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hiddenbeks · 14 hours ago

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hello. i am finally finished with heidrun's playthrough. time to let her rest and move on to isabeau but not before i ramble abt dawnguard and dragonborn because i have thoughtsssss

first of all dawnguard was just as tedious as i remembered and i think i hate it a little now. it's literally just endless fetch quests and trips to and from fort dawnguard strategically situated in the most remote corner of the map they could find,, normally i don't fast travel but after the first couple quests i gave in and started taking carriages i just wanted to get it over with

the quest design is awful also. after you get valerica's scroll the game tells you to travel alllll the way back to fort dawnguard and only after you've travelled allllll the way you find out dexion has gone blind and you're sent running around the map Again. instead they could have like... had dexion warn you about going blind when reading serana's scroll and this could have prompted you to seek an alternate way to read valerica's. as a moth priest he knows the consequences. or the dawnguard could have sent someone to deliver a message that dexion has gone blind and we need to figure out something else. because obviously they would have noticed him going blind. but these characters have 0 agency and they don't do shit unless you are present i guess!! things only progress when You are there to progress them!!!!!!

man whatever. anyway. it's not like dawnguard is all bad. i like the characters i like pondering the dynamics between heidrun and isran and serana. there is actual character writing in the questline. it's still pretty thin but compared to the rest of the game it's... something. i also liked that vyrthur was something of a foil to heidrun... vyrthur was infected with vampirism and heidrun was infected with lycanthropy... vyrthur was abandoned by auri-el and heidrun was abandoned by stendarr... vyrthur wanted vengeance or whatever but heidrun was (for the most part) able to move on... much to ponder

overall i prefer dragonborn because of the vibe and atmosphere and the fact that it's more contained and set in a whole separate area from the rest of the game. also the fact that it feels more grounded? weird to say considering all the Everything that happens but like dawnguard is all grand castles and vampire prophecies and whatever. also idc abt vampires. in dragonborn you get to meet the ordinary people of raven rock and the skaal and you get to help them and free them of miraak and it's nice :) and you can hang out with some werewolves too <3

however i think the character writing is what's lacking in dragonborn. they could have explored miraak and his background and motivations so much more as well as like the whole first and last dragonborn thing... what do they have in common... what sets them apart from each other... etc. like the bones are there there's clearly the setup for you vs ancient evil more powerful you and it's a fascinating concept except they don't really do anything with it on a writing level. you never even have a conversation with miraak he just taunts you a couple times and then you fight him. and herma mora kills him. ok

another massive issue i have with the writing is the fact that on several occasions different characters say that working for herma mora is the only way to stop miraak. frea says it storn says it you yourself are forced to say it at points where it's the only dialogue option given and i hate it!!!! at no point does anyone even suggest an alternative. like how do you all know it's the only way?? no one even thinks of trying anything else before deciding that a questionable pact with the daedric prince of fate and forbidden knowledge is the only option?? it's like... the writers couldn't be bothered or weren't given the time to think of any alternatives (or they had the time but todd didn't like their ideas idk) but if the game just repeats "this is the only way" enough it passes for solid writing. i hate it

and the only reason to work for herma mora is so that he will teach you one (1) word of the bend will shout. so that you can tame miraak's dragon. so that you can fly to the summit of apocrypha and challenge him there. this is absolutely the only way to defeat miraak. idk what if there was a way to challenge him elsewhere? you could force him to come out of apocrypha for example? herma mora says that in order to be as powerful as miraak and surpass him you Must learn the full bend will shout but you literally don't even need the shout in the fight against him you only need it once in order to ride his dragon like,,,,,,h gf jhkjfghjkdj the railroading. i fucking hate the railroading. i don't need a clunky new dragon riding mechanic why not let me just climb to the summit of apocrypha as a massive fuck you to herma mora. i think that would be hilarious actually

#tldr i wish this game i love was like. good #and yea im sure all of this has been discussed thoroughly throughout the years but i gotta let this out somewhere!!!#this was the first time i played the game with the specific intent of paying attention to the writing. wish i hadn't tho lmaooo #anyway. isabeau time :)#oc: heidrun #oc: isabeau #oh i also have issues w the thieves guild questline and the part where ur forced to enter a pact with nocturnal #similarly to the herma mora railroading the game keeps telling u that it's the only way to defeat mercer #but like...... what exactly do you get out of the pact? to help you defeat mercer?#an armor set. that you don't even need to wear. it does not matter whether you wear it or not it has no effect on anything except ur stats #the mercer battle is so simple. oh he can turn invisible. whatever. you can easily beat him even without detect life spells #and the powers you get from nocturnal you get After defeating him. so entering the pact before taking him on was literally pointless #like it would have been marginally more convincing if there was Some kind of tangible gameplay benefit that you get thanks to the pact #that actually helps in the fight. but no. game tells you this is the only way so you do what game wants. okay.#its bad writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#lowkey planning a rewrite of the questline where isabeau says fuck this im not selling my soul to a daedra #and thus ends the nightingale trinity tradition. it's time for the isabeau tradition. she's a visionary baby #im sure there are dozens of rewrite fanfics already where the tg questline and other questlines are made.. better....#but i wanna do it my way for my characters :)#that being said if anyone has any fic recs for skyrim but well written please feel free to share hehe

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vulpixisananimal · 5 months ago

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(Siffrin) {Mal Du Pays} <Null> |Asterion| [Loop] [(Saffron)]

[Market day!]

[You and the party were staying in a little town on your way to Wolworth And as luck would have it, it was market day! So, what better a time to have a lovely little date with your wonderful Red Giant~]

[You and Isa were running through the crowd, laughing, smiling. The sun was bright, the day was perfect.]

[(Then why are you so anxious?)]

[Ignore it, you squeeze Isabeaus hand.] "See anything you like~?"

"Hmmmm. . ." [He puts a hand to his chin.] "I mean I like a lotta things here! What about you?"

"Me?" [You pull him closer.] "Oh I have all I need right here~"

"H-heywait!!" [He's blushing, and you were already laughing.]

[You kept walking, (trying to ignore what happened at the Jouvente market), looking around, enjoying things. There were honey sticks, homemade cookies, some nice wood carvings, it really was a bananza of creativity.]

[(And you're still going to ignore what you read this morning?)]

[It's ALL you could do!! STARS!! You wake up all nice and ready for a perfect day with your Red Giant, you look at the journal and there!! A brand new voice to add to the chorus. And none of us have even met him!!]

[(And so you'll ignore it like a coward.)]

[Yes! This ASTERION can wait for later!]

". . . Oh!" [Isa stops, looking at one stall.] ". . ."

"Oh?" [You mimic,] "Find something you like~?"

"Aaaactually, doooo you know that person? I think I recognise them but. . ." [He replied, pointing in a direction.]

[You move next to him and try and look over the crowd, who was he talking about. . . There were a lot of random couples, groups, strangers, and. . . A stranger by one stand Isa was pointing at. You didn't recognise, but, no you. . .]

[(YOU.)]

[You almost jump in place, do you mind?!?]

[(You Don't remember who that is?? Are you a blinding idiot?!?)]

[The prompting of lovely Saffron jogged your memory. Stranger, on the road, talked about stars, universe, had food, and- universe, Universe.]

[(THAT. BASTARD.)]

"H-hey what's-" [(Isabeau starts, but you were already pushing your way through the crowd, step by step, untill you finally got to the tall figure with lightless hair.)]

". . . Oh!" [(The Universe smiled.)] "Hello again!"

[(You grab it and pull it around to look at you.)] "YOU!"

"What are you doing here!" [(Every hair on your head bristled and anger filled your eyes.)] "What are you BLINDING doing here!"

"L-loop what's gotten into you?!?" [(Isabeau caught up, trying to get you to calm down.)] "P-please, maybe just, calm down a bit?"

"No I will NOT calm down, Fighter!!" [(You glare at him, then back to the Universe.)] "You, y-you come here, after everything, to, to, to MOCK me?!? Haha, hahahahAHAHaha--"

"That's enough, now." [(The Universe huffed and wagged its finger.)] "Your ruinning Loops date. Leave us alone, Saffron."

[. . . You blink a few times and shake your head. That, what- STARS. You let go of Jinn in disgust. You didn't want to make a scene but your mind is YOUR BUSINESS!!]

"Oh! Sorry! It did look like he was giving you some trouble." [It replied.]

[Isabeau was looking confused between you and Jinn.] ". . . I feel like I've just missed a whole conversation."

"Oh! Yes!" [Jinn does a little curtsey.] "I'm Jinn, you remember me, yes?"

[Isa taps a finger on his chin, then snaps his fingers.] "Traveler we found on the road!"

"Yes!! You'll be happy to know I've kicked my passing out habits-"

"JINN-YYYYY" [A new, high pitched, energetic voice joined the conversation, shortly followed by a smaller figure crashing into Jinn. Their outfit was either a fashion disaster or fashion masterpiece. Everything was clashing and felt like your eyes couldn't focus on one thing for long. Which was weird because the outfit was just a very simple shirt, dress, and such.]

"Nebby!!" [Jinn giggled and ruffled their hair.] "Wandering off again? You're almost as bad as I!"

"Nuh uh!" [They giggled and kissed Jinns cheek.] "I sensed danger and came running- YOU!!!"

[You were surprised by the accusitory finger pointed at you.] "M-ME?!?"

"YOU'RE THE MEAN ONE!!!" [The stranger, named Nebby, tried to wiggle free of Jinn, but was unsucsessful.]

"W-whhhaaaatisgoingon-" [Isa was looking confused between all of you.]

"Please, Nebula, relax!" [Jinn lets go.] "Loop just has a lot of anger, and it's not like they can hurt me."

"I know that! But it's, it's the, theeeeee-"

"Principle?" [Isa offeres.]

"It's the PRINCIPLE of it!! THANK you Zaza!!" [Nebby moved quickly and booped Isa on the nose.]

". . . Okay, what's going on, who are you?!" [You ask, since Isabeau was too confused to.]

"Aww, don'tchya remember me?" [Nebby says with a pout.]

"Loop never met you, dear. Siffrin did, would you like t-" [Jinn was cut off by Nebbys enthusiastic nods.] "Alright, come on out, Siffrin."

(WhhUHHUH!?!!??!)

[?!??!??!?!?!??] "H-how, how, d-did you-" [You hold your head, you had a MASSIVE headache.]

(Nebby was practicly vibrating on the spot.) "HiSif!! Hiiii it's sooooo so good to see you again!!!"

(You look up, you, could recall some of what you did today. But, uh. .) ". . I, do, I know you?"

"Whaaat?!?" (Nebby looked shocked, then smiled!) "Oh RIIIIGHT! I have to do the THING!!!"

(The thing?)

[The thing?]

"Y'know! The thing! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧"

"The thing?" (Isa asks.)

[. . . . . Is that-]

"O-OH!" (T-THAT'S-)

"YAAAAY!!! ※\(^o^)/※" (The Change God flapped their hands excitedly.) "You remembeeerrred!!"

"Siffrin, Loop, why don't you introduce us?" [Jinn leans down and asks you politely.]

"FINE." [You hunch down, frustrated, but, you had to, for Isabeau.] ". . . . Jinn, Nebby, ttthhhhiiiiis is Isabeau. And, Isa, this is. . ." [You take a breath.] "Nebby, the Change God. A-and, Jinn, The Universe, or Ke- k-keao--."

"Oh!! Oh no need for the full name please!!" [Jinn frantically clarified as you massaged your throat, stars, that hurt.]

". . . . . ." [Isabeau was, completely silent for exactly thirteen seconds.] ". . . O-OH!"

"You're bigger in person!!" [The Change God stepped up to Isabeau, and poked him.] "Sooo much bigger!! Wow I should get out more!!!"

"Nebby, dear, let the mortal have his existential crisis for a moment."

"Awww, but he's so cute!! AND cool looking!!! And a real go getter with changing things up, too!!" [Nebby turned back to Jinn excitedly, then back to Isa. Who, at this point was still processing everything.]

(What the, the stars is going on.)

"Myself and my bonded are just taking a trip together! A little, 'date' you could say~" (Jinn giggled into its hand.)

"YEAH! 'Cause you OWE me, Jinny!" (Nebby pouted and teased their bonded.) "With the whole timey freezy timey loopy thing?"

"Y-yes, ah, I, did. . . A-anyway! What about you two!"

[You squint.] "Don't you know?"

"It's called being POLITE, Loopert!" [Nebby stuck their tongue out.] "YEAH I remember that cute widdle nickname, heheh."

[STARS.] "Fine! Just, we're on a date too. I wanted a nice, relaxing day at the fair. Clearly that's not what the Universe had in mind!" [You say, momentarily forgetting just who you were talking to.]

"Oh no, your day will be far from spoiled, dear." [Another small giggle from Jinn.] "It's your day with Isabeau. You all like him, don't you?"

"YEAH!! You and everyone in that head of yours!!" [Nebby interrupts.] "All uh, one.. Two.. Seve-"

"Don't spoil it, love!" [Jinn bapped Nebby on the head.] "Let the mortals figure that out by themselfs!"

"I- wait." [Seven-]

"Would you like to go on a walk with us, you two?" [Jinn interrupts.] "We would enjoy the company.

". . That sounds good to me!" [Isa finally speaks up again. His expression was one you had never seen before; some mix of horror, curiosity, confusion, and disbelief.] "Double date with two gods? Why not!"

"Dawww Zaza!! That's suuuch a good idea!!" [Nebby was still flapping in glee.] "Y'get all those confused thoughts outta your head yet?"

"Uh, I-"

"Didn't think so!! That's okay c'mon lets go!!!" [Nebby interrupted Isa, then grabbed Jinns hand and started excitedly pulling it in a new direction.]

[Despite your absolute disgust and horror, you were compelled to follow. Isa holding your hand. You look up, he looks pale as a ghost.] ". . . Are you. ."

"The Change God knows about me?" [Oh he was deffinatly not over any of this.]

"I, y-yeah."

"The Change God is dating your god and knows about me?"

"It's okay, just get it out of your system."

". . . . . . Okay!" [He laughed nervously.] "I'll try and be normal about all this!"

"Stars, my wonderful Red Gaint you have no need to be normal about THIS!"

"OH!!!" [Nebby pointed excitedly at one stall.] "Let's look at that one!!"

[They ran over, Jinn, and by extention you both, running to catch up. Nebby had found a setup from a craftsman who was showing off all kinds of nicknacks. Statues, masks, clothes, a scouple swords, art, the style looked familiar.]

"This is SO COOL!!!" [Nebby was taking in every little detail, and started talking to the person running the stand. Oh if only they knew just who Nebby was.]

"It is pretty good craftsmanship. . ." [Isabeau, naturally, had gravitated to some of the clothes, you could have sworn the style was familiar.]

[You wander over to the few swords on display, they were-]

"A curved Ka Buan blade!" <Your eye widened.> "And that's Ka Buan calligraphy, did you make these?"

"Aye!" <The Craftsman answered.> "Ma 'Nan was from Ka Bue and they taught me a lot and I kept it up!"

[?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!???!]

<Ah. Sorry.>

"Everything alright, both of you?" <Jinn asked. It took you a second to realize it's talking to you.>

". . Yes." <You looked away. Take front back, Loop, please.>

[Of course~] "Just got surprised, is all~"

"I understand. . ." [The two of you stood quiet. You look back to see Isa was getting over his shock, since he was talking casually with Nebby.]

<. . .>

[. . .] "Jinn. . . Why."

"Why? Why what?"

"You know why."

". . . I'm. . ." [It looked at you for a moment, then away.] ". . . I have no excuse, Loop. I'm. . . I'm sorry."

<What.>

[What.]

[From the back of your mind, you could hear echoes of others saying that one, simple word.]

". . ." <It, took Jinn a moment to continue.> ". . . I am bound as a God to grant any wish if done right. And all I remember of our home is that whatever wish I granted to cause. . . That, was one where there was no other option."

"What you remember?" [Shouldn't it-]

"No. I don't." [It looked, sad.] "My memory of it is gone. And many of those who followed me no longer do. . . Do you know a gods existence is tied to those who believe in them?"

". . . No. . ?" [Your eye widens.] "Then, wouldn't that. . ."

"Oh they still believed." [Jinn nodded.] "But they knew not that they did. Directionless, nameless. If it weren't for the strong cultural ties to Vaugarde, I would be naught but dust. . ."

". . ." <Your mind was clicking things into place.> ". . . Let me guess. After all of that, it left your skills of wishmaking in tatters?"

<You glance at it and it has its head in its shoulders, embarrassed?> ". . . . Y-yes, that, yes. . ."

"Buuuuut it's getting better!!" [In a flash Nebby was back by Jinns side nuzzling up to it. It had a statue from The Craftsman in their hand.] "Sooooo much better considering the LAST few wishes!!"

"I-it wasn't for anything so major!" [It reassures your horrified face.] "I, I-I am trying my best to not cause, more grief."

"Right. . ." [You think back to Wren and his wish, Vixul, Polaris-]

"Oh I'll keep him in mind!" [Jinn interupted your thoughts, smiling.] "All of them, actually. You'll see them again in time."

". . . . ." <You sigh.> "It's. . . Fine."

"Hey Loop!" <Isa calls to you, he was looking at the sword. You lift up your eyepatch.> "O-oh- Null you weeeere interested in these?"

"Maybe. . ." <You go back to the swords, one of them called out to you. You turned to The Craftsman.> "May I pick it up. . Thank you." <At their nod, you pick up the sword. Or TRY to.>

"Too heavy?" <Isa says at you struggling a little.>

"Blind it all-" <You scowled, why did this body have to be so, frail. So weak. So. . . No, it had some of its own upsides, at least. But. . .> ". . . Where it not for the weight, and price, I'd. . ."

<Isabeau glances from you, then to the duo of gods, then back, to you.> "I mean, if-"

"Shall we move on?" [Jinn stepped forward and out of the stall without waiting for an answer. You set the sword down and followed, of course.]

[It stops right outside of the stall, and turns back to you. You squint.] "What are y-"

[It cuts you off with a hug.]

[It's, it's an impossibly warm, comfortable hug. A hug that felt like one only a parent could give. One that, that was saved for those who needed it most. The kind of hug that could fix a person. . .]

"I'm. . . So proud of you, Loop."

[The words hit you stronger than any of the Kings attacks.]

[. . . It lets you go, and curtsies.] "Even with my blunders, you did so, so well, I'm proud of you."

"Uh huh!!!" [You felt Nebby punch your shoulder, then walked to Jinns side.] "And look at you now!!! Going on a DATE!!! You!! On a date!!!"

"Even sharing a body as you are, you're still finding ways to survive, no, thrive."

"Thrive is right!! You should have fun while you're here!! Maybe ask your new boyfriend about Vaugardian Culture!"

[They both giggle at that, what? What does THAT mean?!? You stared at them both in disbelief. The God of Change and Entropy, time, and decay. The God of the Universe, of everything that ever was, and ever will be. . . And they're. . . You're, you're crying. Isabeau's at your side, taking your hand.]

". . . . Until next time." Take care, Siffrin.

"Bye bye!! See you around!!" I'll be watching, Siffy ♡⸜(ˆᗜˆ˵ )⸝♡

[In a blink, they dissapeared. The crowds around you moving on like nothing ever happened. You were left standing there, trying to understand what, just, happened. . .]

". . . . I uh. . ." [Isa starts, then coughs into a hand.] ". . . Heading back time?"

"Y-yes please." [You mumble, the two of you heading off-]

"Aye!! You two wait up!!" <You turn, The Craftsman had walked up to you and shoved that sword into your arms.> "Can't be forgetting this, aye? Those friends of yours got it for ya!"

<What. The Craftsman walked back to the stall and now you were left dumbfounded. They, BOUGHT it for you?!?>

[Weren't we struggling to lift it earlier???]

<I- You're holding the sword easier. You unsheeth the blade a little and, no, it's a real sword. A well crafted, well made sword of steel yet, it was, light.>

". . . Isabeau?"

"Y-yes, Null?"

"Did you make a wish?"

"N-no!! No I didn't- I, uh-" <His head sinks down.> "I-Iuh, just, asked, N-nebbyforafavor--"

". . . . . . ."

[He's gone mad, how could-]

<You walk up to him and tug on his shirt untill you're face to face.> "If you wanted to get my attention, Isabeau, a sword is the perfect gift."

[. . . You got the AIRY KATANA!]

[Lowers speed, increses attack, and gives a chance to reflect some attacks!]

[. . . Just like you remember it. . .]

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