The TES Roleplayer's Thread

[Dohva.]

Zephyr: I'm not going to get into a lengthy discussion about the rights and wrongs of writing literature on this thread since its about roleplaying. But I will say that I'm curious to know the context of that statement because outside of that it can mean anything and it doesn't drive your point home. Every fictional story should be grounded in reality, meaning there has to be something that the readers identify with. Using a bow and arrow in Skyrim would be the same as using a bow and arrow on Earth. Are there certain elements in the video games you play and the stories you read that leave with you with a sense of familiarity? Yeah, that's realism. Its not all bad.

But that's also the good thing about art is that everyone views it differently.

PS: I'd like to add that I don't claim to be a know-it-all about any of this. My opinion is just that and I'm respectful of other povs. In the grand scheme of things, I'm a noob.

[Zephyr]

I'm curious to know the context of that statement because outside of that it can mean anything and it doesn't drive your point home. Every fictional story should be grounded in reality, meaning there has to be something that the readers identify with. Using a bow and arrow in Skyrim would be the same as using a bow and arrow on Earth. Are there certain elements in the video games you play and the stories you read that leave with you with a sense of familiarity?

The exact context of that statement is poetry, but I believe it's easily applicable to creative writing in general. On one hand, I agree with you about grounding. But I also think Hugo's statement holds because reality is a foundation established by forces beyond our control. It's a given, it always informs our writing in some way. There's no need for every detail to conform to it. So why not make (at least some) details more sensory, use them in such a way that suggests further detail, in a way that elevates a story and/or helps to immerse someone in it? To use another example from Mauin's story, do hearts thunder? No, but to use that diction fits, and adds to, the scene.

But that's also the good thing about art is that everyone views it differently.

Exactly. And we're all free, in our writing, to use whatever is most agreeable or resonant for us.

[Finn Wolfshorn]

Zephyr, I don't think explaining inaccurate usage as symbolism works, but I also think this is not the place for an aesthetic discussion of realism vs artistic liberty. We can continue that elsewhere if you're interested, but in what I've read of this thread aesthetic discussions have rarely done it any good. If Mauin objects to my comment and declares that the expression of her (or Narji's, or Narji's mother's) feelings demands the bow to be fired that's her perfect right, as well as disregarding my ramblings altogether; it was a very minor thing which didn't detract to any relevant degree from my enjoyment of her story, and I'd rather it not be blown up out of proportion.

(Btw Dohva, the link in your signature suffers from Wattpad login page sickness again. )

PS. - Zephyr, I forgot to say how pleasantly surprised I am to see somebody else posting on this thread again! Are you still playing that Breton mage from the Reach?

[Zephyr]

PS. - Zephyr, I forgot to say how pleasantly surprised I am to see somebody else posting on this thread again! Are you still playing that Breton mage from the Reach?

Yes, although her backstory isn't completely ironed out, and I'm playing her concurrently with three others. Having profiles (with Mod Organizer) helps with my inability to stick with one at a time.

[Mauin]

If Mauin objects to my comment and declares that the expression of her (or Narji's, or Narji's mother's) feelings demands the bow to be fired that's her perfect right, as well as disregarding my ramblings altogether; it was a very minor thing which didn't detract to any relevant degree from my enjoyment of her story, and I'd rather it not be blown up out of proportion.

All of that commentary for a few words? Yeah, I think it already was blown out of proportion.

On another note, I don't know the full history of Narji's family. For all I know, there could have been multiple very wealthy people in her bloodline. They weren't all hunters. It's the same for Aren Tundra-Strider (whose original name wasn't Tundra-Strider at all). Bits of his past have come up in the next story.

I could've actually made some progress with that, but... Eh. I was watching the TV series based on How to Train your Dragon.

[Finn Wolfshorn]

^Maybe they're a once wealthy family fallen on hard times, a bit like the Grey-Manes.

It turns out that Marilyn's going to do her first killing in the current story after all, but that's going to be in self-defense; her first murder is reserved for the next one. Speaking of which, how much do we know about burial customs in Cyrodiil? In Skyrim we have a) ancient Nord catacombs and b) present-day Houses of the Dead; in Oblivion we have tombs in the Chapel Undercrofts, but I imagine these are only for the rich and noble, much like crypts under RL churches. How/where do you think did common folk bury their dead? Were there cemeteries that just aren't represented in the game, or maybe the undercrofts were a lot larger and everybody went in there?

[Mauin]

Maybe they were once wealthy. Maybe they still are. Doesn't really matter too much since they're all dead. Well... Except for Aren, but his time is running out. He lasted 57 years with 45 in the tundra, only to be finally killed by a child sized werewolf. Ouch.

Weren't there a few cemeteries around the chapels? It's been a long while since I wandered Cyrodiil (since Seryna can't leave the Isles and I don't have any other characters), but I thought there were cemeteries around the chapels. I'd assume that's where most people would have been buried.

[Dohva.]

Finn, I've never played Oblivion but my guess would be either small cemeteries or funeral pyres. I assume it probably depends on what the family can also afford. PS: link fixed. Thanks for the heads up.

[Mauin]

I just looked at some of the images for the Chapels on the wiki and you can see graveyards beside some them.
http://images.uesp.net/1/19/OB-place-Gr ... _Arkay.jpg
It's pretty clear in that one. Fitting since it's the one for Arkay.

I'd guess that most people are buried in the graveyard beside chapels, if it's possible. I have no idea what they do for tombstones, but I wouldn't be surprised if not everybody got one. Maybe lower class people are buried in unmarked graves.
The richest, most influential, or most famous are the ones that would -most likely- be buried in the Undercrofts like you said, Finn.

[Finn Wolfshorn]

He lasted 57 years with 45 in the tundra, only to be finally killed by a child sized werewolf.

Wait a sec, he turned hermit when he was twelve? Seriously?

Duh, you're so right about the cemeteries, there's one in Bravil just north of the chapel. Where did I have my eyes? Thanks for the input!

[Mauin]

Wait a sec, he turned hermit when he was twelve? Seriously?

Duh, you're so right about the cemeteries, there's one in Bravil just north of the chapel. Where did I have my eyes? Thanks for the input!

Well, he wasn't on his own at that point. His parents were merchants and he hated that lifestyle, so he ran away at 12 and joined his grandparents who lived in the tundra. He went from whatever his original name was (not going to lie, I'm considering making him a Black-Talon) to a Tundra-Strider. Aren might have only stayed with them until he was around 17 or 18 (maybe to 19 or 20), though; any younger and he might not have been able to make it on his own.

Honestly, the cemeteries in Oblivion are so minor that I had to look them up to be certain they existed. They're pretty easy not to notice.
The New Sheoth graveyard, though... That one is more memorable. I like reading those tombstones.

[Finn Wolfshorn]

Ah, I see. How did he come to live on his own then? A hermit is usually a person who chooses a solitary life for religious/spiritual reasons, so did he have some sort of revelation? As for him being a Black-Talon, I dunno; wouldn't it be a bit much for Narji to kill not only a benefactor but a family member? (On the other hand your plans for her personality seem to be based on making her feel as rotten as can be, so that would fit). Also, like I believe I said somewhere upthread, I think she's lucky to be found at all, being found by a relative would be even more coincidence.

I've finally got to the juicy part of my story (=juicy for me to write, not content-wise) and wrote two and a half pages today, which is a lot for me. If I have time to write tomorrow I might even get it finished in the rough, so there's a silver lining on the horizon. Also I realized I'm basing the Listener in my story at least partially on my wife's favourite aunt; suppose I'd better not tell her . Do you ever do that, consciously or not, use people you know as models for characters in stories?

[Mauin]

Ah, I see. How did he come to live on his own then? A hermit is usually a person who chooses a solitary life for religious/spiritual reasons, so did he have some sort of revelation? As for him being a Black-Talon, I dunno; wouldn't it be a bit much for Narji to kill not only a benefactor but a family member? (On the other hand your plans for her personality seem to be based on making her feel as rotten as can be, so that would fit). Also, like I believe I said somewhere upthread, I think she's lucky to be found at all, being found by a relative would be even more coincidence.

Do you ever do that, consciously or not, use people you know as models for characters in stories?

Either his grandparents died, left him, or he simply chose to leave. Not really sure which one, but I'd say he just chose to leave. He probably preferred being on his own.
I haven't thought too much about his religion, but given his nature, he's probably holds a similar belief to Froki. Though he was once a city lad, so... He would probably be closer to the other Divines (including Talos). Can't say for certain if he ever had a revelation. If he did, it would have been when he was younger.
Well, Aren could always be related to Froki himself. A brother or something.


I haven't done that for any ES stories, but I have for an old Star Trek related tale I did. There was a pirate known as Captain Half-Beard. He was based on a guy I knew who, for whatever reason, could only grow facial hair on one side of his face. That guy was odd.

[Mauin]

I just had a sudden realization:

The residents of Dementia are said to be twisted in both body and mind. I realized that, when Seryna sits upon the Throne of Madness, the burn scars covering the left side of her face (Narji isn't the only disfigured character of mine) line up with the Dementia side. The right side (Mania) still looks ordinary. It gives her a sort of duality quite fitting to her role as the Madgod. Her left side embodies the twisted nature of Dementia and her right side the sort of innocence that Mania appears to have. Appears. The Manic elements in her are just as dangerous as the Demented elements. It's especially bad when they work together. That's not actually how I planned that out (initially, the burns on the left were only because she dodged right when the Siege Crawler fired at her), but... It works out in the end. I hadn't even really considered that detail before.

It actually sort of disappoints me that Sheogorath isn't like that in some way. He has a slight difference in both sides of his apparel, but it doesn't extend to the rest of him. I like to imagine that his right eye is a Golden Saint eye and his left is a Dark Seducer eye. It's actually a little on the creepy side that way. The different colors to his clothing (like in Skyrim), would have been nice as well.


And now that I have managed to finish the Shivering Isles main quest:

Hidden:

There you have Seryna Vandori as the Madgod. I wish Sheogorath's outfit looked more like that one.

[mondz_tes]

Damn, Seryna is rocking that Madgod outfit! All that's missing is the cane. It's always a nice touch when the game lines up with your character in subtle ways. I haven't been up-to-date with her story, so what's in store for her after Shivering Isles?

[Finn Wolfshorn]

Yeah, she rocks, but when I look at her face she doesn't look happy or even comfortable in her role. What she reminds me of is a parade horse in festive trappings that has forgotten how it was to run free but still vaguely remembers that there used to be something else than this. (Btw there was a story about the end of her tenure as the Mad God some five pages or so upthread.)

Agreed about the lack of visual bipolarity in Sheogorath, different coloured eyes would have been cool and very fitting for him.

[Mauin]

Damn, Seryna is rocking that Madgod outfit! All that's missing is the cane. It's always a nice touch when the game lines up with your character in subtle ways. I haven't been up-to-date with her story, so what's in store for her after Shivering Isles?

The cane is on her back. You can see the eye over her shoulder.

Finn is right. There's one story for Seryna in the Isles.
She spent something like thirty years alternating between staying at the palace and patrolling the Isles. She dies somewhere around 50 years old.
The actual in-game character will do some quests around the Isles for a while longer. As soon as I run out of things for her to do, she will be deleted. Then I'll have to come up with another character.

Yeah, she rocks, but when I look at her face she doesn't look happy or even comfortable in her role. What she reminds me of is a parade horse in festive trappings that has forgotten how it was to run free but still vaguely remembers that there used to be something else than this.

That's just the default facial expression. If I had the items with me (a crystal ball and one other one from a mod that lets you change the facial expression of your character and their pose), I could have put Seryna into a proper Sheogorath pose. I wouldn't expect her to smile, though. Mad Seryna isn't exactly a nice person. She's gone cruel.

As Sheogorath, she might have elements of both Mania and Dementia, but Seryna's Demented side will always be the dominant one.

[mondz_tes]

The cane is on her back. You can see the eye over her shoulder.

Finn is right. There's one story for Seryna in the Isles.
She spent something like thirty years alternating between staying at the palace and patrolling the Isles. She dies somewhere around 50 years old.
The actual in-game character will do some quests around the Isles for a while longer. As soon as I run out of things for her to do, she will be deleted. Then I'll have to come up with another character.

Oops. Didn't spot that although it would've been sweeter to see her pose with the cane.
Hmm, shouldn't mantling the Mad God basically rendered her immortal (albeit insane)?

[Mauin]

Oops. Didn't spot that although it would've been sweeter to see her pose with the cane.
Hmm, shouldn't mantling the Mad God basically rendered her immortal (albeit insane)?

The default "standing with my weapon" pose isn't suitable for Seryna holding the cane/staff. Like I said, I don't have the tools from the mod (I can't remember what the mod is called, but I left the crystal ball and the one for the Isles back in Bruma. They made decent house decorations once I managed to get them standing right). Otherwise, I would have posed her like Sheogorath. Assuming I could stop her from grinning. Oblivion's facial expressions are ridiculous. Sometimes creepy.

I wouldn't think so. The power comes from the staff. Without the staff, Seryna isn't Sheogorath. She'd just be her regular self (and she's not really an ordinary mortal, either).
I doubt the staff alone would have the power to turn Seryna into an immortal Daedric Prince. Besides, once she dies, it's her madness that becomes the next Sheogorath. Or whatever I wrote. There's no information on how that change occurs, so... I just went with what suited Seryna.

Edit:
I was just cleaning my PC a bit and discovered the most random thing...
A backup of one of Vulom's old saves... From October 28th, 2012. I have no idea why that's there. I'm actually sort of wondering if it would run. Probably not considering I don't have even close to the same mod set up.

[mondz_tes]

Edit:
I was just cleaning my PC a bit and discovered the most random thing...
A backup of one of Vulom's old saves... From October 28th, 2012. I have no idea why that's there. I'm actually sort of wondering if it would run. Probably not considering I don't have even close to the same mod set up.

You'll never know unless you try. You could scrub it a bit with script and save cleaners to increase the chances of it working. I did something similar when I found my DiD save files when I was organizing my external drive, although they weren't as old and my mod setup didn't have major changes from then and now.

[Mauin]

I did try. It CTD'd instantly. From that, I'm guessing it was missing multiple master files.
I still have no idea what that was doing there... It was in a backup folder for Black and White 2. No wonder I never noticed it.


On another note... I'm taking a break from writing. The stories for Narji and Vulom will have to wait for a while. I'm too sick to concentrate on writing.

[mondz_tes]

I did try. It CTD'd instantly. From that, I'm guessing it was missing multiple master files.
I still have no idea what that was doing there... It was in a backup folder for Black and White 2. No wonder I never noticed it.


On another note... I'm taking a break from writing. The stories for Narji and Vulom will have to wait for a while. I'm too sick to concentrate on writing.

Oh well, did the old college try and all that. Hmm, maybe past Vulom had plans to invade the world of Black and White 2 and inserted herself within its folders.

That's rather unfortunate. Get well soon!

[Finn Wolfshorn]

Yeah, Mauin, go be sick and leave it to me to entertain the guests! I get the message, I suppose I'd better sit down and finish that story I've been promising y'all for the last three pages...

[/kidding]: Sorry you're not well, get better soon! *offers hot toddy/ice bag/hot water bottle*

So, mondz, how is your sword singer faring?

[mondz_tes]

Hey, Finn! Overall, she's doing fine. She finally got admitted to the College of Winterhold, although she had to cheat her way in by using a magic scroll for her test. I'm glad Faralda somehow didn't caught on to her ruse.

She's been taking classes and conducting her own research into sword-singing but she has to constantly keep a low profile to keep her inability to perform magic a secret.

She also met a new traveling companion and friend, Rumarin, who is helping (most likely in vain) her gain the ability to cast spells. Her path to sword-singing and magic in general is still a far-off dream but she's nothing if not persistent.

Here's a screenie of her along with her friend if you're curious:

Hidden:

[Finn Wolfshorn]

A scroll for Faralda's test? I wish I'd thought of that! Marilyn (II) was refused twice on account of her sucking at magic and only was admitted the third time because her speechcraft had improved enough for her to b*s* her way through. She needed every magicka-enhancing item in her possession to even be able to cast a ward for Tolfdir. Fortunately she wasn't interested in studying at the College, she only wanted access to the Saarthal excavation because she had read that the third fragment of Gauldur's amulet was hidden there.

Faora looks cool! What's that armor or clothes she's wearing? I think Rumarin is a fitting follower for her, being a Bladebinder; he's also funny and entertaining, so I'd expect them to get along nicely. Any perspective of romance further down the line?