Skyrim Alchemist

If you’ve been following my story so far, you might be wondering: “If this is the Skyrim Alchemist, where are the alchemy tools?”

A fine question!  A problem that I plan to remedy in the new year.  I started this website two fold:

1) My first playthrough was with a Nord huntress.  I found my imagination filled in a story as I played – emergent storytelling.  I did not play the Bard’s and Mage College quests, as I didn’t feel it fit my huntress character.  I decided to make a mage character, and share the story as it happened.  I wanted the story format to be in words and pictures.  I really enjoy being a Skyrim tourist, stopping to pose and snap pictures.
2) A vessel for alchemy tools.  There are a number of alchemy calculators out there already, but I would like to try my hand at creating one.  I need a personal project at the moment to hone some of my development skills, and this seemed to be a great opportunity to work on a small, pet project.  I have a couple of different tools in the works, which I plan to unveil in the new year.  My goal is for the tools to supplement the story.

Enjoy the holidays!  See you in the new year, with more story and tools!

20th Last Seed, 4E201

Despite the flurry of events the previous day, my sleep was dreamless.  I actually awoke a little disappointed.  I hoped to speak to the bronze dragon again.  He and I seemed to share a kinship.

I realized the foolishness of what I was thinking.  A kinship?  With a dream-dragon?  I must be going mad.

Or perhaps it was the tea I missed.  Am I getting homesick?

I brushed that thought aside as well.  There were plenty of reasons to be glad I was free of the Aldmeri Dominion.  It was not a charmed life.  At least, not for me.

19th Last Seed, 4E201

Not a nightmare this time, but a strange dream.

On a snowy mountain top, a table, chair and Aldmeri tea were set for me.  Overjoyed, I sat and poured myself a cup.  The Nords only seemed to have beer, mead, and wine to drink.  I sipped, waiting for someone to join me.

My “guest” arrived on bronzed, tattered, leathery wings.  A dragon.  A very, very old dragon.

18th Last Seed, 4E201

Terrible nightmares.  I relived the moment of my head on a chopping block.  Except in my dream, no dragon appeared.  The blade was just about to slice my neck…

I awoke in terror, gasping.  When I calmed down enough to breathe normally, I realized my hands were on my neck, as though protecting it.

It was just before dawn.  I gathered my belongings, and scurried out the door without a thought to breakfast.  Better to be busy doing something, so my mind didn’t return to that awful memory.

I headed up the path to Bleakfall Barrows to retrieve Lucan’ claw.

17th Last Seed, 4E201

We arrive in Helgen.  Prisoners.  To be executed.

I was silent most of the journey.  There really wasn’t anything to say.  My dream of going to college in Skyrim is my nightmare.

When we were processed in the prison line at Helgen, the Imperial Hadvar says: “You can’t be with the Thalmor embassy. No, that isn’t right.”

I wanted to say, “Yes!  Yes, I am!”

But I stayed silent.  What was the use?  After my previous attempt mocked, it was pointless to fight it.

Me.  A prisoner.  With no name.

16th Last Seed, 4E201

This is the journal of Azeriah Letholias.  My father is Sethren Letholias, a Thalmor Ambassador.  My mother, Arienne Letholias, is a mage of some renown in the Summerset Isles.  She used to work on high security missions for the Thalmor, but is now retired from active duty.  She runs and owns an alchemy and spell shop in Alinor.

I am on my way to attend colleges in Skyrim, much to the dismay of my parents.  They wanted me to attend university in Alinor, or at the very least, the Arcane University in Cyrodiil (even though less prestigious than before the war).  But I was insistent on attending school in Skyrim.  As one of the oldest schools dedicated to magic in Tamriel, I have dreamed of going since I was a child.

The civil war between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks was, of course, a reason for their insistence on staying close by.  A valid objection, to be sure.  However, in Skyrim, it would be more difficult for them to use their influence to spy on me, or otherwise mettle in my affairs.

No, I was going to study in Skyrim.  I said it was because I planned to major in alchemy, and Skyrim boasts some of the most wonderful botanical varieties in all of Tamriel.  A few of which can only be found in Skyrim, like juniper berries.  I wanted to experiment with them.  I’ve only eaten them once, when a Khajit caravan came into town when I was little.

This is the journal of Azeriah Letholias, a high elf adventurer in the game of Skyrim.

I finished the main quest(s) previously as a Nord huntress.  I did not do the bard or mage quests, so this is a new character to explore these quests.  This blog will be an attempt to catalog my journey.  It also will serve another purpose, which I hope to unveil in the near future.

The premise of this new character, Azeriah, is she went to study at the Skyrim colleges.  I will be instituting a few self imposed rules in this playthrough:

1) Walk, or take public transportation.  No fast travel.  Jogging will be used sparingly – I will mostly walk.  Sprinting only in cases where it is really necessary – like running away from something!
2) Staves or daggers, but no heavy lifting of swords or shields.  Swinging a sword is simply too athletic for a wimpy scholar.
3) No thefts or murders.  I will not be joining the thieves guild or dark brotherhood.  These criminal activities would disgrace my family honor.  I will not be taking items that don’t belong to me.
4) I will change into normal clothing when wandering around town.  My combat gear is for adventuring.
5) Most of my blog journals will be “in character” format from the eyes of the character, but I may make a few “out of character” posts when sharing certain game details.
6) Although high elf in origin, I’m unsure whether I will join the Imperials or Stormcloak.  We’ll just have to see what happens!

Since I am blogging about my adventures, I may reveal certain plot points as “spoilers”.  I suggest finishing these quests yourself if you don’t want these surprises ruined for you by reading the blog!

The Adventure Begins!