so much for my mod light playthrough /cough.  Here a list of mods I’m using, the modders have been absolutely awesome at getting their mods converted, there are still a couple I’m waiting/hoping for, hopefully soon :)  I’m using mostly Nexus for mod management, but a couple of mods only seem to be currently available from bethesda.net.

Almost essential:
– Unofficial Skyrim SE Patch (fixes any bugs)
– Sky UI (not available for SE yet)
– Vampires Suck (stops npcs who can give side quests from dying in vamp attacks… if you like quests, it’s essential ;))

character
– Ethereal Elven Overhaul (makes the elves look less… horrible)
– Total Character Overhaul (not my favourite character overhaul but it’s far better than vanilla!)
– Immersive Armours (not available yet – but adds a ton of fairly lore abiding armour styles)
– KS Hairdos Lite (adds some more hairstyles)

more immersion:
– Darker Nights (makes the nights darker (variable settings – mine is on darkest!)
– iNeed Food / Water / Sleep (you just need to eat, drink and sleep every so often) **
– Longer Days (just makes time go slower… sadly only in game, I lost about 2 hours of real life time earlier )
– Lampposts of Skyrim (adds lamp posts near habited areas)
– Wearable Lanterns (not available yet handy with Darker Nights)
– Wet and Cold (adds weather effects, e.g. frosty clothes and NPC effects)
– Campfire (adds extra camping type skills and tents)
– Frostfall (adds the danger of exposure) **
– Book Covers Skyrim (gives the books a more varied appearance)
– Northborn Fur Hoods (compatible with Frostfall)
– Relationship Dialogue Overhaul

** if you want more challenge

additional:
– Ordinator Perks of Skyrim (changes up the perk trees)
– Alternate Start (I’ve been through the normal start too many times now, this makes a very nice change)- Dragonborn Bodyguards (adds more male followers)
– Tentapalooza (not available yet – adds more tent styles)
– Unread Book Covers Glow
– Immersive Amazing Follower Tweaks
– Lore Based Loading Screens
– Book Covers Skyrim – Lost Library

[decided I wanted it on my blog after all – a vaguely in character diary of my playthrough]

I received a letter saying that my Aunt had left me her house in Falkreath, in her will. As my face may have been decorating some wanted posters in Auridon (it’s a long tale involving intrigue, a heist, betrayal, and… cheese), it seemed like a perfect time for a new start.

Having arrived in Falkreath, I found I was unable to take up residence until I had ingratiated myself with the local Jarl. He is a slimy toad of a man but I killed cleared a camp of bandits (with some bloke from the local Inn, I owe him a beer or two), delivered some ashes, picked some cabbages and found a journal belonging to a very kind Priest.

Surprisingly, that’s all it takes to become Thane of Falkreath. I also got a shiny sword for my troubles. (I may have taken some extra goodies from the slimy Jarl as payment for having to deal with him). So, now I need to find my house, luckily I now have a Housecarl named Jayya so I can follow her, Lester (the bloke from the Inn) is also tagging along for while.

We arrived at my Aunt’s house and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a large, well furnished building with plans for a new bedroom, a kitchen and an alchemy tower. I found a stash of building materials which looks as though it will be enough to complete the buildings, if not furnish them. I set Rayya and Lester to earning their keep and they proved surprisingly adept at house-building. I will miss the forest-grown settlements of my people though.

I am seriously short of funds so I need to get to work. The people around this area seem to be rather rustic and I have only found potatoes and the occasional gourd to liberate. Very disappointing. Rayya advises that I go bandit hunting – apparently it is acceptable to murder bad people for their things and Jarl approved… Nords!

I feel this diary entry title could benefit from some alliteration, it’s a shame I wasn’t investigating Dungeons today… anyway, I left Rayya finishing the house-building with some locals she had persuaded to help, while Lester and I decided to liberate some goods from bandits. There are many likely caves around this area to investigate and Lester helpfully informed me as we approached a rather pretty ice cave that there was bound to be animals or bandits inside. He wore an unsufferably smug look upon his face after we discovered both animals and bandits inside.

On the way back to Lakeview Manor, we discovered a very disturbing sight. I thought dragons were legends of old but this note reports sightings of a dragon and what appears to be the aftermath of such an attack. I see smoke rising in the distance from Helgen, too thick to be their cooking fires. Is this some kind of Stormcloak trick?

We will investigate at first light tomorrow.

We arrived at Helgen to find it burning and abandoned. Where did everybody go? I hope some escaped. We need to warn the people of Riverwood which is close by, as they may be next. As we were wandering down the trail, Lester suggested we quickly checked the cave system which runs beneath Helgen. We found an Imperial Soldier named Hadvar, who was injured, I gave him a healing potion and we travelled to Riverwood together. We spoke to his Uncle and I was persuaded to carry the news to the Jarl in Whiterun.

I took the opportunity to sell the items we had looted from the bandits and my purse is now comfortably heavier. I bought some iron ingots for the house needs and Lester is now carrying these for me. He looks less smug now.

Jarl Baalgruf the Greater is certainly greater than his slimy counterpart in Falkreath. He at least seems to take his duties seriously. He is sending a detachment of Whiterun guards to help defend Riverwood in the event of an attack. Farengar, the court mage, has asked me to retrieve a stone tablet from Bleak Falls Barrows as it will help his research into dragons. I’m not sure why I appear to be the only to sort out these problem but I have the skills and I need goodwill (and septims… cold hard septims…) so it can’t hurt for now.

Ugh, a tomb filled with bandits, skeevers and the undead. Lester wisely refrained from making any smart remarks. We were both straining under the weight of looted goods, who knew the Nords buried so many treasures?!

One strange event though, there was a wall with engraved runes. As I drew closer, I swear by Y’ffre’s Beard that I heard chanting and the runes glowed. I had to close my eyes as they were so bright, it felt as though they were being burned into my brain. I came to quite quickly when I spotted a very ornate chest close by. Loot! We were both quite surprised (though I guess we shouldn’t have been) when the coffin lid clattered open and a very cross undead thing tried to get between me and the loot. No one gets between a Bosmer and shiny things! I asked Lester if he’d seen or heard anything strange but he hadn’t. He did, however, believe that I’d been hit on the head too hard in one of the previous fights. Quite possible. Anyway, we found the tablet that Farengar wanted and are now sitting in the lovely warm sunshine outside.

[rate of posting will slow down once I’ve caught up ;)]

We stopped off at Riverwood to sell some of our loot and restock some provisions. We may have stopped at the Sleeping Giant Inn for a well-deserved ale or three. I have decided to go home before returning to Farengar with the tablet. I want to find out how Rayya is getting on with the decorating.

I spent a few days at home, I was nursing a dreadful hangover and felt like I’d had a fight with a giant. Once recovered, I travelled back to Farengar, who was very pleased with the discovery.

While we were there, a soldier arrived with the news that a dragon had been sighted at the Western Watchtower. Balgruuf asked me to accompany his soldiers to help deal with the situation. I was backing off and protesting that this really wasn’t my area of expertise, as I’ve started to feel that I’m getting mixed up in things that don’t concern me, but his Housecarl Irileth grabbed me by the arm and practically dragged me along with her soldiers. I was slightly excited and intrigued at the prospect of seeing a dragon so I allowed this. OK fine, I’ll admit that old tales of dragon’s treasure may have also influenced my decision. The fight with the dragon was quite frightening and yes, he (or she – I didn’t check) was carrying some rather fine loot!

Another weird thing happened, something seemed to transfer from the dragon to me. The soldiers believe I’m the Dragonborn, the Jarl thinks I’m the Dragonborn and apparently the Greybeards (whoever they are) think I’m the Dragonborn. I’m not. It’s ridiculous. I’m not even a Nord! I’m not the Dragonborn.

[for those reading through Feedly, or another reader, I’m using a featured image for each post which may not show up.  It’s not necessary but visit the blog if you want to see them]

I’m supposed to visit the Greybeards at the top of some freezing mountain, miles away. I’m not going.

It’s become a source of tension between myself and Lester, who is now convinced that the reason he so readily agreed to follow me, is because he recognised this dragonborn thing in me.   Skeever-shit! He’s told me before he has a thing for redheads. He’s adamant that I should follow along ‘for the sake of Ysmir’s honour’ whatever that means. We’ve been arguing about it for some time now.

I don’t know what’s happened since I came to this cold, frozen land. I’m a hero? I’ve settled down? It’s just wrong, this constant cold has made me stupid. It definitely seems to have frozen all sense from Nord brains – honour and mead! that’s all they care about, stupid cold place. This isn’t me, I’m not a hero. What am I doing?

[I’m using darker nights mod, full list of most of the mods I’m using can be found here]

I left. I did leave a note, apparently the cold is still getting to me. I’m halfway to Riften now, the Khajiit camped outside Whiterun had mentioned that the thieves guild was active there (those with certain skills are often adept at noticing those skills in others). I think I’ll just start again, no ties.

I hadn’t realised how dark and cold these roads are when you’re by yourself.

On the way to Riften, I came across an injured man who claimed he’d been attacked by bandits and left for dead. I gave him a healing potion and agreed to escort him back to his camp. I was slightly suspicious as his injuries didn’t really seem to fit a bandit attack but I gave him the benefit of doubt. To be honest, when his bandit friends sprang the trap I was ready with an arrow already nocked. Still, I have now have more goods to carry to a merchant for me. I had to leave some behind as I couldn’t carry it all.

Not thinking about the lost gold or …. that stupid Nord.

It was a long journey, I did have a few stops along the way to stock up and check I was heading in the right direction.

This Thieves Guild doesn’t seem to be doing very well. Their recruiter Brynjolf, though, seems to have the right instincts. He’s investigating why the thieves seem to be so down on their luck while I prove myself by getting the gold flowing again. I’ve managed to snag myself a bunk in their hideout, it’ll do. It’s a pretty grim sewer but it does have it’s own bar!

I’ve been keeping the carriage drivers of Skyrim in business! I’ve been running burglary and numbers jobs for Vex and Delvin. I like these jobs as they are quick, quiet and effective. The Thieves Guild is starting to look a little more… respectable. I’ve also been doing some leg work for Brynjolf, information and the odd valuable item.

Keeping to myself and keeping busy. Or propping up the bar in the Flagon if I’m not on a job.

[vaguely in-character diary of my playthrough | all entries | mods I’m using]

I’m keeping my head down.  Rumours are flying about the dragonborn appearing but I’ve heard so many different descriptions, I don’t think anyone will realise I was at West Watch Tower.  Not that I am the dragonborn obviously, but I don’t want any sort of attention as it’s hard enough blending in as it is.  There are also tales of far off villages and farms being attacked by dragons.  I’m sure the Imperials (or the Stormcloaks I suppose) can deal with that sort of thing.

Brynjolf has been sending me into the North for more information about who is behind the guild’s misfortunes.  I thought it was cold in the Rift!  Unbelievably cold, I have come close to actually freezing to death!   Well, in fact I almost did, fortunately a kind hunter found me after I’d collapsed and took me back to her camp.  She’s given me some tips and persuaded me that being warm is more important than wearing my lovely enchanted thieves gear.  So I now have a set of fur armour to wear, in addition to my hood and cloak, for those trips to the frozen north.  She also taught me more efficient ways of lighting a fire in snow storms and I need to speak to the court wizard in Riften, who may know some spells to help keep you warm.  I feel slightly more prepared for my upcoming trip to Snow Veil Sanctum.  I’ve heard it’s perishing up there!

I’m not going to Snow Veil Sanctum!  I am so happy I don’t have to brave the snows!  Brynjolf pulled rank on me and wants me to carry on increasing the guild’s presence in the other major holds, while he accompanies Frey.  I dislike Frey, he is too brash and bossy for my liking.  He doesn’t like me either.

[before I started this, I thought oh yes, I’ll just write up my playthrough in the form of diary.  easy I thought.  I soon realised that just writing up the quests as is, was very boring so I tried a different angle so I could comment on events rather than narrate them step by step.  However, that needed context,  which led to ‘story’ and here we are.  I’m not a fiction writer (clearly!), I wouldn’t even describe myself as a writer but for some reason I’m really enjoying this, as awful as it is.   apologies to anyone who reads]

Delvin is in for it.  He knew how happy I was not to be sent north, so which job did he pick for me?  One in Windhelm, that miserable, frozen, elf-hating stronghold of the Stormcloaks.  Luckily it is so cold, no one is questioning why my hood is pulled so low.  I’ve rented a room in Candlehearth Hall, which is at least warm if a bit draughty and I can finally leave  tomorrow, when hopefully the sun might make an appearance – not that it’ll make much difference up here.

The job here turned out to be very interesting, I think the guild will find this hilarious.  I was sent here to collect a valuable candlestick from a prominent family, however this place is a maze.  So, I was chatting to a local storekeeper, casually getting information about where I might find the residence I was looking for, and it turns out that he had accidentally bought a stolen ring.  Ho hum, not my problem was my immediate thought.  I couldn’t stop laughing when I realised this ring was owned by the very person I would be visiting!  The irony was too delicious to pass up!  Return the ring and get paid, take the candlestick and… get paid!

I returned from my job in Windhelm to find that Frey had returned.  Alone.   Brynjolf had been murdered by Karliah at the Sanctum.

I can’t believe he is dead – he always seemed so competent and in control.  He was kind to me,   I… was starting to feel at home here.   I miss him.  [the ink is slightly blurry here] I keep thinking that maybe if I’d gone along, it would all be different.  Maybe I’d be dead instead.  The Guild is a horrible place to be at the moment, Frey is acting oddly (even for him), Delvin is sullen, Vex is picking arguments with anyone who crosses her path and the rest of them… well, we all mourn in different ways I suppose.